[ZTWsquared]

NOS2Go4Me,Dec 17 2008, 02:08 PM Wrote:

ZTWsquared,Dec 17 2008, 11:30 AM Wrote:I'm not saying anyone's wrong or right here ... I'm saying that if a WRX or EVO can sell here for 40k+ - there might just be a market for a Euro spec Focus ST in the same price range.
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If it's AWD, sure. If it's FWD, it'll displace / compete with / steals sales back and forth with and ultimately kill the MS3. I don't know how their cross-licensing works. I don't know if Mazda would stand by as rabid Ford UK fanboys slaughter the MS3 pocket rocket brigade with what I would assume to be 3-4x the sales the MS3 currently enjoys... easily.

And if it's FWD, my comment stands. The WRX265 is THE best sport compact performance deal going right now, especially among upper echelon players like the VW GTI / R32, the EVO X, the MS3 and the Cobalt SS. The Cobalt SS is the runaway FWD performance leader, followed closely by the MS3. For AWD, the WRX265 is the king of the hill. The STI at 14Gs (and more) for 35 more HP and "moar optionz", even as performance-oriented as most of them are, doesn't stack up.
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Hypothetically the Focus ST as it is sold in the UK right now would retail here for about 30k ... and although it would still have on paper 35hp less than the Cobalt, from what I've read it would be a much, much more sophisticated and enjoyable driving experience. And based on what I've read and seen on video, it would be far and away the better car when compared to any VW in the same price, and certainly the MS3.

I'd love to see Jeremy Clarkson test drive the Cobalt - he seemed to love the ST - I wonder if he'd like the Cobalt as much - somehow I doubt it.

If Ford is in fact considering a high-po Focus for us, I wonder if the ST wouldn't be at the top of their list.