Diablo

Focus RS was faster on track than a UK STI7.

Should be faster than a standard bugeye when rolling, but slower than a standard classic. Not much in it though.

With the same driver, I'd say that an RS would be quicker in the twisties than a standard scoob. I know my Integra Type R was

Not much in it though

D

-rocky-

no one remember top gear?

they tested them side by side

focus was over 2 seconds quicker round the track even though it was slightly slower in a straight line

Tracey

Hello

The RS Focus owner at Castle Combe, to whom you are referring, hasn't ever owned a scoob (has driven them and does surf here on) he nearly bought one once though. However, he likes his Fords.

He did come out 1st on track on one of his sessions and lapped the best part of 4-5 scoobs. He also had 5-6 laps battling with Nozzer who was in a P1 on another session

Cheers

Paul

scoobysnacks

Fast on dry tracks, but apparently on twisty bumpy B roads things go to pot a little (so I've read...). Make these roads wet as well and a properly driven scooby should romp away - hence a front wheel drive Focus doesn't compete against Impreza's, EVO's etc in Rallying. 4WD becomes a huge advantage in these conditions if you want to effectively put more than 200 bhp down on the road without spinning a lot of it away. Hence, Scooby's are better if your serious about all round performance on Britian's roads in Britain's climate. End of Story.

chrisp

In 2005 I think its going to need a few more horses than that. You can buy a 320PS spec C scoob now. Even a UK STI can be had full warranty with 300bhp. In 2005 I would of thought you are looking at closer to 400bhp to be in the game .

Buckrogers

Indeed, if I recall the RS Focus was at least a year late!

In 2005, the focus will be 7 years old, will we see the Cosworth Focus at all??

Buck

jonmorris

In 2005, the current Focus will be history and the NEW Focus (which looks like a Passat merged with a Seat Leon) will be on the market.

Car makers appear to have a 6-7 years life cycle on any model, with a mid-term facelift after 3 years. Not sure why they follow this so rigorously because some cars are built for much longer than they should be, while top sellers (like the current Focus) are turned into something that will probably do more harm than good.

Anyway, a Focus Cosworth (which will probably be similar to the Volvo S40R, like VAG make hundreds of performance cars all based around the 1.8T or 3.2 V6) would be a great car to introduce early on. Ford can easily do it but it's the cost - and Ford aren't making much money at the moment.

New management may well do what Ford did in the mid 1990's when they axed the Escort Cosworth and had nothing to replace it until the Focus RS (and to a lesser extent the fatally-flawed Racing Puma*)

Jonathan

* Flawed in terms of production methods, not the car itself which was great.

Buckrogers

It's a shame if they replace the focus, as it is a nice looking car already. The RS Focus, looks the dogs bolloxs.


Perhaps someone should tell Ford, "Dont fix what is not broken...."!

Mr slayer 2 u

Right the word on the grape vine is there going to keep the shape they have now like they did with the escort when that came out! its going to have 350bhp std which will take it to 60 in 3.7secs not sure of any other times, engine wise its going to be a re-worked YB lump the rule book as just been re-written for this engine the reyland escort cosworth is doing 0-60mph in 2.8secs 0-100mph 6.6secs with a top speed of 200+mph they run out of track on testing but am sure you will see it in acouple of mags soon so its all looking good for the focus rs cosworth at the moment!

dazc2

Reworked YB lump? They ditched it because it was not refined or fuel efficient enough and the emissions could not be reduced enough due to the characteristics of the enigne.

Are you sure? Was it a reliable source or was it from a mate down the pub? As far as I was aware they would have been using a turbo duratec 4 cylinder engine.

bartmanuk

come on reddevilturbo,why on earth would you think the classic was the worst?did you not do any research into the car b4 you bought it?

you nedd to go away and have a read up on the history of the impreza then you might understand wot a silly comment you made about it



jay.

Mr slayer 2 u

Guess only time will tell! it might never come out.

dazc2

Martin Hadlands Escort has 627 bhp not 700!

Chris,

They did look at using either the 3litre V6 Duratec, the 5 cylinder Volvo or the 2litre 4 cylinder Duratec from what i can remember...

My money is on the Duratec 4 cylinder to be honest.

jonmorris

Ford will NOT use the old Focus shell for the Cosworth (if they make it) because it can't take 4WD and that is also the reason the RS wasn't 4WD. If it could have taken 4WD, I'm certain the Focus RS would have been sold as the Cosworth instead.

As for the old Cosworth lump being rebuilt and improved, that's not true. Ford have plenty of engines they can use (see message above) and this isn't one of them.

[Edited by jonmorris - 9/7/2003 9:00:59 PM]

Mr slayer 2 u

Sorry dazc2 your right its the ruud racing saph cosworth thats 710bhp karl norris is also working on 700bhp+ engine.

dazc2

The RR Sapph is no more. Sold off without the engine but I don't know what the engine is going in....

Karl Norris produced 600bhp on medium boost and the engine is apparently coming back out of the car to assess the conversion for durability as it's still under development even though the car has been out on track and run in etc. Then it's going back in and I expect he will be running it at full bost then......

Mad Gypsy

I had a play with a RS the other day in my STI Type R. I thrashed it. It seemed to go well at early revs, but by the time I was at 5000rpm, if I hadn't backed off a little I'd have been on his back seat.
He tried again down a dual carriageway when he was behind me, I didn't pull too far ahead at low revs, but once I hit 5/6000 rpm I pulled quite a way in front.
Which brings me to my only complaint with my car; there's not enough torque low down, 'lesser' cars don't dissapear in my rear view mirror as quick as I would like until I hit the 5-6000 rpm range. (I've got 301bhp & 276lbft) (standard other than DP)
I think me needs to see Mr Rawle about it. I'd like 310/20 of both bhp & lbft a little further down.

cjaffray

Usual story Blah Blah Blah you thrashed the Focus, your car has a lot more power than his though so you are stating the obvious, bit like a BMW 320 racing an M3, again Obvious who will win, go and race something more equal to your car and come back for a blag.

misty

Now Now boys let's all play nicely eh!!!
dave

Mad Gypsy

Cjaffray

Go and screw a goat!

cjaffray

Its sheep where I come from, Dont get too upset, all im saying is that you are slagging the focus RS off for being slower than your car but it has less power, I woulden't boast about beating a clio Be-Bop in my Integra. After all the thread is about comparing the two and folk like you just come on saying "oh I smoked it no probs" who cares.

Mad Gypsy

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

craig walker

ive had 4 subaru impreza turbo's and now i have a RS focus and i know which 1 i like best and its not 4 wheel drive !!!

and ive also owned an EVO 5

Mad Gypsy

Well done

SPEN555

Confused here. 'The Focus can't take 4WD'. Well the WRC is 4WD and it's a Focus and the same shell isn't it?

barge

my escort was faster than my scooby , infact I never came accross a scooby I could not leave for dead in it

still never mind who wants to drive a car so fast no one can keep up

Sideways

Craig wrote : "ive had 4 subaru impreza turbo's and now i have a RS focus and i know which 1 i like best and its not 4 wheel drive !!!

and ive also owned an EVO 5 "

Me to, After A a MY97 wagon, RB5 WR Sport, UK300 and an STi 7 (278bhp) I now have a Focus RS. Don't want to get into my cars faster than yours but a good friend of mine has a RB5 WR with a tec ECU and a Decat, he's got a red face
They are very underestimated cars .

Have a look at this for one...........

http://www.autocarmagazine.com/diaryarchive.asp?DC=9

bluenose172

iTrader: (2)

Erm, was that posted on the 1st of April??

A Foucs RS can stay with a M3 CSL....hmmmm!

misty

this is the brief article in question!
dave
October 7, 2003
Focus RS - quicker than you think
Category: New models
Chris Harris turned up to my place in Wales in his RS Focus to have a steer in the M3 CSL. The inevitable happens. Startled to discover the Ford can keep pace with the BMW without problem and is both more comfortable and easier to drive at speed despite being well over 100bhp down and not much more than a third the price. Radically changed my perception of both cars.

Mad Gypsy

Did the CSL have a 318 badge on it by any chance?
I have had a play with both RS Focus and M3, with the M3 there was nothing in it. I wasted the RS Focus.
This is in a 301bhp Type R