RE: Ford Focus RS - full details
Discussion
hondansx said:
It would be pretty bad if Focus RS didn't out do the Golf R given they have had a couple of years on the VW once the Ford is out in 2016.
For me, it will be interesting to see how the new RS3 does, as it sounds very promising so far. Then, if VW are clever, they'll wait for the Focus RS to be launched and then blow it away with the Golf R400.
You realise there will be more than £10,000 difference between the Ford and the VAG cars? They'll cost as much as a Cayman or 4C.For me, it will be interesting to see how the new RS3 does, as it sounds very promising so far. Then, if VW are clever, they'll wait for the Focus RS to be launched and then blow it away with the Golf R400.
Back to AWD is the way an RS should be. These will sell by the bucket load. Dont mind the 5 doors and in every day use will be a better option for most with young kids. Expected more styling ie:- Vents and more of a flared arch.
Overall cracking job by Ford.
Overall cracking job by Ford.
Edited by Thrugglevalve on Wednesday 4th February 11:22
Ali_T said:
hondansx said:
It would be pretty bad if Focus RS didn't out do the Golf R given they have had a couple of years on the VW once the Ford is out in 2016.
For me, it will be interesting to see how the new RS3 does, as it sounds very promising so far. Then, if VW are clever, they'll wait for the Focus RS to be launched and then blow it away with the Golf R400.
You realise there will be more than £10,000 difference between the Ford and the VAG cars? They'll cost as much as a Cayman or 4C.For me, it will be interesting to see how the new RS3 does, as it sounds very promising so far. Then, if VW are clever, they'll wait for the Focus RS to be launched and then blow it away with the Golf R400.
Hellbound said:
The Golf R is classier. It costs more because the materials used cost more. VAG's might and brilliantly efficient manufacturing process and engineering resources means it doesn't cost £5k more than it does. It's a great package that isn't boring to drive.
The materials aren't any more expensive, just cleverly designed to appear so. VW is on a massive cost cutting and decontenting exercise because the supposed savings on the MQB platform completely failed to materialise. They have to cut $6.8 billion from costs to maintain profitable and that can only come from cheaper parts being used. Right now, they're only making 2.9% margin where they predicted 6-8%. Michael Macht , their production chief and overseer of the MQB platform, was sacked 6 months ago. Well, he left by "mutual agreement"....so he was sacked. So, if you really think VW use better quality parts than other manufacturers, you're in for a rude awakening. There's every chance they're now cheaper....Ali_T said:
Hellbound said:
The Golf R is classier. It costs more because the materials used cost more. VAG's might and brilliantly efficient manufacturing process and engineering resources means it doesn't cost £5k more than it does. It's a great package that isn't boring to drive.
The materials aren't any more expensive, just cleverly designed to appear so. VW is on a massive cost cutting and decontenting exercise because the supposed savings on the MQB platform completely failed to materialise. They have to cut $6.8 billion from costs to maintain profitable and that can only come from cheaper parts being used. Right now, they're only making 2.9% margin where they predicted 6-8%. Michael Macht , their production chief and overseer of the MQB platform, was sacked 6 months ago. Well, he left by "mutual agreement"....so he was sacked. So, if you really think VW use better quality parts than other manufacturers, you're in for a rude awakening. There's every chance they're now cheaper....shoestring7 said:
lee_erm said:
I think that's a an excellent interior/dash.
The Golfs, not so much.
SS7
Hellbound said:
As a car enthusiast who isn't blinkered by his own ownership history or bias towards any particular brand, I'd like to think I'm pretty informed when it comes to cars.
I would like to think the same having had more than my fair share of s
ty cars 
and only a few better ones 
I like a car that is involving and does what it says on the label and not just hype. Hellbound said:
The Golf R is classier. It costs more because the materials used cost more. VAG's might and brilliantly efficient manufacturing process and engineering resources means it doesn't cost £5k more than it does. It's a great package that isn't boring to drive.
I find that last statement interesting. Can you explain why, when I took my 8 year old son in a Golf R and was pushing it to its limits, he turned to me and asked "when are you going to have some fun and push it to the edge"! 
Where as when I took him in a Mk2 Focus RS he was loving every second and didn't want to get out when the journey was over, almost to the same extent as when he was in my Subaru.
I think most people would think something was wrong with a car, if it couldn't even excite an 8 year old boy, who gets excited by most cars.
Don't get me wrong, I do not like a car because it excites other people (particularly children) and I do not dislike the VAG brand or VW in particular but if the car has no real feel/feedback then it doesn't interest me.
I think they will sell lots of these.
I may well buy one for a start. Because I'm not 19 I don't want something with cartoon scoops and wings and appreciate a five door config and the ease of running/servicing a Ford (dealership in every village). I do actually have to go to work so I appreciate 30mpg economy, cruise control, ride compliance and a service interval considerably more normal than an Evo ten. AWD means it's not going to be a torque steering nightmare that the Mrs will struggle to keep in a straight line when she picks me up from the pub.
It's not as dull as its equivalent VAG MQB based segment competitor and I don't give a stuff about brand values and if I did I think I might think more of Ford GT40/LeMans/F1/WRC/FormulaFord/Indycar and their heritage than that of VW Beetle/Hitler/Hippy campervan heritage,
I may well buy one for a start. Because I'm not 19 I don't want something with cartoon scoops and wings and appreciate a five door config and the ease of running/servicing a Ford (dealership in every village). I do actually have to go to work so I appreciate 30mpg economy, cruise control, ride compliance and a service interval considerably more normal than an Evo ten. AWD means it's not going to be a torque steering nightmare that the Mrs will struggle to keep in a straight line when she picks me up from the pub.
It's not as dull as its equivalent VAG MQB based segment competitor and I don't give a stuff about brand values and if I did I think I might think more of Ford GT40/LeMans/F1/WRC/FormulaFord/Indycar and their heritage than that of VW Beetle/Hitler/Hippy campervan heritage,
fireball-xl5 said:
well done Ford, 10 years late to the party that you started. At least the car nearly has as much power as my old 2007 impreza RB320 but I bet it won't have the reliability. But with a nice interior and plenty of bling to blind new buyers - who cares?
Reliability as in head gasket and ringland failure? No, I hope the RS doesn't have the 2.5 scoobie engine's reliability. (Owned an rb320 and loved it but reliable???)CS400 said:
Hellbound said:
As a car enthusiast who isn't blinkered by his own ownership history or bias towards any particular brand, I'd like to think I'm pretty informed when it comes to cars.
I would like to think the same having had more than my fair share of sty cars and only a few better ones I like a car that is involving and does what it says on the label and not just hype. Hellbound said:
The Golf R is classier. It costs more because the materials used cost more. VAG's might and brilliantly efficient manufacturing process and engineering resources means it doesn't cost £5k more than it does. It's a great package that isn't boring to drive.
I find that last statement interesting. Can you explain why, when I took my 8 year old son in a Golf R and was pushing it to its limits, he turned to me and asked "when are you going to have some fun and push it to the edge"! Where as when I took him in a Mk2 Focus RS he was loving every second and didn't want to get out when the journey was over, almost to the same extent as when he was in my Subaru.
I think most people would think something was wrong with a car, if it couldn't even excite an 8 year old boy, who gets excited by most cars.
Don't get me wrong, I do not like a car because it excites other people (particularly children) and I do not dislike the VAG brand or VW in particular but if the car has no real feel/feedback then it doesn't interest me.
hmm interesting comments on this thread.
__
at some point soon i hope to get something like this. in reality given my desire to have no mortgage as swiftly as possible i may well end up with something from a class down but anyway..
originally i thought i'd want an M135i. mainly because i originally fancied the old bowler had shaped 'coupe' one.
then I very much bought in to the Golf-R. then when i thought "ooh S3's always have crap depreciation compared to the equivalent golf i'll see what they cost" And whilst i know they aren't as good, and aren't depreciating as much as i had expected.. i started to like those. and i don't really like the 'keeping up with next door' 'executive home' thing you get with Audis.. nevertheless i began to convince myself.
now the focus actually exists.. well I am re-enthused to get something pikier. I often look at imprezas and evos on here and think 'i'd love one of those'. i look at mk2 RSes and think "god that's erm, obvious, but i still love them". and this is the same. i'll probably end up with the golf if i end up spending this much but in reality i'll always look at these and think - "that's cool". I like the 5dr body too. 3drs are a bit rubbish in reality on this size of car. the doors are about 2 metres long...
___
my views on some other comments / themes:
'fan boy' - RSes have an undeniable fan boy ness (it's sooo boring how many cossies have ruddy Rondel wheels and polished catch tanks and things!). But they aren't as Fan boy as imprezas and other jap stuff (which i do like but which people stand up for TOO much) and they don't have as much 'scene tax' levied on them as 'dubs.
reliability - bks - fords are incredibly reliable for what they are. and cheaper to mend (if anything that's the concern here - Ford actually using modern technology..)
interior - it's undeniable that the VAG cars are better. a bit dull but they are better if that's what means more to you.
they are selling eff all new STis - but that's the only reason values won't be utterly rogered. the general public will not countenance ridiculous VED and that's why this car will thrash its pance.
_____
overall i think it's a good compromise between the "adidas"ness of the STI and the "john lewis"ness of the golf. I don't know what that really makes it - "Northface" or something?
hmm this is probably why i never post anymore!
i think the head says Golf, the neighbours say golf/bmw/audi, the lonely winter hedge says bmw, the (boy done moderately well) heart says focus. the interior is a bit bad and there isn't even as much room in there as you'd think (unless they finally manage to drop the seat a bit lower in this).
__
at some point soon i hope to get something like this. in reality given my desire to have no mortgage as swiftly as possible i may well end up with something from a class down but anyway..
originally i thought i'd want an M135i. mainly because i originally fancied the old bowler had shaped 'coupe' one.
then I very much bought in to the Golf-R. then when i thought "ooh S3's always have crap depreciation compared to the equivalent golf i'll see what they cost" And whilst i know they aren't as good, and aren't depreciating as much as i had expected.. i started to like those. and i don't really like the 'keeping up with next door' 'executive home' thing you get with Audis.. nevertheless i began to convince myself.
now the focus actually exists.. well I am re-enthused to get something pikier. I often look at imprezas and evos on here and think 'i'd love one of those'. i look at mk2 RSes and think "god that's erm, obvious, but i still love them". and this is the same. i'll probably end up with the golf if i end up spending this much but in reality i'll always look at these and think - "that's cool". I like the 5dr body too. 3drs are a bit rubbish in reality on this size of car. the doors are about 2 metres long...
___
my views on some other comments / themes:
'fan boy' - RSes have an undeniable fan boy ness (it's sooo boring how many cossies have ruddy Rondel wheels and polished catch tanks and things!). But they aren't as Fan boy as imprezas and other jap stuff (which i do like but which people stand up for TOO much) and they don't have as much 'scene tax' levied on them as 'dubs.
reliability - b
ks - fords are incredibly reliable for what they are. and cheaper to mend (if anything that's the concern here - Ford actually using modern technology..)interior - it's undeniable that the VAG cars are better. a bit dull but they are better if that's what means more to you.
they are selling eff all new STis - but that's the only reason values won't be utterly rogered. the general public will not countenance ridiculous VED and that's why this car will thrash its pance.
_____
overall i think it's a good compromise between the "adidas"ness of the STI and the "john lewis"ness of the golf. I don't know what that really makes it - "Northface" or something?
hmm this is probably why i never post anymore!
i think the head says Golf, the neighbours say golf/bmw/audi, the lonely winter hedge says bmw, the (boy done moderately well) heart says focus. the interior is a bit bad and there isn't even as much room in there as you'd think (unless they finally manage to drop the seat a bit lower in this).
Harry Flashman said:
Plus - great mechanicals, superb price.
Minus - no 3 door, warm hatch looks.
Weak effort Ford. Your fast hatches are meant to look silly. Rather have a Mk2 RS. But if I needed a brand new fast hatch, this would be it I think, on what you get for the money alone.
It's for the global market. It can't look like the C307 RS and still sell in USA and China...Minus - no 3 door, warm hatch looks.
Weak effort Ford. Your fast hatches are meant to look silly. Rather have a Mk2 RS. But if I needed a brand new fast hatch, this would be it I think, on what you get for the money alone.
dukebox9reg said:
CS400 said:
Hellbound said:
As a car enthusiast who isn't blinkered by his own ownership history or bias towards any particular brand, I'd like to think I'm pretty informed when it comes to cars.
I would like to think the same having had more than my fair share of sty cars and only a few better ones I like a car that is involving and does what it says on the label and not just hype. Hellbound said:
The Golf R is classier. It costs more because the materials used cost more. VAG's might and brilliantly efficient manufacturing process and engineering resources means it doesn't cost £5k more than it does. It's a great package that isn't boring to drive.
I find that last statement interesting. Can you explain why, when I took my 8 year old son in a Golf R and was pushing it to its limits, he turned to me and asked "when are you going to have some fun and push it to the edge"! Where as when I took him in a Mk2 Focus RS he was loving every second and didn't want to get out when the journey was over, almost to the same extent as when he was in my Subaru.
I think most people would think something was wrong with a car, if it couldn't even excite an 8 year old boy, who gets excited by most cars.
Don't get me wrong, I do not like a car because it excites other people (particularly children) and I do not dislike the VAG brand or VW in particular but if the car has no real feel/feedback then it doesn't interest me.
Is it just me that thinks the Golf R looks wholly and unforgivably unremarkable? I mean I get 'subtle' but why settle for 'boring'? Is it out of some misplaced desire to look 'classy'? Is it just a car for people who are used to not being noticed? I don't get it. It's a fast car - a hot hatch - why would you want it to look so ordinary? So the police don't look twice? Trust me, a traffic cop knows what it is so you may as well go to town a little.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff