Any one hitting up this event on sat at gillette stadium?
Im assuming their setting up an auto cross track like the Mazda zoom zoom demos.
http://www.drivefocusst.com/
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Any one hitting up this event on sat at gillette stadium?
Im assuming their setting up an auto cross track like the Mazda zoom zoom demos.
http://www.drivefocusst.com/
I did this with the FR-S a few weeks ago and it was fun
only 2 ~ 60 seconds runs on a small auto-x course, but a new car, free to drive? Im there!!!!
I just signed up for 1:00 lol
Heres the video from the last event
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcLaCPgIMHE
For sure I had a blast at the Mazda one. They eventually kicked me out because I kept turning off traction control on the miata and rx8 and spinning off the track. I also signed up for the 1 pm slot.
I also just signed up for a 1pm slot...
Signed up for a 2pm slot, I've been curious how this compares to the MS3. Sounds like a good time.
I've got a 11am time (signed up a few weeks ago).
Well, that was pretty fun. I like the car, a lot.
Heres the video:
I got a 30.0 and a 30.1
Really wanted a 29.x but it didnt happen lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf87wBE8t2M
How's the steering ratio on these? Pretty quick? I sometimes bemoan my slow steering Saturn.
Sounds pretty loud inside when you get on it. Does it understeer like a typical turbo FWD car?
It utilizes one of those new systems that pipes extra engine noise into the cabin. The PR guys explained it was real as opposed to BMW's fake sound system.Quote:
Originally Posted by SRTie4k
As far as the understeering, I noticed a small amount, and only at the tightest corners. Throttle lift-off quickly corrected it. When it was driven incorrectly, hard and fast into corners, the tires would scream loudly as it plowed through. But overall, it tracked fairly well. I also didn't notice a big turbo bump between the lag and the power...really linear. Made it easier to modulate the throttle input.
Fun event. Wish I knew when the mfgs had these more often. On a side note, I don't think I've ever seen so many Speed3s in one place...counted 11 in the lot at one point.
Steering ratio seemed quick enough, nothing spectacular, definitely sporty though.Quote:
Originally Posted by golden chicken
One thing I would say about this car is that it DOES NOT "feel" like a fwd car. I went in with intentions of comparing it to my wifes old mazdaspeed3 (she has a 12 wrx limited now, because the ms3 definitely made you aware it was fwd), but it was nothing like the speed3. Lots of low end torque, but no wheelspin with the driving nannies on. I really enjoyed how well it rotated. A little trail braking easily led to light oversteer. There was little to no understeer to be found! The car rotated so well, it was a joy on the course. Another thing was the brakes. The brakes on it were very aggressive. Not much modulation unfortunately, kinda stabby really. Maybe needs getting used to, but I would say they were plenty strong. Nice interior too.Quote:
Originally Posted by SRTie4k
- - - Updated - - -
howd you do for times?Quote:
Originally Posted by KawiSmurf
I'm pretty interested to see what Cobb has in store, and what kind of numbers they can extract from it. They've supposedly had access to the platform since the last SEMA.
I'm not crazy about the body, though. It's a bit polarizing.
Other questions - did you guys get to drive auto and manuals? How did they perform? Also how did you like the Recaro seats?
Not bad, 33.2, 30.3. Felt like I was pushing so hard on the last one, too, but still in the 30s.Quote:
Originally Posted by xrocket21
ST is manual only, but they had a regular Focus w/slushbox for those unfamiliar with a clutch. We were told to keep it in 2nd for the whole run, so the only shifting was right off the line. Box felt stiff, though, not sloppy. Seats were interesting, because they're definitely European sized, not XL American sized. I like them because the bolsters were really big, but I could tell a few of the large guys were a bit uncomfortable.Quote:
Originally Posted by SRTie4k
I had read that the ST will also be coming with a 6 or 7 speed dual clutch setup, possibly in 2014 though. Maybe they scrapped it?Quote:
Originally Posted by KawiSmurf
You know, I thought I heard something similar recently, but I guess I just assumed it was a no-go after seeing all the ones on hand were manual. But you might be right about next year, and they just didn't have any production ones ready in time for the tour.Quote:
Originally Posted by SRTie4k
I gotta say I liked the seats a lot. Comfy and very adjustable. I got to drive both the st2 and st3 trim level cars. St3 is nice but a $30k focus is silly.
Completely agree. Recaro's were quite nice.Quote:
Originally Posted by xrocket21
$30k all in for an ST3 ... not to mention that you would also have to dump another grand in new tires if you were to daily drive it through New England winters (OEM tires are Goodyear Eagle F1's).
Another grand? For snows? Will they fit 17's? I bet you could get some steelies and get it done for a little over half that.
It's winter. The car is gonna look like ass 98% of the season anyway.
$30k is a little ridiculous for an Impreza or a Lancer, no?
:dunno:
Not sure if it would fit steel wheels. I don't see any options for them on Tirerack right now. We probably won't have a good idea of what fits until the car is actually released in September/October.Quote:
Originally Posted by nhbubba
Most good snows run at minimum $700 for a pair of 17's. Once you start getting bigger than 16", they get very expensive. I seem to recall my 18" snows cost me $800 (and I hate them).
Minimum huh?
General Altimax Arctic 225/45R17 - $125/ea => $500
< $100 ea for my 16" steelies. But I bet this ST won't take 16's.
Notice how I said "most". I was also including the price of mounting/balancing.
I bet 16s would fit fine, it didnt have particularly big brakes on it, though they worked very wellQuote:
Originally Posted by nhbubba
There you go then.
I know in the VW mk5 golf platform world there are basically three brake setups: the base cars will take 15's, the GTI and my 2.0T wagon will take 16's, and then the R32 won't clear anything less than 17". The 15's make for comparatively dirt cheap snow setups.
What I see a lot of is people insisting their prized auto run on fancy alloy wheels year round, even when coated with salt and road grime. Typically people buy blingy 18-19" wheels for summer use, then retire the (nice) OEM alloys to 'winter use'. These OEM sets are invariably 17 or 18". They could run a smaller, cheaper setup, but they don't. Then they complain about the cost of rubber.
I bought a set of OEM 16" steel wheels for $30 ea a few Octobers ago from tire rack with those Generals I linked pre-mounted. Total cost to me was like $500 delivered. They work great.
Next time I buy a set of winter tires, it will be with smaller winter wheels too. My big wide 18's in snow really don't help grip at all.
I run 235/40/17s in summer and 205/55/16s in winter. BIG grip difference, but they cut through snow much better.
Agreed. I run 225/45R17 summer and 205/55R16 winters myself. I'm never going back to an all season. Wish the car had shipped with summers on it already. Does this ST ship that way? That's a nice bonus in my book.
Performance hatches always seem to ship with summer tires. I assume the ST is no different.
YEs, the Focus ST comes with Goodyear Eagle F1'sQuote:
Originally Posted by nhbubba
http://blogimg.wemotor.my/blog/wp-co...ymmetric-2.jpg
Neat. That'll save some guys ~$600 and make for some fun test drives.
My wagon shipped with all seasons. But then maybe it isn't a performance hatch. :kix:
I think it was an option on the GTIs... an option not usually ticked by dealers when ordering stock for the lot here in New England unless you got the absurd 18" wheels.
I wonder how the build quality in the ST will compare to other hot hatches. My Speed 3 rattles, creaks and groans like mad.
My Saturn came with summer tires on it...and I took delivery in a February blizzard. Whoops.
Same here. First impression of the ST was that it seems pretty solid. Nice materials/textures, tight gaps, quality door sound. But the Speed3 had those qualities when I first got it, too. It's just so stiff and tightly screwed together from the factory, that after years of driving on New England roads it eventually devolves into noise. The rags are saying the ST's refinement is somewhere between the Mazda and a GTI out of the box, so it may hold up a little longer. The disadvatage of driving it strictly on a parking lot course is you don't get to hear the tight suspension smash and bang around on the imperfect public roads.Quote:
Originally Posted by SRTie4k
We have a Mazda3i (base). I have been disappointed at how it has worn. Carpet pulling out of seems. Dash trim falling off. Door cards falling apart. The doors and trunk lid feel like they wobble. Just about every control surface shows heavy wear.
Car is an '05 with ~97k on the clock. We are looking to replace it next year. Although it has been subjected to my missus continuously.
She won't go for the Focus because of the styling. She won't go for an MT either and I'm turned off by what they've done with the DSG... so she won't get any protests from me. Right now I think she's headed for a Subie.
People don't always realize, but moisturizer on your hands can damage the surfaces inside your car such as radio buttons and HVAC knobs.
Someone was there taking shots:
http://newschoolofphotography.com/li...orough-ma.html
The term "hot hatch" always made me chuckle. If its got five doors, it's a station wagon. Be a man and be proud of your station wagon. It's fast and practical.
Full disclosure: former owner of an S4 wagon, er, Avant. Damn I miss that car some days.
Not entirely true these days. There is a difference between a hatchback and a wagon.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rockhead
http://jalopnik.com/5872562/what-makes-a-wagon-a-wagon
Just because a vehicle has 5 doors doesn't mean its a wagon. If that were the case, vans, SUVs and CUVs would all be considered wagons.