dojj

iTrader: (3)

but the platform is fwd based rather than the cosworth rwd system

and how much power can the ovlov system take? i know that there are 300 brake awd ovlov's out there as stardard

jonathon555

I just wonder how long it will be before Renault drop the outgoing R26 turbo lump into the clio ?

I bet you they are mad enough to try it, or shoe horning some oversized lump into the rear of one.

Renault also have access to the nissan parts bin, thats where the LSD for the R26 come from. Ford has Mazda (wonder what was wrong with using the lighter MPS engine) & Volvo.


The bottom line is that to meet new emmissions laws cars are going to have to get lighter to save fuel. So maybe in years to come all hot hatches will have to turn the clock back to when specifications were sparse.

In the real world the Focus RS would drive off from the clio 200 as most owners who buy one will be straight line heros. Or they will be bought by people who just have alot of spare cash washing around.

I have seen about 20 new Focus RS's so far & not one have been driven in anger. They have all either been driven by overtanned women shopping at Morrisons (as their husbands arre still away on the oil rig working) or 40+ year old business types who just like to have the latest toy. There is always the exception to the two described, but i will wait to see it.

I like to looks & would deffo consider ordering a white one, shame moonstone is not an option.

CombatSapph

If I wanted a hot hatch, it'd be something like the Focus RS.

If I wanted a track tool, it'd be something Lotus 7 inspired, like a Caterham/Westfield etc. Oh wait, I already have one of those......

dojj

iTrader: (3)

don't really see why ford coulnd't have dropped the outgoing rs lump into a stripped out fiesta and givin it a limited run out, that would have been a nice thing to have

but seeing as now they already have the 2.5t lump available across the range in virtually every model bar the little ones, it's only a matter of time before someone shoehorns it into a fiesta

i've just flogged mine to someone who's going to squeeze it into a mk1 focus

jonathon555

Because they thought the fieast ST was good enough.

The game had moved on massivley by the time the Fieast ST was even thought of (not a bad car though). Ford just like Peugeot (of 207 Gti fame , rarer than a veyron) both Hot hatch kings of the 80's & Early 90's just both seemed to lose the plot & are still lost somewhat now.

Example of completely losing the plot Escort Gti ! must go down in history of one of the most half baked cars ever to wear a GTi badge.

Alot if not all of it is just down to Money, I am sure this Focus Rs will be a sales success & I hope ford has the confidence to develope more extreme variants.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

dropping a 2.0 lump into a car was a good idea

but they should have given it 185 to start with rather than just bolting in a mondeo engine

dojj

iTrader: (3)

and don't forget their Ł1700 seat option

jonathon555

Why did they not use the ST170 lump ? that was around at the time was it not ?

bigtoe

Mazda and Ford usa have the 2.5L Duratec now, were not Ford looking to sell Volvo? If they do sell the 5Cyl 2.5 will vanish but I don't really regard that as a bad thing as it will push development of the 4Cyl 2.5 further, and we all know its a lot lighter.

Getting back to AWD, you can use volvo running gear in the Focus, its pretty much bolt in and has been done. In stock form 300BHP is reliable but you lose 80brake or so in losses...so it may not be as quick round the track. I remember reading that the Swedes pushed 350BHP using the 2.3L (over the 2.5L as it cracks liners) into an AWD focus and it really was hard to beat. The issue is 350BHP pushes insurance costs ever higher and may push Fords buying public over the threshold on what they can afford.

In the end FWD cars can be fast, trick diffs etc make all the difference, its just weight holding most of them back.

It's Czech Mate

Because its old and outdated, heavy ( iron block Zetec-E despite the token duratec name ) and would probably struggle to meet the newer emmisssions regs

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

There is a 2.5T engine conversion into a MK1 Focus already under way and already had a lot of prep work done to it on the FFOC. Haven't been in touch with the owner for a while though so don't know what the latest is. Conversion was been done at Jamsport last I heard and engine was in.

I've always wondered though why Ford didn't use their own 2.3 Duratec as opposed to using a bored out 2.3 Volvo engine...

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Jacko on here is banging one into a transit connect, which is a mk1 focus with a van body on top.

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

This and a load of other posts in this thread miss the point so much it's untrue!

The Focus RS is bloody fast, handles bloody well, is bloody comfy and has loads of toys. It's an awesome car.

The Renault is a track focussed stripped out car with no creature comforts and a hideously uncomfortable ride. I've driven both so am qualified to comment.

Considering how different the cars are it's absolutely incredible that they're so close performance wise.

And to all the FWD haters - Have ANY of you driven one yet? No, thought not.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

i think the weight issue is going to be the main reason the 5 pot isn';t used in the fiesta

i've taken loads of measurements and it's a very simple fit fro the looks of it, i just ddin't have a mk1 focus to hand to measure the distance between the chassis to see if it would slot in, but i'm pretty sure it would, the extra length of the engine seems to have been made up by the narowness of the transmission at only 14 inches wide

jonathon555

Matter of opinion.

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

Compared to the Focus RS - Fact. You been in/driven both?

jonathon555

Yes

vroomtshh

As is the Renault???

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

And you genuinely don't think the Renault is way more uncomfortable than the Focus?

It's Czech Mate

I thought the renault was more comfy than i thought it was gonna be genuinely, it's still a very hard edged ride tho nowhere near as pleasant to spend time as the focus.

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

Totally. But the difference is that you'll get out of one worn out and aching, and in the other you'll be relaxed and smug.

Some people understandably want the raw edged nuttiness of a stripped out car, but when it's barely quicker than a car with sat nav, a rear view camera, air con, rear seats etc it does tend to render itself a little on the pointless side (IMHO of course)

jonathon555

That was not what I said, you described it as hideously uncomfortable ride.

The ride is firmer no doubt & you can feel alot more of the road surface through the whole car. But remember you are also strapped in a bucket seat with very little padding, but that just adds to the experience.

If I wanted to go to the south of france I would take the RS everytime, If I wanted to got to a track day I would take the Renault Everytime.

Both cars are useable for average daily use no problem, providing you don,t want to carry anyone but a friend in the Renault.

But if the Ford Ditched 100 KG the end result would be not just brilliant but phenominal.

This is a Ford forum & you have a vested interest in Ford products.

Raj_FRST

i think the focus is a great car and hell of an achievment for a fwd car!! but I feel they should have stuck this engineering into the fiesta and made a awd focus with a proper ford engine, to me its supposed to be competing with the top of tyhe list but is nowhere to be seen, I have never driven it so im can't comment on the drive, but the position says it all on the board. Would it have been like this 15-20 years ago?

I propose a a cosworth inspired 4cyl FORD turbo awd car, ther is so many of you lads pushing well over 300bhp out of 1600cc engine so surely ford came come up with something that is reliably fast and still easy on the wallet.

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

Regardless of my 'vested interest' I'd rather have it as it is than a version with 100kg less toys

I'm bemused that people keep drawing comparisons between the two cars. They're very different and as said previously the fact that they're so evenly matched is a huge testament to the Focus.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

you are clarkson/hamster in the porche/lambo and they are james may in the aston with the fancy switches on the dash

gerat for doing the one thing it's good at, totaly shite for doing the things peole buy cars to do stuff in for the rest of the time when they aren't driving them at 10/10th's on a glass smooth racing track

and it says it all when renault are only building 450 of the little orange buggers, i think i've seen more mk2 frs over the past weeks than any other hot hatch, in just the same way as i've seen more db9's than i have db7's in london (and even les prius' )

just because there is a car out there that you love, doesn't mean that they are going to be keepers, have your one night stand, go wild, then go home comfortably in your sensible car

jonathon555

Missing the point again, I would rather have the same car with 100 KG less weight nothing to do with stripping it of all luxuries. Which would just mean using lightweight construction materials, reducing the weight of the heavy rear seat, adding alloy doors & bonnet.

It's Czech Mate

And pushing up the cost to an unreasonable level

jonathon555

Adding Alloy panels or composites on a production run of 8000 would be viable.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

so if they are unable to shift them then what happens totheir costs? do they shrug their shoulders and just say "well, it was a agmble but now we've got to lay off 5 millin workers becuse we are skint?"

it was hard enough shifting 50 rs200's back in the day let alone 8,000 units in a finsicial crisis

jonathon555

Dont thinks a batch order of a few lightweight panels would cause 5 million people to lose there jobs.

If they do struggle, they just put them out to the fleet companies as all the other manufacturers do.

Mint FRST

iTrader: (1)

Glad my misses aint driving mine, she would hate being called over tanned and shopping a Morrisons, well...

Spose Im one of exceptions...

Harping on about other manufacturers and cars of yester year and you wish you could order one in Moonstone? Get real...

jonathon555

I would like one in moonstone its a nice colour. Not keen on green

Mint FRST

iTrader: (1)

Get one purchased and have it colour changed then...

Forgot, its too heavy and doesnt drive the right wheels

jonathon555

That would not be a good idea to change the colour as you would struggle to get it insured as it would be a non std colour then, its not too heavy (it would just be better if it was lighter IMO) & there is nothing wrong with FWD.

whats your point ?

RWD_cossie_wil

iTrader: (9)

I think the point is yes, it may well be a great car, but the underlying problem is that it will ONLY EVER be a modern day RS Turbo, not the Evo/ Scooby killing modern version of the Escort Cosworth!!

Remember Cossies were not that great standard, but it was such an awsome base to work from. To me, FWD is the deal breaker, RWD cars or 4x4 are just so much more fun!

Retro Al

iTrader: (1)

Have to agree with you!

DanW@FastFord

iTrader: (1)

I'm not missing any point. You said "if Ford ditches 100kgs" which implies they removed the 'excess' weight - The obvious way would be to remove the niceties. If you insist on being a pedant make your posts clearer in the first place

Personally I'd hate it to be all Renault and 'biscuit tin'. It's a good solid car and part of its appeal is that it doesn't have to use wafer thin panels and thin plastic windows to go fast!

Was the Escort Cosworth really a 'Scooby killer'? As great a car as it is Time Atack and TOTB say otherwise.

So you know for a fact that the new RS can't be improved upon?

jonathon555

Mitsubishi EVO 9, nice comfy car , very fast, recaro seats, climate control, 4 doors, Air bags, very strong, Sat nav option.

1310KG

At this sort of kerb weight the Focus RS would be the ultimate, even better than the cracking everything to everyman it already is.


Audi S3 same story , now surely an Audi S3 is not a biscuit tin

Retro Al

iTrader: (1)

Yes the facts are a 300bhp fwd car will not cope with a big increase in power
And as for totb the new rs has no chance in hell competing with the scoobs/evos blah blah
at least a well speced ecos can give it a good go

jammy86

The Renault won