A3 Tdi Quattro or Focus ST

Joe_Horner

Much as Spicy can be a little abrasive at times, he does have a point.

By your own admission you've never been in an ST, let alone driven it - and you really can't judge a chassis from the passenger seat of another model from the same range! You claim to have "briefly" driven the A3, but in a different version, so the same thing applies there.

Different engine = different car = no basis for comparison.

In case you weren't aware, apart from the entirely changed power characteristics (which will affect the feel of the chassis), a different weight and shape of engine will also have an effect by altering distribution - probably not enough for the average driver to care but you're commenting on subtle differences where it will make a difference.

Makers also have an annoying (for armchair reviewers) habit of changing other things when they change engines because (a) they match suspension etc to the engine and (b) they match the overall chassis to their expected customers for each version. Hence, say, our 525TD being an entirely different animal, with entirely different feel, to an M5 of the same era. You couldn't possibly judge the handling of the M5 by driving ours, or the other way round.

So your "opinion" is no more than guesswork or copy / paste of googled reviews in this case. It just can't be.

Retrogamer

I'd go for the A3 here. Easily.

The torque and tuning potential from the engine is much better than the Focus.

The Focus only has a bit of power as you approach the red line. It's gutless, worse on fuel and almost zero tuning potential engine wise unless you have deep wallets.

King_Nothing

Retrogamer wrote: »

I'd go for the A3 here. Easily.

The torque and tuning potential from the engine is much better than the Focus.

The Focus only has a bit of power as you approach the red line. It's gutless, worse on fuel and almost zero tuning potential engine wise unless you have deep wallets.

I wouldn't listen to this joker he doesn't know what he's on about.

Retrogamer

King_Nothing wrote: »

I wouldn't listen to this joker he doesn't know what he's on about.

My bad.

I misread the OP and thought they meant the Ford Focus ST170 which is pretty lame when compared to an A3 Quattro.

King_Nothing

I was gonna say, lol, when I had my Focus even before I modified it I would have power all the way UP TO the red line, lol then I took it up to 320bhp for not that much really, you can tune them easily. The ST170 is pretty gutless.

I've only driven the ST, haven't driven the A3, the ST is a very capable car, thirsty if anything, cheap to repair, and cheap to service. I'm not a fan of diesel so would be my own bias saying not to get one and go for the ST.

Sold my ST not that long ago, great car.

Kingsd316

If you go for the focus you have to look into getting a Stratagem Dreamscience mapping unit, it can transform the car to how it should have left the factory with no other mods needed, I owned an ST and had the DSci map installed and it was like driving a different car, costs about £500 new but can be had for half that on ebay for a slightly older version

Johno100

Retrogamer wrote: »

My bad.

I misread the OP and thought they meant the Ford Focus ST170 which is pretty lame when compared to an A3 Quattro.

Sorry, it was probably me mentioning it when trying to determine which ST he was after. Agree about the ST170, but to be kind to it (we are talking about a model that went out of production more than 10 years ago) it was the last Fast Ford that had input from Cosworth so historic in that regard and I still like those multi-spoke wheels.

Kingsd316 wrote: »

If you go for the focus you have to look into getting a Stratagem Dreamscience mapping unit, it can transform the car to how it should have left the factory with no other mods needed, I owned an ST and had the DSci map installed and it was like driving a different car, costs about £500 new but can be had for half that on ebay for a slightly older version

Totally agree on this, I'd only add that the more aggressive maps (such as the DSci), can if not careful finish off a well worn clutch PDQ.

BTW seems this thread has been to the barbers for a trim.:T