stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

Ok anyone actually had one of these or has had the pleasure to drive them for long enough to offer a NON biased opinion.

Need a new car and have been looking at a few possibilities and this is one of them.

So any advice (constructive, please leave the "should of been 4wd" comments etc) love the look of them so rather than a hatch sti / 330s (my other choice) and helpful people out there

Frosticles

iTrader: (1)

Love them. Driven both the Standard MK2 RS and also the RS500. Very quick, Comfortable, Excellent handling, Great to look at. What more could you wish for.

john banks

I drove a standard Mk2 RS and loved it. Great noise. A bit wild looking in green. I drove it in the dry, I couldn't tell it was FWD.

stilover

AWD !!


Sorry, couldn't resist.

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

Cheers guys but how did it compare to the impreza?

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

Haha always one

classic Subaru Si

One flew past me the other day, it sounded fantastic with the taps open! Not much help for you, but after hearing one of these things wound up I'm converted!

stilover

TBH Steve, if you are looking to buy one, I think you may be able to pick one up cheaper than you may think. A Dealer near me has had 2 (Green) RS's in since last year.

Due to high fuel prices and low mpg, these cars are getting hard to sell on. So if you make an offer, you just may get some serious cash off the asking price.

Discounting the fact it doesn't have AWD, the MKII (for me) was never as special as the MKI (Which I owned from new) as, take away the body kit and what have you left? A bog standard Focus with Recaro seats. The MKII Focus is huge too. You can see how much weight it has to shift in the corners.
The MKI at least stood out for more than just a Body kit. Sparco seats, OZ Alloys, Brembo brakes, Qualf diff. And not a Volvo engine in sight. Plus, in a straight line, there wouldn't be much in it between them.

I thought about buying one, but as a weekend car, it just wasn't special enough. And as an everyday car proposition.......... I'd have bought a Scirroco R instead. Better built, better styled, better mpg, and just as quick.

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

I don't think it's a step up from an impreza/evo. It's just a fast hot hatch at the end of the day.

I've driven one a few times and to be fair I was very surprised how fast they are. I thought it was going to be a let down, it was certainly nippy and what a sound! Pop's and bangs too.

I wouldn't want one though, I'd rather have a jdm hatch impreza sti. The fwd just doesn't cut it with me (I know, I know) I did notice it was fwd, you can feel the torque steer on it and traction in 1st and second is a problem. Also, like someone said above it's a shame Ford didn't add some nice calipers and bits. The brakes look ****e, horrible old sliding calipers (that corrode badly) and the details that look good from a distance are fake up close, like the mesh under the head lights. The carbon look bits on the interior are poor too, I think they'd look a million times better in 3m carbon wrap. The seats are nice though! Lol at 'Ricardo' above!

I guess if you've not had 4wd performance cars like evos or scobs you'll love it, like the guy I know. But for me I'd miss the way my car digs in and can sling shot you.

P1Fanatic

I like the look of them although a little OTT compared to a Hatch STiand you cant argue with the sound. Even a std ST with that 5 pot sounds pretty sweet when you stamp on the pedal.

They managed to get it in the £240pm tax bracket as well which Subaru missed a trick on.

Things that put me off are:

-2nd hand prices but as stilover says you might be able to haggle a decent amount off as there are a lot of them for sale.

-Lack of 4wd which I really miss after driving an FN2 Civic Type R for the the last 3 yrs (no LSD diff or revoknuckle unfortunately).

-Interior is no different from an ST other than the seats and some carbon effect trim

Also seen quite a few tests that show they arent as fast as you'd think and as Ford state - this is the £35k RS500 and yes it gets passed eventually but probably into licence losing speeds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-O8jHbWDsk

stilover

Arrrggghhhh, I meant Recaro !!!

salsa-king

we went 330s over the RS.. mainly.. we wanted 4 doors..(baby seat to get in/out) Hatch back space for push chair was good. The other thing was I couldn't get my head round spending £25k on an interior that looked like my wife's 2005 Focus Ghia.

also having another 25bhp was a nice thought with the 330s... and it wasn't as in ya face looks as the RS when out and about.




























(the 4wd is nice to know you have it when snow comes too)

14N-FR

iTrader: (3)

I just had the pleasure of driving one to Newcastle and back yesterday.

Fabulous car, great interior with the LUX 1+2 pack with the satnav and reverse camera and the exhaust note is great with a decatted exhaust.

My friends car is at 365bhp and it shifts! Yes it is FWD and in the wet you will struggle to lay down all the power in the lower gears but to be honest it is just a great car to drive and makes a great noise.

It's a step above and some compared to my hawkeye interior and is as easy to drive as a standard Focus when needed. I would chop my 450bhp hawkeye in for one gladly after my extended test drive.

oiler

iTrader: (1)

Had a White 10 plate for a while (3500miles)
Seats are great, engine is great (miss the sound and pops and bangs), looks awsome, 19 inch wheels a pain in the ****, economy/running costs reasonable, interior started to creak.
Biggest problem for me was the Front wheel drive, very poor traction on take off if traction turned off (lots of axel tramp) or engine power just softened with traction control on. That was in the dry any hint of wet weather forget any fast get aways.
Having said that great on the move and through the gears, if a bit tyre squeally round the bends.
Locked it away for the winter, bought a cheap bugeye wagon and that was it 4 wheel drive all the way. Sold RS in the spring now have a 2006 SpecD running 440hp now
Would I buy another? Yes a Blue Lux pack2 would tempt me and keep the specD for some real fun.

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

This is my issue I think they look stunning and have seen a few here and there and they sound great but I am torn between the two. The RS is something I have not had but everytime I try a new car within a few months I start to miss the impreza (sad I know) but hey. What I don't want to do a deal be tied and then think bugger that bug is still there and wish I bought another sti.

I've come across a nice 08 sti hatch, forge build along with some choice mods or a nice RS with a few bits both running similar power around 350-360 but the RS is 4k more but is on a 59 plate. Both similar miles and both with warranty.

Issue is I can't decide which to go for. Silly question being a Subaru owners club but what woul you do.

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

STI, no question. Honestly think you'd sh*t yourself at the choice of fwd after owning an impreza. I've only driven an rs a few times and could tell I'd miss the 4wd and that was in the dry, in the wet/damp you'd be kicking yourself. In my opinion it's just the ultimate hot hatch, it's not in the same bracket as a good sti. It's like the modern day escort rs turbo, not a modern day cossie!

A great car, I'm sure you'd love it for a week or so but the details I mentioned above, finish on bits and brakes etc leave you feeling like it's just nothing really special. They are also very common. I see dozens on my travels and hardly ever see a hatch sti.

I still think you'd be better holding out for a jdm hatch though. I don't like all this 2.5 engine failure stuff.

Chris@ACR

Ive got one of these, had it for over a year and a half, brilliant car. Looks imo mint, and the sound is just awesome. Pops and bangs on the overrun. Handling wise they are pretty good, of course you get the understeer in the wet with the TC off and you plant it mid corner. But in the dry it'll **** a back wheel. Massive interior. very spaceous in the back. One thing that can get annoying is the rock hard suspension especially on pot holed roads which is the majority of roads out there.

I drive mine fair sensibly, nice to have a blast now and again, average mpg reads around 26mpg which isnt too bad for what it is.

The reversing camera is abit of a gimic, and impossible to see out of the back screen at night when reversing.

I'd say get one, just for the noise.

jameswrx

iTrader: (4)

Oh, and salsa makes a good point. The interior is just like a normal focus, the steering wheel etc just looks anything but sporty (chrome touches) It just feels like they've taken a focus ghia and slapped a pair of recaro's in there. The dial needles make me feel a bit queasy, the chrome on them! Just feels like every diesel focus I jump in at work.

Test drive one.... In the wet.

It might sound like I'm slating them, I honestly do like them I just think they fall into a different bracket to an sti.

Yellow R

iTrader: (2)

Hi every one just made an account on here and found this thread so I thought il share my view.

Personally I think the Focus RS Has definitely got the looks and they look bang on in white or blue.

However a mate of mine had a fresh 10 plate in the RS and was giving it the big talk lol, So we put it to the test and my car at the time Ver 8 STI around 320Bhp with "SLIPPING" clutch gave him a very good run for his "big boy car" if my clutch wasn't slipping I would have left him, & he is a very good driver lol

So that's something to think about eh But if you want something abit more practical than a subz Focus RS is a nice car But fuel wise it will be a drinker

Chris@ACR

Agreed an STi should out perform an RS but lets face it racing on the roads these days is pointless you just get stuck behind idiots doing 40 everywhere. Its all down to driver preferance, you wouldnt be disappointed with an RS though it will be different to the impreza.

Yellow R

iTrader: (2)

Well said mate I have to agree with you there

Chris@ACR

sorry to go off topic but these people that do 40 in a 60 and 40 in a 30 need taking off the road. You know the ones where you pass them and then come to a 30 and then there they are speeding through the 30 to sit inches off your bumper. Accept the inevitable, fule prices are going skyward, better to just plod along and save the pennies for some track time.

bigredrob

Had a volvo t5 850 estate, uprated, that popped and banged on overun,300BHP, like the focus, 26 mpg average,had no traction control , great car, lot of practicability, did 200k in it, you could sleep in the back. Ford nicked the engine, and put it in a hatch!!

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

Thanks again guys, jameswrx the hatch sti has had a forged build as well as some other bits so the engine won't be an issue. The hatch seems the best bet, its cheaper and with the forged build has future potential. It's a pain because normally I see an impreza like it and buy it this time I'm torn between the two

stilover

TBH if it was me, I hold out on both of the above and wait for an STI Saloon to drop into your price bracket.

I don't like the STI Hatch, but the Saloon, especially with the big spoiler on the back looks pretty good IMHO.

I went from a AWD Impreza to a FWD Golf TDI for a couple years. In damp or wet conditions I really missed having the traction of AWD. Just getting out of wet junctions without wheelspin, knowing that you can make the gap in traffic without fuss is the main benefits to having AWD in everyday driving. And then there's the snow........

I'm that sure AWD is best, that both my cars are AWD, and at least my everyday car will always be AWD due to the benefits in the real world that AWD brings.

stevie1982

iTrader: (16)

Well the hatch is now sold so back to the drawing board, such is life I guess but now time to test drive the rs I guess :-)

Chris@ACR

Definitly take it for a test drive! you'll find that if you mash the throttle in second you'll get a load of axle tramp, dont let this put you off though, u just have to drive it with in its limits. If its dry when you test drive just do a couple of laps of a roundabout and feel just how much it grips and how well the front diff works.

SPIDERWRX

I looked at getting a RS before buying my 335i, the Focus RS Has definitely got the looks, but i didnt think it was that fast, (easy fix) but FWD with over 400bhp + i like the sheep look as a daily drive

Spec'c'57

iTrader: (1)

My RS was 400 bhp. was a great car that i admit i have now sold but only through lack of use. in the dry (not @ 400bhp but with bluefin stage 1 they say 330 ish) it easily pulled away from scoobs with similar power even through the twisties. Would always lift the rear wheel when doing roundabouts rather hard. then i added the miltek exhaust, bigger injectors and a nice remap, after that it was pretty mental. on a run into germany i see 163mph easily on the sat nav.

Chris@ACR

400BHP must have cost you alot in front tyres! im running dunlop sport maxx. IMO they are way better than the contis, once you get the release adgent off from new.