druddle

Anyone know the lead time on orders for an RS Focus ?

Dave

Mega

Well i hear that the torque steering pile of crap (Source Clarkson/EVO) is now out of production!

So........Forever it would seem.

Cheers
Mega

PG

1 in the "for sale" forum

PG

http://bbs.focusrs.co.uk/ for more details

jonmorris

To clarify; it finishes production in August (with the plant closing for 2 or 3 weeks this month). Car no. 44xx has already been delivered in the UK, so there are less 100 to go.

Finding one at list price isn't impossible as some dealers pre-ordered with no customer. Some have upped the price but expect those £25-27k (serious!) prices to come down when people say "No bloody way".

Mega likes to wind me up it seems by spouting drivel about the car being axed because Jagua. sorry, For.. sorry, some bloke he knows is, for some reason, terrified that it will kill someone.

PS. Isn't it funny how Mega also likes to quote JC (who is no longer so critical of the car) and Evo when plenty of other people have said good things and even tried to explain why Evo have got it wrong.

http://www.b.morrisiam.btinternet.co..._magazines.htm

Other comments about the "Clarksteer" problem;

"Yes the tight diff produces steering kickback and can pull you off line if you aren't ready. But in a car like this, you're meant to be ready. In any case, what would you rather have: a car which fritters away its power to traction control and a spinning inside wheel, or one which puts all its power on the deck yet asks nothing more than concentration?" - Autocar

"Yes, the diff tugs sometimes, causing the steering wheel to move around a little in your hands, but it's nothing like as dramatic as the torque steer which afflicts the Alfa over rough roads - despite its standard-fit traction control system. Truth is, forget what you may have read or seen elsewhere about the Focus RS being too difficult or too manic over a rough road, or too orientated towards circuit use. Travel to the worst road in Britain, put yourself in each of these four cars and we promise you that you'll not only have more fun, but also reach the end of the road faster when you're driving the Ford" - Autocar

"While the RS will spin its wheels hard in the rain when provoked, I just could not get it to torque steer." - Top Gear (magazine) that later gave it Car of Year 2003 and Best drivers car!

"...The RS isn't a regular production model, which is precisely what has freed Ford to be so bold with the car's set up, and why we, as enthusiasts, find it so exciting to drive." - Autocar (again!)

"...Let's get a few things straight. Lots of rubbish has been written about how uncompromising the RS Focus is on a bumpy road, that its ride quality is as compliant as your average African dictator, and that its steering tugs you in all sorts of directions you'd prefer not to be going in if you're on anything other than a billiard-smooth road. Grudgingly, I admit that it is a bit of a handful. Thing is, this is one of the reasons I've fallen for it. Sports cars are supposed to keep you on your toes, and if you can't cope with a bit of commotion at the front wheels, buy a Vauxhall Vectra 1·8 LS or a Gareth Gates compact disc. The RS Focus has 213bhp, and you can feel every one of them. You're meant to." - Telegraph

"Kevins and Traceys who buy Ford's long awaited RS performance version of the Focus had better watch out. Road rage could await them. Two Garys - one in a white Escort RS the other in a black RS Turbo deliberately swerved head-on towards me to see if I would flinch. Sorry, Gazzas, I wasn't playing." - Daily Mail, clearly forgetting to mention asylum seekers in the article

"Ugg" - The Sun (probably)

[Edited by jonmorris - 12/07/2003 01:11:53]

drb5

iTrader: (4)

so how many exactly are supposed to be made?

PG

4500

Mega

Sorry Johnny but i know the inside track on this. As a "Chap" in and out of Jag ever week it been a hot topic of discuession!

Why have they killed it?
Did they built 4500?

Think about it.
Mega

craig walker

The less they make the better for owners like myself and everybody else that has one as the 2nd hand price will stay high.

hope ur correct mega but i doubt it !!!!!!!

Steve V8

They planned to make 4500.

They will make 4500. (Probably already there tbh).

We have just delivered our last RS Focus that was due, (we sold 17. Not bad for a small dealer in Somerset.)

We are not expecting any more to come in, and all but two of our orders were placed in 2002.

Turbo_Nutter

I put my deposit down in January and have just found out my car is being built in August, so it would be one of the last. However, I have changed my mind and decided to keep the Cossie, so my Focus RS will goto the next person on the waiting list.

wilf

Ford Dealer in Cardiff is advertising one in stock for £20,995.

jonmorris

You do know the Focus RS is made by Ford, not Jaguar don't you? Having the same parent company doesn't mean some bloke at Jaguar knows the "inside story", which is proven to be wrong anyway.

One point; Why would any company be "S**T scared of a fatal RTA". Don't Ferrari, Porsche etc ever have accidents where drivers are killed? Are those cars suddenly axed because some prat wraps the car around a tree on the first day?

Proper drivers know that to control the diff, you must hold down the power - NOT ease off. The car has stunning grip and control, but a few journos have still said it's terrible. That's their opinion and they are entitled to it.. but your bloke in Jaguar must be a complete idiot if he doesn't know it!

The Focus RS has not been without it's problems and there have been a few changes during production (which can be retrofitted to the original ones hopefully). The seats may soon have a recall to improve the bases and some cars have vibrations through the foot pedal at 4000+RPM. Other than that, and some shoddy hose clips that might result in coolant loss (as mine suffered early on) the car is pretty stable and few people have had serious problems.

At least one car HAS been written off and another has been stolen. I am sure more will be crashed and stolen, but why should FMC care? Other cars have been crashed or stolen you know.

They haven't.

They WILL build all 4500 by August.

I am thinking one thing - why you keep saying the same thing over and over. Do you also drive a Soarer by any chance??

[Edited by jonmorris - 7/17/2003 12:28:49 AM]

sooby

jonmorris,

I understand that Porsche have had a few problems (eg: on the 911?) which has been put down to people not understanding how to drive the car round corners. I believe they offer any person buying one to go on a drivers training day so that they understand the car and know what to expect in certain conditions.

If Ford or any other Motor Company did that (including Subaru), I'm sure they'd be booked for quite some time - I'd certainly be in the queue!

jonmorris

I agree about the training courses but I guess FMC, Subaru etc don't make enough per car to make things worthwhile (that said, those who pre-ordered did get invited to a track, albeit without special training).

The Focus RS Owners Club are organising proper track lessons as I am sure there are on here. The problem is they will probably only attract the enthusiasts who need them least!

[Edited by jonmorris - 7/17/2003 8:39:26 AM]