2006 Ford Focus ST2 from UK and Ireland - Comments

No faults so far (would expect nothing less)

The decision to buy this car over the new Golf GTI took four test drives and several (literally) sleepless nights. In the end, the Ford's more charismatic and stronger engine won the day, not to mention its sharper steering. The substantial saving was simply the icing on the cake.

Two months on, I do not regret my choice. Quite simply it has exceeded my expectations. The engine is magnificent, loosening up noticeably as we clicked past 3,000 miles. Bottom end torque is barely believable, with virtually no lag and instant throttle response. The offbeat growl as the revs build is also very pleasing on the ear, and gives the engine real character. It's still not as keen to rev as I would expect, but given the grunt on tap up to 6,000 RPM, it's not a real hardship. I also suspect it will improve as the miles go on. The 6 speed gearbox was a little notchy on delivery, but is now as slick and smooth as I could wish for.

Handling is superb. Grip from the front end is astonishing for a front wheel drive car, and I was very pleased to note that Ford didn't suck up to the health and safety lobby, and engineered in some lift off oversteer. The result is a car which can be steered beautifully on the throttle, and recovered easily thanks to the torque and low-lag response of the engine. It has a lovely old-school hot hatch feel to it, which encourages you to drive it hard. This has always been a key strength of fast Fords, and I'm pleased to say the ST has it in abundance. The Golf by comparison felt a little more "grown up" and, well basically a lot more "German". For some this will appeal, but for me it didn't.

The interior quality is good, if not quite to the level of the Golf. The controls have a slick, well damped quality, the alignment of panels and trim is faultless, and nothing creaks or rattles. The central pod with boost and oil gauges reminds me of my old Escort Cosworth, and the overall ambience of the interior is definitely a step up from Fords of old.

Running costs are pretty much as expected. I'm averaging around 24 mpg with spirited driving. This can creep up to 33 mpg on a motorway run, or down to 17 mpg when really giving it some welly. Which sadly (for economy purposes), it tends to encourage.

But who cares about that? The upshot of all the positives about this car is a package which sticks a big grin on my face whenever I drive it, and which, when driven properly, is capable of handing out a pasting too many far more expensive cars on the right roads. I'm still not 100% sold on the styling (I went for Performance Blue), but it does look kind of chunky and aggressive. I'd never call it pretty though.

For all its slightly rough edges compared to the Golf, it's a pure fun machine. It's a bit raw in comparison and a bit crude feeling sometimes, but it's quicker, sounds far nicer, sends much more feel up through the wheel rim, and has a lovely, slightly lairy feel to its chassis setup. It's also so far proving 100% reliable. I love it so far, and it's nice to see that real drivers cars are still available at a (relatively) affordable price.

Thanks for good review, roadtesting soon, golf gti, subaru wrx, focus st, will let you now soon, tryed volvo s40 t5 with same engine, that was very fast.

Here's hoping you don't experience problems with this car like us Yanks.

Great review with some valid points. This car without a shadow of a doubt is better than the Golf GTI. However, I have heard the engine can be a bit 'boomy' and tiring on a journey. Is this the case or only if you drive it hard?

If your buying a hot hatch that will involve you at every moment, a proper drivers car then buy the astra vxr turbo, I test drove the 3. vxr, st2,golf gti and found the golf to be a boring waste of money, nicely built and a car to buy if you worry about recidal values.

St2 nice looking, good build quality for ford, very juicy, not as fast as you'd think, expensive to maintain that volvo engine.

So the vxr wins hands down on build quality, looks, refinement and that power will make you grin endlessly, very tunable engine. £500 upgrade to 330bhp

vxr gets endless looks on the road whereas the focus and golf look a little bit boring and dated.

I test drove the Focus ST last week. Wow, a fantastic drive. Ordered my one straight away. Looks good, drives brilliantly.

Nice one Ford!

RE: Comments from 15th Apr 2006. Why an earth would you want to upgrade the VXR to 330bhp? Its chassis can barely cope with the power it already has, 330bhp would make it un-driveable.

As for comments about cars looking boring, this is all personal taste, personally, I prefer the subtle understated looks of the Golf and not the 'in your face' styling of the VXR and ST, but everyone's different.

As for the Astra been a proper drivers car, well I nearly fell off my seat with laughter after reading that. I can't remember the last time Vauxhall made a real drivers car where-as Ford are producing them year after year, you won't find a better brand new drivers car out there for under 20k than the new ST.

Really 330 bhp??? that would blow the head gasket off never mind the car into the nearest ditch!

How would it make it undriveable? You don't drive with your foot planted to the floor all the time anyway. The chassis can put the power to the tarmac, it just won't be very good on a circuit.

Look on regal website: www.regal-shop.co.uk, and you will see that the engine can handle a lot more than 330bhp, same engine as vx220, Astra turbo with the hybrid turbo as standard.

Well it sound's like you've never driven a 300+bhp FWD car, they are totally useless in the wet and virtually undrivable in the snow. Seems as though we live in a country with very poor weather, what’s the point in a 300+bhp FWD car? You might possibly get 330bhp, but you’re not going to get it down on the tarmac, 300bhp+ in a FWD car is a waste of time, RWD or AWD is the answer. Happy spinning!

Quaife lsd sorts the problem no end.

St weighs 1392kg, that's very heavy.

A Quaife LSD would work fine on track or a smooth road (when was the last time you found one of those?) but would amplify the Astra's torque steer on typical British potholed roads. The Focus RS employed something similar (Torsen) and it does allow big bhp (or more accurately, torque) to go through the front wheels, but it was a complete nightmare on typical bumpy back roads.

Let's face it, the VXR is just what you would expect of Vauxhall. It looks great, it goes like absolute stink, it's cracking value, but the power completely overwhelms the chassis. It's a GTE 16v for the 21st century basically.

There is no excuse for torque steer in this day and age! Especially when the Astra doesn't even have particularly direct steering (yes I have driven it)

Oh, and yes the ST is heavy. So are all cars nowadays. Blame NCAP!

I have an st running 290 BHP handles the power easy 4th and 5th gear pulls harder than my mates STI impreza.

How did you get it to 290 BHP? Did you have to revised clutch, engine mountings etc? What's the fuel economy like?

Where did you get it tuned to 290, because no revised ECU have been designed over 250 yet?