Ford Focus RS vs Mercedes-AMG A 45: huge hyper hatch showdown
video description
The boot size is not -decent- it-s awful; you-d struggle to fit more than a couple of kit bags in it, and the rear seating is cramped. For a car that needed to transport a family on occasion it wasn-t up to the task.
The recaros whilst supportive are insufficient padded so on motorway journeys you get out the other end with a very sore back! (I-m only 38)
Then there are the reliability and other issues. After just 4000 miles my Focus (fitted with the Mountune 375 upgrade) exhaust valve stuck (common issue apparently, and the car always suffered from sudden veering at full throttle when you reached 70mph even though the wheel wasn-t moved on a straight uncambered road which was - as agreed by a ford master tech - dangerous. Ford apparently aware of the issue say -characteristic of the car-.
The ride was also very firm even in normal mode.
Lastly I felt the car always felt very heavy and slow - a dyno showed before the Mountune pack that it was 25bhp down on the sales pitch figures, and it showed.
Then headgasket failures started being reported on an increasing basis.
I liked the looks, and the grip was great but it-s a flawed car and with the unreliable engine and poor mpg (no better than the M3 v8 it replaced) it was time to go. If Ford had shown more interest in fixing the problems I might have kept it but they appear more concerned with wringing money out of the model, and for me that was enough to get rid before prices dropped significantly. Shame, it had great promise.
Date: 2022-04-17
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 9
Gerry
As a Brit, we love fords
Ford motor company supplied us with a place called Dagenham '
Our holy grail
We used your money ' and made Capris, Cortinas and Escorts, we rallied raced, and even spurned the GT40 '
We think of ford as our friend honest and reliable.
And now our favorites like cosworth Sierras, lotus cortinas! are Ferrari money.
So you can keep your oversized, over engined mustangs. we will bang out our pocket rockets. :)
reply
As a Brit, we love fords
Ford motor company supplied us with a place called Dagenham '
Our holy grail
We used your money ' and made Capris, Cortinas and Escorts, we rallied raced, and even spurned the GT40 '
We think of ford as our friend honest and reliable.
And now our favorites like cosworth Sierras, lotus cortinas! are Ferrari money.
So you can keep your oversized, over engined mustangs. we will bang out our pocket rockets. :)
reply
MajorGamersUK
Man, You drive way to close to the steering wheel and your head is well almost hitting the glass.
No way have you full control over cars when driving so close to the wheel as you are.
OK, you may have short legs but wow dangerous way to be in the driving seat.
Then your arms. well all over the place.
reply
Man, You drive way to close to the steering wheel and your head is well almost hitting the glass.
No way have you full control over cars when driving so close to the wheel as you are.
OK, you may have short legs but wow dangerous way to be in the driving seat.
Then your arms. well all over the place.
reply
Peter
I've had two A45s and have just got an RS for a change and while the Focus has a rough ride and a so so interior it certainly feels more -immediate- and fun in terms of handling so far. I think the Focus will make me laugh a lot more even if the A45 was faster on paper.
reply
I've had two A45s and have just got an RS for a change and while the Focus has a rough ride and a so so interior it certainly feels more -immediate- and fun in terms of handling so far. I think the Focus will make me laugh a lot more even if the A45 was faster on paper.
reply
reckbody
My apologies if this question has already been asked below. Is this-Ford Performance/Mountun- factory approved tuning kit available for purchase? I asked MountuneUSA about approved tuning kits and was told they have none.
reply
My apologies if this question has already been asked below. Is this-Ford Performance/Mountun- factory approved tuning kit available for purchase? I asked MountuneUSA about approved tuning kits and was told they have none.
reply
Monkiimagic
Merc all the way. the RS engine has a now rather well known design flaw, if I was spending that kind of money again on a hot hatch I would not go near the RS now. which is a shame as it's a belter of a car.
reply
Merc all the way. the RS engine has a now rather well known design flaw, if I was spending that kind of money again on a hot hatch I would not go near the RS now. which is a shame as it's a belter of a car.
reply
Dave
I took the RS (M375) for a test drive recently, and honestly. I wasn't impressed with the performance. cornering yes, amazing. Straight line, very flat / linear and progressive. Doesn't feel like 500nm at all.
reply
I took the RS (M375) for a test drive recently, and honestly. I wasn't impressed with the performance. cornering yes, amazing. Straight line, very flat / linear and progressive. Doesn't feel like 500nm at all.
reply
Amg
Mercedes is a special built car for special drivers not for ppl who drive Ford and Vauxhall-s i had the a45 and never had issues to what this guy is saying mercedes build the best cars not for chavs
reply
Mercedes is a special built car for special drivers not for ppl who drive Ford and Vauxhall-s i had the a45 and never had issues to what this guy is saying mercedes build the best cars not for chavs
reply
ChawenHalo
Great on paper but I can't understand the point of whacking this sort of bhp into a basic front transaxle shitbox. For the money there are far better real sports cars with the correct layout.
reply
Great on paper but I can't understand the point of whacking this sort of bhp into a basic front transaxle shitbox. For the money there are far better real sports cars with the correct layout.
reply
Von
With the AWFUL interior of the RS, I would have the AMG. I am hoping the newer shape focus will have an RS version. Having been in the current RS is feels so damn cheap inside of it.
reply
With the AWFUL interior of the RS, I would have the AMG. I am hoping the newer shape focus will have an RS version. Having been in the current RS is feels so damn cheap inside of it.
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
