@@joebidenn11 wtf are you talking about "discontinued because they're unsafe" buddy? The RS was discontinued because of new emission laws. Ford had no choice but to scrap the Focus completely, it was either they stopped producing the mustang or the focus. Ford also got tired of making sedans and little compact cars because the real money is in trucks and SUV's. The Focus RS was never discontinued because of safety concerns.
I was so close to buying one to replace my Audi A3. But I decided against it for now. RS is the best hot hatch for how hard you can push it, and fun factor.
The chinese market with aftermarket parts is cheap even the autos faulty transmissiom parts are being sold ridiculously cheap from china. Plus the mods are infinite and gas hasnt been cheap at all. In my area all small compact sedans and hatchback cars have shot up in price compared to the full size sedans.
Nice vid! Small tip on selecting drive mode: Once the button on the center console is pressed, you can then use the control panel on the steering wheel to move right and left in the menu and select the desired mode instead of waiting for it.
I think it is... 350hp/350tq is practically the same power as an '04 Pontiac GTO!... That's definitely premium. And this is AWD. A great burbly sounding 4-cylinder. It's pretty much iconic, imo. My problem with the Subarus and Hondas is that they're so common; lacking any distinctiveness, realistically... 😒 Not so with the RS!
I’ve owned 2 ‘05 GTOs. Second was black with the full SAP. I’ve never seen one with the full package outside of mine. Dumped about 5k of Pedders suspension parts. Then new brakes, wheels, and connectors. That car was awesome. FF to a STI, then (some rando garbage) to the RS. I like the RS most. Just wish I had an extra 1k rpm.
2017 RS owner here. Bought it new and now have almost 70000 miles. Still love this car and cannot imagine not owning it! Really no major issues. Just got the B7 upgrade (upgraded intercooler, recirc valve, higher flow intake, COBB access port, etc.) done at Mountune in California. The difference is absolutely insane! It goes from being quick to being fast.
@@christiantrujillo5092 nothing too concerning. I'm having to replace my Body Control Module next week which is about $500. Everything else I've had to do up until now has been typical maintenance stuff.
Damn that car pulls like a European car. I’ll tell you I’ve never been a fan of hot hatch vehicles because I love the V8 rumble but 350hp smooth rowing gears would be a blast on winding roads. Congrats on the purchase!!!!! Definitely seems like a fun hatch. I’d switch the shifter to a nice cue ball shifter to match the car. That weight to horsepower ratio has to really make this hatch a blast.
I got the 2018 RS new in Race Red right when the mark-up came down and I absolutely love it. It’s now at 37k miles and it’s been 100% reliable thus far and it drives like the day I bought it. It also has held value super well, in fact, I think it’s actually bumped back up to MSRP or even maybe appreciated over past several months or so.
Just bought a '17 RS with tons of upgrades. Lots of carbon bits, wheels and exhaust. So far I love it, faster than my stage 3 COBB tuned Fiesta ST of course. Haven't played with the modes really yet. I have a 'custom' mode too.
Great video! I have my 2017 and still enjoying the ride in all modes. Very enjoyable. Swapped out the exhaust to AWE Track Edition...OMG it is nice. I haven't turned on my stereo since lol.
@@silaselliott6482 Hello, I've had my RS since April 2017. No issues what so ever. Just your regular oil changes and things. Only time I really had to take to dealership was for the recall/Head gasket check. Replaced and all is well. I once in a while drive it hard on the back roads/that's what it was built for😎. City driving is fine too. I love my baby beast! Also built in Germany.
Now I have a 2017 Nitrous Blue Ford Focus RS and it's still the best car I have ever owned. I've owned a 2004 350z, 2006 WRX, 2008 WRX, 2015 Limited STi and this car beats them all. In my opinion of course.
As of today, there are a few 2018s listed for over MSRP, which is beyond ridiculous If you buy a 2016 or early 2017, make sure the head gasket was replaced.
@@Riceonrice Lol same here! Bought a 2018 back in November. I monitored prices for around 8 months & every low mileage, one-owner car was $40k+ & prices were seemingly going up. Waiting until after COVID hit cost me an additional 6-7k. It’s whatever.... at least I finally got one. Congrats on your purchase as well.
Im so mad that i got into the car world late. I didnt even know the focus RS or ST were even things that existed until a month ago. I missed out big time.
There are still low mileage versions of both out there. My bro has the ST and I have the RS. Each has pros and cons. You can’t go wrong with either one. The ST with Ford Performance shifter and light Koenig wheels is seriously fun, almost as fun as an RS.
I just got my RS for $36k. 31k miles. My thought process is.. a new STI is $40k+ but the RS is better in all ways possible (I’m a subie fan). Also when will you ever drive an RS again?
Hello, do you still have the focus rs mk3? Are you satisfied with it? I am in Europe, I own the focus rs mk2 and a subaru wrx sti 2011, I am thinking of buying a new sports car in this segment, I am hesitating with the focus rs mk3,subaru wrx sti 2016, honda civic type r fk8 or focus st mk4.5 track pack. THANKS
‘17 Focus RS. Mods... Matching front lip and side skirts. Rear spoiler extension. Flappys. ETS fmic with upgraded plumbing on both sides. AWE carback Black. Cobb stg 1. Have an intake, throttle body spacer and a bov. Will prob go stage 2 then and line up my Stratified Tune. The car is awesome. The exhaust is insane. Absolutely insane. Gunshots.
I have the 2017 Limited Edition in blue. It;s a very fun car to drive. I love it. I had the Ford Performance Borla exhaust installed. It pops more than factory. Other than that, its stock. I have 75k on it.
Do you daily it? Because I have a type R and I’m looking for an RS to daily because we get a lot of snow and rain in nyc. I love the type R for spring through fall seasons but I really feel the RS would be great a fun daily car. Any tips or pointers for when it comes to looking for an RS?
@@MarshaunLugo I do. Lately with Covid the daily hasn't been daily. Except for a short run to the post office or to town to get milk and bread. Not sure the RS would be any good in snow. It's very low to the ground and would act more like a plow. The cost for them has held it valve pretty well and the lower the miles would be better and if you could find one from an older driver would be even better. Us older guys tend to take better care of our stuff.
@@bigrivercatfishingfun2366 Thanks a ton, and I didn't even notice how low the RS is, that surprised me. Yeah I will 100% be taken my time and looking for older guys to buy it off of. That's true you guys do take care of your cars for the long term.
is my dream car, when i was 16 I have one in nfs ( the game )and I fall in Love, here in Puerto Rico I just go to meets and things like Car shows just to see this master pice, I hope one day I can aford one 🖤
@@poker_18rs92 i know that Bro, i Gm ti a dealer and See and drive a Focus st 2017 but i can pay the monthly payment it was 651$ 🤣 i just go to wait when i finally finish my college career and See what i can do
I bought a 2017 RS back in 2017 and only had it for a few months. I liked the car but the problem was the seats. I’m 6’2 and 190 lbs and absolutely did not fit in the seats. It was actually painful for me to drive because of that. Otherwise it was an awesome car.
Weird I'm 6'3 210 lbs and fit good. Took a couple days to dial in a good seating position and the seats to kinda "break in" a little. I bought mine used with 55k miles so maybe brand new would have been way tighter but just like any leather boot or shoe uncomfortable at first just gotta break them in for the perfect fit
I love my 17 st I drive the hell out of it probably 100+ miles a day it's my daily I think next in 3-4 years I'll get a RS if they aren't too crazy priced or clapped out
As a die hard Ford fan, and somebody who traded in their S550 Mustang GT for the current car I drive today, I ended up passing on the Focus RS. Really loved them when they first came out, and still do to some extent, but I ended up getting a Civic Type R instead, and I’m somebody who is soo anti-Honda. I hear the RS’ rides very rough, stiff, & harsh, which was a huge turn off for me as I drive my car daily. There are some pro’s & cons to each car, but I do agree that the RS sounds much better than the Type R, and the AWD is a plus.
A daily a 2016 RS in LA and put about 25-75 miles a day on it. The ride doesn’t feel stiff unless the road is seriously bumpy. The Recaros do a great job of absorbing bumps, so you’ll feel the bumps through your extremities more than your body. That said, I have owned hatchbacks almost exclusively since I first learned to drive, so I am used to cars with a stiffer ride than sedans, luxury cars, etc. Ford did revise the dampers for the 2018 model year, though, which softened the ride and improved handling. The dampers can be installed on the 2016 -17 cars as well. I have thought about it but the ride doesn’t bother me and the grip is already beyond my skill level lol
do you have back problems? Are you 65 or older? If no, it's not an issue. People complain about the ride because its the common thing to do. However the road feel and feedback you get through the steering wheel and chassis overall is unmatched. You can feel more, but that is a good thing, it's a weapon on track
I had a built 2012 wrx, iag swap 390hp 420lb tq.. boar ran into it one night On my way home. I sold what was left and got a 2017 fiesta st, it was stock but i fucking loved that car. I just sold that and now im thinking a 2017 rs
On the seats… I am 5’9” and 230 lbs my back and shoulders are quite wide.I’d say I have a hard working man’s build. I just drove my fiesta ST with the Ricaros from Seattle to San Diego, like 20 hrs of driving(I did the California leg of Highway 101) and no soreness. I’m extremely surprised on the comfort. I did the drive in my 2013 Silverado and I had to put a pillow on my lower back because of the lack of support.
Same price range? In the U.S me myself has been looking at awd cars lately and so far I’ve liked the Mercedes Benz amg GLA45 but it’s a Dc automatic or the evo x gsr and obviously the STI and the type R but shit if you know of any other good cars in this play form shit lmk too
I'm currently driving a BMW M140i but looking at maybe getting a Focus RS as the BMW can't use all of it's power safely on damp British roads. The interior of this car just looks so shabby compared to the BMW though 🙁
Even a rs makes way more power than most regular cars on market even more than a 335i or 340i from bmw i just think people dont give ford credit where its due they do have some good cars
@@leedanielson7452 Actually 100 degree farenhiet doesn't feel that hot in India as its not a tropical region and the Sun is way too far away, which Florida is teopical region and the Sun is closer.
@@m.wilson2624 its an amazing drive on flat highways and race tracks, but it's very jumpy and rattles a lot on bumpy roads. Depends how good or bad the roads are in your area, and how much highway driving you do.
I'm not going to lie, I haven't seen one of these on the road since last year maybe. I totally forgot about it. Makes me wonder how they are doing with the sale of the RS.
dude did you really title this video is the ford focus rs better than a sti or civic, what kind of question is that ofcourse its better civic and subarus are wack
The RS problem was the wrong head gasket was installed from the factory. They were using the one for the Mustang 2.3 instead of the one designed for the RS. This is no longer an issue.
@@vmxg8052 I understand that and that is no excuse for lack of QA from Ford. You’d still have to have the RO from the dealership to know or have them pull vehicle/warranty history. Even if you took it in and They pressure tested it and it passed... you keep the old head gasket as part of the recall. So with that being said..... it’s still an issue unless you have documentation that it’s been fixed, and if it had, then did they just slap a new gasket on or replace/machine the cylinder head?
@@larsgibsonsmelker1365 I explained what the problem was. The Mustang 2.3 cooling passages are different than on the 2.3 RS. The Mustang gasket was put on, in error, for a few months. It only affects a small build number of RS vehicles. Try some research www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/buying-maintenance/a14510137/ford-focus-rs-head-gasket-issues/
@@vmxg8052 I get that and you too should do some research as it could also still Not fail and be the effected head gasket. I think before you start stroking the keys telling someone to do their research, you should probably do the same. I don’t care if you’re an owner or if you think you know something because you’re a tech or even if you are just a know it all. I worked in corporate OE world for a number of years as an area manager brotato. Unless it falls into the box of issues, no need to fix. The end. Even if it is a effected unit.
@@larsgibsonsmelker1365 Its "affected" not "effected" Effective means executed, or brought about. Plus you contradict yourself . First you say the head gaskets are an issue, now you're saying they may not be. I'm sure the only work you did in the corporate world is as a janitor.
