Tuesday 9th August 2016

Ford Focus RS: Spotted

A new Mountune RS is on the way, but there's a still a lot to recommend the old one

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There seems little doubt that the new Mountune Performance kit for the Focus RS will prove very popular. For less than the price of the Luxury Pack, you can get extra power and torque while keeping the warranty intact. It's a case of why you wouldn't, rather than why you would.

Looks promising...

Indeed, the MP350 upgrade for the last Focus RS was so well received that it formed the basis of the Focus RS500. But there was a Mountune range of tweaks that was less well known - because it wasn't Ford approved - but is arguably even more appealing. Because it's even more power.

In an MR375 Focus RS, the R stands for 'Racing' (rather than the P for 'Performance') and includes some much more serious hardware. On top of the 350, the 375 received a larger downpipe, a sports cat, a cast inlet plenum, another ECU tweak and a couple of other bits to yield 375hp at 6,700rpm and an absurd 406lb ft at 3,500rpm. So that's the same power as the new MP RS but even more torque, in a front-wheel drive car. Madness. Mountune claimed five seconds flat to 62mph and 11.3 seconds to 100. 11.3!

From what can be found on the car now, the MR375 was another Mountune success. It was a lot of money - around £4,000 including fitting - but then it was quite a lot more power too. Let's hope there's a Mountune Racing Mk3 Focus RS in time as well.

Until then, there's this car. The Racing pack is unsurprisingly quite hard to find, so it's odd to find this advert not making more of it. But the badge is there and there's Mountune written under the bonnet - it looks like the real deal. There don't appear to be any other modifications though, which is something to be aware of.

So is it standard bar the 375hp?

But here's the best thing. Despite the extra money that's gone into it, this Focus RS is a very similar price to comparable cars. It's a 2009 car with 29,000 miles, a 'GREAT SERVICE HISTORY' and a price of £24,975. This Focus RS, a 2009 car with 32,000 miles but none of the engine work, is £24,990. Makes it easier to justify a few brake and suspension upgrades then, right?

Oh sure, you could spend less money on a Renaultsport Megane for a sharper hot hatch experience. The fact this generation of Focus RS has retained its value so well does make comparisons with newer cars inevitable. But for sheer force of character, it's probably quite hard to match a Focus RS. Especially one with 375hp. Just don't race a new RS from the lights!

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FORD FOCUS RS
Engine: 2,521cc, 5-cyl turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 375@6,700rpm
Torque (lb ft): 406@3,500rpm
MPG: 30.5 (standard car)
CO2: 225g/km (standard car)
First registered: 2009
Recorded mileage: 29,000
Price new: £24,995
Price now: £24,975 (!)

See the original advert here

[MrBarry123]

I cry a little inside every time I see the prices of these and realise how much I would have saved in depreciation if I had bought one instead of the Scirocco.

[WCZ]

was production limited on them?
also surely 375 is going to be nuts through just the front wheels

[peter450]

Fast Fords have a loyal following and good examples of RS and certain ST models hold their value very well. The current RS focus is going to be another rock solid performer on the used market IMO and I expect th hot versions of the mustang (if we ever get them) will do well also

[Ali_T]

Are the tribal tattoos, baseball cap and Skrillex optional extras or included in the price?

[peter450]

You know what they say about people in glass houses

[rb5er]

I love every RS Ford, this is no exception.

[356Speedster]

WCZ said:

was production limited on them?
also surely 375 is going to be nuts through just the front wheels

I have an MR375, owned from new, I utterly adore it! The MP350 and MR375 kits can be added to any existing RS, either as package upgrades, or by adding the parts one by one, then when everything is in place, Mountune will sell you the calibration.

The suspension setup & LSD mean the car has no problem handling the power. Sure 1st gear isn't going to take full power, but if the wheels are pointing forwards and the road is dry, 2nd can just hold full throttle. The chassis is fantastic and when I think back to the experience of driving a truly tragic Saab 9-3 Aero HOT back in 2001, it puts into perspective how far technology has come in a relatively short space of time.

The RS sounds awesome with the MR-spec Milltek exhaust and I simply laugh out loud whenever I drive it. 4WD isn't necessary at all and would spoil it..... after a brief wobble about ordering a new MK3 version last year, I'm now glad I kept the more aggressive looking MK2.

[dobly]

The correct number of doors !!

[KingNothing]

Had mine over a year and a half now, not running Mountune though as I wanted different mods to what they offer, mines currently on a 420bhp map, love driving it.

[stuckmojo]

[AMGJocky]

This is soooo much more desirable than the Mk3.

[rb5er]

AMGJocky said:

This is soooo much more desirable than the Mk3.

I guess you mean to look at?

[AMGJocky]

rb5er said:

AMGJocky said:

This is soooo much more desirable than the Mk3.

I guess you mean to look at?

Yes and for other reasons. The sound of it being another.

[mnx42]

If I could afford it this is the car I would have in a heart beat.. particularly like 'em in that green!! Gorgeous to look at

[rb5er]

They do sound awesome but I'm guessing most of that is exhaust and induction noise.

I'm pretty sure my Volvo from 2003 has pretty much the same engine kicking out the same power but sounds nowhere near as fruity standard.

[356Speedster]

rb5er said:

They do sound awesome but I'm guessing most of that is exhaust and induction noise.

I'm pretty sure my Volvo from 2003 has pretty much the same engine kicking out the same power but sounds nowhere near as fruity standard.

The old Volvo engine was a starting point, but even the ST's motor was re-worked, from the original donor. I believe the later C30s shared the same spec motor as the ST though. The RS's lump was heavily modified even from the ST's motor, with new internals and a whole host of other changes.... probably the block casting and a few ancillaries is all that's practically shared with the original early noughties Volvo motor (which is a fab engine and a great starting point). The world needs more mad cars with turbo 5-pots, for sure!

[rb5er]

I would have thought Volvo S60R with 300bhp is pretty similar to an RS engine? I think they were made up until around 2007 which is when the ST was already around. Agree that the World needs more 5cylinders.

[lee_erm]

I think these are ageing quite well.

[Escort Si-130]

MrBarry123 said:

I cry a little inside every time I see the prices of these and realise how much I would have saved in depreciation if I had bought one instead of the Scirocco.

Oh come on, its only depreciation. Scirocco still a great car. I would NEVER buy any car worrying about depreciation - unless it was for a business.

[Escort Si-130]

Ali_T said:

Are the tribal tattoos, baseball cap and Skrillex optional extras or included in the price?

That comes standard with all VW group and BMW buyers.