Janspeed

iTrader: (1)

..............is gonna give some Subarus a run for their money, not to mention the Focus RS!!! ( )

VW Golf R20 spy shots | Car News | evo

stilover

So it's VW's answer to the current S3.

The Focus RS Trumps the S3 in everything other than off the line traction. This Golf really needs 300bhp.

Consider as well that Montune will soon be offering a Ford backed tuning kit for the Focus RS (as a guess 340-350bhp) only the rumoured Audi RS3 will go up against the Focus RS.

Again, the ford will hold it value better too. Sort after RS cars always do.

The Chief

Totally agree, reading about the new Focus RS and how amazing it is, this Golf wont have a hope in hell against the RS.

I slated the RS when i heard it was fwd - but like a lot of people it looks like i had to eat humble pie when i heard how good it was.

Fabioso

When can I expect to see the RS on the roads (i.e. When are the first orders turning up ?)

Reminds me of my "yoof" what with the bonnet vents a la Escort RS Turbo/Cossie.

Will this one hold its value ? or be like the ST which seems to have dropped like a stone.

Janspeed

iTrader: (1)

Let the first drops of rain hit the ground and those puke green RS's will be wrapping themselves around some trees!!

Janspeed

iTrader: (1)

Not everything in life is down to tuning, as std kit counts a lot too!!

Dream Weaver

Mountune kit will be 360bhp from what I've heard, and will also be smooth and reliable due to what Ford ask them to do.

Janspeed, my Focus has no issues in the wet when driven appropriately.

Janspeed

iTrader: (1)

You might know what you are doing, that does not mean anyone else will!

Matteeboy

Errrmmm - where does it mention how much it will be?

Matteeboy

I'd laugh if it's under £20k then...

Can't see your problem with hot hatches. A quickish car that can see four or five and a decent amount of luggage. To me that makes far more sense than a hot 4x4.

Matteeboy

Nat - I get it now and do actually agree. I thought you just hated all hot hatches.
And I spent £23k on an R32 too...

£28k for a 123d - that's just wrong. Does it have rocket boosters and bison hide seats?!

stilover

Pointless to you, yes. But lets take the Focus RS. This thing will beat most cars costing twice as much. For what? £10k premium over the warm version.

The Impreza. A Hero car to many. Why? A 4 door saloon car that can show a Porsche/Ferrari the way home on a country lane. What is the point in a hotter version of the Impreza GL?

Just because people want to go fast, doesn't mean they have to buy a 2 seater sports car. If manufacturer's took your stance we'd be far worse off.

Remember too, that these cars are generally their only car. So being able to transport family/friend around is vital. But when your by yourself, on a good road, these things fly, and bring a smile to the owner.

Not everyone can afford 2 cars.

Fabioso

Nat you are right m8 but the thing about car purchasing and owning is that pure speed is not the whole picture when owning the "uber premium" model. With cars its also a statement. When that Focus ST owner pulls up at the lights and sees an RS, you can imagine what thoughts will go through the ST owners mind. Putting aside the fact you could tune an ST to match an RS. Still its always going to be a ST to the outside world. Reminds me of the RS Turbo/RS Cosworth hierarchy. So car purchasing is more than about outright speed, its a personal fashion statement. The uber premium models sell cos people want to know they have the "best" version of that model. The manufacturers know this and play on it alot.

Matteeboy

Nat - how have you owned so many decent cars?!

I've driven far more than many and owned a fair amount (albeit mostly GTi type cars) but you seem to have had or at least driven everything!

Still not beaten 400bhp yet (the inlaws 355) although the FQ360 I drove was quicker. In fact the only other car with over 300bhp I have driven properly is a recent 750i - huge fun for a luxobarge.

Janspeed

iTrader: (1)

I have to agree that most of these hatches are too expensive.

Now try paying about 60,000 Euros (decent equipment) for an S3, or 65,000 Euros for a TT-S.......

Then I can imagine a RS-3 going close to 80,000 Euros or more.

Basically it's pathetic to pay that much for a small car.

scoobberdoo

A fair amount of humble pie may be on the menu, but I just can't see how a fwd car, tuned to 360bhp is not going to be a bit of a handful. We'll have to wait and see when someone actually does it - and someone will!

Price of a desired object is down to the indiviual and how much it's worth to them. There doesn't seem to be any shortage (even in the current climate) of people willing to pay serious money for these cars.

Personally, you can get some seriously fast(er) and more desirable piece of secondhand kit for that kind of dough. Yes, I like the Focus RS, but if I was in the market, I'd wait for a used example that had dropped in price a tad.

Dream Weaver

I personally don't think £25-30k is that much for a hot hatch these days.

Wasn't the Es Cos about £22k or so when it was released back in 1992? Convert that into modern money and it would probably be around £45k, 1992 is approaching 20 years ago now.

And I would hazard a guess the modern hot hatches are leagues ahead of the EsCos in terms of comfort, reliability, safety and dare I say it performance and handling?

MattW

I disagree, it would be like a 300bhp hatch when all the competition had 160bhp.

Matteeboy

It all makes sense now. Think I have owned as many cars, most of them fairly quick and driven plenty but you beat me by miles.

Norman Dog

iTrader: (1)

Oh dear....
Hope you don't think you own the outside lane and can outdrag ANY car on the road..