to those who remember me......

[coaldust]

You had a list of desirable cars and then bought a Ford Focus...

As long as your happy. Enjoy

lol i felt the same untill i test drove one.

 

[coaldust]

Try a Honda S2000, just as quick as a 3.0i SE Z4 but has an awesome engine that revs to 9k and 240bhp, excellent handling and a gearbox shift that no other car can beat.

eww like a convertible type r, about as much low end grunt as a kebab. and they look vile.

 

[coaldust]

well decided not to get another z4 as "been there worn the t shirt" etc, and the fact that the practicality mainly 2 seats was becoming an issue.

So i went for an electric orange 2 door focus st mk2 running around 280bhp with remap and a few mods, dont wanna make this a vs thread because i have to much respect for the z4 but if any of you are interested id like to list the differences of the st good or bad .

z4 plus points

(1) convertible roof, even tho we dont get much sun over here, when you can enjoy it knocking the roof back is superb.

(2) rwd overall much better at the old traffic light gp

focus st

(1) the sound and power, the sound of the 5cyl and turbo is superb, the shove you get you get in the back when it comes on boost is so addictive, and power wise there was hardly any difference between my focus and a mates 135i one a roll on which i feel is superb. in terms of in gear performance ie roll on, it would slay the 3.0 z4

(2) practicality, big boot and 3 rear seats

(3) fwd better in winter and snow lol.

its orange, tinted rear windows, black wheels, rs diffuser, etc, and to my shock it gets more comments and attention than the z4.

id like to thank you guys for being a more than superb forum while i had the z!

Sounds great I had a Blue ST3 a few years ago now and tweeked it to stage 2 plus and it was a machine, no match for a zed IMO but it was fast in a straight line and practical.

One word of caution though take it easy with planting the throttle in high gears and low revs as the standard clutches are rubbish and don't like a remap at all and will soon start to slip! If it has been upgraded to an RS clutch your fine but if not be careful.

Also get a downpipe and sports CAT on it it pops and bangs even more and that 5 Pot sounds even better

its got an rs clutch fitted 5 months ago so im ok[/quote]

Thats good then

Go and get stage 3+ fitted now then, it will be an absolute beast then [/quote]

happy with it as it stands for the moment, plenty fast enough, do you not miss the turbo kick and extra power over the z? i mean my 3.0 z was not slow but 3rd 4th etc this would pull on it no problem. two totally diff cars tho i suppose.

 

[hopz121]

happy with it as it stands for the moment, plenty fast enough, do you not miss the turbo kick and extra power over the z? i mean my 3.0 z was not slow but 3rd 4th etc this would pull on it no problem. two totally diff cars tho i suppose.

Not really no, the main thing i miss is the sound of the 5 Pot engine, and the boot space, but the same engine has a few known issues as well which was another reason for me selling it.

Both of the cars are great in their own respect, but also totally different, one is a RWD Sports car and one is a FWD fast family hatchback.

The ST was mega fast in a straight line (used to keep up with a lot of things which surprised a few people), but it was sloppy and understeered quite badly when pressing on through the corners and the z4 is more fun to drive fast.

The ST is a great practical fast hatch and cruised well on the motorways but its no sports car.

The Z4 leaves a bigger grin on my face than the ST did and it’s a more grown up car, as good as the ST is it’s still a Ford.

I’m glad you’re happy with it though, go and enjoy the car and get yourself over to focusSTOC.com it’s a great forum with loads of great people.

 

[Zikim]

Try a Honda S2000, just as quick as a 3.0i SE Z4 but has an awesome engine that revs to 9k and 240bhp, excellent handling and a gearbox shift that no other car can beat.

eww like a convertible type r, about as much low end grunt as a kebab. and they look vile.

You obviously haven't driven one, low end torque is not as bad as many think but between 5.5k all the way up to 9k is unbelievable especially the engine noise - think F1 car!

As to the looks, each to their own but in not way can it be described as vile - clean lines all the way.

 

[coaldust]

happy with it as it stands for the moment, plenty fast enough, do you not miss the turbo kick and extra power over the z? i mean my 3.0 z was not slow but 3rd 4th etc this would pull on it no problem. two totally diff cars tho i suppose.

Not really no, the main thing i miss is the sound of the 5 Pot engine, and the boot space, but the same engine has a few known issues as well which was another reason for me selling it.

Both of the cars are great in their own respect, but also totally different, one is a RWD Sports car and one is a FWD fast family hatchback.

The ST was mega fast in a straight line (used to keep up with a lot of things which surprised a few people), but it was sloppy and understeered quite badly when pressing on through the corners and the z4 is more fun to drive fast.

The ST is a great practical fast hatch and cruised well on the motorways but its no sports car.

The Z4 leaves a bigger grin on my face than the ST did and it’s a more grown up car, as good as the ST is it’s still a Ford.

I’m glad you’re happy with it though, go and enjoy the car and get yourself over to focusSTOC.com it’s a great forum with loads of great people.

i agree with most of your comments, i could say the z is better at this the st is better at that lol at the end of the day its personal preference, but ive always been a fan of turbo's dating back to my renault 5 gtt which was years ago, i just like the nothing then all power delivery of a turbo, and as a plus, last owner just got a new oil filter housing etc which im sure your aware is a common prob so thats sorted aswell, its got a sportscat 200 cell but stock downpipe so im gonna order a mongoose downpipe to let it breathe a little better.

 

[hopz121]

happy with it as it stands for the moment, plenty fast enough, do you not miss the turbo kick and extra power over the z? i mean my 3.0 z was not slow but 3rd 4th etc this would pull on it no problem. two totally diff cars tho i suppose.

Not really no, the main thing i miss is the sound of the 5 Pot engine, and the boot space, but the same engine has a few known issues as well which was another reason for me selling it.

Both of the cars are great in their own respect, but also totally different, one is a RWD Sports car and one is a FWD fast family hatchback.

The ST was mega fast in a straight line (used to keep up with a lot of things which surprised a few people), but it was sloppy and understeered quite badly when pressing on through the corners and the z4 is more fun to drive fast.

The ST is a great practical fast hatch and cruised well on the motorways but its no sports car.

The Z4 leaves a bigger grin on my face than the ST did and it’s a more grown up car, as good as the ST is it’s still a Ford.

I’m glad you’re happy with it though, go and enjoy the car and get yourself over to focusSTOC.com it’s a great forum with loads of great people.

i agree with most of your comments, i could say the z is better at this the st is better at that lol at the end of the day its personal preference, but ive always been a fan of turbo's dating back to my renault 5 gtt which was years ago, i just like the nothing then all power delivery of a turbo, and as a plus, last owner just got a new oil filter housing etc which im sure your aware is a common prob so thats sorted aswell, its got a sportscat 200 cell but stock downpipe so im gonna order a mongoose downpipe to let it breathe a little better.

Yea you should see a nice increase with the new downpipe, it allows the turbo to spool up quicker and its fairly noticable from memory.

What map are you running out of interest?

Do you have an uprated intercooler fitted?

 

[coaldust]

Try a Honda S2000, just as quick as a 3.0i SE Z4 but has an awesome engine that revs to 9k and 240bhp, excellent handling and a gearbox shift that no other car can beat.

eww like a convertible type r, about as much low end grunt as a kebab. and they look vile.

You obviously haven't driven one, low end torque is not as bad as many think but between 5.5k all the way up to 9k is unbelievable especially the engine noise - think F1 car!

As to the looks, each to their own but in not way can it be described as vile - clean lines all the way.

i take that back vile was the wrong word, im sure they are great just not for me, between s2000 and 3.0 z4 i purchased the z4, im not into cars where you have to close in on redline to get useable power, i like low down grunt.

 

[coaldust]

What map are you running out of interest?

Do you have an uprated intercooler fitted?

stock intercooler for now but as its very cold atm its not an issue really, may upgrade come summer, the guy i purchased it from did not know what map was on the car as he purchased from dealer, but its boosts into red in all gears and a real surge at 2.5 - 3k rpm. got a pumaspeed RR print out of 280 bhp, just in the process of doing some exterior mods atm tinted rear windows and fitted rear difuser and done the alloys black , absolute hoot to drive, scares the sh*t out of people when it pops between gear changes

 

[hopz121]

I would make sure you do the intercooler pronto!

You shouldn't be running a stage two map without one in all honestly!

Easy job to do yourself and not very expensive, the standard intercooler isn't fit to be used on the standard car let alone a car running 280bhp and at more boost

 

[coaldust]

I would make sure you do the intercooler pronto!

You shouldn't be running a stage two map without one in all honestly!

Easy job to do yourself and not very expensive, the standard intercooler isn't fit to be used on the standard car let alone a car running 280bhp and at more boost

you know your st's ill give you that, looking for bigger intercooler very soon, but its the most fun car ive had since my r5 gtt and thats saying something

 

[hopz121]

I would make sure you do the intercooler pronto!

You shouldn't be running a stage two map without one in all honestly!

Easy job to do yourself and not very expensive, the standard intercooler isn't fit to be used on the standard car let alone a car running 280bhp and at more boost

you know your st's ill give you that, looking for bigger intercooler very soon, but its the most fun car ive had since my r5 gtt and thats saying something

Im a car nut and owned one for a while

 

[Angelus666]

Just be careful with an M3 at that age and mileage...take it to any decent M specialist mechanic and they will probably reel off a long list of things that need replacing that can easily double your £7.5 purchase.

Find one from an owner who has ploughed money into it and it's easily the best car on your list!