[Chris]

And conclude that its "superb".

Originally slating the car for its wrist breaking torque-steer.....
they retest an owner example with 4000 miles on, alongside the new
Astra VXR.

Apparantly there had been a persitant rumour that press cars at launch
at had been fettled with in order to make them more impressive than
stock cars.... somewhat explaining the scary driving.

They say it absolutely trounces the Astra, makes yards on it out of
corners and feels so much better weighted and planted under braking and
over crests.

The previous test pages contained a 3-way test between the GTI, VXR and Megane 225. The last paragraph on the RS reads:

"This RS is superb. I reckon if we'd pitched it into the group test
you've just read, it would have left the Astra for dead, elbowed the
Megane out of the way and given the Golf a serious run for its money.
Yes, it's that good."

I always did have doubts that the RS was as bad as some people made out!

 

[GaryM]

I love the Focus RS, a superb looking and performing car.
Sometimes I wish I had opted for one instead of the GTI but 5dr was needed []

 

[andymac]

I wouldnt mind a go of one myself, put was put of by 220 bhp torque steer had enough of that in my accord type r

 

[Chris]

Ditto!

As hot hatches go, i think the looks are just about perfect.... there's not another one that looks anywhere near as good IMO.

I was soooooooo tempted to spend the extra cash on one when i got rid
of the Golf, but insurance (rightly) put pay to that. Not a car i'd
liked parked on a street anyway!

 

[GaryM]

I wouldnt mind a go of one myself, put was put of by 220 bhp torque steer had enough of that in my accord type r

I assume it will only be as bad as a similar powered Golf?
I must admit though since I got a Quaife dif, if I don't hold on when accelerating hard in 1st and 2nd then I would probably be mounting the nearest kerb!!

 

[simch]

I am surprised by one of their comments..../ ? Surely the focus rs would murder the mk5 gti on pure performance, both straight line and round twisties?? Unless the GTI I tried was on some comfy suspension or something. MK5 GTI is streets ahead of a mk4 of course, but in stock form I would nto call it a performance car as such? I would imagine (not tried one) the Focus RS would beat it to death wouldn't it?

I have to say I reckon the new Focus St with the 2.5 turbo will be the hot hatch king when it comes out. You just know it is going to handle and that motor should be pretty quick!!

 

[JMcQueen]

you can get an RS for about ?15k now which is pretty good considering . I'd like one, but as usual, the commute puts paid to that. And I agree, the new ST will be excellent if fugly.

 

[djhorace]

I still love its older sibling the Escort RS Cosworth. With uprated suspension the Cossie would toast an RS Focus.

 

[The Walrus]

They drove the ST in this edition also and had positive things to say about it the looks are to fussy for me much like the astra but it is turning into a big hot hatch war.

 

[TouranMan]

How can you not like this?! []

http://www.ford.co.uk/spg/getImage.asp?imageName=SPG_3_28_0_22251.jpg&filename=SPG_3_28_0_22251.jpg

http://www.ford.co.uk/spg/getImage.asp?imageName=SPG_3_28_0_22257.jpg&filename=SPG_3_28_0_22257.jpg

http://www.ford.co.uk/spg/getImage.asp?imageName=SPG_3_28_0_22260.jpg&filename=SPG_3_28_0_22260.jpg

I think it's stunning, even in that colour! And that engine will be sweet!

 

[paul2070]

As a previous owner of a Focus Rs,i can confirm that it is a truly exceptional car,with handling like you would never believe possible.

Mine did suffer from torque steer,which was considerably worse the more the tyres were worn,but you learn to drive around it,and i believe that the rest of the driving experience more than makes up for it.

Now a days people have forgotten what a proper performance car is all about,non more so than Volkswagen themselves,as it is only with the release of the new Golf GTI that they have got a proper HOT hatch again.

Don't get me wrong,i like my MK4 GT TDI 150,but for completely different reasons ( economy!! ),and it is not until you start modifying one,that it starts to become the GTI part of the title,whereas,straight out of the box,the Focus is a fantastic drivers car,that everybody looks at ( if you like that kind of thing ),and not in a bad way,it just looks subtely aggressive,and lets be honest,if people spend 20 grand on this type of car,they do like a certain amount of admiration.

Why did i sell it???

3 months on,i am still trying to decide,but as with most people on here,i like to drive a car that i have made to look a certain way,go a certain way,and TRY to improve on what i have already got,and with the Focus,i was too afraid that that would NOT be possible.

Oh,and i needed five doors......................bloody kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[The Walrus]

If you changed the grills inserts at the side of both front and rear bumpers plus take away the side repeaters on the front wings plus change the wheels I think it could look better, as it stands I think it is over styled with the added touches which to me are not needed.

thats why I cannot like it.

 

[The Walrus]

Oh and the rear spoiler is hideous.

 

[Matteeboy]

There's a black one in this months Evo that looks a LOT better.

I'm keen to try one out.

 

[NikB]

I think the original Focus RS was ok to look at but it didn't do a
great deal for me. The inside especially was a turn off with lots of
bright blue everywhere. It was however very good round a track.

As for the new one, I like the wheels but I just don't like the overall shape of the Focus, just doesn't appeal.

 

[djhorace]

I think the original Focus RS was ok to look at but it didn't do a great deal for me. The inside especially was a turn off with lots of bright blue everywhere. It was however very good round a track.

As for the new one, I like the wheels but I just don't like the overall shape of the Focus, just doesn't appeal.

I am the same although the wheels would be a pain to clean! Looks like a squashed mondeo at the front which is no good thing. The 5 cyl turbo engine almost blinds me from it though!

 

[SteveTDCi]

here it is in blue ...

http://www.ffoc.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=81047

the orange is going to be a limited production run.

 

[Mo]

I would seriously consider a blue one as my next car.

 

[Vincec79]

I saw a Focus RS today, and I do still like them despite the fact that I found the original focus's interior really cheap and nasty. Even had a look to see if there where any for sale on Autotrader and for a Ford it does seem to be holding its value pretty well as it was a 2003 RS up for just over ?16k.

Also that new ST shown in Evo also looks pretty smart in black but again the dash looked cheap and plasticy.