Today

For sale: the Focus RS to rule them all

Want a hot hatch for time travelling back to the good old days? There genuinely might be none finer...

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Hard now to conceive of the excitement that greeted the second generation of the Focus RS. Not because it was particularly unprecedented at the time - quite the opposite, Ford had been doing remarkably exciting things with hatchbacks since forever - but because it feels so at odds with the Ford of 2026, which, Mustang aside, couldn’t find thrilling with a map and a thermometer. The reveal of the new Puma ST Edition last month passed by with barely a murmur. It could hardly be said to have deserved better. 

Two decades ago, Ford seemed to know instinctively how to get the blood pumping. The RS concept was revealed at the British motor show in 2008 (remember those?); the Mk1 had been gone for five years at that point. It was like waiting for the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Except there was no Jar Jar Binks-style blunder here; this was Ford at its crowd-pleasing peak. Two driven wheels. Three doors. Four blistered arches. Five cylinders. Six gears. Seventh heaven. 

Loud and very proud hot hatches were hardly a novelty at the time, but very few rivalled the Mk2’s physical presence. It looked fantastic on a show stand; it looked fantastic on a magazine cover. And its linebacker burliness was no facade. The 2.5-litre five-pot, with its bigger BorgWarner turbo, was an East German javelin thrower of an engine. You got 305hp at 6,500rpm, but more noticeably you got 325lb ft of lusty, hip-thrusting mid-range. And the epic burble to go with it. 

Naturally, it was bigger and heavier than the Mk1, and felt it. But Ford had learned some lessons, too: there was a Quaife limited-slip diff and lower scrub radius courtesy of its RevoKnuckle front suspension. In the following decade, the all-wheel-drive Mk3 would bring even more tech to bear - but its Drift Mode shenanigans opened the door for umpteen imitators to pile through. Looking back now, the Mk2 seems the more evocative, additive-free option - partly because Ford never returned to its front-drive configuration in flagship terms. 

The values these days tend to bear that out. Silly money Heritage Editions aside, it is low-mile examples of the Mk2 which tend to command the highest asking prices. Which brings us to this one in Harrogate, up at £41,995. Not the most expensive, courtesy of its four previous owners and more than 13k miles - but with all the right moves (Performance Blue, Lux Pack 1, Lux Pack 2 and the Dynamica leather upgrade) and with a mostly impeccable service history and MOT record. 

Could you spend the money more rationally? Obviously. A much newer Honda Civic Type R would be sharper and more economical and better suited to everyday. A Megane 275 Trophy would be cheaper and better on the edge. A Mk3 RS would be quicker. But the Mk2 might be the clearest expression of old-school Ford thinking: take something very ordinary, and knock it from the park. The sight of this one makes its 2009 pomp seem incredibly distant. Thank goodness then, for comfortably less than the asking price of a Mustang Mach-E that no one could possibly want, some lucky beggar gets to relive the glory days...

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See the original advert

[fantheman80]

Huge fan, ran a Mk1 as s daily for 5 years and used to follow the value of these a bit as it was the next car until a sprog meant needed 4 doors. Had a look after reading this and quite a few today around the £40K+ mark in the classifieds with low miles, no doubt destined to sit in a garage like this one and hope to hit the crazy heights of anything with a Cosworth badge in 15-10 years time or are the current owners not seeing much more upside and moving them on, who knows.

Id love to pay mid -higher 20s for a used one, with some clubsport goodies and mods and enjoy it

[mike150]

I'm in my 50's and I've owned lots of great cars but I was without a nice second car a year ago. I was looking for something fun, fast useable and affordable after selling my Elise, I shortlisted about 10 cars and drove a few, M2 Comp, Nismo 370z, Golf Club sport 40 etc. One was GR Yaris and it felt dull with an engine I just didn't like. In a dealer nearby there was a 400hp MK2 RS Focus, I went and drove it and was genuinely really impressed, great noise, power and involving to drive without being dangerous. Couldn't fault it but this example wasn't great.

A month later I had a MK2 Mountune 375 Focus RS and it's fantastic. Can't believe I was never in one before! 2 friends want to own one as well now and they like me had always ignored them.

[Alex_225]

I am a big fan of these, always thought the MK2 was much better looking than the MK3, had that on the road WRC look about it.

I'm not sure personally I can envisage ever wanting to spend £40k+ on one which seems to be easily done, there are just many more cars that appeal but undeniably a cool car.

[Portofino]

Great cars these, just look right. Best Focus RS IMO.

[thetapeworm]

I love a MK2 and that's a cracking example by the looks of it, I was incredibly tempted earlier this year (at the cheaper end of the market) but felt like they were just a bit too "special" now to be the jack of all trades hatch I was looking for.

There's one local to me that teases me with that lovely engine / exhaust combo just to rub it in

[WPA]

Portofino said:

Great cars these, just look right. Best Focus RS IMO.

Agreed plus this looks a really clean example

[Cryssys]

They may be wonderful cars but what's the point? Sadly this one has become another Ford garage queen.

Ideal for people who don't want to drive it.

[NH-0]

Cryssys said:

They may be wonderful cars but what's the point? Sadly this one has become another Ford garage queen.

Ideal for people who don't want to drive it.

If you have other things to drive, you could enjoy a few trips out in it for special occasions. Probably get away with putting another 4k on it over four years and it still being low mileage?

[cerb4.5lee]

That looks lovely, very nice.

[FlopperV60]

Fond memories, I can't believe it was 16 years ago I picked up one and drove as my daily for a couple of years including a couple of European trips.

A fantastic car that I will always hold in great regard.

[el romeral]

That looks superb. Truly epic tailpipes!

[zsdom]

Forty two thousand pounds

Thats a big nope from me

[The Rotrex Kid]

zsdom said:

Forty two thousand pounds

Thats a big nope from me

I took one in PX that looked the same (albeit it had done 50k miles) a few years back and gave the guy £12k for it

[RSstuff]

mike150 said:

I'm in my 50's and I've owned lots of great cars but I was without a nice second car a year ago. I was looking for something fun, fast useable and affordable after selling my Elise, I shortlisted about 10 cars and drove a few, M2 Comp, Nismo 370z, Golf Club sport 40 etc. One was GR Yaris and it felt dull with an engine I just didn't like.

Anyone that thinks a GR Yaris feels dull, clearly hasn't driven one properly. I like the mk2 Focus RS to look at and listen to. But I'd still buy a mk3 RS instead, because of the way they handle.

[wolfie28]

Nearly bought a mk2 a couple of years ago but went with a M4. Smart money should have been with the Ford but I wanted a newer car so that won out in the end. I’ll admit a work colleague took me out in his standard one a few years back and I was not impressed with the turn of pace. It felt slow and underpowered, mind you I was coming from 400+ bhp Impreza s and Evo’s.

Sweet spot for me would be an ultimate green one with a Mountune or something similar to spice it up a bit. Don’t regret not buying one as very happy with my M4.

[R5 KDT]

Owned all three and the mk2 was by far the most raw and the hooligan of the three, the mk3 got four wheel drive but was much more grown up with subdued looks, but we have Jost Capito's tenacity to thank for getting the mk1 into production and starting everything!


Ford have definitely lost their way

If this was Ultimate Green i would be rushing to buy

[Quhet]

I find myself wanting a MK2 RS more and more as time goes on. They look absolutely spot on and really evoke the spirit and burliness of the older Sierra and Escort Cosworths.

[Twinair]

I think the blue oval team got all 3 of these right, in different ways for each model…

I remember a mate had the Mk1 when I had my Clio cup - OU52VDY - loved that Mk1…

Mk2 in green - my wife went crackers when I said I was buying one - compromise was the C63 PPP - some compromise..!

Now my lad has a Mk3 - minter - it’s a cracking drive - I also actually prefer it to my GR Yaris in some ways… It’s fun driving them back to back - the Yaris is just as fast through the gears 3rd and 4th on the B roads, despite the power disadvantage

I have looked at a heritage - but I don’t see the value - I would buy a low mile Mk3 AND USE IT… My lad is doing just that - oh to be 18 in a 350 brake 4WD crackling & banging piss rocket…

Love the RS - in all guises - get one while you can - you should!!

[Matt_T]

R5 KDT said:

Owned all three

...now you're going to have to explain the R5 KDT / R5 KST

[CMTMB]

Matt_T said:

R5 KDT said:

Owned all three

...now you're going to have to explain the R5 KDT / R5 KST

Not just me then. That's making my teeth itch