RE: Ford Focus RS Mk2: PH Heroes

[blade7]

Vocht said:

Well a brand new Fiesta ST-3 starts at £19,500+ these days,

You're some kind of mug if you pay £3k more than a broker knocks them out at.

[Ahbefive]

KarlMac said:

It's the hero worship that annoys me. The Focus RS is a very, very good hot hatch, but ultimately it's always going to be restricted by the fact it's it a small family hatch underneath. Great if your looking for something to liven up the daily commute or speed up trips to the shops but I just don't understand the people that have them as 'second' cars and keep them locked up the garage.

If you cast your net over the secondhand market there's 1000s of cars I'd take over the RS as a toy.

I bet people used to say that about the Integrale, the Cosworths, the Imprezas and the Evos. I'm glad I can go to shows and see these cars in timewarp condition.

So what if people don't all want to pile on the miles and subject them to harsh winters? It makes them likely to last into distant years and be appreciated long into the future. Most performance cars feel a real event to drive when they are not subjected to mundane everyday duties. If you don't like it then don't do it but I think its great that some cars are cherished. It's no fun if everyones fun car is a caterham.

Variety, spice etc.

[Steven_RW]

Out walking the dog on an evening, I'll quite often here something in the distance turbo'd and 5 cylindered getting a lick of throttle, producing a proper growl and then a loud crack on the gear change.

Other than a Subaru on half an exhaust by Blitz, it is one of the most distinct sounding proper aggressive engines around. Loads of character.

It is a different driving package than a V8 M3 or V10 M5.

I never felt the need to point the M cars down country lanes and go for it. The focus and other RS cars just love such a drive. Completely different package.

RW

[KarlMac]

Ahbefive said:

I bet people used to say that about the Integrale, the Cosworths, the Imprezas and the Evos. I'm glad I can go to shows and see these cars in timewarp condition.

I think this is the crux of why I don't 'get' the latest RS. All the cars in your examples were designed as racing cars first then homologated for road use. The mk2 (and even more the mk3) were standard foci tarted up to appeal to the masses (I am over simplifing a bit to make the point).

For record I love the Sierra and Escorts and think they're worth every penny. I'd love to own a mk1 Focus RS or a racing puma at some point. I just don't see the later ones in the same light. They're not limited numbers, there's no motorsport. For balance i'm also not a fan of the Evo 7/8/9 and non classic Imprezas for the same reasons, despite them being better on paper

[KingNothing]

KarlMac said:

It's the hero worship that annoys me. The Focus RS is a very, very good hot hatch, but ultimately it's always going to be restricted by the fact it's it a small family hatch underneath. Great if your looking for something to liven up the daily commute or speed up trips to the shops but I just don't understand the people that have them as 'second' cars and keep them locked up the garage.

That's how I feel, that's why I use it as an everyday car (when not using bike), it's just a Ford Focus at the end of the day. It's part of what took the shine off the forums and facebook groups for me; middle aged blokes talking about getting a 2nd car and putting their "lover" away for the winter, rolling it out of a garage to clean it, then rolling it back in, or posting up photo's of how low their odometer is and acting if that makes them the best; "congratulations, you spent £25k on a paperweight, that you don't drive" meanwhile I'm kicking my cars balls in on the commute to work and enjoying it.

[Ultrafunkula]

I love the mk2 RS, I never liked the mk1 but the mk2 really stood out as a monster. I'd also happily walk past an M3 to the Focus every day. The Focus is exudes fun and heroics whereas the BMW just says successful rep, no matter how faster it can go round the ring or whatever. I'm a little old for the pops and bangs now, but I still love to see a Mk2 RS go past and always stop and watch!

[billy939]

Undoubtedly they are good cars but they are not a £20k car. Ford fanboys keep the prices high and there are a lot of them to do that!

The engine is the only real selling point to me, and the ST with the MP260 upgrade will outstrip one in a straight line with the same engine.
I also disagree that you're not a petrolhead if you don't like them, IMO a true petrolhead will have bought the superior Megane 250/265 for the better driving experience, knowing it will lose more money anyway.

[WCZ]

£20-25k I'd go for:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

[ando-x]

RamboLambo said:

Love the "Argyle" graffiti. Up the Green Army





Winner winner, chicken dinner. Get yourself some of that

Edited by RamboLambo on Monday 21st November 10:55

Edited by RamboLambo on Monday 21st November 10:57

Love the green ones. If I'd have bought one as a second car it would have been my first choice. Enjoy

[blade7]

WCZ said:

£20-25k I'd go for:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...

but I don't think they're cheap to run.

[Ahbefive]

KarlMac said:

Ahbefive said:

I bet people used to say that about the Integrale, the Cosworths, the Imprezas and the Evos. I'm glad I can go to shows and see these cars in timewarp condition.

I think this is the crux of why I don't 'get' the latest RS. All the cars in your examples were designed as racing cars first then homologated for road use. The mk2 (and even more the mk3) were standard foci tarted up to appeal to the masses (I am over simplifing a bit to make the point).

For record I love the Sierra and Escorts and think they're worth every penny. I'd love to own a mk1 Focus RS or a racing puma at some point. I just don't see the later ones in the same light. They're not limited numbers, there's no motorsport. For balance i'm also not a fan of the Evo 7/8/9 and non classic Imprezas for the same reasons, despite them being better on paper

Nope, the Escort and Sierra were very much road cars prior to being pointed out for racing and dealt with by Cosworth. The Evo and impreza again were just based on family saloon cars. That doesn't mean they aren't great cars. Homologation came after mass production.

The Mk2 and 3 Focus RS are indeed limited numbers cars with approx 5k of each coming to the UK in total. They don't have a numbered plaque but you will struggle to be able to biy one from a dealer now. The mk1 RS (again no homologation (no motorsport along with the Puma)) were half of those numbers but they are an incredibly rare sight on the roads. I doubt I see even 1 Mk2 or mk3 RS a week on the roads.

By theres no motorsport? You mean not homologated? What cars are these days? Well none really. In rallying its only the bodys of cars that are familiar.

[jameswsb]

Crafty_ said:

Rather gaudy looking things that apparently never really worked properly (many had very long stays in dealerships for issues, as I understand it complex electronics that limited power in certain scenarios), worshiped purely because of an RS badge by fast ford lovers. Seeming loved here on a financial basis.

Like the Mk3 a car that has never held any interest for me.

Err I had one for 2 years and was active in the community and i never heard of any of the issues you speak of. Utter nonsense. I would bet you have never driven one either.

Rubbish interior quality but a total riot to drive, it never failed to put a smile on my face. Brilliant car.

I would agree with the comment on RS Direct though, they are total a***holes!

[Johnnytheboy]

billy939 said:

Undoubtedly they are good cars but they are not a £20k car. Ford fanboys keep the prices high and there are a lot of them to do that!

Isn't that how the used car market works?

If lots of people want something, the price stays/goes up?

While I appreciate "fanboy" is a derogatory term, one assumes they are fanboys of a particular marque for a reason.

[Janesy B]

Johnnytheboy said:

Isn't that how the used car market works?

If lots of people want something, the price stays/goes up?

Or if a single supplier controls the market, which RSDirect seems to do.

[Johnnytheboy]

Janesy B said:

Or if a single supplier controls the market, which RSDirect seems to do.

How do they achieve this?

[blade7]

Ahbefive said:

Nope, the Escort and Sierra were very much road cars prior to being pointed out for racing and dealt with by Cosworth. The Evo and impreza again were just based on family saloon cars. That doesn't mean they aren't great cars. Homologation came after mass production.

It's a bit of a stretch to say the Escos was a mass produced road car before it was homologated, when it was effectively a cut and shut.

[s m]

Janesy B said:

Or if a single supplier controls the market, which RSDirect seems to do.

Can you only buy a Mk2 Focus RS from RS Direct? There are no private ones for sale?

[drewos]

ando-x said:

I just bought one because it looked mad and it was fun. The FWD'ness can be a bit of a pain in the wet, and it's woeful on petrol. Sounds nice though. I'm glad the mk3 was a complete departure from the mk2, I think it was the right time to go 4 wheel drive again for Ford, and it makes the mk2 that bit more odd. I think we have to be careful comparing cars just on price, yeah sure I could get a M5 for the same price and it'd be faster, but I'd need a mortgage when one of the mirrors falls off, haha. Anyway I took a picture for everyone to rip to shreds ...

Birken-Vegas!

[ando-x]

drewos said:

Birken-Vegas!

Guilty. As. Charged.

[316Mining]

s m said:

Janesy B said:

Or if a single supplier controls the market, which RSDirect seems to do.

Can you only buy a Mk2 Focus RS from RS Direct? There are no private ones for sale?

Of course you can. But if RS direct say that the price of a 7 year old RS is 23k and they have 90 for sale, the private seller is going to be asking 21-22k as an undercut isn't he.... rather than the 14-15k that it should be.