Especially for European countries! It seems like European makes and models don't give you guys the luxuries of heated seats/cooled seats. Al electric seats, large digital screens, touch screens, sun roofs. I just feel Americans are pretty spoiled for what they get in a base model $22,000 car. Opposed to what you could get for a car with £15,000 which is equal. Can anyone that uses the pound chime in??
+Taylor Buckley We've never really missed the 'extras' the American market gets. So long as the car is built properly and does what it says on the tin, we're generally happy. Heated seats and cup holders are for fatties who drive because they can't walk (only kidding) xD
+eins It's like $40k in the US. Ridiculously overpriced for a Focus regardless of the engine. They made the critical mistake of pricing it at launch like it's already a collectible...nope.
+someusername121 priced competitive Golf R and WRX STi. Are there any new cars with over 300hp, AWD, sub-5 second 0-60, and other performance features much lower than 35-40k??
+someusername121 what cars is the focus rs in the states classed against, because the STI is no match for the RS. i would say this is more bmw m3 classed performance wise and look at how much an m3 in the states costs
I really like turbo'd awd cars that can be daily driven. That's why I've fallen in love with the Evo x, wrx (sti), and focus rs. Nothing beats being able to drive in the snow, have track days, 4 doors and being able to go shopping with a single car.
+ZenGamer97 Buy a Puma for £500, replace the centre pipe with a straight section, lots of pops and crackles from that. OK, about 200hp less, too but you can't have it all!
+ZenGamer97 all of those pops and bangs reduce off throttle engine breaking which is weak. we don't need boy racer pops and bangs, we need performance.
+farmerkevin There is only so much performance someone can use on a daily basis. I much rather have a small compromise in performance but have this rally-car sound every time I take a drive.
+EVO it was still greatly shot. i was saying it because he was really forcing the subscribe button like 5 times lol. im subscribed, Been for a long time. Keep up the good work.
After reading some of the comments left here I am left feeling that some have no interest in cars instead just want to advertise their misery and disgust. The design and engineering that goes into these machines is immense and I for one can fully appreciate what Ford have created here
+Andrew haha cant argue with you there! What is the Focus ST like though as was thinking of buying one? Ive owned a mk1 Focus RS which was amazing, a mk2 Focus ST which sounds amazing and easier to live with, but never owned a mk3 yet.
john jackson Well I got the ST3 package, and most of the extra bells and whistles like navigation and better looking rims. It's a great car, not only was it actually my 1st mk3 focus, but my 1st ford car period. I'm my opinion it's better than my friends Mazda Speed3, but it doesn't look more sophisticated than the Golf GTI
I hear ya, Andrew. Though this is going to be around $10000 more, so I think you're good. Same thing happened to me when I bought my 2010 Mustang GT and a friend showed me they were bringing out the Coyote 5.0 in the 2011's... I wasn't amused.
It's going to better than the Speed 3 when it's using a tweeked up version of the Speed 3s engine in the first place!! Yeah . The RS has the Mazda 2.3L block with EconBoost tech believe it or not !!
Instant classic I think. People will be sad if they pass the opportunity to own one of these in the States. Maybe not a big deal in Europe, but to own something of rally heritage here in the U.S is awesome!
Finally a Focus worthy of its hype! I liked the previous 5cyl RS but it still fell away right at the ragged edge. It looks like the four-wheel-drive and lighter engine over the front axle has really paid dividends.
+master power wouldnt be saying that if you actually owned an STI, engine may be dated but its a damn good engine......like the saying goes "dont fix something that isnt broken"
How is the mk3 Focus ST a disappointment? Chris Harris got that car absolutely spot on in his review. It's not meant to be a hardcore hot hatch in factory trim, but a hot hatch for everyday use. Great engine, great steering and comfortable enough. If you want to make it more hardcore, there are loads of upgrades available, none of which break the bank.
Those roads look like a perfect place to drive the RS. I'm a little jealous! The Focus ST is "a bit of a disappointment?" I wholeheartedly disagree. It's fucking brilliant. A real driver's car with great practicality and reasonable size, that can be had for about 25 grand in the US. I'd really like to hear your criticisms of the car. The turn-in is perfect, the rear end rotates beautifully (almost like a RWD car), the power is more than adequate, the brakes are good, the clutch/shifter are very good, and the appointments are excellent for the price. I only have 2 real criticisms of the ST The stock rear motor mount (at least on the 2013) is far too soft, and the factory tune is a bit conservative. Those 2 things are easily fixed for less than $600 USD.
pretty much every review I've heard were all positive about this car. man i got to try and save up to try and get one soon. this car sounds/looks amazing.
I think your totally wrong about the focus St. I drove the fiesta st, to me it was way under powered.also the RS was 15,000 dollars over msrp and they were having all kinds of problems with the motor. The focus St was a very easy pick with all the Ford rebates.
DZEMAG Definitely. The CX9 will be running a very detuned, and fuel efficient variation of the Skyactiv turbo. Looking forward to seeing what the full beast will be like
Malc180s Well, the new one will have over 300bhp and have AWD. I already have the current Mazda3 with AWD, and the thing is a drifting monster in snow. (check my videos)
i love the fact that evo diaries are filmed independently because i always watched harry metcalfes videos and i felt like i was sitting next to him in the car. having no film crew is kinda the way i like to watch evo reviews 👍
He mentions that they Loved the Fiesta ST but that the Focus ST was a disappointment. Really? In what way? The facts are the Focus ST out performs the Fiesta ST in every way except stopping distance on the track. The Focus may feel less tossable because its heavier and wider. The Fiesta ST only wins in the Power to Price ratio. If your talking strictly performance (stock for stock / mod for mod) the Focus ST wins every time.
+Langundo D same thing i was thinking lol i have a 2014 Focus ST platform is so capable, people in my club are pushing 480 hp as a daily driver lol plus with some coilovers it can compete with the best around the track
Ehhhhhh best in its class is a bit of an overstatement. I'd say the interior Is great for its price but you have competition such as the gti, civic si, mazdaspeed3 (rest in peace), and you have an even bigger selection of fwd hatches in the UK (even bigger if you take into consideration other drive trains). And it does not make power as well as some of the other platforms; maybe it's because it's a new platform, but not a lot of people can make a lot of power out of a ST cheaply.
Joshua Sanders *You don't have to worry about the engine blowing, Ford's are fully Forged and they use super duty Truck type Racing Bearings, so it'll take crazy boost. It's the lighter AWD system that if you continually flog it hard it will eventually show signs of wear, but again Ford will make it heavier duty so not to worry. The Transmission should be okay and the clutch will wear under normal use, if you beat on it hard enough it'll wear because of its smaller size, but Ford tests the shit out of their stuff lately, it's a different company, I'm a flaming Ford guy and this car is very cool too in every way. You should be dusting a lot of the competition, God I Love Fords ;-)*
I have a focus the se and it awesome I take it to the canyons all the time I can't image the kind of fun you could have with this beast If I wasn't a college student I would buy this right now
+scofair 1968 The 3rd generation Focus generally doesn't look right. Particularly considering how amazing the 1st and how good the facelift of the 2nd one looked.
+EVO Really not sure it does?!?! Externally a bit of a let down for me i'm afraid. Thought the same when the M3 went to 4 doors .... yes i know the M4 filled that void, but still a bit if a strange one. Why the hell do we need 'practical' hot hatches?
scofair 1968 Wait I just realized you had the previous one! Great car. By the way, I don't think 5-door hot hatches are generally a problem or practical ones for that matter. The Leon Cupra for example looks better as a 5-door in my eyes. Maybe the S3 as well.
+Zymiful eh at best your looking at like a 5.1 in that.. I wouldn't say that's close to 4.7, plus I bet that's a conservative estimate, motortrend will probably do it quicker
Henry is actually surprised, that why he looks and acts the way he does. It's that good. The rest of us should be pleased, and buy, and enjoy! That's the whole point of watching a review.
+Marija Blazeska correct but on the fu..ing wrong wrist! A watch belongs on the left wrist and it bugs me like hell to see more and more people wear it on the right (wrong) side!!!
Still wonder why you call a decent review "diary". But still you get all the information and all the feelings about the car here, great btw and thanks :)
+Tom Chesterflats you have to think about the segment and target audience.. I don't think many people are going to cross shop an AWD hot hatch with a RWD v8 coupe. considering it costs what an STi or an Evo costs, I think it's a good value.
+Tom Chesterflats Try $45k, that's the pre-order price at most US showrooms right now. $45k can get me a really fast 11sec car with a proper back seat and 400HP.
+Tom Chesterflats Good luck getting MSRP right now. Every dealer has a mark up on it. For that much money The Evo is better buy. 350HP, is just a boosted and inflated HP number. Evos can run 350HP easily. Much more track proven performance. The RS could be a better buy if the price drops to $30k, I'm not paying for this inflated price right now.
Henry Catchpole , one of the greatest car journalist out there and EVO what a professional channel. About the Ford , give a RS3 just for the sound of that angry Inline 5.
Shadow8411 Read my comment from 22 of February again. I'm not talking about the way it looks, but the FINISH ADN QUALITY OF MATERIALS USED IN GOLF. Looks are enterily a matter of taste.
Yes overhyped. Looks just like focus st. No interior differences really. Subaru wrx/sti and evo have better reliability then ford in general. I look at it and it's, eh, alright.
+Omar Ortiz I agree with the sti but the new wrx with the fa20 gives us some hope for reliability on the engine, although I do believe the RS is a lot more bang for your buck out of the box compared to an evo or sti.
I've been on a waiting list for a test drive at my local Ford dealer. They emailed me yesterday and said they won't even be getting one now, so I guess the choice to stick with my WRX is an easy one.
Really been looking and researching and going to dealerships, doing test drives. First the Focus RS. I was kind of convinced that's what I was going to get. Then I test drove the Golf R and was convinced that was what I was going to get. Then I test drove the audi tts. Looks awesome inside and out. Car is fast and fun to drive. Digital dash was just a really cool surprise. THEN OH ITS EVEN BETTER. New audi tt rs with 400hp in 6 months. Well that's ok. Gives me time to save my pennies. No price yet but I figure 70k. BUT EVEN BETTER. European delivery and a %5 discount. What a great way to convince your wife this is a great idea. Only really sucky thing with the European delivery is from the moment you order til it's in your garage is 6 months.
Yea sure bud. Is the gt350 over hyped? Is the Ford GT overhyped? I think they all live up to the hype. Some of these Ford cars have blown away the competition. And I believe the RS is going to do the same.
+Greb Nitty Having a MUSTANG pic on your avatar renders your comment as useless. gt350 is a great car no doubt. but just look at how long it's been since ford had a great mustang?
+santclause1 fords mustangs have always been great! Only thing they ever really lacked was good interior and power but most mustangs look pretty nice even the unappreciated 94-98 which are actually one of my fav mustangs next to the new edge and s550 mustang. Not like anyone leaves their cars stock tho
+santclause1 *FORD MUSTANG SALES ARE KILLING IT, AND FORD SALES OVERALL ARE VERY STRONG, NOT TO MENTION THE AFTERMARKET FOR FORDS IS HUGE, PROBABLY BECAUSE FORD LEAVES A LOT ON THE TABLE AND OFFERS BANG FOR THE BUCK.*
Its interesting that when the Focus ST came out in 2013 everyone had nothing but praise for it for 3 years. Then when the Fiesta ST was released everyone said wait its not that good. Now with the RS it gets actual negative heat from people. I still think ts the best car for the price, not just in terms of performance but also what you get inside it.
I came very close to ordering one..........and veered off last minute - don't think I could live with it everyday - so I've ordered a Golf R for March 1st.
I still kinda feel they messed up by adding doors to it. The RS was meant to be the most hardcore version. Nothing says hardcore like easy rear seat access and extra supports.
+T0m0thy You're right, they should just have windows only and have occupants enter through Dukes of Hazzard style. Why are doors even put on cars? So overrated!
+T0m0thy They didn't add doors to it. There simply isn't a thirdgen Focus with a two-door shell, period. Doing one just for the RS would make it much more expensive, and probably no lighter or stiffer since the only even vaguely cost-effective way would be for it to be basically coachbuilt.
nlpnt Ah that makes sense then! I don't really follow what the standard versions are to be honest! That is a ballache to be fair! I'm sure those doors aren't going to compromise the car but can you see what I mean?
+T0m0thy a number of Mk2 owners complained about no 3door option. But it grows on you even then. Possibly invisible rear handles would have been nice. Ford have certainly done something right though....UK orders are now full well into 2017. I ordered in early October and dont expect the car till Jul/Aug now.
I don't know about anybody else, but I couldn't care less what is 'best' or the 'fastest'. I buy what I enjoy driving the most. If somebody passes me in a faster car, it is as important to me as a fly farting in the wind. I drove the Leon Cupra, Golf R, Audi S3, S4 and RS3 ( great sound ) and the Focus RS. I ordered the RS, and it wasn't even close!
many years later and i still love the car to bits although I am already at the second head gasket replacement in 130 000 km on a stock car. I guess keep that in mind (and some cash aside) when you get a second hand one, some aftermarket race headgaskets and cylinder braces should reinforce it enough for stock engine power and more problem free km than on the OEM one.
In answer to Henry's question - A big fat YES, and here's why:There is a scene in Monty Python's Life of Brian where the Peoples Front of Judea are having a meeting and John Cleese says: " There is not one of us who would not gladly lay down their life to get rid of the Romans!" And a voice pipes up from the back " Err, there's one!" "O yes, there's one"" replies Cleese. Well, that's me here I'm afraid. I test drove one of these last weekend on a mixture of British B roads and Motorway. I arrived in my runaround 1.25 Fiesta Zetec and was handed the keys to a nitrous blue example as Henry drives here. Now I should explain that I have been lucky enough to own a good variety of cars, ranging from classics including Lancia Fulvia/Integrale/Lotus Elans from the 60's/911s from the 1980s, a Caterham, a Ferrari 308GTB and a Noble M12GTO, and modern Imprezas. So I do have a certain amount of experience with 4WD too. I'm afraid Ford have lost their way with this one. The overriding problem is the ride. Even on standard setting it jiggled around like a Bond Martini. True it did improve at faster speed, but by then I was so focussed on trying to work out what the hell was going on with the electric steering which felt artificial and had weird self-centering and overreacted so much to even the tiniest input that I was weaving up the road like an electric eel. It almost felt as if each wheel was trying to go in a different direction. 235/35 Tyres at each corner - and zero feel at the steering wheel. All the road tests I have found have either been on track or smooth Spanish tarmac.Wait till you get it on a bumpy B road over here. The exhaust, even on Sport setting is barely audible from inside the cockpit, even with the window cracked open(apparently you can option a sports exhaust). The blue looked tacky and cheap. (Suggest Stealth Grey as the best colour). The car I drove had the optional 2 way Sport Recaros - and they are not adjustable for height - I'm 5'10" and was sitting too high, which I gather was also an issue in previous gens? Suggest standard Recaros. There is a 12-15 month waiting list! So you could order one and sell your option later perhaps? Finally the brakes a hopelessly over-servoed - making it hard to modulate the peddle - even at town speeds. Sorry Ford - it was honestly a delight to hop back into my little 82bhp Fiesta with its perfectly weighted gearbox/steering/brakes, and 263 less BHP. ps.- the RS felt fast under full acceleration in 2nd and into 3rd - but as you know - if that's what you want it can be had much cheaper elsewhere. I wonder how many of these will be stuffed into a hedge, and how many will be advertised in a few years as "Focus RS, 5600 miles, only 3 previous owners"! Make sure you take one for a good test drive if you are tempted to stick in an order! Happy motoring.
Nice review Henry. Now tell me you guys are planning to do a hot hatch showdown between the ford RS, the Megane RS, the new civic type r, and the golf R? I've excluded the amg merc as it's an uber hatch and too ostentatious to fall within the same category.
In a few minutes I found this to be powered by RTX4080. That was really a Netflix opening on a hud, when it's showing me weather outside or warnings like cold or hot weather. By saying front-end they meant it was a website. There is interesting story about future repairs, any shock absorber parts won't be good.
Nice. Henry finally gets to drive it. Still remember watching the interview he did when it was announced with the designer. SO Henry, are you still wearing socks only?
Před 8 lety
its interesting how cars today are more about software and configurations to meet your setup than have one car for track and another for commuting to work. :-)
Just heard this one for the first time in real life and it sounds awesome. Nothing compared to what comes out of the computer speakers or even home theater.
As a former SVT Contour owner from 1998-2004, I really think this new Focus RS is an awesome machine, but I do not like this color at all! It seems like just about every tester has an RS in this color as well. It just seems like a color a chick would pick. This color is way too girly for me lol. I love everything else about the RS, so the color is an easy fix obviously ;)
Review of this Video: How I know this journalist isn't cool? He doesn't get excited about things normal everyday people get excited about which makes his videos dull, confusing and not as entertaining as Chris Harris - hope this is taken as constructive.... It's like a public demonstration of how experienced and 'dull' cool cars are becoming for him since he 'labors' over it all the time..... He's treated this focus 'RS' as 'another review' - gotta get into it more... Another thing that gives all this away is the actual TITLE of the video.... 'overhyped?' how is one of the most powerful hatches ever overhyped? Regardless, we want to see videos of people getting excited about cars.... Passion and fun should come with any car that has a bit of speed and can drift. If it's got downsides, list them but you need show your love for it's upsides.... I dare say the company he's working for is a pressure house and excitement is hard to come by naturally... Evo has potential but is far from reaching it...
sad to hear he felt that the focus st was a disappointment I am in love with that car. So much fun on the road haven't tried it on the track yet so I have no opinion there
Does it pop all the time or do you have to workfor those pops? My 2012 GT with a tune and Borla Axle Back has some nice backfire but I have to play with the gears and clutch to make those sweet pops. I feel like the RS had the same pops every single time, not that I care I love the Focus RS.
This car scared the buggery out of manufacturers worldwide. The fact that the new Type R got so much more kudos than the Mk3 RS shows the bias of the motoring journalist set. One car is evolutionary & one is an overpriced ass dragger. The RS clobbers all relative competition & even outdrives the highly touted BMW M2 in the dry then crushes it in the wet. Auto journalists can't say the above because Euro manufacturer advertising $ will dry up & Honda desperately wants to pump up Type R sales to justify their GP aspirations. Ford Focus RS Mk3 = legend.
amazingly the the screen shows 17,5 mpg. i think thats quite ok if you consider the hard driving. i bet you could get around 24 or so if you dont beat on it
I don't think it's overhyped. The amount of "car" you get for the price is incredible
Especially for European countries! It seems like European makes and models don't give you guys the luxuries of heated seats/cooled seats. Al electric seats, large digital screens, touch screens, sun roofs. I just feel Americans are pretty spoiled for what they get in a base model $22,000 car. Opposed to what you could get for a car with £15,000 which is equal. Can anyone that uses the pound chime in??
+Taylor Buckley We've never really missed the 'extras' the American market gets. So long as the car is built properly and does what it says on the tin, we're generally happy. Heated seats and cup holders are for fatties who drive because they can't walk (only kidding) xD
+eins It's like $40k in the US. Ridiculously overpriced for a Focus regardless of the engine. They made the critical mistake of pricing it at launch like it's already a collectible...nope.
+someusername121 priced competitive Golf R and WRX STi. Are there any new cars with over 300hp, AWD, sub-5 second 0-60, and other performance features much lower than 35-40k??
+someusername121 what cars is the focus rs in the states classed against, because the STI is no match for the RS. i would say this is more bmw m3 classed performance wise and look at how much an m3 in the states costs
I really like turbo'd awd cars that can be daily driven. That's why I've fallen in love with the Evo x, wrx (sti), and focus rs. Nothing beats being able to drive in the snow, have track days, 4 doors and being able to go shopping with a single car.
who cares about anything else. IT BLOODY POPS AND BANGS FOR CHRIST SAKE!!!
+ZenGamer97 Buy a Puma for £500, replace the centre pipe with a straight section, lots of pops and crackles from that.
OK, about 200hp less, too but you can't have it all!
+ZenGamer97 all of those pops and bangs reduce off throttle engine breaking which is weak. we don't need boy racer pops and bangs, we need performance.
+ZenGamer97 That's worth every fucking penny
+farmerkevin POPS AND BANGS HE SAID!
+farmerkevin There is only so much performance someone can use on a daily basis. I much rather have a small compromise in performance but have this rally-car sound every time I take a drive.
Man evo must be hurting for money.
+TheDustyaman This was an evo diary film, not shot by our in house film maker
+EVO it was still greatly shot. i was saying it because he was really forcing the subscribe button like 5 times lol. im subscribed, Been for a long time. Keep up the good work.
the video is great. Very well done with the sound. waiting for a full video review.
+gary d what? lol
+gary d are you sure you are commenting on the right video mate?
After reading some of the comments left here I am left feeling that some have no interest in cars instead just want to advertise their misery and disgust. The design and engineering that goes into these machines is immense and I for one can fully appreciate what Ford have created here
I got my ST, then my friend showed the photos of the new RS and I haven't spoken to him since
+Andrew
haha cant argue with you there! What is the Focus ST like though as was thinking of buying one? Ive owned a mk1 Focus RS which was amazing, a mk2 Focus ST which sounds amazing and easier to live with, but never owned a mk3 yet.
john jackson Well I got the ST3 package, and most of the extra bells and whistles like navigation and better looking rims. It's a great car, not only was it actually my 1st mk3 focus, but my 1st ford car period. I'm my opinion it's better than my friends Mazda Speed3, but it doesn't look more sophisticated than the Golf GTI
I hear ya, Andrew. Though this is going to be around $10000 more, so I think you're good. Same thing happened to me when I bought my 2010 Mustang GT and a friend showed me they were bringing out the Coyote 5.0 in the 2011's... I wasn't amused.
It's going to better than the Speed 3 when it's using a tweeked up version of the Speed 3s engine in the first place!! Yeah . The RS has the Mazda 2.3L block with EconBoost tech believe it or not !!
Instant classic I think. People will be sad if they pass the opportunity to own one of these in the States. Maybe not a big deal in Europe, but to own something of rally heritage here in the U.S is awesome!
Personally I don't think it's a great car, and I'm in England. to me, it just doesn't live up to the RS name
+Luke Kindred
Yep, agree, looks bland and boring, Zzzzzzzz
Rally heritage? Are you joking
+Luke Kindred I see your point. In the states it's a bigger deal.
+pendulum1997 Yes, the rs name has a lot of heritage. What are you confused about?
Finally a Focus worthy of its hype! I liked the previous 5cyl RS but it still fell away right at the ragged edge. It looks like the four-wheel-drive and lighter engine over the front axle has really paid dividends.
Overhyped? Hell no, I want it bad
Flash FM is one of the radio stations in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. It was the one that played Blonde and other pop stuff
I expect to see few of these everyday on British roads.
+day3002 And thanks to 'Drift Mode', the ones you do see will have more than a few dents in them thanks to owners who think they are Ken Block.
+Cosmo Smallpiece ha!
+day3002 So do we!
I would rather have a Koenigsegg.
Yeah.
You really can't compare a car that's over 20 times more expensive...
Dave Jubens You must be fun at parties....
+Rottensteam I would rather get a Dacia Sandaro, but that´s just me...
***** Sandero* please be respectful to the legend of automotive world!
over hyped, no. do you know what car is over hyped, the sti with the same motor and transmission from 2004, now that is over hyped.
+master power wouldnt be saying that if you actually owned an STI, engine may be dated but its a damn good engine......like the saying goes "dont fix something that isnt broken"
+master power The status of a legend is not hype. You can't even buy an RS yet
+Avneesh Naran if you honestly believed that all cars would still have engines from the early 1900s. "dont fix it if it aint broken!"
+Avneesh Naran it's pretty dated. The drivetrain that's in the new WRX is way better, gets same 0-60 as the STI of the same year
+Avneesh Naran You may say archaic, but i say ITS PROVEN!
THANK YOU, for NOT ruining another amazing car by giving to Dan to review it.
Henry FTW !!
Looks like an Omega Speedmaster on the guy's wrist. On a NATO. Good taste.
He usually wears a Bremont U2-51/JET on a Velcro nato strap.
How is the mk3 Focus ST a disappointment? Chris Harris got that car absolutely spot on in his review. It's not meant to be a hardcore hot hatch in factory trim, but a hot hatch for everyday use. Great engine, great steering and comfortable enough. If you want to make it more hardcore, there are loads of upgrades available, none of which break the bank.
i'm really starting to like this car and it looks really good in this color as well! i'm really considering buying one!! i NEED to test one out asap!!
Thanks to Ford UK for leading projects like this. Perhaps the greatest hatch of all time.
Great video! The Focus RS is sure to be the Hot Hatch to beat.
Incredible car for not too much money. Very much like a miniature GTR.
That baby blue is wonderful!
Is it not Grabber Blue?
@@andrewphippsphillips1455It’s called nitrous blue
Those roads look like a perfect place to drive the RS. I'm a little jealous!
The Focus ST is "a bit of a disappointment?" I wholeheartedly disagree. It's fucking brilliant. A real driver's car with great practicality and reasonable size, that can be had for about 25 grand in the US. I'd really like to hear your criticisms of the car. The turn-in is perfect, the rear end rotates beautifully (almost like a RWD car), the power is more than adequate, the brakes are good, the clutch/shifter are very good, and the appointments are excellent for the price. I only have 2 real criticisms of the ST The stock rear motor mount (at least on the 2013) is far too soft, and the factory tune is a bit conservative. Those 2 things are easily fixed for less than $600 USD.
You did all the recording and driving yourself? Bravo :P
God never wanted any hothatch so badly since Escort RS Cosworth... Man it looks great in this blue paiting...
pretty much every review I've heard were all positive about this car. man i got to try and save up to try and get one soon. this car sounds/looks amazing.
Do do you think it’s a good daily driver regarding the suspension?
Henry Catchpole is the Survivorman of car reviews (at least in terms of videography)
Thanks for yet another video review. This guy is Definitely and 100% top 5
I think your totally wrong about the focus St. I drove the fiesta st, to me it was way under powered.also the RS was 15,000 dollars over msrp and they were having all kinds of problems with the motor. The focus St was a very easy pick with all the Ford rebates.
Why does he look like he is chewing a wasp
Yeah, this guy is smarmy as fuck.
Wtf this was hilarious, you made my day I didn't expect that
terrible, his face has only one mode this -___-
Lol, the best description I've seen in a while... He has a look of absolute disgust on his face.
I reckon Henry does a better video on his own than evo's 'chosen one' with a video team.
Keep up the good work.
Cool, now we wait to see what Mazda will do with the new Speed3.
+Bruno Danese Watch closely with the engine in the new CX-9. That 2.5L turbo skyactiv might be the beating heart for the new Speed3.
It'll be shit, like the last "speed3". Never understood what the American reviewers saw in it. One of the most boring cars (mk1) I ever owned
DZEMAG Definitely. The CX9 will be running a very detuned, and fuel efficient variation of the Skyactiv turbo.
Looking forward to seeing what the full beast will be like
Malc180s Well, the new one will have over 300bhp and have AWD.
I already have the current Mazda3 with AWD, and the thing is a drifting monster in snow.
(check my videos)
+Bruno Danese Skyactiv you can keep
i love the fact that evo diaries are filmed independently because i always watched harry metcalfes videos and i felt like i was sitting next to him in the car. having no film crew is kinda the way i like to watch evo reviews 👍
He mentions that they Loved the Fiesta ST but that the Focus ST was a disappointment. Really? In what way? The facts are the Focus ST out performs the Fiesta ST in every way except stopping distance on the track. The Focus may feel less tossable because its heavier and wider. The Fiesta ST only wins in the Power to Price ratio. If your talking strictly performance (stock for stock / mod for mod) the Focus ST wins every time.
That drift mode will be perfect for my local B&Q car park :)
Nitrous blue, I can't wait for mine!!
If you're going to spend twice the amount of car for an STI, R or even Evo (RIP), the RS is the way to go.
Lmao but how is the focus st a disappointment? It's the best in its class...
+Langundo D same thing i was thinking lol i have a 2014 Focus ST platform is so capable, people in my club are pushing 480 hp as a daily driver lol plus with some coilovers it can compete with the best around the track
+Matt “Mharris540” Harris
*Ford performance offers a 90 lb-ft upgrade for the Focus ST for $1800*
Ehhhhhh best in its class is a bit of an overstatement. I'd say the interior Is great for its price but you have competition such as the gti, civic si, mazdaspeed3 (rest in peace), and you have an even bigger selection of fwd hatches in the UK (even bigger if you take into consideration other drive trains). And it does not make power as well as some of the other platforms; maybe it's because it's a new platform, but not a lot of people can make a lot of power out of a ST cheaply.
Joshua Sanders
*You don't have to worry about the engine blowing, Ford's are fully Forged and they use super duty Truck type Racing Bearings, so it'll take crazy boost. It's the lighter AWD system that if you continually flog it hard it will eventually show signs of wear, but again Ford will make it heavier duty so not to worry. The Transmission should be okay and the clutch will wear under normal use, if you beat on it hard enough it'll wear because of its smaller size, but Ford tests the shit out of their stuff lately, it's a different company, I'm a flaming Ford guy and this car is very cool too in every way. You should be dusting a lot of the competition, God I Love Fords ;-)*
+Joshua Sanders Please tell me where you read that a the Ford can beat the CTR on a dry track?
I have a focus the se and it awesome
I take it to the canyons all the time
I can't image the kind of fun you could have with this beast
If I wasn't a college student I would buy this right now
I had the previous model, but can't get my head around this being a 5 door. just doesn't look right!
+scofair 1968 The 3rd generation Focus generally doesn't look right. Particularly considering how amazing the 1st and how good the facelift of the 2nd one looked.
+ianiva
Well said! The wife wouldn't let me have another anyway.
+scofair 1968 Do you think it looks 'RS' enough?
+EVO
Really not sure it does?!?! Externally a bit of a let down for me i'm afraid. Thought the same when the M3 went to 4 doors .... yes i know the M4 filled that void, but still a bit if a strange one. Why the hell do we need 'practical' hot hatches?
scofair 1968 Wait I just realized you had the previous one! Great car. By the way, I don't think 5-door hot hatches are generally a problem or practical ones for that matter. The Leon Cupra for example looks better as a 5-door in my eyes. Maybe the S3 as well.
Henry is my new favourite car review guy, love him!
Shit and I'm living here £30,000 got a honda CRV :(
I've got one on order, can't wait! Will be stable mate to my Porsche 964, 997 if that's anything to go by.
I love this stock air intake. It´s really awesome and is surely responsible for the nice sound in the cabin!
Overhyped by whom? It seems like an extremely well rounded package. Price tag feels all right too.
Honestly 4.7 to 60 is the same as a 2014 subaru wrx, that's kinda lame considering it has nearly 100 hp on it.
Dude, you must be talking about the STI. There is no way a wrx does 0-60 in 4.7. And the RS only has 40hp on the STI. Get your facts straight.
+Greb Nitty actually the wrx does. it only had 5 gears so it got up to 60 in sub 5 seconds
+Zymiful eh at best your looking at like a 5.1 in that.. I wouldn't say that's close to 4.7, plus I bet that's a conservative estimate, motortrend will probably do it quicker
naw watch motortrend hook up a 4.5 or faster , this seems like a conservative 60 estimate
+Greb Nitty facts are straight, 2014s had thr 2.5 with a 5 speed and hit it under 5 seconds easy. Research before you talk please.
Man this kinda makes me want to trade my mustang in!!
Harry Potter and the Furious Hatchback.
Good one 😂
Henry is actually surprised, that why he looks and acts the way he does. It's that good. The rest of us should be pleased, and buy, and enjoy! That's the whole point of watching a review.
Not really car related, but what is the watch he is wearing?
+Arch Omega speedmaster pro with leather nato strap.
+Marija Blazeska correct but on the fu..ing wrong wrist! A watch belongs on the left wrist and it bugs me like hell to see more and more people wear it on the right (wrong) side!!!
+Patrick3331 Dude, ever thought about lefties wearing watches?
+Arch I prefer Chris Harris Submariner
+RisingFear lol I don't understand all the lefty stuff, I'm one and still wear it on my left🙈😂
+EVO I like your work especially henrys.Keep on like this and release more videos.
Greeting from Croatia.
Is it possible to get this car on 18" rims? I'm sure that would improve the ride.
you mean rather than 19''?
i think there is an option yes...(:
it'd look worse, though
+Nik Brudar Your ass would thank you.
+camryt No, there are only 19" rims and you can choose two rim-styles.
Ben Krapf lol I bet it would, but neighbours wouldn't be as impressed!;)
Still wonder why you call a decent review "diary". But still you get all the information and all the feelings about the car here, great btw and thanks :)
awesome car but I think 35k USD is too steep considering you can get a mustang GT for the same price
+Tom Chesterflats you have to think about the segment and target audience.. I don't think many people are going to cross shop an AWD hot hatch with a RWD v8 coupe. considering it costs what an STi or an Evo costs, I think it's a good value.
they don't compete with each other so the price of the 2 is irrelevant
+Tom Chesterflats Try $45k, that's the pre-order price at most US showrooms right now. $45k can get me a really fast 11sec car with a proper back seat and 400HP.
MSRP is just under 36k and its 350 horse and 350 lb ft
+Tom Chesterflats Good luck getting MSRP right now. Every dealer has a mark up on it. For that much money The Evo is better buy. 350HP, is just a boosted and inflated HP number. Evos can run 350HP easily. Much more track proven performance. The RS could be a better buy if the price drops to $30k, I'm not paying for this inflated price right now.
Thanks for showing drift mode.
I want one
love that popping and banging on decel and shifting
THIS CAR SHITS ALL OVER THE A3 AND GOLF R SIMPLEZZ
Henry Catchpole , one of the greatest car journalist out there and EVO what a professional channel.
About the Ford , give a RS3 just for the sound of that angry Inline 5.
Ford Focus is a nice car, but it feels cheap inside and in overall quality impression compared to Mazda 3 and especially Volkswagen Golf.
this isn't just a focus, it has awd and 350 horsepower. would completely destroy a Mazda lol.
I like the interior of the focus, I find most vw interiors a bit bland tbh. The focus is a nice change!
Joey McMahon
I'm not talking about the way it looks, but the quality of the materials used inside and the way they're put together.
+jerry6711 ?? Golf interiors are ugly
Shadow8411
Read my comment from 22 of February again. I'm not talking about the way it looks, but the FINISH ADN QUALITY OF MATERIALS USED IN GOLF.
Looks are enterily a matter of taste.
Those crackles, pops and bangs were bliss!
Been doing that in subarus for years. Catless + headers.
Yes overhyped. Looks just like focus st. No interior differences really. Subaru wrx/sti and evo have better reliability then ford in general. I look at it and it's, eh, alright.
pffffff no way. the sti transmission is bulletproof but the engine is pathetic. you have to baby it so as to not crack any ringlands.
+Omar Ortiz I agree with the sti but the new wrx with the fa20 gives us some hope for reliability on the engine, although I do believe the RS is a lot more bang for your buck out of the box compared to an evo or sti.
+AlienNinjaPuppy The EVO is a POS had one
+AlienNinjaPuppy It most certainly doesn't look just like an ST from the front or the rear.
firerydragonsteel yeah the sti needs an FA engine asap. I'd take it over an RS anyday since the awd system on the RS can't handle much more power.
I've been on a waiting list for a test drive at my local Ford dealer. They emailed me yesterday and said they won't even be getting one now, so I guess the choice to stick with my WRX is an easy one.
Love the crackles, love the power. But it sounds REALLY bad and the front end still looks like a dead fish
And the interior quality and look is even worse.
+Jonka Olofsson to me it sounds great for a stock car, let's see what an aftermarket exhaust system could do
It will sound bad like the Ford Mustang ecoboost with a turboback exhaust.
+Jonka Olofsson yeah but looks better then new type r. Somebody drives a type r i'm like " And there is the Takashi from the Tokyo Drift.
But the rs will probably be my next car if mitsubishi doesn't make anything new as I drive a ralliart right now.
Really been looking and researching and going to dealerships, doing test drives. First the Focus RS. I was kind of convinced that's what I was going to get. Then I test drove the Golf R and was convinced that was what I was going to get. Then I test drove the audi tts. Looks awesome inside and out. Car is fast and fun to drive. Digital dash was just a really cool surprise. THEN OH ITS EVEN BETTER. New audi tt rs with 400hp in 6 months. Well that's ok. Gives me time to save my pennies. No price yet but I figure 70k. BUT EVEN BETTER. European delivery and a %5 discount. What a great way to convince your wife this is a great idea. Only really sucky thing with the European delivery is from the moment you order til it's in your garage is 6 months.
Still a chav wagon. Just look at it
Henry, you never cease to entertain. Friends and cat have subscribed too.
FORD CARS ARE ALWAYS OVERHYPED.
Yea sure bud. Is the gt350 over hyped? Is the Ford GT overhyped? I think they all live up to the hype. Some of these Ford cars have blown away the competition. And I believe the RS is going to do the same.
+Greb Nitty Having a MUSTANG pic on your avatar renders your comment as useless. gt350 is a great car no doubt. but just look at how long it's been since ford had a great mustang?
just a hater
+santclause1 fords mustangs have always been great! Only thing they ever really lacked was good interior and power but most mustangs look pretty nice even the unappreciated 94-98 which are actually one of my fav mustangs next to the new edge and s550 mustang. Not like anyone leaves their cars stock tho
+santclause1
*FORD MUSTANG SALES ARE KILLING IT, AND FORD SALES OVERALL ARE VERY STRONG, NOT TO MENTION THE AFTERMARKET FOR FORDS IS HUGE, PROBABLY BECAUSE FORD LEAVES A LOT ON THE TABLE AND OFFERS BANG FOR THE BUCK.*
I normally don't like hatchbacks but this car looks sexy
But it's still just an ugly, 4-door family car. So many better cars out there for £29k.
which one?
+South4153 I'm quite curious too!
+Mubble Mann and what car might that be?
Yeah, what other brand new car for 29k?
?
Its interesting that when the Focus ST came out in 2013 everyone had nothing but praise for it for 3 years. Then when the Fiesta ST was released everyone said wait its not that good. Now with the RS it gets actual negative heat from people. I still think ts the best car for the price, not just in terms of performance but also what you get inside it.
I came very close to ordering one..........and veered off last minute - don't think I could live with it everyday - so I've ordered a Golf R for March 1st.
I still kinda feel they messed up by adding doors to it. The RS was meant to be the most hardcore version. Nothing says hardcore like easy rear seat access and extra supports.
+T0m0thy You're right, they should just have windows only and have occupants enter through Dukes of Hazzard style.
Why are doors even put on cars? So overrated!
+T0m0thy They didn't add doors to it. There simply isn't a thirdgen Focus with a two-door shell, period. Doing one just for the RS would make it much more expensive, and probably no lighter or stiffer since the only even vaguely cost-effective way would be for it to be basically coachbuilt.
nlpnt Ah that makes sense then! I don't really follow what the standard versions are to be honest! That is a ballache to be fair! I'm sure those doors aren't going to compromise the car but can you see what I mean?
+T0m0thy a number of Mk2 owners complained about no 3door option. But it grows on you even then.
Possibly invisible rear handles would have been nice.
Ford have certainly done something right though....UK orders are now full well into 2017. I ordered in early October and dont expect the car till Jul/Aug now.
Really great review simple but enjoyed it
I don't know about anybody else, but I couldn't care less what is 'best' or the 'fastest'. I buy what I enjoy driving the most. If somebody passes me in a faster car, it is as important to me as a fly farting in the wind.
I drove the Leon Cupra, Golf R, Audi S3, S4 and RS3 ( great sound ) and the Focus RS. I ordered the RS, and it wasn't even close!
many years later and i still love the car to bits although I am already at the second head gasket replacement in 130 000 km on a stock car. I guess keep that in mind (and some cash aside) when you get a second hand one, some aftermarket race headgaskets and cylinder braces should reinforce it enough for stock engine power and more problem free km than on the OEM one.
In answer to Henry's question - A big fat YES, and here's why:There is a scene in Monty Python's Life of Brian where the Peoples Front of Judea are having a meeting and John Cleese says: " There is not one of us who would not gladly lay down their life to get rid of the Romans!" And a voice pipes up from the back " Err, there's one!" "O yes, there's one"" replies Cleese. Well, that's me here I'm afraid. I test drove one of these last weekend on a mixture of British B roads and Motorway. I arrived in my runaround 1.25 Fiesta Zetec and was handed the keys to a nitrous blue example as Henry drives here. Now I should explain that I have been lucky enough to own a good variety of cars, ranging from classics including Lancia Fulvia/Integrale/Lotus Elans from the 60's/911s from the 1980s, a Caterham, a Ferrari 308GTB and a Noble M12GTO, and modern Imprezas. So I do have a certain amount of experience with 4WD too. I'm afraid Ford have lost their way with this one. The overriding problem is the ride. Even on standard setting it jiggled around like a Bond Martini. True it did improve at faster speed, but by then I was so focussed on trying to work out what the hell was going on with the electric steering which felt artificial and had weird self-centering and overreacted so much to even the tiniest input that I was weaving up the road like an electric eel. It almost felt as if each wheel was trying to go in a different direction. 235/35 Tyres at each corner - and zero feel at the steering wheel. All the road tests I have found have either been on track or smooth Spanish tarmac.Wait till you get it on a bumpy B road over here. The exhaust, even on Sport setting is barely audible from inside the cockpit, even with the window cracked open(apparently you can option a sports exhaust). The blue looked tacky and cheap. (Suggest Stealth Grey as the best colour). The car I drove had the optional 2 way Sport Recaros - and they are not adjustable for height - I'm 5'10" and was sitting too high, which I gather was also an issue in previous gens? Suggest standard Recaros. There is a 12-15 month waiting list! So you could order one and sell your option later perhaps? Finally the brakes a hopelessly over-servoed - making it hard to modulate the peddle - even at town speeds. Sorry Ford - it was honestly a delight to hop back into my little 82bhp Fiesta with its perfectly weighted gearbox/steering/brakes, and 263 less BHP. ps.- the RS felt fast under full acceleration in 2nd and into 3rd - but as you know - if that's what you want it can be had much cheaper elsewhere. I wonder how many of these will be stuffed into a hedge, and how many will be advertised in a few years as "Focus RS, 5600 miles, only 3 previous owners"! Make sure you take one for a good test drive if you are tempted to stick in an order! Happy motoring.
Beautiful car, just saw a black one at my local show! The design is purely stunning, definitely something to be quite excited about.
Nice review Henry. Now tell me you guys are planning to do a hot hatch showdown between the ford RS, the Megane RS, the new civic type r, and the golf R? I've excluded the amg merc as it's an uber hatch and too ostentatious to fall within the same category.
In a few minutes I found this to be powered by RTX4080. That was really a Netflix opening on a hud, when it's showing me weather outside or warnings like cold or hot weather. By saying front-end they meant it was a website. There is interesting story about future repairs, any shock absorber parts won't be good.
Nice. Henry finally gets to drive it. Still remember watching the interview he did when it was announced with the designer. SO Henry, are you still wearing socks only?
its interesting how cars today are more about software and configurations to meet your setup than have one car for track and another for commuting to work. :-)
No the Focus RS isn't over-hyped, you're thinking of the Cayman GT4! ;)
Self shot is great. Great video and detailed review. Nice to see more videos and they do the job. 👍
Just heard this one for the first time in real life and it sounds awesome. Nothing compared to what comes out of the computer speakers or even home theater.
Subaru better make another hatch STI!!!!
i want one of these for the time being lol
Please don't leave EVO!
As a former SVT Contour owner from 1998-2004, I really think this new Focus RS is an awesome machine, but I do not like this color at all! It seems like just about every tester has an RS in this color as well. It just seems like a color a chick would pick. This color is way too girly for me lol. I love everything else about the RS, so the color is an easy fix obviously ;)
Man some shots are in my town! Those roads are awesome, I wish I could've met you guys
Im looking for a hot hatch, stuck between A45, RS, Golf R..
Review of this Video: How I know this journalist isn't cool? He doesn't get excited about things normal everyday people get excited about which makes his videos dull, confusing and not as entertaining as Chris Harris - hope this is taken as constructive.... It's like a public demonstration of how experienced and 'dull' cool cars are becoming for him since he 'labors' over it all the time..... He's treated this focus 'RS' as 'another review' - gotta get into it more... Another thing that gives all this away is the actual TITLE of the video.... 'overhyped?' how is one of the most powerful hatches ever overhyped? Regardless, we want to see videos of people getting excited about cars.... Passion and fun should come with any car that has a bit of speed and can drift. If it's got downsides, list them but you need show your love for it's upsides.... I dare say the company he's working for is a pressure house and excitement is hard to come by naturally... Evo has potential but is far from reaching it...
sad to hear he felt that the focus st was a disappointment I am in love with that car. So much fun on the road haven't tried it on the track yet so I have no opinion there
the drift mode looks cool, they should have that implemented on the sti.
Does it pop all the time or do you have to workfor those pops? My 2012 GT with a tune and Borla Axle Back has some nice backfire but I have to play with the gears and clutch to make those sweet pops. I feel like the RS had the same pops every single time, not that I care I love the Focus RS.
This car scared the buggery out of manufacturers worldwide. The fact that the new Type R got so much more kudos than the Mk3 RS shows the bias of the motoring journalist set. One car is evolutionary & one is an overpriced ass dragger. The RS clobbers all relative competition & even outdrives the highly touted BMW M2 in the dry then crushes it in the wet.
Auto journalists can't say the above because Euro manufacturer advertising $ will dry up & Honda desperately wants to pump up Type R sales to justify their GP aspirations.
Ford Focus RS Mk3 = legend.
amazingly the the screen shows 17,5 mpg. i think thats quite ok if you consider the hard driving. i bet you could get around 24 or so if you dont beat on it
I own a 2014 Ford Fusion and I love it but this will be my next car. I need an all wheel drive car for the snow since I'm in the East coast.
Wish I could have this and a Golf R as daily drivers/weekend track toys!
If anyone wants to know the song, it's Sigala - Easy Love.
The more reviews of the Focus - rather being an ST or RS - I am getting more sold into purchasing a manual. The *ST* is definitely in my ballpark.
We miss the 5 cylinder sound :/
But its feels very good