Apparently the Focus RS is going to be quite rare

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
03/28/2016 at 19:13 • Filed to: None

I’ve been hemming and hawing about what vehicle I will get to replace both my BMW 135is and Jeep Grand Cherokee as my year-round car. I know I want it to be fast and awd, so I thought, “hey, the Focus RS is coming out soon, I should find out about that.” Then I called my local Ford dealer(s).

The first Ford dealer I called said they were getting one and only one Focus RS for the foreseeable future, and it has already been bought. They said that as far as they know, all the Ford dealers around here (Madison, WI) are getting only one car.

Then I called the other Ford dealer near me and asked about the Focus RS. They are also getting one and only one car, and it hasn’t been sold yet. I half-jokingly asked if they were going to offer any kind of discount on it, and they said that it’ll probably sell for sticker, unlike the Shelby GT350 Mustangs which they are selling at a markup.

I’m still halfway interested, but really while I often always get the fanciest version of a car, so the Focus RS is right up my alley, I also have a strong hatred of paying full sticker price for a new model of car just because it’s new.

So here, I have a fun idea: call your local Ford dealer(s) and find out how many Focus RSes they’re getting. Whoever finds the dealer getting the most Focus RSes wins the prize, and the prize is nothing.

DISCUSSION (21)

TheOnelectronic > Textured Soy Protein
03/28/2016 at 19:17

They’ve got one coming in that isn’t sold and -only- want sticker for it? Jesus Christ take it.

I’ve got an order in that might not even be built as a 2016. It was hard enough finding a dealer that didn’t feel like marking it up.

V6 or Bust > Textured Soy Protein
03/28/2016 at 19:18

I hate how Ford is being so ambiguous as to how many will be made, so you feel like there’s a danger of missing out if you wait until the price drops.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > Textured Soy Protein
03/28/2016 at 19:21

My dealership is sold out of this years’ allotment, and has been for like 3 months.

jimz > V6 or Bust
03/28/2016 at 19:24

keep in mind that the Focus RS is built in Saarlouis (Germany) and not Michigan Assembly like the regular North American Focus and ST. So while they may not be limiting production numbers per se, they’re still not building that many and those exported to the US come in on the slow boat.

Wobbles the Mind > Textured Soy Protein
03/28/2016 at 19:27

What’s wrong with sticker price? Buy the car, start a youtube channel and instagram and BOOM! 50,000 subscribers and 70,000 followers in 3 months. Monetize and start asking for press cars. BOOM! You now only drive the car on the weekends, keeping the mileage down and resale value sky high. Sell RS in 2 years and BOOM! Youre driving a Lamborghini Gallardo/F-Type R (all AWD, high power cars) like every other youtuber!

Moral is, buy the car at sticker and you’ll get a Lambo, bro!

Steve in Manhattan > Textured Soy Protein
03/28/2016 at 19:29

Buy it. And DeMuro wrote something awhile back on this very situation. And I understand you ... I had to have the CRX Si - no other version would do. Had a Taurus SHO, same thing.

Textured Soy Protein > TheOnelectronic
03/28/2016 at 19:40

I understand the reason for the hype, but on paper it’s just not quite the car I get hyped about. I had a perfectly nice Focus hatchback rental a couple months ago. I know this is totally different but still.

And it’s black on black. My 135is is black on black and I’m sick of black on black. I’ve never really liked black on black but my car was sitting at my local BMW dealer with the exact option combo I wanted so I figured I’d deal with black on black.

So now I’m like, oh great, another rare car that I may have a line on but it’s goddamned black on black.

TheOnelectronic > Textured Soy Protein
03/28/2016 at 19:43

That’s fair. I will say that Ford makes an extremely down-market Focus for rental fleets. If you want an idea of how it drives, test drive a Focus ST and extrapolate a bit. Besides the extra power and drivetrain, they’re very similar vehicles.

Textured Soy Protein > TheOnelectronic
03/28/2016 at 19:48

Yeah I’m planning to check out an ST.

What’s really holding me back is I’m selling my Jeep ASAP, and there’s this thought in the back of my head of I’ll just buy my 135is at the end of the lease and get snow tires for the winter. No it’s not awd but the purchase price on the 135is at the end of the lease is $30,700 which is pretty damn good, and I already have it, and I like it, so why should I drop $40k on a Focus RS?

thatsmr > TheOnelectronic
03/28/2016 at 19:49

These are going to run, what, 35k? So probably there's 2k in profit at sticker for the dealer (there will not be dealer cash on a high demand model). After pack, your salesperson will make a mini....I don't understand why nobody is willing to pay the price tag on a desirable car, yet will wait in line for full price i-phones and the like. BTW a black on black RS only needs tint to be perfect.

NJAnon > Textured Soy Protein
03/28/2016 at 19:52

That’s always been the motive though. The RS is slotted like the WRX Sti, Lancer Evolutions of the world. Get them early when you can, because once you wait around its going to be like “hey all the RS are brought and the only offerings are run into ground!”

samssun > TheOnelectronic
03/28/2016 at 19:59

Saying “besides the extra power and drivetrain” is like saying “besides the entire car”.

TheOnelectronic > samssun
03/28/2016 at 20:16

I meant in terms of the feel of a car. The things you can’t describe with numbers and lap times. Several reviews have stated that the RS’ suspension is roughly equivalent to the ST in “normal” mode, and both the RS and ST have been described as having a neutral-with-a-touch-of-oversteer balance to them. It’s a very similar engine, transmission, and chassis, so it will most likely feel like a significantly more powerful, grippier, and torque-vectoring ST.

KirkyV > Textured Soy Protein
03/28/2016 at 21:12

They’ve always been relatively rare cars, even here in the UK—and we’ve more RS Fords than anywhere else. I’ve only seen three Mark II Focus RSs in the wild.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Textured Soy Protein
03/28/2016 at 21:33

How do you like the 135is? I’m thinking of picking one of those up next year sometime when I get bored with my current cars, I love the look and it reminds me of a newer e30...

Rico > Wobbles the Mind
03/28/2016 at 21:37

Seems legit

nafsucof > samssun
03/28/2016 at 23:08

Save for flooring it through corners, they are very similar cars. The st, having slightly faster turn in than the RS. The rs having more slippy (controlled)rear end and more exit speed. The interiors are the same the bodies are the same also, but the bumpers spoiler and wheels visually. And trust me I’m not trying to say my ST is almost an rs or anything, but I had a guy cross the street last week to ask if my st was an rs...lol. “I wish.”

Zach Taylor > Textured Soy Protein
03/28/2016 at 23:36

Highly suggest you try the ST3 Recaros from a Focus ST. It's a love hate with them...no adjustability. I traded my ST3 after a 4 hour road trip because I couldn't walk after sustained driving. I'm short and stocky. Thinner, taller people fit better in them. Spend lots of time in one. Would hate for you to spend $40k and be miserable.

Textured Soy Protein > Zach Taylor
03/29/2016 at 01:28

I plan to do that. I’m 5'11" 190 lbs and muscley. I have thick thighs and broad shoulders from lifting. I definitely have to try on the more heavily bolstered seats in certain cars.

Textured Soy Protein > itranthelasttimeiparkedit
03/29/2016 at 10:54

Overall I’m very happy with it. The steering, brakes, power, sport seats, and DCT transmission are fantastic. Visibility is pretty good compared to most other performance cars.

Ride is on the firmer side but in most situations is ok. The one exception is it gets irritating driving over repeated sharp, small bumps like tar strips, frost heaves or concrete expansion joints. Some of that is because the shorter wheelbase combined with max performance run-flat tires that are heavy with very stiff sidewalls. It sometimes struggles to put down power because of the open differential, and a common mod for them is the harder rear subframe bushings from the E92 M3 which help with this as well.

If I keep it, first thing I’m going to do is junk those damned run-flats.

frankenheidi_LIIIIVES > Textured Soy Protein
03/30/2016 at 09:38

Uhh, yeah, when most dealers are selling them for a markup, you aren’t going to find one under MSRP. Feel VERY fortunate that you found a dealer that was selling one for MSRP, and buy it now because someone else will soon.