2006 Ford Focus ST 3 from UK and Ireland - Comments

Dashboard has picked up creaks already, service light won't go out. Took it back to Ford, which they've reset twice, but keeps coming back.

Awkwards seating position.

Brakes bind when crawling.

Apart from that, have only had the car 2 1/2 months.

I'm very disappointed with the performance and general build on this model, I assumed it would be amazing after reading reviews and so on in magazines and on the net, but when you pay 19k for a car brand new, you don't expect there to be fault after fault straight after picking it up.

I bought the car because I do a lot of travelling to and from work, and thought I'd treat myself to this so called hothatch.

The car I tested must've been a special one as the power in this doesn't seem as quick.

The handling is great, but you can feel how heavy it is in the corners.

The volvo 5-pot engine is a strong performer, but is extremely thirsty, pulls strong from 2k to 6k, then falls.

I own a bright orange model with 3 doors and full leather recaro's, air con, and all whistles and bells.

Shouldve gone for the Astra VXR to start with as that looks better and goes like stink. That's why I'm selling it ASAP to get one.

Verdict: A waste of money. Buy Vauxhall.

If you have only had the car two and half months then the engine is still probably not fully broken in yet. The car you would have tested most likely had been. I own an Astra VXR, and yes it goes ‘like stink’ but its fuel economy is not as good as the focus, the handling in the focus when I test drove it was excellent even when wet, the Astra due to 240bhp under steers loads when accelerating through a corner. Focus is more roomy with a large boot, good as a hot hatch and a family car.

Sounds as though this car suffers from the usual teething problems that all new models suffer. I agree with the comment regarding giving the engine chance to run in. However, if you've done 11,000 now, that shouldn't be an issue. I think you should have bought a TDCI / Vectra V6 diesel / Golf TDI if you're worried about fuel economy. They still perform reasonably well and are ideal if you're doing 5 k per month. I think you'll find the power band in the T5 engine is 1,600 rpm - 4,000, therefore thrashing the N*ts out of it (above 6,000 rpm!!!) does not really achieve anything other than halve the engine life and make it drink like a chevrolet V8.

You should of spent the extra £1,000 and got a Golf GTI, you get what you pay for. And forget the VXR, it's got far too much power for a FWD car and the torque steer makes the car near impossible to drive under hard acceleration. 200bhp for a FWD car is perfectly adequate.

Wait, I need some clarification.

I thought the VXR was the Elise clone, mid engine, RWD.

Or is VXR a branding add-on (like GTi) to various product models?

The Astra VXR is the all singing and dancing version of your average Astra, but it has a sting in it's tail. The great part about it is the fact you have to drive it with respect. Cars today are boring - they basically drive for you. The Golf GTI is tarred with the same brush. The status boys and girls don't like the fact that the Astra wipes the floor with the GTI in the performance stakes - well done Vauxhall! Any 200+ bhp FWD cars suffer from torque steer - it's part of the charm - just depends whether you can handle it.

The Astra VXR is a very lame effort for a hot hatch and it certainly does not wipe the floor with any of it's rivals. In the dry with a good driver it will be slightly quicker in a straight line, but round the twisties the VXR is totally useless as it has far too much power for a FWD car, it's got nothing to do with 'just depends whether you can handle it' if I was paying the best part of £20,000 I want a car that is usable in any condition, and the VXR isn't. If you watched the last series of Topgear Clarkson slated it for this reason and it is way behind it's rivals on there 'powerlap' leader board, even the outgoing CTR is much quicker.

I certainly don't buy a car for it's status and anyone who does is sad, the ST is a very fine hot hatch and anyone who disagrees with this doesn't know what they're talking about.

Well, the reality is the majority of car buyers purchase for status, whether it is upscale (BMW, etc.) or simply reliable (the Camry, Accord here in the states).

I, like you, buy the car that fits me best and am not concerned with what the world thinks.

Top Gear is fun, but is hardly a programme you can take seriously. Racing a car around a circuit is hardly a fair reflection on how it would perform in everyday use. Yes it gives you an idea of how they would perform if you want to kill yourself. Britains roads are not designed for driving like a 'psycho'. The point theat everyone is skipping is Focus ST / Astra VXR / Golf GTI - the so called hot hatches of the motoring world all perform to a similar standard for the average UK user. Let's face it - they all sit comnfortably in a traffic jam! It's all down to status at the end of the day - personally I think VW are rubbish and have never liked Vauxhall cars. In terms of driver appeal, the Focus wins hands down by the mere fact it has a T5 engine. The competitiors just can't touch that for class. The other 4 pots sound liked lawn mowers.

How can you say VW are 'rubbish', have you ever owned one? It's a very bold statement to make considering VW make some of the finest vehicles available in todays market, most of which are class leaders and get excellent write-ups by all the top motoring magazines, agree with you regarding vauxhalls though.

Well, auto magazines don't have to live with these cars for years like buyers do. Even the long term tests are still "padded" as the manufacturer will go overboard to make sure the cars work properly. For example, in the 1990's Car and Driver had a BMW 540i with a defective engine. BMW flew in a new engine and made a swap in a day. Now, do you really think every BMW customer had the same experience (and the engines were defective)?

And I cannot believe you say VWs are so great when if you look at virtually ANY review for a Golf, Jetta, Van, Passat on this site you will find people regretting their purchases.

I have no doubt the new Golf GTI is a fantastic car and in many ways it is THE perfect car for my lifestyle. I really really want one. But the fact that VW reliability is subpar AND the dealers refuse to help makes me not want to get one.

It's the same reason I chose not to get a Mini. Too many rattles and lots of other things going wrong.

Re. VW being 'rubbish'. Perhaps that was too bold. The reality is they are average. The build quality is no better than the other mass manufacturers. The interiors are bland, although functional. Servicing is expensive and the dealers are not exactly the best. Without a shadow of a doubt Ford are more fun to drive than their VW equivalents. The Focus has always been more entertaining than the Golf, along with the Mondeo being a better drivers car than the Passatt. Equipment levels are also poor in the VW's and you pay a premium just to have the badge.

I've had an ST3 on order since January with not even a build date yet let alone a delivery date - should have been 1st March. I wish I was in a position to comment on it's performance etc!!

I get my st3 5dr on 1st april and can't wait, I work at ford and do not normally entertain ford cars as my own, but the st has me grinning from ear to ear every time I take one out.

It's a Ford with attitude. It's good to see them re-launching the type of cars we used to see on the roads in the 80's. I think this car along with it's big Brother - the Mondeo ST220 are great. Well built and refined. In fact they put their German competitors to shame in the equipment department. The ST Focus is without a shadow of a doubt the best all rounder out of the Golf GTI and Astra VXR. If you're not too concerned about keeping up sith the Jone's and can live with the blue oval - you won't be disapointed. Before you ask - no I don't work for Ford, I just happen to know they make very good cars.

Ever wonder how every magazine on the planet proclaimed the Focus to be "Car of the Year!", and continued to heap praise on the model 6 years after its initial inception? Do these people not figure reliability, cost effectiveness, longevity, or piece of mind into the equation? If you figure this into the equation it equals unmitigated disaster.