Ford Focus RS Road Test-does it live up to the hype?

[DukeDickson]

rb5er said:

I test drove one, it was fantastic. Pretty much rwd antics at one point. Deposit paid.

The Golf R is literally of no interest to me at all even if dsg means it can get to 60mph a few milliseconds quicker in a couple of tests, zzzzzzz.

The mk2 RS indeed was a great car and was praised as such but this is a huge leap forward which is what reviews are suggesting.

From another thread:

Tested 0-62mph
1. Mercedes AMG A45 4Matic - 4.3s
2. Audi RS3 Sportback - 4.4s
3. Ford Focus RS - 4.9s
4. VW Golf R DSG - 5.1s
5. Subaru WRX STI - 5.4s
6. BMW M135i Auto - 5.5s
7. Honda Civic Type R - 5.9s
8. Seat Leon Cupra 290 - 6.1s
9. Renault Sport Megane 275 Cup-S - 6.3s
10. Peugeot 308 GTI BPS 270 - 6.3s

Lap Time
1. Mercedes AMG A45 4Matic - 1.23.86
2. Ford Focus RS - 1.23.96
3. Audi RS3 Sportback - 1.24.12
4. VW Golf R DSG - 1.24.73
5. Honda Civic Type R - 1.25.11
6. Subaru WRX STI - 1.25.34
7. BMW M135i Auto - 1.25.44
8. Renault Sport Megane 275 Cup-S - 1.26.81
9. Seat Leon Cupra 290 - 1.26.94
10. Peugeot 308 GTI BPS 270 - 1.27.39

Edited by rb5er on Friday 6th May 09:15

That 0-62 list looks a bit dodgy for a start. At least a couple of better than the quoted times out there.


Having said that, I'd agree about figures being less than everything, but so is absolute on the limit stuff for some.
I'm not tempted, but also not by several of the competitors on that list.

[andysgriff]

Gibbo205 said:

The reason its not so impressive to 100mph is because of 4WD and a manual gearbox. Cars have got so fast to 100mph these days because of fancy gearboxes, removing the human element of changing gear.

EVO IX FQ360 - Manual gearbox, 0-100 in 10.6. (2006)

[JockySteer]

That's not the first time I've seen the Focus RS being quoted with a 'not that impressive' 0-100 time.

Car and Driver quote 12.2 seconds on their test. Guessing it was dry.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2016-ford-focu...
http://media.caranddriver.com/files/2016-ford-focu...

[rb5er]

andysgriff said:

Gibbo205 said:

The reason its not so impressive to 100mph is because of 4WD and a manual gearbox. Cars have got so fast to 100mph these days because of fancy gearboxes, removing the human element of changing gear.

EVO IX FQ360 - Manual gearbox, 0-100 in 10.6. (2006)

The fq360 is an astonishingly rapid car. The RS is 20bhp down and unfortunately as the years go by cars are now much heavier than in 2006 due to being packed with kit and safety features.

So yes the evo is 1.5 seconds quicker to 100mph due to these reasons but it also doesn't need servicing every 4500miles and would be a hell of a lot sader in a crash.

[pjsti]

I have a Golf R on the cheap lease deals which goes back soon so I am looking for a replacement. I am a huge fan of any ford RS.

I booked a test drive last week for the new Focus RS with my cheque book ready and waiting to put a deposit down and I left the showroom really disappointed. After the test drive the sales guy asked me what do I think and I told him the truth that I did not like it and his reply was your not the first to say that we have had a lot that felt disappointed.

I think I have been spoilt by the Golf R and I am thinking of buying another and I have never bought the same car twice.

Edited by pjsti on Wednesday 11th May 19:32

[GTIAlex]

pjsti said:

I have a Golf R on the cheap lease deals which goes back soon so I am looking for a replacement. I am a huge fan of any ford RS.

I booked a test drive last week for the new Focus RS with my cheque book ready and waiting to put a deposit down and I left the showroom really disappointed. I think I have been spoilt by the Golf R and I am thinking of buying another and I have never bought the same car twice.

But you wouldn't be buying it twice, as you never owned it in the first place.

[pjsti]

GTIAlex said:

But you wouldn't be buying it twice, as you never owned it in the first place.

Now that is very true so off to VW tomorrow to place a order

[ubbs]

Wouldn't the performance be limited on the focus as its so new, I know my a45 didn't start giving its best till it had done around 5k miles.

[rb5er]

pjsti said:

I booked a test drive last week for the new Focus RS with my cheque book ready and waiting to put a deposit down and I left the showroom really disappointed.

You didn't really press it did you? If not you should have another go but test it a bit on a corner, it is very.... playful.

If you did that what didn't you like about it?

[HJMS123]

rb5er said:

You didn't really press it did you? If not you should have another go but test it a bit on a corner, it is very.... playful.

If you did that what didn't you like about it?

I'd ask the same questions.

They're competitors but also completely different cars as one was designed to be fun and a bit bonkers whereas the other not so much!

In that sense I can understand why this chap prefered the R as he obviously prefers the stability and sensibleness of the R compared the Focus.

[Jimmyarm]

ubbs said:

Wouldn't the performance be limited on the focus as its so new, I know my a45 didn't start giving its best till it had done around 5k miles.

I've often wondered weither the cars given out to test have been 'run in' to some degree. As you say, whilst modern engines don't need the old running in procedure things definately loosen up after a couple of thousand miles.

[Ali_T]

ubbs said:

Wouldn't the performance be limited on the focus as its so new, I know my a45 didn't start giving its best till it had done around 5k miles.

The boost is limited for the run in period. Suspicion is it's only putting out around 300bhp initially.

[s m]

Ali_T said:

ubbs said:

Wouldn't the performance be limited on the focus as its so new, I know my a45 didn't start giving its best till it had done around 5k miles.

The boost is limited for the run in period. Suspicion is it's only putting out around 300bhp initially.

What's the running-in period duration?

[rb5er]

Ali_T said:

ubbs said:

Wouldn't the performance be limited on the focus as its so new, I know my a45 didn't start giving its best till it had done around 5k miles.

The boost is limited for the run in period. Suspicion is it's only putting out around 300bhp initially.

Any source for this? Does it adjust its boost pressure at a predetermined mileage or is it done on its first service.

Seems a bit odd.

[Ali_T]

rb5er said:

Any source for this? Does it adjust its boost pressure at a predetermined mileage or is it done on its first service.

Seems a bit odd.

It's on the Focus RS OC forum but I can't remember which thread. I'll try later but it runs something like 1.2 bar for run in and 1.7 bar thereafter IIRC.

[s m]

I guess 4.6 and 12 odd seems Ok-ish in the dry for the power and weight and gearbox ...even if it is American time

[jonm01]

Ali_T said:

It's on the Focus RS OC forum but I can't remember which thread. I'll try later but it runs something like 1.2 bar for run in and 1.7 bar thereafter IIRC.

I think thats just speculation. Quite a few people saying they don't think it's that quick but one guy did a VBOX test and got 4.5s 0-60 and 11.5s 0-100

[300bhp/ton]

I want to see a head2head of the new RS vs a V8 UK Mustang.

Which is the most fun.
Which is the fastest (straight line and track).
Which makes you smile the most.

[greenarrow]

Jimmyarm said:

ubbs said:

Wouldn't the performance be limited on the focus as its so new, I know my a45 didn't start giving its best till it had done around 5k miles.

I've often wondered weither the cars given out to test have been 'run in' to some degree. As you say, whilst modern engines don't need the old running in procedure things definately loosen up after a couple of thousand miles.

Its a fair point and Autocar no longer give the mileage of the car at the date of the test like they used to. In fairness the Golf R and Focus were both pretty new, as in from the media test pool and I was disappointed with the Focus figures. The "as tested" kerb weight however, was about 100KG more than a 5 door Golf R tested by Top Gear magazine, which goes a long weigh to negating the extra BHP the Focus comes with. To me, it seems the usual case of VAG cars punching well above their weight. All the tests I have seen give a 0-100 figure for the R of between 11.1 and 12.0 secs, which is seriously shifting for 296 BHP.

So perhaps the Focus is the more fun car then, but dynamically, as in 0-60, MPH, lap times etc, not better than the Golf....

[rb5er]

greenarrow said:

So perhaps the Focus is the more fun car then, but dynamically, as in 0-60, MPH, lap times etc, not better than the Golf....

Did you miss the table up top? The Golfs dsg box gives quicker gearchanges (although there are drag races that show the focus in front over the 1/4mile too) but the focus is faster round the track.