SINCE getting behind the wheel of our long-term ST I’ve had admiring glances from other drivers, but also once saw a woman point in my direction and laugh out loud.

Now I’m assuming it’s because our fantastic-looking ST is decorated in electric orange – one of those love/hate colours – and not because of anything I was wearing or doing at those times.

The colour divides opinion but in my experience the majority of those who do appreciate it and feel the colour works well on such a sporty-looking car are men. It has its downside, though.

A friend of mine (a pub landlord, so pretty much the whole bar hears what he has to say) has taken to shouting ‘here comes the jaffa’ when I walk in, a moniker I’ve not embraced with fondness for obvious reasons. A popular belief among friends and family is that a car like the ST, with its eager engine and sporty handling, is great fun on short trips but not suited for motorway cruising on business.

It’s an unfounded view and, providing you’re prepared to watch your fuel gauge swing quickly towards empty as the miles pass by, then you’ll notice it handles long journeys with ease.

The perception of an uncomfortable ride was also evident when I recently picked up some friends for a night out.

The two chaps who climbed in the rear seats could hardly be described as being of athletic build but, without prompting, both remarked on the decent amount of room they had and how comfortable the optional Recaro seats were.

In terms of RVs, when compared to the Volkwagen Golf GTI and Vauxhall Astra VXR, the Focus retains a lower percentage of cost new after three years/60,000 miles, but it does have a lower front end price. According to residual value forecaster CAP, the Focus retains 37% (£6,975), the Golf 41% (£8,200) and the Astra 38% (£7,100) of price new.

But in terms of on-the-road new pricing, the Focus ST range starts at £17,995 so is cheaper than the Golf at £20,360 and the Astra, which costs £19,120.

A previous road tester explained how his addiction to the ST’s bassy engine note may have been the reason why he was only achieving 23.5mpg. I’ve fared a little better in the economy stakes, managing 25.7mpg, but still short of Ford’s claimed 30.4mpg figure.

Price: £18,250 (as tested £22,365)
Mileage: 7,420
CO2 emissions (g/km): 224
Company car tax bill (2007) 22% tax-payer: £104 per month
Insurance group: 17
Combined mpg: 30.4
Test mpg: 25.7
CAP Monitor RV: £6,975/37%
Contract hire rate: £384
Total expenditure: Nil
Figures based on three years/60,000 miles