Today I do a driving comparison between a Subaru STI and a Ford Focus RS! Second Channel: / @thebenhardyshow Instagram: ben_hardypl Facebook: @benhardycar
I daily a 2015 sti and it's hands down the hardest manual car for me to daily drive, my job just got in an rs and waiting to test drive it but I remeber my FiST and how easy that was to drive and can't wait
I tell people all of the time.... Buy what you like & not what someone else says is 'better'. I like the Fords so I can't comment on daily driving an STi, however daily driving an RS is very easy.... the transmission is very user friendly for beginners... The seats are tight & the sitting position is different, so be ok with that. The MPGs will suffer since it's a turbo and AWD. It's a very fun car to drive. If you want a good one these days, you'll be paying $40k+ for a 2017 and around $43k+ for a 2018.
I'm going to get crucified, but I think the RS needed low power settings. Maybe with selectable boost modes to tame the power on the street and make it more usable. Probably would help fuel economy too. Perhaps this is what an aftermarket tune is for.
I actually really desire to drive a RS. I will say they seem built to different standards. Maybe its the heritage of the RS in the UK, something the Americas never got. Maybe its the WEC quality that STi has competed for since 2008? However as a GR STi owner from what I can tel the STi is definitely more of a daily driven vehicle. I never had a chance to find an RS due to quantity made however I love the fact the STi has a DCCD and VDC selector. Think I read it can be driven 72 different ways based on the settings available to the driver. I dont believe the RS has selections like this as the awd bias is what it is unlike the STi.
this is a hard choice but I would go with the golf R, but for this comparison, since the RS is rarer and probably be worth more down the line I would go with the RS. Now I will say this the RS is hard to find, so STI would be my third option, with just the lip wing. I don't care for the big wing cause it doesn't look proportioned compared to the car like the bug-eye with the big wing did.
I need help, these 2 cars are on my list and idk which one to choose. Can I get an unbiased opinion on these 2 like the maintenance, reliability, parts & fun. I’ll be using it for daily driving and just to do small modifications mainly cosmetic. Maybe Intake/exhaust. Need help haha
I've owned 6 STIs, and I've driven a couple of Focus RS's. They're both fantastic. Both have pros and cons. I always default to the STI, simply because it's 'home' for me. I love the car overall, extremely confidence-inspiring, etc., but I've never been a fan of the EJ25. The Focus RS is great. I prefer the engine, and the sounds the exhaust makes. I don't like the seating position quite as much in the Focus RS (do some searching, the seating position is pretty bad unless you get new rails and seats), and I absolutely hate the placement of the throttle (easily fixed), as it's way too far from the brake for proper heel-toe. The two cars are very similar in feel - their rawness, etc. Both are basically unlike anything else on the market. If the STI you're looking at is a 2019+, it's a solid buy. A 2018 is iffy for me, but a 2015-2017 is a no for me, simply because of how massive the improvements were in 2018 and 2019. The Focus RS is a lot easier - just find one you like, with mileage you're comfortable with. Simply put, I doubt you'll regret either car. If you do, you would have regretted the other one, too!
Looking at your dash display in the STI, it looked like you were in "intelligent mode" the entire time, and forgot to actually switch to sport#. It changes the way the car behaves substantially.
I just skipped through to a few different points on the STI portion of the review, and I see 'S#' in the gauge cluster at each point. 2:38 is the point I'm looking at now. Edit - looks like he switched right at the 2:29 mark, when he said he's putting it into Sport #. I don't see 'i' at any point after that.
My mind is blown by your crossing the yellow line so many times! I would be a terrible back seat driver riding with you! I would choose the STI over the RS just for dependability.JMO.
Drink everytime he says blip-blipable. Lol
Yea that bugs the heck out of me, call it what it is. Rev matching
I like the style and the driving of the focus rs! Exhaust on the focus rs is amazing :)
I know I'm kind of randomly asking but does anyone know of a good website to watch newly released tv shows online ?
@Nico Xzavier I watch on FlixZone. You can find it by googling =)
@Ethan Dax Definitely, been using FlixZone for years myself :D
@Ethan Dax thanks, signed up and it seems like a nice service :) I really appreciate it!
@Nico Xzavier no problem xD
Disable the FENG on the RS. Your hearing a lot of fake engine noise from the speakers, versus the actual engine/exhaust.
My RS has AWE Track Exhaust and people jump when you backfire. Gunshots, dude.
I daily a 2015 sti and it's hands down the hardest manual car for me to daily drive, my job just got in an rs and waiting to test drive it but I remeber my FiST and how easy that was to drive and can't wait
I tell people all of the time.... Buy what you like & not what someone else says is 'better'. I like the Fords so I can't comment on daily driving an STi, however daily driving an RS is very easy.... the transmission is very user friendly for beginners... The seats are tight & the sitting position is different, so be ok with that. The MPGs will suffer since it's a turbo and AWD. It's a very fun car to drive. If you want a good one these days, you'll be paying $40k+ for a 2017 and around $43k+ for a 2018.
Buying either one... used for my son.
I think the STI is the way to go for first manual... sloppy sometimes good
I'm going to get crucified, but I think the RS needed low power settings. Maybe with selectable boost modes to tame the power on the street and make it more usable. Probably would help fuel economy too. Perhaps this is what an aftermarket tune is for.
I like the wrx but the red paint makes it a cop magnet!
The perfect comparison I need!
Can't pass up owning a car with that flat 4 sound! STI
Great video Ben now that I looked a bit closer I think I like the Focus RS more. I just had to focus
Hahah
lmao
I actually really desire to drive a RS. I will say they seem built to different standards. Maybe its the heritage of the RS in the UK, something the Americas never got. Maybe its the WEC quality that STi has competed for since 2008? However as a GR STi owner from what I can tel the STi is definitely more of a daily driven vehicle. I never had a chance to find an RS due to quantity made however I love the fact the STi has a DCCD and VDC selector. Think I read it can be driven 72 different ways based on the settings available to the driver. I dont believe the RS has selections like this as the awd bias is what it is unlike the STi.
this is a hard choice but I would go with the golf R, but for this comparison, since the RS is rarer and probably be worth more down the line I would go with the RS. Now I will say this the RS is hard to find, so STI would be my third option, with just the lip wing. I don't care for the big wing cause it doesn't look proportioned compared to the car like the bug-eye with the big wing did.
How does unequal length headers affect rev matching? Do the car's have auto rev match? Or do you heel/toe?
I have a 2021 wrx sti so I know it does not have auto rev match (thankfully). But heel toe position is very very good.
I need help, these 2 cars are on my list and idk which one to choose. Can I get an unbiased opinion on these 2 like the maintenance, reliability, parts & fun. I’ll be using it for daily driving and just to do small modifications mainly cosmetic. Maybe Intake/exhaust. Need help haha
I've owned 6 STIs, and I've driven a couple of Focus RS's. They're both fantastic. Both have pros and cons. I always default to the STI, simply because it's 'home' for me. I love the car overall, extremely confidence-inspiring, etc., but I've never been a fan of the EJ25. The Focus RS is great. I prefer the engine, and the sounds the exhaust makes. I don't like the seating position quite as much in the Focus RS (do some searching, the seating position is pretty bad unless you get new rails and seats), and I absolutely hate the placement of the throttle (easily fixed), as it's way too far from the brake for proper heel-toe. The two cars are very similar in feel - their rawness, etc. Both are basically unlike anything else on the market. If the STI you're looking at is a 2019+, it's a solid buy. A 2018 is iffy for me, but a 2015-2017 is a no for me, simply because of how massive the improvements were in 2018 and 2019. The Focus RS is a lot easier - just find one you like, with mileage you're comfortable with. Simply put, I doubt you'll regret either car. If you do, you would have regretted the other one, too!
You should head off to Mexico with these two cars. I feel like people would really enjoy that.. I know I'd be curious to see the outcome. 😎
Subaru sounds good Ford focus rs awesome car too drive and have fun with it
Looking at your dash display in the STI, it looked like you were in "intelligent mode" the entire time, and forgot to actually switch to sport#. It changes the way the car behaves substantially.
I just skipped through to a few different points on the STI portion of the review, and I see 'S#' in the gauge cluster at each point. 2:38 is the point I'm looking at now. Edit - looks like he switched right at the 2:29 mark, when he said he's putting it into Sport #. I don't see 'i' at any point after that.
Dafuggz a blip
Both so nice!
Hmmm... The STI is perhaps a touch more sporty, whereas the RS is a little more muscular? I like muscular. 💪 But, they're both very nice!
My mind is blown by your crossing the yellow line so many times! I would be a terrible back seat driver riding with you! I would choose the STI over the RS just for dependability.JMO.
That and coasting up to stop signs in neutral....I'd be losing my mind!
For the Horde!
Focus seems more « virile »
The STi is the funner car.
perhaps sti has auto blip
First!
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