Mk3.5 Focus ST or Mk7.5 Golf GTI - Page 1 - Car Buying

3CylinderOP

Original Poster

22 posts

46 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 3rd November 2022

So I’m trying to decide between the MK7.5 Golf GTI Performance (Manual) and the Mk3.5 Focus ST-3 (petrol and manual ofc) (both 5 door). Both are quite highly specced. It’s going to be a daily use car but also going to be thrown around B roads and maybe a track day or two in the summer. Both cars have their flaws. With the GTI I feel its a little too common, loses the special feeling, although it is a very good looking hatch. The focus st has bad torque steer, but IMO that just adds to the character and the want to drive and understand the car. I’m posting this to get opinions from people who have driven both, or at least one (same specs, GTI Performance, mk3.5 st) and which they prefer. I understand the GTI is the better “all arounder” but Im willing to sacrifice parts of the daily comfort for more fun if the ST is. Budget is 23,000 so I can get a low mileage looked after car with either. Will be looking to modify some aspects later down the line (intake, exhaust, power(map), handling, wheels).

Edited by 3CylinderOP on Thursday 3rd November 13:48

CG2020UK

2,935 posts

68 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 3rd November 2022

GTI 100%.

Does everything better.

Fun is subjective but I threw my GTI around and had a good laugh.

ZX10R NIN

30,420 posts

153 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 3rd November 2022

3CylinderOP

Original Poster

22 posts

46 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 3rd November 2022

ZX10R NIN said:

cant get insured on the newer st or the i30n, and the 308s 1.6 is too small and can't really push it much in terms of modifying. I think the ST is a better steering car, but overall fun would lie better with the GTI, so I guess I will look into one, thanks

CzechRS

79 posts

207 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 3rd November 2022

Loved my Focus PFL Mk3. Depends on what you want, I'd say the Focus is a better hoon, Golf more grown up and more rounded and comes at a cost.

I've gone off them since they aren't as basic/vfm as they used to be (had a mk1) which was part of the appeal to me, but Octavia VRS has to be worth a look if you're considering a GTiiii.