2017 Ford Focus RS

Highlights

• 345bhp turbocharged 2.3-litre EcoBoost

• Lux pack and winter pack, Ford Performance short-shifter

• Excellent condition inside and out

• Comprehensive service record

• Just 40,343 miles on the clock, verified

Overview

There is little in the automotive world that is quite as satisfying as a hot hatch. And when it comes to hot hatch tomfoolery, few do it as well as Ford. Seasoned purveyors of blue collar back-road blatters, they really know how to enhance and extract the best from even the most humble of family runarounds.

Which brings us neatly to the Focus RS. As any petrolhead can tell you, the Focus has always been a great car to drive, and the fast variants have the reputation of being genuinely quick and fun machines. But when it came to the 2016 Focus RS, Ford kind of lost their minds a bit.

You see, for the price of a single wheel on a new Koenigsegg, you can own a car that is perfectly happy tootling around doing school run, tip run, dog walking, shopping and commuter journeys for most of the week. It’ll swallow up the whole family and all their gear with ease, offering plenty of equipment and all the creature comforts you could possibly need. But after you’ve dropped the kids off, when you decide to take the long and winding road home, it turns into an absolute savage.

If the deeply bolstered and sculpted Recaros weren’t enough of a clue, then a mere glance at the spec sheet is enough to raise eyebrows. All-wheel drive, a 345bhp turbocharged powertrain, 0-62mph in just 4.7 seconds – those are Ferrari 355 numbers. Plus this thing has a drift mode. A sodding drift mode in a family hatch. We’re not sure what Ford’s board were imbibing when they signed this off, but we’re all in favour of it.

This is a cracking example too. The white paintwork really suits the RS’s lines, and the black and blue detailing and highlights really do add a sporty edge to proceedings. Add in the fact that this car has had a single owner from new, comes with a great service history and has covered a gnat’s shoelace over 40,000 miles, and you have something really quite special.

The game of “what’s going to be a classic” is always tricky with cars. But if history has taught us anything it’s that Fast Fords of all eras are some of the most collectible and consistent performers on the used market. And the Focus RS is a genuine all-time great.

It’s also incredibly good fun to hoon like a maniac. In a legal, safe and controlled environment, naturally.

History and documentation

• First registered 28 January 2017

• One owner from new

• Lux pack and winter pack

• Current MOT expires 26 March 2026

• Current mileage is 40,343 miles, verified by the service and MOT histories

• Stamped service book with services as follows: January 2018 @ 11,157 miles, January 2019 @ 17,368 miles; January 2020 @ 21,181 miles; January 2021 @ 28,668 miles; January 2022 @ 33,061 miles; January 2023 @ 39,248 miles; February 2024 @ 39,617 miles

• We’re told the car has seen minimal winter use, and has certainly been used little over the last two years

• Full document pack

• Collection of invoices for servicing and old MOT certificates

• Two keys

• V5 present in owner’s name

• HPI clear

• London ULEZ compliant

Interior

• Black leather upholstery with fabric seat centres and blue contrast stitching

• Factory-fitted optional front Recaro sports seats

• The upholstery is in excellent condition, with no cracking, sagging, tears or significant wear we could see

• Black headlining, which looks to be undamaged and secure, with no staining or sagging

• Black carpeting throughout the cabin looks to be in fine condition, with no threading or staining on show

• The carpet is complemented with a set of black rubber fitted overmats, and a full spare set of black carpet overmats are present in the boot

• Heated front seats

• Heated steering wheel

• Dual-zone air conditioning

• Front and rear heated screens

• Electrically adjustable side windows and door mirrors

• Upgraded carbon fibre door darts and handbrake handle – the original items are included

• RS branded door shut / sill guards

• Multi-function steering wheel, finished with black leather and blue contrast stitching

• Hands-free Bluetooth phone connectivity

• Sony sound system with CD/radio

• Built-in satellite navigation

• We love the factory auxiliary gauges, showing oil temperature, oil pressure and (of course) boost pressure

• Reversing camera and parking sensors

• All of the internal trim and switchgear looks to be in good order, with nothing missing or broken as far as we could tell

• Generous boot space, trimmed neatly with dark grey carpet and with an inflation kit stowed under the carpet

• The vendor tells us that all of the cabin’s features and functions operate just as they should, with no faults or issues reported

Exterior

• White paintwork perfectly suits the car’s lines and is presented in excellent condition, with a few minor stone chips and blemishes consistent with the car’s age and mileage

• The bodywork itself looks to have been very well cared for, with no corrosion on show, no damage and no unusual panel gaps or misalignment

• Similarly, the external badging and trim all appears to be present and correct, with nothing missing or notably damaged

• The large factory-spec rear wing perfectly suits the car, hinting at the car’s brutal potential (okay, fine, it’s not so much a hint as a whack on the nose, but we love it)

• The glass elements and light units all look to be good and clear, with no obvious cracks or chips

• Heated washer jets, perfect for those parky British winter mornings

• Automatic headlights

• Rear privacy glass

• Peering out from behind the alloys are all-round Brembo brake calipers featuring a smart blue paint finish

• 19-inch gloss black alloy wheels, in fine fettle with no kerb damage or lacquer peel that we could discern

• 235/35 tyres all round: Michelin Pilot Super Sport at the front and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S at the rear

Mechanical

• 2,261cc turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost powertrain

• Factory performance figures: 345bhp, 325lb-ft, 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds, 165mph top speed

• The engine bay is very clean and tidy, with no obvious signs of leaks or any other issues

• Six speed manual transmission

• Ford Performance short shifter fitted, the original shift mechanism is also included

• All-wheel drive system

• Track and Drift modes

• Twin clutch rear differential, capable of sending >70% of torque to a single rear wheel

• Launch control

• Adjustable suspension

• ABS, traction control, power-assisted steering

• Cruise control

• Start/stop function

• The last MOT advised that new discs/pads will soon be required

• We’re assured by the vendor that the car starts, idles, drives and stops just as it should, with no known mechanical issues or faults

Summary

Few badges have the cachet of the blue oval when it comes to everyday, usable and practical performance. The Focus RS takes that everyman appeal and really turns things up to 11 though. Not so long ago the power and performance on offer here would have been the preserve of true exotics and supercars.

This is a great example too, beautifully presented in and out, with a solid service record and a truly attractive specification. It’s difficult to see a downside when what’s on offer is so capable and offers significantly more practicality, usability and reliability than cars costing many times more. In our eyes, this is an absolute steal.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Scarborough.