Any chance the added cooling is a mishimoto radiator?

 

If I was to even consider a track car it wouldn't have a sun roof. Generally non-equipped cars
afford a bit more headroom. $10K mark up.... thieves

 

Sunnyvale Ford, though I don't know how long it will be there.

No, just home made ducting, sealing, opening up mostly fake vents, heat wrapping, etc. I've been going step by step and testing it. Temps seem to be stabilizing, but my only track day since then I was working my way up from warmup to a real session when my tire delaminated and it was a uncharacteristically cool day of only around 85 degrees. So no hot day, full sessions yet just individual hot laps followed by cool down laps. Even Subaru admits that the hood is a **** design and stalls air into the scoop at high speed, so a front mount would probably be a big help. I just don't want to go hog wild on it if I can find something else that does the job better.

Internet rumor is almost 2" which would probably be enough.


In doing some looking around, it seems they are geared high vs similar cars which is probably why they feel slow. Sucks, as that is pretty involved to change. I'm probably going to try to find a place with reasonable price then order a non-sunroof one and by the time it arrives there should be info on how they really do on track. Then I can back out if I have to. My plan had been sell the Sti and my E30 track car, and get a C5 Z06 and build it for the track, but the RS is such a great around town car that having a dual purpose and cutting down the fleet is appealing. I wasn't even considering the RS but they had one sitting around so I figured why not try it out.

 

The GT350's that have track heat issues are the tech package cars that don't have the extra powertrain coolers. I haven't heard anything about track package GT350's, or GT350r's overheating.

 

I've seen rumors after looking a bit more, but nothing solid. Guys with track packs are asking about putting better coolers on, but seems more like precautionary. Haven't seen much of anything from the R crowd. But I'm not paying 50k markup and R is the only one I'd get, so I lost interest.

 

I agree the mark up is insane.

 

I would wonder if going to a smaller tire would be effective enough in helping regain some gearing advantage. Lot easier then the alternative.

 

It's not spoken for?

....

 

There are a slew of Focus RS for sale if you look on Autotrader.


Granted, they all have ridiculous markups.

 

Quite a few on autotrader. Priced from $56,145 to $36,605.

 

Visited Sunnyvale Ford, to see the RS.

If you order one now, lead-time/delivery is 4-6 weeks, I was told.
Sunnyvale Ford is getting more RS's in 3 weeks.

Before you get excited, it was not spoken for, but there were 3 prospective clients at the store, and it was purchased while I was there.
The said gentleman, late 20's early 30's, was debating (supposedly) between Shelby GT350R Track Pack (Black) with $64K Sticker, asking $110K, and the Focus RS, $41,500 Sticker, asking $52K.

I somehow doubt same buyer seriously considers these two cars, Shelby is really a car for real die-hard Ford enthusiast at $110k, Focus more mainstream at $52k asking.


Did not drive it. It was driven out of the showroom and sounded OK, sporty in an OEM way.
Up close its not an impressive car if you can/do remove journalist hype. On road you would not glance at it if it was not for the bright blue color, nothing stands out over Focus ST which blends with traffic.

Inside the seats are unusually supportive and comfy-on first 5 minutes impression. The rest of the cabin standardish, no Audi/BMW.

Given the low-key interior/exterior, this car is purely driving dynamic with daily utility at price certain number of enthusiast can afford.
I cannot comment on dynamics, have not tried it.

Personal note
Porsche base spec Boxster 2.5 turbo price is exactly the same as this RS with Mark-up, at $52K.

 

Local dealer here was asking $135k for a BASE GT350 track pack. I looked at it, and told the sales man I was going to walk across the street to Porsche and buy a GT3 for that price...LOL. This was last year when Porsche still offered a "base" gt3 for $130k

 

base Boxster is a 2.0


are the seats the same as the Fiesta ST Recaros? I loved those seats, hold you in place just as well as Evo X Recaro's (if not better) but a lot more comfortable

 

I wonder what insurance pays out if you total a new RS. Think they cover that 15K markup?

 

Not what they told me, but they were trying to get me to buy it so they probably just exaggerated the wait.


At that price, probably. I had expected to love the R, and I did like it, but I didn't love it. I had a Boss, and tbh a fat, heavy, wide car like that just isn't nearly as much fun, even if it is fast as stink. Dem seat though. Awesome. Only thing missing was some holes for my 6 pts.


As I said, it would be a great commuter. Does not feel hyper at all. My IX whispered in my ear and told me to go faster, my Sti feels like a grown up IX, but the RS feels like a good car. Also the paint, I had not expected it to be full of sparkles. I don't think I'd get the blue. I would if it were not sparkly.

Boxter/Caymen are not on my list at all. The center stack digs into my knee and is painful. The RS gives good knee.

Smaller wheels would help a little probably, but then remember to get the odo corrected. Also smaller tires would look kind of goofy.