Kentish Express Ashford & District
Quick thinking
If you want everyday driving fun and have £30,000 to spend, has the perfect car for you
The Focus RS is a bluecollar hero. Since its introduction in 2002, the RS – which stands for Rallye Sport – has been the halo model for fast Ford fans in the UK. It’s a nod to legendary cars like the RS1600 and the Sierra Cosworth, both of which were attainable and immensely quick. Prices start at just under £30,000, but its driving dynamics and sheer power would challenge cars costing three times that. It’s all-wheeldrive, it hits 62mph in 4.7 seconds, and it sounds like an angry lion. This is the kind of car you could fall in love with – and then lease for £299 a month from your nearest Ford dealer. Looks and image It’s pretty subtle until you notice the more aggressive bodywork, the spoiler above the rear windscreen, and the sculpted front and rear. The launch colour is nitrous blue, which accounts for most of the orders currently placed. Ford has used some interior space to build a unique allwheel-drive system. You lose around 60 litres from the (already mediocre) boot, and the standard seats are bulky and eat into rear passenger legroom. Splash out on the shell seats for a more comfortable cabin. Behind the wheel Ford has built a brilliant driver’s car. There are four main driving modes – Normal, Sport, Track and Drift. If those last two words don’t excite you, then you should probably stop reading, as the RS isn’t for you. Drift mode enables you to drive sideways in a cloud of tyre smoke. The amount of technology that has gone into creating this toy is staggering, especially as it has no realworld application outside a deserted car park. Track mode is where the RS really shines. Built to flatter amateurs and satisfy professionals, it really does make you look good on the track – ham-fisted driving is smoothed out by the computer. If you want track day success, but lack talent, this could be the car for you. Value for money It costs around £30,000, going up to £33,000 if you tick every option. For this you get one of the best-handling cars for sale, and the most versatile performance hatchback ever. All in a sensible, five-door, family-car package you can use every day. You can drive it like a vanilla Focus for the most part, but every other Saturday, this family wagon will turn into a monster on the track. If you’re the kind of person to occasionally take a longer, twistier, more interesting route home, this is the car for you.