Its now 6 years ago that a 400bhp hatch for £50k was a special car.


Looking at the Auto trader there are 5 out of 75 for sale.


2 at £25k, 2 at £28k & 1 at £30k.


In the last 6 years had the AMG merc, Golf R, RS3 and now the Focus RS approaching similar levels of performance. First reviews of focus this week look like its going to be the darling of the Motoring Press.


I have always been very tempted by the CS400 but its the focus that has me thinking that's a better place to put your money?

 

new focus really doesnt look anything special ,compaired to the previous model, would have to be that over the cs400 aswell i think.

 

Tbh I always thought the CS400 was way, way over priced @£50k, at the end of the day £25k is a lot of money for a forged engine and 2 recaro seats and a couple of badges.

You could build or buy a much nicer car for way less, also buy something that would be worth more than roughly 50% after 5/6yrs.

I wouldn't buy one, they'll be £15k in a couple of years.

 

I nearly spat my tea over the keyboard! Seats and a forged engine, FFS it's not some over specced under powered UK Turbo **** box.


Many people choked at the price of 22B's, RA's and Type R's but who spent the smart money?

 

Cs400 was a limited UK run of only 75 . The others ... RS , Golf R , S3 and Amg along with many other performance cars are all mass produced.

You will be lucky to come across a Cs400 on the road ! .... As for the rest you see them around everyday.

 

 

Bugger, the one I was really fishing for got away.

As for the rest of you, suckers.

 

It's not so long ago that 22B's were £15k for a short spell, they've gained some ground but they're only just going over £30k at the moment, so still not that wise an investment, maybe get £50k for one that's never been driven but what's the point in that, if you were looking for an investment you'd have done considerably better buying a £50k house at the time as it would be worth close to £250/300k in the same time frame.

So not really "smart money"

 

what I don't get is how (quoted figures) it does 0-62 in 3.7 seconds yet only does the 1/4 mile in 12.75?? doesn't that seem strangely slow ?

 

Apparently no one has managed to get one from 0/60 in that time, which might go someway to explaining the qtr mile time.

If RS matt was here he would no doubt explain to us all that it's due to transmissions losses and they should have fitted a 5 speed.

 

cs400 will never have the cult status of the 22b though.

 

50% of retail price after 5/6 years is good and not very common

That said will never be as good as a house, but you can't take it with you ��

 

Would like to know how many people on here have a CS400 and what they think ? As they would be the best people to ask .....

 

The Focus RS is set to compete against the Golf R and it's ilk. Ford will be wanting to shift as many units as possible, not simply an engineering exercise or motorsport advertisment.

So they'll be thousands of them for sale in 2 or 3 years. Plus any new car - short of a limited run special - is going to depreciate as soon as it's no longer "new".

At least with the CS400 it's already suffered it's major depreciation curve. If you have Focus RS money to burn but don't want to lose your capital, then buy an Integrale. Just don't drive it though (which somewhat defeats the point).

 

[QUOTE=Scrappy9;11785997]50% of retail price after 5/6 years is good and not very common
QUOTE]




Agreed I think they have held there money well. M3's of similar vintage are the same kind of money and the would have been at the same price point when new probably even more as most M3's were optioned up.

 

The Cosworth's a rapid machine, and very flexible given the torque it's got.

Do remember it was built with emissions regs and a warranty in mind, and that certainly is a detriment to the performance. Nothing a simple map from one of the top guys wouldn't correct if that bothers you.

In terms of being a car to live with, it's superb. Lovely seats and a comfort-orientated suspension setup make it a very pleasant car to be in. I've given people lifts in it who know nothing about cars, who have been incredibly surprised when I've booted it onto a slip road or gone to overtake the tractor in front.

 

Existing FRS seem to hold value very well. You don't seem to get any change from £20k for 09+. All the mark 1's are well above £10k too.

But its very rare to make money from a car, when you consider running costs. Maybe not lose as much compared to others is a better outlook.

 

jdm classics seem on the rise nowadays.... why?

 

its a performance ford it will hold its money above and beyond most things in the same category - i quite like it also

Ditchy - CS400 never got recaro's, they are just recovered STI seats, another reason for you not to buy one lol

 

Did I read somewhere a years waiting list on the Focus RS?


Could pushed used ones initially over list.


I think they could of done more on the looks of the Focus.... There will be a lot of ST copies in a couple of years.

 

Well considering it was a special edition limited production run it's not actually doing that good if it's residuals are comparable to something like an M3 which are like dog poo.

 

Just get an A45 AMG.... Just saying!

 

Or buy a poverty spec vauxhall on the knock...leave the performance cars to the big boys

 

I.M. killed the CS400, offering a 36k/3 year warranty on a 50k car and no option to extend...
One of the guys at work had a 6 year old Audi RS6 for 4 years, in that time Audi extended the warranty every year, and that was on a car pushing 10 years, at least one manufacturer has some faith in the cars it produces

 

Whats it like not owning a Subaru?

 

What about a jdm hatch spec c?

 

Yeah you're right, maybe I should just stick to what I know and get another MGZR.

 

I don't regret changing, put it that way.

 

So three months on and everybody loving the Focus RS.


There are 2 CS400's for sale.


One of the original £28k cars is now £25k. Seems a bit short of its splitter.


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...Cnew&logcode=p




And another £25k Car.


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...ge=1&logcode=p


Both at dealers that probably have no idea of the cars history & care requirements.


Anybody been to see either car?

 

I went to see the second one at £25k
Dealers were jokers, claiming the Cosworth doesn't need a cambelt for 10 years or 100k miles.....
Car looked nice, and extending the warranty was reasonably priced.
Their attitude and the 2.5 put me off.