Town and Country TV you said think again about driving the RS in the winter snow up north? it's the BEST car to drive in the snow with the right tires. ST wouldn't be the car to drive in the winter snow up north.
For me personally, I went with a ST due to incentives. The Rs was alittle out of my price range. I logged just over 1100 miles on it now and it makes you smile ear to ear every day driving it. It is a blast to drive!
I love the RS. I am so glad Ford finally brought the fun to the US. I am an original EVO8 owner and love awd sport cars. All of the technology that goes in to these cars from the factory is pretty cool. I am kind of a driving purist so I like not having traction control. It's just more fun for me driving. If I were to buy another sport compact it would be a focus RS.
I own a '16 ST3. Test drove a '17 RS2 because I was interested in an upgrade. Felt exactly like the ST around town and even under acceleration. ST was actually a lot more fun around town. Handling on the ST was a lot more agile as well. Not worth the $11k+ upgrade. Buy an ST. If you like the recaros then get an ST2 or 3.
I was debating between a RS and a Mustang GT but decided to go with the Mustang. The RS cost more than the Mustang I got and felt as if it was a way better car for the money. A comparison between the two from you guys would be interesting, especially because of the similar price of the two.
It is a hard choice between the two. I honestly went with the RS because my last two cars were Mustangs. The only thing I miss is the V8 sound. The Focus is much much much more fun to drive than a new Mustang GT. For power potential the Mustang is the obvious winner. But as and easy going do just about everything you want to the RS wins. Being a hatch and AWD. Both are great cars. I do enjoy the Fact that pretty much nobody owns an RS, but SO MANY people own Mustangs.
I agree you do see Mustangs everywhere but you can't beat the horsepower for the price! In my opinion you can't go wrong with either one of our cars, love the color of yours btw. I went with the Mustang because I am 20 years old and have only had 4 cylinder economy cars with 30+ mpg with 150 hp max my whole life. I wanted to experience all the v8 muscle car hype I read about on the internet at least once. So you might think a Focus RS is more fun to drive than a Mustang GT but for me the Mustang takes the cake. Like I said, coming from about 140 hp to 435 is really fun to have at my disposal underneath my foot. I got the performance pack as well so it can handle decently too. The RS is a more well rounded and an awesome car I'm glad we finally got them here in the states, I might get me a RS one day but for now I got my Mustang!
what is your job where you can afford a mustang at 20?! not being pretentious i'm genuinely curious. I'd love to nab an st but i'm stuck paying for my degree right now. whatever it is congrats on being so successful!
I own an RS and agree that the ride, even in normal mode, is definitely firm, I wish the current setting was actually for 'sport' mode and that normal mode was set softer for the pot-hole infested streets of Chicago. That being said, after the break in period I did noticed the suspension softened up slightly - in fact a friend of mine who road in the car when it was brand new and then again at around 4,000 miles commented that he could tell it was less bouncy now. So it does get better - at least a little bit.
Had an ST for 3 years and loved it. I got the RS now and love it! The mark-up was removed, which made it approachable to me. I live in New England so really wanted the all wheel drive. Btw, all wheel drive cars cost more and don't get as good milage...hello. The RS is everything the ST was and then some. I loved my ST a lot and recommend it highly. The RS is awesome too, while I realize it's not for everyone. I wish they had a better upgraded stereo, other than Sony but definitely no deal breaker. Either the ST or RS are awesome cars, IMHO. I feel lucky to have a wallet for the RS. I hope the RS will be as reliable as my ST was.
Bill Palmer I know right? The ST is such a fun car and doesn't take much to make it rip on the street either. I was surprised when I test drove the RS that the mid rev pull was quite similar to my tuned ST. A muffler delete also helped make the ST sound pretty awesome also. And handling? Wow, that car was something else in the bends
Get the mustang gt and put in a supercharger or turbo, end up spending as much as the focus rs but go faster. Lose awd for driving in winter but with proper rear tires you will still grip for launches. Awd is for daily drivers not $30k cars that cant tow and dint have a bed.
I just bought a 2018 Ford Focus ST and I’m enjoying it. I recently wrecked my beautiful 2004 sonic blue GT mustang which was my baby! I will forever miss her. And what a great video MR. thanks. #foreverford
I've had my focus ST since July 2013, It's my daily driver and family car. I'm almost at 50k miles now and haven't had any major problems with it aside from random fixes required by ford which didn't affect the car. I love the focus RS now and before it came to the US but i don't think the price tag is worth it. 13.8k over an ST is a bit much when you factor in possible modifications that most people do to their cars to make it their own. My ST is completely stock except for my rally mudflaps to keep the rocks off the lower body. I i wish this dealer was closer to California, because i would definitely buy my next vehicle from them. keep up the good work!
2013 ST owner, wanted to get an RS but wasn't going to pay 10k over sticker. Bought a 2017 BMW 230 instead. BMW is no longer BMW. It's luxurious and numb. I miss my ST.
Daniel Hamilton so similar situation here I have a 2016 S4 bought used valued at 44k, but it's automatic and lacks life until you get on it, I'm thinking about a trade in for an RS. I say this after recently driving an ST and having a blast going 35mph..... I don't know what to do, the Audi is so premium but the ford is much more fun..... help
I hear ya, I'm deploying back to Europe in the fall so I'm probably going to sell it before I go and eat a pretty big loss. While deployed I'll be able to recover the loss, then hopefully PCS top Japan with where the COLA is really high. I'll probably get another ST but I'm somewhat interested in the Type R. It just sucks because my philosophy is not warm towards FWD but I definitely think my ST was just waaaay more fun. I used to be the biggest Audi fan but I find them dull and very wooden feeling now.
XCarter_CarsX I am in the same predicament. I love my ST, but every time I go by the Ford dealer, I think, "Can I live with the higher payment and less flexibilty of the RS ?" For now the answer is no. I love my ST. It outperforms 90% of the cars I see on the road. In my current job which has me driving 1,500-2,000 miles per month, there is NO other car that I would rather have. My previous car was a Fusion 2.0T. Just didn't have enough GO! I haven't test driven the new Fusion Sport, but it sounds promissing. I still have mixed feelings about selling my 2008 DHG Bullitt Mustang back in 2011, but it was the right choice at the time.
This comparison is very like that for the Golf GTI vs Golf R. However there is a much smaller difference in price between the two Golfs. Ultimately though the ST and the GTI are great everyday cars, whilst the RS and the R are performance cars, also suited to tracks.
I own a full loaded ST 2016...had the Titanium 2013(which is why I purchased the ST)...Ford is on top of their game with the Focus...being 55 years old I'd like to see a Fusion ST...that would be my next purchase! Gotta be quick too!
I think the response would have been that not everyone can afford a Focus Rs... The St is still a competent sport hatch, for thousands of dollars less.
Good comparison, I have the 2014 Fiesta ST and will out corner the Focus ST and is only 2/10 of a second slower to 60 and the fuel economy is awesome, I could buy 3 Fiestas to one RS, bang for the Buck the Fiesta is hands down the best deal, I embarrass a lot of people with my ST and I'm 69 years young.
I can appreciate the fact that you like your Fiesta ST. The Price to Performance ratio is better than the Focus ST. The Fiesta ST stops quicker from 60-0 and "feels" more nimble because it's a lighter car but the Focus ST actually takes the lead in every other department including handling. They are so close performance wise that it really just comes down to whether you invest the extra money because you need the extra room or not. The Fiesta ST is voted the better choice only if your looking at it from the Price to Performance ratio perspective. If you take that out of the equation and are just looking at Performance the Focus ST wins on that one out of the gate and that includes cornering as it pulls more G's on every skid pad and has faster track times to the FiST. This is based on stock platforms which the FoST dominates everywhere but stopping. If you perform equal mods the Focus would still make more power and dominate over the Fiesta. Both cool cars though
Very true, the best thing about my Fiesta is there not as common as the Focus, I removed the Fiesta logo off the back and people are always asking me what is it, I have the hood carbon fiber wrapped tinted windows cool 3 inch exhaust, and it's always spotless, thanks for the response, keep up the good videos.
I would image ST's are selling because who in their right mind would pay well over $40 for a FOCUS! Don't get me wrong, it's an amazing car. But $40k for a Focus is down right silly.
The factor that made me choose the ST over the RS was the ride comfort; If you just use these cars for race weekends and pleasure driving, then the RS would be my choice. If, however, you plan the car to be a daily driver or a second family car, the ST wins easily....why? Because the ride of the RS in it's tamest setting is like riding in an unloaded lumber truck; in sport and race mode, you'd need a kidney transplant if you used it for other than a race weekend and cruise car. Drive them both and you decide. And when you're testing them on an average road, think about three hours of driving and answer the question........good review, but not discussing the ride behavior a bit more in detail came up a bit short....and that 13-15k difference in price for the HP/TQ and AWD, plus a few more items must be weighed heavily in your decision. You can't race on public roads, so the gain is only apparent for racers and cruisers who want uniqueness....personally, I believe the power to weight ratio is spot on for the ST and a bit over the top for the RS.... They are both great cars, however, the ST shines a little more all-around. Having said that, I plan to upgrade my ST with a mechanical differential and better brake pads and calipers (~$1500 in upgrades and that's it -- I like safety and handling performance over HP/TQ for a second car and/or daily driver....cya
I know this is old. For daily, it should be the ST2 if you want turbo. Now, if you just want a focus in general, on a budget, and want improved interior, maybe get the Titanium as they are probably around the same price used as an ST1.
Very nicely done, thank you. I've had the pleasure of previously owning a Focus ST and drove it for three years. Enjoyed every minute of driving it. I ended up selling it and bought a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Nice vehicle, but I missed the sportiness and fun factor of the Focus. A few months ago, off to the ford dealership I went, with the intention of buying another Focus St. I ended up with a Fiesta ST instead. For me, I must admit I like the Fiesta better. I think because of it's size and it's power to weight ratio, the fun factor of driving it, is higher. I did not test drive the RS, a little to pricey for me. Thanks Ford, for offering three great, hot hatch's. Any of them, would be a great choice!
Mitchell your videos r much appreciated. I'm a Ford nut, 2 generations before me. You do an outstanding job of keeping me up to date. The Butch in Dayton
Mitchel, I drove a friend's Shelby Mustang with magnetic shocks, (fantastic car). Are these the same as the ones on the Focus RS? On pot holed city streets the magnetic shocks were incredible.
I had a 2015 ST for 2 years and traded for a 2017 RS. I daily it and could not be happier. Minus it's a very rough ride. I miss my ST, but I LOVE my RS. And bought it from Town and Country. :)
"Wouldn't want to daily the RS." I daily my RS. I took possession of mine just over a year ago and I am over 21k miles. Comparing the RS to the ST is not a worthy comparison. I had a 2014 ST before my RS and I can tell you what a world of difference the feel is between them. 100% do not regret the RS and would highly recommend it. I have test driven a 2017 Golf R 6-Speed and a 2018 STI, the RS was superior than both. The R was smoother, but boring. If I am buying a hot hatch I don't want it being super tamed, I want it to be fun and practical. STI was just un-amusing to me. I was not a fan of the clutch/transmission and it felt laggy and slow. All in all I am satisfied with my RS, if anyone is interested in having any questions/concerns answered just hit me up. @kirinandchips on IG!
Hello Reese, I currently have a 2014 ST with a bunch of mods, but yet I am considering moving to the RS. I see you had an ST prior to owning your RS, is the difference in acceleration pretty noticeable? Have you done anything to your RS or is it stock?
I think the difference is noticeable, maybe not so much in stock form but with a tune it is a completely different beast. The only comparability between the RS and ST is in a roll race. My buddy and I did a highway pull this past weekend and at first we were pretty even, but when I was only halfway through 4th he shifted and I just gapped him. Similar powered STs would beat the RS from a roll (with driver mod of course). I have only an intake and tune for performance upgrades, but it makes a huge difference. +50whp or so. Only thing I can recommend is for you to just go drive one and decide for yourself!
Any chance of a comparison between fiesta st and focus st looking at both just now not sure which one to buy, great video really good comparison thoroughly enjoyed !
The purchase of my 2017 RS was superior at the time and even post recal was the only real choice for a fun car. The ST is for that have to compromis a great deal.
Just got my 2017 FoST. Have seen ppl speaking about issues and so forth. Was wondering what issues have you heard about regarding 2017 models specifically? Also, if older models with issues have carried over to the 2017 and if so, have they been addressed/fixed in the 2017 models?
After riding in the RT, how did the seats perform - did they live up to the 'complaints' you voiced while driving the ST? You also could have talked a little more about the tire-selections on the RS - i.e. Summer-only tires vs. All-Season, etc...plus I believe one of the tire packages for the RS is an additional wheel & tire set of winter tires to coincide with the summer tires.
Glad to see a Ford dealership saying... "don't buy our highest model, get the cheaper one" lol I've always said the Focus RS is overpriced for what you get. That's without the dealer markup.
I had a 2013 ST and have now a 2016 RS. Maybe its just me but I do like the suspension on the RS way better. I do not miss the torque steer and the wheel hop on the front axle.
Had an ST, went to an RS in 2016. Yes its all the same inside, its a Focus with the highest trim options. The money difference is the AWD and Engine. And its ALOT of differences. The RS is 100% a different animal when it comes to handling and performance.
Great video, maybe next time have a voice over with nice long shots of the outside of the vehicles for comparison i.e. showing the truck and back seats as well as a good lock at all the hardware under the hood.
Joshua Wilford Maybe if you are talking about hopping 3 lanes to the side rather than straight in front. I drove the ST first and got the RS all on account of torque steer. The ST is great but the RS is awesome and modified it's insane.
Basically comes down to what you can afford really. Same scenario with WRX or STi or VW GTI or Golf R. If speed equals money how fast can you afford to go?
I feel like dealer markups are probably keeping the RS out of reach of a lot of customers that it was built to appeal to. I love the RS, but the ST has a huge bang for the buck advantage.
My Car Life. Let them sit on the lots for a few months or a few years. I was fortunate I payed $4000. under sticker for my 09 GT500 in Nov.08. In 07-08, dealers were marking up GT500's $10k. I've seen some nice 13-14 GT500's between $50k- $55k. My biggest concern is the price of the new GT500. Gonna hurt!
Drove by my local Ford Dealer today, spotted the 2017 Focus RS. $42,000. Cost as much as my 2009 GT500.They've been using all wheel drive in Explorers for years. So to me, AWD isn't really exotic, especially in a Focus. I wonder how much $ this thing is going to depreciate over the next few years. I really don't understand.
Maxwell Ramirez. I bet you're a salesman at a local Ford dealer.lol. But seriously, a Focus? The new GT is over $400k and I can't wait to see the price of the new GT500, if and when it ever comes out. The price of 07-14 GT500's are fairly steady between $28- $55k. Don't know how well they're selling though. I plan to keep mine until I'm 80. Happy Easter! John
I doubt it'll retain its value that well, which is fine by me because it means I can get one for a reasonable price in a few years. They seem like pretty cool cars for what they are but the RS is still way over priced for what you get. I think the ST is a good car for its price tough. Seems like a solid car for the hot-hatch market.
it's not even real AWD, its Haldex. They dyno the car in FWD mode. The RDU does trickery to send power to the rear when needed, when you're not accelerating hard or cornering the RDU disengages and it's basically a FWD car.
$14k more for a Focus RS?! Okay, we get AWD, magna ride, and the same 2.3L ecoboost engine that's in the base Mustang. Seems over priced, I guess that's why there are still quite a few lingering around the dealer lots where I live.
just bought a focus SE, love dreaming about an RS or an ST in the future cause i love the focus platform. might go all out and get an RS instead of a Tesla in my 5 year plan
It is not even the fact that there are no incentives, dealers will purposely to mark up the price, a sales guy admitted when we were test driving a mustang 5.0, that they marked the price up on the RS at $10k.
Great video! I’ve had my ST for a year now and love it but recently been thinking about the RS. I do have a pretty long daily commute so the MPG difference and price difference is making me think to just stay with the ST
: rs is 20,000 dollars more than the st .And your way off on the fuel mileage on the st,I wish my car got 32 miles per gallon. 25 to 27 miles per gallon average.
Good video! I just wish you could order a higher trim level ST for instance without the Recaro seats. Our neighbor has an ST-3 pkg on his that has a good array of stuff over an ST-1 but I really don't like the seats. I'm fairly thin as well but just don't like them. Other than that its a really fun car! I admire the RS but I sure couldn't spend the premium price for it over the ST for something I'd actually drive 3 seasons out of the year....yea, it snows here unfortunately!
I've owned a Focus ST and recently bought a Focus RS. The RS is better in everyway & the AWD system is fantastic. If you're buying the RS and worried about fuel economy.... then here you go... real world MPGs in city stop n go traffic is around 16-17mpg..... 25-26 mpg on the highway.... You'll be spending 40K plus these days for low mileage RS.
Great comparison. The 0 percent interest Is a good bonus as well. The ST is as fast as my 2001 Mustang BULLITT (in stock configuration) KEEP UP THE INFORMATIVE VIDEOS !
I was referring to quarter mile times. My 2001 BULLITT has ran a best time of 14.40. Last season I watched some Focus ST s Running that quick or qucker! With consistency. This was at an NHRA track. LUCAS OIL RACEWAY Brownsburg IN.
I have a 2013 titanium hatchback & my dash looks just like the RS. You would think for that much money, Ford would give the RS a little more appeal inside.
You asked, why are there more orders for the ST than the RS? The answer is price $$$. The ST fulfills Rally Sport (RS) enthusiast niche at a desirable price point. The price bracket above this is laden with Mustang buyers not interested in a Focus.
Some people modded it. To increase it, you will need to do a lot of highway driving using little to no boost. Also take into account that they may have driven it for years and put in 93 gas to get to that number. You won't get that number with 87 imo.
pin this for no reason
Bwahahaha!
Town and Country TV the Rs it's a damn mini rocket so fucking fast I drove one n I scared the sales man lol
Town and Country TV you said think again about driving the RS in the winter snow up north? it's the BEST car to drive in the snow with the right tires. ST wouldn't be the car to drive in the winter snow up north.
He was talking about the optional tires, not the RS.
TheMarcusGomez lol
"We were wondering why people pick the ST over the RS...."
"We cant figure it out".
If i got an RS id remove all the badges and make it look like a normal focus and smoke mustangs off stop lights and such
Nah just keep the badges because you smoke them anyway.
You realize the stang gt is quicker right?
Gross. Just buy a fusion sport then.
@@Racer-M then you might as well buy a stang.
Well the focus rs looks unique from the other focus cars so you really wouldn’t fool a ton of people 😂
A Dealership doing marketing right
For me personally, I went with a ST due to incentives. The Rs was alittle out of my price range. I logged just over 1100 miles on it now and it makes you smile ear to ear every day driving it. It is a blast to drive!
I would have loved an RS but couldn’t afford it. Still very happy with my focus ST!
Imagine a Fiesta RS lol
They're making one now, its lit
They aren't making one... they've said so themselves. You can find videos of the one of the higher ups from Europe saying that it's not happening.
They are not making one. Ford doesn't want anything competing with the RS even if its, its own cars.
The rally fiestas are RS
Carlos Flores hhhh
lol.. If your on a budget don't buy the RS. But It's well worth the extra money. I just picked up my 2018 RS.
Hows the RS going up to now?? U still owe one??
i love how the focus rs looks
If they made the ST AWD they'd sell like freaking crazy
The ST has been built in Michigan the whole time.
I love the RS. I am so glad Ford finally brought the fun to the US. I am an original EVO8 owner and love awd sport cars. All of the technology that goes in to these cars from the factory is pretty cool. I am kind of a driving purist so I like not having traction control. It's just more fun for me driving. If I were to buy another sport compact it would be a focus RS.
I own a '16 ST3. Test drove a '17 RS2 because I was interested in an upgrade. Felt exactly like the ST around town and even under acceleration. ST was actually a lot more fun around town. Handling on the ST was a lot more agile as well. Not worth the $11k+ upgrade. Buy an ST. If you like the recaros then get an ST2 or 3.
Zach Dreyer z
I was debating between a RS and a Mustang GT but decided to go with the Mustang. The RS cost more than the Mustang I got and felt as if it was a way better car for the money. A comparison between the two from you guys would be interesting, especially because of the similar price of the two.
It is a hard choice between the two. I honestly went with the RS because my last two cars were Mustangs. The only thing I miss is the V8 sound. The Focus is much much much more fun to drive than a new Mustang GT.
For power potential the Mustang is the obvious winner. But as and easy going do just about everything you want to the RS wins. Being a hatch and AWD.
Both are great cars. I do enjoy the Fact that pretty much nobody owns an RS, but SO MANY people own Mustangs.
I agree you do see Mustangs everywhere but you can't beat the horsepower for the price! In my opinion you can't go wrong with either one of our cars, love the color of yours btw. I went with the Mustang because I am 20 years old and have only had 4 cylinder economy cars with 30+ mpg with 150 hp max my whole life. I wanted to experience all the v8 muscle car hype I read about on the internet at least once. So you might think a Focus RS is more fun to drive than a Mustang GT but for me the Mustang takes the cake. Like I said, coming from about 140 hp to 435 is really fun to have at my disposal underneath my foot. I got the performance pack as well so it can handle decently too. The RS is a more well rounded and an awesome car I'm glad we finally got them here in the states, I might get me a RS one day but for now I got my Mustang!
LOL both of you have profile pictures of the cars you just described
what is your job where you can afford a mustang at 20?! not being pretentious i'm genuinely curious. I'd love to nab an st but i'm stuck paying for my degree right now. whatever it is congrats on being so successful!
PsychoticAnarchist69 same here I'm 29 and I'm still debating whether I can afford a new ford focus st or not 😓😓
I own an RS and agree that the ride, even in normal mode, is definitely firm, I wish the current setting was actually for 'sport' mode and that normal mode was set softer for the pot-hole infested streets of Chicago. That being said, after the break in period I did noticed the suspension softened up slightly - in fact a friend of mine who road in the car when it was brand new and then again at around 4,000 miles commented that he could tell it was less bouncy now. So it does get better - at least a little bit.
I didn’t realize this was a dealership when I selected the video! This is very well done. Awesome job!
Had an ST for 3 years and loved it. I got the RS now and love it! The mark-up was removed, which made it approachable to me. I live in New England so really wanted the all wheel drive. Btw, all wheel drive cars cost more and don't get as good milage...hello. The RS is everything the ST was and then some. I loved my ST a lot and recommend it highly. The RS is awesome too, while I realize it's not for everyone. I wish they had a better upgraded stereo, other than Sony but definitely no deal breaker. Either the ST or RS are awesome cars, IMHO. I feel lucky to have a wallet for the RS. I hope the RS will be as reliable as my ST was.
The RS in gray with the blue fire brake caliper covers is so sexy
Hahaha. "if you don't like this video, press thumbs down twice." Lol. Nice one. 😂
200th like 😎 4 years late
You talk about the ST engine yet show a pic of the RS engine????
Oops! Haha good catch
Robert Kohut rs air filter kinda gives it away
Xplosion51 - yeah but it ain't tuned like the RS 😊
Plus it most likely weighs 500 pounds more if not even more.
I'm glad I'm not the only one that noticed that lol
I am not a Ford guy myself but I love your model performance (comparison) videos! Great job.
I love my st...LOOOOVE it. Maybe one day I'll get an RS. Or a mustang GT.
Bill Palmer I know right? The ST is such a fun car and doesn't take much to make it rip on the street either. I was surprised when I test drove the RS that the mid rev pull was quite similar to my tuned ST. A muffler delete also helped make the ST sound pretty awesome also. And handling? Wow, that car was something else in the bends
If you actually go for one of those hey the RS, the Mustang wins in the 1/4 mile, but they have the same 0-60 and a couple seconds less 0-100
I have a mustang right now and i kinda want an RS. It has more space and is just a tad slower than the GT. And just looks amazing
Get the mustang gt and put in a supercharger or turbo, end up spending as much as the focus rs but go faster. Lose awd for driving in winter but with proper rear tires you will still grip for launches. Awd is for daily drivers not $30k cars that cant tow and dint have a bed.
I just bought a 2018 Ford Focus ST and I’m enjoying it. I recently wrecked my beautiful 2004 sonic blue GT mustang which was my baby! I will forever miss her. And what a great video MR. thanks. #foreverford
I've had my focus ST since July 2013, It's my daily driver and family car. I'm almost at 50k miles now and haven't had any major problems with it aside from random fixes required by ford which didn't affect the car. I love the focus RS now and before it came to the US but i don't think the price tag is worth it. 13.8k over an ST is a bit much when you factor in possible modifications that most people do to their cars to make it their own. My ST is completely stock except for my rally mudflaps to keep the rocks off the lower body. I i wish this dealer was closer to California, because i would definitely buy my next vehicle from them. keep up the good work!
2013 ST owner, wanted to get an RS but wasn't going to pay 10k over sticker. Bought a 2017 BMW 230 instead. BMW is no longer BMW. It's luxurious and numb. I miss my ST.
Daniel Hamilton so similar situation here I have a 2016 S4 bought used valued at 44k, but it's automatic and lacks life until you get on it, I'm thinking about a trade in for an RS. I say this after recently driving an ST and having a blast going 35mph..... I don't know what to do, the Audi is so premium but the ford is much more fun..... help
I hear ya, I'm deploying back to Europe in the fall so I'm probably going to sell it before I go and eat a pretty big loss. While deployed I'll be able to recover the loss, then hopefully PCS top Japan with where the COLA is really high. I'll probably get another ST but I'm somewhat interested in the Type R. It just sucks because my philosophy is not warm towards FWD but I definitely think my ST was just waaaay more fun. I used to be the biggest Audi fan but I find them dull and very wooden feeling now.
Daniel Hamilton I would get another ST, and I need to figure out if I could daily drive a focus RS
XCarter_CarsX I am in the same predicament. I love my ST, but every time I go by the Ford dealer, I think, "Can I live with the higher payment and less flexibilty of the RS ?" For now the answer is no. I love my ST. It outperforms 90% of the cars I see on the road. In my current job which has me driving 1,500-2,000 miles per month, there is NO other car that I would rather have. My previous car was a Fusion 2.0T. Just didn't have enough GO! I haven't test driven the new Fusion Sport, but it sounds promissing. I still have mixed feelings about selling my 2008 DHG Bullitt Mustang back in 2011, but it was the right choice at the time.
Pwj579 I'm sure the ST is a blast, the car doesn't make sense to me how much fun it is
The rs looks so hard. The brake color man. That blue is amazing
This comparison is very like that for the Golf GTI vs Golf R. However there is a much smaller difference in price between the two Golfs. Ultimately though the ST and the GTI are great everyday cars, whilst the RS and the R are performance cars, also suited to tracks.
The Golf R is a "performance hatch". It is boring to drive.
I own a full loaded ST 2016...had the Titanium 2013(which is why I purchased the ST)...Ford is on top of their game with the Focus...being 55 years old I'd like to see a Fusion ST...that would be my next purchase! Gotta be quick too!
It's called a Fusion Sport
Idk too much about the RS and ST but this was a great video. I’m mainly a Japanese car guy but this was a great video again!
Yea, one is a daily driver and one is a much more refined sports machine. Answer to your question is not everyone is a car guy...
I think the response would have been that not everyone can afford a Focus Rs... The St is still a competent sport hatch, for thousands of dollars less.
What is the actual 0-60 time on the focus st? I see 5.8 from Ford and 6.3 on those 0-60 sites. Does anyone know the real deal?
5.8
Good comparison, I have the 2014 Fiesta ST and will out corner the Focus ST and is only 2/10 of a second slower to 60 and the fuel economy is awesome, I could buy 3 Fiestas to one RS, bang for the Buck the Fiesta is hands down the best deal, I embarrass a lot of people with my ST and I'm 69 years young.
You are dreaming.
I can appreciate the fact that you like your Fiesta ST. The Price to Performance ratio is better than the Focus ST. The Fiesta ST stops quicker from 60-0 and "feels" more nimble because it's a lighter car but the Focus ST actually takes the lead in every other department including handling. They are so close performance wise that it really just comes down to whether you invest the extra money because you need the extra room or not. The Fiesta ST is voted the better choice only if your looking at it from the Price to Performance ratio perspective. If you take that out of the equation and are just looking at Performance the Focus ST wins on that one out of the gate and that includes cornering as it pulls more G's on every skid pad and has faster track times to the FiST. This is based on stock platforms which the FoST dominates everywhere but stopping. If you perform equal mods the Focus would still make more power and dominate over the Fiesta. Both cool cars though
Very true, the best thing about my Fiesta is there not as common as the Focus, I removed the Fiesta logo off the back and people are always asking me what is it, I have the hood carbon fiber wrapped tinted windows cool 3 inch exhaust, and it's always spotless, thanks for the response, keep up the good videos.
dude, you got any vids? I don't see too many Fiesta st. I own a focus st, there fun!
The Fiesta felt cheaper inside, was not as attractive on the outside and just did not feel all that powerful to me.
"We were wondering why everyone is taking a more liking to the ST than the RS" maybe the 20000$ difference
I would image ST's are selling because who in their right mind would pay well over $40 for a FOCUS! Don't get me wrong, it's an amazing car. But $40k for a Focus is down right silly.
The RS starts in the 30s
Yeah, the high 30s. Still a bit much for what it is.
said the same with a type r
My Rs is $33k in Texas, so I don't know haven't seen any $40k ones at the dealership.
Nick Aguirre cali, one of the highest taxes in the nation, its 45k
If they were the same price, I think most people would choose the RS. Duh.
The factor that made me choose the ST over the RS was the ride comfort; If you just use these cars for race weekends and pleasure driving, then the RS would be my choice. If, however, you plan the car to be a daily driver or a second family car, the ST wins easily....why?
Because the ride of the RS in it's tamest setting is like riding in an unloaded lumber truck; in sport and race mode, you'd need a kidney transplant if you used it for other than a race weekend and cruise car. Drive them both and you decide. And when you're testing them on an average road, think about three hours of driving and answer the question........good review, but not discussing the ride behavior a bit more in detail came up a bit short....and that 13-15k difference in price for the HP/TQ and AWD, plus a few more items must be weighed heavily in your decision. You can't race on public roads, so the gain is only apparent for racers and cruisers who want uniqueness....personally, I believe the power to weight ratio is spot on for the ST and a bit over the top for the RS....
They are both great cars, however, the ST shines a little more all-around. Having said that, I plan to upgrade my ST with a mechanical differential and better brake pads and calipers (~$1500 in upgrades and that's it -- I like safety and handling performance over HP/TQ for a second car and/or daily driver....cya
Super informative I just bought a RS so now I have one of each
I'm looking at getting a used focus, what would anyone recommend for a daily?
I know this is old. For daily, it should be the ST2 if you want turbo. Now, if you just want a focus in general, on a budget, and want improved interior, maybe get the Titanium as they are probably around the same price used as an ST1.
I liked this video so much that I hit the thumbs up twice!
Very nicely done, thank you. I've had the pleasure of previously owning a Focus ST and drove it for three years. Enjoyed every minute of driving it. I ended up selling it and bought a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Nice vehicle, but I missed the sportiness and fun factor of the Focus. A few months ago, off to the ford dealership I went, with the intention of buying another Focus St. I ended up with a Fiesta ST instead. For me, I must admit I like the Fiesta better. I think because of it's size and it's power to weight ratio, the fun factor of driving it, is higher. I did not test drive the RS, a little to pricey for me. Thanks Ford, for offering three great, hot hatch's. Any of them, would be a great choice!
Mitchell your videos r much appreciated. I'm a Ford nut, 2 generations before me. You do an outstanding job of keeping me up to date. The Butch in Dayton
I like these side by side comparisons
Thanks for the honest review. From a Ford dealer guy it's rare good job!
wheres the Comparison?
Mitchel, I drove a friend's Shelby Mustang with magnetic shocks, (fantastic car). Are these the same as the ones on the Focus RS? On pot holed city streets the magnetic shocks were incredible.
The RS does not have magnetic ride.
I had a 2015 ST for 2 years and traded for a 2017 RS. I daily it and could not be happier. Minus it's a very rough ride. I miss my ST, but I LOVE my RS. And bought it from Town and Country. :)
Great information!!! You're right... No good comparison videos around!!! Hi from Mexico!!
Pictures of the alloys as you talked about them would have been good.
"Wouldn't want to daily the RS." I daily my RS. I took possession of mine just over a year ago and I am over 21k miles. Comparing the RS to the ST is not a worthy comparison. I had a 2014 ST before my RS and I can tell you what a world of difference the feel is between them. 100% do not regret the RS and would highly recommend it. I have test driven a 2017 Golf R 6-Speed and a 2018 STI, the RS was superior than both. The R was smoother, but boring. If I am buying a hot hatch I don't want it being super tamed, I want it to be fun and practical. STI was just un-amusing to me. I was not a fan of the clutch/transmission and it felt laggy and slow. All in all I am satisfied with my RS, if anyone is interested in having any questions/concerns answered just hit me up. @kirinandchips on IG!
Hello Reese, I currently have a 2014 ST with a bunch of mods, but yet I am considering moving to the RS. I see you had an ST prior to owning your RS, is the difference in acceleration pretty noticeable? Have you done anything to your RS or is it stock?
I think the difference is noticeable, maybe not so much in stock form but with a tune it is a completely different beast. The only comparability between the RS and ST is in a roll race. My buddy and I did a highway pull this past weekend and at first we were pretty even, but when I was only halfway through 4th he shifted and I just gapped him. Similar powered STs would beat the RS from a roll (with driver mod of course). I have only an intake and tune for performance upgrades, but it makes a huge difference. +50whp or so. Only thing I can recommend is for you to just go drive one and decide for yourself!
If kept stock and maintained could it be daily driver for Pizza Hut ^^
Do you think 600hp in the st would over kill because it is only fwd. or should I splurge and get awd? Keep in mind I’m 16 and buying it myself
in terms of fun is the st a good car ? and how about reliability on both are they any good ? cuze I had a sad story with ford in the past
dracula vegeta the ST is a blast, if you can drive one do it!! It's a must
Any chance of a comparison between fiesta st and focus st looking at both just now not sure which one to buy, great video really good comparison thoroughly enjoyed !
Great review video , everything is straight forward! Just what I like !
Great video. They have the right guy doing their videos!
How does this compare to a BMW 228i? I’m looking to lower my payments. Either the ST or the RS.
The purchase of my 2017 RS was superior at the time and even post recal was the only real choice for a fun car. The ST is for that have to compromis a great deal.
Just got my 2017 FoST. Have seen ppl speaking about issues and so forth. Was wondering what issues have you heard about regarding 2017 models specifically? Also, if older models with issues have carried over to the 2017 and if so, have they been addressed/fixed in the 2017 models?
After riding in the RT, how did the seats perform - did they live up to the 'complaints' you voiced while driving the ST?
You also could have talked a little more about the tire-selections on the RS - i.e. Summer-only tires vs. All-Season, etc...plus I believe one of the tire packages for the RS is an additional wheel & tire set of winter tires to coincide with the summer tires.
Bro you need your own UA-cam channel comparing all cars! Well done!
13k savings on the st can equate into a lot of performance mods
Glad to see a Ford dealership saying... "don't buy our highest model, get the cheaper one" lol
I've always said the Focus RS is overpriced for what you get. That's without the dealer markup.
I had a 2013 ST and have now a 2016 RS. Maybe its just me but I do like the suspension on the RS way better. I do not miss the torque steer and the wheel hop on the front axle.
It is really cool to see a big automotive youtube channel in sweet home Alabama!!!
Great video, really enjoyed it thanks!
Had an ST, went to an RS in 2016. Yes its all the same inside, its a Focus with the highest trim options. The money difference is the AWD and Engine. And its ALOT of differences. The RS is 100% a different animal when it comes to handling and performance.
I want to ask you if the rim size 18 is noisy?
Wonder if the rs had the st motor slightly tuned would be better than the 2.3.
Great video, maybe next time have a voice over with nice long shots of the outside of the vehicles for comparison i.e. showing the truck and back seats as well as a good lock at all the hardware under the hood.
Is there a new brand RS on the market and how dust look like
unbiased and informative
+Eric Carlin thanks man! Although we are biased, we try to not be! Glad you enjoyed!
My Big Turbo ST sends RS owners home sad. Love it when they roll up on me. Hilarious .
Joshua Wilford Maybe if you are talking about hopping 3 lanes to the side rather than straight in front. I drove the ST first and got the RS all on account of torque steer. The ST is great but the RS is awesome and modified it's insane.
Joshua Wilford what gen focus st ?
So what happens when you come across a big turbo RS?
What mods did you put on it
Modifies your st so it can beat a stock rs then brags about it like your badass. Lmfao
Wow the edits are seamless...
Thank you for the info very helpful in my next purchase, I have a 03 zx5 and falling in love with these car.
Forgot to mention the exploding motor option on the RS... That's such a cool manufacture option.
Brilliant analysis there man! Just a little querie, does the gear shifts feel any different in the 2 cars?
Thanks!
+TrafficScience yes. The RS does feel a little more notchy (in a good way)
I love the Focus RS such a nice hot hatch
Basically comes down to what you can afford really. Same scenario with WRX or STi or VW GTI or Golf R. If speed equals money how fast can you afford to go?
You could get a base fiesta with price difference between the RS and ST
How much do they cost? What is 0-60 ?
what about a focus st vs a fiesta st? opinions?
I like that idea!
RS drift mode and launch mode with the all wheel drive is awesome. Reason to Buy.
You remind me of Chael Sonnen 😂
Why more sts and Fiestas? Maybe because they aren't nearly as limited.
I feel like dealer markups are probably keeping the RS out of reach of a lot of customers that it was built to appeal to. I love the RS, but the ST has a huge bang for the buck advantage.
My Car Life. Let them sit on the lots for a few months or a few years. I was fortunate I payed $4000. under sticker for my 09 GT500 in Nov.08. In 07-08, dealers were marking up GT500's $10k. I've seen some nice 13-14 GT500's between $50k- $55k. My biggest concern is the price of the new GT500. Gonna hurt!
Drove by my local Ford Dealer today, spotted the 2017 Focus RS. $42,000. Cost as much as my 2009 GT500.They've been using all wheel drive in Explorers for years. So to me, AWD isn't really exotic, especially in a Focus. I wonder how much $ this thing is going to depreciate over the next few years. I really don't understand.
Maxwell Ramirez. I bet you're a salesman at a local Ford dealer.lol. But seriously, a Focus? The new GT is over $400k and I can't wait to see the price of the new GT500, if and when it ever comes out. The price of 07-14 GT500's are fairly steady between $28- $55k. Don't know how well they're selling though. I plan to keep mine until I'm 80. Happy Easter! John
I doubt it'll retain its value that well, which is fine by me because it means I can get one for a reasonable price in a few years. They seem like pretty cool cars for what they are but the RS is still way over priced for what you get. I think the ST is a good car for its price tough. Seems like a solid car for the hot-hatch market.
it's not even real AWD, its Haldex. They dyno the car in FWD mode. The RDU does trickery to send power to the rear when needed, when you're not accelerating hard or cornering the RDU disengages and it's basically a FWD car.
$14k more for a Focus RS?! Okay, we get AWD, magna ride, and the same 2.3L ecoboost engine that's in the base Mustang. Seems over priced, I guess that's why there are still quite a few lingering around the dealer lots where I live.
What's the soundtrack just after the start of the video?
just bought a focus SE, love dreaming about an RS or an ST in the future cause i love the focus platform. might go all out and get an RS instead of a Tesla in my 5 year plan
It is not even the fact that there are no incentives, dealers will purposely to mark up the price, a sales guy admitted when we were test driving a mustang 5.0, that they marked the price up on the RS at $10k.
+nicktune1219 the Gray Focus RS featured in the video is still available at MSRP.
Great video! I’ve had my ST for a year now and love it but recently been thinking about the RS. I do have a pretty long daily commute so the MPG difference and price difference is making me think to just stay with the ST
do you live where you get a lot of snow if any?
: rs is 20,000 dollars more than the st .And your way off on the fuel mileage on the st,I wish my car got 32 miles per gallon. 25 to 27 miles per gallon average.
+Joseph Allen we were babying their cars on both examples
Here in europe the RS is 10.000 euros more then the ST
in norway i payed 79000 euros for my rs,
30.000 for ST and 40.000 for RS in Belgium
Dick Tracy :Got my focus st 1 ,for 19,000 with A plan and rebates.
Good video! I just wish you could order a higher trim level ST for instance without the Recaro seats. Our neighbor has an ST-3 pkg on his that has a good array of stuff over an ST-1 but I really don't like the seats. I'm fairly thin as well but just don't like them. Other than that its a really fun car! I admire the RS but I sure couldn't spend the premium price for it over the ST for something I'd actually drive 3 seasons out of the year....yea, it snows here unfortunately!
klc317 RS has awd, ST doesn't. The RS would be better for snow.
I have seen people easily swap the Focus Titanium seats in to ST's and RS' for a more comforting non bolster design
Wishing I'd gotten the RS, although I got my base ST for 20K less than the RSs for sale around here...
Please a video for ST 2021..
I've owned a Focus ST and recently bought a Focus RS. The RS is better in everyway & the AWD system is fantastic. If you're buying the RS and worried about fuel economy.... then here you go... real world MPGs in city stop n go traffic is around 16-17mpg..... 25-26 mpg on the highway.... You'll be spending 40K plus these days for low mileage RS.
Great comparison. The 0 percent interest Is a good bonus as well. The ST is as fast as my 2001 Mustang BULLITT (in stock configuration) KEEP UP THE INFORMATIVE VIDEOS !
I don't recall any Bullitt in last 20 yrs running slower than mid to upper 5's to 60 mph, while a stock st Focus does 6.5 sec 0-60...
I was referring to quarter mile times. My 2001 BULLITT has ran a best time of 14.40. Last season I watched some Focus ST s Running that quick or qucker! With consistency. This was at an NHRA track. LUCAS OIL RACEWAY Brownsburg IN.
I've beat a bullitt with mine and I just have rmm upgrade only. 2016 St1
I have a 2013 titanium hatchback & my dash looks just like the RS. You would think for that much money, Ford would give the RS a little more appeal inside.
You asked, why are there more orders for the ST than the RS? The answer is price $$$. The ST fulfills Rally Sport (RS) enthusiast niche at a desirable price point. The price bracket above this is laden with Mustang buyers not interested in a Focus.
the main difference is the ST doesn't blow its head and then discontinued unlike the RS
I cant get more that 25mpg in my st how'd you get 32????
Some people modded it. To increase it, you will need to do a lot of highway driving using little to no boost. Also take into account that they may have driven it for years and put in 93 gas to get to that number. You won't get that number with 87 imo.