Ford Focus RS vs Nissan GT-R - Autocar.co.uk

[@jamessmith84240]

2:33 says it all. Left for dead out of that corner.

[@amessad]

The autocar's "real world" tests are probably the auto tests i ve ever seen and make sense to the every day driver/customer.... excellent job !

[@drush525]

Damn you Ford! Please make the RS available in the states. Fair trade, UK get the new Mustang for 2015 (which is going to be a block buster hit), the states should get the RS!

[@Kazi2812]

No, it will be a failure over here.

[@drush525]

Kazi2812 well i guess we'll see when Ford posts record earnings and sales numbers this next year won't we. Why don't you get back with me then?

[@KPKaccountt]

I dont think it will sell a lot. Not being offensive or anything but, large proportion of American buyers expect a higher prestige for a car at that price. Even if its a Focus RS, its still a Focus on their mind, so it doesnt feel special enough for them. I personally would buy it, but I dont think a large number of of Americans will.

[@elusivellama]

Heard the news? Focus RS coming to US and Canada.

[@drush525]

elusivellama I hope its not a detuned version.

[@sailorenlil]

@Kamukix Not really. The main feature of a Rally is that the drivers DON'T KNOW THE COURSE until the race itself. The Navigator can only tell the driver what the next turn or crest is. Road hazardconditions (dust, dirt, debris, water, weather, etc) remain unknown variables there. Notice during the race in Targa Tasmania it's dry at times and rainy the next. It's not part of the Navigator's pace notes.

[@mcokgo]

2 awesome Cars !!!

[@rowanlewisuk]

So your other video shows a clio rs is as fast as a focus rs on the road. And the focus rs is as fast as a gtr. So a clio is also as fast as a gtr?

[@detective3728]

Hate then ppl call the GT-R a Supercar.. It´s a sportscar!

[@detective3728]

No? Even Nissan says its a Sportscar..

[@MattHassig]

***** Its a supercar.

[@detective3728]

Matt Hassig No, sportscar!

[@MattHassig]

***** Seriously though, it's a supercar. How is it not?

[@detective3728]

Matt Hassig Really? Well, is the R34 a Supercar? No! The R35 is like the R34, a Sportscar.. Then Nissan launched It, back in 2008. They called´it there new Sportscar like a 911 or 911 Turbo.. That Simple. A supercar is something special like a Lambo Aventador or Pagani Zonda, how can you not know?

[@Antifaith29]

is that 350 at the flywheel? Thats a decent amount for a small car like that either way. bet she moves along quite well indeed.

[@bign3ck]

Focus RS is too heavy, has no poise, it's like trying to slice a tomato with an axe. Too much power too, it';s a sloppy car which just understeers. On a track, i recon a 200hp EP3 type R would beat it silly.

[@ChoppsyV]

No one gives a flying fuck about a Civic Type R. They're slow as fuck.

[@rayongreen8538]

your a fucking ricer. Hondas are for little girls

[@jamessmith84240]

+inthepuss 0610 I would not say slow as fuck... There are plenty of cars on the road that will beat them but vastly more that will lose. Especially for what they cost to buy / insure / run as a daily driver.

[@19grand]

Have you a clue what you're talking about.

[@mtprince09]

There is so much wrong with this comment it’s not even worth correcting.

[@Hectectica]

I like comparisons like this, comparing the attainable with the not-so-attainable and evaluating the differences in the real world.

[@cavey1965]

R mode does not affect breaks and the only reason the fuel consumption increases is that the driver tends to be driving the car harder. When R mode is engaged across all 3 settings it also reduces the stability control allowing the car to slip more in the corners. You can turn off the stab control altogether but it's claimed that if you do it will invalidate the warranty so never tried that :) Still a pretty good answer especially for a 10 year old :))

[@ucg102]

This wasnt a duel it just was a review of 2 awesome cars

[@bullitt042001]

Xpo213, what I'm trying to say is that this two cars are totally diffrent, the focus is 50k cheaper than the gtr,now let me ask u something, what if we could build an 80k focus, do you think that the gtr would be a better car ? I don't think so. A better comparaion or match up would be a gtr vs a mustang supersanake, they are both about the same price range, and the stang has at least 450 more horses then the focus.

[@BobUy00]

@cytomatrix I think he's saying that opening the taps on a public road is easier to do in the cheaper ford.

[@jordanclarkson2010]

Both are fantastic cars to be honest, I can't say either are bad at all. Ok I admit I would rather have the GT-R, but I wouldn't be disappointed with the RS, and no it isn't actually that overpriced, it offers a lot of bang for yer buck but is also practical as a hot hatch should be. This is a good test as well.

[@grownjohnboy]

This video is before the introduction of the 2017 all wheel drive 2.3 turbo RS

[@era562]

question............. is it possible to get the RS in the U.S

[@1SBD1]

and isnt the G35 infinity based on the V35 skyline anyway? there fore making the R35 GTR based on a skyline.

[@charlesholzy]

@chiwiitube You can't turn it off on public roads or else you void the warranty. It's only when the GPS registers that you are at a track does it allow you to disable it without any consequences

[@XoXogorjuzXoXo]

1 question why is the RS front wheel drive

[@Scotracer1987]

Have you driven them both?

[@dhale750]

What a road; Buttertubs pass in North Yorkshire! This test though has been done many times before, just the age old comparison that shows that on public roads that you don't know all that well, theres only so fast you'll be willing to drive, regardless of how fast the car you're driving is.

[@ceebowone]

@GFXKallum it doesnt matter what ppl think of the gtr cause its rep and track times speak for themselves. my 280kw fwd pulsar does 12.3et and is very quick around a race track but it doesnt last for many laps like all fwd, the front wheels are under too much load, wit straightline, corner traction and braking all directed 2 the front wheels while rwd have its traction and power stress directed to the rears which leaves the front wit only braking stress which obviously means the tyres last longer

[@im1greatman]

@Felipecabesas But what happens when they have the same amount of power?

[@GMike3]

i meant to buy it in Mexico, the price is 450,000(about 34,500 dlls)go with some dealer from Laredo TX, cause i dont recommend you to come to Mexico if is not a beach or if you dont know the place, good luck, i hope i get mine by the end of this year

[@EatmyDust1311]

@DATSlovely would you consider buying my ford raptor?

[@fpvgtking]

no, also available in australia

[@yomonstruo]

what was the result?my pc got stuck and i cant see the video..:(

[@sw1000xg]

Yeah it's so hard to choose these days so many cars in all price ranges. Golf, Focus RS RX8, Honda Civic, Evo X 370Z, SLK350, the list goes on and on...

[@wanror]

is it high way car and city car comparison? sorry im not good with cars...

[@MustangsCanTurnToo]

@earwigeye I didn't realize you had a point. Where is it? When I was little my friends and I made bow's and arrows using sticks and kite string. The didn'y work very well but back in the day, we thought they were deadly! We made the "arrows" sharp by rubbing one end on the pavement. Maybe you should try that with your replies, it might give them a point. It will likely be impotent and useless but at least it might resemble something! Have you picked up a copy of Buffy and Mack yet?

[@blissnabob]

@Topjacket Typical in what way? Lot less power than the RS but arguably a lot better handling than the RS. I Have a 2009 S3 and I would ditch it in a heartbeat for the GTR.

[@Fisherdaz1]

I know it sounds daft but i think i would, there's something overly clinical about the GTR. Although, i have just read EVO magazine and discovered that the Mountune ST is faster than the new RS up to 140 mph (thats when they run out of track!), and not just a little bit either, 0.5 of a second over pretty much the whole range!! And thats without the suspension upgrade so i think i'm best off keeping mine, the eibachs have made it even better!!

[@sailorenlil]

I wonder how the Focus RS would have fared in the Targa Tasmania Road Rallies? (the last one in 2009 was interestingly won by the Nissan GT-R).

[@declansimkiss3316]

why dont they do the fiesta st vs focus rs ?...

[@RobertMayfair]

I thought this was a great test. The only problem is in the US we have strict speed limits and very few twisty roads. If we want to do high performance driving, it has to be on a track.

[@12389h]

@shobin05 The problem is the video title. When you put "vs", it's only natural for people assume it's going to be a race.

[@1d9o8g9]

@FrenchCanadianSean what car does canadian produce?

[@Thatriseagainstskate]

Well why not just meet in the middle and get something like an sti or Evo? That makes more sense than buying a focus to drive fast in..

[@keleki88]

why he didn't put the two buttons to R and the other to OFF ??

[@cytomatrix]

@Twingerson You didn't watch the video then. He clearly says that ford focus RS more fun to drive because of the confidence it gives you. He says that around 3:38. I know how much grip the RS has despite the 300+bhp and being fwd. But AWD/4WD will have a superior grip. Thats a fact. In real world gtr might not have a huge advantage due to speed limits and other drivers. But it should give you more confidence than a FWD.

[@Slipknotyk06]

He's got a good point, confidence is what driving on a twisty road is all about. If you know exactly where the car is going every single time with little to no variance, you have more confidence. That Nissan keeps wanting to tear loose when given too much throttle in the corners. For this kind of road, I'd prefer FWD to unevenly-distributed AWD

[@EatmyDust1311]

@h38604460 on a wet track only, on a dry track awd will actually slow a car down. rwd also allows etter launches, despite the gtr having launch controll (although it voids the waranty)

[@lipteek]

how about the new spec-V???

[@EatmyDust1311]

@h38604460 the caterham is completely street legal. it has the ability to drive over speed bumps. both requirements to get on the poower lap board on top gear. they also both have tha seme power/weight ratio. the bugatti also does not have a comfort suspension, on the track they had it in handling mode, which lowered the ride height, raised the wing and increased downforce

[@ceebowone]

@GFXKallum you dont need to tell me about the pro and cons of all drivetrains due to me being a performance fabricator and started racing carts since a pup, and i regularly attend track days wit so i know the difference, and in my experiences not much compares to the gtr with track times and especially consistancy, i have a 280kw fwd turbo converted nissan pulsar and a 350rwkw s14 silvia and nothing beats rwd.

[@EatmyDust1311]

@h38604460 the bugatti veyron has awd and a power to wight ratio of 500 hp per tonne. the caterham 7 is rwd, and has a ptw ratio of 500hp per tonne. the 30k caterham is faster around top gears test track than the 1.6 million dollar veyron with the most advanced awd system in the world, but the same ptw ratio

[@BloodGoneCold]

Great video! Don't listen to the haters. This is what happens in real life! The haters probably think a murcielago would be good on these roads...

[@sungdr1pwoo]

@Kamukix also depends on the driver.

[@beefcakemonsta]

let me give you guys a good example on how bias this test is: "two boxers got inside the ring for the fight, boxer01 can freely do what ever he pleases. the other boxer02 can only use 1 hand during the fight, because his trainer said so" trainer: the electronic limiter of the GTR boxer 02:GTR boxer01:focus RS

[@statzietech]

"This" comparison needs to be updated for 2016! Nismo GTR /Focus RS

[@toyota420xp]

what is he saying it looks like in parts on the video the focus is being blown away and let me ask is he a good driver or what. it matters how good he drives.

[@psykloneja]

That's great if you were just choosing which car to drive. You could just choose a Focus or a Civic Type R etc. If you were being given one and had no option of switching back and forth whenever you wanted your outlook would be a lot different. Also if you were buying one the amount of money you had to spend would greatly influence your choice. These real world test only benefit the journalists so they can take these cars out for a spin. We already know that hot hatches are "fun to drive".

[@ToddSkougor]

Your 480p version has some serious playback problems.

[@sailorenlil]

What launch control?

[@Wildicon19]

Actually the Ford Focus is a Rally car, that is why if faired well along with the GTR as it was out of it's element. I have a Focus and it handls really well in tight courses.

[@EatmyDust1311]

@h38604460 explain why the zr1 goes around the ring faster than the gtr. and the viper holds the nordschiefe production car record, the gtr cant touch it, the only cars faster than the acr are track cars

[@cruizin85]

agree with you 100percent....too many people buy cars that practically drive themselves...for me i'm a purist when it comes to motoring....don't need some fancy computer system in between myself and the tarmac, just raw mechanical engineering

[@Kamukix]

Excellent comparison, sadly it seems that 90% of the people commenting are either way too young to drive or don't understand in the least bit basic automotive truth. This is the same comparison as having a Mazda MX-5 on a windy road and then driving a Dodge Viper right afterward. Sure the Viper/GT-R will absolutely CRUSH it on track, but that means less than nothing on a real world road. You simply can't push a car of that caliber out there. Hurts but it's 100% true every time. Kei

[@GFXKallum]

@markrskinner True but you cant compare the two cars ones 30k and 70k.

[@GFXKallum]

@ceebowone with toyo R888's on 18" alloys and a fully forged engine and if you knew anything about the RS you would know there are a few RS's running this power with no trouble. it will have more then enough grip enough to pull the standard clutch, so get a helix 6 paddle, and light flywheel. And standard gear box is fine so your wrong again. Oh and no customised drivetrain either so guess what your wrong again.

[@sdstig]

You people are missing the point. The point is that the GTR, despite being insanely fast for the price, isn't that fun. You'd enjoy a Golf GTI or Focus RS more (hence the comparison). You want fast and fun more in the GTR's price range (might be different in other countries): Jag XK, Corvette, Porsche 911, or a Dodge Viper. And the XK, 911, and even Corvette (if you're not old and fragile) are still usable, every day cars

[@Distracto76]

They have a valid point about the Focus being just as good on that road. We should all be able to relate to certain roads taking away from a cars capabilities. Things like bumps, curves banked the wrong way, and so on. It is very possible that the Ford takes that road as well as the GTR can. On a track, there is no comparison, but they already said that, right?

[@numbers111222]

with a camera car in front you will never lose him!

[@Metlhead443]

@urmom4877 Please explain how it's a ricer when it's made by the European division of an American company?

[@stitcha123]

3.21 - jean reno?

[@EatmyDust1311]

@h38604460 you know those bits in between corners? those are generally straight. a v6 with that much power is a waste of gas. a v8 would make more torque, and be cheaper. the gtr and zr1 are not track cars, however, the radical IS a track car, and only a track car. i am duscussing cars that can be driven every day.

[@cobraman897]

@andreamussi1989 is it a volvo engine?

[@ceebowone]

@GFXKallum so no matter how much icing you put on a ford rs its still a front wheel drive, all the power, traction and braking duties are left to the front tyres to handle which obviously means the car wont last around a track opposed to a awd and rwd which manage tyres stress in a balanced manner. the gtr can post consistant blistering fast times while eating lunch, and for u to say the RS is better is funny considering the gtr nailed the bugatti,enzo,ariel atom,ect around topgear trak

[@edfdsfsddsgfdsgsd5525]

Focus RS is really one of the best car in the world

[@lonelymuro]

today i spent from 9am to about 1pm in the RS and i got to tell you it is an awesome car, fast, stylish and even though it is front wheel drive it is so much fun!!! however driving in the real world the RS is a very stiff car, so you feel every bump on the road. however when you go up windy roads it is a lot of fun. overall amazing little car, just make sure you get it in BP Ultimate Green colour.

[@EatmyDust1311]

@h38604460 the balboni weighs less because it has rwd, and no transfer case, front differential, and other awd parts that add weight. on dry pavement, rwd is better than awd

[@cozmium]

Ok, now I want to say first before I get carried away, I genuinely respect Autocar as an old name in the business. However, as has been said this is not a 'vs' so much as a comparison with normal road speeds, as 'of course' the speed limits would have been obeyed. This from the outset means the GTR is just humming along, not being pushed at all, which is obvious from both driver comments and observation. Oh, and it is NOT a "60 grand supercar" it is a four door saloon, as fast as a supercar.

[@cytomatrix]

@BobUy00 How can it be easier? The speed you could do on ford can be done in nissan gtr easily and safely. I don't get his logic.

[@kjbrooks2010]

@MrCalendarboy i agree if it has any performance flaws it makes up for it in safety and luxury its unmatched in my opinion

[@mazinais31]

have you been to those roads? you can scare your butt off there in a peugeot just when some car comes out of a corner in the opposite direction and you have to practically jump off the road

[@092601abc]

is the gt-r automatic?>

[@Fisherdaz1]

Lol. Belive me, i couldn't believe it either but i'm very happy about it! Its the current issue out at the moment. One orange and one blue lambo on the front cover. Sept, 2009 is the issue name and its page 126/127. The mountune got to 130 half a second faster than the RS and the RS was only quicker between 100 and 120 mph in 4th gear, every where else the Mountune was considerably quicker. The RS has too much power for front wheel drive, thus the mountune can put it down better.

[@sailorenlil]

@Kamukix Also, by your logic the Corvette Z06 should have demolished the competition in the 2010 Targa Tasmania which it took part since it thrives on the straights. In reality, it was nothing more than a footnote in that race (it finished 16th place, as far as 10 minutes behind the race leaders, including the 3rd placing GT-R).

[@nmac121]

this thing has brutal in gear acceleration, where in reality itll be able to exploit most of its performance potential. Sad that they couldnt keep the weight down a bit more.

[@EatmyDust1311]

@h38604460 well there goes your argument. and the more power a engine makes at the flywheel, the worse the drivetrain lag in most cases. it also depends on the transmission setup

[@Twingerson]

@cytomatrix he didn't say it was better than the GTR, he, and every other auto reviewer ever have simply stated its staggering the amount of grip this FWD car does have.

[@HVMSSamtex]

People often don't realise, it's not about USING the power, it's about HAVING it ;)

[@SebastianvonGrunf]

@TUNDE88 british review of a anglo-german car actually. But you've got a point there

[@EatmyDust1311]

@h38604460 horsepower is not as important as torque. big american engines are tuned for torque, not hp. low revving high capacity engines make a ton of it. engine efficiency cannot be fairly accounted without putting torque into the equation. it also helps the viper get 22 mpg

[@sdstig]

@andycgtr Then I've touched a Ford GT and sat in a Mercedes SLS. Does that count for anything?

[@sneakyrussian3059]

Technically you are right, Its not a skyline because its based on Infinity g35 platform ) but thats about it..

[@Fisherdaz1]

And it turns out that the RS is 82 kg heavier, which is basically an average person, which is a lot. RS 0-60 did 6.0, ST mountune 0-60 did 5.8. If it was anyone other than EVO or Top Gear i wouldn't believe it myself but it was a completely fair test.

[@b145701s]

firstly, the RS is a brilliant car.. and secondly, the purpose of this test was how much FUN you can have with both cars.. thats why they compared so different cars

[@Shot_by_Stu]

so they are even on twisty roads and then BAM long straight and the gtr is doing 110 whilst the rs hasn't shifted up from 3rd gear....

[@mxfrench12]

I heard that 2011 we in the US will get the Focus RS... I hope so

[@sailorenlil]

Then you've lost the bet already. The GT-R has been capturing win after win in the Super GT/Japan Touring Car Championships since its debut in 2008 (in 2008 alone, the GT-R scored 7 wins in 9 races (though by different drivers/teams) in the Super GT).

[@mistersmiley247]

And health care. In Britain, hundreds of hospitals were found to not wash sheets or change bed pans regularly. You have to outsource your administrative works to India. In Italy, the hospitals were charging the government for actual medicine, but then giving patients placebos so they could spend the money elsewhere. Most people in Canada come to America for surgeries. Nowhere does it work. Lets go to school for 7 years, $100,000s in debt, then work a minimum wage job.

[@turbo311]

I was being a little harsh I guess. The 2010 Mustang is pretty nice. All the magazines say it is a good track car compared to the new Camaro and Challenger which are more expensive and heavier. But I'd still not buy one and get the new GTI, or upgrade to an Evo X or Golf R when that gets here. And a Corvette starts at about $48,000, but who knows what they're actually selling for considering the state of GM.

[@markrskinner]

@GFXKallum We ain't talking about a tuned RS though.

[@EatmyDust1311]

@h38604460 awd is only a advantage in a 1/16 mile drag race. also, the zr1 has no computer launch controll

[@cytomatrix]

@Draco1180 No its not. Nissan gtr is 1895mm wide and ford focus rs is 1842mm wide. Thats not a huge difference. Same logic can be used to compare focus rs and ferrari if you compare the price. Nissan gtr is good value considering how fast it goes and features it has. Some people prefer to have one good car instead of many "rubbish" ones. 30k for a FWD is stupid considering mitsubishi evo costs about the same, which has AWD/4WD.

[@porschefan102]

I have driven a GT-R, it is a nice driving car. Never driven a Ford Focus RS though. But I will say it is more comfortable than a F-430. Just throw it in automatic and you can just cruise.

[@EatmyDust1311]

@h38604460 gtr torque is 414 at 3800rpm. the viper srt10 makes 560 lb ft of torque, and also gets 20 mpg, all with a real manual. high revving turbos cant replace low revving, torque monsters, no matter what hp/liter effieciency. the tranny on the gtr does break all the time, i know of at leats a halfa dozen cases where it was in lc mode, or something, and nissan said 'sorry, your problem!'. and if your interested in tuning "kits" look at the hennessey viper venom

[@geppegep]

@markogozila aand its a front wheel drive