Car and Driver Comparison: Focus RS vs STI vs Golf R

I found this comparison on another board and figured I would share. Car and Driver just published a comparison between the Focus RS, the Golf R and the Subaru STI.

They tested all of them in France and all of them were manuals (no DSG for the VW).

C&D's rankings:

1. Focus RS
2. Golf R
3. STI

Cliff notes:

-Focus RS isn't quite as quick as some were speculating for having a claimed 350hp... as a matter of fact, the manual Golf R tied it for the highest 1/4 mile trap speed at 105mph despite being rated at only 292hp. The Golf R is lighter than the FoRS by about ~150 lbs, but the extra 58hp should have translated into a higher trap speed in my book. The FoRS only trapped 1mph higher than the STI (104mph) despite having a nearly identical curb weight and extra claimed 45hp. It'll be interesting to see what kind of numbers the FoRS is actually putting down on a dyno.

-As per C&D: STI was the most raw car. Golf R was the nicest and easiest to live with. Focus RS was rated somewhere between the 2 and seemed to be the most fun/exciting.

-Golf R is the lightest car here by a decent margin (150+ lbs).

-Judging by the rolling start (5-60mph) test and the top gear acceleration tests, the Focus RS and Golf R seem to have motors that are much more flexible that the STI's old EJ25 (read: less turbo lag).

Stats:

Focus RS: 0-30mph= 1.5 0-60mph= 4.6 0-100mph= 12.2 0-110= 14.4 ¼ mile= 13.4@105mph 5-60= 5.7 Top Gear 30-50= 7.6 Top Gear 50-70= 6.0 Top Speed= 165 Braking 70-0= 158 ft Skidpad= 0.98g Slalom= 43.6mph Curb Weight= 3459 lbs

STI:

0-30mph= 1.4 0-60mph= 4.7 0-100mph= 12.0 0-110= 16.0 ¼ mile= 13.4@104mph 5-60= 6.7 Top Gear 30-50= 10.8 Top Gear 50-70= 7.8 Top Speed= 159 Braking 70-0= 159 ft Skidpad= 0.90g Slalom= 42.4mph Curb Weight= 3456 lbs

Golf R:

0-30mph= 1.5 0-60mph= 5.1 0-100mph= 11.8 0-110= 15.3 ¼ mile= 13.6@105mph 5-60= 6.1 Top Gear 30-50= 7.3 Top Gear 50-70= 5.9 Top Speed= 153mph Braking 70-0= 153 Skidpad= 0.95g Slalom= 43.5mph Curb Weight= 3292 lbs

Just figured I would share.

Cheers!

-Brandon

Wow, I like that green on the Golf R. And I'm a sucker for blue!

A bit disappointing. I had hoped the RS would take this segment to another level. I wonder how they'll compare on the dyno.

I tried the Golf R, and I have to disagree somewhat. I found it to be, well...kinda lame. Sure, it had power, it had more refinement than the STi, but it felt cramped inside (I'm tall, so maybe..?). Kinda like how modern Volvo's "feel" cramped inside, even if they aren't? I dunno, I would have taken the STi. Much less boring to me.

Yeah, I expected much more out of the FoRS. The R has always seemed like the Gentlemen's answer to a hot hatch and the STi always seemed like a teenagers with too much money.

Here's to hoping that there was something wrong with the FoRS in the review.

Thanks for posting. No surprises there really except for how quick the STi is The newest contender is almost always the latest and greatest. I could see owning an RS but frankly I expected a bit more from it. Not interested in the R. I am a big Subaru fan and the STi is getting long in the tooth and needs to be a hatch. Now that Subaru has redesigned the Impreza a new WRX/STi can't be too far behind and hopefully in the new wagony/hatchy style. Competition is good and I expect the new and upcoming STi will likely jump to the head of the class. CD should have included a Civic Type R in the mix also.

This just makes me think that picking up a Fiesta ST, turbo BP miata and 2.3L duratec focus for rally-x is the actual answer for how to spend $35k for the most fun hot hatch.

captdownshift wrote: This just makes me think that picking up a Fiesta ST, turbo BP miata and 2.3L duratec focus for rally-x is the actual answer for how to spend $35k for the most fun hot hatch.

And the reality is, at least with the FoRS currently, you'd probably be closer to $40k OTD, so you'd have $5k leftover for tire/consumable budget.

So the 10+ yr old motor is still very competitive with the latest entrants...

I think having choices is a very good thing! The RS has definitely been very hyped, never fully understood why.

In any case when you're looking at roughly $40k all in to take one of these home that's a bit painful.

Looks like either the Suby's engine was unusually strong, or their test Focus' engine was unusually flat, or both. It happens. I remember when the current FoST was released, various actual performance test figures were all over the place with some cars notably quicker or slower than others. I've learned to take the first few instrumented/documented tests of any new car model with a grain of salt. I also see the Suby's first three gears are significantly lower than the FoRS which can explain the relative acceleration to 100mph. None of which can yet be translated to speed on a road course or rally course, until they are both tracked side-by-side. Something tells me that all three of these cars will be clocked at this year's C&D Lightning Lap. Should be interesting.

I went as far as engaging the local mega dealer about possibly ordering the RS. But, I've sat in an FoST. The article said "same materials", the dealer said the same thing - basically the same as the ST. That interior is pushing it at 25k, at 43.5k out the door it is a shameful disaster. And so ends my search for a new new car.

Anybody got a sweet low miles '06 M3 6 speed in black with cinammon leather interior, heated seats and a realistic price tag? PM me. With a set of decent tires it will still eat the lunch of any of these hot hatches and I won't have to watch it depreciate.

I guess I'm just not cut out for new cars.

In reply to Huckleberry:

Most of us on here aren't cut out for new cars.

In reply to Huckleberry:

RS3, your search is over. The baby AMG lifted hatch is properly bonkers as well.

captdownshift wrote: In reply to Huckleberry: RS3, your search is over. The baby AMG lifted hatch is properly bonkers as well.

Nothing makes a $40k hatch look like a bargain, quite like a $60k hatch with similar performance. Is the interior and badge really worth $20k more?

I know the German hot hatches are seriously quick, but $60k puts you into some serious performance car territory.

PUH-LEASE! C&D is lying to everyone so that they can all buy the RS without too much of a markup. Once their editors all own an RS, they will release the REAL numbers.

Egghead Racer wrote: I tried the Golf R, and I have to disagree somewhat. I found it to be, well...kinda lame. Sure, it had power, it had more refinement than the STi, but it felt cramped inside (I'm tall, so maybe..?). Kinda like how modern Volvo's "feel" cramped inside, even if they aren't? I dunno, I would have taken the STi. Much less boring to me.

My DD just went from an '04 STi (bought new) to a '16 Golf R. I love it! Yes, it's more like a quiet luxury car that can handle. But I'm old and and I have other project cars when I want a raw visceral experience. The R is the perfect DD for me. Sometimes I care about NVH and the quality of the seats/audio/etc.

To all the people talking about an overpriced new specialty car... my STi was $29K new and I sold it 12 years later for $17K. Sure it's not an investment but it's not that bad considering I got to drive an awesome vehicle that was never abused by the previous owner... all for about the same depreciation as run-of-the-mill transportation.

If nobody buys these niche cars new they will all get cancelled. The R is probably already in danger due to diesel-gate.

Is it cool to post scanned images of copyrighted material here? I wouldn't have thought so....

Add me to the "Thought the RS would be quicker, but it's still awesome" group.

I never had a problem with the FoST interior and the extra money you're paying for the RS is really all going into the drivetrain, otherwise it would be $60k if they started adding even more cushy interior bits and then it would be a Mercedes or BMW. Get a BMW M2 if you feel like you want to spend that kind of money with similar performance.

Also, what are they putting on the Focus RS to get to $40k? You can get the basic model for $36k and you really don't need much more than what they put on it. IMO you don't want the full leather recaros. I guess if you live in cold weather you might want that RS2 package, but you still don't need it if it's gonna break the bank.

All according to the build your car section on each of mfgr websites

Paint, optional wheels, and the RS2 package easily bumps the Focus over $40k

For the Golf the DCC package car with the driver assist package breaks $40k Msrp.

The Sti limited will also break into $40k looks like there are no extra packages on that one.

Add tax, and dealer markup to any of these... Well you're comfortably into $40k I doubt dealers or many customers order any "stripper" models

Getting into an M2 with any options is probably closer to $60k or base Cayman territory

Why would you do optional wheels and paint on an RS when you don't need any of that? The RS2 package is all luxury items. I'm pretty sure there will be base versions of the car on the lots because the base version has a lot of stuff already included and if not then you can always order one. If this was a BMW or Mercedes I can see people complaining about the base price not being realistic since they completely strip those down at the base price and you never get that version, but the Ford is a realistic $36k MSRP car.

First post edited to now include 6th page:

Never would have thought a Golf would weigh less than a Subie. Crazy times indeed

Harvey wrote: ...but the Ford is a realistic $36k MSRP car.

Unfortunately, the Focus RS is nowhere near a $36k MSRP car right now. MSRP + delivery = $36,775 without any options. I recently called several dealers in my area trying to see if one could be had for anywhere close to $37k.... snow balls chance in hell right now.

Every dealer told me one of 2 things:

1. They pre-sold their entire allotment for the year.
2. A couple local (large) dealers said they refused to pre-sell any of them... instead they have long "we'll call you" lists. I was told that they would be marked up over sticker (ADM/"market adjustment") between $5000-$10,000.

Maybe in a year or two they might be had for MSRP, but not right now. Hopefully Ford decides to actually bring enough volume for the market this car is creating. Even after a year of being over here the Golf R is still sold out of every dealership in my area....

In reply to roninsoldier83:

My local Ford dealer is doing the same with GT-350s, they have had 6 aloted, 4 are sold/presold, 2 for the lot and all with +$20k above the sticker.

jv8 wrote: If nobody buys these niche cars new they will all get cancelled.

That's not our problem until 6 years from now, when we get to bitch about it.