If the mk3 was 5 cylinder and had wider arches it would be ridiculous, MK2 is much better imo, you simply can’t beat that fucking noise and it just looks unreal
ZondahYT the mk2 is a Volvo in Fords clothing literally, so it is the best! I also happen to fucking hate Ford, but i would not mind having a Mk2 Volvo Focus RS, in fact it is the only modern Ford that would not like to see burn to the ground.
@@klaspeppar5619 yeah i agree hes probily just dumb sales man that just tells people the horsepower and stats on a car but has no technical knowlege or knows anything about engiens how they work all he knows is you put petrol in they go you have to have technical knowlege to know how good or bad a car is bad is and i bet if he opened a cars bonnet he wouldent have a clue what any thing was hes the type of guy to piont at the altinator and say "look iv got a vented turbo" someone said this to me before and said they had a v4 when it was a 4 cylinder golf engien
I used to own the MKII ST and my old man had the MKII RS. It has to be the MKII all day long for me. The flared arches and the aggressive styling is what the RS is all about - sadly lacking a bit in the MKIII. Then you have that natural growl from the 5 pot 2.5L engine. I believe the MKII was definitely the RS’s crowning glory.
I’m a mk3 ST owner and I tell you something couple weeks ago I was driving to Leeds from Birmingham on the mways in the rain low and behold there were 2 other mk3 ST’s and 2 mk3 RS’s and we all drove together letting each other go to the front... the fun I had was crazy... bottom line is I appreciate all Ford hot hatches regardless of the mk! But if I had to pick one out it would be the mk3 XR3i
Having had both, and still got the MK3, I can 100 % say that the MK 2 no matter how good I thought it was is not as good as the MK3. The awd system is awesome, the power and acceleration is fantastic, and the drivability in all weather conditions is phenomenal. Good video, and tbh it's only my opinion . MK 1/2/3 who cares, it's an RS.
The MK3 isn't too quick in a straight line though. No faster than a golf R even. My m140i was easily as quick as my friends mountuned MK3 in a straight line when I was stock, although he'd leave me easily in the bends.
the mk2 is just an old dated yobs car now, fine if you are a hoodie or wally cap backwards sort of chav. Grown ups go for the MK3 and don't get laughed at !
if you call fun driving round in an old dated yobs car with a volvo engine then thats obviously your level, I've grown up from that shit. With a 5 door MK3 I can use the back seats now easily instead of faffing about tilting front seats forwards and trying to wedge friends in like they are children into the back.
if you have a mental age of 15 or are under 30 and you get the horn over a dated front wheel drive car and maybe like wearing hoodies and hanging on street corners go for the old mk2, if ( and when you grow up) you will see the Mk3 is streets ahead. A car is SO much more than just how its exhaust sounds.
It might not sound as good or look as good but you will be left behind in the mk2, I've had a mk2 aswell I wouldn't go back to the mk2 does sound the nut tho👍😀
James Smith the mk3 just doesn’t look special, it has a wide front bumper but the mk2 looks way better. Wide arches, bonnet vents, maaaad wing and stance 👌🏻
Well not really. Ford made it very clear that they just wanted the RS to be a fun car. Where the Germans lacked in excitement, the RS is a fun car at any speeds!
im a mk2 rs owner... and you can say mk3 is a sporty dailydriver and mk2 is a weekend war machine... i think the mk2 is just nicer because of the aggression in the design. Ford didn't invest the same time and money in the mk3 other than 4WD and the engine. The mk2 has just so much more... (wider wheel arches, agressiv diffusor etc...) And in the end, as long as you are not on a race track, i think the emotion while driving is much much more worth than the time you could get arround a circuit.
Firstly, really good vid! Thanks for putting it out for us to see. I put over 200 miles/week on my '17 Mk3 and love that car. I'm sure the Mk2 is a hoot to drive and sounds great, but I wouldn't trade my Mk3 for one. Among other things the awd is such a treat, and grip? yeah it has grip! The driving options are fun. For a long time i'd drive everywhere in Sport mode, but recently i've been driving in Drift mode because of the rear wheel bias and the feel of a rwd car. So fun..
Its written all over you face, when you jump in the MK2 your emotion and happiness totally changes! i’ve just tried to sell my MK2 to buy a M3 but I couldn’t do it, they just make you smile so much
Love the MK2's What got me into the RS brand however I have a MK3 RS edition and would not swap it. Absolutely love it every time I get in the machine 😍 MK3 for me fun every day.
MK2 ANY DAY! I got my MK2 i just bought after wanting this dream car since 2009! (29 years old) the MK2 is a REAL drivers car! fuck the loud speakers and bass and all that shit! even in semi rain i drive with the windows a little open to just listen to that unrestricted engine just killing nature behind you! I FUCKING LOVE MY RS MK 2! :D
Mk2 is cooler. By a long way, especially with the 5 pot, but the new one looks much better. I’d still have a Mk2. Any rich people wanna give an engine swap a go? :D
Never used to like the mk2 but it grew on me eventually. Love the 5 cylinder noise. Especially in the RS3, proper sound. 4 cyl only sounds good in a rally car on dirt/gravel!
Team RS did make an early 4WD version of the MK2 RS... but they chose 2WD version instead, because it apparently drove better. The Ford Kuga has the same 2.5litre Volvo engine, but with the Haldex AWD, so in theory you could strip the AWD from the kuga and install it in a MK2 ST/RS and see how it goes!
I agree, but I’d still rather have the Mk2. The Mk3 looks terrible, it sounds terrible, and they are VERY common compared to the Mk2. Not special enough.
Pistol Pete yeah the mk2 looks & sounds better no doubt but why you would want the car that ultimately isn’t even in the same ball park I’m not sure? Each to there own tho 👍🏻
It’s faster and corners better for sure mate, I can’t argue with that, but, like most modern hot hatches, they’re lacking soul and personality. Literally anyone can jump in a Mk3 and drive fast. It’s just a fast car, it has no personality or character. It has so many external influences and aids to keep you on the road, it’s like driving a computer. I’d also mention prices and classic status too. Good, low mileage Mk2’s are commanding the same money as Mk3’s now, which tells me that there is a serious market for the Mk2 and I think that’s going to continue.......that is fords fault because literally anyone can go an get a Mk3 focus on finance for a few hundred quid a month or on a cheap PCP deal, which has diluted the whole RS brand. You shouldn’t see an RS on a daily basis, but I see Mk3 Focus RS’s every single day......don’t not even give them a second look, whereas on the rare occasion I see a Mk2, I’ll be taking a good look and hoping he puts his foot down so I can here that lovely 5-pot Motor!
They have a button that turns all of that off. I agree that they are very common, but that's in largely due to how hyped up they were and how good they actually are. Ford has a had a good few years making some of the best stuff on the market. Unfortunately that is all coming to an end in the U.S. due to the general public having some sort of need for a school bus sized vehicle.
Think the reviews a little off in terms of your saying the mk2 has all the twitchy characteristics and fun, it’s going to be having 400bhp with all those upgrades.... the mk3 can pull you about if your. It careful, I can guarantee my mk3 kicks it’s tail out in the corners if you want it too, especially in the wet. I agree the mk2 is the enthusiast choice in terms of power and old school engineering at the moment, that 5 pot roar is something you can’t beat with a 4pot, but add a mountune cat back to the mk3 and those baby pops turn into bangs and cracks. Maybe drive an M400 in comparison to the mk2 400 upgrade and see how that comes in. Although both cars are awesome I do wish they did a mk2 engine mixed with the mk3 engineering upgrades!
The only part where the ballsack comment is relevant is the one where I’m slapping it off your mums cheeks.... Anyway, troll comments are useless when they’re aren’t funny or contain backup facts. When you’ve bought the mk2 RS and driven both properly come back to me with a better reply.
i had a mk2 for 4 years best car ive owned one down side was the DSP even when switched off was still engaged not so noticeable until you floor it and a lot of people mis diagnosed this as torque steer No it was the dsp pulling the car one way or the other i had white line anti tramp and front and rear anti roll bars KW springs 450bhp and the one thing that let it down was the DSP not being fully off if you don't run up rated brakes you'll cook the standard brakes on any track day, i wonder if running the Syzecs ECU would have cured it but never went that far
I think if the MK3 was three door and wider I would have got one but they look so tame compared to the MK2, they should of built a limited amount of 3 doors for the UK
I like the mk2, looks and sounds great, I have a mk3 and it’s brilliant. don’t know why it gets roasted for its sound, sounds like a rally car, just my opinion. These two combined are the best out there
What among other things I liked about the chat in this video was that the golf type r people and civic type r people didn't jump in and rubbish the RS. I am a Ford enthusiast had a few but only standard cars. I retire in 5 years time ( 55 ) and a retirement present to myself is going to be a Ford Focus RS. What mark I am not sure. I prefer a manual but the 2020 version will have an auto. All the same I know one thing for sure I will be getting one. I did enquire at age 21 about buying a Sierra Cosworth but was laughed out the park.😃.
When it came to it, I chose more for my money. I got the Mk3. Launch control, AWD, more power, more practical - all from stock. Slap a mountune pack on and it's faster than you'll ever be brave enough to drive on the streets. The sound for me wasn't really a factor, both will sound like a scream in a pipe the whole time I drive it. 😅 ... but a large portion of the market for these cars do just rev them incessantly in car parks and at meets - so I'm not surprised others obsess over that.
I've been in both! I prefer the MK2. It's more of like a rollercoaster ride. but, the MK3 is such a cool thing too. It's more mature. Get a MK2 when your 20, get the MK3 when your late 20s
I owned a MKIII and got rid of it because it was too refined for my liking, and went back to and STI. My dream car since it came out was the MKII and I regret to this day, never buying one. It's never too late. Might have a to buy one before they're a collectors item 🤔
Darren Akrigg I agree the mk3 is a great car but the reason why I own a mk2 st is because of things like the engine the sound the looks pretty much everything an enthusiast wants to tick ✅ it’s personal preference.but I’m bias and love the mk2 More than a lot of other cars.its not the quickest or has the most Gadgets but when you put your foot down and hear 5 cylinders and a pop on gear change gives a good smile lol! The mk3 is just to tame to appeal to the average guy who likes a smart car there’s nothing special about it it needs to be wider to be honest like I say just my 2 pence
I like the mk3 RS, but that engine is sooooo touchy, head gasket will blow if you make any kind of modifications to the boost or power in general. I just stuck with a mk3 ST, tuned up a bit, still fun but also nice knowing I won't be caught on the side of the freeway with a busted block.
As someone that owned a mk2 and now got a mk3 : Look, engine noise, build quality : mk 2. Performances, equipments, fun factor : mk 3. I really like both cars, but the mk3 is a better car, even if it feels a bit cheaper on the materials.
ran a mkII from 2009 to 2012 did 132,000 as a rep UK wide. Very quick only had issues with trying to get power down in the damp other than that brilliant. Then went to a BMW 345d xDrive good car boring, now in MkIII RS bought her in July 2018 22,000 in no complaints. Mountune Exhaust and air kit no chip. As an every day 1000 miles per week tool she is great. Heated seat and steering wheel for first 3 miles great, once oil is up to temp sports mode radio 2 as I am old and then on with my day all over the country. I must do a video as a rep in an RS and get down to some real features. On a hard day you can get brake fade, I think I need to change the tyre to Good Year Eagle F1's asymmetric 3 as standard tyres do not perform well when very hot tend to slip on limit which is difficult when you are trying to get home whilst taking on hand free phone call. Cup holder annoying on limit coffee comes out and tray under stereo does not hold the Marlboro Red fag pack very well under acceleration. Cruise is handy on boring motorways and five doors good as was a pain constantly letting people in the back in MKII. Down side every time you get out and back in I have to keep putting her in sports mode and turn stop start off. People keep asking me why I do not run an RS3 or AMG basically price and running costs. If I wanted all out performance or a second car I would buy a Lotus Evora 400 plus German technology is so good its boring and paddles are for people whom go fast in straight lines and cannot heal and toe.
Love how all the guys defending the MK3 are the Americans who honestly have no idea just how much fun the MK2 is and how insane it looks in person!! Its not the MK3 is bad, but man the MK2 was something magical and rare! So happy it wasn't a 2.0T 4 banger.
????? What are you talking about. With the exception of the Ford Mustang and Dodge Charger, Challenger products, primarily most of the cars on american roads are front wheel drive. Front wheel drive cars are fast. But from a traction standpoint RWD and AWD make quick work of any FWD cars even with the 5 pot in the MK2. FACTS!!!
you seem to have missed the word "Enthusiasts" the entire world FWD is more common, but in the Performance/Tuner you will always catch shit from the RWD/AWD guys at car meets unless you hanging out with just Honda guys. And yes and no. A lot of things come into play. from stop racing yeah awd and rwd will destroy me, from Rolling my 2006 ST destroys even 2017 G7 GTi's. Around the track I sit upper table above many RWD cars. Remember the biggest thing RWD looses lots of power and AWD even more. so if we all pitching up with 300BHP its me whos actually putting down the most.
mk3 has head gasket deaths and block cracking. such a shame as there isnt much out there for brand new 4wd manual turbo that has any practicality since vw and audi only offer dsg now
For once we come out on top in the US. Still have manual in the Golf R and also still have the STI which is going away in the UK. Of course, we never got the MK2 RS or hundreds of other brilliant cars you lot have so meh.
Nothing wrong with the dsg it’s a lot better then a manual ie the cars are faster change gear quicker then any human could only thing is that you have to service the gearbox and no one ever does and then they moan that it’s a bad gearbox
Love both cars totally different but I’m a Ford man so can’t criticise either my take on it by experience is the MK2 is slightly more fun on the road but take them on a track both cars stock not tuned and the MK 3 goes into another level it loses the MK2 with grip and the chassis is mind blowing. Just enjoy both for what they are iconic cars that can can put a smile on your face every time you drive either god wish I had my first XR3i again lol
Well what is always forgotten, that mk3 is AWD. And the car lets you play with its tail even in normal mode. GO into a 90degree corner and pus a ll bit , you will find somw powerslide. And the car let's you, and makes it doable. Do this in a nose heavy FWD car... :) Or do it an a RWD without pro skills. The RS is just a fun-machine. :D You can say that a RWD can do the same...but on normal roads I wouldnt risk it that many times, if a do a lil mistake then im done, or crash into someone. With the RS, its manageable. :D IMO Fun is not about "wow this car feels uncontrollable" like the mk2 at full throttle. It is more like...I can do what i want with the car, play without killing myself :D
Just been to the Isle of Wight for a holiday and my god the roads I drove on were shite on a plus side though I went for a bite to eat a Richard fox’s place and it was the best meal I had all week by far 👍
Wonder if the answer would be different if the MK3 had 100bhp over stock, much of the fun comes from wrestling cars about when track speeds are not possible on the road.
Having driven both the mk2 & mk3 I’m keeping my mk3 edition with the LSD and mounting upgrades. Mk3 is fast all day long regardless of weather. The mk2 was uncomfortable and slow unless the road was dry. The revo knuckles were useless.
The front of the mk2 is still beautiful. It carries the Ford aesthetics through from many Europe/UK models over many years. The 3 is an awesome car but it looks a bit thin. Shame they didn’t flare the guards just a little?
Mk2 all day long!! I considered the Mk3 when it came out and yes, its faster, it handles better but its just dull and doesn't give me the same feeling as the Mk2. You could do the same comparison with the ST and you'll get the same result.
Simply put, the mk 2 ST has more character and pinache than the mk 3/3.5 ST. The newer car is faster but does seem devoid of the character of it's predecessor, plus a smaller feeling more modern interior. The seats are ok comfort wise (non leather option) considering and it was a fairly expensive car to buy under 3 years old. I bought my mk 3 used at 5 years old in 2018 and it drove well with great economy and impressive power for a 2.0. The engine was very good; nice and smooth, but the ride was absolutely terrible compared to my mk 2. It looked the part though in tangerine scream. I sold it after 2 years for a mk 3 RS which has a much better ride. Now when comparing the mk 2 and mk 3 RS, this is where I found things somewhat different. The design of the mk 2 RS remains phenomenal to this day, especially in ultimate green. It was by far the best design hands down, even beating the mk 2 3 door car in electric orange. I happened to test drove a white stock Mk 2 RS back in 2010, yet when I got in and drove, yes, it all seemed very familiar, but could tell little difference between this and my stock mk 2 focus st. The good thing of course was the 2.5 engine so the formula was there. However it may have been different if both or one of the cars had happened to have been tuned. It was a shame as I also distinctly remembered sitting on a very high and uncomfortable hard drivers seat, albeit great looking. This was disappointing and this was one of the triggers which dissuaded me from considering Mk 2 ownership at that point in time. Obviously now there are seat lowering kits from Eibach, etc, yet A1 examples are astronomical for 10+ year examples. The mk 3 RS definitely had a much more standard design in comparison but had an fast and relatively large 2.3 ecoboost engine with the overboost (was this actually needed and should it have been?) It was a very different car compared to the mk 2 but more modern. The nitrous blue remains a very impressive colour which suits this model. This is a very good car, especially the 2018 run out model as any engine faults had been ironed out. I'm sure I think it feels faster than a mk 2 RS but it most definitely feels faster than a mk 3 ST even in stock form. The question is this: If the mk 2 and mk 3 Ford Focus ST feel different is it down to the character of the 2.5 engine which could effect the whole car, dynamics, weight distribution or how the whole Carr has been set up? In conclusion, if Ford had been allowed to do so, should they have put the 2.5 litre into the mk 3, set the seats lower and had a more pronounced body kit?
If the mk3 was 5 cylinder and had wider arches it would be ridiculous, MK2 is much better imo, you simply can’t beat that fucking noise and it just looks unreal
Bubo 25 thanks for saving me the effort of explaining that to him😂
ZondahYT the mk2 is a Volvo in Fords clothing literally, so it is the best!
I also happen to fucking hate Ford, but i would not mind having a Mk2 Volvo Focus RS, in fact it is the only modern Ford that would not like to see burn to the ground.
@@klaspeppar5619 yeah i agree hes probily just dumb sales man that just tells people the horsepower and stats on a car but has no technical knowlege or knows anything about engiens how they work all he knows is you put petrol in they go you have to have technical knowlege to know how good or bad a car is bad is and i bet if he opened a cars bonnet he wouldent have a clue what any thing was hes the type of guy to piont at the altinator and say "look iv got a vented turbo" someone said this to me before and said they had a v4 when it was a 4 cylinder golf engien
@@klaspeppar5619 i always think about the engien when i get a car
Being an mk2 st owner I’m obliged to say the mk2 rs, no one can rival that 5 pot sound 🔥
Here here
Except the 20 year old Volvo t5 it came from
...or Audi . The original 5 pot sound 😀
Same here!!! Love my st
But it is bloody slow though.
mk2 for looks by far
inQntrol agree, but just for the AWD mk3 will be my choice.
Totally agree. MK3 looks like a st.
Engine too
Mk2 is better in every way in my opinion
You can tell from your reaction the mk2 is much more fun 💪
Got to be the mk2 sounds so much better
Performance over sound for me !
@@skiddywiddyidiot
I used to own the MKII ST and my old man had the MKII RS. It has to be the MKII all day long for me. The flared arches and the aggressive styling is what the RS is all about - sadly lacking a bit in the MKIII. Then you have that natural growl from the 5 pot 2.5L engine. I believe the MKII was definitely the RS’s crowning glory.
I’m a mk3 ST owner and I tell you something couple weeks ago I was driving to Leeds from Birmingham on the mways in the rain low and behold there were 2 other mk3 ST’s and 2 mk3 RS’s and we all drove together letting each other go to the front... the fun I had was crazy... bottom line is I appreciate all Ford hot hatches regardless of the mk!
But if I had to pick one out it would be the mk3 XR3i
Having had both, and still got the MK3, I can 100 % say that the MK 2 no matter how good I thought it was is not as good as the MK3.
The awd system is awesome, the power and acceleration is fantastic, and the drivability in all weather conditions is phenomenal.
Good video, and tbh it's only my opinion .
MK 1/2/3 who cares, it's an RS.
Not only your opinion. I think the same way!
The MK3 isn't too quick in a straight line though. No faster than a golf R even. My m140i was easily as quick as my friends mountuned MK3 in a straight line when I was stock, although he'd leave me easily in the bends.
I have both, mk3 is the better car, but mk2 is more enjoyable. But agree... they are both RS's and both great!
@@2XS same here i have mk3 and love it
The Mk2 looks like a rally thoroughbred...the Mk3 looks like a pimped Zetec S.
the mk2 is just an old dated yobs car now, fine if you are a hoodie or wally cap backwards sort of chav. Grown ups go for the MK3 and don't get laughed at !
@@mainman2999 you sound like the kind of 50 year old who lost the concept of fun
if you call fun driving round in an old dated yobs car with a volvo engine then thats obviously your level, I've grown up from that shit. With a 5 door MK3 I can use the back seats now easily instead of faffing about tilting front seats forwards and trying to wedge friends in like they are children into the back.
I'd take the mk2 all day, it just looks way better and sounds it too.
if you have a mental age of 15 or are under 30 and you get the horn over a dated front wheel drive car and maybe like wearing hoodies and hanging on street corners go for the old mk2, if ( and when you grow up) you will see the Mk3 is streets ahead. A car is SO much more than just how its exhaust sounds.
Mk2 all day in every way
The mk3 just doesn’t look or sound anywhere near as good
It might not sound as good or look as good but you will be left behind in the mk2, I've had a mk2 aswell I wouldn't go back to the mk2 does sound the nut tho👍😀
Fair comment can see where your coming from personal preference and all that
@@STEVEBHPDEVON pretty much every new generation of car is faster and has more electronic assistance but ya 4 wheel drive is a big deal.
James Smith the mk3 just doesn’t look special, it has a wide front bumper but the mk2 looks way better. Wide arches, bonnet vents, maaaad wing and stance 👌🏻
Couldn’t have said it better myself, mk3 doesn’t have the aggression, needed wider arches and another cylinder.
The mk2 will go down in history the mk3 will always be Ford's attempt at being a German hot hatch rival
R A chavs don’t tend to have 20k+ for a car hence why they drive corsas etc
@@reeces_rs7384 lmaooo
Hope U enjoy Ur new RS Reece!
Well not really. Ford made it very clear that they just wanted the RS to be a fun car. Where the Germans lacked in excitement, the RS is a fun car at any speeds!
MK2 for me all day long. its just perfection
Mk2 for sure, even if the mk3 is more capable. The mk1 is my favourite rs though, probably the most underrated one too
im a mk2 rs owner... and you can say mk3 is a sporty dailydriver and mk2 is a weekend war machine... i think the mk2 is just nicer because of the aggression in the design. Ford didn't invest the same time and money in the mk3 other than 4WD and the engine. The mk2 has just so much more... (wider wheel arches, agressiv diffusor etc...)
And in the end, as long as you are not on a race track, i think the emotion while driving is much much more worth than the time you could get arround a circuit.
Firstly, really good vid! Thanks for putting it out for us to see. I put over 200 miles/week on my '17 Mk3 and love that car. I'm sure the Mk2 is a hoot to drive and sounds great, but I wouldn't trade my Mk3 for one. Among other things the awd is such a treat, and grip? yeah it has grip! The driving options are fun. For a long time i'd drive everywhere in Sport mode, but recently i've been driving in Drift mode because of the rear wheel bias and the feel of a rwd car. So fun..
reckbody 100% agree
They're all good cars:
Mk 2 Ford Focus ST
Mk 2 Ford Focus RS
Mk 3 Ford Focus ST
Mk 3 Ford Focus RS
"Old school torque steer" Damn how to make me feel old.
Its written all over you face, when you jump in the MK2 your emotion and happiness totally changes! i’ve just tried to sell my MK2 to buy a M3 but I couldn’t do it, they just make you smile so much
Haha alright lad
George Austers Alright lad hows it going?
I'm good mate, how's you? We'll have to grab a Nandos when we're up next!
George Austers Yeah man for sure!
Videos like this remind me that I’ve bought the right car ❤️ enjoyed this so much
Love the MK2's What got me into the RS brand however I have a MK3 RS edition and would not swap it. Absolutely love it every time I get in the machine 😍 MK3 for me fun every day.
7:08 love the sound and 7:00 the pop
When you get in a car, & notice a recaro car seat for a baby! That mf means business 😅
Absolutely nailed the explanation. In essence you can’t compare these cars as they completely different beasts
MK2 ANY DAY!
I got my MK2 i just bought after wanting this dream car since 2009! (29 years old) the MK2 is a REAL drivers car! fuck the loud speakers and bass and all that shit! even in semi rain i drive with the windows a little open to just listen to that unrestricted engine just killing nature behind you! I FUCKING LOVE MY RS MK 2! :D
Mk2 is cooler. By a long way, especially with the 5 pot, but the new one looks much better. I’d still have a Mk2. Any rich people wanna give an engine swap a go? :D
Never used to like the mk2 but it grew on me eventually. Love the 5 cylinder noise. Especially in the RS3, proper sound. 4 cyl only sounds good in a rally car on dirt/gravel!
Team RS did make an early 4WD version of the MK2 RS... but they chose 2WD version instead, because it apparently drove better. The Ford Kuga has the same 2.5litre Volvo engine, but with the Haldex AWD, so in theory you could strip the AWD from the kuga and install it in a MK2 ST/RS and see how it goes!
Looking at your reactions when driving you had more smiles per miles in the mk2
Both amazing cars, I’m lucky enough to own a mk2. 👍❤️
All these people who've never driven the mk3 are delusional. Performance and fun wise the mk3 runs rings around the mk2! FACTS!!!!!!
I agree, but I’d still rather have the Mk2. The Mk3 looks terrible, it sounds terrible, and they are VERY common compared to the Mk2. Not special enough.
Pistol Pete yeah the mk2 looks & sounds better no doubt but why you would want the car that ultimately isn’t even in the same ball park I’m not sure? Each to there own tho 👍🏻
It’s faster and corners better for sure mate, I can’t argue with that, but, like most modern hot hatches, they’re lacking soul and personality. Literally anyone can jump in a Mk3 and drive fast. It’s just a fast car, it has no personality or character. It has so many external influences and aids to keep you on the road, it’s like driving a computer. I’d also mention prices and classic status too. Good, low mileage Mk2’s are commanding the same money as Mk3’s now, which tells me that there is a serious market for the Mk2 and I think that’s going to continue.......that is fords fault because literally anyone can go an get a Mk3 focus on finance for a few hundred quid a month or on a cheap PCP deal, which has diluted the whole RS brand. You shouldn’t see an RS on a daily basis, but I see Mk3 Focus RS’s every single day......don’t not even give them a second look, whereas on the rare occasion I see a Mk2, I’ll be taking a good look and hoping he puts his foot down so I can here that lovely 5-pot Motor!
christopher reynolds totally agree with ya mate
They have a button that turns all of that off. I agree that they are very common, but that's in largely due to how hyped up they were and how good they actually are. Ford has a had a good few years making some of the best stuff on the market. Unfortunately that is all coming to an end in the U.S. due to the general public having some sort of need for a school bus sized vehicle.
Think the reviews a little off in terms of your saying the mk2 has all the twitchy characteristics and fun, it’s going to be having 400bhp with all those upgrades.... the mk3 can pull you about if your. It careful, I can guarantee my mk3 kicks it’s tail out in the corners if you want it too, especially in the wet.
I agree the mk2 is the enthusiast choice in terms of power and old school engineering at the moment, that 5 pot roar is something you can’t beat with a 4pot, but add a mountune cat back to the mk3 and those baby pops turn into bangs and cracks.
Maybe drive an M400 in comparison to the mk2 400 upgrade and see how that comes in.
Although both cars are awesome I do wish they did a mk2 engine mixed with the mk3 engineering upgrades!
Mk3 is ballsack you bought the wrong car
The only part where the ballsack comment is relevant is the one where I’m slapping it off your mums cheeks....
Anyway, troll comments are useless when they’re aren’t funny or contain backup facts. When you’ve bought the mk2 RS and driven both properly come back to me with a better reply.
My dad has an mk2 blue focus rs and it’s GREAT
i had a mk2 for 4 years best car ive owned one down side was the DSP even when switched off was still engaged not so noticeable until you floor it and a lot of people mis diagnosed this as torque steer No it was the dsp pulling the car one way or the other i had white line anti tramp and front and rear anti roll bars KW springs 450bhp and the one thing that let it down was the DSP not being fully off if you don't run up rated brakes you'll cook the standard brakes on any track day, i wonder if running the Syzecs ECU would have cured it but never went that far
All these mk3 owners getting salty cuz they know they wasted money on the worst car even jeremy clarkson said mk2 is fun to drive
I just love the one with the Ford and RS badge :P
I think if the MK3 was three door and wider I would have got one but they look so tame compared to the MK2, they should of built a limited amount of 3 doors for the UK
Infamouz the rs should of only been available in a 3 door form
I love both Mk2 and 3 😍
They are both beautiful we were not able to get the first gen in Canada you guys are very lucky
I like the mk2, looks and sounds great, I have a mk3 and it’s brilliant. don’t know why it gets roasted for its sound, sounds like a rally car, just my opinion. These two combined are the best out there
What among other things I liked about the chat in this video was that the golf type r people and civic type r people didn't jump in and rubbish the RS. I am a Ford enthusiast had a few but only standard cars. I retire in 5 years time ( 55 ) and a retirement present to myself is going to be a Ford Focus RS. What mark I am not sure. I prefer a manual but the 2020 version will have an auto. All the same I know one thing for sure I will be getting one. I did enquire at age 21 about buying a Sierra Cosworth but was laughed out the park.😃.
Looks like you had so much more fun in the mk2. Had a big smile on your face!
When it came to it, I chose more for my money. I got the Mk3.
Launch control, AWD, more power, more practical - all from stock. Slap a mountune pack on and it's faster than you'll ever be brave enough to drive on the streets.
The sound for me wasn't really a factor, both will sound like a scream in a pipe the whole time I drive it. 😅
... but a large portion of the market for these cars do just rev them incessantly in car parks and at meets - so I'm not surprised others obsess over that.
MK2 looks so much better.. Same with the MK6 fiesta
Same here love them 2 cars such fun to drive
Nah mk7 fezza mate
Mate such good content felt like i was driving and all keep it up!
I subbed cause you picked the Mk2. 5 pot All day everyday, but that torque vectoring AWD is amazing.
Mk2 looks and sounds better. Love the mk1 rs though prefer the mk1 to the mk2 or mk3. 👍
I've been in both! I prefer the MK2. It's more of like a rollercoaster ride. but, the MK3 is such a cool thing too. It's more mature. Get a MK2 when your 20, get the MK3 when your late 20s
Your bang on with this video! Im a mk2 owner and couldn't agree more with what you said about both cars
I owned a MKIII and got rid of it because it was too refined for my liking, and went back to and STI. My dream car since it came out was the MKII and I regret to this day, never buying one.
It's never too late. Might have a to buy one before they're a collectors item 🤔
Mk2 the mk3 is no comparison 5 cylinders ❤️
Clarke89 not just that we’re comparing 400bhp to 375bhp .....put the mk3 upto 400 bhp and it become a different animal
Darren Akrigg I agree the mk3 is a great car but the reason why I own a mk2 st is because of things like the engine the sound the looks pretty much everything an enthusiast wants to tick ✅ it’s personal preference.but I’m bias and love the mk2
More than a lot of other cars.its not the quickest or has the most
Gadgets but when you put your foot down and hear 5 cylinders and a pop on gear change gives a good smile lol! The mk3 is just to tame to appeal to the average guy who likes a smart car there’s nothing special about it it needs to be wider to be honest like I say just my 2 pence
Excellent video!
Any chance you be uploading 1080p or 4K video content in the near future Jamie? keep up the good work.
I like the mk3 RS, but that engine is sooooo touchy, head gasket will blow if you make any kind of modifications to the boost or power in general.
I just stuck with a mk3 ST, tuned up a bit, still fun but also nice knowing I won't be caught on the side of the freeway with a busted block.
I was going to go mk3 as awd but that 5 pot!!!! Sounds like an audi group b. Amazing!
About time u done a decent video.
As someone that owned a mk2 and now got a mk3 :
Look, engine noise, build quality : mk 2.
Performances, equipments, fun factor : mk 3.
I really like both cars, but the mk3 is a better car, even if it feels a bit cheaper on the materials.
i have the mk2 rs, and the mountune sequential box is in development, oh yeah !
Two cars to choose from, MK2 all day. That sound of the 5 Pot, especially on Overrun sounds mad.
ran a mkII from 2009 to 2012 did 132,000 as a rep UK wide. Very quick only had issues with trying to get power down in the damp other than that brilliant. Then went to a BMW 345d xDrive good car boring, now in MkIII RS bought her in July 2018 22,000 in no complaints. Mountune Exhaust and air kit no chip. As an every day 1000 miles per week tool she is great. Heated seat and steering wheel for first 3 miles great, once oil is up to temp sports mode radio 2 as I am old and then on with my day all over the country. I must do a video as a rep in an RS and get down to some real features. On a hard day you can get brake fade, I think I need to change the tyre to Good Year Eagle F1's asymmetric 3 as standard tyres do not perform well when very hot tend to slip on limit which is difficult when you are trying to get home whilst taking on hand free phone call. Cup holder annoying on limit coffee comes out and tray under stereo does not hold the Marlboro Red fag pack very well under acceleration. Cruise is handy on boring motorways and five doors good as was a pain constantly letting people in the back in MKII. Down side every time you get out and back in I have to keep putting her in sports mode and turn stop start off. People keep asking me why I do not run an RS3 or AMG basically price and running costs. If I wanted all out performance or a second car I would buy a Lotus Evora 400 plus German technology is so good its boring and paddles are for people whom go fast in straight lines and cannot heal and toe.
Love how all the guys defending the MK3 are the Americans who honestly have no idea just how much fun the MK2 is and how insane it looks in person!!
Its not the MK3 is bad, but man the MK2 was something magical and rare! So happy it wasn't a 2.0T 4 banger.
????? What are you talking about. With the exception of the Ford Mustang and Dodge Charger, Challenger products, primarily most of the cars on american roads are front wheel drive. Front wheel drive cars are fast. But from a traction standpoint RWD and AWD make quick work of any FWD cars even with the 5 pot in the MK2. FACTS!!!
you seem to have missed the word "Enthusiasts" the entire world FWD is more common, but in the Performance/Tuner you will always catch shit from the RWD/AWD guys at car meets unless you hanging out with just Honda guys.
And yes and no. A lot of things come into play. from stop racing yeah awd and rwd will destroy me, from Rolling my 2006 ST destroys even 2017 G7 GTi's. Around the track I sit upper table above many RWD cars.
Remember the biggest thing RWD looses lots of power and AWD even more. so if we all pitching up with 300BHP its me whos actually putting down the most.
mk3 has head gasket deaths and block cracking. such a shame as there isnt much out there for brand new 4wd manual turbo that has any practicality since vw and audi only offer dsg now
For once we come out on top in the US. Still have manual in the Golf R and also still have the STI which is going away in the UK. Of course, we never got the MK2 RS or hundreds of other brilliant cars you lot have so meh.
Nothing wrong with the dsg it’s a lot better then a manual ie the cars are faster change gear quicker then any human could only thing is that you have to service the gearbox and no one ever does and then they moan that it’s a bad gearbox
Fantastic video Jamie! Oh and FYI i’d have driven back in the MK2 too 😊
Awesome vid J.
One of ya best.
Both great cars. Mk2 RS are becoming sought after.
The only real the the mk3 lacks is that 5 pot engine the noise that the mk2 makes is just wow 😍
Love both cars totally different but I’m a Ford man so can’t criticise either my take on it by experience is the MK2 is slightly more fun on the road but take them on a track both cars stock not tuned and the MK 3 goes into another level it loses the MK2 with grip and the chassis is mind blowing. Just enjoy both for what they are iconic cars that can can put a smile on your face every time you drive either god wish I had my first XR3i again lol
Well what is always forgotten, that mk3 is AWD. And the car lets you play with its tail even in normal mode. GO into a 90degree corner and pus a ll bit , you will find somw powerslide. And the car let's you, and makes it doable. Do this in a nose heavy FWD car... :) Or do it an a RWD without pro skills. The RS is just a fun-machine. :D You can say that a RWD can do the same...but on normal roads I wouldnt risk it that many times, if a do a lil mistake then im done, or crash into someone. With the RS, its manageable. :D IMO Fun is not about "wow this car feels uncontrollable" like the mk2 at full throttle. It is more like...I can do what i want with the car, play without killing myself :D
Just been to the Isle of Wight for a holiday and my god the roads I drove on were shite on a plus side though I went for a bite to eat a Richard fox’s place and it was the best meal I had all week by far 👍
My mate has a 400BHP Collins Performance MK2 RS. So far I've made 1 video on it but plan to film a lot more.
I'll take em BOTH, can't DECIDE!!
Wonder if the answer would be different if the MK3 had 100bhp over stock, much of the fun comes from wrestling cars about when track speeds are not possible on the road.
My dream setup is is MK3 Focus RS and 88 Foxbody Notchback
Having driven both the mk2 & mk3 I’m keeping my mk3 edition with the LSD and mounting upgrades. Mk3 is fast all day long regardless of weather. The mk2 was uncomfortable and slow unless the road was dry. The revo knuckles were useless.
What music is that at 9:00? Also mk2 allday everyday. Cant wait to get mine once my insurance drops.
The front of the mk2 is still beautiful. It carries the Ford aesthetics through from many Europe/UK models over many years. The 3 is an awesome car but it looks a bit thin. Shame they didn’t flare the guards just a little?
The MK2's just cool man. It's just cool. Hands down MVP.
Mk2 for sure !!!! She is à legend!!!!
Sick vid. My two favourite cars but mk2 all day long.
Undercliff nice ... Mk2 for me . Appreciate the mk3 for what it is just prefer the mk2 .. Good vid !
All depends on weather someone wants an old car or a new car
Hard choice, i love both. I must have both or nothing at all
Must admit I do love the look of the mk2 😍 100% difference ones AWD ones FWD
English please
Love the look of fast Fords and the driving experience at their price point. Interiors let them down tho.
i'd take any of the 2 🙏
I agree I think that the mk2 rs is the best hot hatch full stop. Forget the rs3 , save £20000 and buy a mk2 rs.
Mk3 any day. Because drift-mode 👌🏾
Mlu Kubone yeh but I looks and sounds shit
MK2 all day long 5 pot power 420bhp brute and always puts a smile on my face
My dream car is that mk2 rs because its makes me want to work hard everyday
MK3 is more efficient but MK2 is more brutal. I would choose the MK2 because of the looks and the sound.
You are right mk2 all day long it looks more meaner more aggressive fantastic looking car
The only reason I’d get the mk2 is because of the sound but I’d get the one with AWD, more efficient engine, superb launch control etc etc
Haha made my last comment before i even watched the vid and jamie jumped back in the mk2 at the end! Love them 5 pots man! 😂
Has nobody driven the metro arx 1.3 I had loads of fun in mine when I passed my test back in 1995 😂
This is the rs I want oh my
Dude theres 2
Love both. Mk2 has aged well I think, but starts to look really old now. Too bad there is no drag and roll races in the video
The mk 2 doesn't look old, it still looks phenomenally modern to most people.
@@bonk352 lol
The mk1 focus rs is the best 👌👌
The best one to drive aswell just because there so light and a good engine 👍
Most aggressive looking aswell 👌
It isn't though is it
100% mk1 🔥
Mk1 is a bag of shit 212bhp standard engine is pants even after tune!
6:28 9:04 the mk2 tho 👌 7:00 5:32
"We need to film a launch clip...this corner looks good" - Jamie_FYD
Mk2 all day long!! I considered the Mk3 when it came out and yes, its faster, it handles better but its just dull and doesn't give me the same feeling as the Mk2. You could do the same comparison with the ST and you'll get the same result.
Simply put, the mk 2 ST has more character and pinache than the mk 3/3.5 ST. The newer car is faster but does seem devoid of the character of it's predecessor, plus a smaller feeling more modern interior. The seats are ok comfort wise (non leather option) considering and it was a fairly expensive car to buy under 3 years old.
I bought my mk 3 used at 5 years old in 2018 and it drove well with great economy and impressive power for a 2.0. The engine was very good; nice and smooth, but the ride was absolutely terrible compared to my mk 2. It looked the part though in tangerine scream. I sold it after 2 years for a mk 3 RS which has a much better ride.
Now when comparing the mk 2 and mk 3 RS, this is where I found things somewhat different. The design of the mk 2 RS remains phenomenal to this day, especially in ultimate green. It was by far the best design hands down, even beating the mk 2 3 door car in electric orange. I happened to test drove a white stock Mk 2 RS back in 2010, yet when I got in and drove, yes, it all seemed very familiar, but could tell little difference between this and my stock mk 2 focus st. The good thing of course was the 2.5 engine so the formula was there. However it may have been different if both or one of the cars had happened to have been tuned. It was a shame as I also distinctly remembered sitting on a very high and uncomfortable hard drivers seat, albeit great looking.
This was disappointing and this was one of the triggers which dissuaded me from considering Mk 2 ownership at that point in time.
Obviously now there are seat lowering kits from Eibach, etc, yet A1 examples are astronomical for 10+ year examples.
The mk 3 RS definitely had a much more standard design in comparison but had an fast and relatively large 2.3 ecoboost engine with the overboost (was this actually needed and should it have been?)
It was a very different car compared to the mk 2 but more modern. The nitrous blue remains a very impressive colour which suits this model. This is a very good car, especially the 2018 run out model as any engine faults had been ironed out. I'm sure I think it feels faster than a mk 2 RS but it most definitely feels faster than a mk 3 ST even in stock form.
The question is this: If the mk 2 and mk 3 Ford Focus ST feel different is it down to the character of the 2.5 engine which could effect the whole car, dynamics, weight distribution or how the whole Carr has been set up? In conclusion, if Ford had been allowed to do so, should they have put the 2.5 litre into the mk 3, set the seats lower and had a more pronounced body kit?
Mk2 all the way 👌 wish I still had mine :(
Good Choice, Sir
You have taken the right car at the end good lad
Jason has some bloody nice cars!