Thrush

iTrader: (1)

Like it Was given a demo, than had a little go in it - must admit, I think it's better than the FRS!

I just prefer the way it drives - smoother, nicer power delivery (tho it doesn't spool up as fast, due to bigger turbo I guess) but is pretty nippy for whats probably 7psi or so (was registering near 2/4's on the 1.2bar scale, so guessing between 6 and 8psi)

Quiet too, and did I mention smooth?

ESP is better on tho - less tramlining and doesn't snatch the wheels under hard accelleration as much

Overall, impressed

mrviper

did you go home and come back with your big fat deposit?

plynchy

Had a good drive meself before getting the FRS. Cracking car, soooooooo smooth and refined compared the RS, was very tempted to get one, but the depreciation put me off....worth 7-9k after 3 years, that was from the salesman....Fuck that.

RS all the way for me

stroker762

Every time I come up next to a new ST Focus, they brick it. What's that all about??? I've had a go in one myself, so I know it's got some welly! Don't think it's as quick or as responsive as my RS Focus though. Still a nice car.

Jay,

iTrader: (4)

mates got one got rid of his frs for it says its loads better and a stronger built engine to ?

stonehavencossie

I have to admit i prefer them over the FRS

stroker762

I'm not getting drawn into what's better a ST or RS, above quote says it all+ the RS turns more heads! Nuff said

Andreas

I would think so, volvo engines are

plynchy

Having driven them both I know which is more "fun". But each to their own on this, both cracking cars, depends what you want from a car really.

OldDan

I've had a few passenger rides in both RS and ST.. and personally I find the RS a bit more fun..

Bit more harsh on boost, feels stuck to the road quite bumpy..

ST is a little bit too refined for me personally.

Thrush

iTrader: (1)

I can understand both sides of it really, as I always preferred my S1's over my mates S2's, mainly cos they felt that little bit more "raw" (slight gearbox and susension differences), but maybe I have just grown up a bit, I just find the new ST more suited to me now than the FRS. I do actually like the refine'ness of it, tho I think it could benefit from about another 30hp and a little bit of a harder kick when the turbo comes on song - not too much to be classed as lag, but enough to give you that "ooh" when it comes on boost

rabmc

Fook having the same colour as everyone else

St for me if i had too choose

AndyRST

I have driven both and the ST would make an easier car to live with in everyday use but the FRS is just so much the better car IMO.

The ST feels too safe and boring to drive. Yes its hardly making any boost for the same std power figure but it just seems too "normal" a road car, too smooth and too vague (sp) when it comes to handling and feed back.

When you drive a FRS you KNOW you are driving something that feels a bit special. It is bumpier and slightly noiser but the whole car just feels like more of a sportier car than the new ST and the FRS just says right im here to do a job, where as the ST just says im here for everyday use.

The parts on the FRS also tell you the story, Brembo brakes, Sparco seats, Quaife diff, GT turbo, Sachs dampers. Where as the parts on the new ST are all Ford "copys" of these parts and IMO no where near as good as the parts on the FRS.

Thats why i chose to buy a FRS over a new ST, plus the fact its a RS and will hold better money compaired to the mass produced ST which will (and already has) dropped like a stone in price

EIL132

How come the ST is quicker? If depreciation worries people so much, buy a Mini

AndyRST

Quicker as in how? Quicker 0-60? Quicker to sell? Quicker to lose money, Quicker around a track?

stonehavencossie

When the ST came out a lot of people where prasing its modding potential but apart from the chip n cooler there has been nothing much more yet is there ?

Also, yes buying one now and there are gonna depreciate a lot. Not as much as people might think though. Ford cant make em fast enough and there are proving VERY popular.

On the other side of the coin in 3/4 years these things are gonna be bargains and with the volvo lump in it should still be reliable

Cawood

so thrush is the wallet coming out then?

stroker762

Nuff said!!!

Mr Brannen

Prefer the ST myself, didnt like them till I was in the Ford showroom looking at one, very nice looking car but each to their own I suppose, but only Blue to choose from with the RS.......its like seen one seen the all IMO

Kev.H

as I have said before

ST = is for Joe Public
RS = Cult classic, not a best seller

both cars make similar power with all the basic add ons and have the same problem FWD

davie 3 door

iTrader: (5)

When u have seen one focus RS uve seenthem all

Kev.H

apml cos the 3 door was made in so many colours what 3 oh and so was the series one turbo i mean all white bar one or too depending on legend

infact if include the test FRS's white and black thats 3 different colours

AndyRST

Why is FWD a problem? Its perfect for crap drivers like yourself

Kev.H

not allways Andy sometimes on the very odd occassion im going right and well she(aka the diff) is going left

AndyRST

your never drive a FWD as bad as my old RST. With 230lbft of torque and because of the diff it was all over the road and nothing you did with the steering made much difference to the direction it wanted to go.

The i cant even feel the diff or torque steer with the FRS compaired to what i was used to with the RST.

Kev.H

i had an s2 in white 179bhp 196f\t that used to swerve cant imagine how bad they were with more bhp and t\q

AndyRST

Yep they could be bad. But its not how much torque you make, its when and where you make it in the rev range.

Mine was a bit lively because on the std T3 turbo it used to make around 90-100lbft up to 2200-2500 rpm and then make another 100 lbft on top of that by 3400rpm So that was a big dollop, in a small space of 1000 rpm and it was low down in the rev range which makes it worse i reckon.

Made it feel fast tho

morto

was in one when thay first came out from my main ford dealer, thought it was ok but to smooth for me felt abit like a n/a engine, thing is i like a big turbo kick dident have that cosworth growl or feel, but never the less the volvo lump was ok, much prefer the focus rs
if i had the money think i wud go down the evo route

andy

Mike Rainbird

iTrader: (3)

I drove the ST and RS back to back at the 'Ring and my review is in last month's Fast Ford.

But to sum up, the ST has the nicer engine and steering "feel", but the RS was LOADS better round the 'Ring - better brakes and better traction - the ST's open diff (with traction control turned off) REALLY let it down. Also the brakes were fading horrifically by half way . If the ST had the RS's brakes and ATB, it would be absolutely awesome and would be the best hot hatch on the market .

plynchy

That'll be the back then...