Sharp Focus – the battle of the Focus RS cars! (the Final)

After my first test drive foray into MK1 RS Focus fun there started many email-miles of RS Focus-focused banter between me and our now resident, MK1-owning expert; Jonathan Spencer.

He’s a member of a Ford Focus RS Owner’s Club and gets out and about to RS meets with his buddies in the club. It’s during these events, over the forums and after owning his own MK1 for a year that he’s been deeply involved in the ever-raging, which-Focus-RS-is-best, debate.

It’s passionate and knowledgeable enthusiasts like Jonathan that Ford want to reach out to with cars like the Focus RS; people that appreciate and understand the R&D effort that goes into every car that wears the RS badge. I posed him these questions:


Name: Jonathan Spencer

Age: 29

Occupation: Company Manager

Car: Ford Focus RS MK1

Years owned: 1

Purchase price? £11k.

Estimated value now: £12.5k - these cars will only go up in price as the availability diminishes.

Any modifications: None, totally standard!

Has the car been reliable and reasonably cheap to maintain? Or has it had its fair share of niggles? Only standard things such as the MOT and general servicing, and the thermostat housing needed replacing.

What's it like to be part of the Focus RS Owner's Club? What do you guys get up to? Did you drag race and Santa Pod? We have a monthly meet on the first Sunday of every month for the Northants RS Club. I’ve met some nice people along the way. No drag racing for my baby!

Is there any car of a similar value that you would consider as a performance equal for your RS? No. I can't see anything that comes close in all honesty.

Do you own any other cars? Yes, a Honda Civic.

Your three "dream garage" cars are? Aston Martin DB5, Ferrari 458 Italia and Ford RS200.

What do you want to see from Ford's next Focus RS? I'd like to see four-wheel drive, or maybe see the RS badge move to the Fiesta. The next car definitely needs to be smaller and lighter!

Is aggression and involvement in the drive of an RS Focus the key to enjoyment factor, or is it a colder, more clinical yet dynamically-accurate drive that we should expect and enjoy from an RS car? An RS is supposed to be a driver’s car first and foremost that demands attention and concentration, but can be easily enjoyed at the same time. The car needs to have an aggressive set up in all areas, but also needs to feel that it can take whatever's thrown at it.

What is the key to an RS car's enthusiast success? What does an RS car need to do to earn its RS badge? It needs to make a statement and this begins with the styling and the look of the car. It needs to give off an aura that the car is something special, iconic and is going to be a hoot to drive.

If you could / did modify your own RS, where do you think it needs a little help? Better brakes, more power, expensive suspension? At times I wish the turbo lag was lesser, but then again coming out of long bends and off roundabouts can prove to be a real drama in itself as the turbo boost comes out of nowhere, firing a big dollop of power through the car, and the driver fighting to keep the car under smooth control. I love it every time!

Do any other performance cars at the same price point as your Focus RS have as much heritage, respect and following among enthusiasts, in your opinion? No, I’m afraid not.


So, it seems that while Jonathan admits that his MK1 RS Focus isn’t perfect – a little lag from the turbo, for example – the car more than makes up for it in aggressive style and driver involvement; something that he feels is key to an RS car earning its RS badge. And while he’s driven and enjoyed the more powerful and dynamically-refined MK2 RS, he could never see himself selling his MK1 in order to buy a MK2. 

Now, after all this emailing between us I was supposed to meet Jonathan at a recent Central Ford RS Owners Club Day event at Santa Pod raceway, but too much time spent shooting some cool RS pics and videos meant that we ran out of time to hook up in person. 

But, it was time spent shooting and filming at this awesome enthusiasts’ event that I had more time to consider my vote for the ultimate RS Focus. There was every kind of standard and modified RS car on display in the April sunshine, and it was all I could do in the few hours I had to get around all the RS club stands, show car displays and startline drag racing action to cover it all. However, by the time I left Santa Pod I still hadn’t made up my mind. 

As I cruised back from the show down a slow-moving M1 motorway; window down, tunes up, I found myself deeply feeling the “purity” and originality the first Focus RS; the MK1, even with her relative dynamic faults when compared to the MK2. 

And then I’d think of the brutally-styled MK2 that, in white, just blows me away every time I see one. And it could probably lap the track quicker. 

But then, as if sent by some higher-RS-power; my decision is sealed by an Imperial Blue vision - pulling within feet along side me is a mint condition MK1 Focus RS. The driver has obviously just left the same show and the show-prepped paint is shining hard in the sun as the turbo whistles in and out of boost and the aftermarket back-box transmits its deep burble. 

She looks just so good on the move - on the road - where she should be. That RS-purity flows from every inch of her square ‘n’ sharp bodywork and those MK1-only OZ 18s could suit no other car better. The driver nips across in front of me with a flick of the steering wheel and my view fills with one fat slab of stocky RS aggression. Just gorgeous, just out and out RS, and for around £9k - but no only because of price - I just can’t imagine me buying, driving and loving any other Focus RS. And on that bombshell, I RS my case…


See what other Focus RS fans think at the Focus RS Facebook page.

Huge thanks to: Debbie, John, Ivan, and all at Ford Europe, and Jonathan Spencer.



This is Jonathan's own Focus RS MK1 just after it's been washed, dried, clay bar treated, 3-stage cleaned, polished and waxed. That's a full day cleaning the car! And as you can see, it's absolutely gleaming! Valeting maestro and MK1 encyclopaedia, Clayton Borg, is the man behind the super-shine here



Jonathan's car is completely standard, as it came from the Ford factory, and he's going to keep it that way as he sees the MK1 as an appreciating classic. And true enough, there aren't that many around. But, around £10k can still buy you this performance icon



The OZ wheels and Brembo brake calipers on Jonathan's RS are pristine - a credit to him and proof of the passion that a true RS car fires up



The mighty Ford RS200 Group B rally car - one of Jonathan's dream garage cars. These brutal beasts are getting seriously expensive. This one lives at the Ford Heritage garage and can suck breath from lungs at 20 paces!



The Focus RS500 - rare, very fast and the most exclusive Focus RS car. It's one mean street and track weapon for sure, but the £40k used asking price puts it out of reach of many



The MK2 Focus RS can be yours for around £20k. You get 300bhp, incredible front-wheel drive handling and rally-stage-fugative styling. For this reviewer and RS fan the MK2 came a very close second to my final Focus RS champ...



... the original bad-boy Focus RS; the MK1. For me, and Jonathan Spencer, the MK1 is the Focus RS to own. I love the colour, love the style, and with 212bhp of fiesty power and an accessible £10-12k pricetag, she's the one I'd take home, and kiss goodnight! 


Words & pics: Daniel Anslow

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