RE: Ford Focus RS (Mk1): Spotted
Discussion
RyanTank said:
I think design wise it has aged really well. however I may be looking through rose tinted specs as my first car was a 2000 Focus. compared to the dull interior of my '03 3 Series I think its a cracking design of shapes. The blue highlights tho would need correcting if I owned a FRS.
I expect that we are probably all on the same page and it is the liberal use of blue that is causing the offence as oppose to the basic architecture, I agree about it being an interesting mix of shapes. I'm sure that if you are willing to pay upwards of 15K for a good example then paying a bit more for a re-trim wouldn't be out of the question and the problem would be solved but then by the same token if you are looking for a good example keeping it's originality would probably be a factor too. It just looks a bit naff nowadays compared to when it was young. RyanTank said:
Nors said:
with the Citreon, why there was no road / rally spin off - no halo model to capitalise on.
They had the By Loeb series of cars. standard models with stickers and "build plates" 
What was the point you ask.
Edited by Nors on Monday 17th December 17:27
RyanTank said:
Nors said:
1430 said:
I always thought these were crap, how did the RS go from a 4wd homologation car to this?
I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong...The full bifta homologation rules / cars stopped after Group B?
"Between 1997 and 2010, the regulations mandated that World Rally Cars must have been built upon a production car with a minimum production run of 2500 units. A number of modifications could be made including increasing the engine displacement up to 2.0L, forced induction (including an anti-lag system), addition of four wheel drive, fitment of a sequential gearbox, modified suspension layout and attachment points, aerodynamic body modifications, weight reduction to a minimum of 1230 kg and chassis strengthening for greater rigidity. The maximum width was set at 1770 mm while front and rear tracks shouldn't exceed 1550 mm.
Unlike the requirements for the preceding Group A cars, manufacturers were no longer required to build "homologation specials" in order to meet approval. The base model did not need to have all the characteristics of the WRC car, as evidenced from cars such the Peugeot 206, 307, Citroën Xsara and Škoda Fabia, which during this period had no road car variant with a turbocharged petrol engine or four wheel drive. One of the requirements was a minimum length of 4000 mm; the standard Peugeot 206 had an overall length of 3835 mm and Peugeot had to produce at least 2500 units featuring extended bumpers to comply with the required dimensions."
J4CKO said:
Cheers Bruce, that was a good read, my son has an ST and I nick the keys at every opportunity, it is great fun and gets better the faster you go, I suspect I can drive it faster than my M135i, you feel part of it, partly down to being a manual vs an auto but its so reassuring and rewarding.
They are cracking little cars and I guess because they handle so well ad involve you in the process they are less intimidating at speed, where as I guess the 135i is slightly more intimidating due to the power and RWD which probably holds you back a bit. I am going to be interested to see how well it ages, I suspect I am going to be shocked with how fast it it will depreciate as there are literally thousands of them on the roads.
gigglebug said:
I'm sure that if you are willing to pay upwards of 15K for a good example then paying a bit more for a re-trim wouldn't be out of the question and the problem would be solved but then by the same token if you are looking for a good example keeping it's originality would probably be a factor too. It just looks a bit naff nowadays compared to when it was young.
I'd be more than happy to have a re trim in a much less offensive colour. there's a handful of complete interiors available on various web pages so wouldn't have an issue personally re-triming that and fitting it, and also keeping the original for the purists if/when it came time to sell. this is all pie in the sky though as I'm certainly in no position to have an RS & the extra monies for a re-trim of extra seats.Personally I don't see the point in comparing this to hot hatches that came later, it's no doubt a good car but we are talking about a 15 year old car. It deserves the merit for what it was then.
I think the interior looks fairly dated but I reckon it's the best looking Focus RS from the outside. Still small and nicely proportioned. Special without having to shout about it like the MKII RS did.
Maybe I have a soft spot for them as I can still remember seeing them when they were new and thinking it was a cool car.
I think the interior looks fairly dated but I reckon it's the best looking Focus RS from the outside. Still small and nicely proportioned. Special without having to shout about it like the MKII RS did.
Maybe I have a soft spot for them as I can still remember seeing them when they were new and thinking it was a cool car.
Alex_225 said:
Personally I don't see the point in comparing this to hot hatches that came later, it's no doubt a good car but we are talking about a 15 year old car. It deserves the merit for what it was then.
I think the interior looks fairly dated but I reckon it's the best looking Focus RS from the outside. Still small and nicely proportioned. Special without having to shout about it like the MKII RS did.
Maybe I have a soft spot for them as I can still remember seeing them when they were new and thinking it was a cool car.
I always liked them, a family friend had one new that he sold his bugeye STI for. Although, didn't they say the Cupra R was better on the road? Better looking too imo. I think the interior looks fairly dated but I reckon it's the best looking Focus RS from the outside. Still small and nicely proportioned. Special without having to shout about it like the MKII RS did.
Maybe I have a soft spot for them as I can still remember seeing them when they were new and thinking it was a cool car.
Interesting seem the thread has moved to a battle between Ford RS v ST v Renault RS.
All very similar machinery and all fun on the road and in real world terms not much in it.
Fact is though RS will be a very collectable in 10 yrs if not already ,ST scratching the scrap yards and Renault RS flat in value.
All very similar machinery and all fun on the road and in real world terms not much in it.
Fact is though RS will be a very collectable in 10 yrs if not already ,ST scratching the scrap yards and Renault RS flat in value.
Ahbefive said:
aaron_2000 said:
didn't they say the Cupra R was better on the road?
Better looking too imo.
Nobody ever said that as it would be lunacy. Better looking too imo.
Also the Cupra R was very bland looking compared, it has aged quite well though.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&...
Ahbefive said:
Nobody ever said that as it would be lunacy.
Also the Cupra R was very bland looking compared, it has aged quite well though.
Press X To Doubt. Maybe I'm biased, but I don't see how the Leon looks "very bland" but the RS doesn't in your eyes? I think both look absolutely brilliant, but the Leon looks lower, sharper and sits on arguably nicer wheels. Not to mention an interior that's miles ahead. The Focus will be a much better steer (The 2.0 and 1.6 I had were), and there's no doubt in my mind that the Focus would be a far better car on the track, but to say the Leon looks very bland is as you said, lunacy. Also the Cupra R was very bland looking compared, it has aged quite well though.
Edited by aaron_2000 on Tuesday 18th December 23:03
RyanTank said:
I'd be more than happy to have a re trim in a much less offensive colour. there's a handful of complete interiors available on various web pages so wouldn't have an issue personally re-triming that and fitting it, and also keeping the original for the purists if/when it came time to sell. this is all pie in the sky though as I'm certainly in no position to have an RS & the extra monies for a re-trim of extra seats.
I'd just have it retrimmed and not be concerned about what happened to it after I'd finished with it to be honest but I appreciate many would look to its future value. I'm actually looking for a replacement for my Puma that has unfortunately has died and will be looking to spend around the cost of a half decent MK1 focus RS. As much as I like the idea of one, it would be an obvious trade up/replacement, it won't come into consideration as it would be a daily driver, not a garage queen, and I'm not sure I'd trust a ford of that age not to be hit by rust, the Puma certainly suffered badly from it. Unless the Focus was a different kettle of fish?
gigglebug said:
I'm not sure I'd trust a ford of that age not to be hit by rust, the Puma certainly suffered badly from it. Unless the Focus was a different kettle of fish?
Don't know if the RS was any different, but the Focus rusts badly, although not as bad as other Fords IME. Mine needs a plate on the sill, it had one on the other side 2 years ago. I've never seen any RS' with bad arches, so maybe they were better? The Focus certainly isn't as bad as a Ka, Puma or Fiesta. 
Edited by aaron_2000 on Tuesday 18th December 23:12
andymac said:
Fact is though RS will be a very collectable in 10 yrs if not already ,ST scratching the scrap yards and Renault RS flat in value.
The mk7 ST will be the tuners darling when it's clear the mk8 and what follows can't make the same power. A straight one will never be less than £5k.aaron_2000 said:
Don't know if the RS was any different, but the Focus rusts badly, although not as bad as other Fords IME. Mine needs a plate on the sill, it had one on the other side 2 years ago. I've never seen any RS' with bad arches, so maybe they were better? The Focus certainly isn't as bad as a Ka, Puma or Fiesta.
Yeah, it's a bit of a shame as I'd grown very fond of the Puma but I'm not going to pay, what would be a decent amount of money, to fix it up only for it to be rusted through sooner rather than later anyway. I can certainly appreciate why they have been so highly regarded over the years though. I do love the look of the RS MK1 though, blue interior trim aside. gigglebug said:
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.aaron_2000 said:
Maybe I'm biased, but I don't see how the Leon looks "very bland" but the RS doesn't in your eyes? I think both look absolutely brilliant
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.
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