wrx287

iTrader: (8)

If only it had 4WD PistonHeads Headlines

The Chief

Yep i think Ford have missed a golden opportunity here, yes it looks fantastic and i'm sure for a fwd it will handle well but even it had cost a bit more they should have given it AWD and taken the fight directly to the EVO (The new Scooby can forget it)

As good as the traction control and suspension no doubt will be you can only put so much power through the front wheels.


***edited to add***

The looks and RS badge alone will ensure that it sells in droves.

stilover

Where have you been?

Old news. Check out the 300BHP Focus thread.

Scoobyspanners

Subaru designers .......... Look and Learn. You can make a good looking small hatchback.

MrRA

The original Focus RS sold for £20k and Ford lost £6,000 on each car sold. If they were to try and include AWD into this car costs would go through the roof and they would make a loss yet again, something which they are determined not to do this time around. The car has a target price of around £25k at the moment. Include AWD transmission into that and you're looking at a price closer to £30k. Ford is keen to deliver a 'cost effective' performance car here.

I do wish people would just shut up and stop going on about FWD this and and so much power that. Let's just wait and see.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

SIAL

But Mr RA is right. AWD puts it in Evo territory, but the Evo Ralliart Lancer will be a much better money option, about 5k cheaper and much better than the Fugly WRX too.

FWD really outshone the WRX on Fifth Gear in the VW GTi, a spirited Clio Cup/Megane thingey/Astra VXR are now scaring many a Scoob owner.

Quaife are famous for their lsd's and should make a good job.

BMWhere?

Looks like a Subaru

Ginge !

iTrader: (1)

the focus rs was 23k btw when it sold,,, was ment to be 19k then 20 but was sold at 23k

theres gonna be MORE of these sold,,,, they aint restricted at all and its ue to the sucess of the ST

but the ST does go round corners well with its traction system,,,, which shows that you dont need 4wd if you got a decent computer system

GazTheHat

How will it get the power down in the wet/damp?

Surely the computer will pull everything back until it can get traction, therefore not getting all the power down.

stilover

Wrong. I bought mine brand new from a Ford Dealer at £20,100.

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Common for such FWD cars to have torque limited in first two gears. If they have to do that you have to wonder: is the car overpowered for it's set up?

I would argue, yes.

Ns04

GazTheHat

I'd have to agree. It's like a Jekyll and Hude car. Sometimes it's gonna go, sometimes it's not.

My vRS @ 180bhp/290lb will get the computer pulling it back in the dry, rolling in 2nd, sometimes briefly in 3rd.

The new RS will go and handle well no doubt, but i think it's sales would've gone through the roof adding AWD.


They talk about "extra weight" in the review, of adding AWD, how much weight are they talking about?

stilover

Disagree.
If Ford made a AWD Focus RS and charged £30k, they'd sell every one. Fast Ford enthusiasts are looking for a genuine replacement for the Escort Cosworth. Look around at some of the Ford/non-Ford forums, and everyone wants AWD. I had my name down at my local dealer, and was more than happy to pay £30k for a AWD RS.

I honestly think the reason why the RS doesn't have AWD is Ford's been counters. They're scared of losing money, so haven't allowed Team RS to build it. Sadly they don't know just how powerful the RS brand is.

If this car doesn't sell it will be the end of Ford building RS cars. They'll quote that there is no market for the RS brand any more. There is, just not in FWD format.
Remember the canned the Fiesta RS stating "No Market for a 200bhp Fiesta".
Mini cooper works
Corsa VXR
Clio 197


Ford were spot on there then

The only real disapointment is Ford persistance on saying AWD would have weighed too much. The whoile car weighs to much. 1500kg? More than the new Impreza that is lugging around a heavy *rsed AWD system.

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Probably about 50KGS.

Took a mate for a spin in my Scooby the other day (he has a Focus RS)

A WOT run through 1st second and third with no wheelspin and no need for pulling back the cars torque (343ft lbs).

"Er, wow" was his reply. Shortly followed by "can I have a go?"

My answer was a polite "no".

Fantom

When it comes to FWD, people always say its crap in the wet. Fair point. But who on earth tries to drive on the limits in the wet?
Unless you're on a track I just don't see why it is such a problem. I would never race the hell out of car in the wet on public roads whether it has 4WD or not.

stilover

It's not abouty racing in the wet. It's pulling out at junctions, or just pulling away at traffic lights on anything other than feather throttle.

I don't race inn the wet whether I'm driving FWD, RWD, or 4WD. But with 4WD I can pull out at a junction without spinning the wheels.

Also sometimes you need to pull away fast in 1st or 2nd for whatever reasons. With 4WD it's not problem.

StickyMicky

agreed, most people slating the focus probably never drive even remotely fast in the wet anyway, who would?? it would be a deathwish and is just plain stupid on the public road, fine if you are going to use it on the track, but if its a track car you want, then buy a track car.


i think we should wait and see how well it does in reviews before judging on weather or not its crap to drive.

comparing the car to a scooby is quite funny, when a stock scooby is a understeering piece of crap anyway lol

Fantom

What about a FWD car with 90bhp? Just cos the Focus has lots of power does not mean you cant pull out at junctions. It has massive wide tyres compared to most FWD cars. You dont have to spin the wheels unless you are billy club foot on the throttle.

Guv

iTrader: (8)

Got to agree with the above, I've always owned FWD Hot Hatches before my scoob, last one being a MK5 Golf GTI, and it was such a balanced car went round corners no probs, test drove the ST before buying the scoob and Leon Cupra as well and they had no problem getting the power down and going round corners, not sure it what they would of been like if you put the BHP to 350 like my Spec C.

In my case the scoob was just better value for the money, yes its older but the power and grip and handling outweighed the cost of getting the new car and then having to Mod it to get the power levels.

I think Ford should of made the RS AWD, as then they would of given potential buyers a choice of both FWD and AWD, i.e. the ST for FWD and if someone wanted a bit more poke and grip go for the RS (and more potentially power), instead i think whats the point of buying an ST as both cars are FWD you obviously go for the more powerful one with the better electronics

Guthrie14

i think thats LUSH ... but obv in another colour

BLU

iTrader: (27)

Be honest everyone, I think the kind of people who would buy this car would love the option for a bit of oversteer once in a while. Cant really do that properly in a boring fwd car. AWD all the way, IMO I think Ford have missed their "true" RS buying market.......... shame. And as for that colour, unforgivable

GazTheHat

It's got nothing to do with racing at the limits in the wet. Try booting a 200bhp car in the wet in 2nd gear out of a junction or roundabout!

Guv

iTrader: (8)

That sounds like fun

GazTheHat

It goes something like: foot down (or even 3/4 throttle), dash flash, spin, judder-judder, power loss, reduced momentum, take foot off throttle.

Especially with nearly 300lb.

HOWY

Can't see the FWD system being good enough to use the power. I tried a mazda 3 mps which has more power than my 08 WRX and when I set off in the dry without hammering it the steering wheel tugged with torque steer when the electronics kicked in all that will probably happen will be the power will be reduced.

Pity they can't use the 4wd technology developed for the WRC and put it into the new car

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

You don't even need anywhere near that power for FWD to become a problem: I drove a 2.2 Astra SRi, lovely engine, 150 of each, so not super quick by our standards, but smooth, free reving and really encouraged you to use the powerband. No traction control to get in the way so an honest indication of how the car put its power down without any interference from a silicon chip.

Road was stone dry, thought I'd go for a brisk pull away and was greeting with the sound of tortured rubber.

In the wet, it was simply hopeless.

Things have come someway since then, and trick diffs etc can do so much, but at the end of the day they're a band aid over a problem that wouldn't be there in a RWD or 4WD car. Sir Newton always has the last word

Ns04

bmfcrash

iTrader: (14)

The Msport WRC transmission and drive train is one of the most odd layouts and would not really suit/be cost effective to make a road car with this package.
That said, I am sure there are other methods of packaging 4wd into the focus but thats starting with a blank canvas and £££££££.

abbott

have to admit its a bonny bonny car , i saw my 1st new shape impreza last week ~(i know i know but i live in the sticks) and it is nice looking buuuuuuuuuut the new focus looks blindinly good ( in my opinion )

Ginge !

iTrader: (1)

i cant see why they never used the volvo 4wd transmission as fittted to the S60R ,,, btw its alot more that 50kg to fit 4wd system,,, 2 extra shafts, diff, heavier hubs, transfer box,,, thats more than 50kg

Janspeed

iTrader: (1)

Indeed.