Ok so we (me and my wife) just traded in our astra vxr for a 14 plate focus st and Im not sure about the pull of the focus my vxr just seemed to want give u more power all the time. But the st just seems to want to give up in 1st n 2nd gear. I get going and then its like the car runs out of power? Same in second gear only really notice its power in 3rd gear plus. This is not something i did not noticed on the test drive as i didn't want to rev the pants off the car. Its very hard to explain as my wife seems to think the focus is just as fast as the vxr and has test drove 2 different ones. But its like something is holding it back. A bit like turbo lag but the lag comes at the end of the revs. I have however only driven it once but i just wondered if anyone else has thought this about these cars?

I had a 2015 ST and don't think to much of 1st but the rest pull like a train

I'm sure power delivery is restricted / diluted in some way in 1st, although less so in 2nd, probably to save the clutch, as my ST, & TXS for that matter, even with the remap, seem a little sluggish in 1st .

I don't find it an issue though.

Ok like i said i have only drove it once and it took the shine off my new car lol. I just used to love the power delivery from the vxr

how do you upload pics?

Swap the filter for a K&N 57s-4000 kit or just the filter without the replacement lid. The filter on its own is an E-9289. The responsiveness was greatly improved on my Zetec S 180 with just the filter on its own with the end cap removed.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/E-9289-Replacement-Air-Filter/dp/B00CR9WY38

I miss the power of my Astra VXR too!

tbf i was thinking of the montune mp275 upgrade so ill start doing some research i don't want anything that will mess up ford warranty as i will be extending it for another two years

You could always throw the K&N in now and keep the original filter to put back in when the car goes in for work.

Mountune kit is good with regards to warranty but is a bit pricey.

Adding k an n filter wouldn't void the warranty anyway so sould be ok the leave that on. But I also don't think that just a filter change would satisfy my right foot lol that's why I like the montune kit I mean if you was the brake the the kit down i think it's a good price fitted

The power delivery in 1st is limited to avoid torque steer which can be very dangerous.

On the facelift ST250 they introduced a braking upgrade into the ESP system which helps to counter that (my ST is a rocket in 1st ).

Iirc, torque steer on the VXR is terrible.

Iirc, torque steer on the VXR is terrible.

It never bothered me and actually thought it handled well after the slating Clarkson gave it.

Adding k an n filter wouldn't void the warranty anyway so sould be ok the leave that on. But I also don't think that just a filter change would satisfy my right foot lol that's why I like the montune kit I mean if you was the brake the the kit down i think it's a good price fitted

The Mountune kit for mine has K&N 57s-4000 kit with replacement box, intercooler and remap for around £1100 but yet only gives the same power as a £350 Bluefin handset remap. The K&N rolling road test gave an increase of 18bhp on my model which i thought "yeah right" but now its fitted i couldnt believe how much quicker it picks up and feels more powerful leading me to believe it has given something near the 18bhp increase.

O right I might have a look at that then seen it's only 50 quid.

Tbf I never really noticed the torque steer on my vxr not as much as ppl go on about it anyway.

I think the issue you are feeling is more down to the use of different style turbos being used in the two cars. The vxr has a normal turbo which spools and higher revs and stays higher in the rev range. The ST as with all fords turbo petrol ecoboost engines use a twin scroll turbo these spool at lower revs to limit turbo lag and give more boost low to mid rev range. This does sacrifice top end boost so can feel like the pull drops. I do know that in the fiesta ST boost is limited in 1st and 2nd but 3rd 4th 5th get full boost plus over boost for 15seconds uping power and torque which makes a huge difference in the Fiesta ST as I have tried it out in mine.