Focus RS or A45?
31 January 2020, 02:15 PM
#31
Compare it to the RS3 and the Audi definitely felt quick - yes admittedly that was 412, but considering the FPM375 is supposed to be 370ish bhp it still felt nowhere near as agile and rapid.
I think Ford chose the wrong powerplant for the Focus tbh - a 2.3 open deck block isn't exactly a great basis for trying to up the power!
The gearbox also wasn't anything to write home about - the one in the Civic is a masterpiece in comparison.
31 January 2020, 02:24 PM
#32
@MrNoisy Thanks for the input. I've been reading and following the RS and it's issues since it's release in 2016.
Mine's running the Dreamscience Ultima map and it's plenty quick enough for me. The handling is sublime and as you said, the brakes are fantastic. The ride is no worse than my previous 'sporty' cars PPP STi, Fiat coupe 20VT on my old Golf R32.
The headgasket issues are now all resolved (unless the owner ignored the recall).
The 2017 A45 I test drove was without doubt the quickest thing in a straight line I've driven. But as you said, it's a bit of a boy racer car.
I didn't want an RS3 or S3, as my daily is an 2019 A3 and I wanted something different. C63's are too big for a weekend car and as for bootspace, all I'll need to put in the boot is a suitcase every now and again.
BTW, the RS is a German built car
Mine's running the Dreamscience Ultima map and it's plenty quick enough for me. The handling is sublime and as you said, the brakes are fantastic. The ride is no worse than my previous 'sporty' cars PPP STi, Fiat coupe 20VT on my old Golf R32.
The headgasket issues are now all resolved (unless the owner ignored the recall).
The 2017 A45 I test drove was without doubt the quickest thing in a straight line I've driven. But as you said, it's a bit of a boy racer car.
I didn't want an RS3 or S3, as my daily is an 2019 A3 and I wanted something different. C63's are too big for a weekend car and as for bootspace, all I'll need to put in the boot is a suitcase every now and again.
BTW, the RS is a German built car
31 January 2020, 02:29 PM
#33
@MrNoisy Thanks for the input. I've been reading and following the RS and it's issues since it's release in 2016.
Mine's running the Dreamscience Ultima map and it's plenty quick enough for me. The handling is sublime and as you said, the brakes are fantastic. The ride is no worse than my previous 'sporty' cars PPP STi, Fiat coupe 20VT on my old Golf R32.
The headgasket issues are now all resolved (unless the owner ignored the recall).
The 2017 A45 I test drove was without doubt the quickest thing in a straight line I've driven. But as you said, it's a bit of a boy racer car.
I didn't want an RS3 or S3, as my daily is an 2019 A3 and I wanted something different. C63's are too big for a weekend car and as for bootspace, all I'll need to put in the boot is a suitcase every now and again.
BTW, the RS is a German built car
Mine's running the Dreamscience Ultima map and it's plenty quick enough for me. The handling is sublime and as you said, the brakes are fantastic. The ride is no worse than my previous 'sporty' cars PPP STi, Fiat coupe 20VT on my old Golf R32.
The headgasket issues are now all resolved (unless the owner ignored the recall).
The 2017 A45 I test drove was without doubt the quickest thing in a straight line I've driven. But as you said, it's a bit of a boy racer car.
I didn't want an RS3 or S3, as my daily is an 2019 A3 and I wanted something different. C63's are too big for a weekend car and as for bootspace, all I'll need to put in the boot is a suitcase every now and again.
BTW, the RS is a German built car
Fair enough mate, each to their own, I really hoped I would gel with it but just couldn't get on with it; mine was a 66 so one of the earlier ones - from what I hear the veering steering issue has been sorted by Ford but they didn't want to know at the time, really irked me.
I actually have an JDM bug STI Impreza project that I'm doing up on the side and the C63 is my daily - honestly it's not really much bigger than a Focus RS if you park next to one - the Focus is actually a pretty big car compared to its predecessors.
I sold my last AMG and jumped into the RS3 and just regretted it, so ended up buying another 12 months later, but couldn't stay away from Subarus - when Simon (JGM) died, my love of the car kind of died with him and ended up selling, but 4 years later I just found myself dragged back in! They're definitely a bit more special than the newer stuff, less refined, more personality!
Last edited by MrNoisy; 31 January 2020 at 02:33 PM.
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....all the chrome has gone now though!
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03 February 2020, 06:58 PM
#42
Scooby Regular
26 February 2020, 11:12 PM
#45
Hope you enjoy the Focus, I’m on my second. First was nitros blue which I went through the whole head gasket drama with. Sold it as not impressed with ford and was going to buy something else but ended up going for a red edition as wanted red from day one.
ive not read all the response on here but couple of things. First car I test drove really thought they were slow. At the time I had my Hawkeye and a slightly modified fiesta st and having owned a couple since I think it was the actual car not just a comparison to what else I own.
noticed brakes mentioned, I’ve been slated a few times as I don’t think they are that good, ok for most parts but I have a certain route I take occasionally over a decent B road and do suffer fade. I’ll be honest it a route that’s over a mountain road so possibly bit more punishing than most do, best brakes for that particular road have been on my Hawkeye but it’s got AP’s all round.
interior is ok, I quite like it but hey, I don’t buy a car for plush seats and nice feeling plastic.
the red edition has lsd vs standard without, im possibly not a good enough driver to really notice difference.
owners have reported the car veers across road when overtaking or flooring it. I’ll be honest, the first car had no issues, latest car I’ve crapped myself a few times when I’ve gone to overtake and it’s decided to either head for the ditch or the car I’m overtaking so I do buy into this as an issue. Hopefully won’t be for you.
Enjoy the car for what it is and why you bought it, I’m sure you will.
ive not read all the response on here but couple of things. First car I test drove really thought they were slow. At the time I had my Hawkeye and a slightly modified fiesta st and having owned a couple since I think it was the actual car not just a comparison to what else I own.
noticed brakes mentioned, I’ve been slated a few times as I don’t think they are that good, ok for most parts but I have a certain route I take occasionally over a decent B road and do suffer fade. I’ll be honest it a route that’s over a mountain road so possibly bit more punishing than most do, best brakes for that particular road have been on my Hawkeye but it’s got AP’s all round.
interior is ok, I quite like it but hey, I don’t buy a car for plush seats and nice feeling plastic.
the red edition has lsd vs standard without, im possibly not a good enough driver to really notice difference.
owners have reported the car veers across road when overtaking or flooring it. I’ll be honest, the first car had no issues, latest car I’ve crapped myself a few times when I’ve gone to overtake and it’s decided to either head for the ditch or the car I’m overtaking so I do buy into this as an issue. Hopefully won’t be for you.
Enjoy the car for what it is and why you bought it, I’m sure you will.
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26 February 2020, 11:31 PM
#46
Hope you enjoy the Focus, I’m on my second. First was nitros blue which I went through the whole head gasket drama with. Sold it as not impressed with ford and was going to buy something else but ended up going for a red edition as wanted red from day one.
ive not read all the response on here but couple of things. First car I test drove really thought they were slow. At the time I had my Hawkeye and a slightly modified fiesta st and having owned a couple since I think it was the actual car not just a comparison to what else I own.
noticed brakes mentioned, I’ve been slated a few times as I don’t think they are that good, ok for most parts but I have a certain route I take occasionally over a decent B road and do suffer fade. I’ll be honest it a route that’s over a mountain road so possibly bit more punishing than most do, best brakes for that particular road have been on my Hawkeye but it’s got AP’s all round.
interior is ok, I quite like it but hey, I don’t buy a car for plush seats and nice feeling plastic.
the red edition has lsd vs standard without, im possibly not a good enough driver to really notice difference.
owners have reported the car veers across road when overtaking or flooring it. I’ll be honest, the first car had no issues, latest car I’ve crapped myself a few times when I’ve gone to overtake and it’s decided to either head for the ditch or the car I’m overtaking so I do buy into this as an issue. Hopefully won’t be for you.
Enjoy the car for what it is and why you bought it, I’m sure you will.
ive not read all the response on here but couple of things. First car I test drove really thought they were slow. At the time I had my Hawkeye and a slightly modified fiesta st and having owned a couple since I think it was the actual car not just a comparison to what else I own.
noticed brakes mentioned, I’ve been slated a few times as I don’t think they are that good, ok for most parts but I have a certain route I take occasionally over a decent B road and do suffer fade. I’ll be honest it a route that’s over a mountain road so possibly bit more punishing than most do, best brakes for that particular road have been on my Hawkeye but it’s got AP’s all round.
interior is ok, I quite like it but hey, I don’t buy a car for plush seats and nice feeling plastic.
the red edition has lsd vs standard without, im possibly not a good enough driver to really notice difference.
owners have reported the car veers across road when overtaking or flooring it. I’ll be honest, the first car had no issues, latest car I’ve crapped myself a few times when I’ve gone to overtake and it’s decided to either head for the ditch or the car I’m overtaking so I do buy into this as an issue. Hopefully won’t be for you.
Enjoy the car for what it is and why you bought it, I’m sure you will.
I had this exact behaviour mate with the veering steering; people who presumed (wrongly) to label it as torque steer couldn’t be more wrong. I had it happen to me accelerating full throttle at 70 on a carriageway; reaching just marginally above 70 in a straight line and the car would suddenly just wrench the steering to one side; no explanation. Ford technician said “dangerous” - Ford say “characteristic of the vehicle”...mate who’s an AMG mech said wtf was that, Jesus that’s dangerous! So evidently they haven’t fixed it then!
Performance wise it felt no faster than my old 280bhp WRX of many moons ago - probably because it weighs about 200kg more!
Honestly, for the money you could pay for a worse spec’d, more plastic, worse built and slower car you could have a second hand RS3 or C63 with better interior, better build quality, and better gear box.
I’ve had a stripped out 1.7 Puma and a 2.0 Fiesta ST, and whilst neither were fast, they were fun - that said I’d never buy a new Ford again, they really seem to have lost their way, and the engine was just disappointing.
Last edited by MrNoisy; 26 February 2020 at 11:39 PM.
26 February 2020, 11:42 PM
#47
tbh felt the same about my Prefs RS3 though. Nice seats, but poor quality dash, switches and console which don’t befit a car that costs over £50k new to buy. Difference is that the engine in it is superb and with the right tyres on it it’s a weapon.
Last edited by MrNoisy; 27 February 2020 at 07:26 AM.
27 February 2020, 09:52 AM
#48
Personally prefer the impreza materials over the cheap plastics they stuck in the latest focus. The dash plastics really are poor in the Focus, as are the shell seats - which although bolstered, have so little padding that - combined with the unnecessarily firm suspension setup (worse than an Impreza on coilovers!) - if you take a motorway trip for a few hours your back won’t be too happy.
tbh felt the same about my Prefs RS3 though. Nice seats, but poor quality dash, switches and console which don’t befit a car that costs over £50k new to buy. Difference is that the engine in it is superb and with the right tyres on it it’s a weapon.
tbh felt the same about my Prefs RS3 though. Nice seats, but poor quality dash, switches and console which don’t befit a car that costs over £50k new to buy. Difference is that the engine in it is superb and with the right tyres on it it’s a weapon.
Yeah you can laugh when a subaru owner moans about an interior but it’s the type of plastic that offends me on the new fords, yeah it’s shiny and a 20’something beautician would say it looks better but it just way worse to me.
It’s kind of like comparing an 80’s transformer toy to a modern day one. Yes the new one is shiny and more detailed but the old one still works, feels tougher and the OG will always prefer it.
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