ROFLOL at some of you lot!

Some people need to take off their Subaru Tinted Glasses and some others need to get in a FRS that has actually been set up right!

I drove my mates (read modded) MK1 FRS HARD around the ring and in damp conditions and never once had any problems. This car has no torque steer to speak of and handles really well..... but he has had a number of handling mods, which in my view is no different than taking the gash handling of the latest STi and sorting that out to make it much better.

I was under the impression that FWD is gash...... that was before I drove his FRS and especially once I applied some abuse. I was very very impressed.

This is not about which is best, but this is about the fact that Ford have certainly done very well with limitations of FWD and with a few more handling mods, these cars can be something quite special.

I confirm what renny has said above. I had a Rover Tomcat 14yrs ago..... now that IS torque steer.

As regards to 4WD.... well most people on here can't even drive 4WD properly, so have no comprehension of what FWD can be capable of.

 

Where in the NW have you been living, there are more Impreza's in Burnley than people, usually covered in bodykits and stickers.

 

So what you say is there's more people driving around the UK in Impreza's than Focus?
Don't think so!

 

You're all



Surely another "affordable" performance car is a good thing; would be a boring world were there only one choice!

 

I rather like the 4 x 4 bit of my impreza in all the snow recently.

fords airey fairy knuckle joint bollocks ain't going to help there is it ?

just to keep the scooby fanboy bit up

 

I've never had an issue in any FWD car I've owned getting about in the snow.......

just to keep the other marques fanboy up.

 

just to keep the other marques fanboy up

anything other than a subaru it seems.

 

I think you need to read some other threads if thats what you think

Edit - not counting the new pig ugly one, even the bug eye was better looking, but my MY99 still one of my fav cars I've owned FFS

 

try living in Yorkshire with hills !!!

 

Granted, Spec C was a JDM only model, but I would still wager that a standard MY06 STI would put in a lap around the 'Ring of approx 8 mins 8/9 secs, still faster than that of the MK2 RS.

Lets not get into a tit for tat argument though. We are grown ups at the end of the day so lets act like it. I have no doubt that new RS is going to reset the benchmark for what can be achieved in FWD cars. Hell, I'm even directly employed by Ford as a maintenance technician at one of their engine plants so I have nothing against the company or car.

I'm just saying that there will be some situation where torque steer will be encountered. That's my opinion and I'm entitled to it, so let just agree to disagree on this one.

No matter how good a FWD car you produce, you will never escape in the inherent benefits of AWD traction. That is something that has been proven time and time again.

Hell I was even considering buying a new RS, but owning an RA-R at the moment means I own a 'weapon' when it comes to cross-country pace. I even discussed this with Iain Litchfield (who has a fair bit of driving ability I can tell you from first hand accounts of having a passenger ride with him) and his words were 'There are VERY FEW things that would live with an RA-R on the road, let alone on the track.'

That alone convinced me to keep the RA-R, especially after a quick blast along local B roads in it.

Good luck to all those who have purchased the new RS. I'm sure you'll have one hell of a package.

 

Everybody is missing the BIG point.... which is my brothers getting one and he's super confident I'll be left firmly in his rear view mirror.
Don't get me wrong I'm happy for him, (bit jealous really) just dont fancy being that spec in his mirror at which he can gloat!!

mine: 2.5lt - 300hp/350ftlb

 

oh it'll be a fantastic car, for the money etc, power and so on.

lets face it the older model is too. Its also nonsense to talk about a few seconds here and there around the "ring" because its about day to day driving, what suits someone's character etc.

if we weren't all different and diverse, surely we'd all drive just the same car !!!!!

just give it a year and pick it up for pence, just like all the current imprezas/focus st's etc.

 

If they don't sell in numbers that Ford hope (production already on a slowdown for the RS) then second hand value's should still be strong. The RS badge will always carry a premium over the ST-sold-load-of-em-Badge.



You can phone a dealer today and have an RS sat on your driveway in July/August.

 

It may be nonsense to talk about 'Ring times but if they didn't matter THAT much why would manufacturers waste their time striving for the best possible lap time? The 'Ring encompasses many different road surfaces and as such manufacturers feel that if a car can perform well there it should be able to perform well anywhere else.

But 'Ring records have always been to used to judge a car on its outright pure pace, I'm sure we can all agree with that.

 

Really? Where are you getting this information from? I have one on order and have no idea when it will arrive.
Hopefully soon as my Sti goes tomorrow!
You haven't been speaking to those muppetts at Evans Halshaw by any chance.

 

Spoke to Graham on Monday. They've sold 6 out of their alloted 8 cars. Faxed me through a price list, and I'm calling in for a chat Saturday morning.

Going to see how desperate Ford are at the moment. I'm still tempted. If they can offer a discount I might get one.

Going to Porsche dealer Saturday afternoon to chat to them about second hand 911's.

If they offer me a discount on the RS, I'll let you know. No doubt you're paying top Dollar?

Good luck selling the STI. Know you've had it up for a while. What you hoping to get for it?

 

Trick rubber! You clearly haven't a clue what a Spec C is

You'd rather not hear about the Spec C of course as it will kick the FRS into a cocked hat ...

TX.

 

Are they planning to limit the no.s again this time around?

 

well you can be the official test subjects, only be available on rainy days tho', to make sure.

 

I think you should sell me your RA-R Mr RA..........

 

No I've managed a little bit of discount! The Sti has been sold and is being collected tomorrow. I am happy with the price I got especially in todays market!

 

For the right money maybe. You'd be getting the best Scoob ever produced from the factory plus whole load of of the best mods money can buy. But unless that offer comes through I shall be keeping her and spending some money taking her to 400bhp+

 

Unfortunately "The best from factory" means nothing within this community. Would you like me to hand you your *** on a plate around a track/ring where ever you like in my lowly Spec C.

Leave the FRS alone!

You have to keep the banter up you know.

 

Whatever Shaun 'the best driver in the world' ex webby

 

So what does it mean it then Shaun?

I was talking in pure factual terms and there is no denying it, the RA-R is the best Impreza to have come from the factory so far.

You keep going on and on about your Spec C blah blah blah yet is has been so heavily modified it's hard to see the car it started out has.

Race spec AST's, Whiteline goodies all round, 2.5 Cosworth engine, completely stripped interior. Honestly.

You would probably hand me my *** on a plate because I have no doubt that you have more track time and driving ability than myself. How about if I put Phil Keen, Jason Plato or Tiff in my RA-R?? How do you think you would favour then Shaun? Hmm?

 

Hey he's a record holder n trackday pro, therefore he is faster than anyone else you could mention

 

I think I'll go and get my mate Dave from the pub then. After a few pints he can race at least 5 Volvo T5's and they still can't pass him.

 

MrRA,
Take a moment to reflect. My post was in jest, so stop getting so uptight about your BEST Impreza.

Everything about the "Ring" is to do with the commercial bandwagon. To 90% of the buying public it means nothing. The only people that worry about it are the people that quote the "but my car had done x mins around the ring so it must be better". Which again means diddly squat unless it is YOU that has acheived it and even then it does not relate to 100% of the 90% above, when they go down the shops for a can of coke.

 

cheers matey, I'll bear that in mind!! Having said that, mine gets rear end happy when it drizzles, never mind when it rains. Should be fun though.

 

I live in yorkshire with hills,and i managed fine in a bmw,so if that got through the snow im sure a fwd focus could!
The problem is some people have driving abilty,the others drive 4x4s