1.Why are you even comparing a C-class to a Z? You shouldn't even be expecting a ride comparison as they are two toally different driving concepts.

2. The BRZ is a good car but has already been outclassed by the older miata and loses around the track to the gencoupe. The new miata will most likely be coming next year and will be even lighter. Talks of FI are circulating too... Sot the only thing i see the brz having an advantage in is being a true coupe hardtop and 4 seats.
3. Rx8 costs as much as a brz and it gains it by 32hp. It's other comp, gencoupe 2.0 kills it by 74hp. Its other comp, the miata is underpowered by 42hp yet is a better handler. Want to talk about hype? I give you the toyobaru. The ricers dream. Now don't get me wrong. I would DD that car in a heartbeat. But corporate hype is giving it a name and it hasnt eclipsed any comp. At least in the first year, the Z was killing stangs and GTO's and the 2010 camaro SS tune was not as good so the Z was keeping up.
4. You drive 997's on trac ks all the time? Good for you. I can only afford to be on one maybe 3x a year if im fortunate enough to. But remember a bunch of modded cars on a track isn't the end all be all of opinions when comparing DD's.

Anyway, you are entitled to your opinion. But i don't know why you are so perplexed by opposing opinions. My experience with the focus was it gave just enough firmness to feel sporty. It's not a benchmark car but its good,
As far as why we are talking about the ST? It's the focus submodel of interest... Besides weren't you the one who whined about "Do you like it so much cuz it comes in turbo?" It's a thread, its how shyt is discussed. You don't like it? It's your thread... Close it. Anyway im outta here. I shoulda known better to come into one of your threads.

I simply used the Z as a reference in my first post! The Focus rides not much softer than the Z and it doesn't handle anywhere like a sports car. Is it a good thing to ride similar like the Z? Of course not, well unless you think the Z rides like a Mercedes. I am not sure why you take so much offense to it, I was knocking the Focus, not the Z.

Tell me once the turbo hits on the BRZ...

I did two sessions in a GT3. I got as much as I need out of it. It's too expensive for me to track like you said.

I am still kind of puzzled at how a Focus bashing turned into Z bashing? I just purely want to bring up the crappy Ford Focus I rented at work last week. I had high expectations for it given all the hypes that the magazine gave it, yet I had nothing but headache with that car. I moved onto a Subaru Legacy this week, it's better but still $hitty

This whole post just reinforces my feeling that once you have a sports car (no matter which one it is), you get spoiled mighty fast and after that, driving anything that is not a sports car pretty much feels like crap. It's mighty tough to downgrade.

:iagree:

Just like when I tested the BRZ...Its a nice flashy looking sports car good handling feels right for daily drive but it lacks the spank when you needed it. My Z is still my #1 BB-ITCH for now....till then

I don't know, I suppose folks can employ context, like you're doing in your post, and note that sports cars and passenger cars are apples/oranges, and not get stuck in all sorts of crazy logic like OP does.

I read through the thread, for entertainment purposes, cuz I've noticed lots of OPS turbulent reasoning is pretty hilarious, like he's taking shots of paint thinner before every post.

I still don't get how I am comparing apples and oranges when there was no comparison at all? I simply reference the Focus's ride to the Z's ride. Some people seem to take offense with the fact that I said the Z rides bad. Everyone knows the Z is a sports car, bad ride is part of the game. The regular Focus is not meant to be a sports car and it doesn't handle like one. If it rides like the Z, the problem is with Ford.

I don't think you understand how a simile works. A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things, usually by employing the words "like" or "as". When you "reference" you're comparing. In any case, this has gone way off topic. I don't even get the point of this thread to be honest with you. You should probably just close it.

Don't take it the wrong way, but I think its because most of the threads you start complain about things, especially all the faults of the Z.

Simple, because its REALLY fun to drive and chuck around! I had one for a week, and yeah, its really underpowered, but what other car can you handbrake turn at every right turn? LOL

It could be, but that was not the intention in this case.

No offense taken as I know you are not some fanboy.

That's what my friends and I said when we took a Hyundai Accent, fit 4 people in it, and went AUTO-X on a 2 minute course ^_^;;;

Sat in an ST today. Wasnt impressed in the slightest for it being the "coveted" ST version. I actually had really high hopes for it since after seeing top gear beat the snot out of one.

1: I am a size 32 waist. Good luck getting anyone bigger in there. How the hell Jeremy Clarkson got his *** in there I dont know, but in all honesty I dont think they used the factory seat. But all in all really nice seat, hugs a little more then the Z's which I already like alot. Much Much better then the mustangs in reagrds to the leg boolsters and side bolster, felt like a true racing seat.

2: Was totally put off by how high the seat was in relation to the peddles. Felt like minivan height. The lower half of my bicep was at the window seal vs the middle of the ball of my shoulder in the Z. Didnt feel sporty at all. Leg angle was like at 50-60*. Legs not even in the slightest straight out in front of you. Very very down and slightly away

3. Didnt get to start it up, but wasnt a fan of how the manual gear box felt just sitting there. Reverse was up and to the left.

4. Dash didnt really flow with the center console, and also came across very perpendicular to the doors, no really wrap around feel. Very similar to the complaint I have about the mustangs. Neither feels like a cockpit.

5. What back seat it did have, need to be a double amputee missing both legs to sit in the back. Plus they were very very flat across. IMO each side needed to have more depth in the back so you sit more at an angle similar to how the 911's are. No definite seperation from each seat in the middle.

6. For a hot hatch, has to be hands down the smallest hatch area I have every seen.

7. Really like the exhaust design.

8. Nothing really special with the brakes, which caught me off guard. Was expecting something a little more than the same look of our base brakes.

9. Under the hood. Another disapointment. Why are manufactures hiding the motor under so much freakin plastic? Huge plastic cover with a stock crinkly black intake tube coming out form under it to a stock air box.

All in all I walked in practically giddy to see one and seriously walked away really disapointed. Plus the dealer marked it up an additional ~$1.5k for it being "rare". MSRP with all the extras was ~$28.5k, dealer wanted just over $30k. $5k more than the Z. So much wrong with that car, I dont know how ford dicked it up, but then again I dont know if it had the option for upgraded brakes, but that still wouldnt make up for the numerous other short falls. Felt like I was sitting in a ford minivan or ranger that was mildly lowered and had racing seats in it. Nothing like how a "sports car" sports car is suppose to feel.

I honestly dont even think driving one would make it feel any different either. Super weird upright minivan sitting feel, total opposite of confidence inspiring.

I test drove one Saturday. As a big guy, the optional recaros were way tight and uncomfortable. Car felt peppy, but felt a lot of turbo lag. Handles very well, though. Brakes were impressive too. But it's quite small and cheaply built for the money, given that most of them at dealers in my area are fully optioned at around 30k. No thx.

You can get the bottom of the line for under 24K. I ordered one with the middle of the line setup (Recaros, Sony sound, MFT, moonroof) for $26440. Anyone who pays $30,000 is simply an idiot. Remember, this isn't a sports car, it's a hot economy hatchback. I got it as a daily driver, not to replace my Z. It's rated at 32 MPG HWY and is dynoing out at about 230 whp and about 270 ft/lbs of tq, handles great, and can carrry 5. It's replacing a Ford Expedition that get 14 MPG on a good day! :D

If you can find it, and if you don't want to simply buy a Mazdaspeed3 for the same everything.