RE: Ford Focus RS: by the numbers

[Escort Si-130]

As you have said an "OLD" Evo. There are people who want NEW cars. Typical fanboy comment! Are we soon going to get the usual PH cliché, "I can buy x amount of BMW e46 M3 for that money and still have change and when you add up the cars, I would then have 3 times the amount bhp"

KarlMac said:

Scho said:

My eyes

Tell me about it.

I still don't get what all the fuss is about. You could have all this in the old Evo FQ340/360s. It's hardly breaking new ground.

[Escort Si-130]

Your probably quicker getting it through Recaro. I have seen Recaro bucket seats from other retailers new for the RS on the internet; maybe they bought up all the stock, lol

LotusLoverStu said:

Just sad that Ford doesn't support their prestige RS models with parts. I have been waiting 9 months for a Recaro bucket seat.

[nunpuncher]

MDMA . said:

true. or go back 10 years, and my current Forester STI is :

lighter, quicker, no fancy trick diffs, safe to leave outside and probably loads cheaper to insure. I'm sure they will have a massive following, all RS cars do. my choice would probably be either type r or sti. or for nostalgic reason, gti clubsport

Interestingly the Forester also cost about the same as this new Focus RS when it was new 10 years ago (they were about £28,100). Perhaps one of the accounting bods on here can work out what that would be in todays money taking inflation into account so we can see what sort of performance the equivalent spend could now get.

[velocefica]

Why anyone would buy the Peugeot GTI over the others is one of life's great mysteries.

[rb5er]

velocefica said:

Why anyone would buy the Peugeot GTI over the others is one of life's great mysteries.

Nobody will or has I don't think.

[anonymous-user]

Cheaper, more exciting and definitely more interesting in terms of drive train than a Golf. Looking forward to the test drive.

[Escort Si-130]

Haldex isn't that bad.

EricE said:

In my early twenties (10 years ago) I would have been all over the RS.
Unfortunately I don't think I could stomach the interior quality of the Focus RS in a daily driver anymore.

I do hope that this is the beginning of the end of Haldex in this segment, good job Ford.

[MustardCutter]

rb5er said:

velocefica said:

Why anyone would buy the Peugeot GTI over the others is one of life's great mysteries.

Nobody will or has I don't think.

I imagine it would be the possibility of getting a hefty discount. I can't see them selling without one. From reviews it could be the best all round real world road car in the class, just not the fastest or most exciting. Looks smart too.

[Burwood]

Escort Si-130 said:

Haldex isn't that bad.

EricE said:

In my early twenties (10 years ago) I would have been all over the RS.
Unfortunately I don't think I could stomach the interior quality of the Focus RS in a daily driver anymore.

I do hope that this is the beginning of the end of Haldex in this segment, good job Ford.

Haldex isn't that bad but it's not that good either. It does not vector between axles and VAG are just lazy and being tight fisted, borrowing some average kit from their parts bin. The RS should make them build a proper system

[Jimmy Recard]

kambites said:

Whilst I personally prefer a manual, I can't help but feel that the lack of an automatic option will significantly hamper sales.

It didn't stop me from ordering one!

[Poopipe]

rb5er said:

KarlMac said:

Tell me about it.

I still don't get what all the fuss is about. You could have all this in the old Evo FQ340/360s. It's hardly breaking new ground.

With warranty, annual servicing, hatchback practicality and does 37mpg? No you can't.

You could have warranty and 4 door saloon practicality, plus better visibility and a good half second less to 60. Price wouldn't be a great deal different either if you could still get them today.

That said, I will be very interested in one of these when my mk2 Megane finally finishes itself off. I'm not keen on the 2.5 lump in the impreza, the only way you'll get me in a golf/audi/seat is if it's free and the added couple of doors make it an appealing prospect over the mk3 Megane.

[Summit_Detailing]

I don't mind the exterior styling & the numbers both performance and prices are good, however I couldn't live with that interior

[Burwood]

Poopipe said:

rb5er said:

KarlMac said:

Tell me about it.

I still don't get what all the fuss is about. You could have all this in the old Evo FQ340/360s. It's hardly breaking new ground.

With warranty, annual servicing, hatchback practicality and does 37mpg? No you can't.

You could have warranty and 4 door saloon practicality, plus better visibility and a good half second less to 60. Price wouldn't be a great deal different either if you could still get them today.

That said, I will be very interested in one of these when my mk2 Megane finally finishes itself off. I'm not keen on the 2.5 lump in the impreza, the only way you'll get me in a golf/audi/seat is if it's free and the added couple of doors make it an appealing prospect over the mk3 Megane.

At Karl. The FQ360 was good in it's day but had a real world range of 170 miles given it liked to drink fuel at the rate of 13mpg! High running costs and £36K in 2008. High insurance. It never attained 5 stars though.

[rb5er]

Poopipe said:

You could have warranty and 4 door saloon practicality, plus better visibility and a good half second less to 60. Price wouldn't be a great deal different either if you could still get them today.

A 5door hatchback is more practical than a saloon and a focus has better visibility to an evo, also the Evo can now not be bought new with warranty but this can. Also the other points I mentioned you have casually disregarded and they are the biggest ones.

[RamboLambo]

I think the mark II RS is about to become a classic now

[craste]

No particularly pretty, but with what I have read so far about this car in the press this is a proper drivers car.

You let the ford badge, focus 5 door looks and low rent interior off and just revel in the way it drives. People in the know, will know.

Same with a Nissan GTR, most badge snobs would choose the 'standard answer' Porsche, but when I see a Nissan GTR I know the owner is a proper enthusiast who appreciates great engineering and performance.

Given the choice between this and all of its peers - 40K plus Merc AMG and Audi RS3 included I'd rather have this as it looks an absolute hoot to drive, proper fun!

Its a proper weapon!

[GroundEffect]

Burwood said:

Haldex isn't that bad but it's not that good either. It does not vector between axles and VAG are just lazy and being tight fisted, borrowing some average kit from their parts bin. The RS should make them build a proper system

The RS has a Haldex system...

[Burwood]

GroundEffect said:

Burwood said:

Haldex isn't that bad but it's not that good either. It does not vector between axles and VAG are just lazy and being tight fisted, borrowing some average kit from their parts bin. The RS should make them build a proper system

The RS has a Haldex system...

I was referring to the VW system being a big meh. The RS system is nothing like the system used by vw.

[GroundEffect]

Burwood said:

GroundEffect said:

Burwood said:

Haldex isn't that bad but it's not that good either. It does not vector between axles and VAG are just lazy and being tight fisted, borrowing some average kit from their parts bin. The RS should make them build a proper system

The RS has a Haldex system...

I was referring to the VW system being a big meh. The RS system is nothing like the system used by vw.

It's down to how its calibrated.

[Burwood]

Ebola says it is not haldex. Topgear say Haldex like. It doesn't really matter. It's better than vags attempt no question. I don't like the interior but then it's a 30k giant slayer.