Ford Focus RS (2002-2003) Review

Running Costs

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Should actually prove to be surprisingly affordable to run. Once you've stomached the twenty-grand asking price, you can sit back on your full Ford warranty, and know that any Ford dealership can service your RS (if you'd want them to, that is, we'd still prefer an RS specialist looking at it). Insurance of Group 16A isn't too unreasonable given the car's pace and desirability, while fuel economy over the combined cycle is 28mpg. CO2 emissions are 237g/km. The residual value should be pretty good too, but as well as serious engine modifications, there are some unique body panels too which might be expensive to replace. Oh, and don't kerb the unique OZ 18" alloys either, eh? Won't ever be many used RSs around, and because it's a fairly usable car, it should hold its value pretty well. The Racing Puma was £23,000 and they're still worth a few bob, while Escort RS Cosworths still fetch silly money too. If you can find one, make sure it has been rigorously serviced, and here's an idea. Get the previous owner to drive you around, as well as test driving it yourself, that way you can suss out whether they're a good driver, or whether they're likely to have been caning their RS with impunity. In absolute terms, twenty thousand quid for a hot-hatchback is an awful lot of money. But, then, the Focus RS is an awful lot of hot hatchback. If it didn't feel the part, then it wouldn't be worth it, but Ford's claim that it has been developed by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts, seems to show through and that makes it worth the premium. This is no badge-engineering exercise - the AP clutch, Sparco seats, Quaife differential and so on are all evidence of that. Twenty grand for a front-drive rally replica, guaranteed to give Imprezas and Porsches a hard-time on track days is actually not that unreasonable. So long as nobody mentions the thirteen grand Clio Cup, of course, but we wouldn't be so callous. Oh...