Elise vs Focus RS
Discussion
Yesterday I was having fun with twisty roads and soon became after a Focus RS. In the bends I was gaining a lot (mainly 2nd gear, short 3 gear straight) but once the road opened he took me 50 meters in 3rd or 4th. I was "always" on second came and only reach him because he stopped to accelarate (I did it too for safety reason)
Looking at my book it is a 212bhp at 3500 rpm with 1280 kg. I suspected my elise would be much closer...
Any idea.
I am absolutely not frustated because in the curves it was so easy to follow and nice to have a comparison. :)
Looking at my book it is a 212bhp at 3500 rpm with 1280 kg. I suspected my elise would be much closer...
Any idea.
I am absolutely not frustated because in the curves it was so easy to follow and nice to have a comparison. :)
Mr_C said:
it probably wasn't standard! They're quite easy to get 300bhp out of from what i've heard
This is also my conclusion because I was very close (security distance) and with the long straight he took a fair avance while I was on second came 2- 3- 4 ...
It is the first time I can't follow someone in the R, a real experience....
As people have mentioned, it's likely it's not standard (many RS owners like to modify there cars relatively easily and cheaply for sensible power).
You may also find that you came across the RS in it's "sweet spot". By that I mean that one of the biggest criticisms of the Focus RS was it's trick Quaife diff. On all but the smoothest of roads it is a torque steering handful...especially if you have some serious (read: 300bhp) power through those front wheels. If you came across it on a smooth windy road, then the RS really would have been in it's element.
However, I think the way you have approached it is EXACTLY right. You enjoyed the drive, appreciated the speed differential, and thought about why. For that, sir, I command your take on cars! *
Tony
[small*All too many times you see posters on here 'I wasted XXXX' or 'f'ing hell my car must not be running right he drove like a XXXX' etc. Anyway, let my sinicism not get the better of this post.
You may also find that you came across the RS in it's "sweet spot". By that I mean that one of the biggest criticisms of the Focus RS was it's trick Quaife diff. On all but the smoothest of roads it is a torque steering handful...especially if you have some serious (read: 300bhp) power through those front wheels. If you came across it on a smooth windy road, then the RS really would have been in it's element.
However, I think the way you have approached it is EXACTLY right. You enjoyed the drive, appreciated the speed differential, and thought about why. For that, sir, I command your take on cars! *
Tony
[small*All too many times you see posters on here 'I wasted XXXX' or 'f'ing hell my car must not be running right he drove like a XXXX' etc. Anyway, let my sinicism not get the better of this post.
tonyhetherington said:
You enjoyed the drive, appreciated the speed differential, and thought about why. For that, sir, I command your take on cars! *
Tony
[small*All too many times you see posters on here 'I wasted XXXX' or 'f'ing hell my car must not be running right he drove like a XXXX' etc. Anyway, let my sinicism not get the better of this post.
I deeply appreciated your post, because I do believe it is possible to enjoy cars " and to some extend speed" on a smart way. My vision is that it is the driver and not the car who may be dangerous. Too many people believe that if you have a sport car, you are not reasonnable. I organise once a year a road book day called "Car Full Day" Being french speaking, it gives a easy idea of the goal. I select the invited people for their spirit about cars and not their cars. Most off them are parents of small children and understand the speed limit in town and villages, outside in the forest and in the "fields" it is quite wide open on the right foot but never over the limit... I hope again for this year..
Glad you had good fun sir! As others have commented, it is easy to get a lot of horsepower out of an RS. The Bluefin upgrade can give upto 280bhp IIRC, for very little outlay.
The FOcus RS is a stunning car to drive quickly and it is very easy to get into a grove and really shift. If it is driven well, it will be hard to catch.
The FOcus RS is a stunning car to drive quickly and it is very easy to get into a grove and really shift. If it is driven well, it will be hard to catch.
Even standard I would have expected him to pull away on the straights. He would get the power down earlier (especially if you were keeping things at a safe distance). This would mean that he would be able to accelerate faster than you at any given temporal point. (This is similar to the effect seen in F1 where a car can be right behind coming into the corner only to be several car lengths back mid-straight).
This effect would be seen until the following vehicle was able to overcome the temporal disadvantage and demonstrate a significantly better performance level. This would take some time on similarly specced (power:weight) cars such as RS & elise, and indeed, on the roads you describe, it is more likely that the car in front would brake into the next corner before this point is reached.
Suffice to say that if the elise were in front of the RS I would expect it to carry more speed through the corners, be on the throttle earlier and leave the Ford behind.
Hope this helps.
Regards, Neil
This effect would be seen until the following vehicle was able to overcome the temporal disadvantage and demonstrate a significantly better performance level. This would take some time on similarly specced (power:weight) cars such as RS & elise, and indeed, on the roads you describe, it is more likely that the car in front would brake into the next corner before this point is reached.
Suffice to say that if the elise were in front of the RS I would expect it to carry more speed through the corners, be on the throttle earlier and leave the Ford behind.
Hope this helps.
Regards, Neil
Having owned both an S2 Exige and a modded Focus RS (260bhp) at the same time and driven them back to back, I would say that while the Lotus is the better handling and quickest 0-60, and certainly the best on track, I found the RS much easier to drive fast in the real world. Turbo vs having to keep on the second cam, big safe chuck-able hatchback vs. little squashable precise sports car etc.
Not dissing the 111R/Exige, cracking mobiles both of them, just my experience.
Not dissing the 111R/Exige, cracking mobiles both of them, just my experience.
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