Focus RS500

[sooty]

Think ford's version of the burg...something we won't see here though
clicky (http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Ford-Focus/248557/)
http://cdn.images.autocar.co.uk/612x408FFFFFF/Car/Ford/Focus/Ford-Focus-2931010150549391600x1060.jpg

[nuggz]

my gosh that looks intense!

[NEMO]

wow

[boorny88]

i want one please why cant they atleast bring 10 into aus please

[dutchy]

I've never been to keen on the look of the focus but this one.......... tissue please...

[dieselhead]

I'm in tears... DAMN YOU FORD AUSTRALIA!!!!! :(

[sooty]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAZ54yXOD0c

turn the sound up ;)

[guy 27]

very nice, shame we won't see it here. I have been a real fan of the new focus's

the testing grounds looks very similar to my testing grounds except with less trees at theirs.

[Wraith]

I'm going to go against the trend as I have in all past threads of this car, in my eyes the look of this thing does not appeal...it looks cheap, tacky and nasty, pity ! the basic XR5T Focus however looks neat and tidy by comparison IMHO.

Other than the look of the thing though, I love the engine...about time we see this IL5 putting out power levels like this...

Pity though that despite the revonuckle set up all that grunt is lost of wet or loose surfacesand that's the lesser powerful 'normal' RS Focus, this one would be worse, seen a few u-tube comparos up against AWD hatches and the RS Focus gets left for dead 'literally' on those surface conditions...seen at least one comparo with other FWD hot hatches round a track and it was beaten by the FWD Scirocco R...

If the RS Focus ever did come to Aust. it's price point would be similar to the Subaru Sti, Mitsu Evo 10 and Golf R - it dosn't look any good against anyone of those vehicles...

[PrincessPeachey]

I'm going to go against the trend as I have in all past threads of this car, in my eyes the look of this thing does not appeal...it looks cheap, tacky and nasty, pity ! the basic XR5T Focus however looks neat and tidy by comparison IMHO.


+1

[hazrd]

im still impressed.... but not impressed by this....




Ford hasn’t yet released prices for the RS500, but it’s expected to cost around £35,000



35 000 British pounds = 57 199.4983 Australian dollars


add on all the additional fees for importing + on roads = end result why they wouldnt bring it here...

[sooty]

im still impressed.... but not impressed by this....





add on all the additional fees for importing + on roads = end result why they wouldnt bring it here...

Hmmm not necessarily, their pricing is very different to ours, check out the pricing on brand new vauxhalls, the new astras go up to 50+ grand with direct conversion

[hazrd]

would still be pretty exxy though?? if the XR5T is ~$50k brand new, the RS500 would have to be at least 5-10k more?

[sooty]

would still be pretty exxy though?? if the XR5T is ~$50k brand new, the RS500 would have to be at least 5-10k more?

Yeah on that logic I agree. I'd put it the best part of $60k on road. But it's not like we'll ever see one here anyway

[BEK-46P]

THAT'S HOT! And I hate Fords too..

[Wraith]

im still impressed.... but not impressed by this....





add on all the additional fees for importing + on roads = end result why they wouldnt bring it here...


Hmmm not necessarily, their pricing is very different to ours, check out the pricing on brand new vauxhalls, the new astras go up to 50+ grand with direct conversion


would still be pretty exxy though?? if the XR5T is ~$50k brand new, the RS500 would have to be at least 5-10k more?


Yeah on that logic I agree. I'd put it the best part of $60k on road. But it's not like we'll ever see one here anyway

That's exactly what I've been saying all the time about this car guys...

Looks or appeal aside, there's no way it'd cost less than mid to high 50k's before ORC's options etc. if brought over here...for mid 60k's on road there are those other afore mentioned choices which would be hard to ignore...

[dieselhead]

I don't have any problem at all ignoring Subarus and Mitsubishis, not one :)
I'd be happy with the "regular" RS but we all know is not going to happen down under. Even less so with the RS500.
That bloody matt black paint is a royal pain in the proverbial to maintain anyway! What were they thinking? Nah, bloody poms can keep it... Bastards!!!!

[CNBLU]

needs to be lowered :Yawn:

[sooty]

needs to be lowered :Yawn:

On its ass? :lol:
http://i40.tinypic.com/2lm1h8j.jpg

[gmonkey]

would still be pretty exxy though?? if the XR5T is ~$50k brand new, the RS500 would have to be at least 5-10k more?

id imagine the normal RS would be 5-10k more, rs500 probs 15k more than norm id say


honestly a car with 345bhp(254kw) for lets say $65k that sounds pretty good to me for a performance car!


compare it to say and Audi S3...
$69k roughly, 188kw engine quattro manual, interior probs a lot nicer but, million gadgets

BMW 135i
$73k roughly, 225kw engine RWD manual, interior again nicer, million gadgets

Subaru WRX STi
$63k roughly, 221kw engine 4wd manual, interior nothing exciting

Nissan 370z
$69k approx, 245 KW N/A engine, RWD manual, pretty average interior





i think it would appeal to people this car.... but it is slower than the most of those cars as of the FWD sadly


but i likey! even more if seats were just black not red :p

[liam]

Matte black looks ace!

[TheOperator]

Well i have always had a soft spot for the Cosworth era of Sierra's and then Escorts, so this is the sort of car that should appeal to me :yesnod:

I have been trying to get my old man to keep a look out for the above, particularly the last of the Cosworth Escorts in UK (he lives there) but good ones don't come up or are way over priced :cryin: So i asked him to go look at a new RS Focus with intent on him owning it for 12 months then shipping it back for me :yesnod:

Anyway he went on the weekend just been to his local Ford dealer to test the RS Focus and make sure it was what he thought i'd be happy with (we are very similar only i am quicker on track than him :lol:).

Salespeople aside trying to tell him that the RS was better than his current model M3 with a array of Brabus bits on it he turned up in (yeah right) he took it for quite a good pedal on a variety of motorway, twisties and town driving.

Outcome? Once he got back they then told him about the RS500 (we think someone went and had a look at M3 to see he isn't a plonker) and it might be more to his liking and could deliver it in July! He told them they could keep it and the RS as they are way overrated and would rather spend his money on something worth while :lol:

Basically as Wraith has said he drove it on a day that at start of test was dry but ended up in wet and the car was tragic :cryin: Basically believes even with the RevoKnuckle it's not that great and needs to be AWD as he couldn't make fast pace in it when the weather turned bad nor when really under the hammer in dry :nonod:

Personally i am pretty disappointed but for the cost there is far better cars out there, i.e STi, EVO, Golf R, and "cough cough" MPS and Abarth 500.

I really hope ford build the next generation in AWD so i might be able to live the dream of owning a real Cosworth equal :wink5:

[eslostdevil]

like the mean face.

[xplosv57]

On its ass? :lol:
http://i40.tinypic.com/2lm1h8j.jpg

still too high............

p.s. i like the look but would never spend that kind of money on a fwd, Golf R20T for that money for me!!

[sooty]

still too high............

h3ct1k enough?
http://i44.tinypic.com/11t0qko.jpg

[xplosv57]

h3ct1k enough?
http://i44.tinypic.com/11t0qko.jpg

theres room for improvement, but that'll do......... =P

[Wraith]

On its ass? :lol:
http://i40.tinypic.com/2lm1h8j.jpg

Oh goodness grief...now it really looks like a 16 year old ricer/boy racers wet dream :rolleyes5:

[gman]

p.s. i like the look but would never spend that kind of money on a fwd, Golf R20T for that money for me!!

I just received the VW dealer paperwork on the Golf R (which is apparently the name they are going to use) from the dealer that I bought my Tiguan from...

Power: 188KW / Torque: 330Nm / 0 - 100 = 5.7 (DSG) 5.9 (Manual)....No 3 door listed either which is interesting....

Looks the goods, but some of the options are eyewateringly expensive...

Satnav: $2,500
Dynaudio; $1,300
Adaptive Chassis Control: $1,500
19" Talladega Wheels (Silver or Black): $1,300
Micro Fibre/Leather racing style front seats: $5,300

[dieselhead]

Did they say how much for the car?! Not interested in options at all, they can keep them :)

[gman]

It just says "Yet to be finalised"....

Expect not much change from $65K I would imagine...

[dieselhead]

Oh, I expect about $10k change from $65k! From what I heard a 3 door manual starts at $50k + on roads. Too bad it won't be imported though. Extra doors only cost $1,500 so there you go.

"Speaking about the new Golf R to carsales.com.au, Karl Gehling, General Manager Press and PR for Volkswagen Australia, said, “It’s going to be priced between the current R32 and the GTI.” (http://www.ausmotive.com/2010/02/01/new-golf-r-to-cost-less-than-old-r32.html)

[xplosv57]

I just received the VW dealer paperwork on the Golf R (which is apparently the name they are going to use) from the dealer that I bought my Tiguan from...

Power: 188KW / Torque: 330Nm / 0 - 100 = 5.7 (DSG) 5.9 (Manual)....No 3 door listed either which is interesting....

Looks the goods, but some of the options are eyewateringly expensive...

Satnav: $2,500
Dynaudio; $1,300
Adaptive Chassis Control: $1,500
19" Talladega Wheels (Silver or Black): $1,300
Micro Fibre/Leather racing style front seats: $5,300

hmmm bit disappointed about the power loss, i guess thats due to our fuel quality....

and the only option id want is the adaptive chassis control (although i do love the 19s)

still even with the power cut, id still have the Golf over the Focus....

[hazrd]

sorry but for 65k i would be surrendering to a v8 ;)

[gmonkey]

Sadly it had have to be a gts or r8 then and they look like poo

[JohnBu]

I'll stick with the 18s

the only options I would like is the sunroof, even then could live with it.

I'd say retail will come closer to $55k than $50k.

so say $60k for a basic one for the first few year until supply>demand.

I'll think about trading in the GTI when the waiting list dies.

[gman]

I'm very interested in the new Golf R...

A good opportunity to maybe stop using the Astra as a daily driver and turn it into a targa / supersprint / track car... :)

[dieselhead]

VW just confirmed the 3 door for Oz. A manual 3 door R with no options will be $50k plus on roads. Tasty I reckon :)
I will consider placing an order after the price is confirmed-that should happen in May or June.

[sooty]

8chD11_DG0A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8chD11_DG0A

[Wraith]

Interesting development on the 3 door Golf R there diesel, as Gmans post on a 5 door only was no surprise to me as VW Aust. always stated from the get go they would only bring in one configuration of the Golf R, ie. 3 or 5 door, based on sales figures of both current and past R models and Gti, the 5 door is clearly ahead, if both choices are available all the better I suppose :)

I'm also with Gman in interest levels on this new Golf, never been a fan of them in the past, but the far better mechanicals and tweaked interior and exterior and performance (both stock standard and with tuning) of this R variant diffenitely has my attention, we'll see how well or not it appeals in the metal when it arrives in a few months time :)

[Wraith]

8chD11_DG0A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8chD11_DG0A

Nice vid Ain, speaking for myself though, I'd have a Golf R anyday over any variant or type of RS Focus...

Here's what happens in very slippery conditions, it's not a common condition here, but given any surface with a traction deficit, the result will be in favour of an AWD vehicle all the time...

http://speedmarket.blogspot.com/2010/02/vw-golf-r-vs-ford-focus-rs.html

[xplosv57]

found out the power decrease is due to VW being worried about overheating.....

so before any mods are done, will have to look into cooling first!!!

[dieselhead]

Nothing you can do about it because it is about Audi getting hot under the collar rather than something being wrong with R's cooling. VAG won't have a Golf faster than S3, would they? :)
Don't think those missing 11 kW would help with cooling anyway.

Here's a comprehensive R review (http://www.rforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=268.0)by a guy who owned Mk V GTI, the Pirelli and now R. Lots of photos included.

[Wraith]

found out the power decrease is due to VW being worried about overheating.....

so before any mods are done, will have to look into cooling first!!!

Steve, this whole detune due to Aust. climate conditions is an absolute load of total BS !!! thought you'd know that...

It's simply VAG Aust. not wanting to put certain 'obvious' Audi models under any cross shopping deficiencies when possible buyers are comparing 'similar' equipped and price point Golf models...look at the 'pricier' TTS which has exactly the same engine and driveline, it's left untouched at 200kw and 350nm !!!

There's absolutely no need to address the cooling...APS have been running modified S3's and TTS's for a long time now, their stg.3 tune has the S3 at over 300kw and it does not suffer any over heating issues !!!

As you I'm a member of the Aust. Audi forum and there are numerous people there who've got APS high power tunes on their TTS's and S3's - none has had over heating issues ! in fact with the APS stg.2 and stg.2+ there's even a drop in fuel consumption under 'normal' or light throttle driving conditions - BONUS all that extra power and torque and less fuel usage when taking it easy :D


Nothing you can do about it because it is about Audi getting hot under the collar rather than something being wrong with R's cooling. VAG won't have a Golf faster than S3, would they? :)
Don't think those missing 11 kW would help with cooling anyway.

Here's a comprehensive R review (http://www.rforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=268.0)by a guy who owned Mk V GTI, the Pirelli and now R. Lots of photos included.

Correct you are...that's indeed part of what it's all about...

Believe it or not, a small part of it is also to 'better' safe guard against some people who will refuse to top up with premium unleaded all the time, there's less chance of engine damage...there are many people who do this to try and save a buck...

[Wraith]

Nothing you can do about it because it is about Audi getting hot under the collar rather than something being wrong with R's cooling. VAG won't have a Golf faster than S3, would they? :)
Don't think those missing 11 kW would help with cooling anyway.

Here's a comprehensive R review (http://www.rforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=268.0)by a guy who owned Mk V GTI, the Pirelli and now R. Lots of photos included.

That's an excellent indepth review and also interesting to read the comparo with an R32...that blue 5 door reviewed looks the goods, that and tornado red are my fave colours for the R...

Yesterday I watched a NZ video review of and R, he comented on how the cornering is similar to a Gti despite the added weight...the new R is 35-40kg lighter over the front wheels than the R32 and nearly 45kg lighter overall than the R32, so realistically it should both handle and go better than the R32 even if they both had the same power...

Here's hoping VW Aust. stick to their pricing so far mentioned on the R for our market...:)

[MatsHolden]

RS500 sold out within 12 hours of going on sale.