Escort Cosworth/Focus RS & ST opinions

[Kevin Hackett]

I'm writing a major feature for a car magazine, comparing the Escort Cosworth with the latest offerings from Ford: the Focus RS and ST, seeing how the company has evolved the concept of a hatchback with almost supercar performance.

If you own, or have owned, any of these models I'd be interested in your views - it'd give the article a nice perspective, especially as two of these cars have attained some level of classic status over the years.

If you'd like your views known then either post them here or you can PM me if you wish. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kevin

[Ricky_M]

If you find know luck here. try www.passionford.com, you'll get a great response there.

[Kevin Hackett]

Thanks Ricky M, I'll pose the question there too.

[zippy144]

Hi

I currently own a Focus RS. I have owned it for 8 months. When i looked at buying a car in this price bracket i could not find another that had the RS presence.

If you drive into a petrol station and fill up with petrol( which you do alot....) you find people stariing at the car open mouthed drawling....

It has the standard aggresive look of a performance car, it has track pedigree and trust me you will be amazed how hard you can push a FRS....

It is a fantastic allrounder you can drive it off boost and it is very civilised and the girlfreind doesn't feel as though she is about to die....

But

If you wake up early on a sunday morning and go out for a thrash on boost it is a totally awsome peice of equipment, you can feel the diff working dragging you out of corners......

The only real let down is that it is Front wheel drive not 4WD like it should have been.....

Anyway enough gassing from me...

Regards

Tom aka Zippy

[Nords]

Kevin,

I have a slightly modified Mk2 Focus ST (a 271 bhp Bluefinned car) but if you want opinions from Mk1 Focus RS owners who now have Mk2 STs from std all the way to highly modified cars try www.focusstoc.com.

Regards

K

[Kevin Hackett]

Thanks guys. I actually have one of each for a week and am astonished at how different they both feel. The RS is a balls-out mental case but the ST feels like a BMW in comparison, much more refined but still very fast indeed. I'm gaining more and more respect for both of them each time I try them out. I live on the edge of Snowdonia and the roads there are just about perfect for them.

Most of my time is spent driving Porsches, Astons etc, so it takes something pretty special to impress, but these Focuses are fabulous. Had a Subaru Imprezza RB320 for a few days last week but I'd take a Focus over that any day of the week and save myself about £13k in the process!

[chriz1]

is there a huge difference in say a focus rs to a subaru impreza sti uk or evo in everday driving?would you say kev

[neiljohnson]

Have a focus RS having owned lots of fords both RS and otherwise and i can honestly say unless they really surprise me and bring out something 4wd i wont change it, i love it to bits and only more since trying out the new ST.

What other car can you get for the sort of money they go for that delivers that level of performance great looks low runnings and reliability?

[Funk]

Kevin - if it's opinion on the Focus ST you're after, we have over 3,500 users registered at www.focusstoc.com and they LOVE to talk about their cars.. A lot owned a Focus RS prior to the ST, so you should have some people with good A/B comparisons!

Be warned that 95% of it will be glowing though, as tends to be the way with Owners' Clubs!

[Curator]

Are you the Kevin Hackett of FHM-fame?

[Kevin Hackett]

Thanks for the feedback and yes Curator, I do the Motors section for FHM but I'm actually freelance. I think I might know who you are actually...

Edited by Kevin Hackett on Tuesday 26th June 22:13

[Alexbturbo]

Hey Kevin - check out bbs.rsownersclub.co.uk and visit the Focus RS section of the forum - loads of useful info there from us Focus RS owners

[Kevin Atkins]

Hi Kevin

Would be glad to give you some opinions if you want them. I have had modded Escort RS Turbo's, Sierra Cosworths, Escort Cosworths, currently race a 700+ bhp Evo, and daily driver is a Focus ST2.

Rgds Kev

[Curator]

Kevin Hackett said:

Thanks for the feedback and yes Curator, I do the Motors section for FHM but I'm actually freelance. I think I might know who you are actually...

Edited by Kevin Hackett on Tuesday 26th June 22:13

I'm not famous like you. However, I do have a recent photo of you expertly managing an immensely fast dog-powered vehicle.

[german tony]

I have owned an Escort Cosworth for the past 5 years & I use it daily - about 15,000 miles a year.

It's been very reliable in that time & hasn't lost a penny in depreciation & thus I have both got my cake & am eating it.

But passionford will give you lots more info

[cossievin]

Hi there. I have an Escort Cosworth, and have had it for 5 1/2 years now. Only planned to keep it for a year or so, then move on and up. The fact I still have it after all this time says alot for it. With no plans to sell in the future also. I too have driven the RS Focus and ST. I agree they are great cars, however I wouldn't change my Escort for either. Now that has a presence like no other when moving up in someone's mirror, or anywhere in fact. Rather than change car, I just keep adding to it.

[Kevin Hackett]

Thanks for all the feedback - the feature is now in Performance Tuner magazine, over 14 pages! You can see the cover at www.performancetuner.co.uk

[sam_dalton]

Kevin, a great article and a thoroughly enjoyable read. Was of great interest to me as I am about to pick up a new ST

[Kevin Hackett]

Lucky you Sam - it's a truly great car and I can't imagine you'll get tired of it too quickly...

[sam_dalton]

Hopefully not, I have some big plans for it over the coming months