Focus SE vs Mustang GT Driveability

[Vato]

After a more thorough analysis this weekend driving up and down the same I-10 fwy, I realized it's only the rough patches of road where the stang seems to be unsettled. It'll track those deeper rivets but otherwise it does roll smooth. I hardly drive at speed during the day on the freeway. It was good to see the difference on the road by day rather than just feel and hear it at night.

And no fellas....replacing it for a focus will not happen.

Sponsored

 

[Norm Peterson]

The difference in tire size between the Stang and Focus is substantial. I wonder if the width is what's affecting the driveability. I believe the stang tends to track more. The stang is running Continental Extreme Contact 275/35 front and 275/40 rear. The Focus is running stock 215/50 all around. The wheels are staggered on the stang 20x9 front and 20x10 rear. The Focus has a square setup.

I'm thinking alignment here, mainly the toe settings. I would suspect front toe over rear toe, but I wouldn't ignore the rear even if the front was found to be 'off' for relaxed cruising and highway driving.

Some tires tramline worse than others, it's a tire carcass thing. Wheel offset might be involved as well.

9" is kind of narrow for a 275/35 tire, which could be a secondary effect. I have 285/35's on 11" for the track (all four) that don't tramline on the street enough to remember it ever happening.


Norm

 

[furiousfuria]

I came from an ST, you are correct in what you noticed. But it's a trade off and def more noticeable once I went to much wider tires. I really don't mind the wandering though and I would never go back to a Focus. The entire time I had my ST I never wanted to put miles on it because I knew I was going to trade it in eventually for something more powerful haha.

It was a ton of fun driving on curvy roads but the pick up just sucked in it

 

[Nomadic]

The entire time I had my ST I never wanted to put miles on it because I knew I was going to trade it in eventually for something more powerful haha.

It was a ton of fun driving on curvy roads but the pick up just sucked in it

I have an ST. But I got it after test driving a '17 GT PP. Yeah the GT was quicker for sure. But it felt pretty tame down low for a V8 which sort of turned me off. The ST just felt so tossable in comparison and power was still good IMO. I also like the ST base seats whereas the GT base seats were seemed to be stabbing my back for some reason. And I got it for $12K less than the GT.

 

[Vato]

I have an ST. But I got it after test driving a '17 GT PP. Yeah the GT was quicker for sure. But it felt pretty tame down low for a V8 which sort of turned me off. The ST just felt so tossable in comparison and power was still good IMO. I also like the ST base seats whereas the GT base seats were seemed to be stabbing my back for some reason. And I got it for $12K less than the GT.

I was having that problem with my seats too. I figured out a little lumbar support which I don't really like released some pressure from my back being "stabbed" from the top outer edges. However, now that you mentioned that, I may have to look for ST seats for my stang.

 

[JeffreyDJ]

My son has an ST. I had an EB, and now a GT. The EB and GT I can compare and point out differences easily. The ST I can't really compare, but I can contrast. They're not just different cars, they're totally different experiences.

All three are fun cars, and the ST felt "quicker" than my EB, and it is fun to toss around, but I till prefer the Mustang on a day to day basis.

 

[K-Roll302]

I had a '14 Focus ST. An extremely nimble car that was like a kart on rails compared to my '17 EB. The engine torquey down low and the surge was great to have in a daily driver. Best FWD car I've ever driven, and would probably beat my EB on a local track day "stock v. stock". As it is now, my EB has kept up with an RS on track.

But they're two cars that offer different experiences and driving styles. That said, if Ford offered a Mustang lighter than the EB that drove with a nimbleness closer to what my ST had, I'd be all over it; and that's what I'm trying to get out of my EB.

 

[VooDooDaddy]

My wife has told me on several occasions that if I continue to be a good boy, that someday she will let me get rid of our 1991 Chrysler Town & Country mini-van, and maybe buy a Mustang. Hopefully with a V8?

Until then, I can report that our mini-van tracks straight and true down the highway to and from Church every Sunday and on Wednesday nights.

From the way is sounds, I may have to re-think my "someday" Mustang purchase?

 

[Chad11491]

i had a 275 square Michelin PSS setup on my last mustang, zero tramlining. I think it was all in the alignment. It tracked straight as an arrow.

 

[Ebm]

.

My wife has told me on several occasions that if I continue to be a good boy, that someday she will let me get rid of our 1991 Chrysler Town & Country mini-van, and maybe buy a Mustang. Hopefully with a V8?

Until then, I can report that our mini-van tracks straight and true down the highway to and from Church every Sunday and on Wednesday nights.

From the way is sounds, I may have to re-think my "someday" Mustang purchase?

Not to get off topic, but there is a 1000hp Honda Odyssey(Mini-van for those who don't know) on YouTube. You could build your mini-van?

 

[Zelek]

I've got 285's squared all around and I don't experience this but the roads aren't too terrible around here.

 

[ctandc72]

I drove a Focus ST and a RS. Honestly, if I was a bit smaller (6'3" 220lbs) I would have looked A LOT more closely. I just couldn't get comfortable in the car. I felt as if I was 'hunched' over while driving.

As for daily ride comfort etc - that's the reason I went with 18's. I've built / driven cars on 19" and bigger - not a fan. While many of the setups LOOK great, the aggravation on some of the truly crappy roads I have to drive on daily is not worth it in my lowly opinion.

Sponsored