ANTAUS Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 LINK-Edmunds.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Let me guess: 'wah wah wah wah Ford won't sell this here.' 'wah wah wah we auto writers have no clue that our jaded and hyper-refined sensibilities are no reflection of the rest of the world.' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 While the RS is nice, it just happens to be the latest in a long line of RS machines. It is a bit of a porker at just a smidgen over 3200 lbs so that 301 hp has some work to do. I can't help wondering that some near future ST Focus with a 2.3 Ecoboost is going to towel it up, particularly if that car comes in under 3,000 lbs and produces 280 hp and much less torque steer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 At that weight and power, it would =never= sell opposite the Mustang.............. Heck, put a passenger in the RS and it weighs as much as the Mustang GT. Give or take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKII Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 (edited) Comparo review RS, versus R26R and WRX STi http://magazines.drivers-republic.com/driv.../prizefight042/ At that weight and power, it would =never= sell opposite the Mustang.............. apples and oranges? Edited March 5, 2009 by MKII Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrballsonya Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 (edited) If the RS was sold in the U.S. with a $36K price tag, it would probably sell less than 1,000 units a year. I'd love to see this as viable purchase option for us "Yanks", but there is virtually no market here for a $36,000, F.W.D., 300HP, Boy Racer. If somehow Ford could trim about $10,000 off the price, then I could see maybe, ten to twenty thousand sales a year...Max. This vehicle is yet another good looking, great handling, critically acclaimed Euro-Ford that we will never see on our shores. Why is that? Because Americans just won't pay $36,000+ for a sporty, compact, great handling, non-BMW. In the U.S., Ford is mostly equated with Trucks, Mustangs and 20 year old Crown Victoria Taxi Cabs. Ford really has, no sport compact car brand equity. The U.S. Escort GT's were a joke, the SVT focus' handled great, but had no power and virtually no upgrade potential (one of the key purchase factors, for most U.S. compact tuner, buyers). In Europe, the Ford RS moniker has been a major player in the WRC rally racing championship for years, and correspondingly it also carries the brand equity and much of the technology that comes with such a sizable investment. Here In the U.S, we would label the RS as simply "a souped up economy car", but in the U.K. they view the RS as an "affordable, daily driven race car". I think Both of these designations, are fully merited given past local assimilation's of the Ford brand here and in Europe. In the U.K., Ford stands for Rally Racing and handling; in the U.S., Ford stands for Trucks, Mustangs and Nascar. I really hope that the Ford Global management team can come up with some sort of profitable, symbiotic, product and marketing, master plan for the world market. Boy, what a coup that would be. Imagine that, pleasing all the people, all the time. It's probably a pipe dream, but I'd like to think that someone in the Ford system has the magic formula for the next "model T". Edited March 5, 2009 by mrballsonya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 For $36,000 you almost own a Taurus SHO, why on earth would you want a Focus RS? The performance is near the same but, you and four friends can laugh at the RS getting smoked..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKII Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 (edited) For $36,000 you almost own a Taurus SHO, why on earth would you want a Focus RS?The performance is near the same but, you and four friends can laugh at the RS getting smoked..... What are the sales of WRX STi and EVO numbers like in the States and any ideas how many are alloacted per year? These 2 cars have MSRP starting at USD$36,000. I read that Mitsu allocates 3,000 EVO's per year for Europe. And Ford EU has said the RS is a 2 year run of 4,000 per year for Europe. Can't find any info for Subie WRX STi. Would you say if Subie and Mitsu offered large SHO type sedans in their line up that these customers would be asking themselves the same question? Or is it a Ford thing. Would a person shopping the RS cross shop Taurus SHO or a Mustang. I would think the RS customer would be looking for a different experience then what a customer shopping the Taurus SHO or Mustang is looking for. Or are you saying that in America there are not any RS customers. Edited March 5, 2009 by MKII Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpd80 Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 No, I think things like the BMW 1 series, Mustang, Camaro, Challenger would sell better. A $36,000 Focus is a very hard sell...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkapeGote Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 If the RS was sold in the U.S. with a $36K price tag, it would probably sell less than 1,000 units a year. I'd love to see this as viable purchase option for us "Yanks", but there is virtually no market here for a $36,000, F.W.D., 300HP, Boy Racer. If somehow Ford could trim about $10,000 off the price, then I could see maybe, ten to twenty thousand sales a year...Max. This vehicle is yet another good looking, great handling, critically acclaimed Euro-Ford that we will never see on our shores. Why is that? Because Americans just won't pay $36,000+ for a sporty, compact, great handling, non-BMW. In the U.S., Ford is mostly equated with Trucks, Mustangs and 20 year old Crown Victoria Taxi Cabs. Ford really has, no sport compact car brand equity. The U.S. Escort GT's were a joke, the SVT focus' handled great, but had no power and virtually no upgrade potential (one of the key purchase factors, for most U.S. compact tuner, buyers). In Europe, the Ford RS moniker has been a major player in the WRC rally racing championship for years, and correspondingly it also carries the brand equity and much of the technology that comes with such a sizable investment. Here In the U.S, we would label the RS as simply "a souped up economy car", but in the U.K. they view the RS as an "affordable, daily driven race car". I think Both of these designations, are fully merited given past local assimilation's of the Ford brand here and in Europe. In the U.K., Ford stands for Rally Racing and handling; in the U.S., Ford stands for Trucks, Mustangs and Nascar. I really hope that the Ford Global management team can come up with some sort of profitable, symbiotic, product and marketing, master plan for the world market. Boy, what a coup that would be. Imagine that, pleasing all the people, all the time. It's probably a pipe dream, but I'd like to think that someone in the Ford system has the magic formula for the next "model T". Sup, Symbiotic relationship? I think that is a good idea. They could combine the Mustang and the Focus, you could call it the Ford Mucus. Slipping to victory, one hack and cough at a time. Skape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKII Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 (edited) No, I think things like the BMW 1 series, Mustang, Camaro, Challenger would sell better. A $36,000 Focus is a very hard sell...... I understand the cars you mention would sell better, but none of the cars you list are what I would consider "limited" production cars, unless of course you mean Shelby GT500 etc. Though the Shelby is not as far as I know limited to 3,000 - 5,000 units, like the RS type cars are such as EVO and STi. Hence my question regarding the RS competitors (at least in other parts of the world) eg:WRX STi and EVO-X. Or in America the perception is that a RS produce car would need production numbers above 10,000 to be viable business case? Maybe I should ask the question this way. The American type consumer who is looking for the WRX STi or EVO type experience, would not consider the RS? Seems the members here are saying the RS has no heritage to speak of in America and no buisness case can be made for such a car, unless Ford could sell 10-20,000 units per year. Edited March 5, 2009 by MKII Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue II Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 While the RS is nice, it just happens to be the latest in a long line of RS machines.It is a bit of a porker at just a smidgen over 3200 lbs so that 301 hp has some work to do. I can't help wondering that some near future ST Focus with a 2.3 Ecoboost is going to towel it up, particularly if that car comes in under 3,000 lbs and produces 280 hp and much less torque steer. That is a better plan for North America. The tuner shops will take it to RS level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkapeGote Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Sup, It is not that there is not case for a car like that in America, look at the tuner brigade that has been running around North America since someone decided Fast and Furious was cool. The problem is convincing Americans to shell out $35k plus for a compact car. For 2k more you could buy a SHO, for 5k less you can buy a Mustang, both of which have a heritage here in the states and a cult following. People would buy it for sure, the question is would they buy enough to bother. Also, selling Americans a 5 cylinder engine would be a tough sale in the US. That being said it looks like a nice car, although it seems slow off the line for the amount of power it makes. Probably just gearing for launching purposes. Either way I would buy one, but I am not your average car buy either. If I did, it would put me at 17 cars. I would have a hard time convincing my woman to allow me. Skape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sixt9coug Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Sup, Symbiotic relationship? I think that is a good idea. They could combine the Mustang and the Focus, you could call it the Ford Mucus. Slipping to victory, one hack and cough at a time. Skape Ford Mucus? Lets do it! itll be a new segment buster - Snot Rockets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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