ST/XR5 road test

orsest170 · 27-10-2005, 09:42 PM

Just as we expected, Ford is (or is soon to be) top of the hot hatch tree once again!

http://www.channel4.com/4car/road-te...s-st-2005.html

Not a comprehensive road test by any means, but almost all of what they did find was positive. A very favourable review indeed.

rider007 · 29-10-2005, 10:35 AM

Also a great report at http://cars.msn.co.uk/carreviewshome...dfocusstoct05/.

1TUFFUTE · 29-10-2005, 07:45 PM

Think i might buy one 4 my wife

: .That is so what we need in oz,a liquid hot turbo ford.Im in love i tell ya

zetec · 30-10-2005, 10:04 PM

Damn, that first article is very complimentary and the quality that those Ford Europe guys are putting out with hot hatches in the last 5-6 years meant my predictions on this one were spot on, I await more articles with keen interest. Thanks mate!

I'm liking the ieda of buying an XR5 Turbo more and more every day!!! Might finally be what it takes to get me out of my Mk 1.5 !!! Thought that would never happen.

orsest170 · 01-11-2005, 10:24 PM

And the praise just keeps on comin....Golf GTI

:

http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/art...847556,00.html

ST review is on page 2.

Martyvan · 02-11-2005, 07:30 PM

Can try these links too....

Fifth Gear Road Test

Meet the Ancestors

zetec · 02-11-2005, 08:39 PM

Woot it's getting better and better each time I read an article!!!

TurboDOHCI6 · 03-11-2005, 09:58 AM

Another ST article road test > http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/61...storms_in.html

orsest170 · 03-11-2005, 08:06 PM

And another...

http://www.parkers.co.uk/choosing/ca...?model_id=1441

MikGan · 14-11-2005, 11:31 AM

Whens it due to hit our shores tho?

zetec · 14-11-2005, 05:44 PM

2nd Quarter 2006

Teki04 · 14-11-2005, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zetec

2nd Quarter 2006

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thats shocking.... whens the R32 Golf coming out?

murcod · 26-11-2005, 04:39 PM

Has a definite price been set yet?

orsest170 · 26-11-2005, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mondeost24

Has a definite price been set yet?

No. Prices will not be advised until closer to the launch, but I read another article recently in which a Ford spokesperson again suggested that pricing will start from $35000, which I’m guessing will be the equivalent of the ST1 spec car in Europe. I expect an ST3 spec car will be around 40- 42k.

It seems hard to believe that this car, which seems to offer so much more, could actually be cheaper than the ST170 was, but it is a very competitive hot hatch market out there and Ford needs to price it below 40k at any rate. A 35k price tag is feasible I suppose because the Golf GTI that costs around £1500 pounds more than the ST/XR5 in the U.K, actually starts at $39,990 here in Oz.

zetec · 26-11-2005, 11:59 PM

No pricing is set yet. Anything from the magazines is pure speculation since Ford has not said a word on pricing anywhere. I'd say it's a few months off yet, much closer to launch of the car in Quarter 2.

28-11-2005, 04:12 PM

An ST Video, Copy, and paste into media player

http://www.rtl.nl/(channel=rtl4,progid=autowereld)/system/media/wvx/automotor/rtlautowereld/miMedia/2005/week46/vrijdag_rtl_aw_12_fordfocus.avi_plain.xml/wm364.wvx

orsest170 · 28-11-2005, 07:46 PM

Yeah there are a few vids getting around, unfortunately all in languages other than English – until now that is.

As we speak, my computer is cleverly acquiring the episode (series 7 episode 3) of Top Gear that went to air in the UK last night which featured the new ST (XR5). Those of you who are familiar with torrent files, will know how to find it :Up_to_som. Be warned however, it is a 700 mb file.

From the related forum threads on FFOC, it sounds like they loved it (even Jeremy Clarkson). The only down side was that the test track was damp and foggy and they were unable to better the time set by the Astra VXR. They did add however, that in better conditions, the ST would likely have the Astra’s measure. I’ll post a summary of the findings after I’ve watched it.

The ST is also being featured on 5th Gear today and will hopefully be available by tomorrow (gotta love the internet sometimes

: ).

zetec · 28-11-2005, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orsest170

Yeah there are a few vids getting around, unfortunately all in languages other than English – until now that is.

As we speak, my computer is cleverly acquiring the episode (series 7 episode 3) of Top Gear that went to air in the UK last night which featured the new ST (XR5). Those of you who are familiar with torrent files, will know how to find it :Up_to_som. Be warned however, it is a 700 mb file.

From the related forum threads on FFOC, it sounds like they loved it (even Jeremy Clarkson). The only down side was that the test track was damp and foggy and they were unable to better the time set by the Astra VXR. They did add however, that in better conditions, the ST would likely have the Astra’s measure. I’ll post a summary of the findings after I’ve watched it.

The ST is also being featured on 5th Gear today and will hopefully be available by tomorrow (gotta love the internet sometimes

: ).

Money will be in the mail for CD and postage mate! I'm serious!

zetec · 28-11-2005, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArgonEF

An ST Video, Copy, and paste into media player

Yum. VERY nice! Love the last few seconds!

orsest170 · 28-11-2005, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zetec

Money will be in the mail for CD and postage mate! I'm serious!

It's ok mate, because you have such a classy avatar picture, I'll do it free of charge. Consider it an early Christmas present

_2:. PM me your details.

zetec · 28-11-2005, 09:47 PM

Thanks chief! PM sending shortly

orsest170 · 29-11-2005, 12:25 AM

Well I’ve just finished watching the ST review on Top gear. What a machine....Jeremy Clarkson was throwing it around in the wet with reckless abandon. Power sliding (on 3 wheels most of the time) at ridiculous speeds and still had complete control of the car. It looked awesome on the move too, and apart from a V8, you'd be hard pressed to hear a sweeter soundtrack coming from a pair of exhausts.

Some Quotes from Jeremy Clarkson:

"The torque it chucks out is immense -any gear, any revs, any prod on the throttle and you get a deep bellow...and a very satisfying surge".

"There is immense grip from the front end".

"What a brilliant handling car...I mean absolutely brilliant".

"The seats are especially fab....comfortable and supportive".

"It is truly amazing to drive".

When comparing it to the Astra VXR he states:

"The focus is a much better car - much more comfortable and much more manageable when you want to have fun".

Things he didn’t like:

Err….nothing specifically …except that he thought the adjustable steering sensitivity was unnecessary and something that could potentially go wrong with the car.

June 2006 can’t come soon enough!

zetec · 29-11-2005, 12:52 AM

SWEEEEEET. Fire up that burner!!!

Talldude · 02-12-2005, 12:22 AM

both shows praise the new ST Focus(rather the top gear review) but 5th gear still say they prefer the golf gti.

the main selling point for this car was its like a golf in quailty goes harder but not as ruff or track suited as say a honda civic type r or renault clio cup. plus its three thousand pounds cheaper then a golf gti.

lets hope the ST goes on sale here in Oz for like the old ST price or a little bit cheaper fingers crossed.

chevaps · 02-12-2005, 03:44 PM

After meeting up with Simon, he ended up giving me a copy of 5th Gear and Top Gear, and i do have to say, Clarkson throwing that car around the track was unreal!!! And the sound, mmmmm. I just wish i was outta uni so i could actually afford such a car :( It seems like a definate winner on Ford's part.

I found it quite amusing how he said that the Astra VXR has too much power and torque steers like a pig :hihi:

Tom

zetec · 02-12-2005, 07:10 PM

I'll be buying one... mmmm yum

MeestaNob! · 04-12-2005, 12:35 PM

Me too. Just gotta work out if I can afford it.

Maybe.

I'm not sold on the ST -> XR5 badging and other appearance. I want to see how it looks before I commit to anything. Maybe I'll just badge it myself and order all the ST badges and re-ST it.

I REALLY dont like the XR5 Turbo badging I saw from the Motorshow pics, it quite simply does not suit the car one bit.

flappist · 04-12-2005, 06:25 PM

Had a close look at one at the 888 day at QLD Raceway today. It looks like a winner.

zetec · 04-12-2005, 06:44 PM

Thay had one there? Thoe orange 5 door I assume from Sydney Motorshow...

I had that opinion too, but the XR5 Turbo has a nice ring to it, there's NO doubting what it is even to people who don't know much about the Focus (duh its a Turbo!!) and I know it will grow to become more popular. ST has very little to no brand image here so as much as it is UBER cool in Europe, it just doesn't have the image here. People would ask what an ST is where as they ALL know XR and they know what Turbo means. I wasn't initially convinced but I'm fan now. A little XR just sound fun, fast and sporty. As much as we here (Focus/Fiesta/Mondeo owners etc) know and love ST for what it's truly worth, 99.9999% of others have no idea. I think it's a smart idea.

05-12-2005, 12:24 PM

Heres a compressed vid guys of the ST. 10mb

http://savefile.com/files.php?fid=2800516