Shopping for a small car recently, I had the surprising pleasure to drive Ford’s new “hot hatch”, the 2013 Focus ST. Astonishing, swift, fun, explosive, svelte and a tremendous value – my thoughts while driving the 6-speed manual ST. Ford has certainly come a long way from generic, boring cars.

My pre-purchase checklist:
Pro ST:

1. Value: roughly $23K for the base model
2. Subtle: the black ST is quite elegant and understated – the opposite of some of the brighter options.
3. Loads of torque
4. Impressive hatch storage space (I would trade this for more headroom)
5. Base model is available without the microsoft bits known as “MyFord Touch“
6. Five door hatchback is a great, flexible car.
7. Fuel economy: 23/32; 26 combined mpg. Impressive.
8. Assembled in Michigan.
9. Middleton Ford’s (Keith Norris) customer service was quite good. They kept in touch regularly via email, answering questions and offering several different configuration options. Madison’s long time Ford dealer – Kayser – was fine in person but non-existent on subsequent inquiries.

Con ST:

1. Heated seats can only be had on the most expensive model, known as the ST3. One must accept the microsoft/MyFord Touch bits along with leather Recaro seats and other goodies. I prefer simplicity all around.
2. Interior room: at about 6’2″, I was somewhat cramped in the ST’s front seats. The back seats were serviceable, but not terribly comfortable. Headroom is limited.
3. 6 speed manual only, no DCT (DSG). I have long enjoyed three pedal cars, but after driving the latest GTI DSG, I am a convert….

Several ST reviews:
Georg Kacher
Top Gear
Wired
Focus ST Forum
duckduckgo.com search
UK’s CAR magazine
Twitter Search #FocusST
TX Garage
Peter DeLorenzo

Ford is to be commended for creating, shipping and supporting the Focus ST. I would have owned one but for the tight interior and lack of a DCT transmission option. Heated seats at an affordable price would be a plus in the base model as well.

Marketing Notes:

1. App Store: GTI 35 Edition iOS Game I did not find a Focus ST app.
2. Brand www sites: Focus ST GTI
3. Cars.com inventory (5.30.2013): Focus ST (2189) GTI (4004)

Next, why I chose a GTI.

By Jackie Farwell:

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Dr. Michael Ciampi took a step this spring that many of his fellow physicians would describe as radical.

The family physician stopped accepting all forms of health insurance. In early 2013, Ciampi sent a letter to his patients informing them that he would no longer accept any kind of health coverage, both private and government-sponsored. Given that he was now asking patients to pay for his services out of pocket, he posted his prices on the practice’s website.

The change took effect April 1.

“It’s been almost unanimous that patients have expressed understanding at why I’m doing what I’m doing, although I’ve had many people leave the practice because they want to be covered by insurance, which is understandable,” Ciampi said.

Before the switch, Ciampi had about 2,000 patients. He lost several hundred, he said. Some patients with health coverage, faced with having to seek reimbursement themselves rather than through his office, bristled at the paperwork burden.