I've got a 2017 Focus ST and there is virtually no torque steer. The only way the steering wheel jerks to the side when you accelerate is when. You arent holding the steering wheel at all.
right? what a waste of time. get some performance numbers at a track! at the end of the day it is still a wrong wheel drive and will not compare with the RS. how fast is that car 0-60/0-100? how's the cornering with the better tires?
Roads Untraveled the video you linked is to a video you made of a modified RS. If this video was to answer the question “is a modified ST better/faster than an RS?” Then my question is what benefit would it be for us to see a review of a modded RS?
All these people commenting gti is better and lighter and blah blah blah. Sure it may be faster stock turbo and mod for mod can’t knock it there. However, the focus st is cheaper to buy and maintain and also is WAYYY more fun to drive than the gti. The gti is bland and not nearly as playful as the ST which makes it fun and entertaining, where the gti is just bleh. I guess different strokes for different folks but I’d rather have the more involving and entertaining car.
Samuel Wu definitely not knocking the mk7 gti because they’re damn fast with minimal mods, but they’re just boring to drive imo. I’ve driven quite a few and used to have a FBO e30 tuned focus ST myself and even though it may have been like a car length or two slower to 120mph from a roll it was still so much more fun. Probably would’ve eaten the gti up on a track which is what they were designed for lol
Chasing Adventures I have a Fist and I freaking love it. I had a buddy show me a consumer report of a Fiesta and told me they're not highly regarded or highly rated but I let him know the ST is totally different. That German engineering
Brandon Cardoso Well said, i honestly agree with you in the aspect of fun, but he said it in the video, its still an american hatchback, all the interior is cheap. I would rather live with my more expensive refined german car. Which if you put it on even lowering springs and an anti roll bar in the rear, is just as playful in the corners at a focus st, guaranteed. And this guy has probably spent about $5000 in mods to get this car to 360whp, where the same amount of money could get my car up to the neighborhood of 470whp. In the grand scheme of things, volkswagen is better.
I have a daily driver Ford F-150 ecoboost single cab regular bed truck and I love it and the other Fords are also great. My heart is with my sr20det powered Nissan 240sx but the Focus ST and RS are so beautiful.
Basically same setup as mine. I'm running a gtx 2867r gen 2 and pushing 375 fwhp on e30. Very fun and definitely way worth the money for the big turbo vs the stock. Makes the car much more drivable.
Not trying to hate but it’s sucks you had to go e30 to make that power I can’t do anything other then 93 or I’ll make to much power and blow my motor 2014 gen owner
First thing you should do before putting any extra power in the ST is replacing the open differential with a Quaife or M-Factory ATB limited slip diff. It sorts out the torque steer and front traction very well indeed. Also, on mine, I upgraded the flywheel and clutch to the RS spec ones which are rated at 600NM of torque. The standard ST ones are much less than that
@@loueb4 no worries fella. It really does make a remarkable amount of difference, I mean that! Before I had the diff I found the torque steer mildly terrifying at times - after the diff, it was as if it was nearly all gone, and, front end traction was HUGELY improved as well. I changed out the clutch and flywheel at the same time given that having the transmission taken off and looked at is expensive... so killed two birds with one stone without attracting any extra labour after the gearbox had been separated from the engine 😉 also, now my power is up over 290bhp... the diff is still just as effective as when the power was down at 250bhp
@@mediocrefloridaman I literally just had mine done in Austalia. Clutch kit 1.8k, LSD 1.2k, install 1.5k. 4.5k all up, I imagine US probs be like 3 or less?
The focus ST has the better engine , specially for performance! Now if you use the 2.0 ST block with 2.3 internals and a 2.3 cylinder head you have yourself a super monster on the street !
Love the fact I bought my 2016 ST3 for $18500 used with only 3000 miles on it. Works perfectly. Pilot Sport 4S. Amazing daily driver. Only down side is the insanely small gas tank. I found that ethanol free fuel gets 4-7 mpg better along with no misfires. Ethanol fuel absolutely causes misfire, esp when cold and at idol. To get rid of the drone, delete the sound symposer. So much better.
I bought a 2016 ST3 focus ( Fully leather recaros etc..) over and RS because I felt like I was frankly getting 80% of the car for $10k less. I don't regret it at all, considering the 2.0 block is closed deck and doesn't have the reliability issues of the RS. Also - stop with the torque steer, it's hardly even noticeable unless the road surface is really uneven, in my experience
Boom!! Someone knows what they are talking about!! The 2.0ST block is much better then the 2.3block, and the ST platform has a lot more after market and performance potential then the 2.3 by far! The RS is definitely a rip off compared to ST , only thing RS has that it has going for it is the AWD
You say it can beat an RS with almost half the price but you don’t say how much money was invested in it and how useless is the power considering torque steer
or how it handles, or how reliable that power is, or how that power gets put down (my guess not as well as the awd in RS). I drive my ST knowing the RS is the better setup. Thats why the 35k MSRP. I'm ok with it:)
There’s zero torque steer, it handles great just like a stock ST does around corners but better as I’ve added a full damond motor mount kit and tb performance traction bars. I have injen2 255 35r 18 tires and they hook decently first isn’t that great though. The car has been re tuned by a man named Brian Tyson at JST performance in the UK. It now makes more power than when I got it but I haven’t dyno’d it. I was not the original owner of this car.
Great video. I have a 2016 st just with the cobb stage 1 living in California I don’t want to do to much but even with the simple stuff it is a good platform for the money and a great daily
I thought these were 300whp max with meth. And it's also only got a 2.5 inch down pipe and maybe a catted down pipe also? Maybe he meant close to 360bhp but More like 333bhp.
I mean, you can really push it to that with just an ethanol blend if you want but it's kind of pointless. I know JST tuning made 306whp on their track car, to actually make that power you kind of need all the right conditions (Close to sea level, cool weather..). These small turbos have no more efficiency above 290whp & end up with a dead top end because the turbo has nothing more to give.
Great video. I liked the intro and the video overall. I for one did not click on this looking for a drag race video like most others assumed. I've driven an ST1 for the last 5 years. I will say I should have gotten the ST3 with the Recaros.
100% European DNA from start to finish. ST MK1 born in Europe early 2000 and currently MK4 ST only selling in Europe. Americans were blessed to experience the MK3 ST German hot hatch
why is every "journalist" scared of torque steer... jesus, its fwd! its literally controllable with throttle and keeping the wheel straight as your tires spin. go mat a 450hp turbo supra in 2nd gear see if you come out of that alive.. modern day car enthusiasts will be the death of car culture. i remember when having a 350whp srt4 was a godsend. now a days every one crys that it might be to much to "handle" gimme a break.
I agree. While I do own an RS, I also have a twin turbo 68 Chevelle SS. New cars come with ABS, traction control, and electronic stability control that makes it almost impossible to accidentally get the car sideways if you don't want to. Mine has over 2x the hp than this one and doesn't even have power steering.
Mate this is 100% European DNA from start to finish. ST MK1 born in Europe early 2000 and currently MK4 ST only selling in Europe. Americans were blessed to experience the MK3 ST German hot hatch
FYI Tuned ST (250-270fwhp) will sit neck and neck with a stock RS - on a roll. Extra weight and drivetrain loss doesn't help the RS even with 350bhp. Vid on my channel
Jim Michael all it means is it has the Cobb stage three power pack which is fit to run that tune. I own the car now and it was tuned by a local tuner, now tuned by jst.
There are still a lot of options the RS has over a mod/tuned ST. For example, the RS's suspension in sport and track mode is awesome! WHen you shift to track mode the car's pc engage and hypes everything up including the throttle. When driving and switching to track mode I can feel the throttle jumps with a boost of power! The mod/tuned ST will never match the Drift Mode that the RS has! This is the secret weapon that Golf R, STI, and Type R can only stand on the sideline and envy! Just think if the Golf R and Type R added a Drift Mode, Can you imagine the increase in the price! Ford did it and without it being pricey! Save the thousands you would spend to buy a Focus ST-3 and buy a base model RS. To be honest, the RS is just like any car that may not be affordable for some people, but that no reason to trash it by calling it too expensive! If the RS is in your price range, get it! Trust me, you totally love it!
Those Recaros look very similar in construction (not necessarily finish) to those in the hot Audis from a few years ago (S4, RS4). That drone would get old in about 2.2 minutes though.
Cool car. I'm really loving these hot hatches from Ford. With that said, do these exhaust systems really add much hp. If it didn't hinder performance too much, I personally would do stock or mild exhaust. I think they sound awful with crazy loud exhaust. Like an angry fart coming down the road.
On some cars the exhaust is very restrictive but that's becoming less common on modern performance cars. On the Focus ST the stock exhaust is just fine until you start getting at or above 400 horsepower and you see no performance improvement by changing the exhaust on an otherwise stock ST. I've left the stock muffler on my '17 ST and just removed the factory resonator for slightly more growl (look up "Focus ST resonator delete" on YT for an example). I didn't want it too loud because I prefer to hear the turbo spooling and bypass valves PSHHH on this car much more. Helps to stay stealth when you have a little fun out on the road too. Being a quiet Gray Focus hatchback, cops never give my car a second look.
I love my focus st don’t get me wrong but I would definitely buy a new mustang or pick up truck before I buy another focus. Especially for 15 grand more than I paid for my st
What turbo does this car have? I have a stage 3 2014 e30 tuned and the stock k03 maxes out at just shy of 300 whp wmi or not. Also if the exhaust is turbo back it’s a 3” downpipe not 2.5”. You should have hooned a bit more. The lift off oversteer is trademark for the focus st. The car rotates beautifully.
Only necessary if you are on track or regularly caning it and hard braking 😉 I'm running near 300bhp, and the existing brake set up is fine. The mechanical limited slip diff and performance upgrades I had slashed 0-60 down to a measured 5.2 seconds, which is a 1.3 sec improvement
Good video. Counterpoint, though, I got a 2017 RS new off the lot for 38k. With that you get AWD, bigger motor, bigger turbo, better steering, better suspension, bigger brakes, and no torque steer. With just a livernois tune it makes 340hp and 424 ftlbs of tq to the ground. With all of those modifications on the ST the price goes up a significant amount. I know I am voting for the car I already own so there is some bias there, but I argue that the RS is a better value ride.
JST KSK torque steer was never 100 percent addressed, the powers is transferred to where the power is need so it creates a whole bunch of torque steer especially on hard launches And gear shifts
@@ruffer23411 I disagree. The active torque vectoring system is pretty advanced and prevents torque steer by shuffling the torque to non steering tires. There are multiple videos where this is demonstrated where an RS driver stomps the accelerator without holding the wheel and the car goes straight. I own one and can confirm that there is no detectable torque steer with this car. Edit: non steering not non drive
JST KSK it’s all in your experience with the car I guess, I’m sure the Chanel’s in the road didn’t help while it was fighting itself to go straight, made it sort of unpleasant
@@ruffer23411 Yeah, I can see what you mean. It isn't without it's foibles. I have got the weird pull when passing on a 2 lane highway, but I associate that more with the ESC overcompensating for the crown in the road. I think it mostly has to do with the oversized and tiny sidewalled tires following grooves in the road like you were saying more than torque steer since it doesn't happen when I stomp it from a stop. Definitely a fun car, though!
The Short block of this engine is not made to handle more than 300 hp.. I'm not sure you can viable claim that this is 360whp without going over some of the modifications, beyond the regular bolt-on parts that is, without people calling BS on the claim.. that or show us some dyno sheets. There is a forum full of people with modified STs that will all agree that this car is not capable of hitting the hp that you claim without some serious internal work. Please specify some more on the mods that have been made?
Being a BC car - I bet this thing has gotten VI'd by now for the noise. VPD is on a blitz right now. Sick car though - would love to build something similar.
im dealing with this same decision. i own a 2013 st 4 more years till payed off but i cant decide if i want to pay it off few years early trade it in for an rs or modify the st
I'm going to be straight-up honest I don't believe Ford pushes the emblem hard enough with their vehicle what I'm looking for them in the future is to think outside the box more
Exhaust sounds a little to ricer. I would go with Borla. My 2016 ST is a blast to drive and it only has Roush CAI and Fswerks shift bracket. Stock tune so far.
every saab ive ever been in smell the exact same. and i ran a valet company for maybe 6 years so ive been in alot. all of them smell like leather gloves. rly good. i drove a turbo X and took it out for maybe 15 minutes and it was a really fun car. it wasnt fast fast by any means but it had plenty of power for what it does. great car
To answer the question i would say No. On a track especially a short tight track the RS stock would win. More HP doesn't always equal the "faster" car i learned that the hard way.
I agree. The argument is flawed from the beginning. My RS was 15k more than a similar trim ST on the same lot. With just a livernois tune it makes 340hp and 424 ftlbs tq to the ground. They are essentially different cars with the same body. You can't turn an ST into an RS for 15k.
@@JSTKSK Actually it would be pretty even. The RS would do better in turns bc of the AWD, but the ST would dominate the high speeds. An RS is 350 stock, this is say 400, but the RS loses more power in the drivetrain, we are looking at 75+ at the wheels advantage for the ST, and it's a tad lighter. RS is a "better" car and has a higher ceiling but that wasn't what the video was about.
@@Wvcountrykid yes but it's implied a modified ST can beat an RS. Sane argument can be said about many cars VW GTI vs WV R or civic vs civic R WRX vs STI. You can make anything go fast these days but an RS will always be the car to have where as the ST is the car you could afford. Nothing wrong with either one just can't compare the two.
I don't think you are talking a $15k difference when it has been modded to 400bhp. All the intake, turbo, intercooler, dump valve, motor mount and - at that power - installing an LSD is almost mandatory frankly, as well as forged pistons/ conrods (if you want the engine to last), cost thousands. My car at 290bhp has had over $6000 of mechanical mods alone (RS clutch/ flywheel, M-factory helical diff, rear motor mount, sports catback, Stage 1 retune, full intake and intercooler hardware and pipes) - nearly half of the costs of which related to the transmission upgrades 😉 so add forged internals, larger turbo, and stage 4 tune to all that, you are talking several thousands extra (unless you do all the work yourself in the garage!)
Looks like a load of fun for the money spent, but FWD is always going to be the limiting factor restricting mechanical grip, so need to be realistic that it's not ever going to beat an RS.
Well guys I'm sorry to say i haven't race a fast ST or RS yet. They are nice looking cars and sound nice but i have not found a ST or RS fast enough to beat me yet. I have race tune RS's with bigger turbo's they keep up for a little then it's over.
Major different is the st has front wheels drive, rs has all wheel drive. I think the 360 whp too many for front wheel drive car. p.s. sorry for my english:))
I agree for a street car, it's pretty pointless unless highway pulls are your thing - otherwise all it's ever going to do on even the best street legal tyres is break traction. No matter how much power you add, you aren't going to get to 100kmh much faster than 6 seconds with FWD, it's pretty much a hard limit at least with current tyre technology (and when you are comparing to RWD and 4WD cars, that's just not very quick anymore). If you are on a prepped drag strip with drag slicks, it's a different story - but that doesn't look like what this car was built for.
Agreed. I've no engine mods on my 2016 other than the sound symposer delete and short throw shift on the transmission arm. Even on hot summer day I could easily break loose the eagle F1s that it came with. If they didn't break, the right tire hops. My new sport 4S is significantly more sticky. I really have to try and break them loose, no wheel hop. Just hookup. No amount of horse power is a substitute for good sticky rubber.
I compromised more than the exhaust on my st, changed suspension, put an LSD in, stiffer engine mount. I don't feel like an idiot for making it handle better at the sacrifice of how well it can go through a mcdonalds drive through.
Don't all the 2016-2017 RS's have to eventually have the head gasket's replaced? So you're spending 35k and not knowing if the head gasket's will eventually fail?
Yeah, they did have a recall since an unknown number of cars from that time had accidentally received the head gasket from the 3.2 mustang that has different coolant passages. It really isn't a big deal though if you are looking to buy one. It was blown way out of proportion. Most, if not all, of them already have had the free service done and you can verify it by punching the vin into the Ford website. Even if they didn't, you simply have to take the car to any Ford dealership to get it done for free. One unexpected bonus of this is that a lot of people who blow their motors being stupid end up getting them replaced for free from Ford since it could be argued that the failure was caused by the replacement gasket being installed wrong. They often do it no questions asked to avoid negative PR associated with the embarrassment of the recall.
