Taking centre stage in the cabin are the large Recaro sports seats, which are colour-coded to the exterior paint. Green cars have green wings for the seats, while blue and white cars have seats with blue wings. There's also a Recaro 60/40 split rear bench seat and new buyers could order part-leather Ebony black hide as an option.
If the green is a little too extrovert
Ford's Power button starts the engine rather than the ignition key, while the main dials are supplemented by three smaller dials on the dash top for oil pressure, oil temperature and turbo boost. A carbon-effect centre console sits in front of a gear lever with aluminium knob and handbrake with aluminium handle.
A Sony CD stereo with six-disc changer and DAB digital radio is fitted as standard, complete with MP3 player and AUX connections. There's also air conditioning, electric windows and Thatcham Category 1 alarm. The Luxury pack adds an auto-dimming rear view mirror and dual zone air conditioning. Customers could also specify a Bluetooth hands free and voice control system. A Luxury 2 pack further added a DVD-based satellite navigation system with seven-inch touchscreen display. If any car you consider has the sat nav fitted, make sure it is up to your needs as it's not the most sophisticated system by today's standards. Also make sure the rear-view camera for reversing works as the lense cover is prone to cracking.
Optional red leather in RS500
For the rest of the RS's cabin, there's little to worry about as it's hard wearing. Only the outer bolsters of the heavily sculpted front seats can wear, but no more so than any other car with this type of seating.
For the RS500, Ford fitted a numbered plaque to the centre console to tell you where your car was in the 500-car production. In place of the standard RS's blue detailing, the RS500 has red stitching on the steering wheel and gear lever gaiter, door cards and floor mats. The only options for the RS500 were full red leather for the front Recaro seats and the sat nav system.
PHer's view:
"It's amazing comfortable inside the RS500 when you think about its performance and the exterior looks. Several trips to the 'ring have proved it's good at long distance stuff and track driving shows the seats hold me perfectly. Have to say, it's pretty much the perfect hot hatch."
Shaun Sales