Correction: After being pointed to Ford's site I see that they also offer 6-speed manual trans. Go Ford!

 

Evo X > STI >> RS for me. Keep what ya got.

 

Seeing as how no one other than Ken Block has gotten a good test drive out of the RS yet, I'll reserve my greater than, less than signs for 2016.

It will be a flat out shock if the RS does not blow the Sti and Evo straight out of contention in all areas.

The Evo has an excuse, it is almost 8 years old, Subaru just decided to haphazardly lay out an unfinished product and is greatly behind the curve.

 

i add 32oz of that on race day as added protection. much easier and safer than hauling a trunk full of race gas LOL

 

That's all well and good, but we can read, absorb, and apply what we already know about the car.

Positives:
Stock, it will definitely be faster than the Evo and STI by virtue of power alone. In addition, with the super sticky stock tire option, it'll greatly impress on track.

But we don't keep our cars stock. I placed them like that because for what I want out of a car, the RS isn't as good.

Here are my perceived negatives:
It has an open front differential with brake biased torque "vectoring", which is really torque limiting.

It's direct injection, and will have lower mod potential than a port injected car.

It's a 2.3 liter with a lower redline.

It's a Ford and won't hold its value anything like an Evo does.

The Evo might be old, but it has the goodies where it counts. In typical Ford overhype fashion, they are touting the RS rear torque transfer as some cutting edge new technology. The Evo has had SAYC overseas for 15 years. And we have a real limited slip in the front, 7600rpm rev limit stock, port injection, and a proven platform. The RS has serious catching up to do, and it's a partially new platform.

 

http://racing.ford.com/enthusiasts/n...-new-york.html

The Focus RS will be produced late this year to be sold in the US Spring 2016.
Still no price info.

 

Noize I'm never one to argue with you but I dont see the RS being faster than our cars stock..... more power doesnt mean squat we all know that and our Advans are sticky SOB's lol and it looks like they will be smaller than 245...but I digress....overall I completely agree

 

There's a Michelin option for the RS that are close to race rubber. You can bet Ford will guarantee that setup is delivered to magazine testers. They'll turn the tide and poop all over those Evo Advans, unfortunately.

But again, who cares about stock? You can put 265s under an Evo X with 9.5" wheels sans a fender roll and get close to a 100whp bump with bolt on mods and tuning on pump gas.

 

There are a good deal of Evo owners that keep their cars stock, or pretty close to stock. You like to mod yours, that's great.

Stock for stock on paper right now, the RS is the better car if you go off the current specs Ford has released. Obviously that can change.

This is an erroneous claim seeing as how the previous model RS, ST, and SVT models have all held their values extremely well over the years. Which is not to say the Evo has not, it and the Sti have done very well with resale.

The truth is there is not a lot of concrete data and behind the wheel time to come to any sort of verdict right now. I am well aware of Ford's Torque Vectoring, they have been touting that for the past several years only now they claim this new system sends 70 percent of the torque to the rear or 100 percent to either one wheel.

It's early in the game and the production model is a year away from coming out. I'll wait to rush to judgement until it hits the streets.

 

I love that Ford is making this car but I don't like the 19" wheels as replacing tires will be expensive and the lack of flared fenders makes it look to much like a stock focus.

 

I hate the clown car wheels on most new cars. There's just no reason for a 19" wheel on any car, unless you have 18" brake rotors. I keep hoping the bigger is better mentality will die a painful, rapid death, but it seems to continue unabated.

 

Maybe selling 235/35-19 Michelin Sport Cup 2 tires is part of their profit margin.
$421 on Tire Rack, bet Ford dealers charge $500+ a piece
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....XLN0&tab=Sizes

 

I would think those clutches if heavy used would wear out fast.

 

There's never been an RS for sale used in the USA, but if it's rare enough, it might hold it's value well. I hope they really do.

ST used values are fair at best. A good condition 2013 with 24,000 miles trades mid $15k and retails $18k-$19k. It's about on par with a GTI in that regard.

The SVT on the other hand, is worth very little.

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...96238512&Log=0

http://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-s...94536975&Log=0

Stock, clean low mileage examples. This was far and away the most expensive SVT Focus I found, but not the most expensive 03 Evo. Many SVTs listed were half this price or less, lol. In it's defense, what passed for four cylinder performance from a domestic manufacturer 12 years ago would get it's doors blown off by a Camry of today.

I'm not saying the RS won't be good, because it will be. I'm saying it's not on my radar or my list as a car I'd consider.

 

Any hope for the Type R? I kinda feel like honda is kind of behind the 8ball compared to the RS.