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The Psychedelic Socialist's Focus ST



The Psychedelic Socialist

ClioSport Club Member
After doing sterling duty ferrying myself and the family around, I decided it was finally time to chop the FIesta in and get something a bit bigger and more practical. As I'm clearly a latent England-flag-sporting, pops-and-bangs-map dribbler, it had to be another hot-hatch, and I figured with so many being discontinued for good this was probably my last chance to get into a relatively new, run-out flagship model. I shopped around the usual suspects ; CTR (too expensive and too big), GR Yaris (too small), Golf GTI / R (already done it), and Megane (bit too old now / automatic only) before deciding on the Focus ST. Thankfully the options list is quite short so it wasn't too difficult to find the ideal spec, and I managed to get a Mean Green ST with the optional Track Pack, as well as the Driver's Assistance Pack (adaptive cruise etc.), on a '22 plate with just under 5,000 miles on the clock:

PXL_20250330_114323851.jpg


Not sure how much 'track' work it's going to get, but the brakes are upgraded to 365mm Brembos which really fill out the wheels, and you get a nice set of 19" flow formed alloys. The big upgrade though is the Ford Performance adjustable coilovers which are (AIUI) basically just a set of KW Variant 3s with a handy manual full of suggested damper settings (not that I own a jack to be able to change anything yet).

First impressions are that it's a much more serious car than the old Fiesta even if it's not as fast in a straight line. The engine response is much better and there's more torque down low, but it does run out of puff much earlier at 6k where the Fiesta still had its strongest 1,000rpm still to come. That said, with the suspension and the electromechanical front diff, it's so much faster out of corners and doesn't seem to get unsettled over rough ground to anything like the same extent.

I've decided to keep it standard for the time being at least, with a view to maybe have the Mountune M330 map and intercooler fitted next year which would take it to (funnily enough) 330bhp and 515nm of torque, both comfortably more than the old Fiesta. Given how sorted the brakes and suspension already are, I think that'd probably do me for the medium to long-term, but I've said that before...

Only niggle today is that it appears the battery is fucked so I'm going to have to try and get that sorted. One panel of buttons simply doesn't work and the battery SoC on Forscan is showing 63% even after 3.5hrs of driving in the last three days. Quite a common fault though so I'm hoping the dealership will just point me to Halfords and ask for a receipt so I can get a larger capacity battery fitted. There's also a tweak in Forscan to set the charge target to 90% from 80% which should give me 40% more usable charge compared to the OE unit's normal setting (80% of 60Ah vs. 90% of 75Ah).

Other than that it's been a treat to get into something more modern for a long journey with all the Android Auto integration, adaptive cruise, rev-matching etc. Really gelling with it already and given I typically only do 4,000 miles a year, should be something I can keep pretty fresh for a long time.

(and i know I said I'd wash it first but I ran out of time f**king about with Forscan, so decent pictures will have to wait...)
 

The Psychedelic Socialist

ClioSport Club Member
It's b****cks that they have the charge target set at 80%, what's the point 😂
I've read some third hand discussions about it being a general setting to help with energy recovery and efficiency, but not sure how much that would apply to a non-hybrid anyway? Especially as keeping the SoC that low seems to ensure that the stop/start never functions anyway so you lose that efficiency saving before you've even started (stopped).
 

Bluebeard

ClioSport Moderator
  Whichever has fuel
It's b****cks that they have the charge target set at 80%, what's the point 😂
We used to change loads of Batteries in Rangers before we sold them because they would just die randomly. But since we’ve been switching the target to (whatever it is our mechanic sets it to) we’ve not replaced a single battery. 😂
 

ForceIndia

ClioSport Club Member
  Gentlemans spec 200
I really like these. They don’t seem to have the same image issues that most Fords come with as standard.

Great colour too
 

ForceIndia

ClioSport Club Member
  Gentlemans spec 200
We used to change loads of Batteries in Rangers before we sold them because they would just die randomly. But since we’ve been switching the target to (whatever it is our mechanic sets it to) we’ve not replaced a single battery. 😂
Neighbour has got some Yaris based Mazda hybrid. If he doesn’t use it for a few days, it dies. Every time.
 

The Psychedelic Socialist

ClioSport Club Member
Good work, I think the green would look better if you weren't parked in front of BP. More pictures required.

Did they still do the estate in this model?
Don't worry, I'll soon clog the thread with pictures, just need to find some time to give it a proper going over.

Yeah, you can get the estate, but not with the Track Pack IIRC, that's hatchback only.
Looks great, did you part ex the st or sell it privately?
Was going to PX it but the dealers weren't that keen due to the level of mods I had. Got an offer but actually got more through WBAC. Still probably got fleeced, but slightly less than I could have been and I'd been spooked by watching Roj struggle to shift his better age / spec / condition ST so I thought I'd save myself the hassle.
My mate has one of these in the same colour

It has that camera stuff where it will read the gantries and drop to the speed to whatever it says if he has cruise on. Mad s**t
What plate is that on? Mine reads the signs and warns me to slow down but keeps the speed to the figure I've set. Might be a setting lurking somewhere I've not found yet.
 

Flob

ClioSport Club Member
Don't worry, I'll soon clog the thread with pictures, just need to find some time to give it a proper going over.

Yeah, you can get the estate, but not with the Track Pack IIRC, that's hatchback only.

Was going to PX it but the dealers weren't that keen due to the level of mods I had. Got an offer but actually got more through WBAC. Still probably got fleeced, but slightly less than I could have been and I'd been spooked by watching Roj struggle to shift his better age / spec / condition ST so I thought I'd save myself the hassle.

What plate is that on? Mine reads the signs and warns me to slow down but keeps the speed to the figure I've set. Might be a setting lurking somewhere I've not found yet.
Boooo f**k you Ford, track pack estate would be brilliant.
 

Clio_fool

ClioSport Club Member
The seats look very similar to the ones in my old 308 which were very comfortable and the alcantara centres work a treat to keep you from sliding about. Those brakes look small though. 😆
 

ForceIndia

ClioSport Club Member
  Gentlemans spec 200
My mate has one of these in the same colour

It has that camera stuff where it will read the gantries and drop to the speed to whatever it says if he has cruise on. Mad s**t
There’s a way to disable that. I had one as a courtesy car, decided a 60 was actually a 20😂
 

Yarp

ClioSport Club Member
  Clio 182, E46 M3
My mate has one of these in the same colour

It has that camera stuff where it will read the gantries and drop to the speed to whatever it says if he has cruise on. Mad s**t

Our pool car has all that adaptive shite.

It’s great because it ignores NSL signs so you can set it to whatever on an A road it’ll just do what you tell it. Until you get to Scotland….. which is the only place I drive it to. They’ve got 40mph signs for HGVs for the entire length of the A75 and the spiteful useless c**t throws you through the windscreen every 400ft when it spots one. And then proceed to bing its tits of when you ignore it. Stupid f**king system and stupid f**king haggis’s for having different HGV limits.
 

McGherkin

McPension
ClioSport Club Member
These ones don't give off a chav vibe at all, compared to the previous generations. No, instead they give off unmarked fuzz vibes instead. People equally don't want to be around you, but in a different way.

These are good, respect-worthy cars. I'd be lying if I said it truly excited me though.
 

McGherkin

McPension
ClioSport Club Member
Nothing quite gets the blood pumping the way a 15 year old Volvo C30 does though does it.
You know you don't have to talk about Volvos, don't you?

I just mean we have fantastic chassis these days, cars that handle brilliantly, but they all sound exactly the same. I could put you in a dark room and play you the sound of a Megane, Focus, i30N and Civic and you simply would not know. I just wish manufacturers could build something that sounds different.

Likewise, you stick one of these next to an i30n and take the badges off.... same car.

Like I said, these are great cars, absolutely. I just wish they had a bit more soul like the old ones had. Especially as the Focus was one of the least restrained in the styling department.
 

SC03OTT

ClioSport Club Member
  Golf GTI
Can that sign reading thing be turned off?

Certainly can be in my Golf. Agreed that it’s a total s**t feature. Mainly as it doesn’t just pick up signs on the road you’re on but, also those on backs of vehicles, side roads and any temporary limits (I’m thinking those 20mph school limits that are active when the lights are flashing). Absolute gash.
 

Flob

ClioSport Club Member
You know you don't have to talk about Volvos, don't you?

I just mean we have fantastic chassis these days, cars that handle brilliantly, but they all sound exactly the same. I could put you in a dark room and play you the sound of a Megane, Focus, i30N and Civic and you simply would not know. I just wish manufacturers could build something that sounds different.

Likewise, you stick one of these next to an i30n and take the badges off.... same car.

Like I said, these are great cars, absolutely. I just wish they had a bit more soul like the old ones had. Especially as the Focus was one of the least restrained in the styling department.
I just think he has a new car and is probably excited and likely doesn't need peoples inner most thoughts about an i30n, whether or not I love it is beside the point tbh and I'm just happy he is happy.

The truth of the matter is that I don't love anything that modern, but if I did I would be very happy with that ST (especially if they did a track pack estate).

For example, when your C30 is all built and you are dead chuffed with it I won't be sharing my true thoughts about it as they won't matter a mm to you!
 

McGherkin

McPension
ClioSport Club Member
I just think he has a new car and is probably excited and likely doesn't need peoples inner most thoughts about an i30n, whether or not I love it is beside the point tbh and I'm just happy he is happy.

The truth of the matter is that I don't love anything that modern, but if I did I would be very happy with that ST (especially if they did a track pack estate).

For example, when your C30 is all built and you are dead chuffed with it I won't be sharing my true thoughts about it as they won't matter a mm to you!
I think my first post came across a bit wrong, I wasn’t saying that the fact it looks more like cop than robber as an insult, what I mean is they’ve grown up a lot looks wise.

I then said that they’re good cars and I respect them. Which I do.
 


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