Just saw these two next to each other, Focus seems to have far more presence.

 

Not driver either but from my experience of Golfs the ride is soft and i doubt it handles as well as the Focus, i recon the Golf would be easier to live with day to day and better built.

Would rather have the Focus mind

 

not a chance, the r32 has a 3.2 engine and therefore much more a muscle car in my eyes. Like you I havent driven either but to me the focus looks cheap compared to the R32. Could be that I just don't like Ford's but I have never liked the look of the focus. The fact the R32 is four wheel drive is a big plus to me, I drive on country roads most of the time and would trust the R32 much more than the focus.

 

Have not driven either but from most reveiws it seems that both have missed the mark with regards to purpose built lane hoppers.
The RS is supposed to be manic with its twitchyness and torque steer and the golf is supposed to be pretty docile and `boring`??
Cant please all of the people all of the time, car manufacturers must be really left scratching their heads with motor journalists!!
jas

 

I agree the RS certainly has more presence than the R32

 

Focus interior is v low rent, golf interior in nice, but again, it is a golf interior.
Seen a few r32's and had a look at them as they went past, the couple of RS's I have seen have made me stop what I am doing.
Differing tastes, but to me the focus looks the business.
I could live with steering wheel wrestling in the knowledge that I would be having good fun.
I miss the on/off delivery of a good tubo engine.
R32 enigine is probably OK, but have an Alpina B3 3.3 at the moment which would demolish the R32 in every way so the Golf could offer me nothing new.

 

Quote
"I could live with steering wheel wrestling in the knowledge that I would be having good fun."

It isn't really like that, if you are wringing the *(%$£ out of it then it can get a bit lively, but ultimately its very predictable and easy to control, unlike genuine torque steer. In everyday driving it is just like tootling about in a 2.0l focus except for a very slightly heavier clutch. The ride is a bit firmer than a normal focus but on the other hand it is beutifully damped and it makes for a very relaxing car to drive on the M/way.

The "having fun" bit is 110% right tho