Ford Focus Rs --- the definitive review

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John Brown
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Re: Ford Focus Rs --- the definitive review

Post by John Brown »

C'mon Berry... I could align that thing tomorrow morning.. if you get some specs.. (or Ill just make up some for ya) :lol:
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rocket71
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Re: Ford Focus Rs --- the definitive review

Post by rocket71 »

Where you at John?

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John Brown
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Re: Ford Focus Rs --- the definitive review

Post by John Brown »

Lenoir City Chrysler/Jeep
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Re: Ford Focus Rs --- the definitive review

Post by thrdeye »

If it helps at all, my rear toe for concrete was 1/2 to 9/16 and 1/4 to 3/8 for asphalt.
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Re: Ford Focus Rs --- the definitive review

Post by disneyd »

I would at least try an alignment. I've had an alignment alone make huge differences in a car.
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rocket71
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Re: Ford Focus Rs --- the definitive review

Post by rocket71 »

Lol. Here is my review from Ford Focus RS forum. Similar but with a tad more detail.


"Well, here goes my review of my RS @ autocross......anyone want to buy a 2017 with 1200 miles?

Pretty sure I am going to move on. I tried it and honestly hated it. With all the nannies turned off there is still too much control from the car. It has a Whiteline front bar on middle setting and 255 RE-71s on 18's. The brake thing from hitting them too quick hit me 3x on 8 runs. I didn't know what the F was going on till I read the last few posts. Plus you can feel the car moving power around and it makes the car somewhat unpredictable. I will conceed that my results are likely jading my opinion but then I typically run whatever the local "pro" class and have not been so far off pace in years. What I thought were going to be blazing runs were just off pace. Oh and also experienced what I call ice mode....the pedal got really hard and the car would not stop.

The current plan is to run the car at Bristol Champ Tour and make a decision from there. If I still feel the same way then I will move over to a F Street car for the Match tour."

To explain the brake issue more.... If you tap the brake too quick the pedal will try to travel to floor and apply maximum braking. You can really just tap the break to set the front or you pay with too much breaking. They call it "panic mode".

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John Brown
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Re: Ford Focus Rs --- the definitive review

Post by John Brown »

We can swap cars Sunday after Official runs if ya want.. my car(and Pilson and I dicussed this just last night) has no nannies over coming the car... that I can detect. If it does... them Nanniez can autocross fairly well.. :lol:
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disneyd
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Re: Ford Focus Rs --- the definitive review

Post by disneyd »

The '16 Mazda 3 I had for about a year had braking "panic mode". Mazda must have implemented it a little better than Ford. I only invoked it once by accident (wasn't actually panicking ;) and it quit as soon as I lifted off the brake slightly. That car actually had the best brakes of anything I've driven in ages, besides the C6Z.

These nannies have gotten way too smart for themselves and I wonder if they cause as many accidents as they save. I learned quickly that the Mazda 3's "traction control" method was to practically shut the car down and that's just great when you're crossing Alcoa Hwy on a dry day and a little wheelspin on one tire stands the car on its nose.
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Re: Ford Focus Rs --- the definitive review

Post by rocket71 »

Jeff won't like it but I sent the wife this....

I think you'll like this 2016 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 I found at CarMax!

https://www.carmax.com/car/14766450

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Re: Ford Focus Rs --- the definitive review

Post by jcox07 »

I talked with Marcus merideth at the toledo pro about his gt350 and where it could be classed to be competitive and he stated there is no class for it. Do not but a gt350 to autocross they are not competitive. I have gave you fair warning.......lol
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Re: Ford Focus Rs --- the definitive review

Post by EyeAmL8 »

[quote=jcox07 post_id=150819 time=1498264197 user_id=1333
. Do not buy a gt350 to autocross they are not competitive.
[/quote]

What makes them uncompetitive?

I'm not in the market for one. Just curious.
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Re: Ford Focus Rs --- the definitive review

Post by rocket71 »

CAM

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jcox07
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Re: Ford Focus Rs --- the definitive review

Post by jcox07 »

Cam build would be best build but not a AS car or a ESP car
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TedV
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Re: Ford Focus Rs --- the definitive review

Post by TedV »

Am I understanding this correctly? You haven't done any setup adjustments allowed by the rules, just running the car exactly as Ford delivered the car from the dealership plus a larger front bar? Factory makes cars to auger into a crash via understeer​. You add a larger front bar that will reduce front body roll at the same time it increases understeer.. then complain the car sucks because it understeers.

Just trying to see if I am following the train of thought. If so, there is more secret sauce you can apply to make it work better. I mean, not even done an autocross specific alignment??

:: Edit :: sorry if this sounds kind of abrupt and rude. I haven't had my coffee yet today. :lol:
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scottgib
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Re: Ford Focus Rs --- the definitive review

Post by scottgib »

Normally with foST people just change the rear bar, and leave the front alone. I know for fact that the GS 2014 nat. champ did this.

A little toe out front and rear helps.

With a stock st, the rear bar binds and makes the car do strange things.
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