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There was a bloke on my road with a tuned white RS and it would pop & bang on the gear change as he drove past. Used to think he was a total chav but also DEEPLY want a go in it
Great to see you enjoying a Mk2 RS. The best modern(ish) day hot hatch Ford has produced imo. Last of its kind in what is fast becoming a very dull market. Love mine, and will never let it go!
I once went on a driving experience day, driving supercars around the Top Gear track. They also had the chance for us to do a hot lap in one of these sat next to one of their drivers and let me tell you, a car like this driven by someone who knows what they are doing was an absolutely incredible experience, particularly when 4 up, smashing the hell out of super cars.
Happy to see you we're not too put off by driving my MK3 RS Edition earlier this year to give the MK2 RS a go. MK2 RS looks great and sounds amazing from my experience driving one. Ultimate green looks incredible and the whole car felt a lot more raw than my MK3 RS did. Very pricy for what it is but it will hold its money long term as is the case with all RS models. All the best for 2024 ahead James 🎉
A Gem of a car 💎 And my favourite colour, as well. 💚 My proudest car moment was parking my 3yr old 1990,XR4i 2WD (rare) next to my Dad’s 1.6L for a photo shoot. Happy days. ❤️
@@dungareesareforfools I believe they only badged ~1,200 or 1,700 (can’t remember which). If I remember correct, it does get a mention on the wiki page. It was a 4 door and should have been 125 bhp and was touted as a GLS in a skirt. 😂 Mine wasn’t messed with and when I had the power checked it was actually 150 bhp. No chip, no air filter or exhaust. So did they up the power a little in them?🤔 I kept it standard and owned it for 6 years. It was radiant red and was well polished. 😉 G606 XNE. ❤️
I've always liked the mk2 focus when I was a kid, especially the rear design with the vertical lights. I always thought, and still think that is all the car one needed.
@@michiel5160I own a mk1 focus st170 and from what I’ve been told by mk2 owners who’ve had both they all say the mk1 is much a much more capable car handling wise and overall fun
@@Generalkenobi325 As a mk2 ST owner I have to admit some truth in that. We used to also have a mk1 1.6 LX (not even sports suspension) and on a roundabout it would better the grip of the ST. I'd maybe put some of that down to the ST's standard fit Continentals though, they're really not that great.
Having battled with "stage4" 440bhp ones in my "Stage1" 340bhp GTI I can say that 0-70 isn't the most impressive power range on these, while it's fast the pull from 70 to well into the jail time speeds is insane. That engine is an event in stock form never mind tuned. They look great over 10 years on, hold money well, and are a fairly dynamic FWD car. Definitely worth the RS badge.
This is the RS everyone wants, and their used prices reflect that - you can easily get free motoring for a while and get your money back when you resell these (provided you keep it in the condition you bought it rather than, say, wrap it around a tree! 😂) I have seen a tip top condition 23K miles 59 plate RS going for £40,000. Good investment cars. I am a huge fast Ford fan and have never been a "badge snob". I love how relatively analogue and simple they are, I love all manual controls - even a manual handbrake. Cheap to service, relatively cheap to maintain, parts and supplies everywhere for them, etc. I like the blue collar hero vibe, and fast Fords have always been perfect for our roads, huge fun to drive, and amazing handling cars. I turned my nose up at both an AMG A class and a BMW 240i in favour of a fast Ford: because the latter put so much more of a smile on my face. And you can't put a price on that
Totally agree. I like BMWs too, but the trouble with a lot of people into them and Audis etc. is that they're lost in the objective side of things - facts and figures, and what is technically better. Who cares if a fast Audi can get you somewhere in a second less? Hardly anyone buys a performance car because they need to get somewhere the fastest, it's usually to have fun.
I've been waiting for this since the mk3 focus is video. I love these cars, they sound great, handle great and everyone who sees one has a smile on their face
I had the Mk2 ST and my best mate got one of these MK2 RSs. He gave me quite a lot of (kindhearted) shit about it but we both loved both cars. I actually tried to get him to contact you about his but he clesry never got around to it. He still has his whilst I've 'grown up' and bought an RS6. Still, I do really love these 🥰 as always, James, great video!
I don’t like Fords……. I’ve owned dozens, petrol, diesel…… V4, V6, V8 and inline 4’s Some I remember fondly, others were meh……… Don’t like the early basic Focus, never seemed to wear very well……. But, the 2.5 Volvo engined one - I likey 🙂 It makes an achingly gorgeous noise…… that alone, sells it 🥳
Oh I LOOOOVE this generation of Focus RS. Here in Indonesia we never got any RS Ford, but I was lucky enough to have a look at the only Focus RS Mk. 2 here, in the same shade of Ultimate Green (the only correct shade for RS Mk. 2, in my opinion). That particular car got 408hp tune, yet it doesn't seem to have trouble putting them all to the road. It's hilariously fast, and it chirps and whistles and gargles like Michele Mouton's S1 Sport Quattro.
God I love these mark IIs. We had one here in south Florida putting around the Cars & Coffee circuit that came into the country on a 2,500 miles/year show car certification. I can’t wait for them to become legal to import 😊
I had a Blue RS MK2 , I loved the look of it, I loved the noise it made, but just couldnt love the ride ( It did have H&R springs fitted so I think that ruined it somewhat ) So sold it and bought a RS MK1 , and love everything about it. I wish I could have kept the MK2 as well , just to look at it and listen to it ... awesome cars.
I'm very much a fan of the 5 cylinder engine, it really is the main event. I think one of the current bargain unsung heroes is the C30 T5 (preferably mk II R-Design with sports suspension option), these cars are less than half the price of a Focus RS, share the 2.5 five cylinder and with a small amount of additonal money can be a cheaper way to 5 pot fun on the same Focus chassis. Just don't tell everyone. 😂
The next big thing in appreciating classics? These things have hardly lost anything in value since they were new. A mate of mine had one from new pre order at £26,000. The thing was worth exactly the same when the finance was up 3 years later
I agreed with all you said for the first 2 minutes about Fords. I drove all of these on the road and track, and they were ALL super easy to drive, and I'm no speedster!
Of the fast Fords, I've only had a 15 plate ST TDCi, which I loved, but the XR series remains my true automotive love, with the XR4x4 being the holiest of holies. Nearly bought one when I lived in NZ. I decided getting it back here was too much....biiiiig mistake 20 years on.
Least it would be rot free...I know where a rust free MK1 Escort lying abandoned on a farm in NZ...the benefit of an agri-contracting job down there...things you find,that I might go back for one day
Over my 38 years of driving and owning several Fast Ford’s and loving all of them . Where are Ford Going into oblivion I think . Had an RS Escort 1600 . Two escort Cosworths and the Model you are driving in this Video fabulous car . But hand on heart yes the Focus has more power but handling and chassis the Escort Cosworth is different gravy as long as you keep the cars stock it’s how they were supposed to me not mapped tweaked or messed about with I miss all my previous Ford’s love the brand my last purchase is a Puma St 1.5 with limited slip differential after that goes I’ll probally never purchase a Ford again and I say that with a heavy heart .
I had a fiat coupe 20v turbo before and it's part of the reason I bought a MK2 St, similar noise and performance but in practical hatchback form. Love them.
Awesome engine. I loved my Volvo C30 in rebel blue with polestar tune and Heico bits. Probably the nicest sounding exhaust I have ever owned. Shame the steering felt boaty and manual gearbox was super plasticky/rubbery
I beg you to drive another mk2 Focus ST. The one you drove is one of the ones that gave it its awful reputation. A pre-facelift that’s been driven through the eBay parts store and had an RS wing put on it. You can have mine any time.
I had one for 7 yrs MR375 version , sold it in April , bought an A35 amg , I'm going to buy another mk2 because i miss it and for £25k you get a great driving machine .
I had 2009 mk2 ST MR290 face-lift for 5 years, it was no RS but still a great drivers car, had to sell it due to muscle wastage in my left leg meant I couldnt push the clutch in anymore. Sad time.😢
17:20 "RS500... you're not getting anymore for that really" errr... It was in a wrap, had a 15% power increase over the standard Mk2 Focus RS, courtesy of a larger air filter and intercooler, wider exhaust downpipe, and an uprated fuel pump. The engine's software was unique too, calibrated to work more effectively with the upgraded parts and it got you a ton of money if you garaged it. So yeah, nothing to speak of really 😆
Thank you Jay, have always enjoyed your content and now you've excellently covered a car that I had the pleasure of owning for 5 years from new. The low profile tyres on the motorway, fuel consumption when pushed and annoying rattle from the spoiler were the only detractors on an otherwise truly lovely car. Best wishes for 2024.
The Focus chassis and 2.5 litre Volvo lump were always a great combination, with a sadly ruined reputation. Set up right they're actually deceptively quick and nothing short of the newer RS3s comes with that good of a soundtrack in hot hatch form.
I had an 2009 Ultimate Green FRS from new. Brilliant car, a divorce meant it was sold after 4 years. Had so many people knocking on my house front door asking to look at it closer. Great to drive and better than a Mk3 in my opinion. I had this, a Mk1 FRS and an Escort RS Cosworth all at once, what a garage that was. Now doing the EVO and WRX STI dream. But will be coming back to Ford.
I came over from Northern Ireland to England in April to look at that very car..I walked away from it due to the rust on the arches and the ppf was poorly done. It wasn’t too clean inside either. I ended up buying a much better example with less miles for £2k cheaper too.
I am sure this is better in the intagibles department, however on pure paper, something like a Megane RS, Type R or maybe most of all, a Leon Cupra 270-300 seems to be better choices considering pricing? Or perhaps the left field choice of a M135i/M140i with a good dose of oem M3 parts fitted if you want something a bit more "upscale" and dont mind RWD.
@@R03333 Well, yeah, absolutely. This post was more from the perspective of people looking for used, similar size, similar intended usage hatchbacks regardless of brand.
I’ve owned most of those you mention, expect the m140 which never appealed. Problem with them is as capable as they are they just don’t feel anywhere near as special as the MK2 FRS to look at and drive. The focus has the drama and sound track, it’s an event every time you get in one.
I have a mk 3 red edition. Love it, totally standard. And that's where I lose it a bit. You can't really compare standard against modded for any car. I'm not against modding there are many fantastic examples that perform beautifully, but it does nullify a lot of comparisons for me personally. Awesome car in all its forms.
Another great video, James! -and you are not wrong! I have the exact car here in Australia, only with a pumaspeed package fitted by the local Ford dealer, to up power whilst retaining the factory warranty. This is the first and last Ford that I will ever own. The mk 2 rs is perfection, a true drivers car, and I can now understand why Ford fanatics become so passionate about their cars. I will never sell mine, and of course, rust is not a problem where I live. (I am originally from the uk) I never thought that I would fall for a Ford, but this car is too good. We got 315 in Australia, 150 in ultimate green, which, for me, is the one to have.
As a snap shot in time this RS is the perfect hot hatch Trouble is they never really came down in price, so today for your £20-£30'000 it sits amoung any number of hotter/ newer hatches. If ford had made it 4 wheel drive ,then it would have been an absolute animal.
Achieving those BHP/torque figures will cost at least £10K, maybe more. However, the (2.5, 5 cylinder) engine isn't happy producing the BHP it was designed to produce. The cylinder block, cylinder head and exhaust manifold suffer from extensive warping. The block and head are also open deck (water ways) and suffer with head gasket failures. Nothing that another £10K won't fix. TBH though, I still love the car, it's performance and it's handling. Sweet example btw. Another great warts and all video on a great car! Thumbs up man!
I think you are getting confused with the Mk.3 RS engine. The original Volvo lump was a 2.3 which Ford bored-out to a 2.5, which when combined with the open deck design, led to inadequate re enforcement of the cylinder liners, especially between the bores, which lead to the dreaded warping and eventual cracking of the liners. This was really only an issue in the Mk.2 ST’s and the block was strengthened in the Mk.2 RS. MK.2 ST owners could get around the problem by having shims placed between the bores in the coolant grooves, which provided support to the liners and prevented cracking… I only know about warping and head gasket issues in the Mk.3 RS, which is a completely different engine!
I’ve been following the Evil GT RS focus. All RS cars just look like they are a regular car properly sorted. A fast Ford was the holy grail until the millennium. A cossie still is!
I wouldn't agree... in person they look very different to the standard focus. The changes don't look that big but it adds up to a lot. Looked like a touring car first time I saw it 😅
YB Cosworth engines don't produce anywhere near the torque of these 2.5 inline 5's. Plus you wont have blue or grey smoke bellowing out the exhaust on a MK2 FRS like you would on a Cossie that's had a bleed valve used with a superchip soldered into the ECU.
@@johnmitchell2269different eras of engine, remember the old YB came out on the early end of small, powerful turbo units. The I5 is probably better, but the cosworth did it first
If you have seen the EVILGT RS, you would know that it looked mint, but when they started looking deeper into it, the whole thing was a rust bucket. Every nut and bolt was seized, it was a complete shed and the faults just kept happening over and over as they fixed one thing another went wrong.
That car never looked mint so stop taking out of your a*+*😂😂😂 it had 145000 miles and was dog rough, it still looks rough now it’s be supposedly “restored” look at the close ups, camera do wonderful things to these “RUclips projects” it was a breaker.
@@jimmyjt16 OK forget about the Evil GT Focus. I have worked in the motor trade for many years, and there are obviously different levels of quality for vehicles, and different brands. I wouldn't put Ford in the absolute bottom rung of the ladder, the dogshit on my shoe level, but it's not near the middle either. It's three quarters of the way down the brand list, treading water with Vauxhall, Citroen, Renault, Peugeot, Fiat, etc. Fords are not designed in a good way, especially when it comes to repairs, with many parts seemingly made deliberately more difficult than they should be, to replace, due to the design. I have seen with my own eyes, Fords driven from new in the UK, to 5 or 6 years old, and anything underneath is a nightmare to replace, because every nut and bolt is welded together with corrosion. Just because a Focus RS is a more sporty model (and I'm not knocking it's handling, they are bloody great things), it's still a Ford, and everything will be an absolute PITA to undo if you need to replace anything underneath.
O and just to add, have you heard that Ford has just admitted their 1 litre ecoboost engine 'wet belt' design is yet another reason for engine failures ? They have officially admitted it, the wet belt which is supposed to last 150k miles, almost always disintegrates and the pieces clog up the oil strainer on the pickup, causing oil starvation and engine failure. Yeah great design that is Ford, and this is just another addition to all of the other problems that engine has, for failures, along with the coolant/head gasket failures, amongst the long list. Badly designed cars, which are a nightmare to work on. No matter if it's an RS or low spec model, they are all a bit shyte.
It's a real shame this generation of RS was FWD not AWD as it's the most aggressive looking with the best engine, feel like the FWD aspect is the only thing letting it down a bit
They don’t need AWD at stock power, it would just be extra dead weight which is the enemy in any hot hatch (and it’s not like the Focus wasn’t heavy enough already!), but the AWD from a Volvo S40/V50 is a fairly straight swap.
@@jimmyjt16and it keeps the weight down , even if they made it 4wd to cope with putting the power down I don’t think it would handle anyway near as well as fwd
sorry JM but I think you'll find it's the ford STs that are the "car park menaces" because the RSs are squirrelled away whilst the owners wait for the values to go up.
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It's all about that 2.5, 5 cylinder engine.
And by that you mean The Volvo Modular 5 cylinder.
@klaspeppar5619 yes 😅, but hey it works and works extremely well.
There was a bloke on my road with a tuned white RS and it would pop & bang on the gear change as he drove past. Used to think he was a total chav but also DEEPLY want a go in it
Needs 4wd and another 200hp ..
Isn't it just Volvo C30 rebadge? Same engine, familiar looks, same maker. T5's a bit weaker, but still.
Great to see you enjoying a Mk2 RS. The best modern(ish) day hot hatch Ford has produced imo. Last of its kind in what is fast becoming a very dull market. Love mine, and will never let it go!
I once went on a driving experience day, driving supercars around the Top Gear track. They also had the chance for us to do a hot lap in one of these sat next to one of their drivers and let me tell you, a car like this driven by someone who knows what they are doing was an absolutely incredible experience, particularly when 4 up, smashing the hell out of super cars.
One of those cars I've lusted after since its introduction. Future classic for sure.
Happy to see you we're not too put off by driving my MK3 RS Edition earlier this year to give the MK2 RS a go. MK2 RS looks great and sounds amazing from my experience driving one. Ultimate green looks incredible and the whole car felt a lot more raw than my MK3 RS did. Very pricy for what it is but it will hold its money long term as is the case with all RS models. All the best for 2024 ahead James 🎉
And you got to drive the best one out there….😂
@@CarFocused- Sure did to be fair! I think green is the colour I would go for but yours is so well sorted I wouldn't say no thats for sure 🎉
A Gem of a car 💎
And my favourite colour, as well. 💚
My proudest car moment was parking my 3yr old 1990,XR4i 2WD (rare) next to my Dad’s 1.6L for a photo shoot.
Happy days. ❤️
I wasn't sure that they'd made a 2WD XR4i in the mk2 Sierra, I thought I'd seen one but couldn't recall. Was that a 3-door too?
@@dungareesareforfools I believe they only badged ~1,200 or 1,700 (can’t remember which).
If I remember correct, it does get a mention on the wiki page.
It was a 4 door and should have been 125 bhp and was touted as a GLS in a skirt. 😂
Mine wasn’t messed with and when I had the power checked it was actually 150 bhp.
No chip, no air filter or exhaust.
So did they up the power a little in them?🤔
I kept it standard and owned it for 6 years.
It was radiant red and was well polished. 😉
G606 XNE. ❤️
@BionicRusty I hadn't heard of those, a 2.0 as well - no idea there were 2.0 2WD XR4is! It's a shame, looks like that car is no longer around.
I’ve got a mint mk2 Rs in my garage tucked up. Had it since new and done 70k miles in it. It’s a proper drivers car. Got a Golf R 20yrs to daily.
I've always liked the mk2 focus when I was a kid, especially the rear design with the vertical lights. I always thought, and still think that is all the car one needed.
Never driven one. But I had a mk1 Focus 1.8 turbo diesel and it was great. Mk2 is heavier.
@@michiel5160I own a mk1 focus st170 and from what I’ve been told by mk2 owners who’ve had both they all say the mk1 is much a much more capable car handling wise and overall fun
@@Generalkenobi325 As a mk2 ST owner I have to admit some truth in that. We used to also have a mk1 1.6 LX (not even sports suspension) and on a roundabout it would better the grip of the ST. I'd maybe put some of that down to the ST's standard fit Continentals though, they're really not that great.
@@dungareesareforfools interesting , I think the mk2 being that big bigger was always abit of a fast motorway cruiser so I’m told
Having battled with "stage4" 440bhp ones in my "Stage1" 340bhp GTI I can say that 0-70 isn't the most impressive power range on these, while it's fast the pull from 70 to well into the jail time speeds is insane. That engine is an event in stock form never mind tuned.
They look great over 10 years on, hold money well, and are a fairly dynamic FWD car. Definitely worth the RS badge.
I would hace one of these over an RS3 or Beemer, hooligan car
My dream car, has been since its launch, I am 37 now almost have my mortgage paid off then going to try and save for one for my 40th ❤
What a hero
This is the review I’ve been waiting for!
Pleased you liked it, I was hoping you wouldn’t slate it. I’ve had mine 10 years now & still love it!
I'd have the Mk1 Focus RS for a number of reasons:
1. Looks
2. Size/weight
3. Those O.Z. rims
You forgot reason 4. Because you’ve never actually driven a mk2 RS.
@keithstapleton7805 riiiiight, that's why I gave 3 reasons.
@@klasseact6663 exactly my point, you've never driven one.
@@keithstapleton7805 I guess you know my background. Almost thought you were trying to be a clown to say the Mk1 doesn't drive good🤔
@@klasseact6663 So have you driven one then? No lies.
This is the RS everyone wants, and their used prices reflect that - you can easily get free motoring for a while and get your money back when you resell these (provided you keep it in the condition you bought it rather than, say, wrap it around a tree! 😂) I have seen a tip top condition 23K miles 59 plate RS going for £40,000. Good investment cars. I am a huge fast Ford fan and have never been a "badge snob". I love how relatively analogue and simple they are, I love all manual controls - even a manual handbrake. Cheap to service, relatively cheap to maintain, parts and supplies everywhere for them, etc. I like the blue collar hero vibe, and fast Fords have always been perfect for our roads, huge fun to drive, and amazing handling cars. I turned my nose up at both an AMG A class and a BMW 240i in favour of a fast Ford: because the latter put so much more of a smile on my face. And you can't put a price on that
Totally agree. I like BMWs too, but the trouble with a lot of people into them and Audis etc. is that they're lost in the objective side of things - facts and figures, and what is technically better. Who cares if a fast Audi can get you somewhere in a second less? Hardly anyone buys a performance car because they need to get somewhere the fastest, it's usually to have fun.
@@dungareesareforfools my thoughts entirely, yep. And German cars: with all their launch control and fake looking exhausts! What's that all about? ✊️
I've been waiting for this since the mk3 focus is video. I love these cars, they sound great, handle great and everyone who sees one has a smile on their face
I had the Mk2 ST and my best mate got one of these MK2 RSs. He gave me quite a lot of (kindhearted) shit about it but we both loved both cars. I actually tried to get him to contact you about his but he clesry never got around to it. He still has his whilst I've 'grown up' and bought an RS6. Still, I do really love these 🥰 as always, James, great video!
👏🏻
I did a track day 12 years ago with one & absolutely loved it.
I don’t like Fords……. I’ve owned dozens, petrol, diesel…… V4, V6, V8 and inline 4’s
Some I remember fondly, others were meh……… Don’t like the early basic Focus, never seemed to wear very well……. But, the 2.5 Volvo engined one - I likey 🙂 It makes an achingly gorgeous noise…… that alone, sells it 🥳
Oh I LOOOOVE this generation of Focus RS. Here in Indonesia we never got any RS Ford, but I was lucky enough to have a look at the only Focus RS Mk. 2 here, in the same shade of Ultimate Green (the only correct shade for RS Mk. 2, in my opinion). That particular car got 408hp tune, yet it doesn't seem to have trouble putting them all to the road. It's hilariously fast, and it chirps and whistles and gargles like Michele Mouton's S1 Sport Quattro.
I think your turning!!! Into a Ford fan!! One of us one of us! 😗🤩
God I love these mark IIs. We had one here in south Florida putting around the Cars & Coffee circuit that came into the country on a 2,500 miles/year show car certification. I can’t wait for them to become legal to import 😊
I had a Blue RS MK2 , I loved the look of it, I loved the noise it made, but just couldnt love the ride ( It did have H&R springs fitted so I think that ruined it somewhat ) So sold it and bought a RS MK1 , and love everything about it. I wish I could have kept the MK2 as well , just to look at it and listen to it ... awesome cars.
I'm very much a fan of the 5 cylinder engine, it really is the main event. I think one of the current bargain unsung heroes is the C30 T5 (preferably mk II R-Design with sports suspension option), these cars are less than half the price of a Focus RS, share the 2.5 five cylinder and with a small amount of additonal money can be a cheaper way to 5 pot fun on the same Focus chassis. Just don't tell everyone. 😂
When you said max power..i had a touch off nostalgia...miss them old days.
I genuinely can’t believe this isn’t the states. I’d move to Europe specifically for this car
I loved this engine. Made a brilliant sound
The next big thing in appreciating classics? These things have hardly lost anything in value since they were new. A mate of mine had one from new pre order at £26,000. The thing was worth exactly the same when the finance was up 3 years later
I agreed with all you said for the first 2 minutes about Fords.
I drove all of these on the road and track, and they were ALL super easy to drive, and I'm no speedster!
Great video. I never had chance to own the ST or RS. However I had a 2007 2.0 Zetec which was one of the best handling Cars I've driven.
This is one of my top top dream cars, I've wanted this generation RS since it came out in 2009, great engine, looks stunning, future classic!
Is it green?
Yes. Very.
@richardharrold9736 These are the important questions!
i love this comment thread
Of the fast Fords, I've only had a 15 plate ST TDCi, which I loved, but the XR series remains my true automotive love, with the XR4x4 being the holiest of holies. Nearly bought one when I lived in NZ. I decided getting it back here was too much....biiiiig mistake 20 years on.
Least it would be rot free...I know where a rust free MK1 Escort lying abandoned on a farm in NZ...the benefit of an agri-contracting job down there...things you find,that I might go back for one day
This and the Mark 1 are the ones to own in my book. They both look great
Over my 38 years of driving and owning several Fast Ford’s and loving all of them . Where are Ford Going into oblivion I think . Had an RS Escort 1600 . Two escort Cosworths and the Model you are driving in this Video fabulous car . But hand on heart yes the Focus has more power but handling and chassis the Escort Cosworth is different gravy as long as you keep the cars stock it’s how they were supposed to me not mapped tweaked or messed about with I miss all my previous Ford’s love the brand my last purchase is a Puma St 1.5 with limited slip differential after that goes I’ll probally never purchase a Ford again and I say that with a heavy heart .
Lovely engine. Had a small run in my fiat coupe turbo with one of these going down from scotland to the northeast around ‘09 and it was great fun…😂
I had a fiat coupe 20v turbo before and it's part of the reason I bought a MK2 St, similar noise and performance but in practical hatchback form. Love them.
Awesome engine. I loved my Volvo C30 in rebel blue with polestar tune and Heico bits. Probably the nicest sounding exhaust I have ever owned. Shame the steering felt boaty and manual gearbox was super plasticky/rubbery
Too late now but they handle great once you sort them out. Great cars.
I beg you to drive another mk2 Focus ST. The one you drove is one of the ones that gave it its awful reputation. A pre-facelift that’s been driven through the eBay parts store and had an RS wing put on it. You can have mine any time.
I wish we would’ve got these in the states!!!
The steering feel on fords is always pretty spot on
A very well spoken and put together video, cheers I enjoyed that.
I had one for 7 yrs MR375 version , sold it in April , bought an A35 amg , I'm going to buy another mk2 because i miss it and for £25k you get a great driving machine .
Is the A35 quicker?
No , the RS is modified @ 550nm whereas the A35 is standard @ 400nm .@@u04pww2
It's crazy my green rs iv had for over 8 years and paid good money and it's still worth good money happy days. 👌👌
That turbocharged 5 cylinder engine was a peach.
A classic, something it's successor will never be.
I had 2009 mk2 ST MR290 face-lift for 5 years, it was no RS but still a great drivers car, had to sell it due to muscle wastage in my left leg meant I couldnt push the clutch in anymore. Sad time.😢
17:20 "RS500... you're not getting anymore for that really"
errr... It was in a wrap, had a 15% power increase over the standard Mk2 Focus RS, courtesy of a larger air filter and intercooler, wider exhaust downpipe, and an uprated fuel pump. The engine's software was unique too, calibrated to work more effectively with the upgraded parts
and it got you a ton of money if you garaged it.
So yeah, nothing to speak of really 😆
Thank you Jay, have always enjoyed your content and now you've excellently covered a car that I had the pleasure of owning for 5 years from new. The low profile tyres on the motorway, fuel consumption when pushed and annoying rattle from the spoiler were the only detractors on an otherwise truly lovely car. Best wishes for 2024.
We need to see Jay in gen 2 Mazda 3 MPS!
The Focus chassis and 2.5 litre Volvo lump were always a great combination, with a sadly ruined reputation. Set up right they're actually deceptively quick and nothing short of the newer RS3s comes with that good of a soundtrack in hot hatch form.
What reputation?
@@nakoma5council estate chariots
@@nakoma5 Idiots you see at car meets deafening everyone with their fart bang map.
@@R03333although they’re not as not many council dwelling habitants can afford a 30k motor, unless they’ve stolen one😅
@@jimmyjt16 yeah but the 2.5 is also in the lowly ST's as well, especially common ASBO orange variants
For me the mk1 rs was the last decent looking rs
I can see the values rising but I just don’t think I can get past the looks
I've kept my OG cd player in my mk1 focus .. that Sony one is 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼
I had one of these after a mk1rs which i loved but never got on with the mk2 for some reason they do look great though
What a car. The 5 cylinder. Wide arches and manual box. Soon to be a thing of the past😢
Best RS Focus of the lot.. Ironically Due to it's VOLVO Engine.
I saw one these in Chicago, same color, it was 2012 sometime in the summer. And I always wondered, why.
Remember when came out , at the same time as the megane 3 rs . This focus whas the business.
If Escort and Sierra Cosworth's were front wheel drive, do you think they'd command such values?
Sure, the prices are mostly generated because older people want to buy their childhood dream cars. No matter how good/bad the car is.
Great video as always J!
Hope you had a great Christmas and all the best for 2024🎉
Wish I'd kept mine now. One of the last ones off the line.... Live and learn 😂
I had an 2009 Ultimate Green FRS from new. Brilliant car, a divorce meant it was sold after 4 years. Had so many people knocking on my house front door asking to look at it closer. Great to drive and better than a Mk3 in my opinion. I had this, a Mk1 FRS and an Escort RS Cosworth all at once, what a garage that was. Now doing the EVO and WRX STI dream. But will be coming back to Ford.
I came over from Northern Ireland to England in April to look at that very car..I walked away from it due to the rust on the arches and the ppf was poorly done. It wasn’t too clean inside either. I ended up buying a much better example with less miles for £2k cheaper too.
I am sure this is better in the intagibles department, however on pure paper, something like a Megane RS, Type R or maybe most of all, a Leon Cupra 270-300 seems to be better choices considering pricing?
Or perhaps the left field choice of a M135i/M140i with a good dose of oem M3 parts fitted if you want something a bit more "upscale" and dont mind RWD.
The thing is the fast ford guys want the fast ford, regardless of alternatives
@@R03333 Well, yeah, absolutely. This post was more from the perspective of people looking for used, similar size, similar intended usage hatchbacks regardless of brand.
I’ve owned most of those you mention, expect the m140 which never appealed. Problem with them is as capable as they are they just don’t feel anywhere near as special as the MK2 FRS to look at and drive. The focus has the drama and sound track, it’s an event every time you get in one.
@@jimmyjt16 Yeah, I figured, thats what I meant by "intangibles" in the OP.
Dare I say that these are one of my dream cars
Dream car Full Stop
We're riding with ya.
I have a mk 3 red edition. Love it, totally standard. And that's where I lose it a bit. You can't really compare standard against modded for any car. I'm not against modding there are many fantastic examples that perform beautifully, but it does nullify a lot of comparisons for me personally. Awesome car in all its forms.
best sounding and most characterful engine this side of a full blown supercar or a busso
Id say its the mk2.5 rs as its the updated facelifted mk2
Another great video, James! -and you are not wrong! I have the exact car here in Australia, only with a pumaspeed package fitted by the local Ford dealer, to up power whilst retaining the factory warranty. This is the first and last Ford that I will ever own. The mk 2 rs is perfection, a true drivers car, and I can now understand why Ford fanatics become so passionate about their cars. I will never sell mine, and of course, rust is not a problem where I live. (I am originally from the uk) I never thought that I would fall for a Ford, but this car is too good. We got 315 in Australia, 150 in ultimate green, which, for me, is the one to have.
I will always be sad about how many cool fords we missed in the states.
RS, Rally Sport. ST, Shopping Trolley.
As someone from the states, I've always been jealous of this RS...
As a snap shot in time this RS is the perfect hot hatch
Trouble is they never really came down in price, so today for your £20-£30'000 it sits amoung any number of hotter/ newer hatches.
If ford had made it 4 wheel drive ,then it would have been an absolute animal.
You should make a trip to Australia (or NZ) and sample see what Ford Aus was able to produce (on a tiny budget).
Achieving those BHP/torque figures will cost at least £10K, maybe more. However, the (2.5, 5 cylinder) engine isn't happy producing the BHP it was designed to produce. The cylinder block, cylinder head and exhaust manifold suffer from extensive warping. The block and head are also open deck (water ways) and suffer with head gasket failures. Nothing that another £10K won't fix. TBH though, I still love the car, it's performance and it's handling. Sweet example btw. Another great warts and all video on a great car! Thumbs up man!
I think you are getting confused with the Mk.3 RS engine. The original Volvo lump was a 2.3 which Ford bored-out to a 2.5, which when combined with the open deck design, led to inadequate re enforcement of the cylinder liners, especially between the bores, which lead to the dreaded warping and eventual cracking of the liners. This was really only an issue in the Mk.2 ST’s and the block was strengthened in the Mk.2 RS. MK.2 ST owners could get around the problem by having shims placed between the bores in the coolant grooves, which provided support to the liners and prevented cracking…
I only know about warping and head gasket issues in the Mk.3 RS, which is a completely different engine!
I do stand corrected my friend. My bad!@@OldskoolCatflap
@@catxls1835 No worries 👍🏻
👍@@OldskoolCatflap
Always wanted one of these.
My friend has three Mk1's and another friend has a Mk3. Never even sat in a Mk2.
2.5 5cyl turbo 👌
The first RS I saw on a local mans drive was in that same colour. I did a triple take on my way to school 😂
This car in this colour is my ultimate affordable dream car.
The latest one does 170mph top speed crazy for a Focus
Jay, its a Volvo Engine, if maintained properly + left stock then they can reach 400.000km easy :)
Beautiful car colour suits it perfectly
I’ve been following the Evil GT RS focus. All RS cars just look like they are a regular car properly sorted. A fast Ford was the holy grail until the millennium. A cossie still is!
I wouldn't agree... in person they look very different to the standard focus. The changes don't look that big but it adds up to a lot. Looked like a touring car first time I saw it 😅
YB Cosworth engines don't produce anywhere near the torque of these 2.5 inline 5's. Plus you wont have blue or grey smoke bellowing out the exhaust on a MK2 FRS like you would on a Cossie that's had a bleed valve used with a superchip soldered into the ECU.
@@johnmitchell2269different eras of engine, remember the old YB came out on the early end of small, powerful turbo units. The I5 is probably better, but the cosworth did it first
@slideways8022 well we went back around to that school of thought* with even smaller engines and bigger turbos so who was right aye 😅
Cossy it an old mans car now.
The best hot hatch ever made imo.❤
I had one of these when new, in green, great car. Colour looks a bit washed out on the video, I assume that is just the camera.
The mk2 is the best focus rs..the only ford I would buy
Very happy with my low mileage Focus RS500👍😃
If you have seen the EVILGT RS, you would know that it looked mint, but when they started looking deeper into it, the whole thing was a rust bucket. Every nut and bolt was seized, it was a complete shed and the faults just kept happening over and over as they fixed one thing another went wrong.
That car never looked mint so stop taking out of your a*+*😂😂😂 it had 145000 miles and was dog rough, it still looks rough now it’s be supposedly “restored” look at the close ups, camera do wonderful things to these “RUclips projects” it was a breaker.
@@jimmyjt16 OK forget about the Evil GT Focus.
I have worked in the motor trade for many years, and there are obviously different levels of quality for vehicles, and different brands.
I wouldn't put Ford in the absolute bottom rung of the ladder, the dogshit on my shoe level, but it's not near the middle either. It's three quarters of the way down the brand list, treading water with Vauxhall, Citroen, Renault, Peugeot, Fiat, etc.
Fords are not designed in a good way, especially when it comes to repairs, with many parts seemingly made deliberately more difficult than they should be, to replace, due to the design.
I have seen with my own eyes, Fords driven from new in the UK, to 5 or 6 years old, and anything underneath is a nightmare to replace, because every nut and bolt is welded together with corrosion.
Just because a Focus RS is a more sporty model (and I'm not knocking it's handling, they are bloody great things), it's still a Ford, and everything will be an absolute PITA to undo if you need to replace anything underneath.
O and just to add, have you heard that Ford has just admitted their 1 litre ecoboost engine 'wet belt' design is yet another reason for engine failures ?
They have officially admitted it, the wet belt which is supposed to last 150k miles, almost always disintegrates and the pieces clog up the oil strainer on the pickup, causing oil starvation and engine failure.
Yeah great design that is Ford, and this is just another addition to all of the other problems that engine has, for failures, along with the coolant/head gasket failures, amongst the long list.
Badly designed cars, which are a nightmare to work on.
No matter if it's an RS or low spec model, they are all a bit shyte.
I had a 2009 st3, dreamscienced to about 320hp. The thing was silly daft! Loved it! One of the main reasons I sold it was because of theft paranoia 🙄😂
That's what I've got just now, such a good car to drive, always puts a smile on my face.
Pity your had to go up to the s60r which is much larger to get AWD with this power train!
Couldn't you get AWD I the V50 It was called a T5
@@chrishart8548 that's true but that was 227hp st spec
The RS outhandles a s60r without braking a sweat.
I’ve got a question I have a standard 2003 jaguar XK8 which one’s better the focus RS or the Jag
Had two white ones a 9 plate ,then a 11 plate with all the extras ,
It's a real shame this generation of RS was FWD not AWD as it's the most aggressive looking with the best engine, feel like the FWD aspect is the only thing letting it down a bit
I own one and AWD would’ve diluted it. FWD makes it extremely fun to drive.
They don’t need AWD at stock power, it would just be extra dead weight which is the enemy in any hot hatch (and it’s not like the Focus wasn’t heavy enough already!), but the AWD from a Volvo S40/V50 is a fairly straight swap.
@@jimmyjt16and it keeps the weight down , even if they made it 4wd to cope with putting the power down I don’t think it would handle anyway near as well as fwd
I want a MK2 Focus RS as my daily driver.
So how would you rank the performance Focus' [Foci?]?
sorry JM but I think you'll find it's the ford STs that are the "car park menaces" because the RSs are squirrelled away whilst the owners wait for the values to go up.
Fabulous car! Next time... take the car to deserted twisty roads and push it hard, you will be astonished.
"totally standard, really..." Classic!!!
The Mk2 rs is one of the best hot hatches ever made, this will be like the cosworths in a few years time, un buyable, so get one while you can …
Hi jay , any future review on a porsche dakar......