Focus RS MK 2
- Thread starter mark35
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For those that remember, me and rG-Tom had a few playfull runs over the moors to compare cars, and despite on paper the Vectra being much faster on paper, in real world it just wasnt much faster.
And this brings us neatly to the new clio cup and the Focus RS. On paper its nowhere near. But...
Focus RS pulls away on the hills, but not by much, and the clios reigns it in on the corners. Costs an extra 10 grand almost, and over your average moors dash, he would be right up your chuff the whole way. Highly annoying.
I have to say that I'm rather amused by all the talk of performance comparisons.
In our gatso'd country, I'd be astounded if any of the serious hot hatches get a REAL opportunity to be used to their full extent on the road, and I can't believe that they're all used on track days.
That leaves pub bragging rights and whether the car is actually any fun to drive. As hardly anyone here has driven one, we're probably guessing on the fun factor.
One last point, no they're certainly not cheap to buy. However, just look at the price of s/h RS cars. They do seem to hold they're value rather well. Mk1 RS Focus start at around £8 for a 2003 model. IIRC correctly they were around £22k when new. That sort of depreciation is what many cars will do in 3 years, NOT 7.
In our gatso'd country, I'd be astounded if any of the serious hot hatches get a REAL opportunity to be used to their full extent on the road, and I can't believe that they're all used on track days.
That leaves pub bragging rights and whether the car is actually any fun to drive. As hardly anyone here has driven one, we're probably guessing on the fun factor.
One last point, no they're certainly not cheap to buy. However, just look at the price of s/h RS cars. They do seem to hold they're value rather well. Mk1 RS Focus start at around £8 for a 2003 model. IIRC correctly they were around £22k when new. That sort of depreciation is what many cars will do in 3 years, NOT 7.
Soldato
- Joined
- 4 Apr 2003
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I saw a green one at the weekend and boy did it look awesome. If you want a Focus RS then I imagine you are the sort of person who would not be interested in the other options. The whole image portrayed by the car is just not replicated in any other hot hatch bar the Astra VXR (looking a bit dated now), Clio V6 (although out of production) and new Renaultsport Megan. The over lavished styling is epic and every boy racers dream. The Focus RS however does this to the extreme compared to the sedate Golf Gti end of the spectrum.
The truth is, and this came up many times on here well before the car was launched, £28k is too much for the car given the competition at this price bracket of not just new but nearly new cars. Nissan 370 & Evo X would be better imo but are understandably different cars.
The RS says I have balls, a ##@#@, I intend to find a @#@% and use them.
The truth is, and this came up many times on here well before the car was launched, £28k is too much for the car given the competition at this price bracket of not just new but nearly new cars. Nissan 370 & Evo X would be better imo but are understandably different cars.
The RS says I have balls, a ##@#@, I intend to find a @#@% and use them.
hardly :/
Probably got something to do with the near 6 month lead time on a factory order for a new Golf.
Expect to see those prices drop pretty sharply this year.
20 odd k for the 2010 RS thats a bargain i will take two 
.
I popped into my local Ford to look at the 2010 Blue with half leather they had in and they will take no trades with my ST, and even with cash want 47k for it.
They can shove it i will be getting the RS 2nd hand in the UK where its a lot cheaper.
. I popped into my local Ford to look at the 2010 Blue with half leather they had in and they will take no trades with my ST, and even with cash want 47k for it.
They can shove it i will be getting the RS 2nd hand in the UK where its a lot cheaper.
Behave.
Why would a GT-R owner have to vindicate his purchase? "Frequently"? Marque issues aside, there's no call for it in the first place. 99% of 'ring superiority claims aren't even made by the owners I'd guess, it's almost inevitably web jockeys who are paper racing. The entire thing has been so blown out of all proportion and so over-analysed that I doubt owners of either badge give a flying one about the time itself anymore, let alone use it to justify a purchase (which in itself is ludicrous).
Regarding the RS, it doesn't seem to be an outrageous price for what you're buying to me, Harris loved it and thought it much quicker point to point than the 26.R and STi on the road and seemed really impressed with how much kit you get for the money.
"bye bye in seconds" ? Please.
I've frequently been on many a B-road blast in cars right I've owned from my 125bhp LupoGTi, through to a 160bhp Elise, 190bhp ITR and my current 320bhp GTA having keepy-uppy fun with all kinds of machinery from 200bhp Caterhams to Porsches and various hot Clio's.
You need a *serious* power benefit to pull big leads on cars on the kinds of straights you'd see on most B-roads.
The fact that one of the cars I most struggled with in the GTA was a Clio Trophy....I'd got a *huge* power/torque advantage, but the relatively small gap I managed to pull on the straights was quickkly gobbled up on the twisty bits.
And who drives on B-roads with lots of straights anyway? Aren't those called A-roads, the ones you try to avoid?
I think a Caterham R300 Superlight might be faster round the ring but can't confirm. It is also cheaper brand new than the Focus.
Having said that I saw an RS go up and down the hill at Goodwood and it sounded very impressive.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
It always amazes me how people just dont seem to appreciate this..
To be fair though while that I can't easily imagine is true a caterham while amazing is an engine on wheels and if you think about the fact the only dater car people cam think of weighs as much as my pushbike makes the rs look better really
look I just think the following it represents good value for money in tes of performance, residuals AND equipment/comfort so to be honest what's not to like, idd have one although I imagine when I can afford to buy a 25 k new car I would just settle for a older speed demon for a while and save for a SERIOUS car like a m3 or something
Then fact its a £30k Ford Focus thats not really any quicker than a £20k Ford Focus with a 500 quid remap?
)GT-R is also ~1/2 the price of cars it thrashes around the Ring, I think that alone plays a big part in why it's critically acclaimed.
That being said I too haven't really heard of GT-R owners/fans raving about ring times, etc - it seems to be mainly thrown up as some sort of criticism (?) to infer the owners care too much about the "wrong statistics" ? I dunno. Despite the GT-R price tag being half or less than half that of cars it is quicker than there are some who can't see past the badge and would never be happy unless they're sat in (and seen to be sat in) a Porsche or equivalent.
As for the Mk2 Focus RS - I actually think it looks the part, Cosworth-esque styling for a more modern & civilised age.
It is just shy of £30k though and that sort of money buys a lot of metal.e: Ok Ferrari 360s aren't quite cheap enough yet.
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I don't remember GTROC going mental when Nissan trimmed off time, and then more time again last year...it's impressive and good to see Nissan constantly refining it, but that's about it from an owners point of view.
Turning your nose up at a car at this level because of the badge or price is something I will never understand. It's pretty impressive ignorance.
[TW]Fox;16069318 said:
It's not a car I know much about, but I thought it was a significantly better / quicker car with the front suspension set-up? I'm just going off a DR vid, mind.
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