Focus RS Review

I love the fact that RS is a more involving car to drive being FWD, despite admitting that 4WD (whilst being boring) would be ultimately quicker through the corners

but the Astra VXR on the other hand, despite having the same torque steering traits etc.. is not "interesting" to drive and just "****"

Gotta love press bias.
 
MrLOL said:
I love the fact that RS is a more involving car to drive being FWD, despite admitting that 4WD (whilst being boring) would be ultimately quicker through the corners

but the Astra VXR on the other hand, despite having the same torque steering traits etc.. is not "interesting" to drive and just "****"

Gotta love press bias.
Click to expand...

This is true, I have watched quite a few video reviews of the RS now and they all follow the same pattern

"Here is the RS....it has 300bhp....but is FRONT WHEEL DRIVE?! DOES IT WORK?!......lolz it duz"

I want to see if reviews are quite so positive after driving it along a bumpy, twist B-Road rather than a nice silky smooth French mountain pass.
 
Lol 'press bias'. There's no press bias, because unlike the VXR, the FRS manages to put it's power down WITHOUT loads of torque steer and understeer, that's the whole point.
 
MrLOL said:
I love the fact that RS is a more involving car to drive being FWD, despite admitting that 4WD (whilst being boring) would be ultimately quicker through the corners

but the Astra VXR on the other hand, despite having the same torque steering traits etc.. is not "interesting" to drive and just "****"

Gotta love press bias.
Click to expand...

Fundamental reason would be massive slip angles, a lack of LSD on an inferior chassis I imagine? Unless you're using the drivelayout to stereotype handling traits?
 
Jonnycoupe said:
Fundamental reason would be massive slip angles, a lack of LSD on an inferior chassis I imagine? Unless you're using the drivelayout to stereotype handling traits?
Click to expand...

they've admitted in the reviews though, that the RS isnt a perfectly handling car

that it torque steers etc..

but in the RS it gives it "character" but the same is never said of the VXR.
 
MrLOL said:
they've admitted in the reviews though, that the RS isnt a perfectly handling car

that it torque steers etc..

but in the RS it gives it "character" but the same is never said of the VXR.
Click to expand...

I did notice how Plato said that the turbo lag was a good thing, seemed like an excellent thing infact as he could easily tackle the corners and then when you are hitting the exit, the turbo kicks in and your off.

For other cars, this would truely be annoying.
 
MrLOL said:
they've admitted in the reviews though, that the RS isnt a perfectly handling car

that it torque steers etc..

but in the RS it gives it "character" but the same is never said of the VXR.
Click to expand...

beacause in the vxr understeer is extremely bad due to a less well designed chassis and suspension set up. The RS has more power, a good chassis, and a well designed suspension set up, meaning these effects are lessened to an extent but not completely wiped out, the fact its still there, but does not completely ruin the drivcing experience is why it is regarded as characterful.

just my 2p

Tom.
 
Last edited:
whatleytom said:
beacause in the vxr understeer is extremely bad due to a less well designed chassis and suspension set up. The RS has more power, a good chassis, and a well designed suspension set up, meaning these effects are lessened to an extent but not completely wiped out, the fact its still there, but does not completely ruin the drivcing experience is why it is regarded as characterful.

just my 2p

Tom.
Click to expand...

does it now ?

and i guess you'd know this having driven one yeah ? all you've heard is the presenters ranting on about how amazing it is.

At least some posters in here share my scepticism. As somebody already said, plato said the turbo lag was a good thing

since when has anybody said turbo lag was good ? except when its ford and we're showing our usual editorial ford bias ...
 
MrLOL said:
does it now ?

and i guess you'd know this having driven one yeah ? all you've heard is the presenters ranting on about how amazing it is.

At least some posters in here share my scepticism. As somebody already said, plato said the turbo lag was a good thing

since when has anybody said turbo lag was good ? except when its ford and we're showing our usual editorial ford bias ...
Click to expand...

I'm not saying that this RS should be regarded as the holy grail of performance cars, and that it is "amazing", i didn't mention the turbo-lag at all and am not denying that it exists. All i'm saying is that from the various reviews i read/heard it seems that the torque steer, and general complete lairyness has been toned down to a good level where it is managable and fun, making it characterful. As opposed to the last RS which could have been viewed as being too much of a handful.

Please don't and twist my words, i realise you have a vauxhall and are very keen on it, so be it. Just don't bite people's heads off when they merely hint that this car might be better
 
whatleytom said:
beacause in the vxr understeer is extremely bad due to a less well designed chassis and suspension set up. The RS has more power, a good chassis, and a well designed suspension set up, meaning these effects are lessened to an extent but not completely wiped out, the fact its still there, but does not completely ruin the drivcing experience is why it is regarded as characterful.

just my 2p

Tom.
Click to expand...

have to agree with this...

The understeer in the vxr is documented as been pretty detrimental to the driving experience, and although this can be sorted with some tuning, out the box its straight line performance isn't matched by its cornering performance.

I believe from what i have seen about the RS is that although some torque steer still exists (and frankly i dont think this is at all suprising!) but doesn't detract so much from the driving experience. The turbo lag feature as plato pointed out probably aids this as if the turbo was in full effect during cornering i could imagine vxr like consequences.

Dont take this as a slating of the VXR because i think what vauxhall have been doing with there "VXR" cars is brilliant and really added momentum more hooliganistic (yes i know thats probably a word that doesn't exist! ;) ) lines of hot hatches.

RE: blue circle press bias, what about the last RS, lots didn't like it because the the nervousness of the car on uneven roads. Reviews of the new ka havn't been brilliant, etc..
 
poosemon said:
have to agree with this...

The understeer in the vxr is documented as been pretty detrimental to the driving experience, and although this can be sorted with some tuning, out the box its straight line performance isn't matched by its cornering performance.

I believe from what i have seen about the RS is that although some torque steer still exists (and frankly i dont think this is at all suprising!) but doesn't detract so much from the driving experience. The turbo lag feature as plato pointed out probably aids this as if the turbo was in full effect during cornering i could imagine vxr like consequences.

Dont take this as a slating of the VXR because i think what vauxhall have been doing with there "VXR" cars is brilliant and really added momentum more hooliganistic (yes i know thats probably a word that doesn't exist! ;) ) lines of hot hatches.

RE: blue circle press bias, what about the last RS, lots didn't like it because the the nervousness of the car on uneven roads. Reviews of the new ka havn't been brilliant, etc..
Click to expand...

Nail on head
 
MrLOL said:
since when has anybody said turbo lag was good ? except when its ford and we're showing our usual editorial ford bias ...
Click to expand...

Its just a transient throttle map that softens the inset of torque, pre turbo spool Im sure its more than keen enough getting the car going. Just when 300bhp fires up (all that torque really) you are bound to notice a different in pull but its all relative. Its an elastic tyre at the end of the day transmitting the grip so you work with the grip you have. The other option you have other than the tuned in dampning is wheel spin, or wheel spin then regulated by traction control. Neither are desirable.
 
Evo actually rated the Vectra VXR when they drove it.

As for the last RS, they were a bit hit and miss, with some early cars having different geometry which the press drove ;) And then this was improved on for the majority of the cars for the public.
 
[TW]Fox;13607535 said:
Get over it, the VXR is crap, the RS seems to be actually genuinelly good.
Click to expand...

i am over it

Its only a car at the end of the day. i just find it humerous that they admit the focus RS has negative qualities (torque steer, turbo lag etc..) but rather than being a bad thing, it gives it character ?

wtf ??
 
Well I watched a few video reviews and most of them agree to the same things.

There is no torque steer thanks to the new suspension setup and the turbo lag lends itself well as a positive thing because on one video the guy gave an example of it where he slowed down approaching a corner then put some throttle down during the exit, the turbo kicked in just as the car exited the corner.

Would this not be a good thing?
 
if turbo lag is a good thing, why has every other car with it (like the Evo 8 FQ400) been slated for it ?

the press need to make their mind up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom