Tuesday 6th August 2002

Ford Focus RS

'RS' is back - is it enough to restore Ford's street cred?

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[digitalnoodle]

It might have loads of grip and various electronic devices, but it's still front drive. No powersliding for the proletariat then.

[Podie]

Interesting that the pics are a mix of LHD (external) and RHD (interior)...

[Guy Humpage]

How much are they charging?

[digitalnoodle]

IMHO, anything over 2K for a FWD car is unjustifiable!

[adeewuff]

quote:
IMHO, anything over 2K for a FWD car is unjustifiable!

[Podie]

Talk is of the car selling for £19,995...

[Podie]

Be interested to see how it fares against the Civic Type-R, Seat Leon Cupra-R and whether it's worth the extra over the ST170...

Granted it may not be a true sportscar, but doesn't mean the driving experience can't be good.

[CarZee]

I'm afraid if I were in the marketplace for such a car, I'd take some convincing that this car was worth the same price as the CTR, never mind 3k more..

[digitalnoodle]

I agree, I've got a Primera eGT it can be a real hoot. I just miss the low-speed roundabout hilarity.

I imagine the Focus is a "spoiling" model, aimed at the Civic's/Seat's etc until the Cosworth can be introduced.

[Podie]

Hmmm.. maybe, but I think it's the other manufacturers that spoiled Ford's party... given it's taken them so long to launch the damn thing...

Civic may be 3k cheaper, but to match the spec you need to add air con, fog lights etc... whcih cost about 3k!

[CarZee]

air con & fog lamps ? £3k?

Well (front) fog lights are useless as previously discussed, and aircon adds considerable weight to the car - since weight is a major consideration in the Type-R Hondas, I'd be extremely disinclined to opt for it.

[Podie]

Bit more than just A/c and fogs CarZee... but to give you an idea fogs are £400 and A/C £900... In dash 6 CD changer is extra, so are front tweeters... so specs are a bit different.

Air con may weigh a bit, but in this sort of market there is a demand for it.



>> Edited by Podie on Tuesday 6th August 15:31

[CarZee]

Whatever Podie - to be honest mate, I don't really care - I wouldn't spend that sort of money on either of these cars... just my personal opinion that the CTR is the car to beat and I don't fancy Ford's chances.

[Simon5480]

There's nothing wrong with front wheel drive m8

[pistol pete]

quote:
IMHO, anything over 2K for a FWD car is unjustifiable!

OK... - i'm inclined 2 agree... - but, i've got 3K to spend - what should I buy (it's gotta b reliable cos an I do about 20,000/year) - I was lookin at a Golf, but if u can suggest something better... ...All I can think of RWD at that money is a wrecked transit...

[John Warren]

Ok so the Focus is finally gonna make it onto the road....211bhp, 60 in 6.5...100 in 15.5 and top whack of 144mph....CTR has 197, does 6.4/16.0 and 146...who's horses are stronger....and for those with extra whonger a superchip and airfilter (see ABP motorsport)takes it to 223bhp for £550..and traction control is available at £1k..so 223 usable bhp for £16.5k plus whatever luxuries you see fit to install. So even with aircon you get a truely banzai motor and save £2.5k!! You do the maths!!!!!

[funkihamsta]

CTR Zombie thread headshot...the only way to be sure.

What were the reasons behind the delay? Is it that Ford could easily squeeze 200 plus bhp out of the Focus but had some doubts about reliability. Bit embarassing getting the award and then have your flagship jizz-wagon turn out to be lemon-ready.
Is this a new leaf for Ford? Does this mean that other hatches like the one-that-shall-not-be-named are going to suffer premature failure? Or is it that US engineering is unused to extracting these levels of power without resorting to dustbin cylinders?

funkihamsta

>> Edited by funkihamsta on Wednesday 7th August 04:43

[digitalnoodle]

quote:
OK... - i'm inclined 2 agree... - but, i've got 3K to spend - what should I buy (it's gotta b reliable cos an I do about 20,000/year) - I was lookin at a Golf, but if u can suggest something better... ...All I can think of RWD at that money is a wrecked transit...

Hmmm, here's a quick list off the top of my head, excluding rusty 70's machinery. I'll assume something reasonably practical with mainstream reliability...

Sierra (larger engined version NOT cvh
Nissan 200sx v. fast turbos can go at 70K-ish
Any 6-cyl BMW particularly E30 325. V. good
Cartlon Gsi - Big but straight-six. Likes doughnuts.
Merc 190 - Might get an old 2.3 Cossie for 3K ish
Alfa 75 2 - 3litre - The last 'proper' Alfa before using FIAT 'happy-shopper' components. Tailslidey but crap gearchange. Not really prone to rust either (LE's were the last ones at K-plate with Recaro's and LSD )
Lotus Excel The exotic choice! GRP body, 4 seats (sort of) not much BHP (160-180) but loads of torque. Toyota box/diff/uprights/brakes etc., from £1500

There are others I can thing of that are big 'n' floppy (XJ40 for example) but are not exactly fun to drive.

Needless to say, anything that comes black-out, wheeled-out or bassed-up is to be avoided

Bound to be other's I've missed!
Neil.

[Podie]

'hamsta - there were numerous excuses to the delay of the RS... mainly to do with "we want it to be perfect" type thing... I'm sure a Focus forum could tell you more than me.

Granted, the CTR may have more horses - but does it drive and handle as well and offer a better experience than the Ford? IMHO the ST170 beat the CTR in those stakes, so the RS should be miles ahead. Just becuase a car has more horses or a faster 0-60 time does not make it a better car...

[pistol pete]

Oh yea - prefer something insurable for a 21 year old (for less than the value of the car)...

Pete