Focus RS

[phat-turbo]

people still test drive cars? i've bought 5 new cars in past five years without test drives, my observation is this is a procrastinators best way to talk themselves out of a deal.

[mizone]

people still test drive cars? i've bought 5 new cars in past five years without test drives, my observation is this is a procrastinators best way to talk themselves out of a deal.

I don' agree. Does the seat belt cut into my neck, is the seating position poo, is the start stop tech annoying, can I see out of the thing, will it fit into the garage. People still take test drives, but it's not as common as it used to be.

[Cliffordcliffs]

Obviously, I’m not as avante-garde as you.

[MZ21]

I ordered my 86 without a "testdrive", but I did see it up close at Toyota MegaWeb and on the same day they had them tear up and down the test track so that really sealed the deal for me.

[trent from punchy]

I bought my last 3 cars without test drives, first one i did a test fit to see if my bike would fit in the boot. last one I didn't even look at or see in the flesh and sent a couple of emails and said yup that'll do.

[Mr Purple]

Really? I wouldn’t buy any car without a test drive. I would have thought anyone who actually enjoys driving would be the same.

Actually, I lie. I did buy my Valiant without one, though it was unregistered, on flat tyres, and $70.

[myliberty]

I test drove a WRX back in about ‘99 just for fun. Had no intention of buying.
I have never test driven anything I have purchased.
I have test driven heaps of vehicles for other people before they purchased.

Being a car guy, I know what I’m getting into and a lap around the block won’t change shit.

[nelsonian101]

I nearly bought a new WRX back in the late 90's but a test drive turned me off it. The turbo lag/lack of torque in slow 2nd gear 90deg corners (where a lot of street driving is done) was a deal breaker for me. Salesman was a dick too which didn't help them.

[IMOA]

I bought 86 and the GT4 without a testdrive as you basically couldn't testdrive them at the time (you can testdrive an 86 now). You're not going to get a testdrive of anything from the GT department at Porsche so I'd say it's a bit of a stretch to say that everyone who buys a GT Porsche doesn't enjoy driving.

[Mr Purple]

I'd still test drive a Cayman though, if I were buying a GT4.

It's more about driving position and the little things that would annoy me about the car. There was no way I was going to order a Focus RS without a test drive, though my local dealer experience put me off one just by their response to some simple questions (can I see one? How can I order one?) that it didn't even get that far.

[Cliffordcliffs]

Same. There are so many things that matter to different people that can take the shine off the car. The Alfa 164 seemed the ducks nuts back in the day, until I drove it (Dad was keen so asked me along as a car mad 19yr old). Dad was walking in to buy it, but after the testdrive hated it and a purchase without a test drive would’ve been the wrong decision.

Sure, I can imagine not driving a gt3/gt4 before buying one. But then again they have been reviewed so many times by so many ‘esteemed’ journos and every little font change has been thrashed out Nx by many, many people that you have a pretty good idea about what it’s like.

A $53k Focus, not so much. What is a unbearably harsh ride may be ok for some, but when dedicated car people start saying it’s a bit stiff, that’s probablya good indication you want to find out where it is on your comfort level.

[South]

I personally think that anyone who says the RS in sports suspension mode is stiff is a bit of a soft cock!

It affects your ability to talk properly, like have a chat on a not so smooth road with it on and you are exhaling whilst talking quite a bit

I have quite the bad back, but it's actually a nice ride... it's soft compared to my Landcruiser which has 2.5" remote res shocks, and the Wildtrak on leaf rear springs is harsher again. The RS is basically on airbags in comparison!

[to4garret]

Big week for my RS, off to the drags on Wednesday night and then with a bit of luck the Dyno on Saturday morning for some power runs.

I've done a few test launches [on private property] and found that when ESC is fully off (Hold ESC) and in Drift mode, the car feels like it launchs the best. Hopefully i'll get enough runs to play with different settings at the track though.

Biggest worry is, can I enable [playstation mode] launch control before the tree starts lighting up!

[MZ21]

The tree will wait for you. Dont rush. Timing starts when you leave the line. You'll just have a shit RT

Have you seen any videos of LC on a.prepped drag strip. Is the RS driveline up to an LC launch on prepped track??

[Greg Rust]

Best wishes and salutations RS owners.