Ford Focus RS

Soldato
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I was/am going to get a Ford Focus RS but I noiticed something this week which I thought was strange and I just had someone say the exact same thing to me.

Basically there are lot of used ones for sale.. the number for sale is quite surprising for a relatively new car and a lot have not been owned for long.

Although I was getting new this got me thinking, why are people selling them so quickly? is it because they are not as good as hoped after owning it, is there a problem, are there any other factors...

Just wondering if anyone has seen anything negative that would explain why people are not keeping them long? it's not like they are making a profit.
 
Many of them are having serious engine trouble and failures, so a lot of people will be trying to offload them.

Just google Focus RS mk3 engine trouble.

Put the money in to a MK2 IMO. Those are solid and going up in value.
 
A la the Mustang, a lot of people will now be dealing with the realities of living with one every day - and finding it's really not for them. Fine for them on a 30-minute test drive, not fine after three hours behind the wheel on the M25 and another tank of fuel...
 
A la the Mustang, a lot of people will now be dealing with the realities of living with one every day - and finding it's really not for them. Fine for them on a 30-minute test drive, not fine after three hours behind the wheel on the M25 and another tank of fuel...

Fuel is the only issue as a cruiser its a fantastic car, the only issue I tend to end up driving it 100+ if I am not careful, really hides speed when just cruising in top gear due to it being an overdrive. But yeah best I've had on a run is around 33mpg, so its no 50+ mpg warrior, but I don't car about fuel economy. :)
 
A lot of the first buyers were hoping to sell them on for a profit but with Ford increasing the allocation to 6500 cars and then adding Sync 3 Nav along with the early engines failing has put pay to that. My local dealer has several cars from cancelled orders available.
 
A lot of the first buyers were hoping to sell them on for a profit but with Ford increasing the allocation to 6500 cars and then adding Sync 3 Nav along with the early engines failing has put pay to that. My local dealer has several cars from cancelled orders available.

Many owners I know who got there cars for the original £33-35k sold them on 12 months later at around 35-36k, so zero depreciation on a brand new car. Even now dealers are buying cars back for ease and offering 28-32k dependent on dealer and spec.

No 5.0 engines have failed either, only one UK car to my knowledge had the oil cooler fail internally which led to water in oil, as such engine replaced though still running. The only issues have mainly being 2.3's popping, though I don't think their has being any real Mustang issues on UK cars as its de-tuned more. But there was certainly a lot of 2.3l failures in the US at first.

But the 5.0's are very strong motors, some are running 1000 horses on completely stock internals, crazy and like driving a ticking bomb, but some people like life on the edge. :D
 
A friend picked up a cancelled Mk3 RS while he waited for his to be delivered (presume his spec was unavailable?). He sold the first one on for a profit after a few months. I presume a lot of people who ordered early were able to do the same so cashed in after x months?

The UK Mustangs were changing hands for more than list too a while ago; not sure if this is the case now?

Supply and demand?
 
Nasher, what do you drive?

Okay, to clear up a few points that some like to make a band wagon of to jump on and push on the forums.

In my view the many for sale are potential people who tried to speculate and make a quick buck, dealers included ordered early for stock to mark up prices. Some will be just people had to have the latest thing and move on to the next quickly. Yes there are cancelled orders as well, so perhaps a way to get one as you can try before you buy.
I think some people bought just because it was all over the press and didn't know what they were buying, so for sure it's not for everyone, they can always buy a SUV or something.

Engine failures:- There are a few reported cases around the world, highest profile is Fezza, chap in Spain who does blogs on youtube, well worth watching them (He loves it btw) It seems the block has cracked, potential on a few early cars. Nothing is confirmed by Ford and they have been replaced under warranty. Not good, but they are not all blowing up.
If you buy new, get the extended warranty purchased BEFORE IT'S REGISTERED, can't be bought after 1st registration, this will give you 5 years cover.

It's a hot hatch, not a limo, it's suspension is firm, not crash at all. (you won't need sport setting on the road, which some bloggers tried just to make a story about) My Z4 is crashy, an Audi S-Line is crashy. I would assume someone looking at a hot hatch is expecting that. It doesn't get thrown off line over bumps and dips, stays very composed.

It's absolutely fine as an every day car, but it does like a bit of petrol and has small tank. Around 28 is typical, you can drive like miss daisy on a run and get high 30's.

Some complain about high seating position, again newer, 2017MY cars are said to be 12-15mm lower, only applies to the optional Recaro Shell seats. There is a company offering a seat lowering kit. Personally I'm not touching it as they can't/won't confirm to me what testing has been done. (None I assume then) As it's a primary safety devise (and I a seating Engineer) I need convincing.

Also reported is Steering issues. This is hardest to understand, it seems on some cars it pulls left and right under WOT, maybe torque steer, but seems more like the rear torque vectoring is little to eager to chip in and steers a bit more than people expected from the rear. It's hard to quantity as not everyone has this or feels it's an issue. Plus there is people driving styles to factor in. It doesn't and you don't drive like a "normal" FWD car, which is the fun and point of the system. (It's nothing like a crappy Halex system either). One advantage of picking up a car already at a dealer.

It is a great car, even better once the Mountune 375 warranty approved intake and remap kit is fitted. The grip is outstanding, the steering excellent and the balance and handling great, you can steer it with the throttle, power into bends and tighten it's line as the back pushes you around. It's intoxicating and addictive.

Sign up to the RSOC and the MK3focusRS club websites for loads of info, parts and discussions.

I've had mine for over 6 months now and done 7K miles, no regrets.
 
Many owners I know who got there cars for the original £33-35k sold them on 12 months later at around 35-36k, so zero depreciation on a brand new car. Even now dealers are buying cars back for ease and offering 28-32k dependent on dealer and spec.

I don't think the early cars will be selling well now due to all the rumoured engine issues with the early builds and Sync 3 Nav in the later cars. I do think the engine issues are exaggerated on the forums, my friend has one of the first in the UK with 23k on the clock now and has had no issues with it. In saying that the local dealer sold one that is now on it's forth engine.

If you buy new, get the extended warranty purchased BEFORE IT'S REGISTERED, can't be bought after 1st registration, this will give you 5 years cover.

You an register them for the warranty after first registration, members on RSOC have successfully done this.
 
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https://www.proveeda.co.uk/stock/ford-focus-2-3-ecoboost-rs-awd-5dr-startstop/

he's desperate to sell it but nobody is interested, but i expect it hasn't been seen yet by the right people ...........it's like what the reviews say about the WRX STI ``it has a hard bone jarring ride, i got back ache after only 20 mins``, rubbish it's no worst than the Jazz, you're supposed to feel the road and hear the engine, that's the whole point.........
 
I don't think the early cars will be selling well now due to all the rumoured engine issues with the early builds and Sync 3 Nav in the later cars. I do think the engine issues are exaggerated on the forums, my friend has one of the first in the UK with 23k on the clock now and has had no issues with it. In saying that the local dealer sold one that is now on it's forth engine.


What are you on about? There is no engine issue with the 5.0's never was and never has being and nothing has being changed between early and later cars on engines, they are all the same.
 
https://www.proveeda.co.uk/stock/ford-focus-2-3-ecoboost-rs-awd-5dr-startstop/

he's desperate to sell it but nobody is interested ...........it's like what the reviews say about the WRX STI ``it has a hard bone jarring ride, i got back ache after only 20 mins``, rubbish it's no worst than the Jazz, you're supposed to feel the road and hear the engine, that's the whole point.........

These cars need basically all the options to sell, with no Nav I wouldn't even consider it. Dealers are also giving discounts on new cars around 1-1.5k or offering the cancelled orders at the pre increase price.

What are you on about? There is no engine issue with the 5.0's never was and never has being and nothing has being changed between early and later cars on engines, they are all the same.

I am talking about the MK3 RS Focus.
 
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Whats wrong with the engine then, and is the mustang not affected as its under less stress as i believe its the same engine (Obviously not the 5.0 altho that would be awesome in a focus).
 
Whats wrong with the engine then, and is the mustang not affected as its under less stress as i believe its the same engine (Obviously not the 5.0 altho that would be awesome in a focus).

All rumours but the main two are early cars have problems with the piston rings being soft leading to increased oil consumption which has resulted in software updates to lower the service interval, the other problems with the head gasket causing coolant loss resulting in overheated engines.

Also fairly common owners reporting oil leaks from the transfer box.
 
Yep, oil leaks all over the place seems to be the big one. Which obviously leads to other issues.

Nasher, what do you drive?

After years of owning Ford hot hatches. I sold my mk7 Fiesta ST for a GT86, because the awkward driving position Ford seem to use in them all started to give me back and shoulder ache. The GT86 manages to be just as firm, but without the crashyness and the driving position is spot on.
 
All rumours but the main two are early cars have problems with the piston rings being soft leading to increased oil consumption which has resulted in software updates to lower the service interval, the other problems with the head gasket causing coolant loss resulting in overheated engines.

Also fairly common owners reporting oil leaks from the transfer box.


Got ya, gonna say the 5.0 is rock solid, when the Coyote first came out in 2010 I think it was there was some issues but they were resolved a long long time ago before the release of new Mustang.

Yes the 2.3 had issues in the Mustang in the US, think the UK one is trouble free but I think it might be de-tuned or altered compared to the US version or they got software updates which means UK 2.3 Mustangs have those updates but for sure quite a lot of US 2.3's went pop even stock.
 
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