Official Focus RS

Very true. The days of almost bespoke cars (Escort Cosworth, Nissan GTIR) are well over.

Ford could sell a Focus RS 4WD but it would be closer to 40K. Anyone remember the Seat Ibiza F2? That was 40K and still FWD and I've never seen one in the flesh.

They can't build great cars no one will buy. They can only build compromised cars that some people will buy.
 
Bug One said:
I think some of you guys are getting confused.

Its a Focus RS. NOT a Focus Cosworth.
Click to expand...

Exactly! And still got to laugh at the comments like it's just a slightly tweaked ST when the only details on spec we have are the power output and the LSD. Could also have 8 pots on the front, 4 pots on the rear, fancy suspension with remote reservoirs, lightweight magnesium alloy wheels, carbon fibre seats, fluffy dice...

I'm amazed at the amount of slagging off it gets already :p

My guess is price wise it'll be way below the S3 and inbetween the R32 and R26\Astra Nurbergring (or however it spelt) book prices.
 
Last edited:
DreXeL said:
BUT FWD SUCKZ!!!!11one1!
Click to expand...

That's true, I've never driven a fun/good FWD car ever, they don't exist. Infact I have a little cry everytime I drive the Clio as the wrong wheels are driven :p

Although one solution is to drive everywhere in reverse.
 
Last edited:
205 GTi, Clio Trophy, Clio Williams, 106 GTi and Elan are all fun and good FWD cars if you ask me. The problems start when you try to put to much power through the front wheels and then it all goes wrong. A well balanced RWD is of course more fun, but there are plenty of fun and good FWD cars out there.
 
housemaster said:
205 GTi, Clio Trophy, Clio Williams, 106 GTi and Elan are all fun and good FWD cars if you ask me.
Click to expand...

Good list, people often don't think of the Elan. I was chatting to someone today about them as they were after a fun soft top for not too much cash, seemed a better idea (financially) than a cheap early Elise possibly?
 
Ev0 said:
Good list, people often don't think of the Elan. I was chatting to someone today about them as they were after a fun soft top for not too much cash, seemed a better idea (financially) than a cheap early Elise possibly?
Click to expand...

I still think I would take the Elise myself, I have a soft spot for them ;)
 
housemaster said:
I still think I would take the Elise myself, I have a soft spot for them ;)
Click to expand...

They do look nicer and are a more modern car, and for a weekend car say only doing 200 odd miles a month even a cheap one shouldn't be too costly to run right? :/ I just associate old Elises with expensive repairs from stories read on various forums.

The Elan still looks quite good for it's age though.
 
smelf1 said:
And considering the new Kuga is using the Haldex 4wd system from volvo, and is essentially the same chassis as the focus.

Surely the could convert it to run in the rs easily.

Another issue will be cost as over here in Ireland it should hit €55k+, yearly road tax of €2000k+ and then very high insurance.
Click to expand...

As soon as a car hits 2 million euros for tax I'm afraid I'd give it a miss.
 
Ford lost money on the last focus RS, i can't remember the figure quoted but it was quite a bit. I guess you can't really blame them for wanting to make some money this time round
 
My honest opinion is that without a LSD, the current ST can struggle to get the power down, mine after 2 years has really proved to me that 200bhp is the limit with FWD without an LSD, problem is, if they use an electronic LSD then it stail aint gonna be much kop, the MPS Mazda has a electronic LSD and tbh, you can really feel the computers trying to reign the car in all the time, with takes a lot of away from the car in terms of feel.

The Focus, is a big heavy car, its a big lazy hothatch, designed more for people like me, who want a quick comfortable sporty car for work, rather than people who want a track oriented car, simple fact is people like me are more profitable for companies like Ford, hardcore track enthusiasts are not.

Theres a new R26 out soon aswell, stripped out version, now that will be the better 'hot-hatch'.
 
I must say I agree with that, high power FWD cars can work very well with a good LSD, the problem is high powered modern FWD cars just rain all that power in with traction control and crappy electronic LSDs :(
 
wohoo said:
Theres a new R26 out soon aswell, stripped out version, now that will be the better 'hot-hatch'.
Click to expand...

R26-R or something isn't it? Should be interesting, yet another special edition/revision from Renault. Supposedly with carbon fibire bonnet and ploycarb windows (hmmm will that really happen?) +to aid with a rather large diet they'll put it on.

Guess you've got to give them credit for developing their models rather than releasing them and not touching them for years.
 
Does it need to have been 4WD or RWD like? Just that on the Fez ST Owners club there are some pushing 220bhp+ through the little Fez, FWD, and they have no problems with traction, or power delivery, etc. Obviously the Quaife LSD helps. But I don't think this new RS will have any problems, I think Ford do a very good job in the "handling" department. I just don't think people can complain until perhaps having a test drive and seeing for themselves. :) Just my thoughts, please don't kill me. lol.
 
ford make cars to make money, not to please the 10 or so "diehards" who think the car needs to have 4wd and 500bhp but probably will never buy it. I think for have done the right thing, if they get the handling as sorted as they did on the old RS this will be a big hit.

It's a sad state ford have got themselves into, ford europe sems to get it right every single time from when they released the Focus yet for of america make hideos shoddy cars, just look at the american focus for comparison. the yanks are actually crying out for the european focus because the yank one is so fugly!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom