'15 GT or wait for Focus RS?

[w3rkn]

It is still a platform based on a family sedan. It was engineered for that purpose first and foremost. You'll never get away from that. You're also giving up an extensive aftermarket the mustang has. I mean I could be totally wrong but the fist at the end of the day felt like a tricked out fiesta. The mustang was engineered to be a sports car from day one.

Please watch the whole video posted in THIS post, plz.

You will clearly see the RS represent quite a legend, only just now being offered here in America. The mere fact it is a 5-door hatch, has a reason. It just seemed to fool you.

And, what "platform based off a family sedan" do you mean..? :shrug:





Also, anyone else hear there might be a AWD Lincoln Merkur version of this RS in the works, but with an 10sp automatic only and the 2.7l....? :gossip:

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[L8APEX]

If the RS would have been available now, I would have been very tempted to buy one because I love the styling, AWD, and honestly it is more practical for my needs. However, V8.

 

[CY_S550]

I will be adding an RS to my collection as a DD.

 

[Hack]

Something tells me I would be in the same boat if I went with the GT so I will hold out. The FoST isn't by any means a supercar or anything but it is still to date the car that has given me the most fun so I can only imagine what a more powerful, better handling version of that will be like. Some may argue that a GT is just that but as great as the handling is on the new Mustang I just don't see it in the same league as a properly configured rocket hatch. That V8 growl is still so damn tempting though...

I assume you are saying that you think the Focus RS will out handle the Mustang? That would shock me, frankly. Maybe if you have track tires on the RS and hard all-seasons on the Mustang. The shape of a hatch back vehicle just isn't optimized for performance. It's a people mover set up for fitting people and cargo.

I believe the Focus could be better on gravel or snow due to AWD and more ground clearance. I believe it could be better in a parking lot due to its short wheelbase. But not on a track.

 

[Trent W]

I was in the same situation I had a modded 13 focus ST fully loaded recaro's the works.... Traded for 15 GT PP. Firstly the RS will not be much different than the ST in terms of quality ride interior fit and finish etc... Don't get me wrong I LOVED my ST but the quality compared to the stang is night and day. Ride quality even cabin noise! didn't realize you could have a conversation at freeway speeds without yelling or turning up the radio. I had the Cobb exhaust and my mustang has the Gibson FYI (If you ever mod a hatch it will get worse trust me any exhaust under a cabin will drone I don't care what anyone says). If anything the RS will be worse to try and save weight with less sound deading material. They will need to cut if from something with all the safety crap that is required now plus the extra girth the AWD will be. I'm going to have to agree with a previous poster... you cant get away from Ecobox quality. doesn't matter how many spoilers and rims they put on it its still a focus underneath all of it. To give an example of how stark the difference was between my Mustang VS ST is SRT4 roll up windows vs ST. While I'm on weight... FST 3200-3300 add AWD and safty crap = or close to the stang so there goes your weight advantage and if they manage to keep the weight down your gunna have a loud expensive car because they had to use lightweight parts for everything. If so there goes your price of under 40k. Or they probably just add a bit more power like they normally do... 420 to 435 sound familiar anyone? So my best guess is they had to up the power of the 2.3 or they would get stomped by the STI or EVO because of power to weight. (we don't know actual numbers yet so this is just speculation) As far as bad weather goes. I drove my bran new mustang in December from SLC to Seattle where i traded my ST in. Over Icy and snowy mountain passes at 5 degrees. (I made the dealer buy me a set of Snow tires or i wouldn't buy the car haha) I was literally pushing snow with my bumper over the pass before Pendleton OR. As far as Cargo the ST and RS will be identical and I have to tell you Mustang has much more room ESPECIALLY in trunk. Granted you can fit more odd sized items in the hatch but as far as sheer volume mustang all the way. I couldn't fit all my tools in the ST but my new mustang the trunk still has room and my back seat doesn't have crap sliding around back there. So here is my list

1 Comfort/room/interior/Quality, Stang by far!
2 Performance/power, Stang
3 Road trips, Stang by a wide margin
4 Mods/Parts, Stang
5 Price, Stang. GT 30ish RS no less than 30k base (claimed by ford)
6 Economy, RS (Stang 18-22 avg. vs ST 20-24 avg. my drive to work)
7 Fun factor, Stang! the only thing I miss was how flickable the ST was.
8 Bad weather, RS
9 Sound.... doesn't even need to be listed....
10 Potential, STANG!
11 Looks, Subjective.... But not being mistaken for a Prias or economy hatch by 80% of the public is a win in my book. If only you knew how many times I had to explain to people its "the fast version" "it has a turbo" about my focus to someone:frusty:

All that aside the one thing that sold me was when I opened the door a Pony was lit up on the ground!!!! I would have bought that car if it was pink had a 3 foot spoiler and gold rims at that point! Time will tell but we don't have all the info yet and i was sick of waiting... Spinning my front tires was getting expensive and I literally wasn't going anywhere.

 

[Tm@c1965]

5.0

It looks better. You can dress a hot hatch up, but it will always be a hatchback. This will be a bad@zz car. But in the end, its a hatchback. It will never have the presence of a muscle coupe.

 

[w3rkn]

Trent..

The Focus RS is built in Germany...
The Focus ST is built in Michigan...


One is legendary and only comes around every so often, the other is a production car. One has unique AWD system for racing, the other is FWD. One has a modified Mustang engine, the other does not.

We're excited you have a mustang, but the comparison to an ST are not valid. The RS is an all together different car, even if it does carry similar sheet metal.

Just like trying to compare a Mustang GT to a 350... not the same.



Most Americans should watch this video fully, to have an appreciation of what the RS is: (start at 1 minute)
[ame]

 

[Hack]

Trent...
The Focus RS is built in Germany...
The Focus ST is built in Michigan...

Yes... I watched it... Then took a nap...

Trent has a lot of good points and I think his post was well written.

I don't think you can refute most of what he said.

 

[valentinoamoro]

Easy decision for me (which i made) - Mustang GT PP
Reasons
- better looking to me and very sleek with a fastback
- a pure blooded American muscle car and one of the best ever made
- RWD. I've driven the ST extensively - while its a lot of fun no amount of brake based vectoring can replace a true RWD torsen step. The balance is much better
- The 5.0. Turbo engines however good just dont compare with one of the most incredible V8's ever made - the turbos are running extremely high boost from the factory, are nowhere near as linear and loose steam up top. There usually is also issues with lag. Also, a naturally aspirated V8 will soon move to the realm of exotics so I wanted to buy one while I could - I suspect a near future GT will use the 2.7TT (which could be introduced as an SVO above the GT so people think of it as more premium with around 460-470 HP and then over the years the new GT). The fact that the 5.0 is also super strong and reliable (for easy mods and longevity) is icing on the cake.
- sound of the Mustang. Cant beat that sound.
- interior of the Mustang
- more potential to hoon
- likely just a faster track car stock and with more moddability

I also find the Focus RS images to look too ricey for my taste. I would seriously consider it though if it was my only car and we are thinking of having kids in the near future. It will no doubt be a special car.

 

[opensesame]

Here's a quick question. Would you pay an extra 5k for AWD on your mustang?


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[FusionGT]

Trent..

The Focus RS is built in Germany...
The Focus ST is built in Michigan...


One is legendary and only comes around every so often, the other is a production car. One has unique AWD system for racing, the other is FWD. One has a modified Mustang engine, the other does not.

We're excited you have a mustang, but the comparison to an ST are not valid. The RS is an all together different car, even if it does carry similar sheet metal.

Just like trying to compare a Mustang GT to a 350... not the same.



Most Americans should watch this video fully, to have an appreciation of what the RS is: (start at 1 minute)

Why does Ken Block sound hammered? lol

 

[Grimace427]

Here's a quick question. Would you pay an extra 5k for AWD on your mustang?


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I wouldn't take an AWD Mustang if it were $5,000 cheaper.

 

[SlimReaper]

Here's a quick question. Would you pay an extra 5k for AWD on your mustang?


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Never. I'm all for innovation but a muscle car absolutely needs to be RWD. Just my opinion.

 

[Hack]

Here's a quick question. Would you pay an extra 5k for AWD on your mustang?


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I'd pay a couple grand as long as the system was set up full time RWD and the front wheels would only come in when the rears start to slip. If it was a FWD system where the rear wheels were added I think it would handle crappy like most front wheel drive cars do.

That would actually be awesome. It would make the car quite a bit quicker in many street conditions.

 

[SlimReaper]

I'd pay a couple grand as long as the system was set up full time RWD and the front wheels would only come in when the rears start to slip. If it was a FWD system where the rear wheels were added I think it would handle crappy like most front wheel drive cars do.

That would actually be awesome. It would make the car quite a bit quicker in many street conditions.

Okay in that case, how about a hybrid system similar to what the NSX has? Two electric motors in the front wheels that turn on during hard cornering. That's different. The original question implied a full-time AWD system.

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