Focus RS Review

[merlin]

I simply wanted to make the point that whilst rolling - the car will be quick, specifically.....M3 (E46) quick.

It was just a harmless comparison, like comparing a rapist with a truck driver.

 

[Simon]

I simply wanted to make the point that whilst rolling - the car will be quick, specifically.....M3 (E46) quick.

It was just a harmless comparison, like comparing a rapist with a truck driver.

LOL

 

[Housey]

I simply wanted to make the point that whilst rolling - the car will be quick, specifically.....M3 (E46) quick.

Agreed

It was just a harmless comparison, like comparing a rapist with a truck driver.

But surely those are the same thing, a Focus and BMW are different.

 

[Cyrus]

Agreed


But surely those are the same thing, a Focus and BMW are different.

i think you maybe thinking specifically of rapist truck drivers...

 

[Prophet]

somebody made the point that this car would scare m3s,

i think youll find its more common that people bring bmws in negatively not positively

My comment was not directed at that point.

Not everyone does that, some people are also objective in their comparisons...

I like those people

 

[Clarkey]

Yeah, two penalties - additional weight is one and understeer is the other

Ah yes, this will be why the R32 GTR was banned from Australian Group A and saw the demise of JTCC, because of the terrible weight and understeer, nothing to do with the total and utter dominance over the 2wd competition...

 

[spaz]

I thought the argument was about how 4wds handle and getting mixed up between something that isn't quantitive, rather than their mechanical advantages/disadvantages?

 

[Simon]

Ah yes, this will be why the R32 GTR was banned from Australian Group A and saw the demise of JTCC, because of the terrible weight and understeer, nothing to do with the total and utter dominance over the 2wd competition...

Yes thats right, very relevant to how a car handles and feels in terms of driver involvement.

 

[Clarkey]

Yes thats right, very relevant to how a car handles and feels in terms of driver involvement.

If they wanted a good/fun driving feel while remaining 2wd then they should have gone with RWD then. I'm afraid you will never convince me otherwise.

 

[merlin]

If they wanted a good/fun driving feel while remaining 2wd then they should have gone with RWD then. I'm afraid you will never convince me otherwise.

What is your driving experience with high performance FWD cars?

 

[Jonnycoupe]

If they wanted a good/fun driving feel while remaining 2wd then they should have gone with RWD then. I'm afraid you will never convince me otherwise.

Its a product you sell to people. Compromise is always the main feature of that. Convincing you doesnt really matter, you're not a potential £5k Civic driver, let alone a £25k RS.

Clarkey had a quiet period post 300ZX era, now hes just as irritating when he pops up.

 

[Simon]

If they wanted a good/fun driving feel while remaining 2wd then they should have gone with RWD then. I'm afraid you will never convince me otherwise.

Going around a track fast was their priority.

A whole different requirement than a car than consumers buy on how it feels to drive. Don't get race cars confused with road cars

 

[Clarkey]

Going around a track fast was their priority.

A whole different requirement than a car than consumers buy on how it feels to drive. Don't get race cars confused with road cars

I'm not, I was simply pointing out that his statement about AWD inherently being understeery barges is a load of rubbish.

 

[DreXeL]

AWD cars do have a natural tendency to understeer though, unless the power split is biased to the rear.

 

[Jonnycoupe]

I'm not, I was simply pointing out that his statement about AWD inherently being understeery barges is a load of rubbish.

Using a Skyline GTR Race car for your conflicting opinion could be classed as rubbish?

Although once the Focus RS lands all the Nissan Micras (all FWD remember ) are likely to hit 1.0g lateral and feel MUCH better to drive are they not?

 

[Tom84]

Seriously tempted by one of these, only thing putting me off is that at the end of the day it is just a ford.....

 

[Housey]

The advantage of AWD is traction the disadvantage is weight and corruption of feel. No question the Focus would have better traction with 4WD and better feel with RWD but it would have been vastly more expensive for improvements that the vast majority of owners would not have noticed. Ford took the route of making the best they could, with the bits they had for a price people would pay and it seems like they did a great job. Cornering grip and handling is not something you improve with 4WD and the ACTUAL reason the Skyline was banned was to do with a combination of things but not least is Power!

 

[merlin]

Quite, you don't instantly get feel from RWD and neither do you automatically get good handling. Most AWD and some RWD cars suffer with zero feel and there's some that handle crap too! Classic Impreza anyone? No feel, no handling and understeer.

Not entirely sure people understand the words in use here....

 

[merlin]

Seriously tempted by one of these, only thing putting me off is that at the end of the day it is just a ford.....

Is it?

What does "just a Ford" actually mean exactly?

 

[Housey]

The big round thing in front of you is the really important element in a sports car and the bits that conect it, damp and suspend it's mates at each corner have the biggest impact on 'feel'. Get those bits wrong and it matters little what wheels are driven! Get those spot on then having the rears driven is simply icing on the cake removing any small elements of corruption which may stem from drivetrain interference...