Um, kind of super unimpressed

"R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet" (r-saldana)
08/15/2017 at 13:22 • Filed to: None

Dropped eSTephania off at Ford Lincoln of Cool Springs and this beautifully colored thing was sat right out front:

It did not look as aggressive as I expected, and also the cup package wheels and tires looked rather small (narrow) compared to my setup. Admittedly those brakes are drool worthy, imho.

That sticker price tho:

DISCUSSION (26)

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/15/2017 at 13:25

One of the dealerships I shopped for my ST at had TWO RSes and both has crusty brake rotors and were dirty from sitting so long. I really like the RS and I don’t even think the MSRP is that unreasonable but these dealerships are shooting the car in the foot. This dealer was one of the ones that kept trying to play games again and again with me :/

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/15/2017 at 13:29

I would liek to run them back-to-back. I really want to put those brake calipers on my ST. If the RS could be had in wagon form that would make this car worth that much more in my eyes.

EL_ULY > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/15/2017 at 13:37

$42K eh...... nah maine!

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > EL_ULY
08/15/2017 at 13:39

Cue:

Why buy this Focus RS for two when you could have a DB9/V12 Aston something-er-other

Jayhawk Jake > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/15/2017 at 13:41

The biggest problem with the RS is you don’t even needn’t to leave the lot for a better alternative: why buy this RS when you can buy the Mustang GT parked next to it?

Textured Soy Protein > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/15/2017 at 14:10

I think the looks of the RS strike a decent balance between looking more aggressive than an ST, so that people who know what it is are able to notice it, while not going all crazy like say, a Civic Type-R.

Which is fine by me, because I prefer my cars to be generally subtle. I tried to do that with my 335xi, but I still get more attention in it than I’d prefer.

Bytemite > Jayhawk Jake
08/15/2017 at 14:12

They’re pretty different cars though. The Mustang GT won’t have torque vectoring, or the DCCD. Also no AWD launch fun, and no adjustable shocks. Pretty significant differences really, I’d definitely go RS.

EL_ULY > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/15/2017 at 14:12

Ferrari

Bentley (not really a sporty car but...)

Lotus

Porsche

Maserati

GT-R (it can be negotiated)

Alfa Romeo

Lexus

Jaguar

Volvo aka Fastest sedan in its class around the Nring

TysMagic > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/15/2017 at 14:18

hot take: dislike that dealership. Major PIA with our Lincoln lease upfront and on the termination side.

Chariotoflove > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/15/2017 at 14:42

All the nopes.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > TysMagic
08/15/2017 at 15:25

Hunh, they have been a little hit or miss on service issues. Intermittent humid air and idle at stops or deceleration for a stop.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Jayhawk Jake
08/15/2017 at 15:27

Thats an easy answer for me, doggos and baby. Plus i think most sport focused 4 door cars look better than 2 door alternatives. Current gen M3 looks an order of magnitude better than an m4.

But you shut up about those new body style mustangs, they are prettier to me than v8 vantages.

Jayhawk Jake > Bytemite
08/15/2017 at 15:28

Torque vectoring seems pretty pointless in a RWD car where you can just add throttle to create rotation, and DCCD really only applies to an AWD car, no?

No AWD launch fun, but it can do a burnout and drift without “drift mode”. Reviews have said even with the adjustable shocks the FoRS rides really rough, and in 2 months the Mustang parked next to the RS will probably have adjustable shocks (magneride).

I rode in a Focus RS at an autocross, I was very disappointed. Yes, it was quick especially off the line, but it felt more like a FWD car than a RWD or AWD car from the passenger seat, even with drift mode on.

I personally don’t see the point in buying an RS if it’s 40k. At 30k it would be compelling, but I’d probably just save a bit and get a FoST at that point. When the choice is between an AWD, 4 cylinder $40,000 economy car and a RWD V8 pony car I’m taking the Mustang all day every day.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > EL_ULY
08/15/2017 at 15:30

You know Uly, you and me should be best friends. (such exhaustive and yet I bet effortless for you research)

Also, teach me your magnificent ways of renaming links for usage in comment plain text

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > EL_ULY
08/15/2017 at 15:33

Also my winners from that comment would be as follows:

#1. Lexus IS-F (Daddy has to haul doggos, baby and ass)

#2. Volvo, would that it were the Polestar wagon though it would be number one

#3. M5 because waterbuffalo (everyone should have a waterbuffalo)

Jayhawk Jake > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/15/2017 at 16:02

Hey, there’s LATCH anchors in the back seat...

Bytemite > Jayhawk Jake
08/15/2017 at 17:13

I get that you like your GT , and I do too. It is a really nice Mustang. But you’re being biased. The RS is a modern Evo when the Evo came to the states. It is a whole different animal compared to your typical V8 muscle car. It has a torque vectoring diff with DCCD just like the Evos except it has even more horsepower and better weight distribution. It’s a rally car for the road, and your Mustang can’t keep up with it in any way that applies to back road driving OR track driving (highway pulls from 60 mph is probably the one thing you’ll win at). It is a muscle car. Heavy, loud and proud, and fun to stomp on the gas pedal in a straight line. They’re different cars, so it isn’t really an alternative at all.

Even though I said I’d choose the RS for the same price, that is because of my personal taste. I like fuel economy and handling. Others may prefer different things but these two are not likely to be cross shopped unless the buyer just wants something that goes fast and don’t really have any specific taste.

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/15/2017 at 17:41

Hey guys my name is tavarish, and I’m gonna show you how to buy an Aston Martin for the price of a fully loaded focus rs

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Jayhawk Jake
08/15/2017 at 18:51

I know you jest, but the back seat in the Focus is pretty worthless as far as compact hatches go. The cargo area similarly so. Anyone who is considering a hot hatch that honestly wants some practicality with it is going to be much happier with a Golf R. I honestly don’t know why the FoST and FoRS exist with the Mustang in the lineup. If they were actually practical instead of pretend practical OK. Or if the Mustang wasn’t a thing, sure. But I don’t get the lineup at all right now.

Also I did manage to fit a car seat in the back of a rented S197 one time.

Jayhawk Jake > Bytemite
08/15/2017 at 19:00

Calling me biased while saying the Focus RS is a rally car for the road?

It’s not. I’m not saying it’s a bad car, but at the end of the day it’s a Ford Focus with decent power and an AWD system that, from a passenger seat at the limit, felt a lot like a FWD hot hatch.

Is it an alternative? Maybe maybe not. And while someone might not go to the dealership to intentionally cross shop a FoRS and a Mustang they will likely see the Mustang and have something to think about.

What I’ve seen in all the automotive media I consume is the Focus RS was overhyped and failed to live up to its expectations. It’s a great hot hatch that has been labeled as more special than it is with a price point higher than the sum of its parts. As a result dealers are sitting on the car because the buyers it attracts can’t afford it or won’t buy it without a normal car buying experience that the car and its hype won’t allow

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Bytemite
08/15/2017 at 19:04

Bro... you have no clue what you’re talking about. A GT performance pack will trounce that RS on backroads and on the track.

Bytemite > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)
08/15/2017 at 19:18

Sigh I’m not gonna get into this bro spec sheet racing with you. Believe what you want to believe. Just enjoy your Mustang or whatever car you have for what it is instead of trying to convince yourself your car is better than other cars out there.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)
08/16/2017 at 14:54

Trounce? Might be faster with the perf. pack, but not by much...

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/ford-mustang-gt-at-lightning-lap-2015-feature

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/ford-focus-rs-at-lightning-lap-2016-feature

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Bytemite
08/16/2017 at 14:58

C&D’s Lightning Lap times would seem to agree with you.

EL_ULY > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/16/2017 at 15:28

same! in that order

NJAnon > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
08/24/2017 at 18:59

Its just wild. I didn’t expect them to do this. So its like essentially they put the price of the RS the same as the mustang so sales can say “well you do know that we also have a Focus RS same performance but it comes with 4 doors”

I mean really though, the RS isn’t that exclusive considering what I’ve seen owners to do past RS models in EU, canada, etc.