RE: RS about face: PH Blog

[RacerMike]

Ahbefive said:

The focussed cars you have might be great if all you do is drive on track but I bought my RS primarily as a fun road car and for that it is excellent. Are you trying to compare it to a Caterham or Elise? It's a 5door hatchback with as much power as your Porsche, not a stripped out, low slung race car.

But amusingly, it's actually as quick as a lot of Caterhams. For reference the pole lap for a Caterham Tracksport (the 3rd fastest Caterham race car) was a 2min32s dead. So the Focus is as quick as a Caterham Tracksport, and quicker than a Roadsport. It's also 10s quicker than a Ginetta G40 an would qualify in about 15th for the GT5 challenge (slick shod G40s with sequential boxes).

[Escort Si-130]

Got bored of it, guy chats st; even in all his other vids. Bell-end springs to mind.

Overhaul said:

I love fast Fords, always have done and always will.
However I'll just leave this here.........

https://youtu.be/p8DKosz9zi4

[Escort Si-130]

bahahaha, oh boy, some of the comments at PH makes me laugh or boil with anger at times.

Chuck328 said:

lee_erm said:

The Mitsubishi Evo, I can't think of a car that will require more maintenance and mollycoddling with the exception of a bi-turbo rs6. I wouldn't like to stick my two kids in an Evo and set off anywhere either.

Not owned many Evo's then have you...

Utter ste you talk.

[Escort Si-130]

LMFAO at wallet hoover, first I heard of that. Have to use that about some of these gold digging girls.

lord trumpton said:

Chuck328 said:

lee_erm said:

The Mitsubishi Evo, I can't think of a car that will require more maintenance and mollycoddling with the exception of a bi-turbo rs6. I wouldn't like to stick my two kids in an Evo and set off anywhere either.

Not owned many Evo's then have you...

Utter ste you talk.

Oh come on...The Mitsubishi is a real wallet hoover in every respect. I owned an Evo 9 FQ340 with 5k miles on it. Aside from the fuel (I knew this) it required servicing every 5k miles and every consumable was expensive.

Although they are reliable; their maintenance requirements are epic by any standard.

Great fun though

[InfamousKeiran]

People want a more raw Focus RS but we had one and no one bought it. The Evo X.

[FocusRS3]

Ahbefive said:

It's far more hardcore than a mk2. It looks very full on by all accounts in reality although yes a bit toned down compared to the quite ridiculous looking mk2.

5doors yes, I don't get the obsession with 3door hatchbacks personally.

The mk3 is faster and handles way better than any mk2. It will be a definite classic as it does things no other hot hatch (or car) has ever done. Theres a reason PH is warming to it albeit it is taking them an oddly long time.

Have you driven one at all? It's twice the car the mk2 is and the mk2 is a great car.

Did they previously dismiss it then ?

[FocusRS3]

SidewaysSi said:

I have, albeit briefly. Not my sort of car to be honest. If the press don't rate it and after a brief drive I didn't think much if it then I would not consider one.

Each to their own.
Equally some won't now consider the old Cayman now the GT4 is in town, that's life.

RS doesn't have the interior niceties of cars like Porsche but then it's way less in cash terms but certainly not a third of the car and I've had 10 Porsches now .

Think the RS offers a lot for very little personally

[FocusRS3]

Ahbefive said:

Took my RS out yesterday. It really does have a party trick that other hot hatches just dont have.

Traction control still on, normal drive mode still on, round a roundabout at a modest pace, a little boot off the roundabout and power oversteer pretty much by accident. Absolutely great fun. What other awd cars or hot hatches do that?

Edited by Ahbefive on Sunday 27th November 07:23

I like this post....

[FocusRS3]

Vroom101 said:

Easy to spot the Ford RS fans on this thread! No different from a Porsche or Lotus thread though....

Overhaul said:

I love fast Fords, always have done and always will.
However I'll just leave this here.........

https://youtu.be/p8DKosz9zi4

Jeez, does that guy like the sound of his own voice or what?! I was interested to hear what he had to say, but couldn't stomach more than four minutes. Was there a point or conclusion to what he had to say? To be fair on the RS, I think morons will drive like morons no matter what modes the car has.

Ahbefive said:

Traction control still on, mormal drive mode still on, round a roundabout at a modest pace, a little boot off the roundabout and power oversteer pretty much by accident.

By accident? To be honest, that doesn't sound like a good thing. I think I'd want a car that was predictable in its behaviour.

I'm sure the Mk3 is a fine car, but it seems to me that even Ford themselves aren't really sure what the 'RS' badge means. Just look at what it's been stuck on in the past. Is is a rally inspired car for the road, a mega hatch packed with tech, a touring car inspired car for the road, or just the top tier of a model range?

Good post .
Think the answer really is that they have to try and make it as close to all of those things as possible that's why real hardcore fans aim critism when a car like this is made and they stick an RS badge on the front of it .

As far as a 'one car fits all' vehicle it does a good job . I was careful not to use the word great there as its not going to be to the real hardcore car enthusiasts . What it is however is a bargain given all the things it can do within one package and for that alone it's a success for Ford and for the general car buyer.
It's the modern corporate world we exist in today that dictates this is the way forward

[FocusRS3]

nickfrog said:

Ahbefive said:

What other awd cars or hot hatches do that ?

A M135i / M140i has been able to do that (if that's your thing) for a number of years for £25k new despite better equipment.
Better balance and less weight too. And even comes in 3-dr.
And can take a few more laps without cooking its brakes and chewing its fronts, unlike the Focus.

Love the 140 and with broker discounts it's a good buy but it's not AWD and no LSD so for some it just doesn't fit the 'all year round' bill.
You also can't get Xdrive fitted to a RHD car for the 1 series .

Personally I think if you want a car that can do it all all year round and still daily/family duties when needed it's hard to beat .
It's a about your own personal usage for the car , ticks some boxes for me

[SidewaysSi]

Ahbefive said:

SidewaysSi said:

You are convincing no one. As for the BMW, if you look at my garage, you will see I have a few cars which make the Focus look as sharp as a 1988 240.

I don't like the Focus and for me it is not as driver focused as I want. Fine for you if you think it is great and find its driver qualities satisfactory for what you look for.

I don't need to convince anyone, the proof is there online for all to see. The brakes are good for plenty of laps without cooking. Just search for Focus RS on track, lots of videos on there.

Personally I find its driver qualities far more than satisfactory, its great fun and can power oversteer where my impreza is more inclined to lift off oversteer.

The focussed cars you have might be great if all you do is drive on track but I bought my RS primarily as a fun road car and for that it is excellent. Are you trying to compare it to a Caterham or Elise? It's a 5door hatchback with as much power as your Porsche, not a stripped out, low slung race car.

Edited by Ahbefive on Monday 28th November 12:13

Fine if that's what you want in a car. It is a jack of all trades machine - can do most things reasonably well so is good if you only have space for one car.

But it is not the second coming as a driving machine that some seem to make out. As for oversteer, an old BMW running skinny tyres with a LSD will always be more satisfying.

[FocusRS3]

SidewaysSi said:

Ahbefive said:

SidewaysSi said:

You are convincing no one. As for the BMW, if you look at my garage, you will see I have a few cars which make the Focus look as sharp as a 1988 240.

I don't like the Focus and for me it is not as driver focused as I want. Fine for you if you think it is great and find its driver qualities satisfactory for what you look for.

I don't need to convince anyone, the proof is there online for all to see. The brakes are good for plenty of laps without cooking. Just search for Focus RS on track, lots of videos on there.

Personally I find its driver qualities far more than satisfactory, its great fun and can power oversteer where my impreza is more inclined to lift off oversteer.

The focussed cars you have might be great if all you do is drive on track but I bought my RS primarily as a fun road car and for that it is excellent. Are you trying to compare it to a Caterham or Elise? It's a 5door hatchback with as much power as your Porsche, not a stripped out, low slung race car.

Edited by Ahbefive on Monday 28th November 12:13

Fine if that's what you want in a car. It is a jack of all trades machine - can do most things reasonably well so is good if you only have space for one car.

But it is not the second coming as a driving machine that some seem to make out. As for oversteer, an old BMW running skinny tyres with a LSD will always be more satisfying.

Good point , that's what the 140 is crying out for a LSD

[Ahbefive]

Oh yes an old mx5 might be good for drifting too but they don't do 60mph in 4.7 seconds, don't look awesome, couldn't carry 5 people around, don't have 5 years warranty, all the toys, aren't brand new and unmarked and would be far slower in every situation. The RS does a bit of everything really, really well.

If Shmee150 with his GT4, Mclaren LT675, Ferrari FF etc etc still thinks it's a good enough car to buy whilst he's also buying an Aston Martin GT8 and Ford GT then it must do something right. Also FezzaES off youtube seems to rave about his far more than he does his Ferrari 360. The chap off The Smoking Tire has one also and he drives ridiculously awesome cars day in, day out.

I put the deposit down on mine before knowing any of those guys existed but the 6month wait had me on youtube watching them like a kid waiting for Xmas.

It's a great car and although not comparable to those cars in terms of performance it must be doing lots right to appeal to buyers with those sorts of cars too. Imo no other new car at that price range compares.

Edited by Ahbefive on Tuesday 29th November 19:19

[mrnoisy78]

FocusRS3 said:

Each to their own.
Equally some won't now consider the old Cayman now the GT4 is in town, that's life.

RS doesn't have the interior niceties of cars like Porsche but then it's way less in cash terms but certainly not a third of the car and I've had 10 Porsches now .

Think the RS offers a lot for very little personally

Unless Porsche have upped their game significantly in the last 8 or 9 years I found the interiors of my mate's Boxster S and then 996 x50 (probably the most mad car I've personally been in) both disappointing given the money those cars cost new.
An Audi S4 or S5 interior made both look inferior.
Externally and chassis / power train wise you could see where the money had gone but I can't agree that the interior looked that much more expensive than the average Golf GTI; his Ferrari felt much more special but nowhere near as quick as the 996 X50 he had.
If I was that fussed about internal niceities I'd be looking at a manual f82 or E92 M3, both of which are a superior drive to most things in the Audi stable sadly because Audi make some pretty cars and the S5 / RS5 is one of my favourites.

[FocusRS3]

mrnoisy78 said:

FocusRS3 said:

Each to their own.
Equally some won't now consider the old Cayman now the GT4 is in town, that's life.

RS doesn't have the interior niceties of cars like Porsche but then it's way less in cash terms but certainly not a third of the car and I've had 10 Porsches now .

Think the RS offers a lot for very little personally

Unless Porsche have upped their game significantly in the last 8 or 9 years I found the interiors of my mate's Boxster S and then 996 x50 (probably the most mad car I've personally been in) both disappointing given the money those cars cost new.
An Audi S4 or S5 interior made both look inferior.
Externally and chassis / power train wise you could see where the money had gone but I can't agree that the interior looked that much more expensive than the average Golf GTI; his Ferrari felt much more special but nowhere near as quick as the 996 X50 he had.
If I was that fussed about internal niceities I'd be looking at a manual f82 or E92 M3, both of which are a superior drive to most things in the Audi stable sadly because Audi make some pretty cars and the S5 / RS5 is one of my favourites.

You're right years ago the interiors were pants but since the launch of the 997 generation 911 in late 2004 they have steadily improved to what now is a nice place to be but then you pay hugely for that .

Unlike the ford where upping spec doesn't run away with itself when ordering a Porsche not hard to blow another 20k over the list price .

I think low 30's is a bargain for the focus regardless of what people think of the interior

[Ahbefive]

I take no issue with the interior of the Focus personally and find it much more interesting than a Golf or 135i. It has no rattles, nice seats and ergonomics, all the toys you could wish for including satnav, bluetooth, cameras, sensors, cruise control etc, except heated/cooled seats (heated can be had with the standard seats). Stereo is pretty crap though.

[FocusRS3]

Ahbefive said:

I take no issue with the interior of the Focus personally and find it much more interesting than a Golf or 135i. It has no rattles, nice seats and ergonomics, all the toys you could wish for including satnav, bluetooth, cameras, sensors, cruise control etc, except heated/cooled seats (heated can be had with the standard seats). Stereo is pretty crap though.

Funny you mention stereo. I've never seen the need for an expensive or particulary good stereo in a 'drivers car' in fac when spec'ing a 140 bmw i never even thought of ticking the Harmon Kardon box

[Ahbefive]

The quality seems fine as far as I can tell but the Volume seems very low when playing music via bluetooth.

[nunpuncher]

FocusRS3 said:

Good point , that's what the 140 is crying out for a LSD

... better matched springs and dampers, m4 lc arms, steering that has even the slightest little molecule of feedback and let's not forget a prettier face (the LCI seemed like an improvement at first but now I feel the pre LCI is more cohesive even if pig ugly).