AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE | 13FORD FOCUS ST
I
n Australian New Car Buyer,
we include trade-in values for
every model in our Showroom
section. These are provided to us
by Redbook, Australia’s leading
authority on used car values.
Each model we test includes
three- and fi ve-year retained
values, expressed as a percentage.
These are based on what the
wholesale price — ie, the price
that a dealer would pay for the
car — would be for a car in
average condition with average
kilometres for its age. You’ll fi nd
Redbook’s three- and fi ve-year
retained values in the Spex box.Typically, cars with the best
retained values show 55%-
60% after three years, and
40-something percent after fi ve
years. The cars nobody wants are
worth that after three years, and
20-something percent after fi ve.
When you’re selling your car
privately, trading it in or buying
a car, a Redbook Valuation is
money well spent.
When selling your car privately,
a Redbook personalised valuation
will help you get a clearer
understanding of what your car
is worth in today’s market. It can
also be particularly handy duringnegotiations with potential buyers,
with your list price backed up by
an independent vehicle pricing
authority and tailored to your
vehicle’s kilometres and condition.
When trading in your car, a
Redbook personalised valuation
can help make the choice between
selling privately and trading in
simpler, with up-to-date market
values for each sale price option
displayed on your certifi cate.
Whether you’re buying used
or new, a Redbook valuation can
put you in a stronger negotiating
position through understanding
the market value of the car you’reafter at the time and even in the
future. Not only will you have
peace of mind when it comes
to paying the right price for your
new car, you’ll also get an idea of
the potential future resale price.
A Redbook Valuation certifi cate
costs $29.00 for one car.
Go to redbook.com.au
for more information.REDBOOK VALUATIONS
F
ord of Europe always
produces an A-grade hot
hatch and the new Focus
ST, due early in 2020,
promises to be yet another.
Based on the current Focus
hatch, the ST gets a 2.3-litre four-
cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost
engine with 206kW of power
and 420Nm of torque. That’s
competitive with the class front
runners such as Honda’s Civic
Type R, with 228kW, Hyundai’s
i30N with 202kW, and the all-
wheel-drive Golf R, with 213kW.
It will be offered with a six-
speed manual (with optional
rev matching on downshifts) or
a seven-speed automatic, with
paddles on the wheel. Torquevectoring is via hydraulically-
actuated clutches at each
axle, mimicking a limited slip
differential.
The standard Focus ride height
is lowered by 10mm and dampers
are 20 per cent (front) and 10
per cent (rear) fi rmer, matched
with standard springs. Electric
power steering is 15 per cent
quicker than standard at just two
turns lock to lock. Larger brake
discs are also fi tted, along with
Michelin Pilot Sport tyres.
Inside, you sit in a beautiful
Recaro sports seat, facing a
fl at-bottom steering wheel and a
digital drive mode display.
No prices as yet, but expect
mid $40K money.THE NEW MODEL DIARY JUNE–DECEMBER 2019