8 Tempting Alternatives To A New Ford Focus RS
The new Focus RS is awesome. It’s fast, it bites corners with the tenacity of a rabid slot car, it can spin wicked all-wheel drive donuts until the neighbors puke just from watching, and yes, there’s the infamous drift button. If that’s not enough, the Focus RS also has five doors, relatively comfortable accommodations for a small family, and a gaping rear hatch that opens so you can haul actual things while you’re hauling tail at sphincter-pinching speeds.
It’s also priced at £31,000 in Europe and $35,000 in the States, which is quite a lot for a Ford Focus hatchback. Calm down RS fans, I’m not saying the RS is just another Focus. Nor am I going to say it’s too expensive. Ford has this mega-hot hatchback priced accordingly with the competition, and given its fabulous level of performance, some might say it’s a bargain. But £31,000 is still a lot of money whether you have it to spend or not. If I had that much coin for car, I’m not sure the RS is special enough for me to justify the purchase, never mind the monumental depreciation that hits most every new car during the first couple years.
That’s why, when hot new rides like the Focus RS hit the scene, I enjoy looking to the used markets to see what kind of metal is available for the same price. I’m not saying these cars are better than the RS, or that they even match up apples-to-apples. I’m just taking £31,000 and seeing how far it can go. After looking at cars in the U.S. and abroad, I’ve come to the conclusion that it goes pretty damn far.
1. Chevrolet Corvette Z06
I’ll start right off with an alternative for Americans, and it just might blow your mind. If you dip back to 2010 you can score a very nice Corvette Z06 for Focus RS money. That’s a 1400kg sports car with a six-speed manual, epic handling, and oh yeah, a freaking 505bhp 7.0-litre V8. This era Z06 is supercar quick, running 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and flirting with 200mph. And since late model Corvettes are owned exclusively by old retired guys with gray hair, you know the car won’t be abused.
2. Porsche 911 S (997)
If you absolutely need a Porsche, older Boxsters and Caymans can easily be had for under £31,000. They’re good cars, but they’re not legendary like the 911 so skip them and step back to 2009 for a second-generation 997-series 911 S. Its 380bhp flat-six will match the Focus RS for performance, and you’ll have 911 pedigree in your garage to brag about. And if you absolutely need all-wheel drive, drop back another model year to get a 2008 Carrera 4S for about the same price.
3. BMW E60 M5
Rather than a boosted 2.3-litre four cylinder, how does a 5.0-litre V10 making 500bhp sound? That’s what you’ll get from a 2010 BMW M5, arguably the best M5 of all time. This big luxury sedan outruns the Focus RS to 60, holds on in corners ridiculously well for something so large, and positively whips the RS for comfort and nerdy tech features. It may not have a drift button, but there is a drift pedal located on the floor by your right foot.
4. BMW E92 M3
If the M5 is too big for you, just move forward a couple years to a 2012 E92 M3 coupe. You’ll trade the V10 for a 414bhp V8, but with an 8300rpm redline, the swap is totally worth it. And in the smaller M3 that’s enough for a 0-60 time just under four seconds, and I don’t think I need to talk about the M3’s ability to warp spacetime on a canyon road. It’s not an all-wheel drive boosted hatchback, but for the same amount of money, I’d find it very difficult to walk away from the M3.
5. Jaguar XKR
Here’s another luxury/performance alternative to the hardcore RS that, at least in a straight line, runs side-by-side with the Ford. You’ll need to look for 2007-2008 models to meet the RS budget, but that still gets you sinfully seductive styling, luscious luxury, and a supercharged 420bhp V8 for motivation. It doesn’t dance nearly as well as the RS, but still, there’s something about having a dead sexy Jaaaaaaag in the garage.
6. Toyota A80 Supra Turbo
Certainly there will be many buyers using their RS as a daily driver, and many of the cars on this list are just as capable for daily duty. The A80 Supra isn’t among them - it’s a fun weekend car, just as I’m sure there will be plenty of RS buyers who only venture out on sunny Sundays for a spot of tea.
Yes, the Supra and RS are in two completely different automotive worlds. But line them up at a drag strip and even in stock trim, the Supra will be right next to the Focus. Their current selling prices match up too, but whereas the RS will lose value in the coming years, the Supra will gain value. I like that.
7. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
Of all the Evos, the VI is my favourite by a wide margin. I can’t get it in the US, but Europe and Australia can. Not only that, it can be had for considerably less than the £31,000 Focus RS base price. Even with a horsepower disadvantage the stock Evo is a surprising match for the boosted Focus, but with so much cash left over in the budget I’d drop a few grand into some Evo upgrades and have the all-wheel drive rally racer of my dreams.
8. Dodge Viper R/T-10
Unless you have a six-figure supercar, rides don’t get much more jaw-dropping than a first-generation Dodge Viper. Line this up to the RS and Viper’s massive 400bhp V10 will keep the cars side-by-side. The Viper might even stick fairly close to the RS through a road course, at least for a little while. But you don’t choose an old Viper over a new Focus RS because of performance. You do it because, even after 22 years, the Viper still looks like it wants to kill you, drink all your beer and sleep with your wife.
Comments
No E46 M3?
An E46 is about half the price of an E9x. Just because the E46 is one of the best cars of all time doesn’t mean it should be on every “what you could buy instead” list. And I even own an E46 M3.
Hey you used my Triggered meme! (I don’t mind though)
Most E46s are just as rusty as Mater. Ask Alex, he knows.
BMWs are just too expensive to service, everybody knows that
Why would anyone buy a Ford focus instead of an m3, 911, or an m5 . I think u can also buy c63amg for that much
Reliability, warranty, AWD matters for some folks, I suppose.
Buying one of those “alternatives” is one thing. Insuring and maintaining (Hello e60 M5) is something completely different.
If you live in areas where it snows or rains a large portion of the year, AWD, is necessary to have fun in relative safety. That being said, unless people buy it new, how can others buy the Focus RS 2 years down the line for 20 grand, either side of the pond? Cheers to New Car buyers, without them there will be nothing in the second hand market
In what world could an e92 M3 manage 60 in under 4 seconds?
Car and Driver tested the DCT version and it went 0-60 in 3.9seconds
It has been done by several car testers. Ideally if the condition were correct and you were on a drag strip where the tarmac is sticky it is quite possible to get the e92 to 60 in 3.9 sec
“even after 22 years, the Viper still looks like it wants to kill you, drink all your beer and sleep with your wife.” ROFL
can’t argue with the truth
No C63?
997 Carrera S, please!
E60 M5, yes, XKR, yes!
But I’d rather have myself 2 S15 Silvias with some wicked mods :D
9: the more enjoyable (going to get so much hate) FK2 type r!
Agree!
When you want a pretty affordable stock racecar
I feel like you’re disappointed with how little hate there is. I mean, so far there’s only good replies, so here you go: It’s an absurdly overpriced lawn mower. There, now you have some hate. You may rest easy.
The C6 Z06 is owned exclusively by old retired guys with gray hair? Damn, I guess I should have retired when I bought it at the old age of 27.
Yeah and I notice every time I see something like the porsche right below it there is always an old silver haired guy driving it.
Same story here bro 😂
Who wouldn’t have a 911 over a focus?
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