Still not coming state side!!! I just don't understand why?


http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...59.html?page=4

 

Because it's a better car than the Mustang.

 

this

 

Several reasons:

1) Americans haven't shown a willingness to buy $30k subcompact hatches in large numbers, Mini Cooper S aside. The Mazdaspeed3 runs around $25k; the RS would be quite a bit more.

2) Ford's brand managers are dumb.

I also have an issue with the new RS, in that it uses a 300+ HP engine in an FF configuration. No thanks.

 

I would like to think that it would still be desired enough by some... on the other hand I wasn't aware what the sticker was. I looked it up post your comments and your correct; Source's report a sticker of about 35k... Much higher than I had thought it would be I assumed it would be in mid 20's. The FF factor didn't bother me being that its a proven winner in the twisty's and rally it's self and reading reviews and other articles regarding their R&D, just seemed to sit okay with me but in-light of the sticker I agree with you.

 

Some of the other cars on the list would be good alternatives to the Fit or Versa, but by the time they get here they're too expensive to compete. That's the main reason we don't get a lot of the cool small European cars.

I still believe the limits of FF cars is around 250 HP.

 

If they are going to be charging that much for a Focus, it had better be AWD. If hp/price is the issue, why don't they just detune it? Just seems ridiculous to me that there is no way that with quality FF cars like the Mazdaspeed3, GTI, Cobalt SS (performance wise, anyway) - Ford can not figure out a way to get it here and make a profit.

 

Exchange rates, dude. Cars built in Britain get hammered by the exchange rate between GBP and USD, so either Ford has to sell them at a large loss, or they're not price competitive. And detuning the car doesn't really save money (if anything, it adds cost due to more part variation/R&D).

And, unfortunately, Ford does not seem intent on committing to building really good small cars in the US.

 

they made it fwd, they can keep it, hope they like the torque steer

 

Ford's new suspension has gotten rid of torque steer and allows you to put down power in the turns.

Their press release said so, so it must be true

I just don't like 5 cylinder motors

 

I'm not a huge fan of 5s, but I'd take a 5 over a 300+ HP FF car.

 

I dunno, I would at least give it a test drive to see how it goes. I thought AWD on a sporty car was retarded until my wapce's brother convinced me to test drive an Evo.

 

Oh, I'd drive it, and then I'd gripe that it had too much power for a FWD car.

 

I like the interior thats about it.

 

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2009...NEWS/904069995