10 hours ago, Chera said:

Weird, in my dad's old Focus I have the same felling and you explain with vibration, on the new Focus with B&O I can't hear vibrations at 12/30 volume...I mean, at 12 volume it's already too high to be audible, in the old Focus this would be 25/30... Also, what sound settings are you using? I'm somewhere between energetic and bright 

Yes, the volume is way too steep (the jump per step). At 12 it starts vibrating only on songs with low frequency bass . On normal songs at about 14-15.

But at that level (15) it's already too distorted, unpleasent and pointless. Why did they continued to 30 is bedyond me. Not sure how much cash did Ford throw at B&O to let them trash their brand.

Anyway, I use the standard equiliser and went 2 steps down on bass. Not ideal with only 3 sliders for the entire frequency range...

The graphical one is imposible to tune for me. You sacrifice something to fix another area.

But hey, if they will fix my clutch bite point from being on the floor the car would drive great. The rest we can live with.

I feel for you guys still waiting, my first ST was like this - 10 months I think. This time I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have been offered a dealership stock car, as otherwise my quoted wait was 12 months. As I’ve had this a few months I thought I’d share my experience with those maybe still a little sceptical.

I’ve owned an MK 3, MK 3.5, MK 4 and now a MK 4.5. I loved my MK 3 (stealth), but my new 4.5 in magnetic grey is so far the best I’ve owned. I wasn’t expecting to say that.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the MK 4, I never really fell in love with it as I found the steering and suspension a bit too harsh, it wasn’t as smooth or nice to drive at any stage. Because of this I was hesitant moving to a 4.5 and I did actually start shopping around, but I decided to stick with Ford when I was offered a great deal and I’m so glad I did.

I wasn’t expecting such big improvements. The steering and suspension changes have made a big difference to how this feels to drive, imo, and I think the new tyres have had a big impact to that as well.

I was sad about the Recaro's, but once you sit in the new Ford in house ones you’ll forget the Recaro's existed. So comfy, great lumbar support and a little more forgiving in my opinion.
 

The tech is probably a bit marmite, I get the views people have regarding the physical dials being removed etc, but once you get in front of it and practically use the items such as the temperature, heated seats and so on you realise that Ford have got it spot on compared to other manufacturers. The settings are always visible and in a better position than the old analogue dials imo. 
 

The tweaks to the look aren’t enormously noticeable at the start, but when I was walking up to my car the other day you could see how much had actually changed on the front end. It looks much more refined and the new headlight design has made such a positive difference. The subtle changes to the rear lights are very nice as well. 
 

The only slight negative I’ve had so far is relating to the Ford connect elements and the onboard modem (I think) playing up - but this sounds like a Ford range issue rather than a ST specific problem. And it doesn’t affect the drive, so it’s not a huge downer for me!

The biggest compliment I can give this car is that it’s making me think my old MK 4 was faulty (maybe it was!), given how much nicer this is!

I just wanted to share my thoughts up to now, especially as my experience of the MK4 wasn’t hugely positive - I was certainly more than hesitant to get this. I shouldn’t have been. It’s a great car and after a couple of months it’s fast becoming my favourite ST yet.

Hello Lads, I've had few beers and jamesons now. Firstly, I wanna say thanks you for the great community, you guys are legends. Secondly, thank ***** for auto correct! 

For the first time i showed my mates my new car down the pub, they loved it & loved the colour.

Cant wait for Tuesday & can't wait to leave my online brothers a review.

Its been a great journey & I am really happy to have shared it with you, genuinely. 

 

5 hours ago, SausagMan said:

 

^ not sure what happened here. No beers or Jameson's harmed in the making of this reply!

5 hours ago, SausagMan said:

Cant wait for Tuesday & can't wait to leave my online brothers a review.

2 more sleeps to go 😏

9 hours ago, Sclarke85 said:

It’s a great car and after a couple of months it’s fast becoming my favourite ST yet.

Thank you so much for the review! I've had my 3.5 ST for 4 years nearly and every single day I have smiled driving it! I've truly loved this car and I've had my moments of "I don't want to change you 😢" 

I'm so pleased to have read your review and see your honest comments! I admit I've been (and still am) sceptical of changing, but I know it'll be the right thing and I'm confident I'll love it! The "official" reviews are good, but to hear it from someone who has owned previous STs over the years and stuck with them is reassuring!

Hopefully less than a week to go for me (I've been very lucky myself! Just over 11 weeks from ordering) and I'll have the pleasure of learning all the new things, new locations of things, new drive etc! The Mrs wont like the fuel bill though! 🙈

3 hours ago, Coley666 said:

Thank you so much for the review! I've had my 3.5 ST for 4 years nearly and every single day I have smiled driving it! I've truly loved this car and I've had my moments of "I don't want to change you 😢" 

I'm so pleased to have read your review and see your honest comments! I admit I've been (and still am) sceptical of changing, but I know it'll be the right thing and I'm confident I'll love it! The "official" reviews are good, but to hear it from someone who has owned previous STs over the years and stuck with them is reassuring!

Hopefully less than a week to go for me (I've been very lucky myself! Just over 11 weeks from ordering) and I'll have the pleasure of learning all the new things, new locations of things, new drive etc! The Mrs wont like the fuel bill though! 🙈

No problem, I know reviews are somewhat hard to find on the MK 4.5 and people are rightfully sceptical - but don't be. There was a step back in the MK4 in my opinion, but they've pulled it back with the 4.5 in pure driving experience.

The Infotainment/tech will divide opinions though, but at the end of the day every car manufacturer is going this way now - I think Ford have done the best job of it, as whilst the controls are digital, they are always there. I'm a techy myself so I'll always be positive to tech changes and such, to me Ford has always lagged behind its rivals with regards to the infotainment and interior tech - but the new connectivity, screen and Sync 4 certainly closes that gap somewhat.

A note about the ambient lights, I forgot to say - they are there, although less obvious. (In the centre console, door handles etc). You cannot change the colours or adjust them though, they are fixed on a very, very dim blue which you only really see when there is no light anywhere. I've gone ahead and fitted a £15 USB kit and hidden it in the trims etc, I've plugged it into the rear USB port and it's very nicely hidden away. Now I have better ambient lights than I had in any of my previous, and it only set me back £15. There are still puddle lights on the door mirrors, no ST illuminated in them - but then none of my old cars had that either.

18 hours ago, IL Dotore said:

Yes, the volume is way too steep (the jump per step). At 12 it starts vibrating only on songs with low frequency bass . On normal songs at about 14-15.

But at that level (15) it's already too distorted, unpleasent and pointless. Why did they continued to 30 is bedyond me. Not sure how much cash did Ford throw at B&O to let them trash their brand.

Anyway, I use the standard equiliser and went 2 steps down on bass. Not ideal with only 3 sliders for the entire frequency range...

The graphical one is imposible to tune for me. You sacrifice something to fix another area.

But hey, if they will fix my clutch bite point from being on the floor the car would drive great. The rest we can live with.

About the clutch bite point, it's the same for all the Focus, they'll fix it, but this is how the Focus is acting like... The brakes are really sensitive on the old Focus, but on the new MK 4.5 , you need to push them really hard in order to have a good break.. 

I do agree with the brake, you need to push more on the pedal even compared to a MK3.5.

But not clear what you mean by "they'll fix it". I already spoke to my dealer and they told me that's how it is and it can't be "tuned" to bite higher... ☹️

Just back from the dealership. All "I"s are dotted and "T"s are crossed! I pick up the Mean Green Machine on Thursday! 🤩

For reference, I ordered... Mean Green Focus ST Estate 2.3L Petrol, Manual Gearbox. With optional extras.. BLIS, Hands Free Tailgate, Driver Assist Pack. 
This was ordered on Friday 23rd September with Sandicliffe in Nottingham. I don't know the exact build date (I need to ask), but as of last Thursday (1st Dec) my car had been built and delivered to port in Dagenham (UK). On Friday, it was delivered to my dealerships secondary site, where it will now have it's PDI (Pre-delivery inspection). Likely Wednesday it'll be delivered to the main site, and all being well, I'm booked in for Thursday 3pm to go pick her up! 😄 (unfortunately I'm back on shift at work Thursday morning, so it has to wait for the afternoon!)

I cannot express how excited (and anxious) I am right now! I feel very lucky for things to have progressed so quickly for me! The guy at the dealership said he ordered another focus ST estate in white the same day as mine, and it was built the day after mine, and he is also handing that over on Thursday. He doesn't know for certain why some have come through quicker than others, although he did say it is likely engine related 🤷‍♂️
But sit tight anyone still waiting! I'm confident you'll be there within just a few more months!

yup consider yourself lucky 😄 , my car ordered in february has been completed on 11th of november, then waiting for shipment since then, my dealer told me he expects it to be there by the end of december/beginning of january (I live about 200km only from Saarlouis haha) 

 

The final countdown has begun. 

1 hour ago, SausagMan said:

 

The final countdown has begun. 

That paintwork looks deep now.

 

5 minutes ago, Plimp92 said:

That paintwork looks deep now.

 

The detailer sent me before & after pictures, certainly a change in colour perception after the ceramic coat. 

Not too much paint correction was required, he only noted swirling and marks on the black plastics. 

Overall he said it had been transported well. 

Best of luck for tomorrow mate. I hope you enjoy.

I hope to join you soon. I think somethings going on with mine as my dealer said a rather guarded "it'll be anytime now" and asked me the details of my part ex

1 hour ago, SausagMan said:

The detailer sent me before & after pictures, certainly a change in colour perception after the ceramic coat. 

Not too much paint correction was required, he only noted swirling and marks on the black plastics. 

Overall he said it had been transported well. 

Looking stunning! Definitely looks more like the green in the rendered images opposed to actually seeing it standard in the flesh. Great work done there! 

Very excited for you! 1 more sleep!

1 hour ago, Plimp92 said:

Best of luck for tomorrow mate. I hope you enjoy.

I hope to join you soon. I think somethings going on with mine as my dealer said a rather guarded "it'll be anytime now" and asked me the details of my part ex

Sounding promising! 🤞 Keep us posted!

5 hours ago, Coley666 said:

Just back from the dealership. All "I"s are dotted and "T"s are crossed! I pick up the Mean Green Machine on Thursday! 🤩

For reference, I ordered... Mean Green Focus ST Estate 2.3L Petrol, Manual Gearbox. With optional extras.. BLIS, Hands Free Tailgate, Driver Assist Pack. 
This was ordered on Friday 23rd September with Sandicliffe in Nottingham. I don't know the exact build date (I need to ask), but as of last Thursday (1st Dec) my car had been built and delivered to port in Dagenham (UK). On Friday, it was delivered to my dealerships secondary site, where it will now have it's PDI (Pre-delivery inspection). Likely Wednesday it'll be delivered to the main site, and all being well, I'm booked in for Thursday 3pm to go pick her up! 😄 (unfortunately I'm back on shift at work Thursday morning, so it has to wait for the afternoon!)

I cannot express how excited (and anxious) I am right now! I feel very lucky for things to have progressed so quickly for me! The guy at the dealership said he ordered another focus ST estate in white the same day as mine, and it was built the day after mine, and he is also handing that over on Thursday. He doesn't know for certain why some have come through quicker than others, although he did say it is likely engine related 🤷‍♂️
But sit tight anyone still waiting! I'm confident you'll be there within just a few more months!

We ordered through sandicliffe Nottingham too. Wonder if our car travelled with yours lol will phone them tomorrow 😂

21 hours ago, Jo1980 said:

We ordered through sandicliffe Nottingham too. Wonder if our car travelled with yours lol will phone them tomorrow 😂

Did you check with them? I know another focus ST came along with mine but not sure on what else they picked up!

I forgot to ring today  . We still have. A target delivery date of 12 th dec though

The Beast is home! 

140 mile journey back home. 

Quick review, it's ***** lovely!! 

Drives as good as it looks, I drove it back relatively slowly, but it wanted to go faster. 

Cracking stereo, adaptive cruise top notch. 

Overall, I am impressed, can't wait to do a few more miles in it. 

17 hours ago, SausagMan said:

The Beast is home! 

140 mile journey back home. 

Quick review, it's ***** lovely!! 

Drives as good as it looks, I drove it back relatively slowly, but it wanted to go faster. 

Cracking stereo, adaptive cruise top notch. 

Overall, I am impressed, can't wait to do a few more miles in it. 

Car looks great mate and really chuffed your happy with it..   Did they recommend anything regards running in??

Someone wasked before about the auto parking brake, and it only works If the auto hold is enable. 

44 minutes ago, Carsey said:

Car looks great mate and really chuffed your happy with it..   Did they recommend anything regards running in??

Thanks Pal, he looks a bit frosty today! 

Na he didn't mention anything, but i will take it easy for the first 1,000 miles, plus its slippery af out there at the moment. 

Just ordered some b&o stickers for the speakers, they look poor without them. 

Drove it last night to check the matrix out, decent. 

2 minutes ago, SausagMan said:

Thanks Pal, he looks a bit frosty today! 

Na he didn't mention anything, but i will take it easy for the first 1,000 miles, plus its slippery af out there at the moment. 

Just ordered some b&o stickers for the speakers, they look poor without them. 

Drove it last night to check the matrix out, decent. 

Are the B&O stickers from Ford??

28 minutes ago, Carsey said:

Are the B&O stickers from Ford??

Na bro, unofficial ones from a website. DM me & I will send you the link.