RE: Ford Focus RS: by the numbers
Discussion
Varn said:
Why any driving enthusiast would part with £30k for a car sporting AWD and forced induction is beyond me.
I don't like 4wd but we're all different and have different preferences. £30k for a new car (before discounts) is not exactly an insurmountable amount of money in a country where the average salary is £26.5k. This is not 1979.Varn said:
Why any driving enthusiast would part with £30k for a car sporting AWD and forced induction is beyond me.
Because out of the box your going to have a very fast , capable car.On our uneven, wet roads there going to be easier to drive, if your only going to do 1 or 2 trackdays a year then it's going to be easier to drive fast, compared to learning the limits of a fast rear wheel drive car.
Forced induction , well it's cheaper to get more bhp with a turbo than a n/a engine.
Fair enough if moneys no object then yeah go for something quick and rwd and do a couple of trackdays a month constantly pushing a bit more and finding what you can/can't get away with but that's a luxury most of us don't have.
Quickmoose said:
RemyMartin said:
270bhp 308GTi for me. I prefer understated in hot hatches. MK1 Focus RS pulled this trick off with flair. Nice colour, purposeful looks.For me I've no need of a top speed over 130-140.
agreedegor110 said:
Because out of the box your going to have a very fast , capable car.
On our uneven, wet roads there going to be easier to drive, if your only going to do 1 or 2 trackdays a year then it's going to be easier to drive fast, compared to learning the limits of a fast rear wheel drive car.
Forced induction , well it's cheaper to get more bhp with a turbo than a n/a engine.
Fair enough if moneys no object then yeah go for something quick and rwd and do a couple of trackdays a month constantly pushing a bit more and finding what you can/can't get away with but that's a luxury most of us don't have.
Track days aside, why would you want a car that's easy to drive fast on the road?On our uneven, wet roads there going to be easier to drive, if your only going to do 1 or 2 trackdays a year then it's going to be easier to drive fast, compared to learning the limits of a fast rear wheel drive car.
Forced induction , well it's cheaper to get more bhp with a turbo than a n/a engine.
Fair enough if moneys no object then yeah go for something quick and rwd and do a couple of trackdays a month constantly pushing a bit more and finding what you can/can't get away with but that's a luxury most of us don't have.
Personally, if I was looking for a new car around the 30k mark I wouldn't be going anywhere near this.
Each to their own
Varn said:
egor110 said:
Because out of the box your going to have a very fast , capable car.
On our uneven, wet roads there going to be easier to drive, if your only going to do 1 or 2 trackdays a year then it's going to be easier to drive fast, compared to learning the limits of a fast rear wheel drive car.
Forced induction , well it's cheaper to get more bhp with a turbo than a n/a engine.
Fair enough if moneys no object then yeah go for something quick and rwd and do a couple of trackdays a month constantly pushing a bit more and finding what you can/can't get away with but that's a luxury most of us don't have.
Track days aside, why would you want a car that's easy to drive fast on the road?On our uneven, wet roads there going to be easier to drive, if your only going to do 1 or 2 trackdays a year then it's going to be easier to drive fast, compared to learning the limits of a fast rear wheel drive car.
Forced induction , well it's cheaper to get more bhp with a turbo than a n/a engine.
Fair enough if moneys no object then yeah go for something quick and rwd and do a couple of trackdays a month constantly pushing a bit more and finding what you can/can't get away with but that's a luxury most of us don't have.
Personally, if I was looking for a new car around the 30k mark I wouldn't be going anywhere near this.
Each to their own
Why would you want a car that's hard to drive on a public road?
Fair enough on a track where you have room to push and find the limits and most importantly make mistakes with plenty of room around you.
Each to there own as you say but for a daily driver something fun and predictable for me.
Splats said:
Well, since we're on the topic of it...that's another thing that's changed. I never had the money to buy a new EVO and nor do I have £30,000 spare to buy a Focus RS. However, the rise in PCP finance makes the RS more affordable and accessible to a greater range of people - myself included. I talk in greater length about this in the post above.
Don't you see, its the coming together of a number of factors that makes these new breed of cars so appealing. Yes, Subaru's and Evo's were going just as fast 10 years ago, but that's only part of the equation. These days, anyone with a vague interest in cars can wander into a VW dealership and walk out with a well built, comfortable, 4WD, 300bhp performance car that isn't taxing to look after, can go from refined to fun at the touch of a button, doesn't have a bad image and can be paid for easily with some monthly budgeting. The RS interior is a little low-rent, but if you compare a Golf R and an EVO as an every day prospect and there is simply no comparison. I think its awesome where we are just now with such performance available in every day cars (with choices from most manufacturers now as well).
To.be honest, this has been my point all along. I'm not making the point that an Evo/Subaru is a better car, but it grates to see such praise heaped on this new generation of hatches when they aren't actually doing anything that wasn't available in a car 10-15 years ago. Its not new, its not clever (its a 9yo Mazda engine and a secondhand transmission ffs) and its been marketed at a particular demographic. People have already christened it these best car ever made and the journos aren't even back from their all expenses paid jolly yet. Don't you see, its the coming together of a number of factors that makes these new breed of cars so appealing. Yes, Subaru's and Evo's were going just as fast 10 years ago, but that's only part of the equation. These days, anyone with a vague interest in cars can wander into a VW dealership and walk out with a well built, comfortable, 4WD, 300bhp performance car that isn't taxing to look after, can go from refined to fun at the touch of a button, doesn't have a bad image and can be paid for easily with some monthly budgeting. The RS interior is a little low-rent, but if you compare a Golf R and an EVO as an every day prospect and there is simply no comparison. I think its awesome where we are just now with such performance available in every day cars (with choices from most manufacturers now as well).
Its a good car. It will be a great compromise for people looking for a fast practical hatch. Its hideous and not a benchmark in chassis dynamics. It's a shame that the RS (of any age) seems to bring out the most partisan of both sides of the arguement.
KarlMac said:
Its a good car.
With you...KarlMac said:
It will be a great compromise for people looking for a fast practical hatch.
ok..losing you a bit now.KarlMac said:
Its hideous and not a benchmark in chassis dynamics.
ohKarlMac said:
It's a shame that the RS (of any age) seems to bring out the most partisan of both sides of the arguement.
Swinging into enormous irony.
Why are you worried about the positive responses, it's so very odd. You do remember the rampant Mitsubishi fever that everyone had a few years ago...the same, no?
I don't understand. I think you need to speak to a professional about going full Lewis Hamilton on the subject
There are plenty of reviews of the RS online now.
The journalists are as one with their gushing praise.
That this is a game changer and is probably the best hot hatch to date.
They say that the Ford interior is not as good as the German interiors, but that the driving experience is vastly superior.
The critics here comparing this with old Lancers and Imprezas are well off the mark.
The RS has vastly more technology everywhere.
Your wife can use it all week for the school run and the shopping, then on weekends you can track and drift it.
Also warrantee, servicing and fuel consumption are all in the real world.
The performance is up there with supercars of not so long ago and on British A and B roads little will keep up with it.
If anyone is interested here is some of the Tenneco suspension information: http://www.vehicledynamicsinternational.com/news.p...
The journalists are as one with their gushing praise.
That this is a game changer and is probably the best hot hatch to date.
They say that the Ford interior is not as good as the German interiors, but that the driving experience is vastly superior.
The critics here comparing this with old Lancers and Imprezas are well off the mark.
The RS has vastly more technology everywhere.
Your wife can use it all week for the school run and the shopping, then on weekends you can track and drift it.
Also warrantee, servicing and fuel consumption are all in the real world.
The performance is up there with supercars of not so long ago and on British A and B roads little will keep up with it.
If anyone is interested here is some of the Tenneco suspension information: http://www.vehicledynamicsinternational.com/news.p...
KarlMac said:
To.be honest, this has been my point all along. I'm not making the point that an Evo/Subaru is a better car, but it grates to see such praise heaped on this new generation of hatches when they aren't actually doing anything that wasn't available in a car 10-15 years ago. Its not new, its not clever (its a 9yo Mazda engine and a secondhand transmission ffs) and its been marketed at a particular demographic. People have already christened it these best car ever made and the journos aren't even back from their all expenses paid jolly yet.
Its a good car. It will be a great compromise for people looking for a fast practical hatch. Its hideous and not a benchmark in chassis dynamics. It's a shame that the RS (of any age) seems to bring out the most partisan of both sides of the arguement.
But it* is doing something different. It is bringing a number of factors under the same roof where previously this was not possible. I can only speak from personal experience but I love cars...car daft.Its a good car. It will be a great compromise for people looking for a fast practical hatch. Its hideous and not a benchmark in chassis dynamics. It's a shame that the RS (of any age) seems to bring out the most partisan of both sides of the arguement.
...but real life takes over and often gets in the way - my last truly fun car was an S2000 and that was ages ago. I'm about to be a dad and the RS appeals because I can bundle wife, baby, pram and paraphernalia into the RS and go places and do stuff. In normal mode it will drive acceptably, we have comforts and nav to guide us, the exhaust is quiet and the wife will probably be as indifferent to being in the RS as my TDI Leon. I can probably tootle along and 30mpg and I'm not worried about sticking on a few hundred miles because servicing and consumables are reasonable and probably not much more than the Leon. Then, when baby is sleeping and wife is otherwise occupied I go for a drive myself. Get in, sport (maybe drift) mode pressed and it's loud, it's brash, it's fast, it's sliding, it's popping and banging and I'm grinning like mad.
Now I've owned a MY99 Impreza and an STI-5 and, good as they were, they couldn't come close to providing the dual personality above. Please enlighten me as to which car could do this 10-years ago? I'd argue e46 M3, but that was a whole other planet in terms of affordability. My memory is shaky, but I think it was about £40k in 2000, which is a staggering £60,000 in today's money.
* "they are" is more accurate as it's not just the Focus RS we are talking about.
Edited by Splats on Tuesday 19th January 13:50
Adam Ansel said:
There are plenty of reviews of the RS online now.
The journalists are as one with their gushing praise.
That this is a game changer and is probably the best hot hatch to date.
They say that the Ford interior is not as good as the German interiors, but that the driving experience is vastly superior.
The critics here comparing this with old Lancers and Imprezas are well off the mark.
The RS has vastly more technology everywhere.
Your wife can use it all week for the school run and the shopping, then on weekends you can track and drift it.
Also warrantee, servicing and fuel consumption are all in the real world.
The performance is up there with supercars of not so long ago and on British A and B roads little will keep up with it.
If anyone is interested here is some of the Tenneco suspension information: http://www.vehicledynamicsinternational.com/news.p...
^^^ This.The journalists are as one with their gushing praise.
That this is a game changer and is probably the best hot hatch to date.
They say that the Ford interior is not as good as the German interiors, but that the driving experience is vastly superior.
The critics here comparing this with old Lancers and Imprezas are well off the mark.
The RS has vastly more technology everywhere.
Your wife can use it all week for the school run and the shopping, then on weekends you can track and drift it.
Also warrantee, servicing and fuel consumption are all in the real world.
The performance is up there with supercars of not so long ago and on British A and B roads little will keep up with it.
If anyone is interested here is some of the Tenneco suspension information: http://www.vehicledynamicsinternational.com/news.p...
Actually, you've picked up on something I've forgotten about. When I'm off doing work stuff in the Leon the wife will quite happily drive the RS. She used to hate driving the STI-5 and that was when she was mid 20's, she's mid 30's now. If I bought an Impreza/Evo there is no way in hell she'd use it for day to day stuff.
yonex said:
Swinging into enormous irony.
Why are you worried about the positive responses, it's so very odd. You do remember the rampant Mitsubishi fever that everyone had a few years ago...the same, no?
I don't understand. I think you need to speak to a professional about going full Lewis Hamilton on the subject
Should have expected this to br fair (it is PH after all), nothing to contribute so descend into personal insults Why are you worried about the positive responses, it's so very odd. You do remember the rampant Mitsubishi fever that everyone had a few years ago...the same, no?
I don't understand. I think you need to speak to a professional about going full Lewis Hamilton on the subject
I'll simplify even further for the especially hard of thought. Can we at least wait for first owner reviews before we crown it champion? So far we have Ford propaganda, Ford RS fanboys and paid for editorials. Hardly impartial reviews.
Adam Ansel said:
There are plenty of reviews of the RS online now.
The journalists are as one with their gushing praise.
That this is a game changer and is probably the best hot hatch to date.
They say that the Ford interior is not as good as the German interiors, but that the driving experience is vastly superior.
The critics here comparing this with old Lancers and Imprezas are well off the mark.
The RS has vastly more technology everywhere.
Your wife can use it all week for the school run and the shopping, then on weekends you can track and drift it.
Also warrantee, servicing and fuel consumption are all in the real world.
The performance is up there with supercars of not so long ago and on British A and B roads little will keep up with it.
If anyone is interested here is some of the Tenneco suspension information: http://www.vehicledynamicsinternational.com/news.p...
Doubts here. The system is quite similar to Haldex. The gearing ratios allow a bit more torque to go rearward than the usual Haldex systems under certain circumstances. And it's got a module on the rear axle that allows vectoring like the old eLSD from Saab's version of Haldex 4. Under many situations, it behaves similarly as I understand, with variable distribution based on conditions and parameters set by Ford. The journalists are as one with their gushing praise.
That this is a game changer and is probably the best hot hatch to date.
They say that the Ford interior is not as good as the German interiors, but that the driving experience is vastly superior.
The critics here comparing this with old Lancers and Imprezas are well off the mark.
The RS has vastly more technology everywhere.
Your wife can use it all week for the school run and the shopping, then on weekends you can track and drift it.
Also warrantee, servicing and fuel consumption are all in the real world.
The performance is up there with supercars of not so long ago and on British A and B roads little will keep up with it.
If anyone is interested here is some of the Tenneco suspension information: http://www.vehicledynamicsinternational.com/news.p...
Looks good, but it looks to be more of an evolution than some kind of quantum leap. Looks like tuning may also prove difficult, given how complex the computer/hardware interaction has gotten.
scherzkeks said:
Doubts here. The system is quite similar to Haldex. The gearing ratios allow a bit more torque to go rearward than the usual Haldex systems under certain circumstances. And it's got a module on the rear axle that allows vectoring like the old eLSD from Saab's version of Haldex 4. Under many situations, it behaves similarly as I understand, with variable distribution based on conditions and parameters set by Ford.
Looks good, but it looks to be more of an evolution than some kind of quantum leap. Looks like tuning may also prove difficult, given how complex the computer/hardware interaction has gotten.
I think you misunderstand the technology in the RS.Looks good, but it looks to be more of an evolution than some kind of quantum leap. Looks like tuning may also prove difficult, given how complex the computer/hardware interaction has gotten.
This article might help: http://www.topgear.com/car-news/frankfurt-motor-sh...
KarlMac said:
I'll simplify even further for the especially hard of thought. Can we at least wait for first owner reviews before we crown it champion? So far we have Ford propaganda, Ford RS fanboys and paid for editorials. Hardly impartial reviews.
I would happily bet that the reviews will heap praise on it as will almost all owners reports. 5stars left right and centre.I'm so confident of this I will happily bet you £100. Want to take that bet?
So anyway it will be a great car if a little stiffly sprung for some.
Why are you so down on it? Because Mitsubishi no longer make these cars and certainly not with sych a broad range of attributes you feel nobody should? Strange position.
egor110 said:
Varn said:
Why any driving enthusiast would part with £30k for a car sporting AWD and forced induction is beyond me.
Because out of the box your going to have a very fast , capable car.On our uneven, wet roads there going to be easier to drive, if your only going to do 1 or 2 trackdays a year then it's going to be easier to drive fast, compared to learning the limits of a fast rear wheel drive car.
Forced induction , well it's cheaper to get more bhp with a turbo than a n/a engine.
Fair enough if moneys no object then yeah go for something quick and rwd and do a couple of trackdays a month constantly pushing a bit more and finding what you can/can't get away with but that's a luxury most of us don't have.
rb5er said:
KarlMac said:
I'll simplify even further for the especially hard of thought. Can we at least wait for first owner reviews before we crown it champion? So far we have Ford propaganda, Ford RS fanboys and paid for editorials. Hardly impartial reviews.
I would happily bet that the reviews will heap praise on it as will almost all owners reports. 5stars left right and centre.I'm so confident of this I will happily bet you £100. Want to take that bet?
So anyway it will be a great car if a little stiffly sprung for some.
Why are you so down on it? Because Mitsubishi no longer make these cars and certainly not with sych a broad range of attributes you feel nobody should? Strange position.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff