New Ford Focus RS

[Ahbefive]

Defensive because I am stating actual facts backed up with actual figures and experience over your alleged experience with cars that are much slower? Ok.

Either you were driving very badly, something was very wrong with your car or you are telling porkies and all I am doing is merely countering that point.

I don't understand why you would be looking to buy another mk3 if it was so underwhelming the first time. Something smells fishy.

Anyway, enjoy your day.

Edited by Ahbefive on Wednesday 29th March 18:27

[LukeRS]

Ahbefive said:

Defensive because I am stating actual facts backed up with actual figures and experience over your alleged experience with cars that are much slower? Ok.

Either you were driving very badly, something was very wrong with your car or you are telling porkies and all I am doing is merely countering that point.

I don't understand why you would be looking to buy another mk3 if it was so underwhelming the first time. Something smells fishy.

Anyway, enjoy your day.

Edited by Ahbefive on Wednesday 29th March 18:27

My actual experiences pal, same as yours. The stock car is a bit underwhelming in a straight line, once modded I'm sure it's a whole different ball game.

I would buy another one as I know once it's mapped etc it will be an animal

[Ahbefive]

So could your car not stay with the S3? The S3 would (like the RS) despatch the other cars that you are talking about quite comprehensively.

Either your RS was broken, you were driving very poorly or the mini was modded quite a lot. There is a big difference in performance between those cars, neck and neck just would not be happening:

2016 JCW:

Edited by Ahbefive on Wednesday 29th March 19:44

[macky17]

Does it matter? None of these cars is particularly fast, at least as standard. Isn't it about how fun they are? A Nissan GTR would annihilate any of them but isn't necessarily as fun, etc.

[Ron240]

macky17 said:

Does it matter? None of these cars is particularly fast,
A Nissan GTR would annihilate any of them but isn't necessarily as fun

Maybe at a stretch you could say a Focus RS and an Audi S3 are not particularly fast when compared with something that has supercar performance like your example, but I'm not so sure about the lack of fun factor in the latter.

[toby-w8jtf]

Seeing as the majority of new shape S3 are DSG then I'm sure the one above would wipe the floor with the RS.

The RS is on my wish list and I will buy one once they are sub 25k however it would need to be tweaked as they really aren't as fast as people make out.

I live in Cheshire and they are quite a few of these MK3's being driven around by fairly young lads who often try to take on my Golf R down the local stretch of bypass (A34)

Even when mine was 316bhp it used to easily pull away so I'm guessing its down to drivetrain losses... Mines now 360bhp and makes their brand new RS's look broken.

Mines standard looking so I'm sure it puzzles them.

I still know which car I'd rather be in... Focus all day every day, true RS and makes the likes of Golfs/S3 seem dull.

[Dal3D]

Sometimes people forget that different people want different things in a car - I don't especially care for the puerile drag races but prefer the fun of driving round twisty country lanes on my own. When doing that in my Focus, I can't think of another car I'd prefer to be in.

[Hedgeman]

Interesting thread.

I was after a new or nearly new Golf R, but couldn't find a used one with the spec I wanted at a decent discount, and was quoted 16-18 weeks for a new 7.5.

Had a look at a few other options and stopped by my local Ford dealer to look at the RS at the weekend. Was offered a test drive there and then...an hour later and deposit left on a brand new unregistered cancelled order that had just been delivered. Every option apart from sunroof. Collect at the weekend.

I've got an M4 convertible comp pack (which is staying) and the RS complements it perfectly for the practical side. It's one of those few cars which just feels "right" after getting in and setting off down the road, and just gets better the more you drive. Interior is not as nice as the Golf but the driving experience more than makes up for it. It's probably been discussed at length but I'd regard the recaro shell seats as essential, as would my wife. I just couldn't get comfortable in the standard sports seats in another new car the dealer had in stock.

Edited by Hedgeman on Tuesday 4th April 21:27

[Driver101]

Ahbefive said:

Defensive because I am stating actual facts backed up with actual figures and experience over your alleged experience with cars that are much slower? Ok.

Either you were driving very badly, something was very wrong with your car or you are telling porkies and all I am doing is merely countering that point.

I don't understand why you would be looking to buy another mk3 if it was so underwhelming the first time. Something smells fishy.

Anyway, enjoy your day.

Edited by Ahbefive on Wednesday 29th March 18:27

Have you been paying any attention to the proven times that the owners are managing with the RS?


Straight line speed isn't a strong point of the RS. Even significantly modified cars aren't as fast as rivals.

[Ahbefive]

Paying any attention? I have one and have seen dozens at Santa pod as well as youtube.

There is always a faster car but the performance times that I have posted are accurate.

Do you have any evidence to the contrary? What have you been paying attention to?

[Driver101]

Ahbefive said:

Paying any attention? I have one and have seen dozens at Santa pod as well as youtube.

There is always a faster car but the performance times that I have posted are accurate.

Do you have any evidence to the contrary? What have you been paying attention to?

You'll know that the times and speeds being posted by the RS are rather slow then? 14 seconds 97-103mph is not good for a 4wd 350bhp hatch.

The trap speeds set by the Mini JCW and ST MP overlap what the RS is managing. The JCW will do low 14s at 102mph which is better than many RS are doing.

[Dal3D]

Driver101 said:

You'll know that the times and speeds being posted by the RS are rather slow then? 14 seconds 97-103mph is not good for a 4wd 350bhp hatch.

Crikey - I didn't know it took 14 seconds to go another 6 mph from 97mph. Glad I've not had mine that fast to be disappointed.

[Ahbefive]

Driver101 said:

Ahbefive said:

Do you have any evidence to the contrary? What have you been paying attention to?

You'll know that the times and speeds being posted by the RS are rather slow then? 14 seconds 97-103mph is not good for a 4wd 350bhp hatch.

The trap speeds set by the Mini JCW and ST MP overlap what the RS is managing. The JCW will do low 14s at 102mph which is better than many RS are doing.

Sorry but I can't take any post seriously that is so wrong. Let me know when you have real figures and a source for that. I have posted some for you to use if you are struggling.

[Driver101]

Ahbefive said:

Sorry but I can't take any post seriously that is so wrong. Let me know when you have real figures and a source for that. I have posted some for you to use if you are struggling.

What part can't you take seriously and I'll find what you need?

All the days at drag strips, magazine tests, YouTube videos, people posting their times are all wrong, but your post is correct?

[Ahbefive]

Try reading your own post again and you might just see your error.

Clue: 14seconds 97-103mph

[Kenny Powers]

Race Wars!

[Driver101]

Ahbefive said:

Try reading your own post again and you might just see your error.

Clue: 14seconds 97-103mph

There is no error. You were talking about being at Santa Pod watching the cars race. I said that around 14 seconds and 97-103mph trap speeds are normal for the Focus. I did think that would have been obvious talking about drag racing.

The rival hatchbacks are all in the 12s at 112mph+. There is a couple of Focus RS in the 12s that I've seen, but they are far from standard.

Drag racing isn't the place for the Focus, but it doesn't stop people trying.

The guy you gave a hard time is right about the Fiesta ST. Cars with a tune are in the Focus RS performance window.

I've just realised he was talking about the old JCW Mini. I quoted times for the newer 230bhp. I correct myself.

Edited by Driver101 on Monday 10th April 18:48

[Ahbefive]

Every site I look on shows the same. I have seen plenty of standard RSs do around 13 seconds as shown and mountuned ones doing it in the 12s. Yep it's not a straight line beast but these are still pretty good times. A 10second car is something absolutely mental or a bike.

The 2013 mini jcw shows the same times as the 2016 model with a bit more power but the same times. As shown on the previous page the in gear times are quite a lot different.

As a package the RS is very hard to beat. Obviously an auto gearbox will beat it in terms of straightline performance (R/A45 etc) but that (for me) removes lots of the fun and where the RS shines is in the corners. For the money its very hard to beat.

Edited by Ahbefive on Monday 10th April 19:21

[Ron240]

Driver101 said:

There is no error. You were talking about being at Santa Pod watching the cars race. I said that around 14 seconds and 97-103mph trap speeds are normal for the Focus. I did think that would have been obvious talking about drag racing.

Sorry it wasn't obvious at all because I along with probably everyone else that read what you said interpreted it in a different way to which you meant, so your error was not making yourself clear enough to be properly understood.
I learned long ago how easy it is to be misunderstood on internet forum sites, so I never assume that just because I know what I mean everybody else will also.