Deposit down!

[Lucky]

Well, after visiting nearly every dealer in Sussex lol, driving all of the cars on my list, I have finally settled on a car. I miss 'owning' a car so didn't want to lease this one and I wanted something that I can keep and that would truly replace my old Hawk and hopefully give me the same pleasure that did.

As some of you know, I nearly bought my old Hawk back, but decided it was now older and had a lot more miles on it, so it wouldn't be the same. Then I nearly bought a Fozzy. Then after all that I decided I still want new or nearly new.

The shortlist in the end was:

Civic Type R
Love the looks, very impressive to drive and to be fair felt like more than the 306BHP it puts out. Front wheel drive let it down. Great in the dry buy spins up in third in the wet. And then there is a new civic out early next year so putting my money into the old one wasn't wise.

Golf R (Manual).
We run a DSG Golf R at work. Cracking car and does everything you want it to. It just didn't make me Fizz!.

Subaru WRX STI
Still something about these. I know the design is older but it still has that something about it to drive, has character and felt a bit different to the others, which I liked. This was the way I was going until.....






I wasn't even going to drive one as I knew the waiting list was up to a year. I still popped into Ford and as luck would have it they had just had another allocation and due for delivery in March.


I didn't go for blue, but Magnetic Grey (same as below but clean!)



Stunning to drive. I think as Scott said in his review of it, you don't get the shuv in the back of the scoobs as the power deliver is smooth, but god it goes and the handling is awesome. Plus it has the childish (track) mode that makes it pop and bang!.


Part of me is a bit sad its not a scoob, but as an all round car for me, its perfect. I'll be bringing it to meets if I'm allowed!.

[BIG"E"]

Very nice,

Nige has a dark one too..

We are going for a little drive tomorrow down to Goodwood hot hatch Breakfast meet, pop down and see us there are quite a few going I believe..

[Lucky]

Oh cool. I may well do that. What time does it start?

[scotty]

Like that can see a few goodies getting bought before it arrives

[Banstead Stig]

Nice.

I'm really keen on these, so am ever so slightly envious!

[scooby doo]

Very nice

[bigemp]

Looks good Steve,They are very nice

[Matt23]

Looks very nice Steve my dads thinking about 1 of these or a new WRX STI beginning part of next year. Our local ford dealer said there is a year waiting list for a blue 1

[Scott.T]

Very nice Steve and if I hadn't of already ordered the A5 I would probably of had one.
But then when home circumstances changed and I had to let the A5 go it was an easy and sensible move.
It wouldn't of been so easy to hand an RS back, that's for sure.
Keep it tidy and I may have it off you in a few years

[BIG"E"]

Originally Posted by Lucky

Oh cool. I may well do that. What time does it start?

We will be there at around 08.30 ?

It opens at 07.00 apparently

[Steve_PPP]

Very nice Steve, i prefer the grey to the blue - good choice.

Bet you don't make it to the new year before getting impatient waiting for it!

[NL03Scooby]

Love the mix of grey with the blue RS badges and callipers, I'm yet to see one in the flesh. Really good choice Steve, caught my attention with the 'popping & banging' track mode!

[Red Baron]

Very nice, guess if anyone asks what's on your Christmas List you can just direct them here:

https://www.mountunestore.com/collections/mk3-focus-rs

[Ginola]

Very nice looks much more discrete in Grey too.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by Red Baron

Very nice, guess if anyone asks what's on your Christmas List you can just direct them here:

https://www.mountunestore.com/collections/mk3-focus-rs

That's the ticket!! Start modding before it's even been built lol.

[BIG"E"]

Originally Posted by Lucky

That's the ticket!! Start modding before it's even been built lol.

It's so happens I know one of the directors of mountune.

[Bolesroor]

Nice one Steve

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by BIG"E"

It's so happens I know one of the directors of mountune.

Ive always liked you!!!!

[Frenchie]

Looks nice in black Steve, I hope your 5 months wait goes quicker than mine.

[Rdlangy1]

lovely looking motor that

Don't do it there rubbish!

[scooby doo]

You say it doesn't push your into the seat like a scoob I drove a hatch sti 330 as I love them the looks but the power was so linear aswell it's just how they are now

Dont by from Birchwood!!! Use John Grose Ipswich. Contact me if you need reasons.

[Lucky]

Good to hear from you nige.

I've ordered mine from dinnages in Brighton and so far they have been really good. Just can't wait to get my hands on it!

Same colour as yours with the black wheels etc. Are you pleased with it?

Hang on, it appears to have a Subaru seat cover!!!!!!

Excellent car a real drivers car. Historically I have blue badge blood. However Subaru played a big part in my life. So the seat cover stays- as a reminder.

[scooby doo]

Nice car Nigel

[Hongkongfooi]

very nice steve

[SamSTI]

Very nice Steve. You'll have to take me out for a spin when you get it

[Lucky]

A little update. Not long now. Build date for Feb and delivery is march. Just ordered the FPM375 kit to be installed too. A mountune kit which takes it to 375bhp and the same torque so should make it fun. Retains the ford warranty too. Great! The modding has started before it's even built!!

[Rdlangy1]

Exciting stuff!!! Can't wait to see this!!

[Matt23]

Can the Ford dealer install the FPM375 kit for you Steve ? Of do you have to take the car to Mountune themselves to do the work ?

[Lucky]

The dealer can do it. Though I am tempted to pick it up and take it to mountune in Essex myself. I've ordered the kit so can make the choice later.

[asperformance]

in the same vein as Prodrive kits i would imagine its dealer install only, cant imagine Mountune have the capacity or inclination to be working on road cars??

[chrisp]

Originally Posted by asperformance

in the same vein as Prodrive kits i would imagine its dealer install only, cant imagine Mountune have the capacity or inclination to be working on road cars??

You can take it to them to do, mountune work on all sorts of stuff for the general public

[bigemp]

Sounds like gonna be one awesome car steve

[asperformance]

Originally Posted by chrisp

You can take it to them to do, mountune work on all sorts of stuff for the general public

intriguing i only know of them through their race engine side so presumed it was similar to Prodrive and a "closed shop" Joe Public wise...........

[Matt23]

Originally Posted by Lucky

The dealer can do it. Though I am tempted to pick it up and take it to mountune in Essex myself. I've ordered the kit so can make the choice later.

That's good to know, thanks.

[Frenchie]

Will it sound as good as your old Hawk Steve? Used to love the sound when I lived in Saltdean.

[Scott.T]

Do Mountune do an exhaust warranty friendly.
The stock one is too quiet.
It's goes silent......silent......silent.....mild rasping.....crackle pop bang........silent.

[Red Baron]

Followed one home last night, certainly went alright and sounded good from where I was. Has anyone come up with a replacement for what I assume is an LED rear fog light in the middle of the diffuser, it stands out like a sore thumb as it's white/opaque?

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by Frenchie

Will it sound as good as your old Hawk Steve? Used to love the sound when I lived in Saltdean.

Thanks Terry. I don't think any new car will ever sound like that. That's one of the things I miss is the sound.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by Scott.T

Do Mountune do an exhaust warranty friendly.
The stock one is too quiet.
It's goes silent......silent......silent.....mild rasping.....crackle pop bang........silent.

They do Scott, yes, but its bonkers money, something like £2000??

You are right, it isn't the greatest of sounds, but saying that its a damn site better than the type R and Golf R!..

No doubt I will change it at some point but I think you are severely limited with a 4 cylinder that's not flat!!.

[Scott.T]

Originally Posted by Lucky

They do Scott, yes, but its bonkers money, something like £2000??

You are right, it isn't the greatest of sounds, but saying that its a damn site better than the type R and Golf R!..

No doubt I will change it at some point but I think you are severely limited with a 4 cylinder that's not flat!!.

LOL.....I've de-resonated the K1 with a milltek centre (the OE bacbox is Remus anyway) and I now get what sounds like a flappy paddles up shift fart if I 'invoke' the traction control. It sounds good but I expect my tyres are paying for it !!!!!!!
Pre-cat is going to be paid a visit with a drill fitted with a brick hole cutter shortly

[scooby doo]

Lovley cars be good to see what you think after owning it for a while,
Am I right thinking the engines where based on the mazda mps blocks?
I need to decat my pre cat soon to get some more pops lol

[Banstead Stig]

In so much as its a 2.3 L series block, yes I think so from what I've read.

Not sure how similar they really are though.

[scooby doo]

Interesting to see how much ford changed it.
i do like these Rs's alot, and been interesting to see you chose the Rs over the honda , but good choice lol.

[Lucky]

It was a tough call between the RS and Honda and all that swung it in the end was lobbing out £30k on a car that will be replaced in February with a new model (honda). To drive I would actually say the Honda was more entertaining and although 45BHP down on the RS, it didnt fell like it at all. The Honda is probably the closest replacement to the scoob in terms of drive and character.

The whole scoob thing is impossible to get out of your system. Seeing Matt's 06STI for sale this week almost tempted me away from the RS and save £20k at the same time, but i really need something newer as a daily driver.

[scooby doo]

deffo agree on not wanting to buy the car when a replacement is on its way.

[Hongkongfooi]

Originally Posted by asperformance

intriguing i only know of them through their race engine side so presumed it was similar to Prodrive and a "closed shop" Joe Public wise...........

shmee had his done at mounttune unless that was a good marketing vid on their part?

[Lucky]

Yup, saw that.