Search results

I don't know if I like the sound of "out-harding" people... It's definitely a factor though, without a doubt. The big wheel thing plays a part too. We've gone from having big, chunky sidewalls 20 years ago, to having rubber band tyres on most stuff now.

I do wonder if it's what the market demands. Even a lot of M-Sport BMWs and S-Line Audis feel stupidly firm for what are, essentially, cooking model cars. People associate hard ride with high performance, so I think it is intentional to some extent. That and the fact that roads in the UK are...

It does seem a bit of a thing with Fords. When I had my Golf R, a friend had a MK3 Focus ST and the ride in the Focus wasn't quite so well resolved. It was ok most of the time, but when cruising on dual carriageways, it did feel a little fidgety compared to the Golf. You could say the same about...

Looks is the endlessly debatable topic I guess. I've never been a huge 1-Series fan, so I'm probably not the best person to ask. That being said, my friend has an 07 130I M-Sport and I do have a bit of a soft spot for that for some reason. The leg room is comically bad though.

Just a shame about the styling of the BMW, although that is very subjective of course. The practicalities don't help it either I guess, as it has always been behind the FWD-based stuff in terms of interior space etc.

I've never spent any time in one on the road unfortunately, so can't really comment on its road manners, only a brief taste on track. A lot of buyers seem to be ok with a relatively firm ride these days and Focus RS sales exceeded expectations from what I've been told, so I guess it wasn't an...

I think that's perhaps being a bit unfair on the Focus in a way. It is a hard-riding car (so was the ST actually), but I think that was very deliberate. It was never a car designed for the ultimate lap-time, hence them never bothering with 'ring times etc. The priority was fun rather than...

I would certainly echo this, albeit in a slightly different line. As a professional writer/editor, I never read my old work after it's been published, as I will always find stuff I want to change!

As above, good quality is a must, and make sure you use longer bolts or spacers that bolt to the hub. In terms of geometry, it can have a negative impact but, provided you don't go too wide, you probably won't notice in reality.

They weren't? It is literally impossible to keep up with your Volvo-based antics.

I preferred the big pimpin' five spokes to be honest.

Some of those HAVE to be in!

Protects the floor and the tyre.

That Singer is bloody lovely.

Because he sold his 172 Cup and has since realised that they're the best Clio.

Cheap Cups are out there, but so are cheap Ph1s. You'll always get the odd bargain if you're lucky, but there has definitely been an uplift in prices across the board in the last couple of years. Cheap 1*2s have become harder to find than they were. Which will end up as the more valuable...

I always preferred them on the RS option seven-spoke wheels myself, especially the diamond cut ones. Didn't think the curvy spokes of the Cosworth wheels suited the RS Turbo ever so well.

I guess rarity will always be on its side. I think the phase 1 will always attract attention as it's less common than the phase 2 and was the original, but I'm not sure the Exclusive will be worth much more.

I don't know if the Exclusive will really, as it's not very desirable. 172 Cup will, because it's one of the most special variants, memorable and increasingly rare as so many are turned into track cars.

Yeah, bonkers really. Quite a wide offset too as I recall. Something like ET25, so about 15mm wider than most Fords. They do look good though!