[AlanBDahl]

What do folks think of the relative competitiveness of the FiST vs the FoST? We only have one FoST locally and I've won handily (2 seconds) over him at the last event but that's a small data point. I hope to take a fun run at an upcoming event to see but in the mean time is live to hear folks opinions. My opinion is that there's no way the FoST can be faster on the type of asphalt surfaces we have locally but things could be totally different on concrete. Opinions?

 

[k757]

I have not come across a FOST owner who is a top driver (or even my pretty good level) yet

 

[wash]

At the EcoBoost challenge events the Focus ST won most of the autocross events (from what I've heard). At the one I attended, there were several autocross competitors there just to flog the car.

Maybe some were Focus ST owners with race experience?

The times were close between the best Fiesta ST and best Focus ST but that's probably by design of the course.

And then there is the course, its hard to make a blanket statement without knowing the course because the cars have different strengths.

And that's why I chose a Fiesta ST, the few things it can't do as well as a Focus ST (in a race) can be fixed. Its not practical to try and narrow a Focus ST or pull 500lbs of weight out.

 

[Zormecteon]

At the Octane Academy we got to drive both cars in all events including track time and the "urbancross". My impression is that the FoST definitely has a power advantage that is easy to discern. It's so sweet to power out of corners and slides, but the FiST has a much better turn in. It's simply more lively, with better feel. I asked one of the instructors which HE preferred, and his answer was that on the track the FoST was faster, but in the urbancross, he liked the FiST. Naturally I drove the FiST as much as possible when given the choice.

 

[AlanBDahl]

One thing to look at in comparing the two cars is how close to the cones one is. The Fiesta is so much narrower it’s easy to miss a cone by quite a bit if you’re not familiar with the car or just jumped out of the Focus. A math-oriented autocross friend did the calculations and came up with 0.1 seconds lost per 6” you’re off each slalom cone. That can add up to a lot over a 60-second course. With only one clean run at my last event I think keeping close to the cones is not a problem for me .

 

[Mightymango]

I got beat in one event by .2 seconds as there was a longer straight uphill that he was able to accelerate more over me. The previous event I had him by 1.2 seconds as that uphill was not present (that is what I'm going to blame)

The Fiesta seems to be more composed from what I have observed. Spring Nats will have a few of both so that should show a bit more quality information.

 

[Smokin]

At the Octane Academy we got to drive both cars in all events including track time and the "urbancross". My impression is that the FoST definitely has a power advantage that is easy to discern. It's so sweet to power out of corners and slides, but the FiST has a much better turn in. It's simply more lively, with better feel. I asked one of the instructors which HE preferred, and his answer was that on the track the FoST was faster, but in the urbancross, he liked the FiST. Naturally I drove the FiST as much as possible when given the choice.

I was at the ST Octane Academy over the weekend. Were you there?
I agree with you. When we got open track time everyone opted for the Focus and I drove the Fiesta.
Why? Because I love it.
I kept up with the Focus ahead of me the entire time but that doesn't mean anything.
There was a huge range in skill level, but by god we all had fun!!!!

Octane Academy recommended hands down!

 

[WScottCross]

I was also the only person that chose the FiST at Octane Academy. I was also the first FiST owner to go to Octane Academy. I considered driving the FoST on track, but decided I should experience it in the car I own, even if the FoST has more power. It was still a blast and I highly recommend it!

 

[limbo]

Atlanta match tour is coming up this weekend and GS is almost entirely FiST's and FoST's. Will be interesting to see how the results turn out.

 

[djdennehy]

I have competed against two FoST's so far in autocross, one was pretty heavily modified. I got both by over 1 second (FTD was 36ish seconds). Honestly I think it has more to do with the driver, the cars are very close in Autocross. On an open track, both stock, the one that will set the fastest time would be the Focus, but the more reliable/stable/repeatable platform would by the Fiesta.