Focus RS or A45?
15 January 2020, 12:39 PM
#1
Focus RS or A45?
So the time has come to part with my current weekend car (Golf R32) and get something different.
I've narrowed it down between a facelift A45 (2016 onwards) or a Mk3 Focus RS. Car will only be used at weekends as I have an A3 TDi for my commuting.
Anyone on here have experience of either? I'm looking at standard cars and in the short term won't be modding it.
Budget us up to £35k which gives me the possibility of an RS Edition which I quite like the look of.
Fire away if there's anyone around anymore!
I've narrowed it down between a facelift A45 (2016 onwards) or a Mk3 Focus RS. Car will only be used at weekends as I have an A3 TDi for my commuting.
Anyone on here have experience of either? I'm looking at standard cars and in the short term won't be modding it.
Budget us up to £35k which gives me the possibility of an RS Edition which I quite like the look of.
Fire away if there's anyone around anymore!
The following users liked this post:
16 January 2020, 09:34 AM
#3
Wouldn’t touch a focus, you’ll get owners defending them but honestly no chance. Aside from the engine issue they’ve got that horrible, disposable cheap look about everything under the bonnet.
At least the merc has some quality look when you pop the bonnet, like it was built as an A45 rather than looking like every other focus under the bonnet aside from a RS badge on a plastic cover!
As you can see it’s one of my pet hates about modern performance cars! Mainly VAG stuff but it’s the same with most manufacturers. What happened to the days of the flagship models being special! These days people seem happy enough with stickers, fake vents and the performance being in place.
I guess it comes from owning cossies and stuff years ago.
Another thing about the focus, the interior! The dash looks naff as anything.
It’s got to be the easiest decision ever between those two!
May as well have asked... Elle McPherson or an inflatabe doll? They’ll both get you off but the focus is akin to walking about town with the inflatable doll on your arm.
At least the merc has some quality look when you pop the bonnet, like it was built as an A45 rather than looking like every other focus under the bonnet aside from a RS badge on a plastic cover!
As you can see it’s one of my pet hates about modern performance cars! Mainly VAG stuff but it’s the same with most manufacturers. What happened to the days of the flagship models being special! These days people seem happy enough with stickers, fake vents and the performance being in place.
I guess it comes from owning cossies and stuff years ago.
Another thing about the focus, the interior! The dash looks naff as anything.
It’s got to be the easiest decision ever between those two!
May as well have asked... Elle McPherson or an inflatabe doll? They’ll both get you off but the focus is akin to walking about town with the inflatable doll on your arm.
The following 4 users liked this post by jameswrx:
I would agree that the Merc certainly looks more special and the RS interior is awful.
The following users liked this post:
16 January 2020, 12:44 PM
#5
Scooby Regular
fpmsl
just to throw mud in the water, if its a weekend car then an R35 is well within that budget, £35k gets you alot of car in todays market,
911 turbo
DB9
C63
XKR
M3
M4
M5
M6
which makes the A45 and RS look like mcdonalds chav cars.
16 January 2020, 04:57 PM
#7
Scooby Newbie
New member here, I know, but funnily enough after I sold my last Evo 8 I bought a 16 plate facelift A45.
The only way I can describe it, is that it's the most brutally fast boring car I've ever driven, and I ended up taking it back after 2 months. I had the option of an M2 or the Focus RS over it. Personally, would give the A45 a miss. It's entertaining for a little while, but I'll stick to manual. Also if you turn assists off, it's quite lively. When honestly it shouldn't be, it lets go quite easily. You really do have to drive it like you stole it to get the enjoyment out of them, unfortunately. The gearbox is also prone for issues and mine used to knock when engaging reverse occasionally. It's been recalled once already.
On the plus side, it does sound amazing and the cabin is beautiful.
The only way I can describe it, is that it's the most brutally fast boring car I've ever driven, and I ended up taking it back after 2 months. I had the option of an M2 or the Focus RS over it. Personally, would give the A45 a miss. It's entertaining for a little while, but I'll stick to manual. Also if you turn assists off, it's quite lively. When honestly it shouldn't be, it lets go quite easily. You really do have to drive it like you stole it to get the enjoyment out of them, unfortunately. The gearbox is also prone for issues and mine used to knock when engaging reverse occasionally. It's been recalled once already.
On the plus side, it does sound amazing and the cabin is beautiful.
Last edited by Silent_Scone; 16 January 2020 at 05:01 PM.
The following users liked this post:
Trending Topics
16 January 2020, 05:37 PM
#8
Scooby Regular
What phone do you have?
Iphone then A45 follow the sheep
Android then RS freedomish
no phone - Nissan Primera GL 1800 from the 90s you no that none green colour that is green yuck
Iphone then A45 follow the sheep
Android then RS freedomish
no phone - Nissan Primera GL 1800 from the 90s you no that none green colour that is green yuck
16 January 2020, 06:00 PM
#9
Scooby Regular
thast what folks said about an e46 m3 before i got one, as long as you don't go to a stealer they arn't that much more. I also did alot of research into C63's and thery arn't hugley more expensive than a scoob if you use an indy.
The following users liked this post:
16 January 2020, 10:24 PM
#10
The following users liked this post:
The following users liked this post:
17 January 2020, 10:49 PM
#12
Scooby Senior
The budget is only enough for a pre facelift RS3 which is a numb lump but with plenty of go. A great daily but for weekend fun I’d be in a Lotus Elise or similar.
20 January 2020, 01:29 PM
#15
Scooby Regular
The following users liked this post:
21 January 2020, 06:54 PM
#16
Scooby Regular
Personally I'd take an A45 any day over a RSF. Them Focus' are as slow as imo.
It's the first RS they have produced which has under performed in so many areas imo.
It's the first RS they have produced which has under performed in so many areas imo.
The following users liked this post:
22 January 2020, 12:36 PM
#17
I liked the A45. As a point and shoot it's head and shoulders above it's rivals. On the back roads, where I'll be spending most of my weekends, the RS is head and shoulders above it.
And it's not just speed. I'm 55. The days of hooning it around town are behind me.
22 January 2020, 06:34 PM
#18
Scooby Regular
Good for you , it is about the driving experience is it not ?
Not really about posing in your Comfy armchair bragging about the 0-60
( 54 btw )
Not really about posing in your Comfy armchair bragging about the 0-60
( 54 btw )
Last edited by IdonthaveaScooby; 23 January 2020 at 08:36 AM.
The following users liked this post:
The following users liked this post:
The following users liked this post:
The following 2 users liked this post by SouthWalesSam:
26 January 2020, 04:13 PM
#25
Scooby Regular
Do these still have the head gasket problem ?
27 January 2020, 01:16 PM
#26
All the cars fitted with the wrong head gasket should now have had it replaced. My engine was built with correct one so I don't have any worries.
There were further problems following the hard gasket replacement where the engine developed a very small oil leak. This is now another recall/check.
There were further problems following the hard gasket replacement where the engine developed a very small oil leak. This is now another recall/check.
The following users liked this post:
The following users liked this post:
29 January 2020, 10:06 PM
#28
Scooby Regular
I may have considered a Focus RS but i didn't like the colours that were available, not keen on the blue or the milky grey colour.
31 January 2020, 12:52 PM
#29
Had a Focus RS from new and fitted the Mountune FPM375, but tbh felt it was a huge disappointment.
It seems that the majority of Ford's service departments are dangerously clueless on their performance models, and Ford buried their heads in the sand and didn't admit anything about the issues with the headgasket and "auto steering" for over a year before finally the outrage of multiple owners forced their hand - read the mk3 owners forum on focusrsoc - it's full of complaints about it. Sold mine within 6 months of purchase and jumped into a C63. More of a muscle car than a hot hatch but significantly better value for money when you look at the all round package.
The A45's were a bit too boy racer for me, same as the Civic Type R - although I will say the FK2 Civic R I drove was fantastic, and it was just the very hard ride which stopped me going down that road.
According to some owners, Ford have since resolved the issues on the newer cars, but despite the handling (which is decent enough) and super brakes, the low rent interior, exceptionally firm ride (worse than an Impreza on coilovers), tiny boot and lacklustre engine meant for me it was a far less practical car than an Impreza, and full of niggles and annoying problems which you simply wouldn't expect from a modern vehicle.
Incidentally I dyno'd mine at SRR and it was around 20bhp down on billed figures which was easily noticeable on the road. Perhaps the newer ones are a little better, but personally for the money I'd be looking at something German.
I've also had a prefl RS3 8v which was mapped, and the difference is night and day - the RS3 is much better screwed together, rides better, and with Pilot Sports on, eliminates much of the problem handling journos complain about.
Probably the fastest point to point cars I've owned, 412bhp just off a map and an engine that didn't fart and pop comically like the Focus. My advice would be reconsider carefully!
It seems that the majority of Ford's service departments are dangerously clueless on their performance models, and Ford buried their heads in the sand and didn't admit anything about the issues with the headgasket and "auto steering" for over a year before finally the outrage of multiple owners forced their hand - read the mk3 owners forum on focusrsoc - it's full of complaints about it. Sold mine within 6 months of purchase and jumped into a C63. More of a muscle car than a hot hatch but significantly better value for money when you look at the all round package.
The A45's were a bit too boy racer for me, same as the Civic Type R - although I will say the FK2 Civic R I drove was fantastic, and it was just the very hard ride which stopped me going down that road.
According to some owners, Ford have since resolved the issues on the newer cars, but despite the handling (which is decent enough) and super brakes, the low rent interior, exceptionally firm ride (worse than an Impreza on coilovers), tiny boot and lacklustre engine meant for me it was a far less practical car than an Impreza, and full of niggles and annoying problems which you simply wouldn't expect from a modern vehicle.
Incidentally I dyno'd mine at SRR and it was around 20bhp down on billed figures which was easily noticeable on the road. Perhaps the newer ones are a little better, but personally for the money I'd be looking at something German.
I've also had a prefl RS3 8v which was mapped, and the difference is night and day - the RS3 is much better screwed together, rides better, and with Pilot Sports on, eliminates much of the problem handling journos complain about.
Probably the fastest point to point cars I've owned, 412bhp just off a map and an engine that didn't fart and pop comically like the Focus. My advice would be reconsider carefully!
Last edited by MrNoisy; 31 January 2020 at 12:55 PM.