Focus RS or Mustang V8?
Discussion
Johnnytheboy said:
As usual Vauxhall are selling a car that directly competes with the last generation of its competitor.
The Astra VXR is a rival for the Focus ST. GM don't make a Focus RS competitor.Hopefully Ford sell enough Mustangs here to convince GM to bring the Camaro whilst they can. The Focus RS & rivals just don't do it for me. - We have a hot hatch at the moment but wish I could have a large capacity, manual RWD car and even though the Mini is a laugh, it's making the best of a bad job (4-cyl, turbo, FWD etc.). Unfortunately, my wife doing doing 20k a year in it rules-out petrol V8s for the foreseeable future due to running costs and this exact situation, plus legislation, looks set to kill off my idea of "fun" cars. I have no interest in "Hybrid this" or "Eco that" (even the fast ones).
Johnnytheboy said:
As usual Vauxhall are selling a car that directly competes with the last generation of its competitor.
No, the Focus ST with which the Astra VXR competes is still in its current generation.Does Ford build a Mondeo that's even remotely comparable to an Insignia VXR in terms of performance?
HD Adam said:
Matt Harper said:
HD Adam said:
Witchcraft 
The direct injection means that they can run some very lean mixtures during part throttle.
With the independent intake & exhaust cams coupled with the GDI, the possibilities are endless.
Yeah, but if they coulda done it, they woulda done it. No?The direct injection means that they can run some very lean mixtures during part throttle.
With the independent intake & exhaust cams coupled with the GDI, the possibilities are endless.
The Ecoboost I4 & V6 are already in the bag. The V8 will be in the wings if they can't sell a V6 Raptor or Mustang.
Mark my words.
Those higher-end models are produced in significantly smaller numbers than the mainstream Mustangs and, consequently, won't run afoul of CAFE and similar requirements.
Also, as affordable mass-market electric vehicles grow in popularity (see for example the Chevrolet Bolt: 200 miles of range at a price of £21,000), it will become somewhat easier for manufacturers to offset their less green products.
Clivey said:
Hopefully Ford sell enough Mustangs here to convince GM to bring the Camaro whilst they can.
Sadly, I don't expect that the maths will support this. They never have.The UK appetite for US-style affordable performance cars will be fulfilled by the Mustang, Vauxhall, and a handful of LHD personal imports. There won't be sufficient room for Camaro and Challenger to be offered as RHD OEM products.
On the other hand, if the preceding guess proves inaccurate... I will be among the most delighted. Camaro, Challenger and Mustang all benefit when the pool of non-US owners expands.
The Focus RS is now offered in the US. And, again, for reasons of "a larger pool" of owners as well as all of the diversity in narratives which flow from this... It's a good thing.
Nige_GTI said:
Johnnytheboy said:
As usual Vauxhall are selling a car that directly competes with the last generation of its competitor.
Pretty sure the Astra VXR is current generation as well? I can go into my local dealers and buy one brand new (and considered one before ordering an RS)Which was that historically, new hot Vauxhalls seem to be every bit as good as the previous generation equivalent Ford.
skyrover said:
Why not sell the Camaro be here as a Vauxhall?
It could replace the VXR8 nicely.
Fair point. Holden (Australia) will soon no longer produce a V8 saloon -- the car upon which the VXR8 is based. It could replace the VXR8 nicely.
Unless a replacement is slated to come from the Opel range on the Continent, Vauxhall will be looking for something new. Maybe Camaro could "kill two birds with one stone" by solving a product problem in both Australia and the UK.
But Camaro is not a saloon. So not necessarily a fit. Also, this could come no sooner than the next iteration of Camaro. Maybe 2020 or so.
There would need to be clarity about brands. The Bard comes from Stratford-upon-Avon and the Camaro comes from Chevrolet. There is no changing either of these.
The Mondeo really needs something to give it a (no pun intended) boost. All the other mainstream models have a version that's either at or near the top of it's game, but the best they can do is the EcoBoost 2 litre Mondy. The 3.5 V6 EcoBoost with a simplified Focus drivetrain would be ideal and would give them an S4 (Avant?) like presence.
Zad said:
The Mondeo really needs something to give it a (no pun intended) boost. All the other mainstream models have a version that's either at or near the top of it's game, but the best they can do is the EcoBoost 2 litre Mondy. The 3.5 V6 EcoBoost with a simplified Focus drivetrain would be ideal and would give them an S4 (Avant?) like presence.
Its a question not many buyers are asking, Mondeo is a nice car, but its usually reps who, for some reason havent gone German, nobody who pays car tax wants a fast one, no private buyers really buy new Mondeos and even less would go for a 30 plus grand one with a big engine, it would sell in the tens, most would be Ford management, demo cars and the odd Brewsters Millions nutcase.Big models from a range are rarely the Halo cars, even the Audi S8 is comparatively forgotten, people like the biggest engine in the smallest body.
J4CKO said:
Its a question not many buyers are asking, Mondeo is a nice car, but its usually reps who, for some reason havent gone German, nobody who pays car tax wants a fast one, no private buyers really buy new Mondeos and even less would go for a 30 plus grand one with a big engine, it would sell in the tens, most would be Ford management, demo cars and the odd Brewsters Millions nutcase.
Big models from a range are rarely the Halo cars, even the Audi S8 is comparatively forgotten, people like the biggest engine in the smallest body.
Correct analysis Mr J4CKOBig models from a range are rarely the Halo cars, even the Audi S8 is comparatively forgotten, people like the biggest engine in the smallest body.
unsprung said:
The UK appetite for US-style affordable performance cars will be fulfilled by the (snip)...Vauxhall...(/snip)
The VXR8 dies this year or next when GM finally shuts down Holden. There's no direct replacement. It's on the ancient (heavy!) Zeta platform. The Camaro is now moving to the Alpha platform which underpins the current RWD Cadillacs.J4CKO said:
Zad said:
The Mondeo really needs something to give it a (no pun intended) boost. All the other mainstream models have a version that's either at or near the top of it's game, but the best they can do is the EcoBoost 2 litre Mondy. The 3.5 V6 EcoBoost with a simplified Focus drivetrain would be ideal and would give them an S4 (Avant?) like presence.
Its a question not many buyers are asking, Mondeo is a nice car, but its usually reps who, for some reason havent gone German, nobody who pays car tax wants a fast one, no private buyers really buy new Mondeos and even less would go for a 30 plus grand one with a big engine, it would sell in the tens, most would be Ford management, demo cars and the odd Brewsters Millions nutcase.Big models from a range are rarely the Halo cars, even the Audi S8 is comparatively forgotten, people like the biggest engine in the smallest body.
RoverP6B said:
unsprung said:
The UK appetite for US-style affordable performance cars will be fulfilled by the (snip)...Vauxhall...(/snip)
The VXR8 dies this year or next when GM finally shuts down Holden. There's no direct replacement. It's on the ancient (heavy!) Zeta platform. The Camaro is now moving to the Alpha platform which underpins the current RWD Cadillacs.
thanks for the clever snips; points notedGassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff