I love how all the Sti owners make assumptions about this car having never driven it, then go to the comment section to get their assumptions affirmed by other Sti owners who've never driven it.
I own a Subaru Legacy GT and STi owners are some of the most insecure people I've met in terms of their car lol. The Focus RS can put up a really good fight against the STi and can probably even win a head-to-head race. The Focus has won me over the last few years. Subaru has been slacking in my opinion with the STi ever since Mitsubishi stopped manufacturing the Evo. I'd like to drive one of these bad boys and get a firsthand experience. I've heard the Focus is a car that you need to experience to understand.
Dunkaccino25 Agreed, Subaru owners can be just as bad as Mustang/Camaro/Corvette guys in terms of defensive positions and trolling. I've always appreciated when a car comes out that challenges the traditional market leader. Subaru is letting the Sti (and Brz) rot on the vine... they need a good kick in the pants or they'll end up like Scion.
Agreed, the STI is an awesome machine, but now it's been neglected by Subaru and it's fallen too far behind the opposition, it feels (just a little bit) out of date. Hopefully they give it a proper refresh with a new engine, up to date interior and modern turbo tech soon - then it'll be competitive again.
Yeah it's fucked up, the Mustang can go faster but the gearing doesn't allow it if I'm not mistaken. Also if I'm not mistaken the current GT is also around the same top speed as this?
The Focus RS feels a lot more comprehensive than the Impreza STI. A much more modern/powerful powertrain, playful AWD & is drift-capable. I also the Focus is a better overall car than the Impreza.
Borntokirune Implying a EJ25 won't have gasket heads or ringland failures before 70k miles. Make fun of Fords all you want, but their engines are a strong suit.
+Trades46 I don't know if you're aware or not but the engine in the focus rs is the same engine in the Eco mustang. And that engine has been anything but reliable. Ppl have traded it in for the v6 mustang. Heck look at wrxfan here, he traded it in for a coyote. Hope ford fixed all the issues with that motor
Also, subaru people trying to pat each other on the back. Get over it. The RS is the new benchmark, legit beating down M2's, AMG 45s, and RS3's (yes R) on road courses. The STI is still a fun car but that boat anchor EJ25 is needing to be replaced, which, you should thank Ford for that, as now I'm sure this will force Subaru to finally put a FA/FB variant into one soon. IN BEFORE the car is at it's limit. Stage 1 tunes, no bolt ons, 340whp/380ftlb, E30 pushing over 370whp. Many tuners like Adam Tuned, Mountune, Livernois, prove this. Now AMS is on board with this and have been legit excited for it. The car is legit, it's the real deal, and it's the new bench mark for these types of cars.
That limp mode hasn't applied to outside of absurd ambient temps (Nevada levels) really since they tweaked it after initial testing. Follow up and do research before speaking. Depending on test, it's faster than a STI, faster than a manual Golf R, and loses to a PDK in a drag which who cares. The car is meant for handling, and it's the standard now for this segment of car, pretty unanimous from all types of reviewers from journalists to professional drivers, which means more than you or my own opinion. Deal with it. Be happy with your subie or golf, they're still fun cars and the RS being the better car won't diminish their performance. Maybe VW and especially subaru will step up their game because of it. You should thank Ford.
Outdoor Layne The Golf R and STI get walked on road courses by the RS. Deal with it. And I already stated the excessively high ambient temps being the only times the RDU disables in very limited cases, and yes, I'm on FocusRS.org, and I own a RS coming from an Evo and Scoobie, you Mook. There's a reason this car is getting the hype it has, it lives up to it's name. It's labeled as the benchmark for a reason. You VAG/Subie fans need to take it on the chin, and enjoy your cars. This car is just better and faster around the track, it's not instantly reducing the performance and fun you had in your car.
I have a 2013 STI and this car is long overdue. Glad to see more options for AWD enthusiast. I'm sad about the eVo no longer being in production. I appreciate the review not so much in terms of RS vs STI, but the RS on its own for the most part.
Its not piped through the speakers. There is an actual tube that runs from the intake into the fire wall, providing a better intake sound inside the cabin.
Veryy happy to see a Focus RS review on the channel. :) You surprise me sometimes. With this ride, the Challenger Hellcat, 2015 STi, Cayman GT4 .. all of these caught me by huge surprise. You get a chance to drive them before many others do, it's fair to say many people like you. Great work, enjoyed the review.
Thanks! Yeah sometimes I get really lucky where one of the first owners of a new car immediately offers it for me to review which makes videos like this possible. Not too many people in the US have reviewed this so far so I felt pretty lucky to be able to review it.
What's the point of having 60 more hp than an Evo but the same 0-60? I know 0-60 isn't only based on horsepower but still... How heavy is this car then?
I'd really like to drive one of these. I'm not loving the interior or the exterior, but the performance is my real interest. I don't think its enough to release my interest in my STI, but I hope a friend buys one so we can cruise around together!
your kidding about the interior right? Subaru does very cheap cabin the focus RS has a much nicer interior. as far as exterior looks the sti looks dated while the RS looks more modern and sexier. plus it's a hatch take that subie
NOFATCHICK1 I prefer the interior of the Subaru too. Metal knobs for climate controls, more comfortable seating position, cooler gauges, more storage space, roomier backseat, etc.
NOFATCHICK1 Depends what generation STI you are used to as well. I agree that Subaru is not known for interior quality, but the most recent generation is way better interior wise than any of the previous. I had a 2012 before my 2016 and the 2016 has really stepped it up. Still not audi quality but much better than before. Not knocking the Focus, I just don't like the layout as much as my current STI.
The smile on his face says it all. That's what Fast Fords do. We don't buy them for the plush interiors or the comfort, we buy them for the smile it puts on your face and the feel of the drive. It makes you feel connected to the road.
You'll find that the Focus RS is very comparable in performance to a V8. What about the car seems ricey or childish? Is it just the turbo? These are fantastic for people who want performance and have a family car. Or is everyone not aloud to have fun their way?
I bought a 2018 RS 6 months ago with only 15k miles. I love it! I never thought I would find anything more enjoyable than my Srt4. Still have the srt4 as well. Both amazing fun cars. My first was a 1983 rabbit GTI back in the 80s. The Srt4 filled that need. The RS is like the most improved version of both of these predecessors.
I hate the dash. I want to get it but 10k markup he in california also sucks. love this car looks good outside and nice power but I can't stand the dash interior
Have bought a magnetic RS which arrives into Sydney in May and I have been compulsively watching RS reviews like a total fanboy for 12 months now. This review is by far my favourite and I only hope that my RS is close to as awesome as it appears here.
*Its always great to see you driving performance-orientated cars Matt. If you do come to Europe, you should try out the MK2 Focus RSs. They have a less conservative design, with 3 doors and awesome 5 cylinder turbocharged engine shared with volvos. Although I'm more of a handling guy than a horsepower-junkie, I really do think that Subaru needs to wake up with their STI. In Europe in the early 2000s, the EP3 Civic Type R, MK 4 Golf R32s, MK1 Focus RSs, E87 BMW 130i hatchback, Audi S3s had performance to rival the WRX (being the bug eye or blob eye) because they had less than 260hp and having less aggressive differentials or AWD. The EVOs and STIs of the day were at a performance segment above those cars as they had 280hp+, more differentials and AWD drivetrain. Now though, the modern day equivalent rivals being the FK2 Civic Type R, MK7 Golf R, M140i, Focus RS, A45 AMGs have the same, if not more performance than the current STI. If anything, the STI should have around 380~400hp in order to make it stand out from those (formerly lower) competitors.*
***** I'm not sure if Citroens have cars that can match performance of a Mitsubishi EVO/Subaru STI but I wouldn't be surprised if the Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy-R and Peugeot RCZ R could do so.
I'll take the new ecoboost over the volvo's 5cyl. Mostly because of the better internals. Don't get me wrong the b5234t volvo motor sure is nice and torque-y. But the newer ford engines are so nice.
Honestly I think he tried to mash it from 3rd or 4th. He's usually coming from almost stopped out of a turn so he should have either done that or down shifted, totally negated the pull and torque he would have gotten from the AWD system.
Starts at 36k? Negative. Starts at 42K and then a 10k mark up. Its a great car but ridiculously priced at this point in time. 52k for this? These dealers are killing it..
Dude I went to the ford dealer and tried to see how much it would be to get into one of these and the salesman told me it would be about 1100 a month car payment. I straight up told him he was stupid if he thought I was going to pay that much for a ford lol. I can get a m4 coupe lease for less than that
bbjgarcia Exactly. They want 5-10k on top of the already marked up car. The funny thing is that people are actually paying that. Every dealership Ive went to this past week has said they sold them for 8k markup and 10k markup. One of the dealers had one for a 20k mark up.. I don't know if he didn't know what he was talking about but that's what he told me. Doesn't look like ill be getting one anytime soon.
Focus rs 51 k and golf r dsg 56 k Australia . I see people comparing the price of a golf r manual to a focus rs . golf r dsg is 5k more than a rs focus in Australia
If I could chose the price, I would only pay $26,500 for it. It should be cheaper than the base model Mustang, in my opinion. (Note: Not sure what the base model Mustang's price is)
Have driven Golf 7R and its a better daiy driver than Focus RS, but if U r the kind of person who take cars to race tracks, dont even think of looking into VW, the Ford nails it
***** you debadge it and put overlays on the white part of the tailights and it looks really good... While this... Well looks like a regular focus.... Which is fugly
I saw one two days ago and I live in an area where Lamborghini's and Ferrari's are a normal thing to see. Super rare car. Then again I drive a Hyundai Veloster Rally edition and I've only seen mine :)
I spotted one last week it was in that dark grey color. Looked nice. Also there is a wild gt 350 that I see parked but never driven also in dark grey lol
The " piping in through the speakers" is actually a valve opening up in a pipe connected from the engine to the cabin- so it's technically real engine noise
Thanks for the video! I'm test driving one next month when my local dealer gets one in... it's a bit out of my price range, but I daily an ST and it'll be fun comparing the different dynamics on a familiar platform. Awesome.
I love my Focus Rs . I’m a motorcycle guy at heart , but if you must drive a car then this thing gives me my fix nicely. I’ve done 3 track days in it and it was great .
PR1NCETD0T no. RS has 50 lbs more of torque. Don’t be fooled. The rs is more of an animal than the sti which is outdated and needs a major update to the engine.
Shenanigans. You've repeatedly said that the fords pipe sound in through the speakers. Thats not what the "sound symposer" does at all. The speakers are in no way connected to the interior sounds of the cabin. An easy test would be to disconnect the speakers. Until you can prove that any engine noises are going through the speakers, you're just spreading misinformation (like most the rest of the internet).
Good one bro. You obviously cared enough to reply. The "engine noise piped through speakers" thing implies that the audio is somehow synthetic. The internet gets pretty butthurt about synthetic engine noises and it is a turn off for a lot of people. Matt is a reviewer so people use his videos as a source of information, and him providing provably false information doesn't look good for him, and it does a disservice to people who are using his reviews.
+Locke99GS Most people have accepted that exhaust noise will be tampered with these days. I don't think that alone would stop anyone from buying an M4 or an RS. Most of the people who complain, like you said, are on the internet and most likely can't afford it buy it in the first place.
You're right. The 2.3 EcoBoost in the Mustang and the Focus RS apparently uses Ford's "Active Noise Control" system, vs the EcoBoost's in the ST's which use just the symposer without electronic augmentation.
Great review as always! I have an ST but want the RS soooooo bad! FYI the induction noise is piped in behind the fire wall and NOT through the speakers. Hope u get your Stang back soon!
You do not understand the demographics for this car. It's a car for the car enthusiast. 99% of people would rather buy a Benz or Lexus for that money; but this car is made for that 1% of people who like to hoon their cars. This car is special and the demand significantly exceeds the supply. Every driving enthusiast wants one.
daphenom45 to each there on, im definitely not a brand whore since i dont like any Germans at all. is just an insult to me 36k for this focus, but hey if u like it go for it.
I have test driven the Fiesta ST, Focus ST as well as the Focus RS. The Focus ST is fast and powerful, but the weight does a number on the overall thrill factor of the ride. The RS is stupid-fast, but again, the heavy weight and the AWD system make the ride rather composed. The Fiesta ST is incredibly fun to drive, and makes you giggle like a clown. It is not as fast the Focus ST and the RS, but driving them back to back in town, it may legitimately make you think it is the fastest. The light weight, small engine, fast-spooling turbo and the marvelous TVC system make the car **feel** very fast. Every sharp turn you make makes you feel like a rally hero!
You are smiling a lot, I can tell you are really enjoying it. Good for you man. :) I want to get my own but I'm waiting for the Type R to come out next year so I can do a side-by-side comparison before I decide which one to get.
i own a 2016 MK7 Golf R running stock. I test drive this car soon and give my opinion on it. But given that its main ace card is "drift mode", i doubt it has anything more to offer than the R. I also keep hearing bad things about its interior and people saying it produces less BHP than fords claim. We shall see when i get my hands on it and do a proper no BS assessment
Every time I was a Focus RS review, the very first thing that's mentioned are the high bolstered seats & seating position w/ the pedals. That's probably why there's so many of these things for sale.
Then you would have a 2 seater severely dated impractical Datsun. No comparison between the 2 in terms of performance and even practicality. Nissan 370z skid pad = 0.90g. Ford Focus RS skid pad = 0.98g. Nissan 370z 0-60mph = 5.1 seconds. Ford Focus RS 0-60mph = 4.7. I could go on... There is a reason a 370z costs much less haha
Doesn't say anything to me.. Nissan make cheap junk. Have they ever beat Ferrari at LeMans twice? Have they ever won a WRC title? No.. They built the GTR, that is it. Which isn't even impressive anymore. The facts I've stated above are enough to prove the Focus RS, and Ford period are a superior car manufacturer. Sorry.
After Reading all these comments want to tell you the reality of the RS.. i bought one recently 2017 fully loaded even with sunroof pretty cool and it is Hot black..1 problem it does not go 165 i have only been able to get it to 147 twice 148 once it struggles to get there. I recently did tune the car to see if it was governed. I will know soon if it can hit 165 soon.
ohplezz probably even sooner than that. sti ej has been running 10 plus years this is a car to wait on a year or two and see how many recalls/issues come up
Did you have a window open during this video? There was a lot of interior noise. I noticed the same thing in Matt Farah's video on his RS, so I'm wondering if interior noise is just a thing one must deal with when owning a Focus. Also, why does the RS sound like a Subaru in lower revs? Did they give it unequal length headers or something?
Hmmmm what has gone wrong in the last 4 years with my f30? Oh shit I had to put fuel in it😂😂😂 the thing has been a full out race car for 4 years. Do that with your ford😅
I have been waiting four months for my rs! Dealer just called...its here! Cant wait to do my first video on my beautiful black focus! So many bad to the bone hot hatch's these days. I like the sti, Honda civic r, vw golf r. but the focus just seemed right for me.
Plan to buy the 2017 wrx sti, but if I was to purchase the rs I would definitely change the interior (mainly gauges and possibly button layout) It has the performance but I think it lacks the entire owner's package
my only problem with the RS is I cant figure out which color I want .
email me when you're ready to get one :)
my job is selling them for sticker, no mark up.
Brendon Thomas where you located at
Brendon Thomas where you located at
Brendon Thomas do you sell a 1986 Ford RS200
Oof
I love how all the Sti owners make assumptions about this car having never driven it, then go to the comment section to get their assumptions affirmed by other Sti owners who've never driven it.
*every RUclips vid about any car with other competitors there just to make themselves feel better about their cars; its so annoying lol
daphenom45 That too!
I own a Subaru Legacy GT and STi owners are some of the most insecure people I've met in terms of their car lol. The Focus RS can put up a really good fight against the STi and can probably even win a head-to-head race. The Focus has won me over the last few years. Subaru has been slacking in my opinion with the STi ever since Mitsubishi stopped manufacturing the Evo. I'd like to drive one of these bad boys and get a firsthand experience. I've heard the Focus is a car that you need to experience to understand.
Dunkaccino25 Agreed, Subaru owners can be just as bad as Mustang/Camaro/Corvette guys in terms of defensive positions and trolling. I've always appreciated when a car comes out that challenges the traditional market leader. Subaru is letting the Sti (and Brz) rot on the vine... they need a good kick in the pants or they'll end up like Scion.
Agreed, the STI is an awesome machine, but now it's been neglected by Subaru and it's fallen too far behind the opposition, it feels (just a little bit) out of date. Hopefully they give it a proper refresh with a new engine, up to date interior and modern turbo tech soon - then it'll be competitive again.
Matt always does 1-3 pulls but in this video he legit does like 20 pulls. Matt loves the focus RS! Hell yeah
Not thrilled that a Focus has a higher top speed than my 2011 Mustang GT.
get you a new GT My friend just bought a 2016. Man they are nice,
who cares, when are you going to use top speed anyway?
Should've waited one more year 😜
Yeah it's fucked up, the Mustang can go faster but the gearing doesn't allow it if I'm not mistaken. Also if I'm not mistaken the current GT is also around the same top speed as this?
But it's nowhere near as quick on the 0-100people
The Focus RS feels a lot more comprehensive than the Impreza STI. A much more modern/powerful powertrain, playful AWD & is drift-capable. I also the Focus is a better overall car than the Impreza.
till the engine blows up at 70,000
Borntokirune
Implying a EJ25 won't have gasket heads or ringland failures before 70k miles. Make fun of Fords all you want, but their engines are a strong suit.
Yeah Ford engines have always been some of the most reliable out there.
+Borntokirune You get an sti and you'll be lucky if it even makes it to 70k stock or tuned
+Trades46 I don't know if you're aware or not but the engine in the focus rs is the same engine in the Eco mustang. And that engine has been anything but reliable. Ppl have traded it in for the v6 mustang. Heck look at wrxfan here, he traded it in for a coyote. Hope ford fixed all the issues with that motor
Also, subaru people trying to pat each other on the back. Get over it. The RS is the new benchmark, legit beating down M2's, AMG 45s, and RS3's (yes R) on road courses. The STI is still a fun car but that boat anchor EJ25 is needing to be replaced, which, you should thank Ford for that, as now I'm sure this will force Subaru to finally put a FA/FB variant into one soon.
IN BEFORE the car is at it's limit. Stage 1 tunes, no bolt ons, 340whp/380ftlb, E30 pushing over 370whp. Many tuners like Adam Tuned, Mountune, Livernois, prove this. Now AMS is on board with this and have been legit excited for it.
The car is legit, it's the real deal, and it's the new bench mark for these types of cars.
M2 is faster on track
Sorry, they go back and forth depending the track, weather, driver. So there's that. Statement stands.
That limp mode hasn't applied to outside of absurd ambient temps (Nevada levels) really since they tweaked it after initial testing. Follow up and do research before speaking. Depending on test, it's faster than a STI, faster than a manual Golf R, and loses to a PDK in a drag which who cares. The car is meant for handling, and it's the standard now for this segment of car, pretty unanimous from all types of reviewers from journalists to professional drivers, which means more than you or my own opinion. Deal with it.
Be happy with your subie or golf, they're still fun cars and the RS being the better car won't diminish their performance. Maybe VW and especially subaru will step up their game because of it. You should thank Ford.
HEY fucker, go enjoy your STI buddy
Outdoor Layne The Golf R and STI get walked on road courses by the RS. Deal with it. And I already stated the excessively high ambient temps being the only times the RDU disables in very limited cases, and yes, I'm on FocusRS.org, and I own a RS coming from an Evo and Scoobie, you Mook.
There's a reason this car is getting the hype it has, it lives up to it's name. It's labeled as the benchmark for a reason. You VAG/Subie fans need to take it on the chin, and enjoy your cars. This car is just better and faster around the track, it's not instantly reducing the performance and fun you had in your car.
Bastard. Putting the ad right when he's bout to accelerate
😂😂😂😂
I have a 2013 STI and this car is long overdue. Glad to see more options for AWD enthusiast. I'm sad about the eVo no longer being in production. I appreciate the review not so much in terms of RS vs STI, but the RS on its own for the most part.
You are an intelligent man Juan. Thanks for the level headed comment. Scanning these comment boards is exhausting.
Subaru NEEDS to bring back the hatch for the WRX/STi to compete with this.
Not powerful enough IMO. Power numbers in the STi haven't changed in like 10 years if I'm not mistaken
That is true. The one place Subaru lacks in is power.
Zachary Cromlish Yeah I just wish they'd give it a bump in power. 300 just isn't cutting it anymore
I mean hell, the BRZ is only pushing 200. I know it's not meant for straight line speed, but that's pretty under powered in my opinion.
Zachary Cromlish yeah exactly
Squinty eyed and smiling, "Alright so lets turn onto this back road right here". Best part of every review.
I love it when you review fast cars because of the acceleration reactions
What I like most about it is that it looks so much different. An ST just looks like a regular Focus but with upgraded wheels.
"Let's turn onto this straight road here and see how it does..." - *RUclips cuts to commercial* - these damn ads are driving me nuts!! lol
I AM IN LOVE WITH THE INTRO! I think this was one of your best reviews Matt. great job!
Thank you!!
agreed!
Pretty darn impressive, 350 hp off the shelf out of a 2.3, sweet!
whats more impressive is cob stage 1 gett 400 ft lbs torque
Thing must get up with authority.
You don't know how long I've been waiting for your review on the RS
Piping in exhaust sounds through the speakers is really a dumb thing to do, I don't get why you need that!
I agree with you on that Pedro. Keep it all real. No fake
John D
Poke a hole in the muffler, if you must hear your exhaust, it's a lot cheaper.
i once took my tire tool and hollowed out my catalytic converter. Back in the old days. Yehaaa
Its not piped through the speakers. There is an actual tube that runs from the intake into the fire wall, providing a better intake sound inside the cabin.
On the ST, yes, piped through the firewall, on the RS, through the speakers.
my mate has one in grey its stunning and handling is awesome, STUNNING piece of kit!
Veryy happy to see a Focus RS review on the channel. :) You surprise me sometimes. With this ride, the Challenger Hellcat, 2015 STi, Cayman GT4 .. all of these caught me by huge surprise. You get a chance to drive them before many others do, it's fair to say many people like you. Great work, enjoyed the review.
Thanks! Yeah sometimes I get really lucky where one of the first owners of a new car immediately offers it for me to review which makes videos like this possible. Not too many people in the US have reviewed this so far so I felt pretty lucky to be able to review it.
What's the point of having 60 more hp than an Evo but the same 0-60?
I know 0-60 isn't only based on horsepower but still... How heavy is this car then?
Well not only that but the Golf R with the DSG is faster to 60 than this.
Cost more than the focus rs
Is more luxury aswel
+FivepointohJerry try focus rs manual vs golf r manual. So imagine the rs with a dsg.
Better handling
I'd really like to drive one of these. I'm not loving the interior or the exterior, but the performance is my real interest. I don't think its enough to release my interest in my STI, but I hope a friend buys one so we can cruise around together!
Yeah, they're nice but I think I'd rather have the STI too.
your kidding about the interior right? Subaru does very cheap cabin the focus RS has a much nicer interior. as far as exterior looks the sti looks dated while the RS looks more modern and sexier. plus it's a hatch take that subie
NOFATCHICK1 I prefer the interior of the Subaru too. Metal knobs for climate controls, more comfortable seating position, cooler gauges, more storage space, roomier backseat, etc.
+subaruwrxfan well I'll be damn I was never much of a fan of the interior in my cousins sti, but I've always liked the interior in the focus.
NOFATCHICK1 Depends what generation STI you are used to as well. I agree that Subaru is not known for interior quality, but the most recent generation is way better interior wise than any of the previous. I had a 2012 before my 2016 and the 2016 has really stepped it up. Still not audi quality but much better than before. Not knocking the Focus, I just don't like the layout as much as my current STI.
The smile on his face says it all. That's what Fast Fords do. We don't buy them for the plush interiors or the comfort, we buy them for the smile it puts on your face and the feel of the drive. It makes you feel connected to the road.
I love this!!! Seeing how excited you get just makes me want to buy one! Love how direct this review is... GREAT JOB!
i now have my focus rs ordered, watched this video so many times, had a test drive myself, such a fun car!! sheer joy
I've been waiting for this thing forever.
This kid never had a bad review. He's impressed with everything. Lol
Hes not a kid 😅😅
He didnt really get as giddy as usual when he hit the gas. Idk, doesnt seem like the cars worth my money
Lmao i was thinking the same thing
have to agree. i think after you drive a 5.0/5.2 naturally aspirated mighty V8, these ricer 4 cylinder-turbo motors may seem too childish.
after you drive gtrs,amgs,and m models everything else kinda falls flat (I'm assuming)
You'll find that the Focus RS is very comparable in performance to a V8. What about the car seems ricey or childish? Is it just the turbo? These are fantastic for people who want performance and have a family car. Or is everyone not aloud to have fun their way?
Im thinking because he had the Ecoboost and he mentioned how it feels like it, so he's probably used to the power.
I bought a 2018 RS 6 months ago with only 15k miles. I love it! I never thought I would find anything more enjoyable than my Srt4. Still have the srt4 as well. Both amazing fun cars. My first was a 1983 rabbit GTI back in the 80s. The Srt4 filled that need. The RS is like the most improved version of both of these predecessors.
Awesome review Matt! When are you reviewing a G37/Q60? Really looking forward to it!
never.. just look at the other reviews other ppl have done on the car
I just want to know what he thinks about it
Ik
I will be reviewing a G37 Coupe next month hopefully. Infiniti will hopefully be sending me the new Q60 once they start arriving at dealers.
subaruwrxfan :O
i can tell you really like this car by that big ass smile on your face. you are ear to ear the whole time you are driving.
I hate the dash. I want to get it but 10k markup he in california also sucks. love this car looks good outside and nice power but I can't stand the dash interior
jest look at how much fun this guy is having, that's the best part of the review !
I've always wondered were Stewart from MadTV went... good to see you back
nawmean noooooooow! I don’t want to go to school, school is bad. They smell.
nawmean same clothing also 😂😂😂
Michael B look what I could do lol 😂
Have bought a magnetic RS which arrives into Sydney in May and I have been compulsively watching RS reviews like a total fanboy for 12 months now. This review is by far my favourite and I only hope that my RS is close to as awesome as it appears here.
+subaruwrxfan When are you gonna do a Shelby GT350 review buddy?!
+NoseNuggets87 I'll be posting one next week!
Awesome cant wait! You do a really good job on your reviews!
R or regular?
Thank you!
+DevPack it's the regular.
Looks so badass in black. Those wheels are way better than the "premium" webby looking wheels.
*Its always great to see you driving performance-orientated cars Matt. If you do come to Europe, you should try out the MK2 Focus RSs. They have a less conservative design, with 3 doors and awesome 5 cylinder turbocharged engine shared with volvos. Although I'm more of a handling guy than a horsepower-junkie, I really do think that Subaru needs to wake up with their STI. In Europe in the early 2000s, the EP3 Civic Type R, MK 4 Golf R32s, MK1 Focus RSs, E87 BMW 130i hatchback, Audi S3s had performance to rival the WRX (being the bug eye or blob eye) because they had less than 260hp and having less aggressive differentials or AWD. The EVOs and STIs of the day were at a performance segment above those cars as they had 280hp+, more differentials and AWD drivetrain. Now though, the modern day equivalent rivals being the FK2 Civic Type R, MK7 Golf R, M140i, Focus RS, A45 AMGs have the same, if not more performance than the current STI. If anything, the STI should have around 380~400hp in order to make it stand out from those (formerly lower) competitors.*
***** I'm not sure if Citroens have cars that can match performance of a Mitsubishi EVO/Subaru STI but I wouldn't be surprised if the Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy-R and Peugeot RCZ R could do so.
I'll take the new ecoboost over the volvo's 5cyl. Mostly because of the better internals. Don't get me wrong the b5234t volvo motor sure is nice and torque-y. But the newer ford engines are so nice.
Back when I first heard about this car the first review that I couldn't wait for was yours thanks.
Tbh you don't seem as excited as when you get on other cars. Great review nevertheless.
I think he just got off a GT350 so that has to do with that
I've noticed the same thing..he certainly wasn't that much excited with the RS..good review though..
Honestly I think he tried to mash it from 3rd or 4th. He's usually coming from almost stopped out of a turn so he should have either done that or down shifted, totally negated the pull and torque he would have gotten from the AWD system.
Idk but the review felt rush, for me
That's a good thing since he gets as giddy as a little girl.
The car I've been waiting for since it was announced !!! Thank you
Starts at 36k? Negative. Starts at 42K and then a 10k mark up. Its a great car but ridiculously priced at this point in time. 52k for this? These dealers are killing it..
Dude I went to the ford dealer and tried to see how much it would be to get into one of these and the salesman told me it would be about 1100 a month car payment. I straight up told him he was stupid if he thought I was going to pay that much for a ford lol. I can get a m4 coupe lease for less than that
bbjgarcia
Exactly. They want 5-10k on top of the already marked up car. The funny thing is that people are actually paying that. Every dealership Ive went to this past week has said they sold them for 8k markup and 10k markup. One of the dealers had one for a 20k mark up.. I don't know if he didn't know what he was talking about but that's what he told me. Doesn't look like ill be getting one anytime soon.
Focus rs 51 k and golf r dsg 56 k Australia . I see people comparing the price of a golf r manual to a focus rs . golf r dsg is 5k more than a rs focus in Australia
You can find these at MSRP.
If I could chose the price, I would only pay $26,500 for it. It should be cheaper than the base model Mustang, in my opinion. (Note: Not sure what the base model Mustang's price is)
man you really are loving this car the smile on your face while driving is priceless!
The Focus RS looks pretty good and all . . . but you have yet to drive an MK7 Golf R or an Audi S3 !
I still really wanna review both of those!
Look forward to it ! I really like your reviews , keep up the good work!
Fk driveless cars auto suck balls
Have driven Golf 7R and its a better daiy driver than Focus RS, but if U r the kind of person who take cars to race tracks, dont even think of looking into VW, the Ford nails it
stfu
I owned a 2014 Focus hatch ajd my brother had a 14 Focus ST. We are both Subaru lovers (RSTi
Love everything about it.... Just hate the back of th car with a passion... Only reason I'm leaning towards leading a wrx
Leasing*
***** you debadge it and put overlays on the white part of the tailights and it looks really good... While this... Well looks like a regular focus.... Which is fugly
Have you taken a look at a Golf R mate?
Reginald R the gf don't like golfs
+comptoncity2 i'd urge you to drive one and make a decision later.
Nice review Matt. New intro is much better than the last!
I've seen a total of.....ONE of these on the road and it had 30 day tags on it.
me too. In that bright blue color.
Ryan Fiore yup
I saw one two days ago and I live in an area where Lamborghini's and Ferrari's are a normal thing to see. Super rare car. Then again I drive a Hyundai Veloster Rally edition and I've only seen mine :)
Lance Haynes lol. I live I. Cleveland, Ohio. We almost never see those exotic cars, our roads are horrible. I didn't even know they're on sell yet.
I spotted one last week it was in that dark grey color. Looked nice. Also there is a wild gt 350 that I see parked but never driven also in dark grey lol
The quality of this video was way beyond some of your older stuff. Wicked car aside, great job man!
Pretty sure he says almost the same thing about every single car
A lot of cars are the same shit lol
The " piping in through the speakers" is actually a valve opening up in a pipe connected from the engine to the cabin- so it's technically real engine noise
There is a dead moth in the grill lol Might have wanted to check that out before starting the video
I don’t think we will see Ford ever bring anything quite like this to this country again. This is a truly iconic car.
Dude looks like one of the Hardly boys from southpark
Daniel Lechner , I've got a raging clue coming from my trunk.
i bought a 2015 fiesta st because of you and now im gonna get one of these. thanks for these videos aye
"Its properly quick!"
Thanks for the video! I'm test driving one next month when my local dealer gets one in... it's a bit out of my price range, but I daily an ST and it'll be fun comparing the different dynamics on a familiar platform. Awesome.
I like Every time when he says "let's turn to this back road and see how it handles" in all his videos.😂😂
It's awesome how excited you get when accelerating in all these cars.
350 hp, imagine the euro version with 450???
I love my Focus Rs . I’m a motorcycle guy at heart , but if you must drive a car then this thing gives me my fix nicely. I’ve done 3 track days in it and it was great .
Kinda funny how this car has 45 more hp than the STI yet they both feel like they have the same power with roughly the same 0-60 time.
Haven't looked at dyno sheets of either one but im going to guess they have the same amount of torque then?
PR1NCETD0T no. RS has 50 lbs more of torque. Don’t be fooled. The rs is more of an animal than the sti which is outdated and needs a major update to the engine.
I'm loving my new 2017 Ford Fusion sport🙌🏻
Looks like he almost hit puberty.
When Matt gets excited, all my problems wash away.
Shenanigans.
You've repeatedly said that the fords pipe sound in through the speakers. Thats not what the "sound symposer" does at all. The speakers are in no way connected to the interior sounds of the cabin.
An easy test would be to disconnect the speakers. Until you can prove that any engine noises are going through the speakers, you're just spreading misinformation (like most the rest of the internet).
Dude no one really cares.
Good one bro. You obviously cared enough to reply.
The "engine noise piped through speakers" thing implies that the audio is somehow synthetic. The internet gets pretty butthurt about synthetic engine noises and it is a turn off for a lot of people. Matt is a reviewer so people use his videos as a source of information, and him providing provably false information doesn't look good for him, and it does a disservice to people who are using his reviews.
+Locke99GS Most people have accepted that exhaust noise will be tampered with these days. I don't think that alone would stop anyone from buying an M4 or an RS. Most of the people who complain, like you said, are on the internet and most likely can't afford it buy it in the first place.
No, it actually does. You can see it here, same as the EcoBoost Mustang: ruclips.net/video/RfpmWCWsMtg/видео.html
You're right. The 2.3 EcoBoost in the Mustang and the Focus RS apparently uses Ford's "Active Noise Control" system, vs the EcoBoost's in the ST's which use just the symposer without electronic augmentation.
Great review as always! I have an ST but want the RS soooooo bad! FYI the induction noise is piped in behind the fire wall and NOT through the speakers. Hope u get your Stang back soon!
36k for this car to start? LMFAO!! I'd rather drive a Benz.
AWD makes it with it.
i tough i was the only one, still a focus
You do not understand the demographics for this car. It's a car for the car enthusiast. 99% of people would rather buy a Benz or Lexus for that money; but this car is made for that 1% of people who like to hoon their cars. This car is special and the demand significantly exceeds the supply. Every driving enthusiast wants one.
Darth Chau i still take an is f sport any day sir, and i am an enthusiast. this is over hype
daphenom45 to each there on, im definitely not a brand whore since i dont like any Germans at all. is just an insult to me 36k for this focus, but hey if u like it go for it.
Excellent Review . Was looking forward to this 1 ...
You squealed more during the Fiesta ST review!
I have test driven the Fiesta ST, Focus ST as well as the Focus RS. The Focus ST is fast and powerful, but the weight does a number on the overall thrill factor of the ride. The RS is stupid-fast, but again, the heavy weight and the AWD system make the ride rather composed. The Fiesta ST is incredibly fun to drive, and makes you giggle like a clown. It is not as fast the Focus ST and the RS, but driving them back to back in town, it may legitimately make you think it is the fastest. The light weight, small engine, fast-spooling turbo and the marvelous TVC system make the car **feel** very fast. Every sharp turn you make makes you feel like a rally hero!
It's like a party on wheels.
I wish I went with a FiST over my FoST
+sublimekid247 Go for a test drive. If it puts a smile on your face, and I don't see how it won't, trade in or sell the FoST.
Johnny CincoCero haha I am honestly thinking about the BMW 228I or for 2017 the 230I. If those are meh my current top choice is the new MX5
this would defiantly be my daily driver manual , useable , comfortable and has a kick to its beat 😍😍🔥🔥🔥
aliceinwounderland YOLO I think this would be mine too. My dad said I need something practical, and this is practical yet fast.
This car would be a monster with a twin clutch box.
you can tell when he's really excited to drive the car he's about to review at the moment he speaks lol good review
now we wait for all the reports of issues with the ecoboost engine.
You are smiling a lot, I can tell you are really enjoying it. Good for you man. :)
I want to get my own but I'm waiting for the Type R to come out next year so I can do a side-by-side comparison before I decide which one to get.
you drive like my grandma
i own a 2016 MK7 Golf R running stock. I test drive this car soon and give my opinion on it. But given that its main ace card is "drift mode", i doubt it has anything more to offer than the R. I also keep hearing bad things about its interior and people saying it produces less BHP than fords claim. We shall see when i get my hands on it and do a proper no BS assessment
I love this car
Every time I was a Focus RS review, the very first thing that's mentioned are the high bolstered seats & seating position w/ the pedals. That's probably why there's so many of these things for sale.
You can buy a brand new 370Z for about $6000 less than this.
Then you would have a 2 seater severely dated impractical Datsun. No comparison between the 2 in terms of performance and even practicality. Nissan 370z skid pad = 0.90g. Ford Focus RS skid pad = 0.98g. Nissan 370z 0-60mph = 5.1 seconds. Ford Focus RS 0-60mph = 4.7. I could go on... There is a reason a 370z costs much less haha
Rs is no match for the 370Z the only thing is if you need 4 seats your facts are all fucked up.
THEHOAG No, your logic is all fucked up. The RS is a better car in every way fanboy. Accept it.
hamronD73 Not even in the same ballpark Nissan>>Ford that says enough.
Doesn't say anything to me.. Nissan make cheap junk. Have they ever beat Ferrari at LeMans twice? Have they ever won a WRC title? No.. They built the GTR, that is it. Which isn't even impressive anymore. The facts I've stated above are enough to prove the Focus RS, and Ford period are a superior car manufacturer. Sorry.
After Reading all these comments want to tell you the reality of the RS.. i bought one recently 2017 fully loaded even with sunroof pretty cool and it is Hot black..1 problem it does not go 165 i have only been able to get it to 147 twice 148 once it struggles to get there. I recently did tune the car to see if it was governed. I will know soon if it can hit 165 soon.
Seats look great but that steering wheel is still disgusting.
it looks so damn cheap
Looks better than the evo steering wheel. Those are pretty cheap looking
Look at the price for the power figure what do you expect
Ben Chesterman i look at the same price on the golf R and the faster 0-60 time on the golf and wonder why im paying so much.
The dsg cost more than a maunal .The manual golf r will lose to a focus rs
Great review! This is THE car of the moment. It's going to take some beating.
love the car. dude is pretty cringey tho
That's kinda his thing tho isn't it haha? Pure cringe. Still good to watch tho....
That voice 😖
+richie crozier Yeah I'm not sure this is the first and only video I've watched from him. Not a bad review video though either I enjoyed it
Do you mean the weird giggling?
Seems like a really nice guy though. He's pretty good at making these.
Dealers are charging over 40k for this, it maybe a great performer but it's a Focus, that is a TON of money for a C segment car.
especially with that cheap of an interior
+smgs921 That interior is really bad.
savagegeese I know, I've had many fanbois try to tell me it has a great interior..smh
savagegeese Do you think the STi interior is better? you should totally review one sometime
After a few years, it will brake down constantly.
Good one. Glad you have a crystal ball.
Its a ford dip shit. When you get older you'll understand.
ohplezz calm down mrs. butthurt. It'll be okay.
ohplezz probably even sooner than that. sti ej has been running 10 plus years this is a car to wait on a year or two and see how many recalls/issues come up
My mustang GT has almost 200k miles on it and I still drive it like I stole it everyday and haven't had an issue
I THINK ITS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE REVIEW EVER.....its an amazing car.
Golf R is faster.....and it has 50 less hp
Slower* but only by .2 seconds.
DSG model
That's because you arent taking your foot off accelerator to change gear ... The golf r manual would have no chance vs focus rs
the rs beat the Manual of the line but then the golf R started to overtake it. The R has like 60 pound feet less too.
+Gli_Fahrenheit no, the R had started to SLOWLY close the gap by the 1/2 mile.
Properly quick? Been watching Top Gear reruns?
This guy is really, very, white.
Did you have a window open during this video? There was a lot of interior noise. I noticed the same thing in Matt Farah's video on his RS, so I'm wondering if interior noise is just a thing one must deal with when owning a Focus.
Also, why does the RS sound like a Subaru in lower revs? Did they give it unequal length headers or something?
Fact is it is still a ford and will fall apart in 3 years lol
hahaha you say that with your profile picture being a BMW.. the irony lol
Funny you say that. My last 3 BMW's did fine for 10 year each:)
Hmmmm what has gone wrong in the last 4 years with my f30? Oh shit I had to put fuel in it😂😂😂 the thing has been a full out race car for 4 years. Do that with your ford😅
My mustang GT has almost 200k miles, I still drive it like I stole it every day and no issues
I have a 14 mustang GT, but I am definitely considering trading it in for one of these
Hell no
Way overpriced of what it has
not really
not at all. Subaru didn't make a hatch for their new gen so Ford did it for them.
not at all. Subaru didn't make a hatch for their new gen so Ford did it for them.
not at all. Subaru didn't make a hatch for their new gen so Ford did it for them.
+Derek D that's insane
I love how ford will sell you the ecu tune kit for 90plus ft/lb additional torque and keeps your warranty
This guys creeps me out alittle
I have been waiting four months for my rs! Dealer just called...its here! Cant wait to do my first video on my beautiful black focus! So many bad to the bone hot hatch's these days. I like the sti, Honda civic r, vw golf r. but the focus just seemed right for me.
Plan to buy the 2017 wrx sti, but if I was to purchase the rs I would definitely change the interior (mainly gauges and possibly button layout) It has the performance but I think it lacks the entire owner's package
I've been excited for this one. I tend to wait for your reviews before I put cars on my list.
"What's up everybody it's Matt from SWF Reviews" Maybe give that a shot
nice review! Looks like you really enjoyed your time behind the wheel of the RS.