What does everyone think of.....?

Shep_Cobain · 15 Jan 2010 at 11:55

a MK1 Ford Focus RS.

I have been looking at them and just wondered are they reliable?

They look stunning in my opinion and because there wasnt many made they are a real head turner.

Does anyone own one or have any friends etc who have or have had one?

I am just intrigued as i have never spoken to anyone who has owned one and i am considering purchasing one.

They go for about £10k with low mileage and standard underneath and outside.

Thanks guys.

Moeks · 15 Jan 2010 at 12:02

Well I drove one once a few years ago, I didn't like it, but tbh I wasn't likely to I suppose. Had awful torque steer and is basically just another Focus inside, wasn't very comfortable either. It's quick but not what I would call really fast. I think if it had 4wd it would be a lot better at getting it's power down, no torque steer and the front end scrabbling for grip.

My response probably isn't all that helpful, but that's what I thought anyway. I really have no idea what they are like to live with.

Reality Bites · 15 Jan 2010 at 12:06

for the money, i'd much prefer an ST2/3.

Shep_Cobain · 15 Jan 2010 at 12:06

yeh, i dont like the new focus's. Just wondered if mk1 RS's are reliable?

Ricochet J · 15 Jan 2010 at 12:06

I love them. They are based on the pre-facelift rather than the later facelift which is annoying.

Moeks · 15 Jan 2010 at 12:07

Reality Bites said:
for the money, i'd much prefer an ST2/3.

Yep, I would agree with that 110% and then some. They are nice cars to drive, really genuinely nice. You don’t feel like you’re sacrificing anything for the performance, and they sound better. The old RS is a bit ...well it's an old RS is all I can say, it'll probably be remembered as being better than it was/is tbh. Leon Cupra R 225 was the best hot hatch of the last era in my opinion.

Brapsta · 15 Jan 2010 at 12:08

Reality Bites said:
for the money, i'd much prefer an ST2/3.

agreed, just for the noise they make

LiE · 15 Jan 2010 at 12:23

Saw one the other day, I actually didn't think it looked that special and at first I thought it was actually an ST170. I hear they are fantastic to drive but I couldn't live with the tacky blue/plastic interior that must be based on some 80s design.

Peerzy · 15 Jan 2010 at 12:25

msm722 said:
Saw one the other day, I actually didn't think it looked that special and at first I thought it was actually an ST170. I hear they are fantastic to drive but I couldn't live with the tacky blue/plastic interior that must be based on some 80s design.

This, it's £10k for a small Ford designed in 1998 and it really shows.

Especially as you can pick up a current generation ST for the same money. Not as rare and hasn't got the RS badge but still reasonably quick and fun.

lordrobs · 15 Jan 2010 at 12:28

They certainly turn my head much more than a current ST or RS.

I love them but wouldn't want to actually own one if that makes sense.

1CE · 15 Jan 2010 at 12:50

Shep_Cobain said:
a MK1 Ford Focus RS.

I have been looking at them and just wondered are they reliable?

They look stunning in my opinion and because there wasnt many made they are a real head turner.

Does anyone own one or have any friends etc who have or have had one?

I am just intrigued as i have never spoken to anyone who has owned one and i am considering purchasing one.

They go for about £10k with low mileage and standard underneath and outside.

Thanks guys.

Hi,

I bought my one last October for just over 10k with 55k on the clock, they are pretty reliable considering what they are but also designed as an every day car. Things start to go wrong when you start upping the power, but that's mainly because parts become weaker, like the DV leaking as it's plastic as standard, acuators become weak as you up the boost. Kind of the same with computer components and as with other cars really.

I love the torque steer on mine, gives it a kind of character and only really has trouble putting the power down in wet days, but dont most?
The handling is also superb even in the wet!

Petrol wise, nothing but 97+ or you'll start doing damage according the manual, I put tesco 99 in mine and trust me, get a tesco club card

Clarkson's thoughts on it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBHQobVdk9U

Each to there own though

s-man · 15 Jan 2010 at 13:02

I like them...not a car I have a real urge to own or anything but I like their subtelty & exclusivity. People who know a bit about cars and fast Fords will recognise an RS straight away...the majority of the general public probably won't and I like that! They're not hugely quick, the handling (depending who you speak to, or which review you read) is either dangerous or sublime - certainly interesting. It's a Ford Focus so the interior isn't great but the seats and other contact points are nice.

Personally I'd much rather one of these than a newer ST...I find those just completely anonymous and lardy looking - plus they're clearly more of a 'white goods' hot hatch than the RS was.

I reckon if you buy a good one, don't mod it (much

) and look after it carefully it should be pretty reliable and also not lose much of its value. I don't think I'd be prepared to outlay the cash to get one but if you would then I think you could do a lot lot worse

Gaygle · 15 Jan 2010 at 13:43

10k for a 7 or 8 year old Focus? Rather you than me.

What's wrong with a Civic Type R/Cupra R for 6k? Or a Clio 182/197? Or a Golf GTI?