RE: Focus RS vs. Focus ST: PH Blog

[Matt Bird]

tomjol said:

Matt Bird said:

Hi!

That's why it was pitched as a blog more than a formal twin-test. The two aren't conventional rivals, as mentioned, so deciding on which is 'best' seemed pointless. The links in the first sentence to both ST and RS will provide much more detail on what they are individually like to drive. If there's anything more specific you would like to know then please ask.

Cheers!


Matt

Piece of (hopefully) constructive feedback - this idea that it's a blog rather than a formal test, it's obvious to you what that means, but it isn't obvious to the rest of us who weren't in the editorial meetings where someone identified the difference. They're even displayed in the same way, just one has "blog" in the title and the other doesn't.

OK, fair point. But it did say at the start of the second paragraph that it wasn't going to be an in-depth comparison. Point noted though!

[Matt Bird]

Mike1990 said:

I've noticed that the Astra 'J' GTC VXR is still being sold, and just having a quick look on the Vauxhall site, you can still order one. I'am wondering why these don't get included in the 'Group Tests' anymore, or even mentioned accross the Magazines etc, as its still a rival to the newer breed, still got the fancy hardware, power, slippy 'Diff like the newer breed etc, just a thought thats all.

Would be interesting to see one partciptate.

Yes it would, I didn't mention because I've not actually driven one. Perhaps a car we need to revisit as this generation of Astra GTC bows out.

Thanks!

[Hub]

An interesting comparison would be whether the RS (and other similar 4wd hyper hatches) are too fast and competent now for the national speed limit, and whether the lower power and lesser grip of the ST is all you need on public roads to use more of the car's potential. I certainly haven't ever felt that I need more power (though more traction at times would be good!)

[neil1jnr]

Hub said:

An interesting comparison would be whether the RS (and other similar 4wd hyper hatches) are too fast and competent now for the national speed limit, and whether the lower power and lesser grip of the ST is all you need on public roads to use more of the car's potential. I certainly haven't ever felt that I need more power (though more traction at times would be good!)

A Fiesta ST is probably all you need, I had one and could use the car to it's potential nearly everyday I drove it, I had modified it a bit so it had closer to 230bhp than standard. It truly is a brilliant little car, I like to rave about it at every chance I get and I will have another at some point down the line. More power is always a bonus if it doesn't negatively effect other aspects of the cars performance. In terms of fun the Fiesta ST is more than likely all you need but a Focus RS is will be a far better all rounder and I'd probably have that over a Fiesta as a daily (if I could afford it).

However, I now have an Evo with close to 400bhp and before I put it off the road for winter this year I had ideas in my head that it wasn't quite enough. It just depends what you get used to. I haven't driven an RS but the quickest new hatch I've driven is the A45 and it didn't feel remotely too fast or really that much fun if I am honest (gearbox was awful). The Golf R was a great all rounder though, decent power and as an overall package pretty much unbeatable.

[jamiem555]

Hub said:

An interesting comparison would be whether the RS (and other similar 4wd hyper hatches) are too fast and competent now for the national speed limit, and whether the lower power and lesser grip of the ST is all you need on public roads to use more of the car's potential. I certainly haven't ever felt that I need more power (though more traction at times would be good!)

As an ST owner, I would say it's plenty fast enough to get you in trouble on public roads. I ran a classic Impreza for 6 years with 270bhp and it's not far away at all in performance. Even in the wet, I find it has plenty of grip. It is a heavy car though, and once it does start to lose adhesion it can go a long way fairly quickly.

[Ahbefive]

It depends what you are used to. I don't think the 350bhp in the RS is too much at all but my friends 500bhp 997turbo did feel a bit on the lethal side.

[FX]

I recently bought the 2016 st. I had a 2013 and the 2016 is mechanically a better car. I considered the RS. The price difference between RS and ST is more like 10-12k not 4 k. There were many rebates for the ST and not for the RS. For a daily driver the ST is for me. If I wanted a track car maybe the RS but would prefer a formula car.