There was a considerable amount of excitement around the arrival of the Ford Focus RS on our long-term test fleet last autumn.
It was understandable that everyone was jostling for a drive in it. This was, after all, a car that was lauded by all comers, received a maximum five-star road test verdict in this magazine, became the star of many online drift videos and offered a generous 345bhp for just £30,000.
That’s all well and good, but a car on our long-term fleet has to prove itself to be not only adept at all of the road testing jobs, but equally capable at handling more mundane tasks, such as the daily commute or a trip to DIY store. And, in all honesty, the Focus RS didn’t initially feel all that amazing at normal speeds. It felt (whisper it) a bit ordinary, in fact.
The best fast cars are famed as such because they engage, involve and entertain at sedate speeds and commitment levels many notches down from your best SeÃbastien Ogier impression. On first acquaintance, though the Focus didn’t achieve
any of that. The engine felt a little flat, the overly high driving position never became truly familiar and the punishingly stiff ride was an ever- present reminder of just how much weight was being managed.
That was the story around town, but once the Focus RS was freed from the city streets, it became a far more endearing and likeable car. It brings dynamic qualities to the hot hatch class that simply haven’t been seen before. That’s a key selling point for the car and certainly one of our highlights during its time with us.
The tenacity of the Focus’s front end is remarkable, its willingness to turn in apparently unfazed by entry speed, weather conditions or type
 of road surface. This breeds huge confidence and allows you to put the grip and speed of the car to full use.
More than that, it’s the dynamic options the Focus RS gives you that appeal so much. You can brake deep into a corner, lock the front end onto a line and use the huge traction to haul you out. You can go slow in and (really) fast out of a bend.
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Progress?
You can't get away from the fact that the Focus RS is a stunning bit of kit even if it makes some day to day compromises, but in reality how much has it really moved the game on from where the Evo9 was 12 years ago?
Price as Tested
True in a way Scotty but it's worth mentioning Autocar lists full list price, with all those extras (most people wouldn't spend that amount anyway) you'd expect a DISCOUNT from the Ford dealer normally. so £7835 isn't typical.
Having said working out Trade-in-price is pointless to a degree as it depends on what you spend on the new car
Residual value?
Autocar: The Focus RS’s residual values are proving very strong. We’ve seen other examples in a similar spec and with more than 10,000 miles on the clock up for sale at more than £30,000.
I'm not sure how so called professionals get away with saying that. The RS above cost £35315. The current trade price is £27480 therefore in 12mths, the car has cost £7835 in depreciation alone. Residual value is the difference between what you buy the car for and what you sell for, NOT what you buy it for and what someone else buys it for!