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I drove a RS Focus yesterday!!!

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Old 10 December 2002, 03:38 PM
  #31  
Flyboy-F33
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I'm happy with my factory 300BHP STi.....bring on the Focus! Didnt need to spend anything!
Old 10 December 2002, 03:41 PM
  #32  
EvilBevel
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I'll try one last time...

As a few serious journalists have stated, the diff is not the cause of the nervous character.

Of course, as some STi7 owners or people with a front Quaife ATB fitted to their Impreza (like myself, Dowser, Morray etc) know, under load you have to keep the hands on the steering wheel as you *will* notice the diff working (under load only) when grip levels are different for the 2 front wheels. But that takes about a day to get used to. After that, you start to appreciate what the diff can do for you.

It's just that the suspension is rather stiff for B-roads, and even Francois Duval noticed this when doing a test drive (but then he probably can't drive or is anti Ford ? )

The 18inch wheels won't help either.

Funny, the same "criticism" was made about the Jap spec STi's and the 22B non UK a few years back.

Anyway, back to the regular "but my scoob is faster/fords are ****e/imprezas are ****e" male cow excrements.

PS: I never liked the Focus shape, but this car looks quite nice from the outside
Old 10 December 2002, 03:45 PM
  #33  
jonmorris
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TonyBurns, how many recalls have there been on the Focus then?
Old 10 December 2002, 03:46 PM
  #34  
co55ie
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Chrisp that is utter nonsence I think you wish this was true though
The RS is more of a match for an Sti - P1 as standard than a WRX.
There is very little to seperate them on a track.
If the WRX is such a great car then and the RS so awful then why do you need to mod your WRX to even try and compete even after spending your 5k the scoob chassis would not on par ?
As I said I doubt very much that a P1 would know which way it was going against a 260 bhp RS as it allready struggles with the standard Ford package. Fact not fiction.
Subaru have flogged the Impreza to death with little innovation on the UK cars over the past 10 years. The Jap cars are at least getting a hopefully improved new engine which is the main weakness of the Impreza as the flat four is a poorly designed unreliable unit incapable of producing any real power.
It may be close on papaer as you say Chrisp but as was demonstrated on Top Gear the RS absolutely destroyed the WRX round a track 6 - 7 seconds quicker a lap. The WRX was vey marginally faster than a 2.0 litre Mondeo which I am sure if you spent 5 k on would beat the WRX so what is your point?. I think this proves how poorly a WRX handles a car with twice the power struggling with a 115bhp front wheel drive family car.
I think the Scoob bubble and Myth has been well and truly burst over the last couple of months.

Tony The RS is Performance car not a daily shopper like a WRX. The RS has been engineered with purely performance at the forefront.

[Edited by co55ie - 12/10/2002 3:52:03 PM]

[Edited by co55ie - 12/10/2002 3:54:58 PM]
Old 10 December 2002, 03:54 PM
  #35  
TonyBurns
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Red face

Jon,
4 of which i know of for the focus

Tony
Old 10 December 2002, 03:57 PM
  #36  
co55ie
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Then why was the Focus the first non german car to ever win the TUV reliability award ?
Old 10 December 2002, 04:01 PM
  #37  
TonyBurns
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Red face

Bet they wont this year

Tony

PS think its to do with the millions of them out there on the road
Old 10 December 2002, 04:02 PM
  #38  
TonyBurns
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Red face

Cossie,
have you ever seen how reliable alot of the german cars are?!
(Mercedes, VW etc) they aint that good!

Tony
Old 10 December 2002, 04:11 PM
  #39  
Diesel
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I had an R5 Turbo at about 150 BHP, my father had a Saab turbo over 200 BHP, both front drivers, and both a mess when trying to steer and accelerate at the same time (although somewhat fun in a naked mud wrestling kinda way )

No doubt the RS has moved the game on substantially, but there remains that fundemental engineering compromise of trying to steer whilst putting traction down at the same time.

I hear talk that the RS is twitchy, tramlines and 'torque steers' -inevitable. My humble old Scoob doesn't have these naughty boy manners as it shares the power out more evenly.

I'm not saying I wouldn't like the RS - there is much fun in wrestling after all

D
Old 10 December 2002, 04:18 PM
  #40  
jonmorris
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4 recalls? Oh my god.. It's a lemon!

And, Diesel, why not read the thread before posting. Most of the postings are saying it DOESN'T torque steer and explaining why!!

[Edited by jonmorris - 12/10/2002 4:20:06 PM]
Old 10 December 2002, 04:30 PM
  #41  
EvilBevel
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Jon, this is Scoobynet. We post, we don't do reading

Not a dig at Diesel at all, but it sometimes feels like a yearly congress of autistic Tourette lovers...

Seems you have to shout or be insulting these days to get any attention at all

RIGHT THEN CVNTS... IT'S NOT ABOUT THE DIFF.

That should do it
Old 10 December 2002, 04:39 PM
  #42  
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Theo, is it the Diff that causes problems? Oh ****, **** and B0ll0cs hello! Where's me pills....

F
Old 10 December 2002, 04:46 PM
  #43  
EvilBevel
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Cool

Floyd, yup, it's the diff

Old 10 December 2002, 05:13 PM
  #44  
chrisp
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Dont think this thread is going anywhere can we just agree to split the diff .
Old 10 December 2002, 05:19 PM
  #45  
DJ Dunk
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I'd still like to know . . . does the RS Focus have EPS ? I know it has Power Steering , but is it electric ?
Old 10 December 2002, 05:43 PM
  #46  
Jon1T
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No - the power steering isn't electric

Jon
Old 10 December 2002, 05:55 PM
  #47  
pcdude
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All ford lovers have been waiting a long time this type car ,,,,, it may have now appeared in the form of the rs ,,,,,,let them enjoy the moment ,,,,,,, as with most new cars the propaganda will be LARGE , press etc,,, as ford will want there long awaited car to be bought by as many pppl as possible ,

ive been in fast front wheel and rear wheel drive cars and you seem to get a more POWER feeling than when the power is deliverd to all 4 wheels ,

im sure we will be reading many posts to come on the rs V scoob this is just the begining

I will stick to my proven standard scooby thx ,
Old 10 December 2002, 05:59 PM
  #48  
Carlos The Jackel
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IMO If the MK1 Focus could have taken 4WD within a reasonable cost the cosworth would have had 200+ BHP But the Focus RS would have had less power than it has, basically a Newer RS Turbo. Because of the lack of Cossie they have tuned up a 2WD as best the can to compensate for the lack of the Cossie version.
Old 10 December 2002, 06:03 PM
  #49  
Jon1T
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Exclamation

Just a couple of inaccuracies - the RS Focus is a limited production run, with the UK only receiving a reasonably small no of cars, several mags slated the car (inc EVO who put it 12/12 in the COTY) and even Ford's powers of persuasion don't extend to buying propoganda.

Jeez - I'm starting to feel like the Ford press guy on here - all I'm saying is let's have some balance and don't write off a car until you've driven it yourself and made up your own mind.

I'm sticking to my Scooby - not because the Focus is a bad car, but it den't meet my wider needs (which at the mo only a 330d touring would do!)

Old 10 December 2002, 07:14 PM
  #50  
jonmorris
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2000 UK, 2500 Europe

Ford haven't promised that this is the limit so it's technically possible they may extended the production run a bit.

If they do, I doubt it would be many as that would hit second hand values and devalue the RS brand. Not a good start to a relaunched brand that will spawn lots of new high performance cars.
Old 10 December 2002, 07:43 PM
  #51  
john banks
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The only thing that puts me off an RS is the fact that I can't really make it 350+ BHP with FWD. I am waiting to see what the 4WD Cossie will be like when it eventually arrives.
Old 10 December 2002, 08:31 PM
  #52  
chrisp
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As we all are John, its a step in the right direction I just wanted a leap .

It is compromised as Co55ie says they couldnt build an AWD version as the cost would have been too great on the current platform. Good way to test the market so all you Ford guys buy them up quickly so they build a 4wd version and then we can get it on .
Old 10 December 2002, 10:41 PM
  #53  
jonmorris
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I think we all know the AWD "Cossie" is coming. I'm sure many of us will be queuing up in 2005 with £30k in our hands, saying "YES PLEASE!".. but that doesn't mean we should all wait.

No Cosworth version will arrive until the car has been out for a while and the V2 Focus isn't even due out until the end of 2003.

To be honest, I'll probably hold out and buy an ex-demo or second hand Cossie because if it's nearer £30k, I will NOT be first in line as I am with the much more affordable Focus RS.

So, I'll be keeping the RS for at least 3 years which is fine by me.

Old 10 December 2002, 11:06 PM
  #54  
robski
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Been there in the highly powerful front wheel drive car situation
and this is my main reason for leaving :

its a bloody pain in the **** if you want a more relaxed but fast drive

as the review stated you had to be on the ball all the time

after living with the same situation I adore the ability to be at 90% in the scoob and not have to prize my fingers off the wheel because I have been gripping so hard

drop half of the 4wd system and subaru could just as easily build a FWD car that was as good

IMHO Ford have attempted again to restore the RS image, and have got closer but 1 car doesnt restore a marque. Also being so limited in numbers doesnt make it a classic

depreciation? just wait a few years, more than likely it will depreciate, bet the "well the P1 depreciates like hell" people didnt remember the glory days of the impreza when it had a 9-12 month waiting list and you paid more for a secondhand forecourt model than a brand new one (but in a years time)

remember a lot of the time the fastest car on the road is the driver willing to take most risks. Like a few weeks back when a Cossie overtook me by flooring it when I slowed into a 30 limit. Wouldnt be surprised if he went the whole way through the village accelerating.

robski
Old 10 December 2002, 11:14 PM
  #55  
rich uk300
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As I said I doubt very much that a P1 would know which way it was going against a 260 bhp RS as it allready struggles with the standard Ford package.
co55ie boy really has lost the plot....struggles against the standard ford package....don't make me laugh please....what is the ford rs times 0-62 in 6.6 secs and 15 secs to a 100
Old 10 December 2002, 11:19 PM
  #56  
co55ie
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exactly robski 1 car does not make a marque to exactly were does that put Subaru ? As they have only ever built 1 car in their entire history that is even worth a second glance and now the bubbles burst on that. At least Ford have had the sense to not over saturate the RS marque unlike Subaru.
Old 10 December 2002, 11:28 PM
  #57  
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Jon, this is Scoobynet. We post, we don't do reading
LMAO. Very funny Theo, thanks.
Old 10 December 2002, 11:31 PM
  #58  
co55ie
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Rich UK300(I am waiting for my engine to go bang) obviously you have little understanding of the concept.
What has the 0 - 60 got to do with a cars performance or track abilities. On a track as has been repeatedly proved there is very little difference between an Sti scoob and the RS.
Shouldn't you change your name for Rich UK 260 anyway.

Lol another scooby driving muppet.
Old 10 December 2002, 11:35 PM
  #59  
kamikaze
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0-60 and 0-100 times do not tell the full story as round goodwood, the rs beat the sti by 2 seconds.
on top gear the difference was nearly 6 seconds against a standard impreza
Old 10 December 2002, 11:48 PM
  #60  
co55ie
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If your not concerned about the Focus because they haven't brought out a proper one yet then how comes you bought a Subaru rather contradictory me thinks.

Rich enjoy getting wasted on the Uk's roads by a little blue FWD Ford. I will give you a wave but then I am not the type to mock the afflicted


Quick Reply: I drove a RS Focus yesterday!!!



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