Ford Focus RS mk2

[MarkCup]

After a year of trying I finally got to have a go in one, what a thing they are...I can see why there's so much love for them...and also why mk2 owners tend to not love the mk3 LOL

 

[Ex-User (19928)]

Fourty minutes!

 

[Starlet_gt]

Good video. I bloody love the mk2!

 

[Short Norman]

possibly my next car, and of course it would have to be in blue.

Just not sure if it's a bit too shouty for me.

 

[RDH]

Did quite a few hundred miles in a mates a couple of years back. His was circa 400bhp and it was a right laugh to drive, and seriously quick once moving. Will 1000% own a green one when I can afford a garage queen.

Only downside is the theft aspect.

 

[Al_G]

Only downside is the theft aspect.

And the rust.

 

[MarkCup]

Fourty minutes!

Consider yourself lucky it's only that, before I got brutal with the editing my first draft was almost an hour and a half long, so get comfortable, grab a beer, and watch it ?

possibly my next car, and of course it would have to be in blue.

Just not sure if it's a bit too shouty for me.

It was only when I was filming them side by side in the paddock that I realised just how tame my car is. Apart from the spoiler and exhausts it really is just a Ford Focus. The mk2 is on another level entirely when it comes to the styling...and yeah, it's a bit too much for me as well.

Did quite a few hundred miles in a mates a couple of years back. His was circa 400bhp and it was a right laugh to drive, and seriously quick once moving. Will 1000% own a green one when I can afford a garage queen.

Only downside is the theft aspect.

This is something Pete's paranoid about...I'm sure if he walked off to the gents at Goodwood he'd have put the disklok on before he went.

And the rust.

Do they have a problem with rust? Pete's was pretty much completely as new.

 

[Al_G]

Do they have a problem with rust? Pete's was pretty much completely as new.

Yep! Mainly round the arches but possibly in other places too. Every forecourt car I’ve seen showed signs.

I think joepep off here had a white one a few years back and his was rusty too (there was a thread on the car and his troubles).

 

[Starlet_gt]

Yep! Mainly round the arches but possibly in other places too. Every forecourt car I’ve seen showed signs.

I think joepep off here had a white one a few years back and his was rusty too (there was a thread on the car and his troubles).

I thought it was where the rear arch arch rubs on the rear bumper. Only bit I'm aware of anyway but thankfully dodged it on my mk2.5 ST.

 

[Al_G]

I thought it was where the rear arch arch rubs on the rear bumper. Only bit I'm aware of anyway but thankfully dodged it on my mk2.5 ST.

All over the show apparently.

https://www.focusrsoc.com/forums/topic/170410-dreaded-arch-rust/

 

[cat171]

The wheels crack too. It seems to be quite a common thing

 

[McGherkin]

Interesting you struggled so much with wheelspin. What tyres does Pete run?

Tyre choice really makes or breaks it on these IMO.

 

[_Tom]

Interesting you struggled so much with wheelspin. What tyres does Pete run?

Tyre choice really makes or breaks it on these IMO.

You can see in the vid that they're Michelins of some variety.

 

[McGherkin]

You can see in the vid that they're Michelins of some variety.

I’ve just looked back, they’re Pilot Super Sports. I do recall they weren’t the best when it was greasy. The PS4s are much better in that regard.

 

[MarkCup]

All over the show apparently.

https://www.focusrsoc.com/forums/topic/170410-dreaded-arch-rust/

Ah, I've never really ventured into the mk2 side of the forum and just tend to skip over threads that are mk2 only

I’ve just looked back, they’re Pilot Super Sports. I do recall they weren’t the best when it was greasy. The PS4s are much better in that regard.

We did talk about the tyres (we both had the EXACT same rubber, we talked about tuning, we talked about 'box feel, steering feel, exhaust sound, practicality and so on...this is why it would have been 1h 30m long if I didn't cut it all out. Well spotted on the tyre brand though!!!

 

[McGherkin]

We did talk about the tyres (we both had the EXACT same rubber, we talked about tuning, we talked about 'box feel, steering feel, exhaust sound, practicality and so on...this is why it would have been 1h 30m long if I didn't cut it all out. Well spotted on the tyre brand though!!!

Director’s cut

I’m sure had it not been so greasy you would have been able to work the diff harder, since the extra grip would let you load up the outer wheel more.

 

[Silent_Scone]

Not gonna lie, I almost bought one last week. There's just something undeniably wrong about spending 20K+ on a Focus, though. Especially when it's still FWD lol?.

There is something really special about that engine, though.

 

[MarkCup]

Director’s cut

LOL, as if! Having said that I'm hitting an average watch time of circa 60% even on my more recent longer output (the Fiesta ST comparison was 34 minutes) so allowing for those that click off immediately, that's a fair amount watching it right to the end.

That astounds me...but it's enough motivation to keep me going, keep testing what works and what doesn't. My audience demographic seems quite broad as well.

Since this one went live last night I've had three fresh offers of cars to drive already. after my next Ford based video I'll take the RS3 out I think to see if Audi's really do understeer like boats LOL

 

[mr bognor]

You can mark me down for the full fourty mins .

Watched this on the train to work and very interesting .

LOL, as if! Having said that I'm hitting an average watch time of circa 60% even on my more recent longer output (the Fiesta ST comparison was 34 minutes) so allowing for those that click off immediately, that's a fair amount watching it right to the end.

That astounds me...but it's enough motivation to keep me going, keep testing what works and what doesn't. My audience demographic seems quite broad as well.

Since this one went live last night I've had three fresh offers of cars to drive already. after my next Ford based video I'll take the RS3 out I think to see if Audi's really do understeer like boats LOL

 

[McGherkin]

LOL, as if! Having said that I'm hitting an average watch time of circa 60% even on my more recent longer output (the Fiesta ST comparison was 34 minutes) so allowing for those that click off immediately, that's a fair amount watching it right to the end.

That astounds me...but it's enough motivation to keep me going, keep testing what works and what doesn't. My audience demographic seems quite broad as well.

Since this one went live last night I've had three fresh offers of cars to drive already. after my next Ford based video I'll take the RS3 out I think to see if Audi's really do understeer like boats LOL

I always watch to the end. I like the detail. (And I get plenty of time to watch videos in work!)

Should come down to Dartmoor for a holiday/play. Bet it’d be great fun down here.

 

[cat171]

Not gonna lie, I almost bought one last week. There's just something undeniably wrong about spending 20K+ on a Focus, though. Especially when it's still FWD lol?.

There is something really special about that engine, though.

They seem pretty depreciation proof though (for a good one)

 

[Short Norman]

They seem pretty depreciation proof though (for a good one)

main reason I've been looking at them next, either one of those or a Z4M coupe. I thought the RS would be cheaper to run though, just attracting the wrong attention that puts me off.

 

[Matt Cup]

I’d prefer a mixture of both. Keep the MK2 body and engine, but add the interior and drive train of the mk3.

 

[Stefan.]

Blue mk2 rs with silver wheels and black interior... Yes please

 

[adamlstr]

And the rust.

Are they not good on the metal cancer?

 

[car.crash]

I took one out when they were launched.
Dare I say it’s the best hatch out there.

 

[Al_G]

Are they not good on the metal cancer?

No idea what the latest gen is like but Fords have always been one of the worst manufacturers for tin worm...Focus mk1 was appalling as were fiestas and escorts of old. Shocking.

 

[neil a]

I loved my one when I had it and even with decent power between 400-450bhp they put down the power very well. The main area of rust early on was where the back bumper rubbed on the arch , ford fixed this under warranty . A lot of them now are showing signs of rust on the underside but panel wise seem ok.

 

[Silent_Scone]

No idea what the latest gen is like but Fords have always been one of the worst manufacturers for tin worm...Focus mk1 was appalling as were fiestas and escorts of old. Shocking.

Seems weird as we've had various flavours of mk2 Focus in the family. Most of which have had a hard life with only general washing. No underside or arch care. None of them show any sign of rust.

That said,I don't live in the sea or in Mordor, so

 

[Superninj]

The mk2 focus rs is a great car, I had mine for 1 year and as it was my daily did 20k miles overall. They are a great looking car, love the styling and the engine sound was glorious! I do miss the car it was beautiful but being front wheel drive ultimately drove me to sell it.... it has the looks of a rally car but it doesn’t have the drivetrain of an STI/EVO to back it up

 

[Ian_182]

I still give them a 2nd glance when I see one.
Good solid looking hot hatch.

 

[atgregory]

I've had mine 3 years now and its just about to turn 30k, nobody loves renaultsport more than me and i'll never be without one but the Mk2 RS is a lovely car to have sitting in the Garage for occasional use

 

[Short Norman]

Can anyone educate me as to why some mk2 focus RS’s have black bonnet vents and some don’t. I think it’s cars with black alloys that seem to have them black.

Was it some sort of black bad ass option pack, if so is there anything else that’s black as an option on them.

@MarkCup

 

[FatRS]

Silver wheels and body coloured vents were always standard. That’s the RS fan brigade ‘upgrading’ theirs

 

[Short Norman]

Silver wheels and body coloured vents were always standard. That’s the RS fan brigade ‘upgrading’ theirs

so black vents will have been painted by previous owner. Were black wheels an option?

this is the car in question, I hate black wheels so they'd have to be painted silver (vents also would need to be changed to blue).

https://www.yorkshirevehiclesolutio...76a1d0c-6359-4ad6-9a50-f45faffd1550#top-image

 

[Stefan.]

so black vents will have been painted by previous owner. Were black wheels an option?

this is the car in question, I hate black wheels so they'd have to be painted silver (vents also would need to be changed to blue).

https://www.yorkshirevehiclesolutio...76a1d0c-6359-4ad6-9a50-f45faffd1550#top-image

Those coloured seats look pants, they do black half leather/alcantara ones which look a million times better. I love the mk2 rs, im the same as you blue with silver wheels is awesome.

 

[cat171]

so black vents will have been painted by previous owner. Were black wheels an option?

this is the car in question, I hate black wheels so they'd have to be painted silver (vents also would need to be changed to blue).

https://www.yorkshirevehiclesolutio...76a1d0c-6359-4ad6-9a50-f45faffd1550#top-image

All had silver wheels, apart from the Focus RS500.

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

I don't mind the vents and wheels in black, ties in with the rest of the gloss black parts.

 

[cat171]

Those coloured seats look pants, they do black half leather/alcantara ones which look a million times better. I love the mk2 rs, im the same as you blue with silver wheels is awesome.

I'm not keen on them either. I think it would have to have a lux pack (I think that's what they called it) to have the seats you mention.

 

[Stefan.]

I'm not keen on them either. I think it would have to have a lux pack (I think that's what they called it) to have the seats you mention.

Well worth it imo, as they look rubbish and seem to get really grubby.