Upgrade from Focus Sport to St3

[hitandamiss]

Too many taxi men driving Octavia VRS to put me off... Cupra would be a consideration, some of them on auto trader look so bad though lol

 

[Peadar]

Too many taxi men driving Octavia VRS to put me off... Cupra would be a consideration, some of them on auto trader look so bad though lol

Taxi men drive them for a reason.. they're great cars! You are welcome to get a drive in ours if you want.

The interiors in the Cupras are horrific.

 

[Crow555]

5 door GTI with Revo map or is that pushing the budget too far?

 

[Gavlar]

VRS would get my money since you mention family etc

Curve ball but what about Lexus GS300 or IS250?

 

[Peadar]

As above! Golf GTi is the car for you !!

 

[SMB]

I had an ST3 many moons ago, great car.. Mpg will be low 20's but on a low mileage commute, it wouldn't be an issue..

I used to have a 70 miles round trip commute in mine.

 

[Boabybooster]

I've a massive daily commute of 10miles so I've been told to steer clear of diesels?

10 mile commute, you say? You need a v8.....

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201408186697443?atmobcid=soc3

 

[Gobsheene]

28? Lol

Mine was 18mpg with a 3 mile commute.

Unless you're getting a 2.0 newer one?

 

[collyirwin11]

I have an 06 ST3 and genuinely get 31mpg, thats not going by the trip which would suggest 32.5mpg, that is me working it out from fill up to fill up. I drive it easy and I live a minimum of 6miles from anywhere I need to go so it always gets warmed up and gets to cruise for a bit. The majority of my driving being very relaxed with the seldom full throttle run when the road is clear. Not as bad as people think. Also as @jimcupra said, the noise alone is a good enough reason to get one.

 

[Pumesta]

Personally I'd go for the ST2 as the colour on the seats brightens up the interior.

But doesn't the ST2 have peasant spec cloth seats ?

 

[gsmith]

I'd suggest if your buying a 5 door to buy an st 2 st3 is only 4 seats although maybe that's not an issue? All st3 (leather) are 4 seats. If your worried about fuel your buying the wrong car. My st was the best car I've ever owned hence why Iam on the market for another one. The engine is worth it alone as soon as you drive one you'll know why. 10 miles a day shouldn't really hit the pocket to hard. As for the tax most hot hatches are going to be dearer tax so shouldn't really worry about that. If you drive one be prepared to buy it. Fantastic car still miss mine.

 

[SMcP114]

I had two ST's and I wouldn't even notice poor fuel consumption but I do remember thinking it was horrendous in both.

 

[Gambit]

worth it for that 5 cylinder note!

 

[neil205]

They can be hit and miss

 

[hitandamiss]

They can be hit and miss

Can't tell if you're quoting my tag or you're referring to the ST in what ways? only 'downside' i've found is dear to run

 

[Paddy_R]

But doesn't the ST2 have peasant spec cloth seats ?

Judging by the leather Ford actually use I'd say the cloth ones cost more to make!

Personally hate leather seats, could easily have bought a ST3 back when I bought the ST2 but chose not to mainly because of the leather seats. They're hot in the summer and cold in the winter unlike the superior cloth seats which are fine all year round. Don't know why any body would actually want them unless you have kids for ease of cleaning (their only redeeming feature). Also although the seats may be Recaro ones the leather is Ford spec which looks cheap (because it is). I did 50k miles in my ST and the seats still looked like new when I sold the car I know for certain that the same could not be said had they been leather.

 

[collyirwin11]

Judging by the leather Ford actually use I'd say the cloth ones cost more to make!

Personally hate leather seats, could easily have bought a ST3 back when I bought the ST2 but chose not to mainly because of the leather seats. They're hot in the summer and cold in the winter unlike the superior cloth seats which are fine all year round. Don't know why any body would actually want them unless you have kids for ease of cleaning (their only redeeming feature). Also although the seats may be Recaro ones the leather is Ford spec which looks cheap (because it is). I did 50k miles in my ST and the seats still looked like new when I sold the car I know for certain that the same could not be said had they been leather.

Granted in the summer they can be a bit of a nightmare, (summer in n.i. isnt to spectacular so it is rare) but they are heated so winter they are great, just fire them up and its toasty time in a matter of minutes. I much prefer the 3's and when I wanted one it had to be a 3, wasnt overly struck on the seats in the 2's and any I came across looked slightly grubby.

 

[neil205]

Can't tell if you're quoting my tag or you're referring to the ST in what ways? only 'downside' i've found is dear to run

Yea just joking, they are great cars and at 10 miles a day are talking a couple extra quid a week to have a much more fun car. I recently swapped my diesel audi for a leon Cupra and am happy everyday with my decision, I enjoy every journey and have something worth taking a bit of pride in owning

 

[Pumesta]

Judging by the leather Ford actually use I'd say the cloth ones cost more to make!

Personally hate leather seats, could easily have bought a ST3 back when I bought the ST2 but chose not to mainly because of the leather seats. They're hot in the summer and cold in the winter unlike the superior cloth seats which are fine all year round. Don't know why any body would actually want them unless you have kids for ease of cleaning (their only redeeming feature). Also although the seats may be Recaro ones the leather is Ford spec which looks cheap (because it is). I did 50k miles in my ST and the seats still looked like new when I sold the car I know for certain that the same could not be said had they been leather.

Never noticed the seats in either the fiesta or focus being overly warm or cold and the seats in the fiesta still looked grand when I sold it. Granted the bolster in the focus is a bit wore but it looks and feels more like it has been damaged at some point. Certainly it hasn't got any worse since I have owned the car

 

[robert106]

£485 a year tax? My God

An extra 200 over a year? 16 a month, thats not exactly the end of the world, mps also has a lsd that you dont get in the others mentioned, unless you go for a megane r26, which is only 3 dr.

 

[Noel McQ]

Nice cupra in the classifieds there today I see lot of work done and well looked after with low miles

 

[Arfur]

But doesn't the ST2 have peasant spec cloth seats ?

Peasant spec lol! My 170 has half leather seats, they look like shiny vinyl. Ford leather is not high or even average quality. When I picked the St2 that I had I deliberately choose it for the cloth interior to a add much needed dash of colour to brighten it up. But hey different people like different things.

 

[hitandamiss]

A few years ago all I wanted was a white cupra with black alloys now I've went full circle and don't like the look of them at all @Peadar hit the nail on the head about the interior! As for the leather in the ST I've yet to try one out but not expecting much from the reports

 

[gsmith]

If your going to look at one even the cloth seats start to wear on the bolster but should be an easy fix. I had the red/grey cloth in mine the leather just done nothing for me but again not everyone is going to like the same thing. If I can find another st it'll be an st2 again but a facelift model. Also check rear quarters for rusting.

 

[hitandamiss]

There's an st3 getting prepared this week in Lisburn so hopefully get seeing that at the end of the week! Cheers for the tips, good to know what to look for