LIVING WITH A FORD FOCUS RS | 6 Month Ownership Review

LIVING WITH A FORD FOCUS RS | 6 Month Ownership Review
I talk you through some of the advantages and disadvantages of living with the Mk3 Ford Focus RS over a 6 month period.
Whether its the sound of the 2.5l 350HP turbo charged engine or the size of the centre console, I talk about what we have loved and what we haven't over the time that we've owned the car.
Hope you enjoy
-Olly
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Music:
Insightful - Cherry Chapstick
/ insightful-cherry-chap...
Commoninterest - GIRLFRIEND
/ girlfriend
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[@Scott555ish]

Nice analogy to a work mate / college mate. During the week I just want it to soften up and shut up........well maybe not shut up !!!! Like all things an RS experience/opinion will depend heavily on previous experiences. If you come from a Fiesta or Focus ST your opinion would be very easy to predict. But if, like me, you have come from a series of 300 - 350+ bhp vehicles, and in some cases self tuned/mapped, your not so quick to sing it's praises and accept it 'out of the box'. What would I change..........give it a wind your kneck in mode and bring the boost in at part throttle earlier. Despite what people believe this is all in the mapping and not a turbo spool capability issue. Small turbo's like this should spool up on a dog's fart. All the best....Dad !!

[@MrSly870]

Great video but your description is wrong. It's 2.3L, not 2.5 :)

[@martinjones2774]

I’m coming up to a year with mine, and I’m still not bored, after doing a couple of track days it can’t get any better. The handling is on point, the noise is great. If you’re bored after 6months you’re not driving to the max 🙈 But great video 👍🏼

[@cIibsterd]

I know it's a stupid question but how are you finding the costs of the car?

[@REDEEL16]

I’m 5’5 perfect fit. I’ve driven a few cars but this car is best driven super aggressively up a mountain range kinda rough road with plenty of cambers and corners. Trust me smash it to bits that’s where it comes alive. If you want a daily driver buy a golf r that’s it

[@Zadster]

What I would really like to see is for a tuning company to investigate the use of higher profile (but the same rolling radius) tyres. Quite often, a little bit extra tyre compliance can get rid of the spine-jarring crashes that hard suspension gives, without killing the adhesion. They just don't look as sexy. Its highly unlikely that they will though, because most tuning companies are blindly obsessed with lowering suspension and going even lower profile, and can't conceive that people actually commute to work.

[@doctorrobert60]

I did not find the ride prevented me from purchasing my RS. However when it became available I investigated and plug and play springs/shocks made by KW. I ended up purchasing from Mountune USA and having them install them. The handling is not compromised at all but the ride is greatly improved. I find the ride better than my BMW Z4 M Coupe that I thought was acceptable. The KW setup keep the adjust-ability of the factory shocks.

[@jim6807]

i run 245/40/18's.... helped the ride a bit.

[@uptheduffagain]

Well done for a nice HONEST review of the Focus RS. I feel there are far too many reviews about this car that are done by owners with blinkers on and won’t have a negative word said about it,yet the truth is that it is not a perfect car. Definitely agree with what your dad said about how the power is delivered,I own a 400bhp evo x and the boost on that comes in nice and early and with a massive punch and that’s what makes it fun to drive,where as other turbo cars I have owned have had the boost come in very steady and higher up,but it feels too smooth then for my liking. I do feel this RS could do with a bit more of an aggressive look.The front end isn’t too bad but it could do with a nice set of vents like the previous Focus RS,just to set it apart from the Focus ST a little more.

[@OllyT555]

uptheduffagain Thank you! It was definitely my main intention to make the video as truthful as possible and im glad you agree on the subject of the power delivery. And again, styling is definitely a personal thing but after seeing some subtle modifications on Mk3's at car shows, I would agree that something like a few vents could definitely make the car look even better! 👍🏻

[@johnriggins9325]

Just got my RS... it's not what I'd call a "comfortable" car in awful Portland traffic. However, that's kinda the reason I bought it. Had a guy chat me up driving a Porshe 911 today... so yeah it's a head turner.

[@poker_18rs92]

What kind of MPG does the RS get in traffic?

[@OllyT555]

@@poker_18rs92 We've been looking at low to mid teens in traffic. On the motorway you'd be lucky to push 30. (From our experience)

[@allnewpauly]

18 months in and I wouldn’t change my RS. When it’s clean it’s still a head turner. People wanna chat in supermarket car parks. I’d say it gets more attention than my mates Boxster.. The pops and bangs are better and more random now I’ve got the Mountune 375 kit on it. That changes the character of the car a little. You do get more of a shove in the back - but it’s still from pretty high up the revs. Coming from a Fiesta ST a few years ago the ride is practically Bentley-esque haha. But I agree 100% as a daily, when you’re not in the mood, you jiggle about far far too much. Low speeds are uncomfortable in this car. Basically it’s urging you baz around at 50mph+ everywhere. 😂

[@s10lucky]

Nice one olly. Have to agree with a lot of your points, though I don’t ever find the ride bad in normal. The driving position has always been a bit of a snag for me but I am now used to it. Still loving mine and will definately go for more power very soon. Well done mate. Nice job. 👍

[@Scott555ish]

Steve Luck we drove a Cupra 290 ST on the way back home from this shoot and straight away even in Cupra mode the ride was so much more town friendly. Quite spritely too considering its only 290 VAG conservative horses. You could definitely feel the weight advantage making it more eager. But alot more thumping from the front shocks than the RS on my test route where the RS just shrugs it's handling shoulders. You just can't have it all......

[@jonathanpilmore7140]

Hi, please can someone help me! Im thinking of buying a 2016 Ford Focus RS but how reliable are they? Is the engine going to blow up on me? Expensive garage bills?

[@torquetv8063]

great video love the focus rs

[@OllyT555]

Supercarsofthesouth Thank you 👍🏻

[@BarryBethal-yv2oz]

The RS is a great car I've had mine 5 months if I could afford to I would buy another one to keep for an asset to sell later in life.

[@OllyT555]

Yeah they're definitely holding their money well at the moment. If we were to sell ours right now, we'd of made money which is amazing when you think about it.

[@powellj27]

Good video, I’ve had my RS since April and I came from a fiesta st. I have noticed the car does require you to rev more compared to the ST but this was easily resolved with a re map. I actually really enjoy driving the RS. I have driven it in normal mode for 2 weeks and then switched to sport mode and confirmed the acceleration and pickup of the turbo was better in sport mode. The only issue I have with this car like all performance cars, is it loves to drink fuel. Ok getting 7mpg ok short journeys and an average of 20mpg. 😱

[@poker_18rs92]

The MPG on the RS is what worries me for daily driving, because it does have a small tank & it's not nearly as good as the ST, so in daily traffic my fear is that I'll be at a gas station every 4-5 days & that's with driving it around town like a grandma.

[@OllyT555]

Yeah, fuel consumption is definitely a negative that we've experienced as well. I probably should've picked up on it in the video

[@cheesesteakjimmy2076]

I have a mrk3 and nothing bothers me with the car at all . I am 5.10 and the seating height is fine. I bought lowering springs and now my car feels alot better and isn't as harsh either . That's the only thing that annoys me is the monster truck standard suspension

[@ianwalton5156]

Have a look for Car Focused, he's cured the ride problems by fitting a DSG Controller which are very simple to fit & cost £1200. Apparently they're a real revelation

[@OllyT555]

Thanks Ian, will look into it 👍🏼

[@fraes2465]

Tell your dad to buy a diesel if he wants the tourque at lower revs. The rs has a petrol engine, a premium octane loving one at that, with an outspoken high revelations performance turbo. It's noting to agree with, like your statement of a 2,5 litre turbo engine wich is wrong. It is nothing to dislike or complain about regarding the turbo. There is not a single high performance car that has a low rev. turbo, so if you dont like it.. get another car.

[@Scott555ish]

Well Dad here says I don't agree. I've been driving turbo cars since 1994 so know full well how a turbo can drive. In fact I've provided tunes, including road mapping, to about 500 owners between 2001 & 2009. Modern turbo cars are tuned to feel normally aspirated. A simple change to the throttle mapping and boost control would make the car come alive, with alot less revs and alot less right foot action. It would feel like a 50bhp hike, but would remain within stock turbo boost targets. Modern turbo's are so free spinning they can respond alot quicker on part throttle than the stock tune achieves.

[@herpderp1662]

Wait what? I have an RS, and I can vouch for just about ALL of your 350/350 being available earlier than any turbo car ive ever owned. The turbo on the RS is a dinky tiny little thing. Its already spun up quite a lot by the time your 3000 rpm. Look at dyno graphs mate. Even stock ones, it makes its power pretty low. In fact mines tuned now, so it makes ALL of its power low and runs out of puff on the top end because the tiny fist sized turbo. So hes no idea what hes on about. Its not a 7.0 liter diesel. Its not going to make 1000 ft/lbs of tq at 300 rpm. Its gas, its a 4 pot, and its only 2.3 liters. What about that screams "low end tq"? Seems he just doesnt understand physics, or how engines actually work.

[@Scott555ish]

Full throttle I agree the torque is there. On a dyno i agree the torque is there, because that's also full throttle. You should be able to enjoy these cars without having to use near full throttle to generate boost. These small Turbo's can generate over 1 bar of boost at about 30-40% throttle, if the tune allowed it. My 20 Year old Subaru generates more boost at part throttle than the RS, primarily because the boost control is less complex and more laws of physics. The part throttle boost available on the Dreamscience tune is much better than stock, and you can drive briskly with lazy pedal input, but I'd still like about 20% more.

[@simonjohnston1074]

Nice review. I think the pops from the exhaust would do me in after a while so agree with Scotts "sshh" mode would be good, for me I think Ford got this one fairly right though. One thing I did notice was a part covering of the inter cooler, whats that about?

[@Scott555ish]

Simon says it's an intercooler blanking plate apparently off a transit. It was a late design change to prevent condensation build up in the intercooler pipes. I think it only comes into effect in high temperature and high humidity countries. Hence pretty pointless in the UK and easily removed for greater charge cooling.

[@markstevenfall]

Simon says Hi Simon - no pops and bangs in normal mode, and it still goes pretty well - just have to put your foot down a little more to get the same response as in 'Sport' mode 🙂👍

[@Oosh-Xbox]

I’m looking to buy a 2016 RS and just wondered what you require to tune it in terms of turbos or re mapping ? How much does it cost ? What’s the BHP difference in stages ?

[@bobithpopit3193]

did you ever end up getting it? I’m looking at the 2017 grey model for my first car

[@Oosh-Xbox]

thotpatrolFREE69 yes I got 2017 RS white. Just amazing to drive. Not the the comfiest rude but who cares it’s just amazing !!

[@Oosh-Xbox]

First car ??! Your insurance will be at least 200 a month lol I’m only 50 quid a month

[@bobithpopit3193]

Norrie Paton haha well i’m hoping my dad will take care of it for me or just put the car under his name for the time being. I really love the exterior and the aggressive look of the car, i need to get my hands on it

[@Oosh-Xbox]

thotpatrolFREE69 be carful it’s the king of the road in the under 50k cars

[@supercarkingdom]

Nice video mate!

[@OllyT555]

Josh Stimson Thanks Josh! 👍🏻

[@colinmonk9113]

don't bother watching this folks, we've known about this all before,- All Negative comments, so it's a negative on the thumbs down review..nothing positive to say at all, so m8 sell the RS to me for half the price as you're not happy with an RS hot hatch, & i'll import it to NZ. & you can go & buy a nice comfy sofa put a steering wheel on it and some wheels..dissapointing review of a great sportscar.

[@OllyT555]

RIP Colin. Colin can't accept honesty

[@colinmonk9113]

@@OllyT555 who cant accept honesty?

[@Dhennanxne]

This my dream car, my dads dream car (more of a childhood car) which hes lucky enough to have is a Ford Escort RS Turbo Series 2 so i guess the Rally sport is running in the family. ALSO WTF how come theres always another car like a fiesta doing rallys and not the actual RS its weird that also happens with both cars. Hope you enjoy what you've got :)

[@poker_18rs92]

I wish that color was available in the US. You have to buy an ST to get that grey here.

[@OllyT555]

PokerRun388 I thought the colour choices in Europe were limited! Seems like the US has it even worse

[@poker_18rs92]

OllyT555 The US has only two options for a 2018 RS, red or blue & it’s ridiculous. So I’m looking at a 2017 model in either white, black or slate grey.

[@raider32]

On the flip-side, here in the UK you can't get an ST in Magnetic Grey, that would have been my first choice.

[@raulcabronero5649]

You paint it? Because metallic grey didnt cames in focus

[@OllyT555]

The magnetic grey was one of the few colour options in the UK. Not sure if it varies depending on which country you're in

[@mohammedsalimahmed5230]

Lazy driver + Car that is designed to be engaging Not an ideal mix...

[@reeced3106]

Is this car yours or your dads?

[@OllyT555]

Dad's. Hence 2:21

[@mikuelable]

2.3l mate 2.5 is the Subaru in your garage

[@Scott555ish]

Is a 2.0 in the garage. Check out Olly's video on the Scooby.

[@cee8ge220]

Erstens es ist ein 2.3 liter und nicht 2.5. Zweitzens wenn dein Vater früher druck will dann ist ein Diesel wohl die bessere Wahl. Alles in allem netter Beitrag . Danke ( Thanks )

[@middlehurst100]

It’s a 2.3l engine. Not 2.5?

[@OllyT555]

Daniel Middlehurst Sorry

[@middlehurst100]

OllyT555 had me doubting myself. As i own one myself! Brilliant car tho. Agree with the firm ride defiantly! Get it on a B road tho and you forget all about that. Love mine

[@OllyT555]

Daniel Middlehurst I've only ever thought of it as a 2.5 for some reason. Guess I'm wrong. And yeah the firm suspension only really gets annoying at slow speeds around town over potholes etc. No denying the suspension set up is amazing for out on the open road!

[@Zadster]

Probably just mentally equating it with the previous Focus RS which had the Volvo derived T5 engine.

[@middlehurst100]

Zadster which sounded much better I might add!

[@martinjones1930]

6th months and needs a new head gasket wtf nice car though

[@Scott555ish]

They all need new head gasket due to a build/stock issue with the original HG

[@jamesearley5290]

I’m not a care guy but I think it looks dank boy racer car which chavs like that’s why people look

[@Scott555ish]

J20E09 thanks for your valued input. But for your information I've had more positive comments and general interest/enquiries from the older generation and owners of high end high value performance cars. Thats what Olly is referring to from the many events we attend with high calibre machines in attendance. I don't recall any such reaction yet from what you may refer to as 'chavs'.

[@cheesesteakjimmy2076]

J20E09 most boy racers can't afford them your getting mixed up with vauxhall lol

[@jimmyburn2320]

Scrap