Depends on how you are judging. Materials, absolutely. I like USING the Focus interior more, except for Sync 2 which isn't an issue with the RS. Long term durability we have to see, VW's have been absolute shit in that category for a long time but they claim to have drastically improved in that area so we have to wait and see.


At least they stopped using that really shitty soft touch spray crap. That was the worst idea ever for a car interior.

I'm speaking in terms of material, road noise/comfort, as well as fit and finish. The Focus isn't bad. However, the GTI and Golf R have a very nice interior, especially when you take into account the price point they're at (more applicable with the GTI at the mid 20k range).

The Ford Sync system is good, as is the Navigation. Very easy and well laid out, and one of my favorite. That is, when it actually works properly. You already mentioned that above, though. That's always been a gripe I had with our current ST. The Nav/stereo unit is great, but it can be a bit temperamental.

My biggest issue with the car, and Ford, is the level of customer service we've received from different dealerships when getting the vehicle serviced, or having warranty work done. We've been to 3 different locations, and every one of them have provided the most unprofessional level of service I've ever come across. That, along with the ridiculous depreciation we've seen in this car, are two reasons my wife and I will never own a Ford again.

Yeah I would never argue that the Ford beats the VW in materials and fit and finish, although maybe the Euro built ones are better.. doubt it though.

Sync 3 is supposed to be worlds better. I hated Sync 2, but haven't played around with Sync 3 at all yet.

The RS should have better resale.. should. Other top tier FP vehicles do at least.

As for the dealers.. well I have never used a Ford dealer so no idea there ha

We will agree to disagree.

Dave, I wonder did you ever consider the Chevy SS? It seems like one of the best drivers's cars with more than 2 doors.

I did when they were 20% off. Really like them, but couldn't get over the limited nature of the RS and the fact the the SS resale may not be awesome (especially when Chevy knocks off 20% in sales to actually sell them).

I was very tempted though... mostly due to all the time I've been waiting for the RS. It's been almost 10 months since I ordered it.

Sounds like the local Ford dealers were wrong when they said they could get me an RS in 4-6 weeks!

http://driving.ca/ford/auto-news/new...017-model-year

My Tech at work traded in his Focus ST for an RS

we recently went out Riding and he end up taking his car to El Mirage Lake
we drove roughly 1.5 hrs to our location and my oh my what a nice car.
barely had 400 miles on it haha

heres a picture i took of it in the morning when the sun was coming up

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...724_061456.jpg

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/a...724_061131.jpg

So, the wife and I were out for a bike ride yesterday along the beach road by our cottage wnen we were passed by a black RS with the black painted rims. There can't be too many on the road yet, especially up here, so I'm guessing it was the same car I drove around the Ford lot last week. I briefly considered flagging the guy down and apologizing. He wasn't going that fast, but I probably wouldn't have been able to catch him on my bike anyway. At least, that's my excuse.

You guys do any high speed runs with the car?

not really , we were able to go up to 105 mph and it drove smoothly
suspension is already stiff than the ST but once u put it on track mode wow it gets stiff, tranny is really good as well.

yeah, the "track mode" is pretty cool

finally an update lol!

Put the car on our dyno, so we have proof of stock+cobb tune power numbers now!

Also, the rear diff was disconnected during testing, and here is why.
Although the dyno is awd, the rollers are not linked(yet).
So, theoretically the car could/would power the front vs rear wheels differently, damaging the differentials in the car.

So, right now the best option is to disconnect the rear differential!

When we have the dyno "linked" the car will be able to be re-tested again in awd.

Even Cobb is disconnecting the rear diff when they've been testing!

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i18kPqVgWYY"]2016 Focus RS Dyno'd - Stock vs Cobb tune Dyno pulls - YouTube[/ame]

Might be a dumb question, but why is it only spinning the front wheels? I thought this car was AWD?