Focus RS MK1 - What do we think?

[zeppelin]

Worth getting one of these? What do people reckon to the MK1 RS and what do people prefer between the MK1 and MK2 Focus RS?

[Baryonyx]

I'd rather the mk1, nicer looking and less of a bloater than the mk2. Dread Halfords-styled interior though. Big money for what they really are too. A Leon Cupra R 225 is just as much car for much less cash.

[Tyrewrecker]

Have you driven one?

[StoatInACoat]

Not driven or owned but would love a go and from what I've read imagine it would be a lot of fun. Prices don't look to bad at the moment and I doubt decent ones will get much cheaper.

Love fast Fords and not really bothered avout a cars "image" though so maybe slightly biased.

[s m]

Where's Chris Harris and his 2p-worth?

[Darkslider]

Great car, have driven one but not in anger. Should've been 4WD etc etc, and you'll pay a huge premium for the fast ford badge. Plenty of other 200bhp+ cars with front, rear or 4wd for considerably less, guessing a MK1 FRS will still command in the region of £5-6k for the cheaper end of the market?

Get an Escort Cosworth if you want the last of the proper rally reps

[wackojacko]

Certainly a Mk1 for me.

[zeppelin]

Where's Chris Harris when you need him?

[r1ch]

I imagine the mk1 Focus RS to be a riot, they never get a bad write up. If you can live with the slightly naff interior then i'm sure its a real pleasure to own. Proper petrolhead car.

[spiritof'76]

zeppelin said:

Where's Chris Harris when you need him?

Here he is..........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcSAiRxmm0w


These are known for a bit of rot, so a very careful inspection will be required

[Tyrewrecker]

spiritof'76 said:

Here he is..........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcSAiRxmm0w


These are known for a bit of rot, so a very careful inspection will be required

Yip, he also concluded in the article that it was the 'perfect' bhp/tonne ratio. Personally, I like to rag the rev's to the red line and prefer N/A engines, a la EP3 Type R.

[s m]

spiritof'76 said:

Here he is..........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcSAiRxmm0w

- at the jump ending

[RobCrezz]

Darkslider said:

Get an Escort Cosworth if you want the last of the proper rally reps

Last of the rally reps!?

Pffffffffffffft! *explodes*

[s m]

r1ch said:

I imagine the mk1 Focus RS to be a riot, they never get a bad write up....

Hmm, think they did in some quarters when new ..... but a few years and a different test car sometimes resulted in a volte face

[Podie]

s m said:

r1ch said:

I imagine the mk1 Focus RS to be a riot, they never get a bad write up....

Hmm, think they did in some quarters when new ..... but a few years and a different test car sometimes resulted in a volte face

They got some very bad write ups! - plenty of claims of massive torquesteer aiming you for ditches.

Personally, I love 'em. Driven about five or six different cars, and they do all feel a bit different - so worth looking at a few.

[s m]

Podie said:

s m said:

r1ch said:

I imagine the mk1 Focus RS to be a riot, they never get a bad write up....

Hmm, think they did in some quarters when new ..... but a few years and a different test car sometimes resulted in a volte face

They got some very bad write ups! - plenty of claims of massive torquesteer aiming you for ditches.

Personally, I love 'em. Driven about five or six different cars, and they do all feel a bit different - so worth looking at a few.

A lot of the feel can be down to geometry settings

[Podie]

s m said:

Podie said:

s m said:

r1ch said:

I imagine the mk1 Focus RS to be a riot, they never get a bad write up....

Hmm, think they did in some quarters when new ..... but a few years and a different test car sometimes resulted in a volte face

They got some very bad write ups! - plenty of claims of massive torquesteer aiming you for ditches.

Personally, I love 'em. Driven about five or six different cars, and they do all feel a bit different - so worth looking at a few.

A lot of the feel can be down to geometry settings

Agreed. These were all out of the factory though.

[300bhp/ton]

Podie said:

s m said:

r1ch said:

I imagine the mk1 Focus RS to be a riot, they never get a bad write up....

Hmm, think they did in some quarters when new ..... but a few years and a different test car sometimes resulted in a volte face

They got some very bad write ups! - plenty of claims of massive torquesteer aiming you for ditches.

I think that's more about certain Journo's (alla Clarkson) not understanding what a LSD is and how they work. They do make the steering more hard work and they can certainly snatch on certain B roads and uneven pavement, but an LSD also provides a completely different handling characteristic compared to open diff'd FWD cars.

[OnTheApex]

It's a hoot to drive, not the fastest for outright pace. It requires concentration for B-road bashing, but very rewarding nonetheless.

[s m]

Podie said:

s m said:

Podie said:

s m said:

r1ch said:

I imagine the mk1 Focus RS to be a riot, they never get a bad write up....

Hmm, think they did in some quarters when new ..... but a few years and a different test car sometimes resulted in a volte face

They got some very bad write ups! - plenty of claims of massive torquesteer aiming you for ditches.

Personally, I love 'em. Driven about five or six different cars, and they do all feel a bit different - so worth looking at a few.

A lot of the feel can be down to geometry settings

Agreed. These were all out of the factory though.

That reminds me of Autocar's Long-termer Integrale...