Focus RS. MK 2 or MK 3 the better car?

[Grindle]

Vote here! I just swapped my extremely (much modified) powerful but loud and tetchy RS3 for a 2,000-mile 2017 RS and can't decide if i prefer it to the MK 2 i owned. I care little for the artificial sounds although it's clearly quicker than my MK1 and MK 2 RS models i enjoyed. Great traction also, way better than the 5-cylinder version.

[Ron240]

Just an observation, but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of point to this thread.
It is your car and you already said you like it, so if enough people say the Mk.2 is better will you suddenly change your mind and decide you have bought the wrong car?

[oobster]

Had a MK2 Focus RS and now got a MK3 RS, prefer the engine + body of the MK2 but the interior in the MK3 is MUCH better.

MK2 felt like a cheeky toerag, MK3 feels too civilized.

[Frimley111R]

Like all newer models, technically they will all be considerably superior but that doesn't mean more fun. My Megane R26 is far more fun than the Megane RS265 I had before but the RS265 is a better car in every measurable way.

[greenarrow]

Frimley111R said:

Like all newer models, technically they will all be considerably superior but that doesn't mean more fun. My Megane R26 is far more fun than the Megane RS265 I had before but the RS265 is a better car in every measurable way.

Sorry to derail thread but, you went from a 265 to a R26 F1? That's interesting as a little while back I was considering both. Had a chat with K tec Racing who said the 250/265 was the better all round car, but I just have a massive soft spot for the R26 F1.

Cant comment on the RS as not owned either- throw in a curveball however, I would buy a low mileage Mk1 RS Focus rather than either a Mk2 or a Mk3. the styling of the Mk1 is just right IMHO and being such a light car, its really not that much slower than a Mk2, at least up to 100MPH. The. Mk3 is in a different league altogether.

[neil-1323bolts]

Well , I've just bought a mk3 rs and can confirm its better than the golf r it replaced , not that the golf r was a bad car , the rs is just much better if a tad on the firm side suspension wise . I had a mk2 rs years back and the engine was the massive highlight , lack of traction not so . I would love to compare them both on back to back test drives but I think I would prefer the newer car , (both the RS 's had the mountune 375 kit) , probably once on the move the older car may have pulled away from the mk3 , anyway both are silly fast even compared to my 190bhp caterham , the mk3 rs just needs a comfort setting on the suspension !

[Frimley111R]

greenarrow said:

Frimley111R said:

Like all newer models, technically they will all be considerably superior but that doesn't mean more fun. My Megane R26 is far more fun than the Megane RS265 I had before but the RS265 is a better car in every measurable way.

Sorry to derail thread but, you went from a 265 to a R26 F1? That's interesting as a little while back I was considering both. Had a chat with K tec Racing who said the 250/265 was the better all round car, but I just have a massive soft spot for the R26 F1.

Yes, the RS265 was lovely but it felt too big for the type of driving I do (driving weekends in wales/Scotland and some TDs). The weight put a streain on its suspensions and brakes and tyres. The R26 is just as fast with its mods, perfectly sized for the roads and more fun to drive. Plus its much cheaper (not that that was an issue). The RS265 was a daily but the R26 isn't though but for £3000 that was fine. As I have a normal daily driver my requirement is for a fun car first and foremost.

Anyway, back to the RS....

[Ron240]

It's quite common to see a potentially controversial thread like this being started.....then the original poster is never seen again.
Maybe I am just being cynical.....but certainly makes you question their motives.

[Dal3D]

neil-1323bolts said:

...the mk3 rs just needs a comfort setting on the suspension !

I put some Pro Race 1.2 18" on mine with 235/40/18 PS4s and it rides so much nicer!

[PorkRind]

All that power and fwd...

[Ron240]

PorkRind said:

All that power and fwd...

front wheel drive?

[Zad]

MarkCup70 on YouTube has just posted a video of him driving a Mountune modified Mk 3 with 400 bhp and DSC "Sport Controller" which is basically a modified suspension controller. The controller is, quite frankly, stupidly expensive at £1k+, but it does seem to have killed that jittery choppiness in the ride, which is especially remarkable because it has lowered springs. Shame Ford couldn't have sorted that really.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4AYEUiTDZY

[Ahbefive]

oobster said:

MK2 felt like a cheeky toerag, MK3 feels too civilized.

In a straight line I would agree bit in the corners the roles are well and truly reversed which ia why I much prefer the mk3.