ChrisNightingale

Hi Guys, I have a very similar issue with my ST. Actually seem to have 2 rattles coming from the passenger rear. The first was the front passenger seat belt which seems to be fixed (something to do with "latches" what ever that means") but there is still something coming from the back. I would really like to know what it is and possibly fix it myself as my car's booked in for a whole week in about a week's time and I'm paranoid they are gonna thrash my car something awful - thank goodness it's almost run in!!! I'll have a look at messing around with the rear seats then Thanks, Chri

Wow lucky you - looks well nice. When my ST was in for a rattle issue, they gave me a bottom of the range Ka that was also empty of fuel and filthy!!!

Yeah I noticed this as well - thought they had learnt from the Puma days which I was very used to. Oh well at least there is something the same about my ST compared with my Puma (bar the Ford badge)!!!!

It may depend on the lighting conditions as under grey overcast skies they look rather faded and not that bright orange you see in the brochures. But when you get one in the bright sun light they look very sweet 8)

Fortunately for me the difference in the cost to me between the 2 and the 3 is only £5 odd a month. I consider £70 per month to run round in an ST3 for 3 years to be the bargin of the century. Just discovered that the ST3 has heated front seats so no frozen bum either yippee bonus! Wow that is a good deal - what's the catch!?!?! :D Well I'm sure you will enjoy it regardless of what material the seats are covered in!!!

Hi Andy, Yeap I guess there are swings and roundabouts then. At the end of the day it's all down to what you prefer - thankfully for me what I prefer costs less!!!!

I went for the ST2 and to be honest have never liked leather because of the hot/cold thing during summer and winter. Also it doesn't take long for leather seats to start cracking especially along the side supports where they are squashed when you get in and out (saw a 2 year old Street Ka and it had this on the seats already). I actually prefer the look of the cloth seats to the leather in the ST because I love the material they have used - nice and hard wearing and the colour coordination I think works quite well (in the blue anyway!!!). Anyway that's just my opinion!!! Chris

All of this sounds very similar to a mate of mine who tried to buy an MX5 from an internet broker - the previous shape when it just came out. He waited so long that he gave up - the internet company wouldn't give the deposit back (which was several thou!!!) because their contract said that it would "eventually" arrive - but thankfully he found an actual Mazda dealer who could do such a good deal that he made up for the loss of the deposit. He then vouched never to buy off an internet dealer again. His motto after that was "You get what you paid for"!!!!

The Puma's advert was superb, probably the best car ad I have seen. I was so impressed with the advert (especially after then watching Steve M driving around in that '68 390 GT Fastback Ford Mustang in Bullitt) and so taken in by the marketing, that I bought a Puma and even chose the green after the Mustang's colour in the film. Now that's the power of marketing!!!

Well with all the delayed ST build dates flying around, I was happy when I phoned up Hartwell Ford today. They said at the begining of January that my ST2 with DEATC was scheduled to be built on 27th Jan for delivery in March. Well I phoned today and apparently it has been built (because there is a chassis number) and will be deliveryed for Feb 20th - although I want them to hold it until March 1st for the plate change. So cheer up, they don't all seemed to be delayed :wink: Thanks, Chris

If you want some quality pictures of a Red ST, this threat has probably the best pictures I have seen of any Focus ST: http://www.ffoc.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=103835 As for the name, I assume that the XR name wasn't used here and hasn't been for a while probably because of the "JoyRiding" stigma attached to the XR2s and XR3s - but that's just a guess!!! A name I would really like to see would be "Focus RS Cosworth" but that may not happen!!! Thanks, Chris

Thanks for all the links, Just a little over a month left until I get mine - supposedly it is being born (or built) this Friday!!!!

I noticed on another picture I saw somewhere that you can get a silver surround as well which looks pretty good.

Hi Gary, Yeah I had that exact same problem. I was able to get it off using another computer so I guess it's probably either XP SP 2 doing it or some other anti-popup software!!!

I think if you look on the Ford website and the ST mini site, in the downloads is a picture of the interior and it shows the DEATC panel which looks pretty nice. I have also ordered it for my ST2 Thanks, Chris

Similar to what 182_blue said, I would love an RS but I don't really like the idea of buying a super fast hot hatch that someone else might have thrashed the hell out of. That's why I only buy brand new hot hatches and second hand "normal" cars!! Thanks, Chris

Fair point and I totally agree - shame you had to sell the RS then from the sounds of things!!

Hi there, Yeah thanks for the great reviews Foobar. I'm currently waiting for my ST2 in blue which should arrive sometime in March. I totally agree that the RS has loads more presence than the ST (I love that front bumper and wheel arches). Although as greyknight pointed out, I still think the ST looks good, it's just more subtle. Every so often I see an RS go past and they really do make you stop and stare (I think they look better in the flesh than a lot of pictures because the arches look better!!). Again the colour of the RS really made it work (as did the Racing Puma which I really

Hi there Russell, That's very interesting, I didn't know that. Well then when I pickup my Focus I will ask them tom wipe out the old "Spectrophotometer" as well then!!!! Like you said, if Ford are hard on their suppliers etc, then so should we. I might have to quote them the old "Consumer rights" bit then if they don't play ball. Trouble is at the moment, if I don't like the car, they will probably turn round and say "fine then, we will sell it to someone who want's to jump the waiting list bad and won't notice the colour problem"!!!! Thanks, Chris

I got off the phone to the dealer a few hours ago and he stated that mine was scheduled to be built on 27th Jan ready for delivery on around about 1st March. Apparently it takes about a day or so to build but it's all the other faffing that makes up the rest of the time!!! Thanks, Chris

Thanks for that Fury, Yeah they gave me a rough estimate but I thought I might get an update (and to make sure they actually ordered it - in case the order form fell down the back of a desk or something!!!! Thanks, Chris

Is there an online site you can go to or do you have to contact the dealer? I assume it's ok to ask the dealer for an update (don't want to appear that I'm hassling them!!!) I ordered mine on 10th December and was told around about March. I have the climate control option on mine and was wondering if this is likely to cause a delay. Thanks, Chris

Hey Foobar, Thanks for the link to all those piccies. It's a dam fine looking car!!!! Can't wait to get mine!!!

Spec: ST2 Doors: 3 Exterior: Performance Blue Interior: Standard Extras: Climate control Delivery Date: March-ish Ford Main Dealer: Yes Privilege: No Company Car: No Acceptance Condition: That the car is one colour and not shades of blue!!!!!

Hi everybody, I just ordered my ST2 in Blue and really want something to remind me of it while I wait for it to be delivered. Obviously Ford's website only has images of the Orange one as well as the screen saver. Has anyone got any cool images of a Blue one that I can use as a desktop image!?! Thanks, Chris N