Been thinking of selling the passat to get something a bit more sporty, fast road orientated. My mind was set on an e36 M3, however im not totally sure i can afford to run one.

Now the Focus in question seems to be worth half that of an equiv EP3.

For example, 2004 55k Focus = £3-4k 2004 55k EP3 = £6-8k.

I know the ctr is probably better to drive but is it 50% networth cost better ?

Focus example http://pistonheads.com/sales/1674934.htm

 

Mine was great to be fair, owned it for 4 years, did about 40k, unlike the old fords id owned previously it just worked which was great. interior was alright, high revving engine was addictive, great gearbox.

I'd say the only let down over a ST170 would be the steering, the steering feel in an ST170 would be better maybe due to the EP3's electric power steering.

If you could afford to stretch to one I'd go EP3

 

you would have to search far and wide to find a decent st making proper power. we have only had one decent one in here(small ford dealer) in the past 3 years. some of them have struggled to leave a 1.8 focus behind. prone for cats going(£900 a time) and dual mass flywheels. i do like focus's but would have a 2.0 zetec over an st170. would guess the type r is a lot better proposition.

 

The 1.6 focus i had was fucking horrible, 1.6 5 door lx mind. I swore i would never go back to one, however i feel this is the same in any car, a 1.8 20v non turbo passat would feel like a dog aswell.

My cars just starting to bore me now!

 

EP3 is worth the extra, without a shadow of a doubt.


Cheers,
Grant

 

Thanks

 

I've had an st170, was pretty boring tbh. Quite slow in a straight line, bloody good round the bends though, nothing else in its class could keep with it.

I've driven the civic too, a better all round car, as said though, steering feel is quite poor and you've got to rev the bollocks out of it wherever you go, its got no low end grunt at all.

 

Type R is simple jump in and drive motoring, the VTEC owner sounds a bit mad with a filter on it. Bugger all torque and you need to rev them but they are fun. I thoroughly enjoyed my drive of one even though it felt a lot slower than I thought it was going to.

 

Agree about the steering feel, almost definitely get better feel from the 170... but the lack of low end grunt, I totally disagree with.

Ok, its not a torquey monster, but if you look at the graph of an EP3 CTR then its pretty healthy from very low down to high up the rev range, and having driven my wee sisters Premier EP3 quite a bit I'd say that it pulls reasonably well out of VTEC to be honest.


Cheers,
Grant

 

At £6-8k, how close are you to MK1 Focus RS money? What about MK2 ST?

Not driven a 170 or an EP Type-R but been in both and neither impressed me; both felt flat and slow.

Think there's probably much better cars out there to be honest. I'd take an ST220 over the both of them any day of the week.

 

How about a Leon Cupra R 225 standard 270 with a Remap, nice car looks good and it pretty quick too.

 

Just buy the Focus ST job done.

 

a mk2 focus st yes. a mk 1 no.

 

I think it depends on what else you use your car for, theres a lot of cars you can get these days for that money. lcr and clio 182 just to mention a few.

 

if you like to drive hard and want something that will never break then get the ep3 just as good if not better performer then the others mentioned but obviously you only need to chuck a £300 remap at them and there totally transformed where as you cant do that with the ep3

 

CTR, owned three of them between me and my sister and they are pretty bullet proof, holding value well also.

My sisters will be for sale soon, 60k full Honda service history £6k

 

Had my type r a while now... Great motors!

 

Although I may sell it and get a focus rs but can't bring myself to leave the reliablity aspect

 

I dont fit in it!

 

dc2 integra type-r far far better than both your options above

 

we have a ep3 one careful owner

http://www.xsportracing.com/projects...ct&cat=1&id=26

is was in one piece until the last round of dmn at brands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LN9_N3MH7k

 

They are getting a bit old now and so hard to find a decent one that hasnt been ragged to an inch of its life with care.

Know a few people who own them and they dont service them properly etc.

I would have a DC5 but they are still a bit too expensive ?

 

I know what you mean, my mate has my old one and i'm seriously considering getting it back off him as its a very clean car, properly looked after with all the right bits on it and no rust anywhere and all original paint etc

Either that or an s2000 can be had for your budget if you can live with a 2 seater?