VB's Poll:Which Focus is the best Focus?

[The Vanishing Boy]

Since the popularity of the Ford Focus here in the US, I was speculated that which of these Ford Focus' has the best features, best engine choises, best of everything. Lets start with the original, the European Focus came out when the Escort [USA] was still on production, it has a clean euro-stylin edges and curves a real original. While the American Focus came out with fewer models than the Euro version and not so stylish Euro look with a different front facia, lights and rear bumper. With the SVT Focus w/ 170hp engine in the market today with good reviews according to my research, but this model is called ST170 in Europe. But what we don't have here in the USA is the "most furious Focus ever" Focus RS, a WRC-like hatch (ala. Subaru WRX without the STi). This Focus RS has a turbocharged 210 hp engine with big brembo brakes with four-wheel-drive and an 18-inch OZ wheels, this limited production streetracer mimics the WRC namesake. Right now in Europe, the Focus received a facelift at the front end which looks way better than before, but here in the US we just received the Focus ZX5 5-dr hatch and the SVT focus.
You guys decide.

 

[Hooligan]

The RS. I don't understand why car companies are so afraid of the American market. The WRX is >50% of sales for the Impreza line.

Integra Type R
Civic Si
all AMG models
M3/M5
pre-WRX Impreza 2.5RS
Nissan Z's (1974 on through)

All sold out, every last one, every damned year. Americans like fast cars. We (well, maybe not me) like big cars, too, but fast will do, especially at the $25 - 30,000 price point. What are any of them waiting for? Why take so long with the Lancer Evo? Why does TVR think they're "better" than that, to lower themselves to the US market (although rumour has it they're reconsidering)?

I think some companies get it (*ahem*Subaru*ahem*). The return of Alfa and MG is good, but the choice of the Civic Si instead of the Type R is just lame. I may not be a real Honda fan, but I know a superior car when I see one.

 

[MazKid]

AMGs are sold here...

 

[MazKid]

ohh, a simple re-read of your post makes sense, sorry(doh)

 

[1X83Z]

I actually like the Focus ZX5. It's a 5-door hatch (strictly not a wagon). SVT's second, but, that'll kill you (being recalled / stop sale order now) and all the rest follow.

I keep seeing a sedan, yellow, that's damn good looking and has some nice-looking alloys too. But...an American car? For me? No way.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

Originally, the "ZX5" came from Europe when it was introduced (in the US couple of years later). SVT is just a "name for the US market, the original name for the SVT Focus is Focus ST170 [EUR].

 

[aljones]

Originally posted by The Vanishing Boy
But what we don't have here in the USA is the "most furious Focus ever" Focus RS, a WRC-like hatch (ala. Subaru WRX without the STi).

The RS is a great car, but it'll never be as good as the Impreza in my view!

 

[jag_man_v12]

"Duh....I don't know."whats a focus dont have them here

 

[1X83Z]

You don't have Foci (plural of "Focus") in Australia? That's Europe's best selling car. And America's least-favourite. Soooooo unreliable...

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

Right now, Ford just Introduces the Focus ST170 In Austrailia.

 

[TurboSmoke]

I have test driven the Focus RS, 2.0 turbo 4WD @ my local ford dealership...its a really nice car, beautiful inside and quite nippy....

but for me i would spend my 'hard earned' on something else...

civic type r or lancer evo8

 

[Jugend]

Originally posted by TurboSmoke
I have test driven the Focus RS, 2.0 turbo 4WD @ my local ford dealership...its a really nice car, beautiful inside and quite nippy....

but for me i would spend my 'hard earned' on something else...

civic type r or lancer evo8

The RS comes with 4wd?? I have only read about a Fwd RS..

 

[TurboSmoke]

Originally posted by GTJugend
The RS comes with 4wd?? I have only read about a Fwd RS..

yep....it was 2 years ago....prolly was fwd....

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

Ya know, I;m not usually a fan of the Focus, but I'd love to have the 4WD, WRC Homologation, version. It's not the greatest reason, but the Focus is my favorite WRC car in GT3.

 

[Race Idiot]

They've rumored a cossie version for a few years now and i've seen suspect photos. The RS is FWD and it's meant to be great for the track, but it's meant to be very twitchy for normal driving due to some odd diff.

 

[Joey D]

I'd go with an SVT, there fast as hell, not up with the SRT-4 but good enough to lay some rubber donw. A kid around campus has one, yellow with bronze rims. Pretty quick little bugger.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

your SVT will be like a Hyundai Accent comaped to the Focus RS, just read the latest issue of Sport Compact Car.

 

[1mic]

the RS is way faster than the SVT, looks better too.
it sucks that we dont have it

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

Too bad, first we can't get the RS, second, Ford EU is currently testing and more powerful Focus called "Focus RS Cosworth" that it can match with the car like the EVO and WRX.

 

[TurboSmoke]

Originally posted by The Vanishing Boy
"Focus RS Cosworth"

in true Ford UK tradition, the cosworth will be a nice car when it comes out..as was the Escort and Sierra 4WD cossies...(in thier day)

 

[GilesGuthrie]

By all accounts the Focus RS is quite evil, insofar as its Limited Slip Diff induces heart-attack understeer, and the suspension is rock-hard. I wouldn't have one.

I have, however, just bought a Focus 1.8 Zetec 5-door hatch, which is a cracking car. I think that the US cars (built in Mexico?) are very poor reliability-wise, but that the European cars (built in Portugal/Spain/Belgium) are much better screwed together. And the US seems to like the unforgivably ugly 4-door edition the best. No accounting for taste I suppose.

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by GilesGuthrie
And the US seems to like the unforgivably ugly 4-door edition the best. No accounting for taste I suppose.

The US always prefers the sedan version to all else, and Ford, sensing that, gave us more trim levels of the sedan with more standard spec than anything else. A sedan starts at $13200 (GBP 7700), which is the cheapest of the whole line, and it runs to $15700 (GBP 9200). It's well-specced and is a much better value than the rest of the line. But I'd still rather have a ZX5...

 

[wee-homer]

i know every 1's seen it but still its god damn good looking focus cosworth