Ecoboost vs Focus St: Pure Fun Factor

[OppoLock]

I don't think that's the full story. Try taking a car with the same weight and wheelbase without torque vectoring and I doubt you'll have nearly as good handling. Seeing how I actually have a car that fits that description, I think I would have a good idea of what weight and size alone can do.

It's not the full story, sure. The Focus ST is brimming with character, both driving and aesthetically speaking. Tugging at the inside brakes helps to curb understeer around tight corners and in low speed exits from turns, but that's not where the car earns its merit. The steering itself is great; well-weighted, decent "feedback" and whatnot, even though the torque steer was pretty darn noticeable to me. I think that might have even added to the experience. The induction note sounds pleasing (althought it's a drone machine on my friend's FoST with an MBRP catback installed). The engine has great midrange grunt, especially for a car of its size. The brakes feel great. The suspension is well-tuned to give it more adjustability than your typical front-wheeler. It just does a whole lot of things well, just like other great hot hatches.

To me, it shined because I could chuck the front end into a corner, not have the thing fall on its face, and wrestle the steering while getting on the throttle while hearing that engine note intensify. It's a hooligan of a car which is where the fun comes from imo.

The Mustang is going to have more weight and a longer wheelbase, which really changes up the driving experience (given all else being equal and barring the obvious FWD/RWD contrast). Not for the worse by any means, it's just going to be different.

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[Sterling Archer]

Yeah I think we'll have to just wait to see how the new mustang handles before making any decision. But none the less, I wanted to put it out there that there are other cars that are less powerful, but tons of fun to drive.

 

[OppoLock]

Yeah I think we'll have to just wait to see how the new mustang handles before making any decision. But none the less, I wanted to put it out there that there are other cars that are less powerful, but tons of fun to drive.

I agree 100%.

Told my friend I'll buy a FoST ST3 if the GT doesn't feel like it justifies the pricetag. It's not the only car on my list, that's for sure.

 

[Trackaholic]

It's not the full story, sure. The Focus ST is brimming with character, both driving and aesthetically speaking. Tugging at the inside brakes helps to curb understeer around tight corners and in low speed exits from turns, but that's not where the car earns its merit. The steering itself is great; well-weighted, decent "feedback" and whatnot, even though the torque steer was pretty darn noticeable to me. I think that might have even added to the experience. The induction note sounds pleasing (althought it's a drone machine on my friend's FoST with an MBRP catback installed). The engine has great midrange grunt, especially for a car of its size. The brakes feel great. The suspension is well-tuned to give it more adjustability than your typical front-wheeler. It just does a whole lot of things well, just like other great hot hatches.

To me, it shined because I could chuck the front end into a corner, not have the thing fall on its face, and wrestle the steering while getting on the throttle while hearing that engine note intensify. It's a hooligan of a car which is where the fun comes from imo.

The Mustang is going to have more weight and a longer wheelbase, which really changes up the driving experience (given all else being equal and barring the obvious FWD/RWD contrast). Not for the worse by any means, it's just going to be different.

The review I recall from MT's "Best Driver's Car" was not thrilled with the FoST once the brakes overheated. Of course, that wouldn't happen on the street, so it wouldn't matter for 99% of drivers, so maybe it's a moot point anyway.

-T

 

[Sterling Archer]

They must have tortured the breaks to get them to overheat. I didn't push the car nearly as hard as you would on a track, but they felt super responsive every time (almost too aggressive if you ask me).

 

[opensesame]

No offence to anyone. This conversation is really moot. Its like saying whos a better lay? Your girl or Sofia Vergara. Obviously we haven't driven the 2015 mustang yet, so best we wait until we've got our hands on one to determine which is the better fun car.

 

[Sterling Archer]

No offence to anyone. This conversation is really moot. Its like saying whos a better lay? Your girl or Sofia Vergara. Obviously we haven't driven the 2015 mustang yet, so best we wait until we've got our hands on one to determine which is the better fun car.

Not even in the same ballpark. Sofia Vergara is the obvious answer, unless if your girl happens to be literally Beyonce or an equivalent superstar.

Here we're talking about 2 cars that should have theoretically very similar engine behaviors, with one being lighter, the other being more powerful. Is it a tad early? Perhaps. But given the 15s are expected to hit dealerships soon...

 

[Trackaholic]

No offence to anyone. This conversation is really moot. Its like saying whos a better lay? Your girl or Sofia Vergara. Obviously we haven't driven the 2015 mustang yet, so best we wait until we've got our hands on one to determine which is the better fun car.

Eh, what else are we going to talk about. The whole point is to make baseless assumptions and then argue about them until some new shred of information allows a new assumption.


-T

 

[wilkinda65]

Who is this Sofia?

 

[Sterling Archer]

Who is this Sofia?

One of the most beautiful women on the face of this earth:

 

[Trevon]

I couldn't ever enjoy myself in a FWD car...maybe if they bring it out in AWD, but still, seems more of a car for single moms.

 

[wilkinda65]

One of the most beautiful women on the face of this earth:

ehhhh

 

[foghat]

The Focus ST has no problem throwing it's tail out there (if anything it almost oversteers), and I've heard the Fiesta ST does that even better.

That's why I'm curious as to which car will truly be more fun to drive. Obviously the mustang has an entirely different legacy tied to it, but most of my driving will be to work and around the city.

I meant more about fishtailing a bit in when traveling in a straightish line and/or being able to kick the rear out on command.

I can't go back to FWD.

This. Though I'd definitely get fwd (or awd, obviously) if I were looking for a winter beater.

I used to big a fan of fwd pocket rockets - though mostly because at those points in my life they offered the biggest performance bang for the buck that I could afford.

This said, I have nothing against fwd, just not the configuration I'd pick these days.

 

[Papaya]

EcoBoost = EcoBoost?

Asking to compare an apple with a banana? Also that cars can have the same engine, they can be completely different to drive. In Europe, we have mostly FWD cars. So I know how they feel on the road. But I drove also Mercedes with RWD. Saying that the Focus ST should be like a Mustang because of the EcoBoost engine? No way!

Here in Canada with the strong winters we have, I drove FWD,AWD and RWD. No problems at all. I know that everyone is saying to get FWD or AWD for the winter season. I had the 2005 Mustang convertible for the warmer days. Never seen a winter road. But I drove also a Smart car Cdi through the winter with no problems. (61HP incl. Turbo ) Hey I drove through the streets like I would drive a Gocart. Now I drive a Supercharged Mercedes C230, RWD as my winter beater. Nice snow tires in the winter - no problems at all.

It's the driver who drives the car who can have fun in both - FWD and RWD. Don't start to compare cars because the have the same engine. That makes no sense at all. :gossip:

 

[JoeDogInKC]

I didn't realize that Canada was in Europe...

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