RE: Ford Focus RS (Mk1): Spotted

[DoubleD]

Ahbefive said:

gigglebug said:

Nobody apart from Tiff Needel it would appear.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&amp...

Indeed nobody else ever said that. Tiff also preferred the ep3 which is odd too. He does have some strange taste and is generally not a fan of Fords.

From that review the civic looked to be the better drivers car.

[Limpet]

A former neighbour had a mk1 Focus RS which he'd spent a bit of cash on getting the geometry spot on, and gently restoring the bits that were getting tired. I had a couple of fast passenger rides in it, and I thought it was a phenomenal thing. Superb traction, playful but not snappy rear end, and the engine felt really strong all through the rev range.

He chopped it in for an E46 M3, which he also loved, but said the Focus was no less fun to drive, if not quite as quick.

I know it's subjective, but I also think they look fantastic. The mk1 Focus is a good looking car anyway, but Ford have always been skilled at applying body kits to cars without making them look heavy handed or silly. I think these will still look good in another 15 years time.

[ToothbrushMan]

cornering was astounding in the dry.

[Ahbefive]

DoubleD said:

From that review the civic looked to be the better drivers car.

Depends what you prefer, Tiff being an ex-Racing driver prefers a N/A engine. I'd take a turbo car with a quaife diff anyday if it was as well set up at a Mk1 RS but then I was never a big fan of the ep3 although at the prices they cost now they are a bargain for the money.

[Mike1990]

Tiff would have loved the JDM EP3 then

They’ve got the LSD and few other upgrades over the normal UKDM version to make it a pretty serious hot-hatch, much more in line with the RS. That would’ve been a good twin test that, back in the day.

[aaron_2000]

Ahbefive said:

I'd say yes you are likely inadvertantly biassed. The leon is particularly tame looking. I see you found a pic of a red one, thd colour being the only thing that makes it stand out.

But then ones view of aesthetics are only an opinion anyway. The Leon was certaonly more inferesting than say a mk4 GTi.

They did yellow too, I'm sure the RS wouldn't stand out in black either. I guess I just like a car that looks low and clean, where as the Focus just looks a bit tacky and childish, as much as I like it.

DoubleD said:

Ahbefive said:

gigglebug said:

Nobody apart from Tiff Needel it would appear.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&amp...

Indeed nobody else ever said that. Tiff also preferred the ep3 which is odd too. He does have some strange taste and is generally not a fan of Fords.

From that review the civic looked to be the better drivers car.

I never found the EP3 to be that fun to drive, excluding the frankly perfect gearshift. The seating position was terrible in it, the dash was high and the seat was low, it didn't feel like you were sat low, it just made me feel like a shortarse. Fun engine though, especially with that gearbox.

[DoubleD]

Ahbefive said:

DoubleD said:

From that review the civic looked to be the better drivers car.

Depends what you prefer, Tiff being an ex-Racing driver prefers a N/A engine. I'd take a turbo car with a quaife diff anyday if it was as well set up at a Mk1 RS but then I was never a big fan of the ep3 although at the prices they cost now they are a bargain for the money.

He preferred the way it handled as well as the engine. But yes you are right, we are all different and like different things.