RE: Ford Focus RS Mk2: PH Buying Guide
Discussion
anything fast said:
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've ummed amd ahhed at the FRS for a couple of years now but I'd only buy it in UG. My current DC5 and the DC2 before that were Championship White, so I've done the white-car-thing. I think the RS in blue is minging, so that only leaves the UG.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.
As for the prices, when I bought my DC5 in 2006, it too was rock-solid and hadn't depreciated in years and as soon as I bought one....prices plummeted. If I buy a FRS........it'll be the kiss-of-death as far as a rock-solid investment goes.
BeefMaster9000 said:
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.
I have got to say, never really been a fan, they come across as a bit of a lump. Saying that I watched one being driven on a 6th gear trackday, in the right hands it looked very fast and sounded good too.
A good clean unmolested one in blue has something about it that I like. Although it will never appeal to me over the charm of an Escort Cosworth.
I had a MK2 Focus RS, an Ultimate Green 11-plate with the upgraded black seats, Lux 1 and bluetooth+USB options.
I sold it to WeBuyAnyCar a couple of days before I took delivery of my brand-new Mk3 Focus ST-3.
There are a lot of good things about the Mk3 ST (and a LOT of bad things) but I miss the Mk2 RS. I was having a few issues with it that, although minor in nature, all added up to me getting fed up with it, plus getting my (at the time) 4yr old daughter in and out the back was a PITA.
I've been looking for another one for quite a few weeks now, not many for sale up here in Scotland but so far I have seen cars that are dog rough and/or basic spec and/or are modified and/or have had more owners than miles.
I've pretty much given up looking for one now, will see what 2015 brings and might look at a Mustang or perhaps the Mk3 RS if it ever gets made.
I sold it to WeBuyAnyCar a couple of days before I took delivery of my brand-new Mk3 Focus ST-3.
There are a lot of good things about the Mk3 ST (and a LOT of bad things) but I miss the Mk2 RS. I was having a few issues with it that, although minor in nature, all added up to me getting fed up with it, plus getting my (at the time) 4yr old daughter in and out the back was a PITA.
I've been looking for another one for quite a few weeks now, not many for sale up here in Scotland but so far I have seen cars that are dog rough and/or basic spec and/or are modified and/or have had more owners than miles.
I've pretty much given up looking for one now, will see what 2015 brings and might look at a Mustang or perhaps the Mk3 RS if it ever gets made.
jesigo said:
dc2rr07 said:
agree with above, requires the Lux Pack 2 though to get the better seats.
Had a couple of test drives, then opted for a TT RS (stands back and waits for the usual Audi comments)
Leather seats were not part of Lux Pack 2, seperate option.Had a couple of test drives, then opted for a TT RS (stands back and waits for the usual Audi comments)
Personal taste really.
CJP80 said:
Derek Chevalier said:
Why would the Porsche driver not change down a gear?
Exactly, 997.1 C4S PK 0-100 mph in 10.0s, 60-100mph in 5.5s.FRS 0-100mph in 13.0s, 60-100mph in 7.1s.
RS500 0-100mph in 12.2, 60-100mph in 6.6s.
For 60-100, the 911 can do that in 3rd gear (just), the MP350 has to change to 4th, so the additional gearchange creates a gap.... out of interest, what's the 60-110 time for them (with manual 'box for 911)? They'll both have to do that in 3rd & 4th. (BTW - what's your source for the data?)
356Speedster said:
CJP80 said:
Derek Chevalier said:
Why would the Porsche driver not change down a gear?
Exactly, 997.1 C4S PK 0-100 mph in 10.0s, 60-100mph in 5.5s.FRS 0-100mph in 13.0s, 60-100mph in 7.1s.
RS500 0-100mph in 12.2, 60-100mph in 6.6s.
For 60-100, the 911 can do that in 3rd gear (just), the MP350 has to change to 4th, so the additional gearchange creates a gap.... out of interest, what's the 60-110 time for them (with manual 'box for 911)? They'll both have to do that in 3rd & 4th. (BTW - what's your source for the data?)
356Speedster said:
Erm, the clue was in the statement: IN GEAR times ;-)
For 60-100, the 911 can do that in 3rd gear (just), the MP350 has to change to 4th, so the additional gearchange creates a gap.... out of interest, what's the 60-110 time for them (with manual 'box for 911)? They'll both have to do that in 3rd & 4th. (BTW - what's your source for the data?)
911 0-100 was a guess - split between 9.4s for 997.2C4S and 10.6s for 997.1 C4S.For 60-100, the 911 can do that in 3rd gear (just), the MP350 has to change to 4th, so the additional gearchange creates a gap.... out of interest, what's the 60-110 time for them (with manual 'box for 911)? They'll both have to do that in 3rd & 4th. (BTW - what's your source for the data?)
RS times came from Evo.
dc2rr07 said:
agree with above, requires the Lux Pack 2 though to get the better seats.
Not true, there were four options, apart from paint:Lux 1: loads of little things
Lux 2: sat nav, paradoxically a worse stereo, reversing camera
USB/Bluetooth
Part leather seats
I have all but Lux 2.
I am staggered by how little they have depreciated. Bit of a lucky break on the first car I bought new.
I'm really struggling to replace mine after 4.5 years; there's just nothing good enough out there to make me change cars.
The 0-60 time is misleading as they do need to be got rolling before you can get the power down. Especially with the Mountune 350 mod they are just staggeringly capable across country.
Tickle said:
BeefMaster9000 said:
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.
I have got to say, never really been a fan, they come across as a bit of a lump. Saying that I watched one being driven on a 6th gear trackday, in the right hands it looked very fast and sounded good too.
A good clean unmolested one in blue has something about it that I like. Although it will never appeal to me over the charm of an Escort Cosworth.
jesigo said:
Derek Chevalier said:
I would assume the 911 pulls even further ahead past 100 as the Focus has the aerodynamics of a brick, hence why it will struggle to break 150 despite having ~300bhp
Blatantly obvious that you've never driven or been in one..CJP80 said:
RS has a greater drag coefficient than a Cadillac Escalade.
0.38 for the RS, which is hardly surprising given the basic body was designed around 2004 and then had lots of stuff added to it including a massive chin and huge rear spoiler ;-) Escalade of the same era was 0.42, the new 2014 model is 0.36, designed recently under massive pressure to be more economical. A closer example is a same era Megane R26 which was 0.35.... as the RS is larger, has much more body addenda, huge wing and larger frontal area, it's final score actually isn't that bad.I've thoroughly enjoyed my 4 yrs of RS ownership and have no plans to sell it. It's a car with talents way above what most people think.... as this thread shows a lot of people don't "get" it, aren't prepared to go near one for fear of their prejudices being shattered or simply don't like the look of it. Most of my close driving friends (some of which have commented on this thread) fall into this camp, but for me that's just part of the fun of owning the car.... it'd be boring if everyone had one wouldn't it ;-)
356Speedster said:
I've thoroughly enjoyed my 4 yrs of RS ownership and have no plans to sell it. It's a car with talents way above what most people think.... as this thread shows a lot of people don't "get" it, aren't prepared to go near one for fear of their prejudices being shattered or simply don't like the look of it. Most of my close driving friends (some of which have commented on this thread) fall into this camp, but for me that's just part of the fun of owning the car.... it'd be boring if everyone had one wouldn't it ;-)
Well said that man, haters gonna hate.They are special cars.
Derek Chevalier said:
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?I like them a lot,outrageous,yet practical,but i cant get my head around the prices.It doesnt make sense,they are not as rare as 1M,R26.R,Mugen CTR,JCW GP Mk1,etc. and it is frankly shocking that the RS500s trade for more than M3 CSLs!!!Lets not even go into running costs and the image.I personally love the looks,if you want descreet and bland hot hatch go and buy a Golf.
I think the values will tumble in the next three years and they will bottom out at 10 000 to 20 000,which is still great for a mass produced hatchback.The only "investment" potential-very low mileage RS500.
I think the values will tumble in the next three years and they will bottom out at 10 000 to 20 000,which is still great for a mass produced hatchback.The only "investment" potential-very low mileage RS500.
Edited by mainaman on Saturday 31st May 04:01
Edited by mainaman on Saturday 31st May 04:02
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