New Ford Focus RS

[Swami]

I'm with outrun- I just don't get why anyone would consider one of these given the alternatives? I'd take a year old 135i / MCS JCW / Audi S3 (easily tuneable to 300bhp, and it's already half a second quicker to 60 than the RS) over this chav-mobile anyday.

70 more bhp than my Z4 but the same speed to 60? Even LESS fuel efficient than mine? Slower than that Megane to 120? For the pleasure of looking like a Fast and Furious reject?

Proof that taste is subjective I suppose!

 

[flimper]

Fast Fords are marmite cars, you either love em or hate em. I like them but would never own one, same as I'd never own a Scooby or Evo. Great to drive but too many people think you're a cock!

 

[Lucy]

There's nothing wrong with my taste!

 

[Breaker]

I saw my first RS Focus on the road last Friday going through town. Real head turner, especially in that green colour!! It's a lighter green than it looks on the pics.

 

[Mr Whippy]

I'm with outrun- I just don't get why anyone would consider one of these given the alternatives? I'd take a year old 135i / MCS JCW / Audi S3 (easily tuneable to 300bhp, and it's already half a second quicker to 60 than the RS) over this chav-mobile anyday.

70 more bhp than my Z4 but the same speed to 60? Even LESS fuel efficient than mine? Slower than that Megane to 120? For the pleasure of looking like a Fast and Furious reject?

Proof that taste is subjective I suppose!

Same here.

It really is a bit naff, and the reinforced image I am getting (from the many tuned ST's I see driving around), is of 40 somethings with greying hair driving them around... hmmmm...

Hot hatch for old people. No thanks, when I'm getting on I wouldn't want what should be a car young people drive. It's like the mid-life crisis car for those who couldn't afford the EsCos and SierraCos when they were younger

Dave

 

[Breaker]

You'll probably find the insurance costs will keep the car to the over 40's!

I'm well over 40 and I wouldn't mind being seen in one!

You will find when you get older the true meaning of this "mid life crisis".
Having the money to do what you want and not giving a f**k what anyone else thinks!

 

[Robb]

I was going to say the insurance cost are the thing most likely to put younger people off owning a hot hatch, its not that the young crowd dont want cars like that its just that they cant afford the running costs.
I count myself as fairly fortunate as i owned my ST when i was 27 although on the ST forum there is a fair few people younger than me who are now driving them, i presume they are offsetting the insurance costs against the lower price to purchase as the ST prices took a real battering over christmas.
Iv never seen a car with an age restriction on it and if any one of any age wants to drive something then i really don’t see any problem or reason to prejudice against them. Iv came across a lot of this type of thinking when I got my first real job out of university and was set to drive a lot of miles so I bought a Volvo S60, fantastic car for what I was doing at the time and all I got was ‘why would a young lad drive an old mans car’ really don’t understand it.

 

[Breaker]

The RS is still getting good reviews:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/longtermtests/242413/ford_focus_rs.html?CMP=NLC-Newsletters&uid=aed1643d06aad63b54eacbbaa392c489

 

[Breaker]

RS to get 370bhp!

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/245434/focus_rs_gets_370hp.html?CMP=NLC-Newsletters&uid=aed1643d06aad63b54eacbbaa392c489

 

[Lucy]

RS to get 370bhp!

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/245434/focus_rs_gets_370hp.html?CMP=NLC-Newsletters&uid=aed1643d06aad63b54eacbbaa392c489

I knew you were going to post this in here after i recieved that in my email inbox this morning!!

 

[Breaker]

 

[Mr Whippy]

Should be pretty good if they have kept torque fairly low but just held onto it for longer after 5000rpm

Dave

 

[Wondermike]

RS to get 370bhp!

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/245434/focus_rs_gets_370hp.html?CMP=NLC-Newsletters&uid=aed1643d06aad63b54eacbbaa392c489

How much power is too much? Suppose this is the answer.

Concerns about putting 370hp through the front wheels have been answered by GGR's Alistair Mayne who said “gaining sufficient traction can be a problem...

I can't understand this at all, what's the point of all that power if the chassis can't put it down.

:idunno:

 

[Mr Whippy]

Well it can put it down, maybe in 3rd gear+, without serious concern, so from 70mph onwards it might become useful for the end of 3rd, or about 100mph in 4th.

So pointless then? Yep

Should have added some weight and awd and given it 400bhp from the outset

Dave

 

[Breaker]

I see from the net that Ford are re-vamping their range next year, part of which is the next gen RS Focus.

Quote: "However, the thirsty 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo unit is to be dropped in favour of a more efficient 2.0-litre EcoBoost turbo. This should deliver more than the current 301bhp".

Bet it won't sound as good!

 

[Robb]

Im a big fan of the 5-pot engine, just another turbo'd 4-pot to join the generic ranks. :thumbsdown:

Wish they would get their act together and put a 4wd system on the RS and keep the 5-pot and fwd for the ST.

 

[Mr Whippy]

Audi developed a new 5 potter for the RS Audi TT... why can't Ford make a decent new 5 potter?

A turbo 4 with ~ 2.0 (which I guess it will be), won't sound or drive anywhere near as nicely down low etc...

Shame.

BIG car, with a small little engine. Lame. Who gives a crap about 10-15% more economy in that kinda car?

Dave

 

[Breaker]

It didn't state if it was a 4 or 5 cylinder engine.

 

[Robb]

Its going to be a 2.0 turbo 4, according to rumours on the ST forum.

 

[Breaker]

In that case, boring!! Knew I should have bought one of the present ones!! :wink: