RE: Ford Focus RS Mk2: PH Buying Guide
Discussion
RS500 doesn't have 'matt black paint' - it's wrapped.
I believe they're painted Panther Black first - and you can, if you wish, unwrap em.
Usual rules apply as it's a wrap - no car washes, no jetwashes, clean-off birds
t and treesap ASAP - pain in the arse, basically, loads of people will ignore that so you need to check the condition of the wrap (tho it's easily redone in full or part)
I believe they're painted Panther Black first - and you can, if you wish, unwrap em.
Usual rules apply as it's a wrap - no car washes, no jetwashes, clean-off birds
t and treesap ASAP - pain in the arse, basically, loads of people will ignore that so you need to check the condition of the wrap (tho it's easily redone in full or part)
Plato seems to think it was a good all round car for road. Reference to "council estate chariot" and "McDonald's car parks" a bit cheeky from Needell
http://youtu.be/QS8wT6nCOyo
http://youtu.be/QS8wT6nCOyo
?There's a big buyer of Focii RSs, easily found on FaceAche etc, that seem to hoover most up and keep the prices, in my opinion, artificially high.
For those of us who own, or have owned a Sierra RS500, there is only one car worthy of the RS500 moniker, and it surely isn't a focus (there, started that arguement!)
If ember turning up at a local RSOC meeting in mine just after the Focus Imposter 500 had been released.
As I drove in there was a crown round aforementioned Focus.
By the time I had pulled to a standstill, they had all migrated to my car.
Caught sight of the Focus owner muttering something that looked like 'banker' towards myself and my car, to which I replied only with a beatific smile....
For those of us who own, or have owned a Sierra RS500, there is only one car worthy of the RS500 moniker, and it surely isn't a focus (there, started that arguement!)
If ember turning up at a local RSOC meeting in mine just after the Focus Imposter 500 had been released.
As I drove in there was a crown round aforementioned Focus.
By the time I had pulled to a standstill, they had all migrated to my car.
Caught sight of the Focus owner muttering something that looked like 'banker' towards myself and my car, to which I replied only with a beatific smile....
mikey P 500 said:
Dont understand the high values. Who is buying up all the old performance fords pushing up prices.
These guys:http://www.rs-direct.co.uk/sales.php
Not saying they are pushing prices up but a large amount of Mk2 sales must go through them.
E9X M3 are available for a similar price as pointed out, but in 3 years time which will be worth the most? Probably the Mk2 FRS. Plus the servicing/maintenance of the FRS should be cheaper so its probably still a more financially 'sensible' purchase at that price point I would have thought.
Also whilst the E9X M3 is probably the car I'd prefer to own, they are common as muck. I've got a Mk1 Focus RS and am debating an E92 M3 purchase in a couple of years (when they hit £15k?!) - I'd love to keep the Mk1 FRS too, and if I can that will be the one that stays in the garage - the M3 can live on the street.
All of that is my own opinion and probably all complete tripe so hopefully no-one takes it too seriously/personally.
Sense of occasion. Thats what I will always think of when I see them.
Looks may not be to everyone's taste, but the noise (pops, bangs, warbles) certainly won me over. The part leather recaro's, locking me into place had me wanting to take it by the scruff of the neck and drive it down a back road...
Great cars IMO. Marmite cars possibly.
Looks may not be to everyone's taste, but the noise (pops, bangs, warbles) certainly won me over. The part leather recaro's, locking me into place had me wanting to take it by the scruff of the neck and drive it down a back road...
Great cars IMO. Marmite cars possibly.
those who mock the 0-60 time really know little about cars in my view... The mid range and top end on this car is simply amazing for a FWD hatch. The way this car was designed was to make it very driveable for even a ham fisted driver. 1st off this car is no light weight stripped out special with plastic windows etc.. they are pretty loaded with kit and laden with lots of airbags etc to make it not only fast, but very safe to drive in any condition. Next something tech types should take note of, power delivery is restricted in the lower gears to make it again more useable and surely to ensure crap drivers are not screaming in to the nearest hedge in a cloud of under steer and tyre smoke.
I have driven a few of these and also owned a 300 HP focus ST which was on paper a good match, but in reality would have been destroyed by a FRS in all but a straight line. I recently went on a track day and alongside lambos, 911's and ferrari's the only 'normal' car there was a Blue bog standard FRS. The instructor told me it was faster on this twisty track than the 400 HP Ferrari 360 Modena I drove on the day. He them demonstrated this by taking me in a proper flying lap, where he tore past other instructors in a 911 and a V8 Vantage. He made the point clear that on the track you could use every last BHP in one of these! So unless you have driven one, I would restrict comments to factual stuff and comparing it with 15 years old cars is just silly. If you want to go fast for peanuts buy an 20 years old imported skyline GTS for £4000 and watch it blow up after a week and hold its value like a dose of the clap.
For those who thinking of buying one.. go for it, a rock solid investment, very reliable (unlike fords of old) and a damn fine car... just avoid the green!!
also quick anorak note, the RS500's were not painted matt black, they started as gloss black and were shipped to 3M in germany and wrapped in Vinyl.
I have driven a few of these and also owned a 300 HP focus ST which was on paper a good match, but in reality would have been destroyed by a FRS in all but a straight line. I recently went on a track day and alongside lambos, 911's and ferrari's the only 'normal' car there was a Blue bog standard FRS. The instructor told me it was faster on this twisty track than the 400 HP Ferrari 360 Modena I drove on the day. He them demonstrated this by taking me in a proper flying lap, where he tore past other instructors in a 911 and a V8 Vantage. He made the point clear that on the track you could use every last BHP in one of these! So unless you have driven one, I would restrict comments to factual stuff and comparing it with 15 years old cars is just silly. If you want to go fast for peanuts buy an 20 years old imported skyline GTS for £4000 and watch it blow up after a week and hold its value like a dose of the clap.
For those who thinking of buying one.. go for it, a rock solid investment, very reliable (unlike fords of old) and a damn fine car... just avoid the green!!
also quick anorak note, the RS500's were not painted matt black, they started as gloss black and were shipped to 3M in germany and wrapped in Vinyl.
Some vid of the RS from one of Clarkson DVD's at 65 mins in :- http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTM3MzQzMzI0.html
anything fast said:
So unless you have driven one, I would restrict comments to factual stuff
Quite correct. The car needs to be driven on same track by same driver for fair comparisonshttp://fastestlaps.com/tracks/top_gear_track.html
To be fair there isnt another hot hatch above it.
anything fast said:
t
also quick anorak note, the RS500's were not painted matt black, they started as gloss black and were shipped to 3M in germany and wrapped in Vinyl.
Didn't know that. Bet gloss black would look quite mean !also quick anorak note, the RS500's were not painted matt black, they started as gloss black and were shipped to 3M in germany and wrapped in Vinyl.
Edited by Dave211 on Friday 30th May 18:44
Dave211 said:
Quite correct. The car needs to be driven on same track by same driver for fair comparisons
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/top_gear_track.html
To be fair there isnt another hot hatch above it.
Except the megane 265, which is apparently 2 seconds a lap quicker. With 85 hp less.. http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/top_gear_track.html
To be fair there isnt another hot hatch above it.
Pretty impressive if true.
356Speedster said:
To dismiss the car because of 0-60 is short sighted. Of course if you're into drag-racing look elsewhere, but when you instead concentrate on the in-gear acceleration, you see the car's potency. A couple of yrs ago evo mag figured an MP350 against a 911 C4S Powerkit and the RS was faster in most of the speed / gear tests. This is where the RS scores and surprises.... oh that and the fact that it can use it's power thru' the front wheels as well, of course ;-)
Why would the Porsche driver not change down a gear?Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff