Value of Golf R Compared to others

[Tim]

Nope, not close Tim. As an Ex Renaultsport owner and fan, Ford have never produced a hatch that steers like a Renaultsport. Renaultsport is all about the drive and the handling. This RS seems to be a lot about power and look at me (as you have identified yourself). Renault produce a more focussed hot hatch, and most of the time use less power and smaller engines to do it, and they still are seen as the benchmark for great handling hatches.
-Dan

There is no doubting renaults are awesome handlers. Having said that the Focus chassis is continually praised in the media.
My comparison with renault is more in relation to the hard core track day versions that renault have done moreso than the standard garden variety renaultsports. Its an ethos that will see both companies pushing the limits.
Renault Megane has always been up there as far as power output and the wild body kits and paint jobs they get arent really anything you could consider dull either!

Personally I think the focus is a pretty cool looking car. If only VW would respond by bringing in a shipment of Sciroccos Rs. Id put my deposit down in a second.

Yep, I agree Tim. It'd take the Focus RS as well.
Borrow the RS for a day of fun,but buy the Golf R for my every day car

Dont get me wrong. Im a VW man. Have been for many years. I wouldnt buy the ford either.
If I bought a Golf R it would be far from standard though. Theyre just not focused enough for my liking.

[Danny]

Agree on all points. I assume Tim you're referring to the R26R. Although the R26 was a gun of a vehicle as well, the only Renault hatch that most journo's said was as great as the 182 cup (which is what I had).

Also right on the Renault Kits too, although arguably Renault make a much more tasty coherent kit on the RS vehicles

I would take the keys to an RS for the day too, but I could not live with it. Ever, I would be constantly marred by the sound of the numbers 6 7 9 9 0 in my head(spoken in the voice of count dracula with the ah ah ah ahha haaa! laugh on the end). Not sure how its value would hold up too. Like Alfas rusting, you get kept awake by the screams that Fords make as they depreciate lol.

[Mountainman]

Admittedly some people are one eyed Ford who will choose it just bcause it is a Ford,
Opinions?

But the GTI and R owners on here aren't one eyed VW?

I'd pick the R every time as the one to own but I would sure like to have that RS for an exciting drive every now and then. And also just to stand and look and look and look.......

[Danny]

But the GTI and R owners on here aren't one eyed VW?

I can pay that absolutely, however someone like myself always goes for the hard value Equation. I've been from Fords, to Renaults, to VW, I generally don't stay loyal and will go for the best value for money thing on the market. If you think my way, Its a compelling argument for the R, where the Ford has an astonishing sticker price, considering what it lacks over what it does offer in spades.

[kaanage]

Nope, not close Tim. As an Ex Renaultsport owner and fan, Ford have never produced a hatch that steers like a Renaultsport. Renaultsport is all about the drive and the handling. This RS seems to be a lot about power and look at me (as you have identified yourself). Renault produce a more focussed hot hatch, and most of the time use less power and smaller engines to do it, and they still are seen as the benchmark for great handling hatches.

A large reason that Renault was able to make FWDs that handled so much power so well was due to the offset hub assembly they used mounted to the front struts for these cars. The reduced KPI allowed by this greatly reduced the scrub radius and it also meant that struts themselves could be mounted more steeply. Ford have basically copied this layout (with a stronger lower arm connection) with the RevoKnuckle used in the Focus RS which is why, by all accounts, it handles/steers just as well as the Renaultsport hatches.

To complete the Renaultsport style hard edge, you could just rip out half the interior of a Focus RS and fit a rear cage.

And remember that the RS can be chipped just as easily as the Golf R.

I agree that the Focus won't be as well made as the Golf but as hooba said, neither of these cars is a rational purchase.

[Fab_R]

You guys are barking up the wrong tree.

You would buy the focus because its everything that the Golf R/S3 is not.
Its hardcore, Adventurous, exciting and generally just bonkers. Along side it, the Golfs in standard trim are just plain boring.

If youre looking for luxury, comfort, prestige youre really barking up the wrong tree though. People dont buy these cars because theyre luxurious shopping trolleys.

If i was offered the keys to either a Golf or a Focus RS for the day i know id be chosing the Focus every time.

VW really dont have any product to compete with it. Renault and Ford really are the only companies that come to mind with the balls to release focused hot hatches like this onto the local market.

Very good point...

[Danny]

Very good point...

No, No, No, Does anyone read the OP??

Fab that was not the point I was trying to make. I am pretty sure I indentified the fact that there would be people who would go for the RS for its darth vader bodykit, its sheer power and that it is a Ford regardless of the price and whatever else is out there..

My point to this thread allow me to reiterate once more is that they are asking $67- 80k for these things. NOW, this is NOT to the normal XR5 what a stripped out M3 CSL is to the M3, or a GT3 RS to the Carrera Turbo. It is a XR5 Focus (soon to be runout model) with a loud Bodykit, LSD, Recaro's and some more horsies (and yes, the stock power figure of any turbo car is made redundant when we are talking APR upgrades, I never said you couldn't upgrade the RS).

In essence its more like what the Megane R26 was to the Megane 225, except Renault did not ask for double the price of the cooking model RS Megane.

Point I am tring to make REGARDLESS of peoples reasoning for buying it is that it's value is dubious for those who DO want one. It is a very very very expensive Focus to have when it comes only with basics (and isn't even that great around a track to justify omission of the mod con's you'd expect in a car of this price), and Ford fans should have the opportunity to have a car that is truly mad and not have to pay BMW 135i dollars for it.

[Tim]

when buying a car not everyone puts value for money at the top of their list of priorities. Personally when im shopping for something sometimes "I want it" is enough justification.

No doubt its expensive. But so was the mk4 R32 when it was released here. The drive away price on those things was touching 80k wasnt it?

[Corey_R]

The MKIV R32's RRP was $63,000
So assuming there was no "artificial mark up" due to them being a limited import, the car on roads would have been around $72k.

[Danny]

when buying a car not everyone puts value for money at the top of their list of priorities. Personally when im shopping for something sometimes "I want it" is enough justification.

Valid, and good luck to he or she who buys an RS for $75k just because they want it