Ok, had I guy I know bumping his gums about how a standard focus rs will hold its on against a 400hp 300zx. So what do we reckon? Fact or fiction?

It wouldn't hold it's own against a stock zed, tell him to stop talking *****x :lol:

I dunno - 305bhp in a lighter car is probably going to be fairly quick!

I would be suprised if it didn't own it, especially around a track.

 

They are suprisingly fast cars, in every gear, all the time.

 

The Focus ST im driving at the moment will hold its own against most things on the road and its 55ps down on the RS.

 

It would be easier to drive especially in the wet on a narrow road, if you had a race in those conditions to keep up you would be working a lot harder and for me the zed would be more rewarding. On a track a lightly tuned zed would probably match one. All imo never driven an rs.

See thats what worries me, as he has a st which has been fettled with and is kicking out approx 300hp. I need to beat him!!!

The RS500 would keep up with a stock zed but that has 345bhp and a 0-60 of 5.7s compared to a stock zed's 300bhp and 0 - 60 0f 5.5. Not to mention the amount of torque steer from a FWD car. A stage one zed would own it :)

The RS500 would keep up with a stock zed but that has 345bhp and a 0-60 of 5.7s compared to a stock zed's 300bhp and 0 - 60 0f 5.5. Not to mention the amount of torque steer from a FWD car. A stage one zed would own it :)

 

which rs500 we talking about the rs 500 sierra is rear wheel drive but didnt realise they did a focus rs

Edited February 19, 201312 yr by spritley56

theres only one way to find out.....

No spec on either car or driver obviously, but all the same I wouldn't underestimate the lil' RS

 

 

 

 

and on the same note, take a look at the times that standard Clio Cups (172 and 182) set whilst lapping Cadwell....

They made 500 matt black Focus RS with a bit more grunt and styling bits.

 

Horrendously expensive at £37k but still sold like hot cakes.

 

I sold PR002 - one of the early press release cars used 18 months later for £35k, could've sold it 10x over too.

The z32 sadly isnt the fastest thing in the world esp round the bends. However the st in particular is a bit overrated, 350s are quite comparable over the quater and they do struggle to get the power downthrough the corners, stock. However the power curve is very available and the geometry from stock is pretty good, so I recon it would come down to the driver round a track, over a quater pretty sure youd take him but not walk by. I have raced one and sat on his bumper the whole way, couldnt pass him though, however I was still on my slipy autobox with a life of its own.

Just to say this will be a straight line rolling start if that makes a difference.

Rolling start you should be on you way.

Off the line it would probably pull ahead on a rolling start the zed would win as we all know this is where a zed is quickest,

 

A properly set up zed SHOULD beat an rs on a track in the dry, rwd cars are quicker than fwd and 4wd cars that's why they use rwd on f1 cars coz it the quickest setup, but then what would limit each is the driver

 

If you were to put the stig in each a zed would be the quicker car

 

All in my opinion

What year RS ?

 

According to various google searches :

 

The Mk1 had 212hp and is not even close to a stock TT.

The Mk2 has 300hp, a little lighter than a LWB but drives the wrong wheels. Its a little slower than a a stock TT, but not far behind.

 

Neither would stand a chance next to a 400hp TT.

Edited February 19, 201312 yr by Yowser

Mk2 rs, apparently this match up has already happened ( rs vs 400hp 300zx) and thats why he is so confident about taking on mine in his mk2 st ( alleged 315hp ).

Off the line it would probably pull ahead on a rolling start the zed would win as we all know this is where a zed is quickest,

 

A properly set up zed SHOULD beat an rs on a track in the dry, rwd cars are quicker than fwd and 4wd cars that's why they use rwd on f1 cars coz it the quickest setup, but then what would limit each is the driver

 

If you were to put the stig in each a zed would be the quicker car

 

All in my opinion

 

 

I'd say that's a bit of a sweeping statement regarding RWD being faster than AWD and FWD cars, there are far too many variables surely, you've only got to look at Time Attack to see the comparative time differences set by AWD cars.

 

*and just to add a no bullshit experience, myself and a handfull of colleagues each took it in turn to be a passenger in a Ford Focus RS with the old Stig (Ben Collins) driving. This was around Dunsfold back in December 2009. He/it was fookin' quick....he then smashed the front left rim to pieces on the last but one corner!

 

Granted I have no direct comparison around Dunsfold with a zed (though I do with a Merc Sprinter van full of kit, but that's another story....) though I suspect the RS on that particular track and in those conditions (very cold, slightly frosty) would be quicker all round as the zed would have been a bit of a handful in trying to get the power down, Stig driving or not.

I'd say that's a bit of a sweeping statement regarding RWD being faster than AWD and FWD cars, there are far too many variables surely, you've only got to look at Time Attack to see the comparative time differences set by AWD cars.

 

*and just to add a no bullshit experience, myself and a handfull of colleagues each took it in turn to be a passenger in a Ford Focus RS with the old Stig (Ben Collins) driving. This was around Dunsfold back in December 2009. He/it was fookin' quick....he then smashed the front left rim to pieces on the last but one corner!

 

Granted I have no direct comparison around Dunsfold with a zed (though I do with a Merc Sprinter van full of kit, but that's another story....) though I suspect the RS on that particular track and in those conditions (very cold, slightly frosty) would be quicker all round as the zed would have been a bit of a handful in trying to get the power down, Stig driving or not.

 

Yep, the Focus RS would probably be quicker than a Stock TT around something like the top gear test track.

 

The Focus RS was 2 seconds quicker around there than the 350z on Top gear's lap time board.

 

(Although the 370z was 4 seconds quicker than the 350z (2 secs quicker than the Focus), Im surprised the 370z is THAT much quicker than the 350z )

 

Although Nezzi is asking about straight line race with a 400hp TT.

Edited February 19, 201312 yr by Yowser

It's worth having a tear up and see what happens.

 

Lets remember its 20-25 yr old technology against 5 yr old tech... Bhp and torque numbers may not have changed but how the power is delivered and put on the road is quite another.

 

As said before, some series I follow like barc saloons (and maybe some in the time attack) the more modern fwds are zipping round the corners quicker than the older rwds. The straights may open them up a bit but the rs is very strong and has an extra gear.

 

My money would be on the RS, but only cos I've driven one, if I was just looking on paper, it may be different.

If it's a straight up head to head then it's probably a good idea to drop the pressure in your rear tyres.....

 

and let his down beforehand! :devil2:

 

and don't forget, over the coming weeks keep making reference to an annoying 'misfire and fuelling issue' that you're still trying to rectify on the zed and the 'small boost leak' that you've been having problems with.....and if all go's wrong and you lose then the zed's only been running on 5 cylinders!

I know which one wins the chavviest car on the road prize that is for sure. Especially the slime green ones. Laughable looking car

I was just about to say is it that gopping green colour.

I know which one wins the chavviest car on the road prize that is for sure. Especially the slime green ones. Laughable looking car

 

 

 

Agreed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd say that's a bit of a sweeping statement regarding RWD being faster than AWD and FWD cars, there are far too many variables surely, you've only got to look at Time Attack to see the comparative time differences set by AWD cars.

 

*and just to add a no bullshit experience, myself and a handfull of colleagues each took it in turn to be a passenger in a Ford Focus RS with the old Stig (Ben Collins) driving. This was around Dunsfold back in December 2009. He/it was fookin' quick....he then smashed the front left rim to pieces on the last but one corner!

 

Granted I have no direct comparison around Dunsfold with a zed (though I do with a Merc Sprinter van full of kit, but that's another story....) though I suspect the RS on that particular track and in those conditions (very cold, slightly frosty) would be quicker all round as the zed would have been a bit of a handful in trying to get the power down, Stig driving or not.

 

Got to disagree yea fwd would be less of a handful on a damp wet track but fwd just arnt the same with power and turning going through the same wheels its not as good I know new cars use fancy diffs and electronics but its not the same as power going through the rear leaving the fronts to do the turning this is why most sports cars use rwd as its the better setup ie lotus elese, exige, porche, catherhams, radicals, ariel atoms and these are some of the best track cars available

If it's a straight up head to head then it's probably a good idea to drop the pressure in your rear tyres.....

 

and let his down beforehand! :devil2:

 

and don't forget, over the coming weeks keep making reference to an annoying 'misfire and fuelling issue' that you're still trying to rectify on the zed and the 'small boost leak' that you've been having problems with.....and if all go's wrong and you lose then the zed's only been running on 5 cylinders!

 

Think if i feel he is pulling ahead then i may just run him off the road, that way nobody will know and i can just say he was so distrought at getting beat of a 21 year old datsun that he ended it!?!

 

That is a joke is case this happens and any cops reads this!!! haha