Ok, let me try a different approach.

Who here actually plans on buying a Focus RS? Why or why not?

 

I might, for a daily with boltons/tune. Might take it to autocross. Would keep the Evo though.

 

So a narrow segment of the actual market? The only market that is of importance is the group of people who is interested in the car, and can afford it. Whether they're car enthusiasts based on your standards or my standards is irrelevant.

Are motorsports accomplishments the only measures of a good car? I don't think so. Times have changed. I think the X is the best Evo that was ever made because it's the most technologically advanced, arguably the best performing, and I think it balances the crazy with street use very well. That's my opinion though, hence why I said it's debatable. Regardless, people still say the X was diluted or watered down. I think those people are wrong.

 

Bingo. Some people will complain no matter what the car is like because, shockingly, Ford cannot perform miracles and produce a car that has all the performance goodies "enthusiasts" want, all the luxuries "average" folk want, that trumps all competition (past and present) on every performance aspect, and costs less than a car made 10 years ago.

 

You may be right. I have been spoiled by owning Evos since 2008.

 

I can relate to that. I've worked on, tuned and owned Evos since 2003.

A couple years ago I started looking for a replacement. I drove A SHIAT TON of cars and even bought a couple. After a bunch of time and money I finally found a replacement for my Evo.... another Evo.

What I learned is that there is no replacement for an Evo. This is the base of a lot of the things I have been saying in this thread. As long as you realize that there really isn't a replacement for an Evo, you start looking at other cars differently. It was actually kind of a nice release and new way of thinking for me.

Like I have said already in this thread, if I would have kept comparing every car to an Evo, I would have missed out on some cool cars.

I really like my Fiesta ST. I really liked my MK6 Golf R. Are/where they Evo replacements? Nope, but they are great cars for what they are and what they do. Do they have compromises? Yes, as do Evos. Just in different ways. Do they both have that "something special" in them that makes them different than average cars? Yes, just like Evos.

I urge you to look at the Focus RS this way. Don't compare it to an Evo. Look at it for what it is. You might see that Ford created a really awesome and special car within the constraints they had.

 

i actually owned an older Escort Cosworth and older Evos. I did ended up having better memories and feelings towards the Evo. But very slightly. So i might say if they nailed this RS down as they did before (AWD versions), many people will be very happy with them. Old ones sounded good drive great. Wasn't so reliable and "bullet proof" as the EVo, but still i love them

So who knows to early to call what will happen. That is why i have big hope for this car. Based on my experience with early models.

 

I complained about the color choices the minute they were announced. I guess I can understand the ITR "any color you want as long as it's Grand Prix White", but not 4 relatively bland colors.

Evo - White, black, silver/grey, (vibrant) blue, red, yellow
FoRS - White, black, grey, (light) blue
FoST - White, black, grey, (vibrant) blue, red, orange

It doesn't cost a lot to add a color. Why limit it to 4 relatively bland choices? Why not have the burnt orange used on some Mustangs, or the lime green that the old UK RS got? *something* that stands out a bit.

 

It could use more colors. But it comes in white and I like the gray, so its not gonna stop me from getting one.

 

You think the porta potty blue is a bland color and doesn't stand out?? It feels pretty special of a color, like the crazy avocado green the Fiesta ST was available in.



You think that is bland, not special and doesn't stand out?

 

It's special, alright. You even tabbed it right - porta potty blue. I'm obviously not a fan. I liked the gunmetal blue of the concepts better. Also the blue on the FoST is much nicer IMO.

I'm not a fan of red but the Golf R and STI both offer it.

 

The Golf also comes in two whites that are apparently indistinguishable. The blue is alright.

 

Right. I get not liking a color, I'm not a fan either, but to say it doesn't stand out is not really a correct statement.

I'd rock the non metallic grey of some of the prototypes though. Reminds me of Audi Nardo grey.

 

I'm not so sure if resale is going to be great. If you take the Focus ST which sells for 23k+, I've seen 2013, 2014 used models go for 17-18k. That is a significant decline in value in just 2 years.

And I can't even find a decent Evo 8 for that price.

 

i think those are key points. most (again, most) people that argue the VIII/IX are better aren't looking for balance. they want the car to be as far towards the "performance at all cost" side of the spectrum. so to them, the X can be considered watered down due to it being more civil and adding amenities, etc. do those things make the X better? to some, yes: to those that like those things. to the VIII/IX crowd: not so much. to be extreme, you could probably give an VIII/IX fan a stripped-down car with a seat, wheel, and maybe ABS (my personal preference LOL). X owners would probably think that's the most silly thing ever. i think therein lies the difference and why they never seem to see eye-to-eye. that being said, i'd love a X MR as a daily driver, but it wouldn't replace my IX for track duty.
but i digress.. off topic, sorry. i just think you hit the nail on the head on why people prefer one model more than the other.

actually, it was Championship White and only offered in '97 and '98. we skipped '99 and got yellow and black in '00 and '01.. while, over the years, Japan got red, blue, yellow, white, black.

:P had to bust your huevos while waiting on new RS info