So, finally got to test drive the new ST today.
It was only the ST1 and they didnt have the ST3 on the floor for me to compare it against.
Firstly, i dont like the look of the car. I much preferred the old focus shape, and although this will probably grow on me, at the moment I dont like it at all.
Inside, it doesn't get much better. The interior looks a little tacky, with the latest fiesta offering on the floor seeming to show much better quality and wow factor inside than the ST. The manual air conditioning with its rather old style buttons and knobs really detracts from the car, as does the cloth interior.
The front seats are quite snug and very comfortable, with great support, so at least there is a plus side. Starting the car, I immediately worried about whether it would have that great sound the old ST had. The gear box has a solid feel without being difficult to operate and it instantly felt right. Pulling out the dealership, the first thing I notice is the responsiveness of the throttle. Where the old ST had some lag, this is almost instant. Even from low revs the car feels eager to move with just a slight push on the throttle.
My worries were put at ease once the revs climbed, the car does have quite a satisfying sound and a very even power band pull throughout the range. The power didn't wow me to be honest, I dont know what i was hoping for, but it felt a bit uninspiring. Sure, it goes through the speedo quickly (and oddly, as after 100km/h it jumps in 30km/h increments) but it just didn't give me that grin on my face I was hoping for.
I didn't thrash it in first gear, but in second there is very little torque steer (although I quite liked the little it did give) and the car easily hit the national limit without much of an effort. The steering is not quite as good as the old focus, but there is still a nice weight to it, with decent feedback coming through.
Overall, for the price (309k) its still damn good value for money, i just dont think I want one
It was only the ST1 and they didnt have the ST3 on the floor for me to compare it against.
Firstly, i dont like the look of the car. I much preferred the old focus shape, and although this will probably grow on me, at the moment I dont like it at all.
Inside, it doesn't get much better. The interior looks a little tacky, with the latest fiesta offering on the floor seeming to show much better quality and wow factor inside than the ST. The manual air conditioning with its rather old style buttons and knobs really detracts from the car, as does the cloth interior.
The front seats are quite snug and very comfortable, with great support, so at least there is a plus side. Starting the car, I immediately worried about whether it would have that great sound the old ST had. The gear box has a solid feel without being difficult to operate and it instantly felt right. Pulling out the dealership, the first thing I notice is the responsiveness of the throttle. Where the old ST had some lag, this is almost instant. Even from low revs the car feels eager to move with just a slight push on the throttle.
My worries were put at ease once the revs climbed, the car does have quite a satisfying sound and a very even power band pull throughout the range. The power didn't wow me to be honest, I dont know what i was hoping for, but it felt a bit uninspiring. Sure, it goes through the speedo quickly (and oddly, as after 100km/h it jumps in 30km/h increments) but it just didn't give me that grin on my face I was hoping for.
I didn't thrash it in first gear, but in second there is very little torque steer (although I quite liked the little it did give) and the car easily hit the national limit without much of an effort. The steering is not quite as good as the old focus, but there is still a nice weight to it, with decent feedback coming through.
Overall, for the price (309k) its still damn good value for money, i just dont think I want one
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