FORD FOCUS RS $42,000 w/manual only tranny!

Zbo

Don't be mad american cars are leaving Nissan performance in the dust ; also the gtr is not affordable and the z is a joke with its highest Nismo model sitting at dealers barely being sold while the ford gt 350 / r and focus Rs are sold out for pre orders ..

RicerX

The GT-R was never meant to be "affordable" just like the upcoming Ford GT won't be.

The current Mustang is how many years newer than the current Z? The Focus RS is technically not even out yet.

I understand your sentiment of Nissan not currently offering comparable performance options to Ford's lineup that is less than a year old, but let's be realistic - these things don't happen overnight, either.

When Nissan incrementally improved the 370Z over the 350Z, it decimated... for one model year. The competition has been responding very effectively ever since. Don't you think this time around it might be wise for Nissan to sit back and let their competition blow their wads first? The market is in a crazy place of fluctuation as there is a completely different demographic for a Z type car now than there was in 2009.

Furthermore, while I think the Focus RS is awesome, when has Nissan EVER competed in the hot hatch segment for the American market? Hard to lose a game when you're not playing. Would I like to see a Nismo Pulsar here? Absolutely! But imagine if that concept two years ago showed up with a 220hp turbo from a Juke RS... it would get stomped and sit on the lots.

On the subject of badge snobbery and such, I'll leave you with an elaboration of a point I made earlier...

It's a great time to be a performance car guy. The 370Z is still a damn good car for the money (if we're talking sport package only, which is really what performance guys should be concerned with), but there's just a lot of other options out there. However, the Nissan badge snobbery is really only effective if you're into crossovers, because no one has the crossover game handled quite like Nissan.

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UNKNOWN_370

How do other car threads become Nissan comparos? It's one thing to make reference to a Z. It's another to make the Z the focal point of a thread about 5 door hot hatches.

No one has really even tried to make a comment on posted Vids and information on the two cars at hand.

Mercedes A45AMG
Which has amazing performance, the most powerful STOCK production 4 cylinder in the world and is not being sold in America.

Then we have the Ford Focus RS, will be the most powerful hatch in America, will be the most expensive hot hatch in America. $4,000 cheaper than a base Mercedes A45.

Comparable cars for comparison could be Mazda & Subaru.

The Z really has nothing to do with this segment. The reality is, most intelligent, performance oriented Z owners would look at hot hatches as a companion car. Not as competition

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Favorite Quote.
"I'm not gonna kill you... I'm just gonna Bash Your Face In" Jack Nicholson-"The Shining". 1980

Davey

Exactly!

You wouldn't be looking to replace a 2-seat coupe with this, unless your life situation was changing dramatically.

Lots of people have something as a "3rd car" whether it's a Miata or a Corvette or a Z or whatever, it's probably less than practical and is only used as a "toy." This is NOT that kind of car.

This is another "Swiss Army knife" type of car. Even if you don't like it, any success might bring more competition to that market, and that's a good thing, if you're in the market for something like this.

I actually would be kind of interested in one as a daily driver with a set of snows for winter duty. I wouldn't replace my Z with it, unless I wanted to replace my Z with nothing, because this just isn't that same kind of car.

Zbo

Ya it was cool in 2009 replacing a cheap feel 350z, the sad part was it still wasn't that much better or the same quality as an s2000 for most to sell theirs and get a z because Of the price.guys who really ally wanted a Porsche surely weren't cross shopping Nissans z. Also we're approaching 2017 prototypes and concepts to be released and like I said Nissan is Getting left in the dust, the hot hatch segment is something even Honda is jumping in on.. Nissan they have no clue what they're doing for enthusiasts. They're also the worst consumer customer satfisfaction out of all Japanese brands. Leaders in recalls And that used to be ford! Which is the funny part.
..

lovemyvq

When did this become a Ford vs Nissan thread? Or an econo crapbox vs a 2 door sports cars thread? Not necessarily directed at you Zbo just quoted you as a reference.

It's really simple to narrow down the demographic of focus svtrs buyers. 20 somethings that can't afford multiple platforms. Like somebody mentioned this car is kind of a multi tool. A dedicated track car it is not. If you've spent a decent amount of time at the track you'd see the hardcore junkies are driving stripped down, gutted cars with massive aero kits. Nobody brings a fully loaded, carpeted, tech packaged 5 door hatch back and expects to be even remotely competitive in circuit/series racing.

As far as catering to enthusiasts, who in the hell is a focus enthusiast lol. Nobody, that's who. The car is based on an economy crap box. Who cares what they charge for it. The Z has enthusiasts, the same goes for mustang, camaro, challenger etc. Also, they all share one thing in common. They are one of their kind. What I mean by that is there are no economy versions of the car at significantly lower price point/performance. Yes they offer smaller engines or option packages. But a Z is a Z and vette is a vette. There are no other versions of the car. Can any of these focus aficionados honestly claim the ford focus, in ANY iteration, has an enthusiast following (without sounding like they were dropped as babies).

Is the Z perfect, obviously not and none of the cars mentioned in this thread are perfect either. But the people buying it, for the most part and especially around here, are enthusiasts. We bought the Z for more than just the car itself. Words like lineage, heritage and predecessors come to mind. The focus simply can't make that claim. Furthermore, it is not going to draw potential buyers of true sports cars to it's camp. No cayman, Z, stang, vette etc buyer is going to look at the focus and think "wow screw 2 door sports cars and everything that comes with them, let me sign on the dotted line for that gussied up generic economy class car. I'm sure to get looks in that". Nor is any track junkie going to spend 42k on it and the beat the living hell out of it like track guys do.

Davey

Well... The guy who said that (me) also said that he thought it would make a great daily driver while the Z sleeps in the garage.

Your daily driver doesn't have to be a boring Accord or whatever, is all I'm saying.

The Focus RS isn't a competitor to the Z. The Z doesn't have enough cupholders, can't carry as much luggage, there's no room for a baby seat and your dog, etc. This is a silly comparison, which I know you know.

BlackZeda

My lovely Z is slightly more practical than a motorcycle, which I can put Blizzaks on for the winter. I love it, but I can also appreciate people that get Fords or Subarus. I fact if I were a practical person, I would probably go for the Focus RS, but I have fallen in love with the Z. After putting HREs and a Fast Intentions exhaust on her there is no turning back. I am not really sold on Nissan, but like I have said, the Z has made me a fanboy.

With that being said, I like the Focus RS

UNKNOWN_370

I can't believe you quoted everything I just said and posted this?

I swear you are Jungle Z....

__________________
Favorite Quote.
"I'm not gonna kill you... I'm just gonna Bash Your Face In" Jack Nicholson-"The Shining". 1980