| Ford Focus ST- Has The Last Laugh | | | | right however you put it!) Ford gave us the Focus |
| I've been doing a bit of soul searching recently and | | | | ST a Golf GTI beater for the masses. Usually seen in |
| decided that for many years now I've been a tad | | | | bright orange the Focus ST managed to impress |
| intolerant towards some of my fellow human beings. | | | | everyone who drove it even the likes of Jeremy |
| In the past I have tended to direct some of my | | | | Clarkson who is not known to favour cars that come |
| greatest sarcasm towards the sort of individuals who | | | | in a price bracket normal people can afford. |
| loved their cars so much that they felt it necessary | | | | So what's it like then. Well the latest face-lifted |
| to join an Owner's club. | | | | version still looks good despite appearing to have |
| I suppose I was poking fun at the person who cleans | | | | morphed into a Mondeo at the front seemingly in |
| their car at 8-00am on a Sunday morning using a | | | | order to maintain Ford's preference for new model |
| toothbrush as well as every other conceivable | | | | continuity. Still a great looking car and the |
| automotive cleaning product you could imagine. | | | | performance is as good if not better than any other |
| I've seen Owner's club badges in the windows of | | | | hot- hatch around. |
| some spotless vehicles and an image of the individual | | | | Now available as ST 1 2 or 3 the differences are only |
| has appeared in my mind. You know probably still | | | | on equipment level but all come with Ford's preferred |
| living at home with their parents, certainly a bloke and | | | | 5 cylinder 2.5 litre turbocharged engine producing 225 |
| almost definitely without a girlfriend. | | | | PS. This equates to a top speed of 150mph with |
| Well it seems that my opinions could be somewhat | | | | 0-62mph coming in 6.8 seconds. There is a six-speed |
| out of date. I decided to confront my prejudices | | | | close ratio gearbox and The ST sits on 18" Alloy |
| head-on and took a look at the Ford ST Owner's | | | | wheels. In case you get into difficulty the ST comes |
| Club official site. | | | | with Electronic Stability Programme (ESP). The ST |
| They seem to be a positively charming group of | | | | body kit remains with an additional 'single wing' design |
| people from all walks of like nothing like the | | | | rear spoiler. Twin chrome exhausts finish off the look. |
| stereotypical picture I have painted previously. | | | | The ST 2 has in addition Xenon front lights and rear |
| I think the changing demographics combined with the | | | | LED's. The ST 3 has full leather Recaro seats and a 6 |
| internet of course have played a part in this | | | | disc CD Auto-changer. |
| refreshing new group of enthusiasts who all share a | | | | The ST has family car origins so remains practical to |
| passion but above all else it's the cars. | | | | drive and has a power range through all the gears |
| Fast Fords have been around for a long time now. | | | | something you could try after dropping the kids off |
| Those old enough will remember the Lotus Cortina of | | | | safely. When driven hard the ST shows its track |
| the sixties and who could forget the Escort RS2000 | | | | potential and has excellent handling and cornering |
| and Mexico from the 70's. The 80's and 90's followed | | | | ability. Ford has also smartly priced the ST so |
| up with the likes of the Sierra Cosworth the car | | | | competition watch out! |
| criminal's favourite and culminated with the | | | | Having considered my disparaging comments about |
| outrageous Escort Cosworth. | | | | the likes of Owner's Club members in the past I feel |
| Not to be left out in the noughties (doesn't sound | | | | that maybe the ST will have the last laugh on me! |