A Focus ST for 3 days! Update: Brera, Cooper S, RR Sport HSE

[TT]

YAY, today big surprise!

http://img108.imagevenue.com/loc24/th_87736_focus01.jpg (http://img108.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc24&image=87736_focus01.jpg)http://img21.imagevenue.com/loc24/th_87741_focus02.jpg (http://img21.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc24&image=87741_focus02.jpg)http://img126.imagevenue.com/loc24/th_87746_focus03.jpg (http://img126.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc24&image=87746_focus03.jpg)

We have a "hot hatches" group test planned for Thuesday (ST, Gofl GTI, Astra OPC, Mégane Sport F1) and as always I am basically the photographer, but our "boss", JC, has to leave in a hurry for the US, so he called me today (funny since I was taking pics of a car LOL) and asked me if I could pick up the car right away... Of course I could! So I have it for today, tomorrow, Thuesday and Wednesday :) it's a press car, so no problem with km and such :D and in two days I'll have to test all the others two with the rest of the team :shock:

I will spend some more words on the ST in a few hours, I didn't drive it alot today, but bloody hell how funny are today's hot hatches!!!!!!!!

[No.1]

lucky sod!

its a rare sight here still, but i hope it sells well - it definitely deserves to 8)

Good luck with the testing, i'm looking forward to the pics :D

[Pav]

haha nice thumbs up

[coombsie66]

DAMN YOU!!!! you are soo lucky, i REALLY REALLY want an ST! Please get some video action of it accelerating TT, please!!!

I want one dammit! :cry: :cry:

:wink: :wink: 8)

[TT]

DAMN YOU!!!! you are soo lucky, i REALLY REALLY want an ST! Please get some video action of it accelerating TT, please!!!

I want one dammit! :cry: :cry:

:wink: :wink: 8)

Uhm, I could use my old Pro 1 to shoot some simple acceleration vids tomorrow!

[gucom]

DANG some guys have all the luck... i didnt know they had 5door ST's...still looks pretty good :D

[Pehtren]

And finnaly TT you have got the car, the pozer we can say, for a drive...A three day drive, enjoyed it, hehe :)
I would 100% :P

In the pics it looks so imposing, fuck its georgeous :twisted:

And you have to make a lot of pics for us :lol:

[komotar]

I'm sooo excited man 8)

You're finaly get to be in the driver's seat! :twisted:

And to get the car for more than just one day is just awesome!!

It looks like things are slowley but sureley moving in the right direction for you....

I hope that JC has a lot more urgent US visits to do 8)

[ARMAN]

:shock: lucky TT, I suppose "in depth" this time will be the most detailed :P

[TT]

I'm sooo excited man 8)

You're finaly get to be in the driver's seat! :twisted:

And to get the car for more than just one day is just awesome!!

It looks like things are slowley but sureley moving in the right direction for you....

I hope that JC has a lot more urgent US visits to do 8)

LOL, actually I feel kinda lost without him.. it's his website afterall :D

:shock: lucky TT, I suppose "in depth" this time will be the most detailed :P

Well, probably yes.. took pics today, will took more tomorrow and plenty Thuesday when shooting the group... and the indepth waiting list is growing :D I already have 4 in the pipeline.. will have 8 soon :D

[AlienDB7]

but our "boss", JC, has to leave in a hurry for the US, so he called me today (funny since I was taking pics of a car LOL) and asked me if I could pick up the car right away...
Your "boss" doesn't happen to purchase a Ford GT twice? Are you hiding something from us TT? :lol:

Have fun with the test drive, just don't forget us when you become a guest presenter on TG :mrgreen:

Looking forward to your Focus ST pics!

[dingo]

Great sutff mate, definately an interesting little car - can't wait for your driving impressions. :D

Great colour too!!!

[TT]

So, a bit more relaxed now.
Well, first of all I must say it is a weird feeling to know I can look out of the window and see a press car. One of my dreams is beeing motoring journalist, so it's definitely interesting this opportunity!
As for the car itself, you all know I drive an E36 320i, which is 10 years old and not really powerfull. I drove some sport cars even if never at their limits, Modena, 996, SLK55, Mustang but my daily drive is an outdated simple car.
And considering this, I must admit the ST impressed me a lot right away as far as handling and punch go!
What didn't impress me is the interior! Build quality is ok, but instruments, look and general feel, to be honest, isn't better than my 10 yo BMW! Ok, this is a sport car, no need for useless gizmos, but it's really pretty scarce inside! And also, of course to have the backend following like a corpse what you are doing isn't fun! My car has 150 hp, it isn't easy to slide on dry road, but if you drove an RWD car, you must know you always feel the back "under control".. you can do something about it with your right foot while you steer the front wheels.. it's fun when you want to play and never dangerous when you get used to it.
An FWD car, as good as it can be is really a different thing and I needed quite a few km to get used to cornering technique again! Onceyou do, well, it's ok, the traction is amazing and most of the time I had TC on because it's just silly to fight oversteer in a 225 FWD car, especially in the wet and partially snowy like tonight. I tried to make the back end come alive, but traction and chassis poise are so good that you must really hammer down the road at speed to make the back step out.. and when you do a mistake at speed, you are doomed. Anyway, with TC one and driving like a polite hooligan with no slides the ST is absolutely impressive! it's quick, very quick! The turbo kicks in pretty early and blow constanly, there is no real lag but I would like something less linear maybe. Still, the gears come and go so damn quick it's almost unbelievable in such small hatch LOL! Brakes are very strong and the car is stable under heavy braking. no idea about fade yet, will see in a couple of days.
Oh, the sound, very important for most of us. it's good actually, throaty, a bit intrusive I think, but so far so good, I love it and the turbo's whistle isn't too "ricy"
then there are the details, but it's too early to analyze them. What's important is that the car is very effective and the other three will really have to pull out of their hat some good numbers to impress me even more :)

but our "boss", JC, has to leave in a hurry for the US, so he called me today (funny since I was taking pics of a car LOL) and asked me if I could pick up the car right away...
Your "boss" doesn't happen to purchase a Ford GT twice? Are you hiding something from us TT? :lol:

Have fun with the test drive, just don't forget us when you become a guest presenter on TG :mrgreen:

Looking forward to your Focus ST pics!

LOL, JC as for Jean-Claude ;)

[chest3r]

What a lucky guy!! :shock: :o :o

Not the best looking one, since it's the 5 door version, but who cares ??

Enjoy it !! :P

[Wutputt]

Very nice to have a press car for 3 days. Will you return it with tires shredded to the thread? :p

Nice first impressions as well! As far as the interior. A friend of mine, who drives a Golf V GTI, has the same complains about the ST's interior. But apart form that it seems like a very good looking (from the outside) and quick car. I'm looking forward to the comparison with the other hot hatches ;)

[coombsie66]

You have to go find a roundabout thats just a little damp, take that TC off and go throw it about TT, the focus is very forgiving (believe me!!! :twisted: ) as im pretty sure its got reasonably similar handling charecteristics as the Mk1-2. (same suspension i believe)
Also im interested to know how annoying not having a Limited Slip Differential in a 200+ bhp FWD car is, so get out of that snow and turn off that TC!!!! :wink: :P
Dont stuff it though! 8)
As for intrusive engine noise!? No such thing untill your ears bleed :twisted:

With regards to the interior, i'd say its light years ahead of my version, which isnt all that bad design wise, just not as solid as a beemer or a VW etc. Your beemer may be 10 years old TT, but i think the E36 has aged very well, and my best mates M3 Evo still hasnt been beaten by far! :twisted:

Good write up, hope you have many more press cars to come, now go have some fun and make a VID!!!! :P :P :D

[TT]

Hehe, I assure you I tried some lift off oversteer in controlled conditions and damp road, but grip, probably also thanks to pretty new winter tires is a bit too much and they seem to let go quick abruptly when they do. Since it's so cold these days, summer tires would be funnier for this, but would lack grip for the front end, so I am happy with this.
Today I drove some more, included some mountain road and I can confirm it's not funny to drive with no TC.. probably I am too used to my RWD, but really, if the wheels spin, it's time to back off, and in that case I prefer to back off before I feel the TC will try to control things. it might be for sissies, but to drive at a decent pace such a car (and when you are not used to it), it's the way to go.

As for the vid, I am sorry, today we always were between -6 and 4 C.. too bloody cold to step out of the car enough to take a video :roll:

[leo_26782]

Great to see that you enjoyed it, but I look forward reading a more detailed resume (You know what he will be expecting :wink: ).

Concerning the interior, think about an Evo, and you will realize how luxurious it can be :roll:

[TT]

http://img108.imagevenue.com/loc24/th_18297_group01.jpg (http://img108.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc24&image=18297_group01.jpg)http://img23.imagevenue.com/loc24/th_18308_focusandmegane01.jpg (http://img23.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc24&image=18308_focusandmegane01.jpg)http://img45.imagevenue.com/loc24/th_18319_astra50.jpg (http://img45.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc24&image=18319_astra50.jpg)http://img24.imagevenue.com/loc24/th_18335_golf01.jpg (http://img24.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc24&image=18335_golf01.jpg)



So, we did it and it was a blast! I suppose I will go more indepth with my review when the pics will be up, but anyway, after a day of driving and some 300 km in the 4 cars (sadly not enough in the GTI) I think I'd take the ST! It's the better all rounder.. sportier, very good at cornerning but still not too crashy on the suspensions. Available in 5 doors it makes for a versatile car! But the Astra has such a boomy and whoosy exahst that it is hard to part with it!!!!!! Really a mad engine, very powerfull, lot of torque understeer and even on a straightline you have to struggle to keep the wheel straight! Really addictive turbo power! The Mégane is very well sorted and cornering is such a pleasure! It can easily slide its back as far as I saw but it's VERY bad inside.. like cars from 10 years ago and actually I prefer my 1995 BMW... the Golf had sadly 16 inches winter wheels.. not only ugly, but also very far away from the stock items, so even if I would have had time to drive it more I doubt I could have judged it proprely.

[ARMAN]

Cant wait for full report :P Astra sounds to be a real badass :shock:

[TransAm]

It's 240hp isn't it?

Should thus be a little bit quicker than the Saab I had, based on the fact the Astra will be lighter than a 9-3. I imagine it is a hoot to drive! :mrgreen:

I have driven the old shape Astra 200hp Turbo, that was quite enjoyable. 8)

[TT]

Yep it has 240 hp so a healthy 20 more than ST or Mégane and some 20 Nm more I think

We also weighted the cars in the morning before the drive and:

Opel Astra OPC - 1'350 kg
Renault Mégane Sport RS F1 - 1'370 kg
Ford Focus ST - 1'460 kg
VW Golf GTI - 1'370 kg

so the Astra is also the lighter :shock:

[dutchmasterflex]

AWESOME! TT, I think youre approaching your dream of becoming an auto journalist is coming true! First Geneva, now your own Press car!

Great pics, I love the first one of the ST framed in by the trees..


Don't forget to test out the handbrake ;) that's what FWD cars are made for..

[Ford Capri 2.8i]

Im waiting for the article as well, and as Im from the "old school" I agree that the old hot hatches with 130bhp and about 900kg are great fun, even the power/weight ratio described by dani was a little bit low

[Ford Capri 2.8i]

I even do have the mentioned old hot hatch in my mind as the next adquisition (when a chance) instead of a new car

[TT]

Can't wait for the full report Matteo!! :D Can we finally say we have another car journalists at JW?? :P :wink:...

LOL, don't think so.. from the next test I'll be back to my usual photograph only position

[TT]

Uhm.. don't want to spam with a new topic for just three pics.. actually more will follow, but will keep them for future indepths. Still, I prefer to put down on "paper" a couple of words before I'll forget since they'll end up on my website in some months ;)

This WE a local big dealer organised some "test days", so this morning I tried my luck hoping there won't be too many ppl.. well for sure there was nobody but it was so early that some of the cars were not ready.. The 159 for instance, but also 330i or new WRX... I booked the Alfa for Sunday but nothig more.. there will be too many ppl.

Anyway, here are the cars I put my hands on this morning:

Alfa Romeo Brera 3.2 V6 Q4
http://img133.imagevenue.com/loc5/th_05094_alfabrera20.jpg (http://img133.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc5&image=05094_alfabrera20.jpg)

Well, I was sure they would have the 2.2 diesel only but no, a beautiful black V6 Brera was waiting for me! It's an amazingly well crafted car inside. You feel cocooned in a good level of luxury. Leather is very good quality and the seats embrace you in a comfy way. instruments and all are very cool looking, very italian, maybe a bit too serious, but well, cool! Pedals are a touch of art: perfectly spaced for heel and toe ::love: the drive is very relaxed and soft. Not a sport car this Brera, more of a relaxed GT. IMO the cabin is a bit too shielded fromthe engine note and this make for some effortless progression, but well, you sometimes wonder if it is really capable of a sub 7 0-100 kmh :bah: you don't have a sense of drama or acceleration as you have in a Focus ST or Astra OPC! Traction seems very good but had no way to test the Q4 proprely since I was on country roads with long sweepers and no mountain hairpins. Final note: the back seats are a joke, not even a small kid could fit his legs in there, let alone an adult! And boot space is small and with small access... still, such a sexy shape! I liked it :!:

Mini Cooper S
http://img45.imagevenue.com/loc24/th_02833_minicoopers01.jpg (http://img45.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc24&image=02833_minicoopers01.jpg)

A car I always wanted to test myself and never had! Finally it happened and bloody hell! All the articles I read were right, this is a disguised go-kart and all of a sudden the grown up hatches like, again, Focus, Astra or Golf seem pointless because the Mini is just perfect. It suits you like a glove and you are much more connected to the road thanks to a perfectly judged steering wheel and a masterpiece of a chassis! Only minor downside that supercharger's whine which isn't as sexy as a turbo whoosh or as refined as an italian NA engine, but it's not strong enough to really bother, and it propels the Mini so quickly in 3 digits speeds! I love the fact there is basically no torque steer and you can really push it with no fear! it could handle some more hp, sure, but it is already perfect as it is :love:

Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE 2.7 diesel
http://img105.imagevenue.com/loc24/th_02839_rrsporthse01.jpg (http://img105.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc24&image=02839_rrsporthse01.jpg)

Well, as you can bet I was hoping for a supercharged but they only had this diesel "Sport".. how could I say no? I hate diesels and frankly, 190 hp aren't enough for such monster. it looks like a 500 hp SUV but it goes like a Panda with this engine :D Ok, it isn't true actually. It gathers speed quite easily although not impressively quick, and once there, you can really trash you in every kind of corners, beeing sure it won't fail! The steering isn't direct enough for my tastes, even at speed it doesn't harden enough, but beside that, it's a gorgeous ride! I quickly tried some simple offroad bit and well, it goes :D I love to drop it down in the lowest suspensions setting to take pics, but sadly that setting is just to access or leave the car.. once you move it raises automatically to the middle position :bah: too bad, it's damn aggressive once totally lowered. I am sure you can tune the electronics and trick them to leave the car slammed :D Inside it's very good, refined, classy, a pleasure to be in there, even at the back! The boot is ridicolous though with such a small aperture :bah:

All in all, a fun day! Sadly to test the RR I missed Shin's SL55 test and yet another indepth, but well I guess you can't have everything :(

[Daggernite]

Im lovinh the hot hatch group pics, there really great. Just relised from your pic that the brerra has a ass renault would be proud of! :lol: Keep up the good work, enjoying your pics.

[Pehtren]

Congrats TT, i like the pics, and well choosen cars 8)

I love the Brera :P

[stmoritzer]

Thanks TT for your experiences with these car, I was specially interested in the CooperS, a car I always wanted to drive ... guess I have to look for a local dealer to make a testdrive :D

the RangeRover is something we never had in JW :lol: , too bad you missed Shin's testdrive :bah:

[P_Zero_Rosso]

Thought I was busy but when I read your reports, 7 cars in one week is very impressive. Keep up the good work!

One remark: the Brera 2.2 is a petrol (JTS), the diesel will be a 2.4 JTD (inline 5).

[TT]

Whoops, my bad.. all those numbers gave me an headache!

[dutchmasterflex]

:shock: You got to test the Brera! Lucky man you.. but its a damn shame you didnt get to test out its handling... I'm really curious what that sexy car can do in the corners.