RE: Ford Focus RS Heritage Edition launched

[culpz]

WCZ said:

these are investment cars

Which is a sad statement indeed. I don't believe that's how Ford intended them to be either, it's just the cult following that they gathered.

I wanna see these out there and being enjoyed, not garaged up and only driven every once in a while in fear of the loss of value!

[nickfrog]

Kev_Mk3 said:

I've seen people advertising they have a deposit on these and are selling the slot they have weeks ago. Scum IMO

A bit harsh perhaps. We live in a free society after all.

[1974foggy]

M1C said:

This colour really shows the failings of the styling of this car.

When was the last time an orange 'special' car looked so dull?

I'm not 'hating' on the car but i dont think it's one of Fords finest styling efforts.

The previous model really did have much more presence to it.

Couldnt agree more, after the bold, lovely sounding mk2 i was so disappointed with this RS in general. Front bumper apart, its so bland and the ST had the better exhaust setup in my opinion - then to learn about the engine problems - I cant see them being as sought after as previous RS models.

[culpz]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

In theory, this model should really be produced with the recall amendments already in place. So, essentially, this orange Heritage Edition shouldn't fall victim to the head gasket issues.

Either way, Ford has recalled them and honored to fix them all, regardless of warranty/age/mileage, FOC. You appear to get a courtesy car while they do this, to keep you mobile in the mean time too.

The timing of it is simply due to the amount of them that need to be booked in for the fix. It doesn't surprise me that it's taking them ages to get the parts in to and then get them repaired too.

I don't see it being such a huge issue. An inconvenience, maybe, but they should be solid once all this gets sorted. You're also not expected to pay a single penny for any of it. Could be much worse!

[culpz]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Yeah, i can see where him and you are coming from. I'd still be a bit pee'd off and i'd be lying if said that i wouldn't be bothered in the slightest. I'm just glad that Ford pulled their finger out, finally admitted fault and did something about it for their customers.

There have be loads of manufacturer's in the past that have refused to even comment about blatantly common issues and defects from factory, let alone offer to fix them FOC. It shouldn't have to be praised and should go without saying, but fair play to Ford.

[culpz]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Yupp! That's always one example that i use. Also, Subaru with the chocolate 2.5 engine from the Impreza that they have persisted to use over and over again, Vauxhall with their piston 4 issues on the Corsa VXR, Renault with the weak gearboxes on the Clio 197's and 200's, etc.

My old man made sure that his 997 C4S, that he bought about a year ago, had a recent and full profession engine rebuilt before he parted with his money for it. A very wise move to make indeed! It's mental to think nothing was done about such a well-known and catastrophic engine weak-point.

[Ahbefive]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Disagree with this. I'd much rather buy one that has a record of the issue being remedied under warranty already than have to keep an eye on it and make sure I booked it into Ford myself.

[Ahbefive]

Sorry, I misinterpreted your post. I think it's hard to find exactly when that date is so I would be looking at the engine bay and checking that it had the correct head gasket with the brass rivets.

[andymac]

culpz said:

Which is a sad statement indeed. I don't believe that's how Ford intended them to be either, it's just the cult following that they gathered.

I wanna see these out there and being enjoyed, not garaged up and only driven every once in a while in fear of the loss of value!

Fair point but I think Ford secretly love it ,it sells cars

[Jonesy23]

I wouldn't buy an orange one.

But it does piss me off a bit where we have these late limited edition 'specials' that are basically only available to the chosen few who find out via the back door.

Make the best product you can from day one and make it available to all.

Don't fk about with handing your mates investment cars. Especially not very special ones where you're basically only getting a different colour and a dealer fit kit fitted at the dealer.

But hey, it's 'rare'...

[Loyly]

It looks like the MK3 Focus RS is going out with a whimper rather than a bang. That seems appropriate, given that this has been the easily the most disappointing, lacklustre Focus RS so far.

[aaron_2000]

Loyly said:

It looks like the MK3 Focus RS is going out with a whimper rather than a bang. That seems appropriate, given that this has been the easily the most disappointing, lacklustre Focus RS so far.

Perhaps that's down to the fact that cars are more disconnected than ever?

[Jonesy23]

Loyly said:

It looks like the MK3 Focus RS is going out with a whimper rather than a bang. That seems appropriate, given that this has been the easily the most disappointing, lacklustre Focus RS so far.

And that's based on what exactly?

Mk1 in my experience and opinion was the best looking and resolved exterior design, had the feel of being a 'special' (complete with all the unfinished details and interesting unique bits), was pretty quick but very basic kit wise. You got almost nothing. But no options and limited production meant that you knew exactly what you were getting and no fking about with special editions...

Mk2 felt too much like a warmed up ST and I think the styling missed the mark. Much more polished, much more kit. Never felt as special or unique though. And the RS500 was a poorly executed joke; rubbish wrap and the saga of the red seats.

Mk3 is very much a regular production model not a special. Lots of kit, lots of options, minimal styling. But feels the most unique to drive; not just a fast version of the normal car but different. Fun wise probably the best of the lot. Interior ergonomics (to me) are st as is the (lack of) integration between dash, Sync and steering controls but that's a Focus thing not RS specific. Also feels a bit big and heavy but that's modern C segment hatches for you... But disappointing and lacklustre?!

If I could have one that had the exterior and ergonomic thinking of a Mk1 with the chassis and kit of a Mk3 I'd be happy.

[Alex_225]

Jonesy23 said:

Mk1 in my experience and opinion was the best looking and resolved exterior design, had the feel of being a 'special' (complete with all the unfinished details and interesting unique bits), was pretty quick but very basic kit wise. You got almost nothing. But no options and limited production meant that you knew exactly what you were getting and no fking about with special editions...

Must admit that hits the nail on the head for the MKI RS for me. It just felt special and rare where as the MKII and III haven't quite managed that.

Whether or not future predictions of the RS values are true or not remains to be seen but the MKI RS to me still feels special and looks awesome.

[TwinExit]

Alex_225 said:

Jonesy23 said:

Mk1 in my experience and opinion was the best looking and resolved exterior design, had the feel of being a 'special' (complete with all the unfinished details and interesting unique bits), was pretty quick but very basic kit wise. You got almost nothing. But no options and limited production meant that you knew exactly what you were getting and no fking about with special editions...

Must admit that hits the nail on the head for the MKI RS for me. It just felt special and rare where as the MKII and III haven't quite managed that.

Whether or not future predictions of the RS values are true or not remains to be seen but the MKI RS to me still feels special and looks awesome.

People who have owned and driven the MK3 RS will find the MK2 and MK1 feel crude by comparison, if a laggier and less precise and crude driving experience feels 'special' to you, then that's a matter of subjectivity.

But then again you were the one who said 15k for a well preserved 300ZX UK Twin Turbo Manual was overpriced as you can pick up an ex'd PCP'd 2 tonne automatic Mercedes for less money tells me you don't know what the crack you are talking about...

[TwinExit]

1974foggy said:

Couldnt agree more, after the bold, lovely sounding mk2 i was so disappointed with this RS in general. Front bumper apart, its so bland and the ST had the better exhaust setup in my opinion - then to learn about the engine problems - I cant see them being as sought after as previous RS models.

The engine problems that can be fixed FOC under warranty...

Which is more than you can say for the subframe/SMG/VANOS issues the bland gutless E46 M3 suffered, and the owners passed on to the next sucker who bought into the hype.

[Jonesy23]

TwinExit said:

People who have owned and driven the MK3 RS will find the MK2 and MK1 feel crude by comparison

The Mk1 RS in many ways felt crude by comparison to other contemporary versions of the Focus. The ST170 had much better steering for a start. Maybe in part due to the sheer amount of time it took for the RS to come to market so the rest of the range had moved on.

As a driving experience RS to RS I wouldn't say it's black and white. But at least if a Mk3 decides to go sideways in a corner it's not because it's trying to kill you.

But still at least with the Mk1 I could have one in shiny Imperial Blue and no one felt like throwing out 50 in orange so the chosen few could have one.

[aaron_2000]

Jonesy23 said:

The Mk1 RS in many ways felt crude by comparison to other contemporary versions of the Focus. The ST170 had much better steering for a start. Maybe in part due to the sheer amount of time it took for the RS to come to market so the rest of the range had moved on.

As a driving experience RS to RS I wouldn't say it's black and white. But at least if a Mk3 decides to go sideways in a corner it's not because it's trying to kill you.

But still at least with the Mk1 I could have one in shiny Imperial Blue and no one felt like throwing out 50 in orange so the chosen few could have one.

I didn't know that the ST170 was a better steer, think they share the same rack. I will say the MK1 RS always felt hand built, it felt truly special, the Mk2 and MK3 never really captured that feeling.

[Jonesy23]

ST was similar parts with restricted lock (seem to remember the variable rate pump was the big change from the shopping versions, maybe a lower friction rack too), RS from memory someone cocked up something in the geometry? (Knuckle machining?)

Anyway I always thought for that aspect the ST was noticeably the best flavour of Focus.

Part of the fun in the Mk1 RS was finding all the special bits, mods and dead ends. Like the incomplete vents in the front archliners (abandoned chargecooler stuff?), the power steering pump spacers so the big water pump could fit, the connector under the center console to make the key work in place of the start button during assembly, the remnants from modifying the shell... A proper 'special' not close to being a polished production model.

But the Mk3 does power oversteer on demand...

[Legacywr]

This Mk3 FRS just looks duller, and duller, as time goes on!