Anyone else as excited as I am about the new RS?

Adrian_Thompson wrote:

Rupert wrote: So a RS is some kind of Ford. That's interesting.

I assume this is some kind of joke. Ford RS goes back to 1967 for the highest performance versions of cars, or specials in the case of the RS200

Technically, the first Escort RS was the RS1600, which was a 1600cc BDA engine in the Escort. RS = Rallye Sport. Then the the RS200.

So there's been almost 50 years of Ford RS vehicles.

I like the mid 80's RS2000. That car was awesome.

You can get a new 2014 Focus ST3 as low as 20k. When they first came out they were like 28k for the ST3 trim so I would not be surprised to see the initial batch of RS's sell for close to 40 but then be able to get them sub 30k within a year. As good as Fords cars are they depreciate like rocks.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

etifosi wrote:

jstein77 wrote:

etifosi wrote: Two too many doors.

Picky, picky. Get a Fiesta.

Still has a door surplus.

What are you looking for, an Isetta?

The Fiesta is a 5-door = two too many doors. I'd like a 1st gen insight or an ELIO.

I wonder if it has the same type of electrical nannies that steered me away from the ST.

Too bad I bought a car a few years ago, not that anyone could have predicted this coming to the US at that point. This would have been interesting to own.

To all the people saying too many doors . You must not have any kids.

I look forward to buying a nice used one in 2019. Someone take good care of one for me!

Jaynen wrote: As good as Fords cars are they depreciate like rocks.

That's a good thing for the used car buyer and a bad thing for the new car buyer.

The0retical wrote: I wonder if it has the same type of electrical nannies that steered me away from the ST.

I think some of those nannies were there to overcome parts choices during design. The Focus ST had so much power it had to have some sort of diff solution in the front or it would break your wrists from torque steer. Their only option was to use torque vectoring on the front axles.

This car doesn't seem to suffer from that problem as it has torque vectoring built it in that can shuffle 100% of the power to any of the four wheels. Hopefully Ford didn't cut corners in other ways that may be limiting or distasteful.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: So does the Golf R, Subaru and Evo. No boost buggies with 2-3 doors.

Hey, what gives with that? Even for non-boost buggies, there are so few 2-3 doors.

I know they sell: orig Focus, Cobalts out the wazzu, Hondas, Golfs, etc - any insider knowledge as to why the lack?

Are the four door pansies that big of a market (hey, I drive a new Focus, I like it, but I'd like 2 doors-only better)?

Even when my brats were small, I'd have taken two doors (mama prefers 4...).

Of course, I now have a 2-door again, thank the good Lord.

However, when my back gives out from getting in and out of the Miata (in the weeds, on coilovers...), I'll go looking for one of these - by then the depreciation will have taken hold; I like my Focus with it's 160hp now, so this might be a nice way to return to one.

<--- Could be coming up for sale.

Hopefully the other ST's will become cheap used cars in a few years.

No one will pay $45k for this, probably few will pay $40k if the Golf R is $37k, so if it comes in at $35k that would be smart.

Harvey wrote: No one will pay $45k for this, probably few will pay $40k if the Golf R is $37k, so if it comes in at $35k that would be smart.

And maybe a little high. Trade in value next year? Maybe $20K +/-.

I look forward to test driving one.

I heard there is going to be a special edition called the ArrrrS that comes with a Recaro pirate hat.

It's another car I'll consider in about 2-3 years. Unless my Mazdaspeed Miata blows up, I'll keep driving it until the ND comes out. So far, I have a very short list of cars to consider. ND Miata, Fiesta ST, and now this. I might consider a BRZ if they're still available but with more power.

If all else fails, I'll settle for a Jag F-Type Coupe with a 6-speed manual in British Racing Green.

I'm intrigued, AWD turbo hatch sounds fun but I don't want another EJ25 car after popping a stock Forester XT engine. Subaru always seems to have one deal breaker in their cars for me.

z31maniac wrote: I think it's awesome they are actually releasing it here. Too bad it isn't getting the sweet sounding 5 cylinder.

You do know that the 5 cylinder turbo AWD Focus was sold here, right?

Yeah, it was badged as a Volvo, but it's the same chassis and same engine...

Adrian_Thompson wrote: Also do Volvo still even make the T5 engine?

T5 just means it makes X amount of power, unfortunately. Volvo seems committed to making whiteblocks until the end of time, so yes they still make it in some form.

honestly it's an old fashioned thirsty lump that just wont cut it today. I only get around 25mpg in mixed driving, that can drop to 23 if I'm having fun and less on track. Drive it like an old lady with a glass foot and I can eak out27-28mpg.

That is about what I am getting with my, err, 1.9. Actually last refueling was 18mpg. I can get 30mpg, but I value having a preheated car and pre-boosting the engine/kicking the trans down before a passing maneuver than I value a few miles per gallon...

Knurled wrote:

z31maniac wrote: I think it's awesome they are actually releasing it here. Too bad it isn't getting the sweet sounding 5 cylinder.

You *do* know that the 5 cylinder turbo AWD Focus was sold here, right? Yeah, it was badged as a Volvo, but it's the same chassis and same engine...

Wait wut? Did it come with a stick? And did it have the 2002+ focus rear suspension etc?

NGTD wrote: To all the people saying too many doors . You must not have any kids.

Heck, Adrian's a grandpa and he's part of the 2-door elite.

I don't get it. Part of the reason you get a hot hatch instead of a sports car is practicality. 4-doors are more practical than 2-doors. I don't have a problem with them offering both like they did with the SVT Focus back in the day, but since they only picked one, I'm glad it was the 4-door. Or 5, whatever.

Anyhow, I love the car. But I'd have to see how the seats and ride/NVH are for my fat, approaching-50 self before I'd commit to buying one.

In reply to Tom_Spangler:

Agree. Two doors look better, but are not as practical. I'm ok with only offering this in a 5 door configuration. It should provide enough utility that it could easily be an only car.

Jaynen wrote:

Knurled wrote:

z31maniac wrote: I think it's awesome they are actually releasing it here. Too bad it isn't getting the sweet sounding 5 cylinder.

You *do* know that the 5 cylinder turbo AWD Focus was sold here, right? Yeah, it was badged as a Volvo, but it's the same chassis and same engine...

Wait wut? Did it come with a stick? And did it have the 2002+ focus rear suspension etc?

Yes and yes. The 2nd-gen Focus was only sold here as the S40 and Mazda3.

Almost all were automatic, the manual trans is very rare. I was able to find one on Autotrader, though: http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicledetails.xhtml?zip=44070&endYear=2016&listingType=used&driveCodes=AWD4WD&engineCode=5CLDR&listingTypes=used&transmissionCode=MAN&transmissionCodes=MAN&mmt=[VOLVO[S40[]][]]&modelCode1=S40&driveCode=AWD4WD&showcaseOwnerId=0&makeCode1=VOLVO&startYear=1981&engineCodes=5CLDR&searchRadius=0&listingId=384625414&Log=0

I know everyone here has mixed feelings about Mr. Block, but I'm just going to leave this right here:

http://youtu.be/Qy-mhyUAaqE

In reply to Knurled:

It was available as a wagon as well. A guy I know from my Volvo group just bought an '09 (only year offered in the US). It was actually posted here a couple of months ago. He found it on his own last month and bought it.

I'm not excited about it, but I do think it looks good. It seems that it can take the place of the Lancer Evolution X. Does torque vectoring mean the car doesn't need a limited slip diff?

Seeing how Ford are not listening to my calls for a 4 door Mustang/Torino with the Coyote and a manual, this does peak my interest.

Or I will just import a Falcon