RE: Focus RS stop-gap is here
Discussion
Damn, that wide angle shot doesn't do it any favours. It looks like a new version of a C Max that has then been to a tuning shop. It really is big.
I see what those with families are saying, but for me it'll always be a dull family wagon and then a proper toy, rather than trying to combine the two.
I see what those with families are saying, but for me it'll always be a dull family wagon and then a proper toy, rather than trying to combine the two.
We used to live in mud huts.
If we lived in Africa, Haiti, Mexico etc yes, but didn't we do turf, or wattle-and-daub????
Anyway, my experience with the previous 2.5 ST was it always felt.... leaden and unwieldy, which links in with the comments about increasing power and weights. Lets hope that this one feels more nimble (this from a guy who's daily drive is a Vauxhall Insignifica SRi CDTi 160.......)
If we lived in Africa, Haiti, Mexico etc yes, but didn't we do turf, or wattle-and-daub????
Anyway, my experience with the previous 2.5 ST was it always felt.... leaden and unwieldy, which links in with the comments about increasing power and weights. Lets hope that this one feels more nimble (this from a guy who's daily drive is a Vauxhall Insignifica SRi CDTi 160.......)
article said:
The standard ST is already decently pokey with its 250hp pushing the car to 60mph in 6.5seconds, so while Mountune wouldn't give us the full performance figs we'd wager a time under six seconds.
Is it just me, or does the above sound ridiculously over-optimistic? We're only talking about an extra 30 bhp here, so I reckon there's no way it'll make an improvement of more than half a second to sixty. When you get to this sort of level, half a second is a HUGE difference, requiring very substantial increases in power-to-weight ratio.I'd say about 6.3 seconds.
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Tuesday 20th November 12:49
big_boz said:
This weeks Shed, reminded me of how "powerfull" me and my mates thought a GTI-6 was when it first appeared with 167BHP, In a bit of pub banter it was even mentioned that the 120BHP 106GTI seemed awesome when we were all knocking about with c.50BHP in our Y10/panda/nova/polo/SJ's trying to crack 100MPH!
Now we have got "warm" hatches with approaching 200BHP, and a medium hot hatch making getting on for 300 ponies.
While they are hatches as in hatchbacks, there is no denying the cars are not the same. Gone pretty much are the small and mid sized saloons, all now are hatches like the Focus. A fairly big car. And bigger cars need more power.Now we have got "warm" hatches with approaching 200BHP, and a medium hot hatch making getting on for 300 ponies.
andrewparker said:
I wish VW would give the GTI that kind of power. Their warrantied 10bhp increase on the MK7 looks rather pathetic in comparison.
This - I would LOVE a warrantied upgrade option for my Mk6 GTI. 210hp is nice and all that, but some extra with the peace of mind of an authorised upgrade, would see me spending that pile of money I've not told the wife about in my sock drawer....*cough*Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
Is it just me, or does the above sound ridiculously over-optimistic? We're only talking about an extra 30 bhp here, so I reckon there's no way it'll make an improvement of more than half a second to sixty. When you get to this sort of level, half a second is a HUGE difference, requiring very substantial increases in power-to-weight ratio.
I'd say about 6.3 seconds.
+1I'd say about 6.3 seconds.
It needs more than just a power boost to get any significant difference in real-world-performance, and to anyone interested in the RS there will surely be no interest seeing as the current RS is already so much faster.
when it gets to under 4.8secs I'll show some interest...
Edited by JuniorJet on Tuesday 20th November 13:05
JuniorJet said:
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
Is it just me, or does the above sound ridiculously over-optimistic? We're only talking about an extra 30 bhp here, so I reckon there's no way it'll make an improvement of more than half a second to sixty. When you get to this sort of level, half a second is a HUGE difference, requiring very substantial increases in power-to-weight ratio.
I'd say about 6.3 seconds.
+1I'd say about 6.3 seconds.
when it gets to under 4.8secs I'll show some interest...
Edited by JuniorJet on Tuesday 20th November 13:02
I know nothing about this new ST, but I'd be amazed if it really could muster up 250hp in 1st gear. So a remap might alter the headline figure, but they may also alter the torque limiter, so you might get far more than a 30hp gain off the line.
Food for thought at least...
Edited by 300bhp/ton on Tuesday 20th November 13:10
Papa Hotel said:
JuniorJet said:
when it gets to under 4.8secs I'll show some interest...
When your car can carry a family of 5 in comfort and hold a week's shopping and a bike in the boot, then the comparison will be valid. Not that I care about the number of seats, 2 seater cabs all the way for me for the time being
NGK210 said:
Didn't Evo have their long-term mk2 Focus ST Mountuned, and when it was dyno'd, it had waaaaay more BHP and torque than quoted, so much so that it trounced the RS on straights?
Trounced might be over egging it a bit, but yes...http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evolongtermtests/2...
Podie said:
NGK210 said:
Didn't Evo have their long-term mk2 Focus ST Mountuned, and when it was dyno'd, it had waaaaay more BHP and torque than quoted, so much so that it trounced the RS on straights?
Trounced might be over egging it a bit, but yes...http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evolongtermtests/2...
king turd.Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
article said:
The standard ST is already decently pokey with its 250hp pushing the car to 60mph in 6.5seconds, so while Mountune wouldn't give us the full performance figs we'd wager a time under six seconds.
Is it just me, or does the above sound ridiculously over-optimistic? We're only talking about an extra 30 bhp here, so I reckon there's no way it'll make an improvement of more than half a second to sixty. When you get to this sort of level, half a second is a HUGE difference, requiring very substantial increases in power-to-weight ratio.I'd say about 6.3 seconds.
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Tuesday 20th November 12:49
surely to 60 the limiting factor here is traction, not power.I'm genuinely torn by this car. It certainly isn't a looker, but in ST spec and in the right colour (black looks best to my eye so far), I doesn't upset me as much as the shopping spec cars do.
As for the Mountune kit, two big thumbs up from me. Mrs 356 has my DreamScience ST and if the new one is as much fun to drive as her is, I might overlook some of the styling features.
I drive a Mountune'd RS MP350 daily and can testify to the quality of work from them. This will be a considered upgrade and based on past form, the 280bhp will be an "at least" figure.
With 6yrs and 80K miles behind the wheel of the ST & RS combined and still loving both, I'd definitely like to try one of these new cars.
Just to sign off (seeing as how it's been mentioned above)....In my book, there's no such thing as wrong wheel drive, only a poor implementation of any-wheel-drive..... I've driven 4WD and RWD cars that handle worse and are less engaging than a well setup FWD car. If Ford have done a good job with the chassis (as early reports suggest), it'll be a hoot.
As for the Mountune kit, two big thumbs up from me. Mrs 356 has my DreamScience ST and if the new one is as much fun to drive as her is, I might overlook some of the styling features.
I drive a Mountune'd RS MP350 daily and can testify to the quality of work from them. This will be a considered upgrade and based on past form, the 280bhp will be an "at least" figure.
With 6yrs and 80K miles behind the wheel of the ST & RS combined and still loving both, I'd definitely like to try one of these new cars.
Just to sign off (seeing as how it's been mentioned above)....In my book, there's no such thing as wrong wheel drive, only a poor implementation of any-wheel-drive..... I've driven 4WD and RWD cars that handle worse and are less engaging than a well setup FWD car. If Ford have done a good job with the chassis (as early reports suggest), it'll be a hoot.
LewisR said:
IMO, Focus' styling is getting worse with every release. This just looks like a blob to me now, whereas the Mk1 looked quite sharpe & well defined.
Yep, I was following one the other day and though it just looked like a blob with wheels.It's a big car by all accounts, too big to be truly sports car, and too MPV to look good pulling off the fast saloon kinda look the M5 and Audi RS4 etc do...
They need to get that Fiesta with this engine in it. Sub 1300kg with 280bhp, decent looks, etc.
I wouldn't be seen dead in a sporty Focus these days, it's about as cool as a fat 40yr old wearing a track suit trying to look like an athlete.
Dave
JuniorJet said:
Papa Hotel said:
JuniorJet said:
when it gets to under 4.8secs I'll show some interest...
When your car can carry a family of 5 in comfort and hold a week's shopping and a bike in the boot, then the comparison will be valid. Not that I care about the number of seats, 2 seater cabs all the way for me for the time being
The Focus is only FWD? They kept that quiet! Why has no one mentioned that on here before?
Back on topic, if this changes the way the power is delivered the same as what a Mountune kit did to my RS I'd highly recommend it. It's kind of how it should have been from new - unchanged at lower rpm but much better higher up.
Back on topic, if this changes the way the power is delivered the same as what a Mountune kit did to my RS I'd highly recommend it. It's kind of how it should have been from new - unchanged at lower rpm but much better higher up.
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