[Apl440i or 335d?]

Well, I had to say goodbye to my lovely 335d on Friday. I took it back to Barrons Farnborough, and it has been sent to Brighton, I am told as a stock car. (a car for stock, not a diesel banger racer Nick!)

Just to pre-empt the questions.

1. Because I am buying a house
2. To reduce my monthly outgoings
3. Because I got a good price on a lease deal

My replacement car was delivered to my Grandparents house the same day, and the BMW buyer was good enough to give me a lift there as they live in Yateley around 10 miles away.

So, the replacement is a humble Ford Focus ST-3, in Panther black, with ST Style pack giving it dark wheels, privacy glass, red callipers and illuminated door seals (ooooooh)

Here are some photos and my initial thoughts.

Looks:

I think it looks OK in this colour combo. The front bumper design is a little strange. It kind of looks like a sad fish to me
I like the body kit, and spoilers, it's quite in your face and mean looking. I am not a fan of the wheels. When I was young I remember the wheels everyone would fit to the Vauxhall Nova. TSW Venoms. These remind me of those, and I don't like them, but they will do.

Driving and Performance:

I drove from Putney to Blackheath on Saturday, then on to Stratford. This is a terrible journey, taking in some horrid traffic black spots, and nasty junctions. Here the ST was very good. It was just like driving the Fiesta hire car I had a few years ago. very civilised and easy. Light clutch, smooth easy gearbox, light direct steering. Easy. And it did over 35mpg....! What? My 335d would have struggled to do that, and the ST has a rep for being a drinker. I was amazed.

Then, this morning, I decided to ring its neck. Christ, what a monster. It is very wild, loads of torque steer, wheel spin, a bloody mess truth be told, but what fun! I then changed tact, and drove quickly, but modulated the throttle. It was superb. NOT as fast as the 335d. But a lot more fun and rewarding. I am very satisfied.

Interior:

This is where I fear it will struggle. The seats are great, I love a Recaro bucket as much as the next man. The dash and screens however...... hummmmmm. It's a bit halfords. Which I find odd and disappointing. However, I have started using my Sony Xperia as nav, using Google maps. It's bloody brilliant! Free to download and it comes with RTTi, and it's touch screen, and very clear. Result!

The best thing I can say about the interior, is I can live with it. It is a step down from the 335d however.

Drive-train:

Back in a petrol, and I'm loving it. It's been a long time, my last performance petrol was a 2001 Toyota Celica 190 VVTL-i. I did have an E46 330ci, but it was an SE with a terrible 5sp auto, so I don't count that.

The motor in the ST is very torquey. It produces 320nm (I believe) so you can still drive it like a diesel, changing up at low revs, leaving it in 6th on the motorway.

I do miss the motor in the 335d. The massive surge you get halfway round the rev range as the big turbo comes on, and pushes you all the way to the red line, WOW. But. BUT. It was very rare to experience that in my day to day life. And I would never consider taking a 335d to a track. In the ST, the WOW moment is much more attainable in the real world.

It's limiting factor is it is FWD (front) and has no LSD. So if you dump the clutch, it bucks and judders and torque steers like a..... Well, like a poorley resolved 250bhp FWD car. But, that is part of it's charm, and it challenges you to drive around it.

My favourite thing though, it's the noise of the engine. There is a pipe that funnels induction noise into the cabin. It reminds me of my yoof, when I fitted induction kits to my cars. It's fab!

So, all in all, so far so good. I will miss my 335d, but the ST is a decent replacement, and is saving me £400 per month.

[Dave_3]

Congrats.

When I am back in the UK, I get to drive a lot of Fords (my brother runs a garage, been in the family over 80 years). I am always surprised on small B or unclassified roads how much fun they are to drive, really connected feel. Just good, honest fun - and don't suffer in comparison to more "prestigious" brands quite as much as some expect. I also have a MK1 RS2000 and Capri so like my Fords.

D.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Very nice
Agree with you on the wheels, Ford actually have some decent alloys in their range but seem to match these to the ST.

Nice to hear about the fuel economy.

I did contemplate an ST, however my dog would not car for the bijou hatch bit.

Been out in a couple of them, one was a nice modded one.

Looks tasty in black

[DazC]

I like it. Black though! A total bugger to keep clean.

Never again will i buy a Black car.

Hope you enjoy the new motor mate.

[dopper99]

Looks very nice and a great write up. Good choice of colour too.

You know you'll be raced from the lights more in that now.

[Rich9600]

Great write up.

Enjoy wringing the neck of your ST... Hot hatch fun will always put a smile on your face.

[F30AM]

Congratulations.

I love how it looks in black. And the seats look really comfy. But most importantly, brilliant value for money especially with a saving of £400/month.

You did the right thing and did well, very well. Congratulations once again.

[Nick the Greek]

1 Best Colour
2 Its Petrol
3 I Love The Wheels
4 Its Petrol
5 Its Fun To Drive
6 Its Petrol
7 Its Economical
8 Its Petrol
9 Its A Cheap Lease
10 Its Petrol
11 What'sNot To Like
12 It's Petrol.

[Chris Peacock]

Looks nice that and the best colour combo for a fast Ford

We traded my wife's 120d M-Sport for a Fiesta ST2 also with style pack back in July and I would concur with your opinions on the differences moving from BMW to Ford.

That said I am loving the little Fiesta and find it great fun to drive which the 120 never was, hope you enjoy the Focus as much as we are enjoying our new Ford.

On top of that n typical Ford fashion there are loads of tuning options with the Fiesta's getting north of 270bhp relatively easily...I already have a mods list ready to go when I get my bonus in the new year

A couple of cheeky pics....

[NISFAN]

Looks and sounds a pretty tidy replacement for what you wanted it for. Give us an update when you've put a few thou on it.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by Chris Peacock

Looks nice that and the best colour combo for a fast Ford

We traded my wife's 120d M-Sport for a Fiesta ST2 also with style pack back in July and I would concur with your opinions on the differences moving from BMW to Ford.

That said I am loving the little Fiesta and find it great fun to drive which the 120 never was, hope you enjoy the Focus as much as we are enjoying our new Ford.

On top of that n typical Ford fashion there are loads of tuning options with the Fiesta's getting north of 270bhp relatively easily...I already have a mods list ready to go when I get my bonus in the new year

A couple of cheeky pics....

Nice looking Fiesta, they are great cars.

Here is a link to look at upgrades.

http://www.fastcar.co.uk/2012/03/02/...-tuning-guide/

Looks like you can get around 330bhp!!

[dopper99]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

1 Best Colour
2 Its Petrol
3 I Love The Wheels
4 Its Petrol
5 Its Fun To Drive
6 Its Petrol
7 Its Economical
8 Its Petrol
9 Its A Cheap Lease
10 Its Petrol
11 What'sNot To Like
12 It's Petrol.

Change the record Nick, every other thread you are banging on about petrol.
And yes, we knew it was petrol, even before you posted, so no need to remind us

[Apl440i or 335d?]

Thanks all, this makes me feel better about loosing my 335d.

Love the look of the Fiesta ST. I did test drive one of those, as they are even cheaper to lease. Felt as quick as the Focus, but gave me back ache and arm ache in 15 minutes.

The Focus has to remain stock, so no Mountune bits, it is a company insured car.

Actually looking forward to the morning commute tomorrow morning....

[335dJa]

Nice motor
Nice name change

[Nick the Greek]

. Change the record Nick, every other thread you are banging on about petrol.
And yes, we knew it was petrol, even before you posted, so no need to remind us

There you go dopper99, knocking down the tall poppies, just as I was making the man feel good about his new wheels....

[pedroF31]

Originally Posted by dopper99

Change the record Nick, every other thread you are banging on about petrol.
And yes, we knew it was petrol, even before you posted, so no need to remind us

Couldn't agree more. He fails to see how repetitive / boring / predictable he is - maybe all those ' strokes when he was a lad ' has affected his eyesight.....

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by pedroF31

Couldn't agree more. He fails to see how repetitive / boring / predictable he is - maybe all those ' strokes when he was a lad ' has affected his eyesight.....

Made me spit my tea

[Nick the Greek]

Pedro's getting withdrawal symptoms.....

[pmheadwired]

Nice ! Like the focus looks good in black.

How on earth can trading down from a 335d to a Focus ST save £400 a month! What the heck were the monthly costs of the 335?!!

[pedroF31]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

Pedro's getting withdrawal symptoms.....

Withdrawal symptoms from what Nick ? I've got nice glass of chilled diesel in my hand as I type !

[Nick the Greek]

[QUOTE . Withdrawal symptoms from what Nick ? I've got nice glass of chilled diesel in my hand as I type ! [/QUOTE]

A '59 vintage I trust?

[ukbeemerboy]

Originally Posted by Apl000?

Thanks all, this makes me feel better about loosing my 335d.

Love the look of the Fiesta ST. I did test drive one of those, as they are even cheaper to lease. Felt as quick as the Focus, but gave me back ache and arm ache in 15 minutes.

The Focus has to remain stock, so no Mountune bits, it is a company insured car.

Actually looking forward to the morning commute tomorrow morning....

I've just worked out who you are if your Dads name is Paul 😉