Looking to buy a Mk1 focus RS
Discussion
Few things I can think of - bit of a brainstorm, so hope you can make sense of it
Biggest thing to look out for is buying one and catching the RS bug... you'll be stuck with it for years, although would you not be better with something low powered and RWD before stepping into a TVR?
Other than that mine's been pretty much bulletproof over the last year of ownership. Brake pads can be a bit pricey but servicing and stuff is cheap, easy to do youself (as are most mechanical bits). Tyres - I use Yokohama Parada Spec 2 - £90 a corner if you search around.
Look out for usual things - Seat base stitching, throttle gromet, there's a full guide on the RSOC somewhere (http://bbs.rsownersclub.co.uk)
Don't be worried about modifications (as long as there's history and reciepts to back them up)
Insurance is cheaper than you think, greenlight are good for modified cars, privelege are the best for standard ones.
Depreciation is almost non existant if the car is looked after well. Buy a good example, keep it clean and you'll get most of your money back.
They only take 97ron or better.
Blue part of steering wheel can wear out surprisingly quickly due to the coating they used - seems to just happen to the wheel, seats are fine. Could be something to do with sweat on hands etc. New ones on ebay for £145 posted.
You'll love it though.
Biggest thing to look out for is buying one and catching the RS bug... you'll be stuck with it for years, although would you not be better with something low powered and RWD before stepping into a TVR?
Other than that mine's been pretty much bulletproof over the last year of ownership. Brake pads can be a bit pricey but servicing and stuff is cheap, easy to do youself (as are most mechanical bits). Tyres - I use Yokohama Parada Spec 2 - £90 a corner if you search around.
Look out for usual things - Seat base stitching, throttle gromet, there's a full guide on the RSOC somewhere (http://bbs.rsownersclub.co.uk)
Don't be worried about modifications (as long as there's history and reciepts to back them up)
Insurance is cheaper than you think, greenlight are good for modified cars, privelege are the best for standard ones.
Depreciation is almost non existant if the car is looked after well. Buy a good example, keep it clean and you'll get most of your money back.
They only take 97ron or better.
Blue part of steering wheel can wear out surprisingly quickly due to the coating they used - seems to just happen to the wheel, seats are fine. Could be something to do with sweat on hands etc. New ones on ebay for £145 posted.
You'll love it though.
Cheers ChappersRS - im glad someone finally responded.
I agree with your comment about going for a RWH car. I checked the insurance of a Honda S2000 but price was rediculous (over £2k. I plan to get the TVR in March when i'll be 25, insurance for the TVR will be about £1300 but with £3k excess :-(
The insurance on the Focus RS is quite resonable and the prices have probably bottomed out now so shouldnt lose much money.
Ive seen a nice RS on PH, its an 03 Plate and done about 40k miles. Its been modified to about 270bhp which isnt too high. The guy also changed all the bushes etc... and seems to have cherised his car so it probably hasnt been ragged too much. Its up for £11500, its a bit higher than my £10k budget but might be worth the extra.
The only thing putting me off (apart from the price) is its been de-cated so its going to be a hassle putting it back on before the MOT. The other issue i have is when it comes to re-sale, not sure if the car will be as easy to sell on with the mods???
Cheers
Cliff
I agree with your comment about going for a RWH car. I checked the insurance of a Honda S2000 but price was rediculous (over £2k. I plan to get the TVR in March when i'll be 25, insurance for the TVR will be about £1300 but with £3k excess :-(
The insurance on the Focus RS is quite resonable and the prices have probably bottomed out now so shouldnt lose much money.
Ive seen a nice RS on PH, its an 03 Plate and done about 40k miles. Its been modified to about 270bhp which isnt too high. The guy also changed all the bushes etc... and seems to have cherised his car so it probably hasnt been ragged too much. Its up for £11500, its a bit higher than my £10k budget but might be worth the extra.
The only thing putting me off (apart from the price) is its been de-cated so its going to be a hassle putting it back on before the MOT. The other issue i have is when it comes to re-sale, not sure if the car will be as easy to sell on with the mods???
Cheers
Cliff
I have a Focus RS, and as Chappers says.
once you buy one, you wont want rid... they are a really good car,,, re the mods, if the car has been looked after, serviced etc then will not be problem. re selling onwards, as with any sports car, there is market for them... try and buy one from the RSOC members, as these cars are meticulously looked after, and the history of the cars is well know to almost all on there.
if you look on the RSOC forum. ask some questions, they are a friendly bunch and will answer you properly as in they wont tell you a load of old rubbish..
hope this helps.
Mike
once you buy one, you wont want rid... they are a really good car,,, re the mods, if the car has been looked after, serviced etc then will not be problem. re selling onwards, as with any sports car, there is market for them... try and buy one from the RSOC members, as these cars are meticulously looked after, and the history of the cars is well know to almost all on there.
if you look on the RSOC forum. ask some questions, they are a friendly bunch and will answer you properly as in they wont tell you a load of old rubbish..
hope this helps.
Mike
Diablos-666 said:
Do you think a standard rs is more sought after than a modified one?
Eg... Which would be worth more,
2003 focus rs 30k miles full service history mint condition but one is modified and the other standard?
Sounds like mine! No idea...they're really worth what you're willing to pay. If a modified one is up for more but you can see where the money was spent (expensive electronics etc.) then i'd say it was worth a bit more. If one's cleaner, less scratched, less chipped, it's worth more. In the end you've just got to set a budget and buy the best one you can. They're difficult to price.Eg... Which would be worth more,
2003 focus rs 30k miles full service history mint condition but one is modified and the other standard?
Mine just sold for £12250. http://pistonheads.com/sales/1331596.htm but it was/is in amazing condition,
ChapperRS - I did have a look at your car too but didn't like the dump valve mod. No offense but just think it sounds a bit chavvy.
Well the modified one if seen is on PH classifieds. It's the one that's in the dark and the paint has been waxed and looks a really deep blue and the wheels are black.
Reading the description it sounds like it's well looked after. It's up for £11,500.
Then iv seen an unmodified one with 21k miles another good example for £12,500.
My budget is around £10k bit font mind going over a bit for a nice example but not to £12k.
So what to do.... hmmm???
Well the modified one if seen is on PH classifieds. It's the one that's in the dark and the paint has been waxed and looks a really deep blue and the wheels are black.
Reading the description it sounds like it's well looked after. It's up for £11,500.
Then iv seen an unmodified one with 21k miles another good example for £12,500.
My budget is around £10k bit font mind going over a bit for a nice example but not to £12k.
So what to do.... hmmm???
Diablos-666 said:
ChapperRS - I did have a look at your car too but didn't like the dump valve mod. No offense but just think it sounds a bit chavvy.
Well that's up to you. I didn't fit it... but then I didn't take it off 
Next one I get will be as cheap as possible, then i'll sell the seats, fit a single bucket and track it
Good luck then ChappersRS - is that what your gonna spend the 12k on then?
Just a thought, if u liked the rs so much how come u sold it?
Noticed on ur profile that ur a mechanical engineer, I used to do that but I'm a qs now.
What company do you work for?
Iv worked with Lorne Stewart, NG Bailey and now ImtechMeica.
I'm working at the Westfield stratford shopping centre development.
Just a thought, if u liked the rs so much how come u sold it?
Noticed on ur profile that ur a mechanical engineer, I used to do that but I'm a qs now.
What company do you work for?
Iv worked with Lorne Stewart, NG Bailey and now ImtechMeica.
I'm working at the Westfield stratford shopping centre development.
Diablos-666 said:
Good luck then ChappersRS - is that what your gonna spend the 12k on then?
Just a thought, if u liked the rs so much how come u sold it?
Noticed on ur profile that ur a mechanical engineer, I used to do that but I'm a qs now.
What company do you work for?
Iv worked with Lorne Stewart, NG Bailey and now ImtechMeica.
I'm working at the Westfield stratford shopping centre development.
Nah not going to buy another any time soon... maybe when I have a collection. Just saying if I did it again i'd buy one I had to worry about less!Just a thought, if u liked the rs so much how come u sold it?
Noticed on ur profile that ur a mechanical engineer, I used to do that but I'm a qs now.
What company do you work for?
Iv worked with Lorne Stewart, NG Bailey and now ImtechMeica.
I'm working at the Westfield stratford shopping centre development.
I work for Jaguar Land Rover.
Hi i am the registrar for the mk1 and mk2 focus RS for the RSOC and i think you will find them a great fwd car no real main problems to look out for as long as the car has been looked after and maintained, go for one which has had the bushes changed on the rear if you can as these are a bugger to change and the old ones will be nackered also the standard shocks are great but again past there best at about 30000 mles and one with the same shocks still fitted and done 50000+ will still feel ok but would be so much better with some new ones fitted as for engine problems look out for charge cooler pump not working or sticking (with engine running remove cap from top up bottel and see if you can see a small trickel of water coming back to it if so all if fine)and leaking of water around the thermostat housing under the boost hose on the right hand side top of the engine as these leak as the unit is made from plastic. hope that helps any other question then please ask and if you want to know more please visit the RSOC bb and look in the focus section as its very busy in there and you will get your questions answered quickly
cheers
dunc
cheers
dunc
Thanks dunccoss - I'm quite interested in a modified rs iv seen for sale.
The guy has changed all the bushes on the car, changed the suspension, fitted a de-cat exhaust and has fitted a blue chip and changed the ecu to recognise the de-cat. Power is up to about 270bhp. It's done 39k miles and it sounds like it has been looked after. He has done loads more but can't remember it all.
It's up for £12,500 but he is willing to come to an agreement on the price.
Do you think that is a good price, should I be worried about any of the mods?
The guy has changed all the bushes on the car, changed the suspension, fitted a de-cat exhaust and has fitted a blue chip and changed the ecu to recognise the de-cat. Power is up to about 270bhp. It's done 39k miles and it sounds like it has been looked after. He has done loads more but can't remember it all.
It's up for £12,500 but he is willing to come to an agreement on the price.
Do you think that is a good price, should I be worried about any of the mods?
whats the build number and reg mate as i might know the car in question or where is it for sale ? as for the mods they shouldnt be a problem at all but i would like to get the car a bit cheaper than that infact more like £11k as £12k plus ones are either low mile cars or ones with a few more mods than that
im not sure of the plate number as its not listed on PH anymore but it is foe sale in Woking.
There are quite a few mods that i didnt mention, he has had it professionally waxed it and has also powder coated the allows black.
The car is still for sale as i was meant to see it go and see it today, hopefully going to view tomorrow.
I think the guy might accept £10,800 for it. Im thinking of getting an RAC inspection on it just in case. It's also SORN at the moment (for the winter). The guy said he would tax it once an acceptable offer is agreed.
Im really not sure whether to get the modified one (as its cheaper) or the lower milage standard one for a bit more??
Iv also seen an 03 plate RS for sale (resonably near me) thats done just 21k miles, its totally standard and up for £12,500.
There are quite a few mods that i didnt mention, he has had it professionally waxed it and has also powder coated the allows black.
The car is still for sale as i was meant to see it go and see it today, hopefully going to view tomorrow.
I think the guy might accept £10,800 for it. Im thinking of getting an RAC inspection on it just in case. It's also SORN at the moment (for the winter). The guy said he would tax it once an acceptable offer is agreed.
Im really not sure whether to get the modified one (as its cheaper) or the lower milage standard one for a bit more??
Iv also seen an 03 plate RS for sale (resonably near me) thats done just 21k miles, its totally standard and up for £12,500.
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