[nickworld]

Hey gang - a mate has just taken delivery of his new FOcus ST170 and is showing off that it took no time for delivery (I keep telling him that's not cool - it means that they aren't as popular) and has more power than my Cooper...

I know they aren't obvious stablemates / competitors, the paper performance of the two is very similar. Anybody seen a comparisonor direct review to add some ammunition to my arguments.

[blueandwhitewizard]

I have a Focus 2.0 Zetec ESP and its a great car, but after driving the mini it lacks the design flair and rolls a bit, not driven a ST170 but I hear they are a bit of a let down.The Focus RS is another matter!!

My Focus is great on the motorway and is a lot roomier and doesnt bounce about as much as the mini, but I still like the mini more. Don't get me wrong but the Focus is bloody good for a mass produced car, and I would have one over a 307, megane or rover, but again to be honest the mini is better.

By the way they are discounting ST170 by up £2000, try to get that off a MINI, and the CO2 emmissions are higher for the focus, so a mini is a better company car.

Focus is good, mini is better.

[Prowse]

I'd agree with the above, I've been a passenger in many Focus's and they are very comfortable, nippy, etc. They're just not quite as much 'fun' as the Mini.

Mentioning the new Focus RS, did anyone see the Top Gear review - they slated it for on road use, even claiming the new diff to be 'dangerous'! Great for a track car though.

[KenL]

I would have thought the ST170 would have been quite a bit quicker (straight line)than a Cooper. 50bhp in it remember.

I don't see them as competitors though. Focus is an able family chariot. Doesn't have the fun appeal or lack of practicality like a MINI.

Give me a MINI anyday.

[blueandwhitewizard]

Yet it won Top Gear Magazines "Car of the Year" award. I think Clarkson wanted it to be a Escort Cosworth for the 21st Century.

However sticking over 200bhp through the front wheels is going to give some tramlining!!

Ford will be bringing out a new Focus soon, I presume that they might be waiting until then to introduce the 4wd.

[nickworld]

Factor in the monstrous depreciation on a Focus too and that's something else to think about. My mate works for Ford though so he got his ST170 at a bit of a bargain knock down rate and changes them every 9-12 months. Even then though - he still ended up losing nearly a grand on the last one he traded in!

I know the 170 has a fair bit more power but its also a fair whack heavier, I'll bet...

[Washy]

My colleague has an ST170. It is fairly quick, I would imagine it woiuld be quicker than a cooper, although the handling isn't as sound as a mini.

Apparently it has the same gertrag six speed box as the MCS.

[nickworld]

And that's what its all about I reckon - flinging a MINI into a corner just slaps a stupid grin on my chops. I've never driven an ST170, but no other Focus I have has done that. They're competent, but then so is everything else these days. A MINI driver's seat is just a fundamentally nice place to be!

[Washy]

I am fortunate? enough to own an E46 M3, and it is an awesome car, but it does not give me the big grin that my MCS does down a twisty back road.

[nickworld]

Under pressure from my girlfriend to get rid of my Spitfire and buy a new car I test drove a Cooper and was blown away - obviously the MINI was a damn site faster, handled better and was way more refined, but the grin-factor was exactly the same! That was it - I was hooked.