[MichaelK]

What do we think ?

They should be around the same sort of price.

Autocar has a review of the RS focus this week.

212bhp, 0-60 in 6.4 secs

Could be a very interesting comparison.

Any thoughts ?

cheers

Michael

[mr.bill]

Popular Science tested the Nissan 350Z. 0-60 in 5.5 sec. 0-100 in 14 sec. 13mpg (US) around town, 25 on the highway, on premium fuel.

Motorweek had an update on the Subaru WRX. They said it is "more expensive, but quicker, than the MINI Cooper S." They also tested the VW Beetle Turbo S. It was faster than the Cooper S too. But it's still a girlie car.

[JonBlakeburn]

A Cooper S or a Ford Escort replacement?

Ummm, I think i'll take the MINI!!

[floothecoop]

Hopped-up Focus vs. Hopped-up Cooper?

I'd love to say that the Coop would probably best the Ford, but they match up too well in all categories (according to projected values of the Works S): HP, torque, weight and etc...

Truth is, the Focus might have an edge in wind resistance.

All that matters not because, as all will agree, the Cooper will have far more class!!!!

Also, dare you to put that Focus through some serious twisties!

[LMB]

I hate to say it but the Ford Focus RS is really appealing to me. If there is one thing that Ford know how to do, it's building Hot Hatches.

[noahe]

It's really nice. Best Focus I've seen. But even if the MINI winds up being way slower, I still bought the MINI for the whole package. I love it more than anything I've seen in the ball-park price range.

[CASMini]

Quote:

Originally posted by LMB
I hate to say it but the Ford Focus RS is really appealing to me. If there is one thing that Ford know how to do, it's building Hot Hatches.

I am with you - it is a really good car and as for twisties, the chassis of the focus is class. Couple that with the amount of testing that went in on this car to get it right and I am sure it would be a close run thing between a JCW MCS and Focus RS - both in a straight line as well as round corners. BMW knows it will have to lift the standard S's game quickly - and this can only be a good thing for us!

[bigbaddaboom]

Its still a FOCUS for Gawds sake. What more can I say. The styling is pretty much Plop McFord Plop. If you believe ANYTHING autocar says, it will weigh 150KG more than the CooperS and have 167BHP/ton. JCW Cooper S will weigh the same as the standard cooper S and have nearly the same power output as the RS, thus making it in excess of 180BHP/ton. The MINI will be faster. And around the corners the MINI will be laughing.

Anyway isn't this the same Autocar that said the Clio Cup was the better car between it and the MINI ??? What the feck do they know??



Oh and its only got 5 forward gears....sheesh!

[Boo]

Quote:

Originally posted by bigbaddaboom
Its still a FOCUS for Gawds sake. What more can I say. The styling is pretty much Plop McFord Plop. If you believe ANYTHING autocar says, it will weigh 150KG more than the CooperS and have 167BHP/ton. JCW Cooper S will weigh the same as the standard cooper S and have nearly the same power output as the RS, thus making it in excess of 180BHP/ton. The MINI will be faster. And around the corners the MINI will be laughing.

Anyway isn't this the same Autocar that said the Clio Cup was the better car between it and the MINI ??? What the feck do they know??



Oh and its only got 5 forward gears....sheesh!

Bravo, i concur with you!!!!
Do whatever you want to it, it's still a Ford!!!

[10 Pence Short]

Grow up guys (the ones panning the Focus).

Do you really believe that the Focus RS is in competition with you? I don't.

For starters it's several thousand £s more expensive in standard trim. For that difference, it should be better!

I wouldn't continue accusing the RS of being inferior around the corners, either- IT ISN'T.

Just accept that a more expensive, lower volume car IS better at going from A to B than a Cooper S.

I drive a Civic Type R, and love it as I do, the RS is the quicker car, no question- but then it's had a longer gestation period, had a good look at the competition and costs a good deal more. Not a car competing with ours, guys.

It's the Scooby squad that should be wetting the bed, don't you think?

[S. on Da 5]

Power will be more like 220hp.

Strictly based on the performance the RS wins.

The RS is a modern rally inpsired warrior! I like the Cooper S but its not nearly the true modern motorsport beast that the Focus is.


Nice lay out!


The RS is very nice but the 2004 300hp AWD Cosworth Focus will blow it away.

Fresh pic scanned from the new Road and Track Magazine.



Get the Focus RS!

[bigbaddaboom]

Now I totally agree that the Cosworth Focus (when it comes??) will blow away anything coming from the MINI camp. But at what cost; if its anything like the mark up they made on the Racing Puma then it will be £30K plus. Ouch, I'm really not sure I would pay THAT for a focus...

Anyway lets talk figures....well according to what Autocar says anyway (If this layout is familiar then I apologise :P ):

RS FOCUS
Weight: 1278KG (is this with or without driver?)
BHP: 212
BHP/TON: 166

CIVIC Type R
Weight: 1204KG (is this with or without driver?)
BHP: 197
BHP/TON: 164

JCW Cooper S
Weight: 1140KG (With driver)
BHP: 200 (the lowest estimate, with the highest being 210)
BHP/TON: 175

Now admittedly, all power figures are different for each specifically individual car, but of course we should be taking the average as a base line.

I DO think that it is fair to assume that these cars are in the same league. After all the JCW Cooper S lowest price is likely to be in the region of £17500 but realistically with options is going to be £20K+. Anyone with a Civic type R should be pretty happy at the RS Focus figures. For more money it isn't more of a car. Although you do get more use out of the back seats in the two *larger* cars and they are good for lugging gear about.

Having said that around a track I don't think there would be much between the cars. Also the handling of the cars is probably pretty much similar for the layman, and you'd have to be a very experienced driver to tell the definitive differences.

And even then the MINI would be on a par with the Focus....

Anyway its STILL a Focus, jeez.

[Boo]

Quote:

Originally posted by 10 Pence Short
Grow up guys (the ones panning the Focus).

Do you really believe that the Focus RS is in competition with you? I don't.

For starters it's several thousand £s more expensive in standard trim. For that difference, it should be better!

I wouldn't continue accusing the RS of being inferior around the corners, either- IT ISN'T.

Just accept that a more expensive, lower volume car IS better at going from A to B than a Cooper S.

I drive a Civic Type R, and love it as I do, the RS is the quicker car, no question- but then it's had a longer gestation period, had a good look at the competition and costs a good deal more. Not a car competing with ours, guys.

It's the Scooby squad that should be wetting the bed, don't you think?

All we are saying is that it is a ford!! Not a Mini.. I love the Holden Monaro GTS Coupe and if the Cooper S didn't come out i probably would have ordered one.
5.7 sec 0-100km/hr
300Kw at 1680kg
but it is a Holden and they are not as niche as the Cooper S.... that is all we are saying....
And for all you BMW M3 boys out there, it will light you up at the lights, just

[Boo]

and another view!!

[10 Pence Short]

Quote:

Originally posted by bigbaddaboom

I DO think that it is fair to assume that these cars are in the same league. After all the JCW Cooper S lowest price is likely to be in the region of £17500 but realistically with options is going to be £20K+. Anyone with a Civic type R should be pretty happy at the RS Focus figures. For more money it isn't more of a car. Although you do get more use out of the back seats in the two *larger* cars and they are good for lugging gear about.

Having said that around a track I don't think there would be much between the cars. Also the handling of the cars is probably pretty much similar for the layman, and you'd have to be a very experienced driver to tell the definitive differences.

Mmm. Not even sure whether or not to speak about some of those statements.

1) The Civic Type R (I drive one)will be nowhere near as fast on track or on road a-b as the RS. Good though it is, a 20K car with the mechanical spec of the Focus is faster. Much faster. You shouldn't read too much into straightline figures.

2) The MCS is nowhere near as quick point to point as the Focus, either.

3)Even if the Cooper S Works has a superior power to weight to the RS, I very much doubt that the chassis can be engineered to cover ground (remembering issues like traction, mechanical grip and braking ability) at the same pace as the RS.

4) If the MCWS is going to end up being the best part of 20K there won't be as many buyers as Cooper hopes.

5)Handling similar to the layman? Only if you drive blindfolded, wearing a straightjacket with your feet tied together.

Can everyone just accept that even if they don't like Fords, that the RS is a good piece of kit, that should be respected for it's abilities and not s******ed at?

[CASMini]

Quote:

Originally posted by bigbaddaboom
Now I totally agree that the Cosworth Focus (when it comes??) will blow away anything coming from the MINI camp. But at what cost; if its anything like the mark up they made on the Racing Puma then it will be £30K plus. Ouch, I'm really not sure I would pay THAT for a focus...

Anyway lets talk figures....well according to what Autocar says anyway (If this layout is familiar then I apologise :P ):

RS FOCUS
Weight: 1278KG (is this with or without driver?)
BHP: 212
BHP/TON: 166

CIVIC Type R
Weight: 1204KG (is this with or without driver?)
BHP: 197
BHP/TON: 164

JCW Cooper S
Weight: 1140KG (With driver)
BHP: 200 (the lowest estimate, with the highest being 210)
BHP/TON: 175

Now admittedly, all power figures are different for each specifically individual car, but of course we should be taking the average as a base line.

I DO think that it is fair to assume that these cars are in the same league. After all the JCW Cooper S lowest price is likely to be in the region of £17500 but realistically with options is going to be £20K+. Anyone with a Civic type R should be pretty happy at the RS Focus figures. For more money it isn't more of a car. Although you do get more use out of the back seats in the two *larger* cars and they are good for lugging gear about.

Having said that around a track I don't think there would be much between the cars. Also the handling of the cars is probably pretty much similar for the layman, and you'd have to be a very experienced driver to tell the definitive differences.

And even then the MINI would be on a par with the Focus....

Anyway its STILL a Focus, jeez.

One thing you are missing 10p is torque figures - both the MCS JCW and RS are forced induction and thus have huge amounts of grunt... instead the CTR has a very "peaky" power delivery - something I am sure you are acutely aware of. I think this type of power difference is most noticeable from a standing start and in the twisties... IMO the Focus due to it's massive torque figure and to a lesser extent a JCW MCS (as compared to the civic) will have it over the CTR in both these areas. Also an aside, as the RS is turbo charged, I am sure a nice little chip will up the power even more... those looking to modify the focus will have the most room to maneuver...

[Dom]

Quote:

Originally posted by Boo


All we are saying is that it is a ford!! Not a Mini.. I love the Holden Monaro GTS Coupe and if the Cooper S didn't come out i probably would have ordered one.
5.7 sec 0-100km/hr
300Kw at 1680kg
but it is a Holden and they are not as niche as the Cooper S.... that is all we are saying....
And for all you BMW M3 boys out there, it will light you up at the lights, just

5.7 - 100km/h? Won't be lighting up any M3's mate

Dom

[Boo]

s******, s******...
Mate, in the auto world of Australia, there are two types of families.... Holden families and Ford families.... and i aint buying the Ford thing hehehehehhe

Comes from our most famous of race tracks, Bathurst where the V8 Supercars thunder around one of the greatest race tracks in the world...Ford v's Holden

as a sideline, there is a ProCar 24 hour race coming in November
http://www.bathurst24hr.com/

[Boo]

Oh, and for the motor enthusiasts out there,
Conrod straight is nearly 2 kms long and drops 160 metres of altitude over about the first 3rd of it... now that is a good straight for speed...
If they don't take their feet off the pedal when they hit the hump half way down, they go airborne

[alexcroft]

Not meant to offend anyone but.........




I WOULD NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER BUY A FORD!!!!!!!