What now?

[thrdeye]

At this point, there's no way I'd buy a Focus or Fiesta with the RS on the horizon.

You like the S2000, you've done well in it. It can run well in street, and if you get bored you can apply the STR recipe to it.

[steverife]

I don't think the RS would be classed with the current cars.

[dfoulk]

If the RS lives up to the rumors, it will have all wheel drive. The 2.3 Ecoboost that is available in the 2015 Mustang is pretty much confirmed for the RS.

[thrdeye]

I don't think the RS would be classed with the current cars.

Yeah, I doubt it would. It would likely be DS.

[steverife]

The RS isn't interesting to me at all. There is no way that I'd pay RS money. The FoST is appealing because you can get a base for around $20k.

[MARKP]

Why not buy a nice '13 FoST? Already depreciated some, shocks available, probably still has a warranty...

[steverife]

Why not buy a nice '13 FoST? Already depreciated some, shocks available, probably still has a warranty...

They are not easy to find (especially a slicktop), complicates trade-in, would like a car that I know hasn't been dicked with, etc...

[thrdeye]

There's a blue one (2013) in Louisville KY (at Carmax) with 13k on the ODO. $23,900 (edit: it may or may not have sunroof, couldn't tell from pics)

Carmax makes things pretty easy and they will transfer the car here.

I did a quick and dirty search on autotrader and got a ton of returns.

[sentrase]

I would get a '15 model. They'll never gonna make shocks for the '14 and I wouldn't get a '13 for the reasons you mentioned. Also, one car solution all the way; so much less hassle.

[steverife]

I thought about the 15's. There are supposed to have stiffer front springs, better shocks, and some standard features I love, like backup camera and Sirius/XM.

The downside is that the big draw to the '14 FoST is that base ST1's seem to be selling in the 19's. I like the car under $21k, I'm not sure at a few grand higher.

I'm just not sure how much front shocks matter. I know that my 3 wasn't ultimately faster on Koni's, just easier to drive, and that was without being able to play with rear bar and rear shocks.

I guess what I'd really like to see is a dyno of Koni Sports for a '13 FoST. If the middle setting is close to OEM, then I guess shocks don't matter.

[dewittpayne]

I guess what I'd really like to see is a dyno of Koni Sports for a '13 FoST. If the middle setting is close to OEM, then I guess shocks don't matter.

I would be surprised if that were the case. Passenger cars are usually substantially under damped for ride comfort. I remember back in the day putting 50W Castrol R in the lever action shocks on my 1965 MGB to stiffen it up. Bean oil was supposed to be less hard on seals than mineral oil.

[steverife]

I don't know. I'm not going to want a ton of rebound. I would like a ton of compression, but I'm not going to get that with an OTS Koni anyway.

I guess I could talk to Lee and/or Sam.

[MARKP]

On the Celica, the rear shocks became less of a deal with the rear bar change. Front shocks became more important.

[sentrase]

I agree with the front shocks being more important. But like you said, I don't think the OTS Koni Yellows are that much of an improvement.
IMO the 2015 ST looks the best of them; flat bottom steering wheel and they cleaned up the dash.

Even if you have to go custom on front shocks, you'll be crazy money ahead by having just one, awesome car.

[thewelder]

I know of a really good buy on a f440. Would make a great FM.