Just driven RS Focus !!!

[CHRISKL]

Hi guys, I read and learn from this forum constantly but post very little. On this occasion I feel compelled to post my overall take on this thread FWIW.
I think nearly all on here reading and following this thread need to reign themselves in a little and chill. The original poster made a fairly simple post and question that has deteriorated into a right ol' can of worms! Most here have not tried the FRS (just like me) and cannot therefore give any good/bad objective view when comparing it to the RS4 - it seems that people will instead voice their biaises based purely upon motoring culture (chav or not chave etc). As petrolheads we all presumably enjoy performance cars and I presume there will be some manufacturer allegiances - but to rubbish the FRS and others like it because they are not made by Audi is just plain crazy. I feel JackWood has made the only really constructive post on this matter, whilst AJ-T made some very good points in his early posts but he has been jumped upon (unfairly in my view) because it is a Ford. Badge snobbery is distinctly taking precedence now - which I personally hate. I'm fairly certain that all us RS4 owners would feel aggrieved if AM/Porsche/Lambo etc forums came up with a member saying 'Anyone tried an RS4' and then their members rubbishing it simple because its only an Audi. So c'mon guys lets get back to some sense of normality - there are lots of different performance cars out there from lots of different manufacturers to suit lots of different budgets and satisfy lots of different tastes and lifestyles - thats what life is all about - individuality and choice, because we are not all the same (thank god). Go enjoy your performance cars - whatever they are.
Chris

[dest]

Jamsport, my local tuner have had one since they came out and are pretty much leading the pack with tuning them, theyve already got a 375bhp package and it is awesome!



This is it doing a lap of the Ring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivd8kKYUUS8

[SR71]

CHRISKL,

Good post.

I think its probably a great little car and quick as well.

I am genuinely curious, though, as to why they dropped the 4WD?

A poster made reference to the "debate" but I personally have not read the justification...

[approved]

Jamsport, my local tuner have had one since they came out and are pretty much leading the pack with tuning them, theyve already got a 375bhp package and it is awesome!



This is it doing a lap of the Ring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivd8kKYUUS8

goes well.

looks like its had a right few quid chucked at it as well..

should have come out of ford with this power.

[P_G]

After all this banter I have done the sensible thing and taken an Focus RS out for a test drive. A good car, especially for the money...... all said though I won't consider trading up

Pro's

Excellent Grip and handling
Good brakes
Good visibility
Decent power delivery and plenty quick but hard to adjust back to turbo lag as little as there is in it
Decent interior, supportive driver seat

Cons

Excellent grip is at the sacrifice of ride pliancy and comfort, it was rock solid and getting a bit tedious. I like feeling connected to the road but don't like feeling the size of every stone I went over, no use for family driving for any length of time

As much as it has a decent interrior, I must be too used to Audi grade plastics and ergonomics which for me are still way ahead of any other mainstream manufacturer, even Lexus. As for boot space it is a little bigger than my old S3 which was only half the space of the S4 and and RS4 I had although rear leg room is on a par with the RS4.

Someone mentioned the sat nav, they were right. Great idea poorly executed, the screen seems more prone to greasy fingerprints than other touchscreen systems and therefore makes it a nightmare to use unless the FRS comes with driving gloves as standard!

Power, yes there is lots but even the RS on the back roads I used struggled top put it down on anything less than smooth, even and dry. It still squirms a lot but less than say an R26 or a VXR Astra which I have also tried. You just felt you had to wait for it to settle down before planting the throttle to the floor. As much as people say the RS4 understeers my Hothkis bars have sorted that so I can't say mine does which gives me the confidence to chuck it into bends an have the throttle to the floor mid bend rather than after.


Overall a good car for its price but there is more to the RS4 for the extra money than just 4 rings on the front and back. I'm sure it is tuneable and would be way faster than an RS4 in that state, but that it can struggle to put down the power now you would seriously have to beef up the suspension to ake it usale and therefore how much harder would the ride be? Nice colour the FRS in blue BTW, appears to visually make it less of a boy racers car; is that special order colour?

[SR71]

Good job P_G.

Think me and Rob will do the same!

Along with the GTR and C63...

[almoRS]

CHRISKL,

Good post.

I think its probably a great little car and quick as well.

I am genuinely curious, though, as to why they dropped the 4WD?

A poster made reference to the "debate" but I personally have not read the justification...

I think it was mainly for weight reasons. I had an S60 R prior to my RS which is where the basic FRS engine came from before being re-tuned by Ford. It had the haldex 4 wheel drive system to cope with the heavier car and 300BHP.

I like the look of it too and saving weight by not introducing the haldex system does make sense.

[AJ-T]

CHRISKL,

Good post.

I think its probably a great little car and quick as well.

I am genuinely curious, though, as to why they dropped the 4WD?

A poster made reference to the "debate" but I personally have not read the justification...

I think it was mainly for weight reasons. I had an S60 R prior to my RS which is where the basic FRS engine came from before being re-tuned by Ford. It had the haldex 4 wheel drive system to cope with the heavier car and 300BHP.

I like the look of it too and saving weight by not introducing the haldex system does make sense.

Yes your very right, there was a test mule made with 4WD and they tested it for months at the ring etc - I believe their final conclusion was that the difference between 4WD and FWD was minimal (on that car) and that you would be looking at 35k+ for it, that is now entering a different territory of cars.

Would people want to pay 35k+ for a Ford Focus? Im not sure I would, but then again it could have been a stonker of a car!

I think it would have been nice to have a 4WD RS but will it be cost effective for ford - unfortnately not.