Elise sold back to Murrays today..

[The Hoff]

There isn't really anything in that price range which offers quite as much when you factor in the performance and handling aspect / fuel economy. The estate also looks miles better than the hatch IMO and doesn't brake the bank. Not quite as spacious for an estate when compared to the competition on paper but still plenty of space for most people's needs.
Never thought I'd plump for a Ford but I still have fond memories of my mums mk2 XR3i and RS Turbo...

The focus will be a top ST3 spec which avoids the horrible looking seat trim of the lower ST and ST2 spec cars in favour of full leather and comes equipped with more toys than you can shake a stick at, but will still be 2 to 3k cheaper than the base model 1.6 Elise I had.
The only thing I'm not sure about is the level of depreciation.. Depreciation is something you have to live with, but I only hope it's not quite as bad as that suffered by the previous model.

All in all you can propbably tell, I'm quite excited by the prospect, just have to wait for mrs Scott to choose the colour..

Also, as I've not felt the need to join an ST owners forum.. I'll post my findings on here when I've actually got one.. If some of you are interested of course.

Cowan

[campbell]

Always room for opinions on family barges, Cowan...especially quick ones which are reasonably rewarding to drive. In many cases that's what enables some people to retain an Elise for true fun days...something you might eventually discover when the finance is cleared on your own barge

[rossybee]

Yep, I'm interested - would make a cracking family motor

[The Hoff]

For those who were interested at the time... I've had my new daily driver focus ST estate (ST3) for just over 3 months now and can wholeheartedly say.. It's epic! For the money nothing new comes close in terms of performance, economy, practicality, quality, equipment and dare i say it... looks.. The estate is miles better looking than the hatch.. Especially in blue.

Becoming a father for the first time last September coupled with positive business developments spelled the end (for approx. 5 years at least.. I hope..) of lotus ownership..
But what a car to replace it with.. I considered a new 3-series estate but could not justify the extra 10k..
Averaging 32mpg without trying to drive economically.. Extremely comfortable seats despite my size.. Very well put together and much more grown up than its predecessor.. But above all... FUN to drive!
You would not know its an estate on the move.. It's just so chuckable and confidence inspiring when taken out on a Sunday morning blast.
I knew after a few miles on a test drive that this is what i wanted.. (bearing in mind i test drove a used 2 year old Audi S4 (3.0)) . It's also one of those cars that's fun to drive whatever the occasion. Enough said..

The only downside is a crap turning circle.. And that there may be a new Focus RS estate in 2 to 3 years time which I read about yesterday in Autocar..

Not the detailed account some may be hoping to read, but if you're in the market for something like this.. Take a test drive.. I think the new ST is being tested on Top Gear some time in this series..

Cowan

[Doc883]

For those who were interested at the time... I've had my new daily driver focus ST estate (ST3) for just over 3 months now and can wholeheartedly say.. It's epic!
Cowan

Do you have any photos of the ST Estate ? quite like the idea of a Blue ST3 Estate as a daily driver but the only ST I have seen locally is the 5 door hatch and in white.

[Mike Scib]

For those who were interested at the time... I've had my new daily driver focus ST estate (ST3) for just over 3 months now and can wholeheartedly say.. It's epic!
Cowan

Do you have any photos of the ST Estate ? quite like the idea of a Blue ST3 Estate as a daily driver but the only ST I have seen locally is the 5 door hatch and in white.

There is a white estate at East Kilbride Ford

[The Hoff]

For those who were interested at the time... I've had my new daily driver focus ST estate (ST3) for just over 3 months now and can wholeheartedly say.. It's epic!
Cowan

Do you have any photos of the ST Estate ? quite like the idea of a Blue ST3 Estate as a daily driver but the only ST I have seen locally is the 5 door hatch and in white.

I haven't taken any photos of the focus yet, but you'll find plenty of YouTube vids, including a few showing it in blue. Be aware though that most videos you'll see will show the car having the older style headlights.. Later ones like mine don't have the chrome bezels in the headlights but instead come in black which look miles better IMO. Also the "Style pack" is a must. It includes the same alloys but in a slightly darker "gun metal" kind of colour which looks better than the regular silver alloy of the standard wheel.

The only thing I'll ever change, although not cosmetic, is the addition of a Mountune developed stage 1 performance upgrade (when it finally becomes available) to take power up to a still useable 280hp which will still be covered under ford's warranty.. not that I find it lacking in power, just that it's loaded up most of the time which takes the edge off the performance a little.

[The Hoff]

The following link is to a Swiss car programme (in German) , again it shows an earlier car with the older style headlights but it gives you an idea of what the estate looks like in Blue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7LWMp7g ... ata_player

[Doc883]

The following link is to a Swiss car programme (in German) , again it shows an earlier car with the older style headlights but it gives you an idea of what the estate looks like in Blue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7LWMp7g ... ata_player

Cheers. Also came across this: http://drivingspirit.com/ford-focus-st- ... rst-drive/

[Doc883]

Pistonheads Ford Focus ST-3 Estate

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default ... ryId=27586

[The Hoff]

Pistonheads Ford Focus ST-3 Estate

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default ... ryId=27586

Will be interesting to see what they say about it.. Although I know for sure they'll comment on the crap turning circle which has been altered due to the standard 235/35/18 tyres.. And a bit of torque steer which is all but sorted by switching the ESP off completely (in dry conditions).. apart from that, personally, I absolutely love it and will probably hold onto it for quite some time as I only do about 8k miles a year.

Are you seriously considering an ST Estate?

Cowan

[Doc883]

Pistonheads Ford Focus ST-3 Estate
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default ... ryId=27586

Will be interesting to see what they say about it.. Although I know for sure they'll comment on the crap turning circle which has been altered due to the standard 235/35/18 tyres.. Are you seriously considering an ST Estate? Cowan

Jeez, 235/35/18's on essentially a sporty family estate, my how things have moved on. Pretty sure supercars in the 80's, possibly 90's, had less rubber I'd hate to price up for a set of new tyres all round
I'm certainly going to have a test drive and see how things go from there. Was looking at prices on http://www.fordretailonline.co.uk/new/f ... /st-3.aspx and they have a quite attractive finance offer.