Ford Focus RS confirmed for Australia $59,000

[team_v]

IIRC fifth gear reviewed the RS vs the Evo X and the RS actually was quicker around the track.

Guy's Stage 3 GTI was also very close in time to the Stage 3 R around lakeside so AWD isn't really a necessity for these types of cars.


Still, for less $$ you can get a golf R with a stage 1 tune and you get AWD.
Or get a GTI with a stage 3 tune and save even more.


The only reason to get this is if you are a ford fanboy or have more $$$ than cents.

[GoLfMan]

I'd get one of these over a Stage III GTI or an R anyday.

I've driven the XR5 and it was a hoot! Beautifully built and the engine is packed with character (kind of sounded like a boosted VR6)

[Jace]

With you Josh, I'd choose a new Ford over a new VW any day haha.

[Sharkie]

I'd get one of these over a Stage III GTI or an R anyday.

I've driven the XR5 and it was a hoot! Beautifully built and the engine is packed with character (kind of sounded like a boosted VR6)

Agree, the RS is in a different performance league to the VW twins (GTI & R) ... every review in Europe has said so .....

If you wanted the ultimate hot hatch this is the 1 to buy for now .... .... not the VWs ....

BUT .... the ultimate hot hatch will be the RS3 Audi coming soon .... more power than the RS and AWD ....

[Speed]

Don't mind the green colour but overall the car is too ugly for me.

[G-rig]

If only they'd make it AWD!

Imagine the torque steer! Eeeeew!

Why does it need AWD? It already weighs enough and AWD takes away some of the fun and adds weight.

The torque steer wouldn't be that bad with the revoknuckle system and mechanical LSD

Funny how most people wouldn't buy a POS Ford incl. the XR5 but would jump at this.

A GTI/R would probably be a better all rounder and i'd possibly chose the Megane 250 anyway. Still better than a polo or Tig .

[WABIT]

these are amazing in real life! they look like a de-stickered WRC car! and theres HEAPS! driving around europe....

dom

[Sharkie]

Why does it need AWD? It already weighs enough and AWD takes away some of the fun and adds weight.

The torque steer wouldn't be that bad with the revoknuckle system and mechanical LSD

Funny how most people wouldn't buy a POS Ford incl. the XR5 but would jump at this.

The RS apparently has almost no torquesteer compared to other powerful FWDs due to that revoknuckle ....

And yes, would normally not even look at a Ford .... but the RS has a reputation that is well deserved ....

[G-rig]

Agree, I wouldn't mind a white one ..

The RS3 could be over 90k IMO but is getting too expensive for a hatch and Audi resale is pretty bad.

I wonder what the torque steer would be like with a bluefin tune on the focus, guess you wouldn't need to but would probably want to .

[Sharkie]

The RS3 could be over 90k IMO but is getting too expensive for a hatch and Audi resale is pretty bad.

Its great if you want to buy a 2yr old Audi anything .... current gen 2yr old S3 with lots of goodies can be had for $50K or slightly less if you negotiate well. Really s***t if you want to sell it though ....

[irossiter]

Ford Focus RS. Rubbish quality. Rubbish doof doof styling. Rubbish only FWD with far too much power. Rubbish understeer. Rubbish refinement. And the worst of it, having to deal with rubbish Ford service department.

[team_v]

Ford Focus RS. Rubbish quality. Rubbish doof doof styling. Rubbish only FWD with far too much power. Rubbish understeer.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight...................
You do realise that FWD can handle that amount of power and that the RS actually handles itself very well.


Also the need for AWD was shown as null and void when Guy's GTI was within very similar times of the R around lakeside raceway.

[irossiter]

There is a very good reason why my GTI is a brilliant car. VW knew that there is a limited amount of power that can be put through front wheels only. VW have done well with the XDL but you cannot beat physics, the car will still understeer at the limit, let alone in the wet, good luck with the rubbish RS in those conditions. If you want big power you need RWD or AWD (the your Tiguan!). A race driver would have to put so much more effort into driving a FWD car round a track, again you are stuffed in the wet (that is why Godzilla changed the whole Australian touring car scene). Now we have only rubbish Holdens and Fords! So boring. I'm sure your tuned up Tiggie must be a nice piece of kit. The Golf R is a magnificent vehicle and shows why the GTI has reached its limits. Clarkson rubbished the last truly hot Focus, not sure if he has driven the current RS.

[goodfella]

I actually dont mind the RS... and lets not dog it too severly, if it wasnt for other hot hatches, try and tell the VW marketing directors that another Golf R is worth developing!

And on the price, sure you could get a Golf R + tune + other bits, but then all it takes is a leisurely drive down a Sydney Arterial road any given Sunday and everywhere you look is Golf GTI be it 4 - 5 or 6 .... but a Limited release RS would stand out like the proverbials!!!

[simohanmer]

Well said.

I wouldn't have a new GTI over an RS - no way. There are just too many on the roads now.

It is the same thing that happened to audi with RS4 etc. every where you look you see em.

Styling is a bit on the brash side ..... but I reckon it would be look a treat all in black so as all the 90's style WRX plastic fantastic bits didn't show up so much.