My new Focus RS

[marky-p]

Just got the replacement for the Trophy yesterday. 20k miles on the clock and paid £14,750 from a trader completely factory standard. I feel guilty for saying it but it's better than the Trophy in every aspect in my opinion:

The clutch pedal is harder, the brake pedal is harder and has less travel, the brakes overall are stronger, it's sooooooo much faster and more responsive from low down in the rev range, the seating position is lower, does corners as hard as the Trophy, has an Impreza boxer engine exhaust note, I get more looks from people (especially with the Bailey dump valve fitted!) and the suspension feels harder and more solid.

If anyone gets bored of the Trophy then this is a worthy upgrade. Steve up at his 'JCT28' dealership just North of Birmingham was extremely helpful and is an RS and Cosworth specialist. Check out his website at www.jct28.co.uk

 

[drexel]

They are lovely cars, always wanted one! Just too much blue on the inside for me and in my opinion is more of a target for thieves

 

[Shabba]

In your opinion it sounds a bit better than EVO made out.

Nice purchase.

Would love to have one as my second car :!:

 

[duffer987]

Yikes, that sites a bit on the busy side, circa 1999 or so :wink:
Good luck with the Ford, although since you had a Reno you should be use to the service :lol:

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I've heard mixed opinions on Junction 28 tbh mate.

Especially within Ford circles.

FRS are cracking cars.....enjoy :twisted:

 

[pacey]

I've heard mixed opinions on Junction 28 tbh mate.

Especially within Ford circles.

Same here , just do a search on scoobynet loads on their about them . Good and bad.

Enjoy your RS mate

 

[Steve]

FRS's are lovely cars, I was looking at getting one in a couple of years (about a year ago) before I read the EVO reports and before the Trophy came out. Still like the look of them (apart from the blue interior bits of course) and they're undeniably quicker than a Trophy in the right hands (and quicker straight line naturally - having 220 ft lbf torque) but I think it's down to personal preference at the end of the day, most people would agree, that have driven both, that the Trophy (or any 172/182) is the better driver's car. It's just got more to say about the what's going on at the wheels, is more chuckable and responsive without trying to rip your arms out their sockets on full bore corner exits. If you are enjoying it more and don't mind the fuel economy then you've done good, that's all that matters.

I was reading the CTR report in EVO today and it was interesting to note that only the Megane R26 and Focus ST outperformed the Trophy 0-100-0, and the in gear times weren't any better in the forced induction cars either (although they all trounced the CTR). It's still holding it's own against the new breed in performance terms, and all because they weigh too bloody much! That's why the FRS is still one of the quickest hatches, because it didn't weigh more than a small moon, power/weight the same as the 182.

If I had to have a bigger, forced induction hatch, the R26 would definitely be my choice, quicker than a FRS in the straights and the corners, whilst being a brilliant driver's car too.

 

[marky-p]

Just had the Goodridge lines and AP Racing Dot 5.1 fluid put in and the braking stops you like a mofo! Nearly headbutted the windscreen yesterday...wearing a seatbelt of course!
Now I just need to get the discs skimmed as there's a slight lip on the front ones. The Bailey dump valve greatly reduces turbo lag aswell as sounding great......BRAAAAAAAAAAAAHH....TSSSSSSSSSS :twisted:

 

[duffer987]

The Bailey dump valve greatly reduces turbo lag aswell as sounding great......BRAAAAAAAAAAAAHH....TSSSSSSSSSS :twisted:

Excellent onomatopoeia there

 

[hoolio]

Excellent onomatopoeia there

Blimey, i've not heard that since i was at school, a long long time ago :lol:

 

[Guest]

Interesting.

I've done the opposite move to yourself (but with an Audi TT in the middle for eight weeks), and I much prefer the Trophy to the RS.

Okay, in a drag race, the RS would have left the Clio standing (mine was running around 265-270bhp), but for outright corner speed and fun, the Clio is miles ahead IMO. I didn't like the seats in the Focus - they looked nice enough, but they didn't actually offer much support. The Focus's brakes are indeed better than the Clio's, but aside from that I honestly don't prefer anything about the Focus. I missed it when I bought my TT, but now I have the 182 I wouldn't care if I ever saw another RS again. It sounds harsh, but that's how I feel. :lol:

 

[hoolio]

LOL ^^those are the harshest words used on here for a while

 

[oliie]

Interesting.

I've done the opposite move to yourself (but with an Audi TT in the middle for eight weeks), and I much prefer the Trophy to the RS.

Okay, in a drag race, the RS would have left the Clio standing (mine was running around 265-270bhp), but for outright corner speed and fun, the Clio is miles ahead IMO. I didn't like the seats in the Focus - they looked nice enough, but they didn't actually offer much support. The Focus's brakes are indeed better than the Clio's, but aside from that I honestly don't prefer anything about the Focus. I missed it when I bought my TT, but now I have the 182 I wouldn't care if I ever saw another RS again. It sounds harsh, but that's how I feel. :lol:

I think your thoughts echo that of the professional car reviewers

Max Power the Clio isn't

O.

 

[MCoupe]

I do like them but do not think they are in the same league as the Trophy

The trophy was built with track in mind, and definitely has a touch of class. It punches far far above its weight and every motoring journalist and publication out there raves about the car where as the RS got slated for too much tourque steer and was considered a slightly above average hot hatch.

what matters is that your happy with your purchase. I think they look really nice.

its not all about power either, get it on a track and see how it compares to a trophy, in My old M Coupe(320 ish BHP) I used to fly past all manner of exotica with much more BHP.... Tuscan S, E60 M5, CSL and Ferrari 355 CS to name a few. its definitely more to do with how the car is set up and driver ability.

enjoy the Ford dude!

 

[Matt X2C]

top car and good choice. I do like the RS's. But although I like and respect them, I would never own one.

As has been said though, as long as you are happy then that it what counts. Just think that its nice for you to own 2 great hot hatches in a row. Its all down to personal preference as has been said...although I bet you wouldn't outbrake me :lol:

whether i wanted an RS or not....I couldn't get insured on one :lol:

 

[Guest]

You might want to get a quote on an RS... my Trophy costs me more. :wink:

On a track, the RS is a fantastic car, but on the road its LSD does mess it up IMO. You'd be afraid to overtake on anything more than 3/4 throttle on a narrow road, simply because you wouldn't know quite where the car was going to go. The RS did get quite a bit of stick from some of the motoring press (namely Evo), but I do think most of it was justified.
I'm not sure if any of you saw Evo's 'Greatest FWD Car Ever' piece six or so months ago, but it was my actual RS that was used (and came last) in that test. To be fair to it, the tyres were past their best and the type of backroads used were the exact type that really upsets the RS, but you couldn't help but think how some of the other cars went just as fast without making a meal out of things. Had the cars been tested on the track as well as the road, I would have expected the Focus to have done significantly better, but I just personally think this Trophy is awesome!

Whether you drive a Trophy or an RS, you can be sure of one thing... They're both much better than an Audi TT. :lol: