Focus RS "availability" until very recently basically said they didn't exist.

The pedestrian Subaru WRX is getting pretty expensive. I welcome new players into the market segment. They might not have cachet now but if they are serious they can build a following over time.

 

agree - also keep in mind, mitsu has been refining their awd system for decades - this is ford's first production level go of this particular system, and it already does quite well for what it is. give it a few years, I think it will be amazing. doesn't make me want a ford though

 

Been keeping up with this thread and this had me LMAO

 

I used to laugh at Datsun and Yota too.....The evolving Korean auto market is
growing faster than the polar ice melt. They are hungry like Japan was in the 70's.
They don't mind being poked fun at while they achieve record sales.

Rob may have sentence structure/ formulation issues but he has broader vision.

I remember when my domestic buddies laughed at my Evo ... as I proceeded to
"jaw drop" them. FORD did well for their first go at the AWD hot hatch segment....I suspect they will improve it.

To me their "soup" isn't quit done enough yet for my interest.

Meanwhile I test drove a 2017 FORD Fusion Sport ........... great sleeper!

 

AWD, turbo Kia Forte(sedan) is a thing I wish existed.

Go ahead and laugh, but then think about how cheap and awesome that would be as a platform.

 

I find this video very fair.

I don't care much about "refinement", but that's just my particular bent when it comes to cars. Of particular interest were the comments/perception of the power shifting around in the RS vs. the Evo X. It would have been nice if they were then on a track and then ran laps and got times...but then we would be arguing about which track would be fair etc.

 

I got bored, and backed out LOL. Maybe they should have taken them to the track.
😆
Funny, though. I should care about what they have to say, as if I owned any of those, it would be for daily driving.
Old habits die hard.

 

i watch it, i think it s a nice review.

 

let me summarize:

VW Golf R: competent in everything, yet utterly unexciting. Nerd girl in glasses.

Subaru WRX STI: the girl you've been going out with, she's great (everything you should want) - but you wonder if there's something more out there...

Ford Focus RS: the popular girl, the cheerleader, the honor roll student. Everybody wants her but the reality doesn't match the image. She is at her best at the beginning of your relationship.

Mitsubishi Evolution X: A body built for sin, she's a little unbalanced but life is never boring because she does one thing better than anyone, she's The Natural. You sacrifice everything because it's that good, you might not want to bring her home, but setting aside your better judgement you strap in for the ride. She is the car equivalent of sexual napalm. You want to do something really stupid? She's willing to give it her best shot.

 

Dang. None of them sound all that great LOL

 

As always, what are your preferences and intended use. I drove a prepped stock autox Miata R for 14 years as my only car. So my ideal of suitable is likely different than most.

Hell, just the fact that I have air conditioning in the Evo X GSR (no options) makes me think of it as a luxury car.

 

A very unbiased summary . I wouldn't consider an X "the car equivalent of sexual napalm". I see the X as the only decent person in a family of morons.

 

Give us your unbiased summary.

 

It says more about us as a car community when the EVO X is considered a normal car.
It says even more when the majority of people in this thread consider a stock evo to be a good starting point. Yes the FoRS has some big shoes to fill, but Ford is only giving us the raw material, it's up to the modding community to take it from here. I've seen enough stock tests and reviews, what's next? Does it have modding potential? Can it be made into a proper track car with minor mods?