To be fair, at the moment I'm quite keen to hang onto my RS4, but in my job, I get the opportunity to get extended test drives in all the latest cars, and this was one opportunity I just couldn't turn down given the hype surrounding this vehicle.
Well I had it from 9 till 3 on Monday - what do I think??? ( Oh and before anyone asks its slower than a 335D in all occasions, especially down the 1/4 mile strip........) But seriously, this car is sooooo much slower than my RS4, but I know that it hasn't been built to compete with my car!
Fantastic looking car, especially in white, really aggressive and a real head turner, but in a completely different 'in your face' look rather than the subtle way the RS4 turns heads!
Initial thoughts on getting in this £30k car, its still a focus, which to be fair isn't a bad thing, as it is a very good car, however this is thirty big ones, and that's the bit I still can't get my head round. Seating position too high, and my seat was adjusted down, as I checked, very similar seat to the RS4, but not as comfy. everything else is on the right place - this car had nav, bluetooth etc, so was a reasonably nice place to be, but still a focus (god I'm a badge snob)
Started the engine, nice gruff warble, but not loud enough - maybe I'm just used to the Milltek, and I suppose European noise levels etc, they have to keep it to a minimum.
Initial thoughts driving it, the car has usable power all over the rev range, with torque everywhere, and especially once the power is fully wound in. The roads were dry, and bar absolutely nailing it from a standing start, this car gets the power down very, very well, all down the the REVO knuckle, and LSD I suppose, however, on anything other than a flat service, I found the steering wheel was being pulled all over the place, and following any undulations in the road, which isn't a pleasant experience at 70mph, going down my favorite set of twistys! In fact, for me, this was a big put off for the car. I'm sure its something I could get used to, but having had very little experience of a front wheel drive car with LSD, it was just a little strange. The ride was nice and firm, handling was good with excellent turn in and feel, and when driving normally (with the family) it drove well and just like any other focus).
On dropping it back I averaged not much over 20MPG, which isn't great, and I wasn't hammering it all the time as I had the family in it - not that great considering my RS4 averages about 17!
Now the important question, if I was after a car of this size, would I buy one - For exclusivity - YES, but for lots of other reasons - NO IE, too expensive - It feels like a £20 to £25k car, I wasn't overly happy with the driving position, the LSD and how it makes it feel twitchy, and its a FOCUS. If I was rich enough I'd probably have one in the fold of cars.....but I'm not. I'd probably end up in the new Golf R or Audi RS3......
I am not taking away what Ford have done, and it does put the power down, like no other FWD car I've driven, and I'm sure I could get used to the rest, but just not for me, unless I have a serious midlife crisis!
