Test Drive Ford Focus RS since 2008 Hatchback

Hot!

Very many quite family hatchbacks have completely preheated modifications. But they are made in different ways. How exactly - we will look at the example of Ford Focus ST170 and Honda Civic Type R.
Bright blue Ford Focus ST 170 and defiantly red Honda Civic Type R. Where to start? As in that joke: What will you drink: alcohol or vodka? - Oh, I do not even know, everything is so tasty! Cars like the same - both have two-liter engines without boost and cost about 27 thousand dollars. But in fact, the difference between them is essential - starting with corporate colors and ending with the adjustment of the suspension.
TOP MODEL. Let's start, perhaps with Ford Focus. The first thing you pay attention is the sports seats Recaro. The chair in a matter of seconds can be customized to themselves, and the feeling appears that it is possible to drive in it hundreds of kilometers not tired. It really fixes the body and does not hurt anywhere.
Preheated versions are not suiced, and it is not surprising that Ford equips ST170 as a real top model - there are climate control and a music system with a 6-disk CD changer. The interior decoration is not very different from the standard, which is famous for a weathered style and ergonomics. The only change is the appearance of temperature pointers and oil pressure in the center of the panel. Although the picture spoils the abundance of plastic: in the interior of the hot version would be more appropriate aluminum or carbon fiber inserts.
   
I catch myself thinking that I climbed inside, without even examining the car outside. And there there is something to see: 17-inch wheels and slightly scorched fog lenses strongly change the look of the car, adding aggressiveness.
Yes, and he leads itself, respectively, the sensations during acceleration are quite convincing. Well, and managed very nice. He is predictable in his reactions and is very obedient by the driver's actions. If there is a gas in turn, the car seeks outside. If you need to shift inside the turn, then enough to cover the gas and slightly trust the steering wheel. I liked the brakes very much - the pedal is tough enough, the turn is short, but this does not prevent the exact dosage of the braking effort.
Naturally, we paid special attention to the suspension. Ford engineers have found a successful compromise between handling and comfort. The car is perfectly on the road, there are no unpleasant rolls, the suspension turned out to be pleasantly tough and very energy-intensive. In this case, no scholars. Road irregularities are perfectly swallowed, and the suspension is almost not heard in the cabin.
   
The motor is very elastic and brings almost in any operating range. Maybe only slightly hangs when the tachometer arrow approaches the red zone. In any case, even if you were mistaken with gas and sleeved slightly, your actions adjust the anti-test system. ST170 is equipped with a 6-speed gearbox, perfectly combined with the engine. The moves of the lever are slightly long, but the moment of inclusion of the transfer is quite clear, so there is no feet to displetely transmit.
In general, Focus ST170 is quite a versatile car: you can choose any driving style, from a relaxed ride to the night Street Racing.
SPORT LIFE. With its form, the civilian Honda Civic resembles a single application, and Type R it naturally retained. Oddly enough, for a sports car, it is also quite appropriate - the car looks like a strong muscular athlete. Particularly emphasized the aerodynamic fusion at the bottom and visor on the door of the trunk. The interior compared to Fords closer to racing models. A tough sportswear with severe side support is no longer affectionately hugging your sides, as it was in Ford, but almost dug into your body. Spit on what you hard, most importantly, so that you sit like this. Well, the equipment is more ascetic: the air conditioner goes like an option (albeit free), the audio system is also not included in the standard package. But the location of the instruments and controls in Japanese is thoroughly thought out. White dials of devices with red arrows and figures not only look stylish, but also perfectly read.
   
Honda is noticeably noisy Ford, but the sound of her exhaust is pleasant to hearing - especially after pressing the accelerator, the engine is almost instantly spinning and carries the car forward. Motor Civic is more powerful by Fords on 27 hp, but sometimes it seems that the difference is much more! It greatly behaves on low and medium-sized turns, and when the tachometer arrows comes to the cherished 6 thousand revolutions per minute, the VTEC system comes into operation, and simply monstrous pickup occurs. It begins to seem that before that the car did not go, but simply rolled, and suddenly you pressed the gas to the floor. But the pedal was all the time in the floor!
Present pleasure! The gearbox is just a masterpiece, because the switching process is brought to the ideal. The right hand itself falls on the handle, it is only worth removing it from the steering wheel - the KP control lever is located on the protrusion of the center console. Short moves, inclusion Clear - flawless!
The Type R movement is much sharper than ST170. A person without experience, the car may even seem excessively nervous, but the true connoisseur will understand that this is a real sports nest. When choosing the characteristics of the suspension, obviously sacrificed comfort for the sake of handling. Now instead of parallel levers on Honda, the front suspension of McPherson type is installed. This made it possible to more rationally use the boost space and reduce the front Sve. In the rear suspension, special attention was paid to ensuring that when braking angles of convergence changed, increasing exchange rate stability.
Compared to the civil version of the road clearance of Type R version, 15 mm is reduced by 15 mm, increased rigidity to the twisting of the front stabilizer of transverse stability (the diameter remained the same, but other steel is used), and the diameter of the rear stabilizer is increased from 13 to 18 mm. This made it possible to reduce body rolls to a minimum, and the car perfectly behaves in turns. It literally clings to the latter with the wheels for the asphalt - it was noticeable even despite the studded tires standing on the tested car, which are not too good on the asphalt. However, if the car does not specifically provoke, it is quite difficult to achieve a breakdown of the rear axle.
The brakes are also higher than praise, especially liked the work of the ABS. She intervened in the actions of the driver only when it really was necessary. The car is simply created for a quick aggressive ride. This is a job that requires voltage. But driving Civic Type R, you can receive a real pleasure from this work!
TO EACH HIS OWN. Despite all the admiration of Honda sports talents, we will not venture to declare that it is the best choice. There is a question: why do you need a car? If you are not ready to give up the usual elements of comfort and plan not only to ride by car, but also to carry someone, then Focus ST170 fits you more. Especially since the presence of an anti-pass system will help avoid extra stress in our difficult road conditions. And we will not discount such considerations as experience and qualifications: when it comes to security, it is worth being frank at least with yourself. So, Ford is less demanding to your driver, although it allows you to implement the emerging sports ambitions.
Civic Type R is more rigid in every sense of this word. It will be possible to fully realize his capabilities not to everyone, and although it is pleasant to manage it at any speed, not for all his character will seem quite a good reason to pay a third more than the usual five-door Civic, and at the same time get less comfort.
Text Maxim Travin, photo Alexey Ilyin

Reference: Maxim Travin - Rutter, Cup Volkswagen Polo - 2002.
Model / Modification Ford Focus ST170 Honda Civic Type R
Manufacturer / Country of Ford Motor Company / Germany Honda Motor Company / Japan
ENGINE
Type / Number / Cylinders Location Petrol / 4 / Inline
Working volume (cube. Cm) 1988 1998
Power (kW (hp) at rpm.) 127 (173) at 7000 (200) at 7400
Moment (nm at rpm. / Min.) 197 at 5500 196 at 5900
TRANSMISSION
Front front drive
Gearbox Mechanical 6-speed
Brakes, security
Front / rear ventilated disk / disc
ABS assisting electronic systems ABS, anti-test system ABS
Frontal front airbags in front ahead
Sizes / Massa
Length / Width / Height (mm) 4170/1700/1480 4140/1695/1440
Wheel base (mm) / clearance (mm) 2615/150 2575/135
Tires 215/45 R17 205/55 R16 (Standard 205/45 R17)
Curb / complete weight (kg) 1210/1640 1195/1550
Volume of fuel tank (L) 55 50
Maximum speed (km / h) 216 235
Acceleration up to 100 km / h (sec.) 8.2 6.8
Fuel consumption (city / highway, l / 100 km) 12.4 / 7.2 12.3 / 7.0
The price in Moscow is $ 27.7 thousand $ 26.9 thousand.

 

A source: "Autopilot"