I pretty much have the same mindset. I used to be a Ford technician and have also installed plenty of Ford and aftermarket parts. You can never go wrong with factory. I'm still in the fence for a tune, but I'll probably go Ford.
I'm very glad that you made this video. I have tried to keep an open mind about car mods but I have concluded that most of them are silly and wreck the car. Car makers have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on each car to perfect it before it reaches the market. I think that a well-thought out mod that is based on good esthetics, mechanics, or aerodynamics are fine. But lowering a car so that it scrapes the ground all of the time, or adding goofy panels and so on, does more harm than good. My best mod was taking my 1987 Honda Accord and having the whole thing painted one color (handles, mirrors, bumpers, etc). It looked good because that year's body was already sporty. Even though it was basically a piece of junk, I still had many people leave notes on the windshield asking to buy it. Also, I did all of the prep myself. So it was a simple scuff and spray for the painter.
Buddy, if I could like this video a thousand times, I would! If I were you I’d also hang around that Japanese guy with the shop to soak up all type of knowledge. Im a fan of aftermarket mods but im also a fan of keeping cars close to how the engineers intended when they designed them.
Ben - I have to disagree ... While those car manufactures have A LOT of R&D for OEM products. they also have safety and fuel economy in mind. The aftermarket companies have performance in mind. I think when it comes to modding, it all comes down to if you want to keep your warranty or not. Once you don't care, those aftermarket companies are going to blow the OEM performance parts out of the water! Now, there are some crappy aftermarket parts and companies that aren't worth the money!
Yea totally understand I just wanted to share this to add some color as to why I say a lot of the things I do. I also appreciate the time the manufacturer takes to think all of those things out while making it safe and efficient and reliable. For a street car I think it’s smart to have all 3 of those
Fore sure and it makes sense! I've followed you for a while and you're the type of guy that appreciate a warranty which is totally fine. I'm more of a all out performance kind of guy. After seeing dyno charts and performance numbers comparing OEM parts vs Aftermarket parts, when the warranty is up, it makes sense to invest in aftermarket parts if you want the best bang for buck!
What I like about the ST community...at least around the Metro DC area...is it doesn't matter if yours is completely custom or bone stock (like my 2015 performance blue ST3, except for ceramic 30% tint), every respects one another. I've never owned another car where literally everyone else driving one will wave/thumbs-up/devil horns/nod/whatever, as you pass on the street. Doesn't matter if it's a 2013 or a 2018. Doesn't matter the color. Doesn't matter the exhaust note (or lack there of with stock, like mine). Mustang/Camaro drivers aren't like that. Civic Si drivers aren't like that. WRX/STI drivers aren't like that. BMW/Audi drivers aren't like that. Just Focus ST drivers.
Couldn't agree more. And if you think about selling back your car or trading it in for another car then you better keep stock. As I have mentioned in other comments on your videos, I have 2015 focus st and the only thing I wish I can change is the fuel tank size. I want to have at list 14 gallons as oppose to 12.5 gallons. Otherwise my car is stock as it could be and I like it. Plus, it's already faster than an average car on the road.
You share alot of good points. The main thing ive always always stressed in building/bolting on parts is research. If there is a mod you want research the hell out of it. The biggest focus st fail is spending 500 to 900.00 on a catback exhaust. Theres only like a 5 hp gain there. When you have a stock intercooler that robs your car of hp and torque after 1 or 2 hard pulls. Up to 40 foot pounds of torque can be robbed from you. Exhaust is clearly just for noise, but we all want noise so we buy them. I just bought my catless dp and catback for my car because i already have everything else. Im not worried about warranty..if i blow it up, ill fix it. Buying the ford tune is good because of warranty, but as far as people not knowing more than the company that made the car is not necessarily true. Ford builds these st motors in a lab, run them, then ship em out. The aftermarket companies focus on these tunes and motors in real world situations. Dyno test over and over and try save them where ford dont.like long term issuses of the vavles getting caked with oil. Stratified tuning puts in alot of research and development in to the st/rs. I trust their tunes 100%. I ran my 2013 st3 at 24 psi for over a year before trading it in for a 2017 st3. The can was faster and ran like a top on the stratified tune. I have the basicly same set up the 2017 now. If the car blows its usually driver error. Thats where abuse comes into play. Hitting the rev limiters and launch control excessively with pop a motor. Not changing the oil and not letting oil temps get up before hammering on the car will pop a motor. Flooring the car below 3,0000 rpm in higher gears will hurt it. Ford knows ring lands are a weak point in the 2.0 but dont change the piston design. The rs piston ringlands have steel bands pressed in above and below the upper ring and they dont have ringland failures. Just got the wrong head gaskets installed from the factory. Lol so all in all i agree somethings area waste and not safe. Like 40.00 aftermarket steering wheels will bend in a crash as well 250.00 racing seat will break in a crash. But as far as exhaust and intakes ,pipe is pipe The 1,000 exhaust is no better than the 300.00 one but we want sound and thats what we are paying for...ps that intake would have sounded great on the civic!!!
I want to upgrade my 2013 chevy cruze LT just to help cool off the engine better. Because I don't think it's normal for engine to take at least 3 hours to cool off. Yes I have a turbo engine but I have never dealt with a car before with a turbo engine. I was just alittle because I can my car less than a mile to a gas station and come back home I would need to wait for at least 3 hours before I can work on anything underneath the hood. I am not a mechanic I know practically nothing about cars. Except how to switch out few parts. I want to take my car on a 2,000 mile trip but I don't know if my car can handle that trip with that much heat. My father in law burnt his hand on the engine because he only waited 1 hour and the engine was still hot enough to give him blisters. We were changing the serpentine belt.
Ben, I've been following you for a few years now. Really enjoy your vids. I own a 2013 Focus SE with the sport appearance package. Always wanted a ST. Well, yesterday I picked up a fully loaded st3. Sticker price was over 32 k. I walked out paying 23,900 for it at a large dealer in Tampa Bay. Man, I really love this thing. Plan on keeping it stock, other than some appearance mods. Keep the vids coming thanks
true and very good points....however some design elements are made with compromise in mind. Intakes can be larger and more efficient, but would become louder and in certain turbos, sound like a vaccum, which is very distracting unless paired with an exhaust with is also distracting.
My dad loves keeping his mustang stock when his rims on his mustang got ruined he bought the same exact stock wheels And he told me he would never sell this beast
This ignores the fact that often times aftermarket parts are designed with different compromises in mind. Performance coilovers sacrifice comfort but they definitely make a car faster around a track. CAI can give horsepower increases in some cars in exchange for a slightly higher risk of hydrolocking. It isn't always the case that the OEM parts are "better".
To be honest. I agree with Japanese guy . I'm from Europe, so here the point for most people is that the car is mint condition, factory like. As soon as u mod it, it's not really that car. For example you are putting a custom map on your ECU. And if u bought an STI, you paid for that map. If someone changes it, it's like sti body but the soul isn't sti. I will never anderstand why would anyone in US by a Ferrari, or M4, or 911 and instantly fit it with a new exhaust. I believe it's like putting Mona Lisa in neon frame. On the other hand. If u have a gti with 600 HP, no back seats, full racemode that's other thing. But to take the gti out of vw by putting a custom map... No thanks. Vw is making those gti maps since '70s
Found you channel a few months ago when looking to get into a Focus ST, love your videos but I ended up getting a Mazdaspeed 3. I’ll still tune in though! Love STs
Love you video's there very informative, I also bought a Air intake for my Mazda 3 and not I am selling it since I put back in my stock air box my MPG went up lol.
While I see your point. I don't really subscribe to the manufacturer knows best mindset. They have to create a car to certain specs because of budget constraints. If they went all out it would be absurdly expensive. That said there's many that buy whatever part because of the rule of cool and don't think about how it may negatively affect things. Tldr, there's room for improvement and the aftermarket fills that, but be careful what you get.
It's not which company knows more about how to make quality parts, car manufacturers have to conform to EPA regulations that retrict the cars performance in the name of efficiency. The aftermarket doesn't have to abide by the dumb regulations.
That’s why you do your research before just pulling the plug on aftermarket items. Dealerships have to be accustomed to all different kinds of laws & regulations, an exhaust for example has no bearing over a ford performance exhaust.. it was still made by borla who makes their own set of exhaust for the car as well.. so I just have to kindly disagree with you on all this.
You can't call it a build when you're just swapping oem parts. You're adding only a few things, not a build I buy aftermarket parts knowing the consequences to it, go turboback and know I'll fail emissions or get fucked by cops. I'm not sure what you're exactly trying to do. You're just being scared of consequences. Or this guy really scared the shit out you. You're going to be stuck dreaming about and not doing. Just do it and pay attention
I pretty much have the same mindset. I used to be a Ford technician and have also installed plenty of Ford and aftermarket parts. You can never go wrong with factory. I'm still in the fence for a tune, but I'll probably go Ford.
I'm very glad that you made this video. I have tried to keep an open mind about car mods but I have concluded that most of them are silly and wreck the car. Car makers have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on each car to perfect it before it reaches the market. I think that a well-thought out mod that is based on good esthetics, mechanics, or aerodynamics are fine. But lowering a car so that it scrapes the ground all of the time, or adding goofy panels and so on, does more harm than good. My best mod was taking my 1987 Honda Accord and having the whole thing painted one color (handles, mirrors, bumpers, etc). It looked good because that year's body was already sporty. Even though it was basically a piece of junk, I still had many people leave notes on the windshield asking to buy it. Also, I did all of the prep myself. So it was a simple scuff and spray for the painter.
Buddy, if I could like this video a thousand times, I would! If I were you I’d also hang around that Japanese guy with the shop to soak up all type of knowledge. Im a fan of aftermarket mods but im also a fan of keeping cars close to how the engineers intended when they designed them.
Ben - I have to disagree ... While those car manufactures have A LOT of R&D for OEM products. they also have safety and fuel economy in mind. The aftermarket companies have performance in mind. I think when it comes to modding, it all comes down to if you want to keep your warranty or not. Once you don't care, those aftermarket companies are going to blow the OEM performance parts out of the water! Now, there are some crappy aftermarket parts and companies that aren't worth the money!
Yea totally understand I just wanted to share this to add some color as to why I say a lot of the things I do. I also appreciate the time the manufacturer takes to think all of those things out while making it safe and efficient and reliable. For a street car I think it’s smart to have all 3 of those
Fore sure and it makes sense! I've followed you for a while and you're the type of guy that appreciate a warranty which is totally fine. I'm more of a all out performance kind of guy. After seeing dyno charts and performance numbers comparing OEM parts vs Aftermarket parts, when the warranty is up, it makes sense to invest in aftermarket parts if you want the best bang for buck!
I don't own a FoST ...
Just enjoy Gjeebs videos and the whole hot hatch segment, been subscribed for a while
@Hulk GTI the same could be said about a GTI
What I like about the ST community...at least around the Metro DC area...is it doesn't matter if yours is completely custom or bone stock (like my 2015 performance blue ST3, except for ceramic 30% tint), every respects one another. I've never owned another car where literally everyone else driving one will wave/thumbs-up/devil horns/nod/whatever, as you pass on the street. Doesn't matter if it's a 2013 or a 2018. Doesn't matter the color. Doesn't matter the exhaust note (or lack there of with stock, like mine). Mustang/Camaro drivers aren't like that. Civic Si drivers aren't like that. WRX/STI drivers aren't like that. BMW/Audi drivers aren't like that. Just Focus ST drivers.
Couldn't agree more. And if you think about selling back your car or trading it in for another car then you better keep stock. As I have mentioned in other comments on your videos, I have 2015 focus st and the only thing I wish I can change is the fuel tank size. I want to have at list 14 gallons as oppose to 12.5 gallons. Otherwise my car is stock as it could be and I like it. Plus, it's already faster than an average car on the road.
You share alot of good points. The main thing ive always always stressed in building/bolting on parts is research. If there is a mod you want research the hell out of it. The biggest focus st fail is spending 500 to 900.00 on a catback exhaust. Theres only like a 5 hp gain there. When you have a stock intercooler that robs your car of hp and torque after 1 or 2 hard pulls. Up to 40 foot pounds of torque can be robbed from you. Exhaust is clearly just for noise, but we all want noise so we buy them. I just bought my catless dp and catback for my car because i already have everything else. Im not worried about warranty..if i blow it up, ill fix it. Buying the ford tune is good because of warranty, but as far as people not knowing more than the company that made the car is not necessarily true. Ford builds these st motors in a lab, run them, then ship em out. The aftermarket companies focus on these tunes and motors in real world situations. Dyno test over and over and try save them where ford dont.like long term issuses of the vavles getting caked with oil. Stratified tuning puts in alot of research and development in to the st/rs. I trust their tunes 100%. I ran my 2013 st3 at 24 psi for over a year before trading it in for a 2017 st3. The can was faster and ran like a top on the stratified tune.
I have the basicly same set up the 2017 now. If the car blows its usually driver error. Thats where abuse comes into play. Hitting the rev limiters and launch control excessively with pop a motor. Not changing the oil and not letting oil temps get up before hammering on the car will pop a motor. Flooring the car below 3,0000 rpm in higher gears will hurt it. Ford knows ring lands are a weak point in the 2.0 but dont change the piston design. The rs piston ringlands have steel bands pressed in above and below the upper ring and they dont have ringland failures. Just got the wrong head gaskets installed from the factory. Lol so all in all i agree somethings area waste and not safe. Like 40.00 aftermarket steering wheels will bend in a crash as well 250.00 racing seat will break in a crash. But as far as exhaust and intakes ,pipe is pipe
The 1,000 exhaust is no better than the 300.00 one but we want sound and thats what we are paying for...ps that intake would have sounded great on the civic!!!
Bobby4v Mountune also puts a lot of R&D into Focus ST/RS and Fiesta ST mods.
I want to upgrade my 2013 chevy cruze LT just to help cool off the engine better. Because I don't think it's normal for engine to take at least 3 hours to cool off. Yes I have a turbo engine but I have never dealt with a car before with a turbo engine. I was just alittle because I can my car less than a mile to a gas station and come back home I would need to wait for at least 3 hours before I can work on anything underneath the hood. I am not a mechanic I know practically nothing about cars. Except how to switch out few parts. I want to take my car on a 2,000 mile trip but I don't know if my car can handle that trip with that much heat. My father in law burnt his hand on the engine because he only waited 1 hour and the engine was still hot enough to give him blisters. We were changing the serpentine belt.
Ben, I've been following you for a few years now. Really enjoy your vids. I own a 2013 Focus SE with the sport appearance package. Always wanted a ST. Well, yesterday I picked up a fully loaded st3. Sticker price was over 32 k. I walked out paying 23,900 for it at a large dealer in Tampa Bay. Man, I really love this thing. Plan on keeping it stock, other than some appearance mods. Keep the vids coming thanks
That’s awesome to hear! And a great deal. Was it used?
true and very good points....however some design elements are made with compromise in mind. Intakes can be larger and more efficient, but would become louder and in certain turbos, sound like a vaccum, which is very distracting unless paired with an exhaust with is also distracting.
Hey Gjeebs......totally agree with your dad and the little Japanese man.
As usual a great video and i LOVE your "stock" focus ST
Thank you!
100% will go to the meet! Make it happen and ill bring my st for sure
My dad loves keeping his mustang stock when his rims on his mustang got ruined he bought the same exact stock wheels
And he told me he would never sell this beast
Yea sometimes cars are just great as they come and leaving them stock and clean is satisfying
This ignores the fact that often times aftermarket parts are designed with different compromises in mind. Performance coilovers sacrifice comfort but they definitely make a car faster around a track. CAI can give horsepower increases in some cars in exchange for a slightly higher risk of hydrolocking. It isn't always the case that the OEM parts are "better".
To be honest. I agree with Japanese guy . I'm from Europe, so here the point for most people is that the car is mint condition, factory like. As soon as u mod it, it's not really that car. For example you are putting a custom map on your ECU. And if u bought an STI, you paid for that map. If someone changes it, it's like sti body but the soul isn't sti. I will never anderstand why would anyone in US by a Ferrari, or M4, or 911 and instantly fit it with a new exhaust. I believe it's like putting Mona Lisa in neon frame. On the other hand. If u have a gti with 600 HP, no back seats, full racemode that's other thing. But to take the gti out of vw by putting a custom map... No thanks. Vw is making those gti maps since '70s
I agree
Well said, 100% agree
Great story, food for thought for a new ST owner looking to do some upgrades. Looking forward to the new vids!
Your Mr. Miyagi moment.
Good insight my man 👍
Where's the meet? What's the best way to contact you Ben? Drive a 2017 Ford focus ST
I love keeping FJ Cruiser as stock as possible…. The older it gets…. The more it fits for it to be factory
When and where is Scottsdale (Scotsdale?) meet?
I will announce it in an upcoming video
If i had the money I would have an RS, but I don't so I drive a stock ST and I ducking love it.
Yea the ST is a great alternative
Stock over everything
I live in Tucson and would love to drive up for the meet!
Found you channel a few months ago when looking to get into a Focus ST, love your videos but I ended up getting a Mazdaspeed 3. I’ll still tune in though! Love STs
Thanks for the support!
Love you video's there very informative, I also bought a Air intake for my Mazda 3 and not I am selling it since I put back in my stock air box my MPG went up lol.
What tournament did you compete in?
While I see your point. I don't really subscribe to the manufacturer knows best mindset.
They have to create a car to certain specs because of budget constraints. If they went all out it would be absurdly expensive. That said there's many that buy whatever part because of the rule of cool and don't think about how it may negatively affect things.
Tldr, there's room for improvement and the aftermarket fills that, but be careful what you get.
Maybe if you had a Shelby or Demon, but the stock ST is too slow to keep stock.
It's not which company knows more about how to make quality parts, car manufacturers have to conform to EPA regulations that retrict the cars performance in the name of efficiency. The aftermarket doesn't have to abide by the dumb regulations.
gjeebs i live in california how long of a road trip is that!
I am in Phoenix I am not sure where you would be coming from in California
G.O.A.T.
Wind noise...Just get a lapel mic, since you're holding the phone/GoPro anyway.
wish I could make it to a meet!
got to be smarter than the commercial,
Chance of a golf vlog?
It’s coming
I'm sure you stirred the pot with that Supra vs. Bugatti comparison LOL.
hahaha as it was coming out of my mouth I was thinking "this is an awful comparison"
That’s why you do your research before just pulling the plug on aftermarket items. Dealerships have to be accustomed to all different kinds of laws & regulations, an exhaust for example has no bearing over a ford performance exhaust.. it was still made by borla who makes their own set of exhaust for the car as well.. so I just have to kindly disagree with you on all this.
You can't call it a build when you're just swapping oem parts. You're adding only a few things, not a build I buy aftermarket parts knowing the consequences to it, go turboback and know I'll fail emissions or get fucked by cops. I'm not sure what you're exactly trying to do. You're just being scared of consequences. Or this guy really scared the shit out you. You're going to be stuck dreaming about and not doing. Just do it and pay attention
Name checks out. Hopefully you've matured and understand now.