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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!

it does look good in white. Seems like some fair comments you have made. Am surprised there is so much of that steering wheel squirm that the 1st focus RS suffered with. thats not something that seems to have been mentioned on official reviews. Guess there is a limit to how much power you can put thru the front wheels!

nice write up Oli, its the cost and feel of Ford's that would put m off too

psg001 wrote: Guess there is a limit to how much power you can put thru the front wheels!

Funnily enough thats what I thought, as it hasn't been mentioned at all in nay of the reports, it was just over uneven road surfaces though!

Thats a great looking car and was really tempted to get one before the RS4, great colour and looks but not to impressed with the interior for 30grand, couldnt see myself selling the RS4 for one wich is a shame or not, lol Ford do build good cars what are resonable to maintain from my experience though. Peter

Very informative write up but, what would the car enthusiast take for 30k.........the Focus or a 3 year old RS4 ?

Emmm....chose a RS4. Was tempted by the Focus, but as Oli says, its still a ford.
After two years your RS4 will still be worth something, the Focus???

nice car

you guys get all the good ones

Oh and by the way, I didn't test drive it as a replacement for the RS4. I had the test drive because I could!

Residuals on the RS focus are strong. If you look at 6 year old ones now if they are nice they can command circa £12k which when it only cost £20k to start with is very good. Less than £1500 a year depreciation. I had one of the first Focus RS's in the country and even sold it for a premium after 6 months. Autocar magazine reckons it was quicker than the RS4 over their test track in the dry so that suggests to me it is a very good car and excellent value for money. I buy a car on its merit and not by its badge

GB - If you actually look I did drive it on it merits - I always do when testing a car, but just didn't come up to scratch, in my books, but also bear in mind, this is a £30k car not £20k, so a lot more to depreciate. And I cannot understand how Autcar found it faster than the RS4???

Drive one and then make your own conclusions, I'm sure you will agree with what I'm saying

Knowing me though I'll probably have one in 6 months - ha ha!

its not surely all about how it drives.... what about how it looks? For a weekend car, or something for fun sure, but I couldn't live with that day to day, aggressive and bold looking only works on a weekend, turn up for a meeting in that and no one will take you seriously, I mean, its crying out 'mid life crisis' even in white my car doesn't look as try hard as the focus does...

I have actually gone ahead and bought one of the Ultimate Green ones and I have to say the one I tested was fantastic. I thought through the gears up to sixty it was as fast as the RS4 even though they give it 5.9 secs from 0-62 mph but after this the RS4 would leave it behind. Through the bends on smooth roads it is sensational and an RS4 would struggle to keep up with it. On uneven roads with bumps and potholes the car did feel a bit of a handful. Anyway when I get it guys I'll come and see you at a rolling road day or a meet and let you have a go to see what you think.

I know you are getting one Jezzer, but I am surprised you think it is as fast as the RS4, did you go to the test drive in the RS4, or had you sold it by that point, as Im sure its just the turbo rush that makes it feel as fast, as when I got back into mine, it just felt so much faster!!! And it usually the other way round with strong turbo'd cars!

Good luck with yours and I look forward to hearing the longterm write up

its a Ford ... enough said