Focus ST

[dawolf]

Was driving along a dual carriageway today in the turbo and some bloke was playing behind in his Focus ST. I could see he was up for trying it on. We got to some lights and I went into the left lane and he stayed in the right. Both pulled away quickly and I probably just had a slight edge on him along the straight but he kept within 20 metres of me, it took until at least 60-65mph for me to pull away from him and even then it was only quite gradual. I remained in front before he flashed at me and turned off into a side street.

I have a rev 3 turbo running standard boost with a couple of minor mods. His ST looked pretty standard on the outside. I've heard people say that MR2 turbo's should win fairly easily but it was a close run thing. I had to work my car hard and rev high to get distance between us. Makes me wonder if either my car is down a bit on power or the ST was modified in some way. It seemed like a quick car. Hmm.

Anyone else experienced a Focus ST?

[shibby!]

Yes not that fast mate,

He would have probably modded it buddy to give you a good go.



I drove a few of them, was thinking about buying one for the bird.


220bhp ish, and darn heavy.

You have more power and leww weight, should be an easy win standard for standard.

Nick

[dawolf]

That's what I thought. I knew I should've won more comfortably. My car seems to be running okay and boosts up to 0.9 bar as it should.

[matt_mr2t]

I wouldnt be quite so arrogant about beating them.

From a standstill, definately. But those things have MASSIVE midrange and barely any lag at all. My mates one shocked the xxxx out of me when I went out in it.

Seen them at the pod doing low 15's so not even slouches off the mark. You can get a £600 single mod that takes them to 275bhp as well - the Bluefin chip.
It's even covered by the warrenty

[shibby!]

I wouldnt be quite so arrogant about beating them.

From a standstill, definately. But those things have MASSIVE midrange and barely any lag at all. My mates one shocked the xxxx out of me when I went out in it.

Seen them at the pod doing low 15's so not even slouches off the mark. You can get a £600 single mod that takes them to 275bhp as well - the Bluefin chip.
It's even covered by the warrenty

LOLOLOL!!!!

Low 15's!!!

Thats what an N/A does!!!


A standard turbo will rock it up in the 13's!

Nick

[mikee66]

I wouldnt be quite so arrogant about beating them.

From a standstill, definately. But those things have MASSIVE midrange and barely any lag at all. My mates one shocked the xxxx out of me when I went out in it.

Seen them at the pod doing low 15's so not even slouches off the mark. You can get a £600 single mod that takes them to 275bhp as well - the Bluefin chip.
It's even covered by the warrenty

i don't think there was any arrogance matt?

low 15's is poo for a 2.5 turbo imo. I rocked a 15.1 in a rev1 n/a and rich lee got into the mid 14's in a rev2 n/a

[Chr15py]

I wouldnt be quite so arrogant about beating them.

From a standstill, definately. But those things have MASSIVE midrange and barely any lag at all. My mates one shocked the xxxx out of me when I went out in it.

Seen them at the pod doing low 15's so not even slouches off the mark. You can get a £600 single mod that takes them to 275bhp as well - the Bluefin chip.
It's even covered by the warrenty

i don't think there was any arrogance matt?

low 15's is poo for a 2.5 turbo imo. I rocked a 15.1 in a rev1 n/a and rich lee got into the mid 14's in a rev2 n/a

...but his N/A does have NOS though. They do feel much, much more planted than an MR2 does through the twisties
Chris

[matt_mr2t]

A) it's a front wheel drive car so getting low 15's high 14's isnt bad. Thats the same as a standard Escort Cosworth will get.

B) that plug in mod will probably see that time improve alot.

C) the 1/4 mile ISNT a great way of judging how fast a car is. Most of it is getting off the line quick, which most FWD cars struggle with.

[shibby!]

I drove one and thought it was big and heavy and didnt handle too well at all.

I also thought it was pretty slow to be honest, and is not really a match for the turbo.

Remmeber its got less power, and is a good bit heavier.

Nick

[matt_mr2t]

It's more powerful than a rev1 or 2.

[shibby!]

It's more powerful than a rev1 or 2.

Its just the same,

220 is it not.

Also 1400kg so i hear.

So a good 200kg heavier.



Nick

[matt_mr2t]

Rev 1's and 2's generally make 200 - 205 bhp standard.

Mine did and others have and even alot of the litterature I find around the net etc quotes 205bhp.

[matt_mr2t]

Here's one reliable example of it.

http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/ ... ?car=15642

[Scotster]

Here's one reliable example of it.

http://www.carfolio.com/specifications/ ... ?car=15642

Pretty sure thats the american version is it not? The american cars were 205bhp. The only reason ours aren't 220 std is age and fuel.

Scott =op

[matt_mr2t]

Well everything I've seen every where says 200ish bhp. Mine made it and most others make it.

That site also lists the Rev 3 as 245bhp which all the standard ones I've seen get dead on.

All I'm saying is that if you have a standard rev1 or 2 tubby you may well end up having alot more trouble against one of these than you think.

[mr2nut123]

I had a blat with one and to around 60 he wasn't doing too bad to be fair but past then and I was absolutely ripping it, into treble figures and it's a spec of dust. Standard for standard, due to the huge extra weight and FWD, ANY rev tubby would be ahead of it but by all means it would be close. I just find it funny that a 2.5 turbo only has 240bhp and the mr2s 2.0 turbo isn't that far behind from 15 years ago, it's a disgrace to be honest.

Not bad looking cars but through that money at a good low mileage tubby and it would be a far better looking, more reliable and entertaining car... no comparrison

[dawolf]

Definitely. Imagine having £14k to spend on the MR2 turbo

[matt_mr2t]

I had a blat with one and to around 60 he wasn't doing too bad to be fair but past then and I was absolutely ripping it, into treble figures and it's a spec of dust. Standard for standard, due to the huge extra weight and FWD, ANY rev tubby would be ahead of it but by all means it would be close. I just find it funny that a 2.5 turbo only has 240bhp and the mr2s 2.0 turbo isn't that far behind from 15 years ago, it's a disgrace to be honest.

Not bad looking cars but through that money at a good low mileage tubby and it would be a far better looking, more reliable and entertaining car... no comparrison

They're 227bhp but that engine isnt new by any means. It's lifted straight out of the Volvo T5 from the mid 90's

Like I've said all along, off the mark the tubby has it licked. But I reckon rolling at 30mph each it'll be more interesting.
I left my mates for dust but my tubby is around 300hp.

From the passenger seat they feel very quick for what they are and those seats

[shibby!]

Matt you drove one?

I have, not impressive in my opinon.

I wondered if the turbo was actually going...... it was

Nick

[matt_mr2t]

No not driven it, just been in the passenger seat.

It's quite civilised, you cant hear the turbo screaming nor do you have 10 second delay and a sudden wall of power.

But looking across at his speedo confirmed what I suspected, we were going pretty fast, pretty quick.