In Nathan Alden's column at
TFL.com he fields and answers this question:
‘Sup Nathan?!
Simple question from Phoenix, Arizona. What would you choose, the Ford Focus ST or the Mini Cooper S 4 Door? I want it fast, front wheel drive and manual. What do you think?
Matt
His response:
A: Howdy Matt!
I think the Ford Focus ST is a huge bargain by comparison. You can load one up and still have it for less than 30K. The equivalent MINI will run $32-$38,000. The Ford Focus ST is a monster on the track and it’s very easy to drive hard – very hard. It would be my choice between the two for track days.
With that being said, the MINI Cooper S Clubman gives you a fantastic driving experience, decent interior space and gobs of personality. There are a ton of equipment options and it feels like a small BMW. Its overall performance capabilities are impressive and, as a daily driver, it would be my choice.
If you are a MINI fan, the Ford will never do. On the other hand, if you want raw performance, it’s hard to beat the Ford Focus ST.
Matt, have you considered the Volkswagen GTI? It’s TFLcar’s favorite hot-hatch – for a majority of good reasons.
Good luck!
N
