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

jv8 wrote: In reply to mapper: The RS gives you low production numbers and radical nature at a price point similar to the GT.

I agree, cost wise. The difference is that most people, with some exceptions, would not cross shop the two cars. I was just saying that withing their model tier, the RS is to the base Focus as the GT350 is to the base mustang.

Woody wrote:

Knurled wrote: In reply to Adrian_Thompson: If it were my decision, and I already had a C30, I'd keep the C30 and see how well the RS ages (rusts) before buying a clean used one in 3-4 years. That whole C30 vs MS3 thing again. C30s have awesome corrosion protection, MS3s are rust nightmares.

Is that true? I never thought about it before but it makes sense. I've always preferred the C30, and added rust protection would justify the price premium.

I bought mine new in 08 picked it up in Sweden, did the ring and brought it back here. It's now 8 years and 105k miles old and not a spot of rust. It's my daily 365 days a year and lives outside. It's driven through the Michigan slat/snow/pothole season with no complaints. Never seen a Polish mop but I have clay bared it exactly once. People still think it's a new to three year old car. The finish is outstanding. It is hands down the best car I've ever owned.

Woody wrote:

Knurled wrote: That whole C30 vs MS3 thing again. C30s have awesome corrosion protection, MS3s are rust nightmares.

Is that true? I never thought about it before but it makes sense. I've always preferred the C30, and added rust protection would justify the price premium.

When I was looking into P1-chassis S40s (the Focus based ones), specifically search terms like "S40 rust" and "V50 rust" (the 1st gen S40s rust, its wagon was V40 not V50 like the Focus version) and got essentially no hits, or only peripherally related hits. Good news.

Then I found an industry survey that listed the C30/S40/V50 as near the top of the top ten corrosion-resistant cars made in the past 10-15 years. (IIRC an Audi was at the top of the list, the Volvos second) The Mazda3 was near the top of the list for the ten worst cars.

It's just a shame that the P1s are so visually unappealing to me. They look like big tall bubbles. (The C30 isn't bad but JEEZ, they sure have kept their value) And the interior also doesn't interest me. And I don't like the lack of headlight wipers.