Had the choice.. went for the Mk2, no hesitation, no regrets

I've got an ST225 and you just can't beat that glorious 5 pot noise.

@britishbeefbritishbeef8738

5 жыл бұрын

Should I keep my bmw 1 series sport 15 plate.. Or sell it and get a st mk2

@Joshkemponcars

4 жыл бұрын

Agreed, that sound is just 👌

@TheLyonCrest

3 жыл бұрын

@@britishbeefbritishbeef8738 I went from a 270bhp 320i F30 to a stage 2 st225.

@twinscrollturbo4410

2 жыл бұрын

@@britishbeefbritishbeef8738 unless its a 335i or up yes the 1 series is shite

@stewarty28

Жыл бұрын

Me too. Had a Mk2 ST-3 Mountune with full de cat and a miltek exhaust. What a car. Always put a smile on my face.

Congrats! Out of all the oodles of video reviews I've seen of the Focus RS, this one is the best! No nonsense, no fancy camera shots, just a real good video by a real driver. Thanks! Right, off to convince the wife to let me order one :-)

Mk2 looks better & sounds better but Mk3 fir everything else

@r3h4n786

7 жыл бұрын

yea looks awesome

@Modelo118

7 жыл бұрын

I was going to say the same thing! The look of the new one just doesn't do it for me! When the MK2 came out it stood out of the crowd so much more than the MK3. Electronics were always going to be way ahead with drift mode etc but I still prefer my old MK2

@nadsenec8512

7 жыл бұрын

mk2 looking better a sound is this same better ..sport exhaut good sound 5 cylinder poping a flame ...mk3 only poping

@Battle_-DEX

6 жыл бұрын

Ian Townsend same her

Love the MK2!

I'd take the Mk2 over the newer car any day of the week. Looks so menacing

@mbulelogumede6903

7 жыл бұрын

Same here

@jamesfoye9665

6 жыл бұрын

Jamie Wilson I think it's that 5cyl and that body style sexy

@traciewinn8919

6 жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣🤣

@kierancasey5814

5 жыл бұрын

Me to buying one soon😀

@rare6499

5 жыл бұрын

Think I need to own one soon as well. It won’t be long until they are too old to use everyday. Quite amazed how they’ve managed to hold so much of their value after nearly a decade!

Outstanding review, the quality our your videos has come on leaps and bounds. Well done PH!

Great review, very good style of presenting and putting across the various points with enthusiasm and knowledge. Thumbs up from me! keep them coming.

Mk2 all day long such an awesome car

Cool review I’ve got a Fiesta ST but would love either of these!

both are great cars. I have the mk3 and I love it. Never went for the mk2 because of only 3 doors and it looked a bit too extreme for my tastes. Great review by the way :)

Very good, informative and consumer friendly. Very talented guy, he makes great reviews and is very funny. Seems like a nice down to earth bloke.

You are 100% on point. I own a MK2 and tested the MK3 and for me the conclusion is pretty much the same. Great video, keep up the good work :-)

That was a really good review, and presented in a very nice way, none of that 'look at me talking' style the yanks use. Thank! (And I have a mk2 Focus ST, it IS a superb engine, a real gem, one of the best sounding IMO)

Great review and I completely agree Gutted I sold my green mk2 a few years ago!

Brilliant comparison review mate

Great review, very well balanced. Own a Mk2 from new and would not change it for the world. Tough to keep up with the new RS on the track though😉, but the viewing public love the look and theatre of the older car.

Great vid, thanks. You forgot to mention that Mk2 has adjustable steering assistance, adjusted through the trip computer. So there is a single parameter you can adjust in the chassis. The settings are noticeable, COMFORT is very light and lazy around town, STANDARD adds some weight and SPORT adds lots of weight (removes lots of assistance?) to give a greater connection with the tyres and road when pushing on.

Damn excellent review!

The mk3 is brilliant, but so is the mk2. I have driven both, and prefer the old one. I like how you have to wrestle with it a lot more when pressing on, and the sound from the engine and pops and bangs from the exhaust are addictive. And it's the best looking hatchback ever made. In fact, i actually think it's one of the best looking cars ever made. Especially in green.

Excellent review!

Awesome video. Ive always loved the MK2 RS

I’ve found a new favourite reviewer..., 🤔 lookout Plato. Thanks- quite well done🤗 Cachet.

The most interesting thing is the point on how we have moved on in just 8 years. I jumped in one and at the time, it was the benchmark. Now it is amazing how much you notice things you didn't before as the game changes, it is mentioned in this video but the body flex in particular is super noticeable compared to the stiffness of a later Megane or the new RS. The new RS is maybe more for the head and the old one aimed at the heart.

Good video guys!

Great review , agree with everything you said

awesome review!

Spot on video love the mk2 bought mk3 but needed remap .

Nice review. I didn't know Michael Bisping's little brother did reviews ;-)

From the point of view of the north UK focus owner clubs the general feel is people prefer the older MK2 its more of a drivers car, even if slower down a track. you feel what the car does and it brings that smile. + the look is so much more aggressive and 30K on a hot hatch aggressive is what we want.

I'm getting a new car next june and this is on my list of possibilities so will be doing a load of test drives in the spring.

good review and probably the right decision. The old one still looks great and can still hold its own on the road.

I was pretty hyped for the mk3 rs when it came out, but watching this now the mk2 really makes me smile more. I was 12 or 13 when the mk2 came out and this and the Nissan gtr were pretty much my favourite cars at the time. Back when gtr was £54k new lol.

I would take the old car any day.

@khfjvc4632

7 жыл бұрын

It's easy to say on here, but the fact is- we know you wouldn't. And if you got offered one for free, only an idiot would choose a 7 yearold used car over a bran new one.

@300ZCorradoVR6Z

7 жыл бұрын

You don't have the first clue about me, I really would much rather take the older car. Up until 3 years ago I was a technician and I got to drive all sorts of cool cars from BMW, Subaru, VW and Porsche and at the end of the day I always looked forward to driving home on my 1993 Corrado VR6, the only car that made think about buying it was a 987 Boxster GTS. I just don't care if a car is new, my Corrado with some modifications still drove better than pretty much most of the newer cars, I had no reason to change.

@ferfire9

7 жыл бұрын

+1 I would take the old as well. Not kidding. The new one is a machine but the concept of the car changed. Its track habilities also changed and overall the old one looks mile better, just looks like a proper beast. The new one is just like the others. More power doesnt mean it is better. Also the 5 cyl sound compared to this 4 pot sound is heaven.

@eamoman651

7 жыл бұрын

+khf jvc I'm an idiot too then..

@khfjvc4632

7 жыл бұрын

+eamoman651 if you say so

Getting ours in May, had 2 ST's on options, the RS is the car we are going to keep

Mr PistonHeads, you didn't mention the one thing (above all) that the Mk2 has and the Mk3 will never have --- that spine-tingling dive bomber SOUND of a glorious 5-cylinder engine.!!

@gmain1977

5 жыл бұрын

He did mention it.

Well done. Yet to drive a mk3, but I can't go past my 5banger mk2 rs

Great review, i prefer the MK2 also, better looking and more fun to drive.

Everything good about this focus steering, and of course traction and balance. Is exactly what my 2001 mk1 cl 1.4 has you know the focus everyone hated.

mk2 or mk3 is better :sound power technology dynamic family car a more hm ?

I had my Mk 2 from May 2009 until May this year. It was wonderful in MP350 guise. But it was too heavy at the front and slower in first and second gear. Brakes also weaker. Ford make some amazing street fighters!

@posniknelb6114

2 жыл бұрын

A set of K sport 8 pots, will sort that out

Love my mk2 rs! Got it running 400bhp and it's such a blast to drive. 400bhp doesn't upset the front wheels as much as you'd think

I would love both these cars in my garage because I love them both equally. Fantastic job Ford on both cars I am very proud of you.

Love my mk3, but the older ones are nice

I'd still rather have the MK1 myself. That simple design and looks can't be beaten

This is timely as I'm looking at options for a new toy. I'd take the Mk2 every day of the week.

Really good review, but there's one thing I'd like to point out having sat in two showroom examples of the Focus RS, the optional shell backed reaction seats do seem to make you sit a bit too high, it's a bit van like in terms of the seating position, BUT, the standard seats feel at least 90% as supportive as the optional fancy shell backs, but sit considerably lower. So if that would be a real bug bear day to day, then the standard seats are the way to go, and if I'm honest, that's probably how I'd spec mine if I was to buy one when I come to buy a new car next year. (Side note, I'm still massively impressed with how the new one gets down a road, I genuinely believe that there aren't many cars this side of Nissan's GT-R that could truly embarrass the new Focus RS for sheer point to point pace).

I would love to see the RS Mk4 as a combination of this 5 cylinder engine and the 4WD technolgy of the Mk3...but that will remain as a wish from me until I do it myself someday...

Great review. Both cars look so much fun to drive but in my opinion I would go for the MK2. I prefer the engine and the looks. I think the MK2s will hold more value but there’s no doubt that the MK3 is an absolute beast on UK roads.

i've had both...the mk3 is in a different league, the reason i got rid of my mk2 after 10k miles was wheel spin, once the tyres were more than half worn it was all over the place...once on a wet day waiting at a busy junction to get out, i pulled away thinking i had plenty of time when i just sat there wheels spinning merrily away almost causing me to get broad sided by an artic! not so in my mk3 she's off the line & up the road safely away!! i love my rs's having had rs turbos from the 80's & focus rs's 2/3 & the mk3 focus rs imo is the best by quite a margin thanks in part to 4 wheel drive & the way it inspires confidence with so much grip!

Great video and review! Just picked up my (winter) car, an original 2002 Focus ST170 Wagon. So far, it's brilliant! And it's imperial blue, as it should be!

@volfkrauz3228

6 жыл бұрын

Hello, Emperor! The crown does not press? What do you know about empires and their colors? Do not write.

@keysersoze2313

6 жыл бұрын

Volf Krauz DMT?

Can someone tell me why they call it a mk1 or mk2 or mk3 whats the difference

In normal mode the car hardly pops and bangs like sport mode etc so my brother just took the valve caps out of the exhaust so it pops and bangs in normal!

MK 3 for me

Word to the wise, as he is comparing this car to the previous front wheel version and ST's. A rally car with AWD should have a little higher stance in your seating position. In order to give you a better line of sight on road conditions and bumps.

Is that Wayne Rooneys good looking brother?

i own the MK3 but i always loved the MK2 and always wanted one, I chose the MK3 just for the fact its brand new and just has more going for it, if only it looked as aggressive as the MK2

Y’all are so lucky. I wish we got the Mk2 RS and ST in the states. I have a Mk3 ST and dream of the 5 cylinder Mk2’s. Ended up getting my wife (also for me *wink*) a Volvo C30 T5 manual to get something as similar as I could.

When the mk3 came out I didn’t like it, it looked too subtle compared to the mk2. But I was at a race track and saw a mk1 which also looked pretty subtle to the mk2 which made me appreciate the mk3 a bit more. Then the mother bought a mk3 and it is so fun to drive. The seating position is a bit of a pain for me but my mother is small so it’s perfect for her xD

my mum bought a mk3 when it first came out and she still loves it

sure the mk3 has higher torque figures? there is also a 5th drive mode which isn't in the owners manual :-)

Hot hatches shouldn't really weigh more than 1500kg. I propose a new category for those newer fast hatches: Fat hatches. 1100-1200 kg would be ok, but today they all have too much weight to be as fun on tight winding roads as the hot hatches of the 90ies and 2000s with 1100kg or less. We've got all this technology now and yet most car makers still are not able to make their cars lighter, except for ND MX5 and some others the cars are now 300 to 500 kg heavier than they need to be. Bloated cars for bloated egos and their GoPros.

@shona5512

7 жыл бұрын

Mick Wrinkles It may be heavy, but as long as the performance is there, it doesn't matter how heavy it is. A 10 year old Golf GTI is lighter, but a hell of a lot slower, so does that mean it's more of a "hot hatch" than this? Its 1300kg and goes 0-60 in 6.7 seconds, meanwhile this is 300kg heavier and 2.2 seconds quicker.. After all, performance is what puts the _"hot"_ in _hot hatch_.

@mickwrinkles2318

7 жыл бұрын

"It may be heavy, but as long as the performance is there, it doesn't matter how heavy it is." Dude, think a little more before you write something. Can't take you seriously after that line. Drive a car with the same power and half the weight and realise how wrong you are. Weight matters when cornering, when breaking, when accelerating, it matters all the time. Watch the hot lap of the Bac Mono on EVO and you'll see that a 305hp superlight car was 1 sec faster around the Angelsey track than a 1000hp McLaren P1 GTR. Lighter cars are always more efficient. Hot hatches that I like should be fun on tight, twisty roads, therefore a lighter car with 1100kg will be more fun to me than a 1500kg car that is slower in the corners but faster on the short straights. You can gain much more time on corner entry, through the corner and on the exit than on a short straight. Therefore the lighter car will be faster overall and more fun to me. On a road with no corners or very fast corners it will be a totally different story but I'm bored on straight roads. Hot hatches never were about straight line speed. There are other car categories that are much much better for that. Harry Metcalfe famously bought a Renault Clio Mk2 Trophy because it could hang with a Lambo Gallardo on a super tight mountain road because it could take the tight bends faster than the Gallardo and the straights weren't long enough to make up for that. That is the essence of a true hot hatch to me. Not outright engine power for straight line performance but insanely quick through tight bends and quick direction changes. That's why 1500kg is too heavy for a hot hatch.

@bmwmdude

7 жыл бұрын

+Mick Wrinkles I agree to a point if your talking strictly driving on a track, but just day to day normal driving your not gonna feel the extra weight in the newer cars, plus when you talk about power to weight and entry and exit speeds in a corner you loose about 90% of the people you're talking to. Also, you can't really compare a super light like an aerial atom to the focus RS. Can you say apples to oranges, two different animals both immensely fun for different reasons...

@mickwrinkles2318

7 жыл бұрын

I don't drive my hot hatches on track, for that I would use a purpose built car if only I could afford it. You might not 'feel' the extra weight, but higher weight also means tires wear more, uses more fuel, needs more brake energy aso. Costs, wear and energy consumption rise with more weight. Hot hatches that I like should be fun on public, twisting mountain roads, because that's what I like to do in them. Did 10 different longer drives on mountain passes last year and it was so much fun giving it the beans(8/10s) on deserted roads. For having this much fun on those winding roads I'm not prepared to carry 400-500kg more around in normal dialy (or commute) use. No one was talking about Ariel Atom vs Focus RS. Renault Clio Sport 2003, Peugeot 206 RC 2003, Civic Type R 1997, Talbot Sunbeam Lotus and similar cars vs Focus RS is the comparison I was thinking about. No doubt the Focus RS is faster in a straight line, but it's about the 'chuckableness' those cars have that make them so fun to me. 1000kg less inertia than 1500kg to say it simple.

@TheAmbasadaRecords

7 жыл бұрын

agreed, lighter is better, less costs, more fun, more alive feeling car

I would have the ford logo on the radiator light up that just what I think on the R S both models under the number plate

I own a mk2 st and I love it. If I were to up grade to an rs. It would have to be the mk2 rs. It has more road presents and sounds so much better. Plus it will be a classic.

I prefer the MK2 rs that 5cylinder 2.5 Volvo 20 valve engine is amazing love it and remember that engine Can be tuned to well over 500/600/900/bhp So it is no baby size Engine. So there you have it . Nice video 👍 Keep up the brilliant work peace out.

great film

This lad is actually a great presenter. Is he still doing reviews?

vs with no track test hmmmm

The mk2 is one of my dream car but I went for the megane r26 and now the megane 265 cup. But for pure sound and looks no hatch will ever match the focus rs mk2

Great review. And I agree with you mk2 just looks better. And I got the mk2 225 ST.. I love it. :) the 5 cylinder is just wow ! Haha but hope when they make a new shape RS I'd prefer it and get one then. But right now. I love my ST :)

I only saw The Mark II RS in shows like Top Gear and read about it on Evo Magazine. In other words it was like a forbidden fruit that I desperately wanted but never really got a chance to enjoy. I too think the Mark II looks meaner, the light blue in the new RS just doesn't do it for me either. Had it been shown in the frozen gray or the awesome white, it would of been close but either way the Mark II has aged beautifully. Also the 5 cylinder engine must of been somethingto be proud of, although I have to say that the engine on the mew RS is also award winning even if it isn't as unique as the 5 cylinder. So which one would I choose as the winner, the new RS of course but not by much.

dude it's like you were born to do these kind of stuff seriously, I usually get bored with reviews, with the all too common trait of spewing all the hard numbers, then some critique about something completely trivial, or just talking without actually saying anything So yeah, that

I think the thing I don't like about hot hatches anymore or most performance vehicles nowadays is the fact that they are SO common on our roads now, any Tom, Dick or Harry can get one on finance these days. They have become less niche and more mainstream, a bit like your favourite band when you were young and finding your own tastes in music and then they start producing pop albums and are appearing on X Factor to plug their music.

My dad has that exact MK2 Ford Focus rs

I keep toiling with the idea of trading in my mk2 rs now the mk 3 rs has been out for some years. But keep getting told to don't bother i think i need to drive a mk 3 to make up my mind.

I would love the mk2 sound in the mk3 every thing else is mk3 I love the look of the new RS but back to the sound the inline 5 sounds so good but if it had the crackle pop that the new mk3 has it would be boss👌👌👌

To me, the mk2 has always looked a bit 'chavvy', whereas the mk3 three looks more mature and aggressive. I love the styling of the mk3, I don't understand why it gets so much stick?

Can you up grade the mk2 to get it up to 350hp fwhp ?

@dallasmellsop5488

3 жыл бұрын

Ofc even easy 420hp on stock internals

Contemplating getting the MK2.... seems more special

Had an mk2, sold it , bought an mk3, regret forever. My mk3 is faster but damn that mk2 is special and legendary….

Great review. Now do one comparing VW Mk7 golf r vs Mk6 golf r.

@TheAMalik89

7 жыл бұрын

Why? One is widely recognised as being shit

@AR-zg9if

7 жыл бұрын

TheAMalik89 fair comment

@jazzbassjames6403

7 жыл бұрын

I think that would be a bit of a no-contest to be honest. The Mk7 is a much much better car.

@TheRichieRozay

7 жыл бұрын

Jazzbassjames maybe a mk6 golf r vs mk7 gti sport/performance package?

He just wants to say the st2 is fucking brill... Look at how much he smiles

I wonder if this engine has the same cold climate problems as a volvo car because its the same base, like freezing coolers, freezing idle motors and freezing crankcase ventilation pushing cam seals out and draining the oil :)

I dove both and the mk2 feels a bit more lively:-) , but would buy the mk3 if I could afford 1:-) brilliant review cheers steve:-)

@authenticmax6350

7 жыл бұрын

Don't sell the MK2.. I feel its price will go up in future.

@STEVEBHPDEVON

7 жыл бұрын

Authentic Max you may have a point mines got 34k on the clock and full spec :-) with few little extras:-)

@authenticmax6350

7 жыл бұрын

Thats so cool. You lucky Bas#@%# ! haha.

@STEVEBHPDEVON

7 жыл бұрын

Authentic Max took a long time to get 1 but worth it.:-) if you type my user name in I've got a page with a couple of vids :-)

@authenticmax6350

7 жыл бұрын

Oh Absolutely. We used to have a Ford Escort MK2 and boy it was sooo fun. My dad built the engine later on, the car came with a big thick manual book and it had all the diagrams of engine components and everything. The car was so simple, no electronic wishy washy wires, just simple mechanical down to earth car. In the 90's we used to take it to hilly highway roads, the uphill climb used to be terrible but the downhill was always awesome. Those rwd Toyota Corolla GLs and later corollas of the mid 80's and 90s were quite powerful compared to it but we used to thrash them. And my dad, hahaha, once he drank a bottle of beer my mother used to sit at the back seat coz she couldn't sit next to my dad driving like as if cops were chasing us.. Oh those days.. How time passes by so quickly. Sure I'll check out your videos man. Cheers.

The Mk 2 for me toooooo, it just looks the part, the 3 has some things going for it but overall its the 2.

I've always thought the Mark 2 in general as well as the RS were mingers and the interiors as low rent as you can get for the money, but a five pot will always be more alluring than a turbo inline four.

Wish the mk2 was awd, I live in Sweden can only go for awd

My vote would be the Mk 2 on engine sound alone. Both great cars.

Time for a Mk. 2 full bodykit... ;)

Both Lovely motors

I seem to be one of the few that much prefers the look of the new one... Just looks better to me, more understated sure, but it still has some aggression to it. Also 3 doors just doesn't cut it for me anymore, my first car was 3 door and I've never gone back since to much of a ballache.

I had the mk2 RS but must say the mk3 is a much better car in my opinion, the awd system is just fantastic & it just seems to do everything that's asked of it. I drove a mk 2 a couple of weeks ago & as nice as it is it's not as much fun as the mk3 I don't think.

@AJtheSwede

7 жыл бұрын

Gary Chivers Imagine the MK2 with that AWD system added to it👍👍

@garychivers9726

7 жыл бұрын

Hi Think that's what it always lacked for me, also mine only had 13000 miles & had knocked out 2 drive shaft gaiters & wasn't driven particularly hard to be honest. So much power going through them front wheels i surprise but still a great car 😁

@garygrant2000

7 жыл бұрын

I still have the Mk2 but very temped to get the Mk3 though especially with the AWD system.

@garychivers9726

7 жыл бұрын

Gary Grant go for a test drive mate don't think you will be disappointed, I've driven a couple of different ones with both types of seats and think the standard ones are better as you sit a lot lower down but see what you think.

@garygrant2000

7 жыл бұрын

I was gonna go and have a drive when they were just released but I didn't do in the end as I didn't want to be tempted haha! Interesting that you preferred the standard seats over the buckets as I really like the buckets and was gonna order them if I got a new MK3. Will definitely have a test drive though.

sure

Funilly, like the Mk2 owners, the ST owners also tends to say they prefer the ST, lol. All it takes is a couple of corners and someone who know how to drive a 4x4 to set the record straight: the Mk3 RS leaves everything standing still. Deal with it :-)

mk2 over the new one. just love that engine, the sound is just not the same as the old one. the torque in the 5 cyl is also fantastic

I have tried the MK2 when it was released. It was my dream car until the time I drove it... The front wheel drive is so boring. It is bloody fast, but no emotions. I really disliked it from the very beginning. The new RS - the way it goes to corners and leaves them going sideways - absolutely brilliant and not many cars at the moment can do these things. Definitely not with this price tag

Love the way he says he's dressed for the occasion. Seems like he's saying all st and rs drivers are chavs. I'm an st driver does that make me a chav?

Ive driven them both very fast unfortunately the mk2 was in the wet and it was rubbish but gotta say mk2 gave me a better all round feel good factor (a proper rs) and looks so much better(meaner) than its younger brother

I bet the two around the track would have comparable lap times. 0-60 and lateral grip don’t define a cars total speed quite like a good track does.

The mk1 rs would be my dream hot hatch. Still. Yup, you heard that right 16 years on