Ford Focus RS Mk2
has an all-steel monocoque construction and it sits 4,402mm long, 2,020mm wide including the door mirrors and 1,484mm tall. All
RS Mk2 models
come with rear privacy glass and 19-inch alloy wheels with a 15-spoke design. The RS500 uses the same wheels as the standard RS but painted black to match the rest of this limited edition's paintwork.
No mistaking the RS for an ST
For the standard RS, Ford offered Frozen White, Ford Performance Blue and Ultimate Green with gloss black for the grille and much of the exterior trim. A large front grille and unique RS bumper are fitted, along with one-off rear bumper, side mouldings and bonnet and wing vents. There is also a large rear spoiler mounted to the tailgate.
Xenon headlights are standard, as is a heated windscreen and Ford fitted all Focus of this generation with its Easy Fuel capless filler to prevent misfuelling. With the optional Luxury 1 pack, buyers could order keyless entry, rear parking sensors, automatic wipers and a Tyre Deflation Detection System. RS500 models come with all of this kit as standard, effectively incorporating the Luxury 1 pack into its specification.
Ford chose a special matt black 'foil' finish for the RS500, which was applied by 3M in Frankfurt, Germany after the cars had been built and painted Panther Black at Ford's Saarlouis plant. This matt finish is very tough, but Ford recommended not using normal car washes for the RS500 as it could wear the matt finish and turn it shiny.
RS500 wrap is by 3M. Black under it too!
The paint on other the standard RS is good, but watch for slight mismatches in shade with cars painted Ultimate Green. It's a tricky colour to match and Ford didn't always get it right straight from the factory, so don't immediately suspect accident damage if you spot a mismatch on green cars. However, carry out more checks to be sure the car has not been in a collision.
If there is any corrosion, it's likely to take hold at the tops of the wheelarches. With so many RS models sold, there's no point taking on a rusty car. The metal parts of the front grille can also corrode and check the bonnet and bumper carefully for stone chips as they are quite vulnerable to this kind of damage.
Lastly, listen for any rattle from the tailgate, which will most likely be the rear spoiler shaking slightly in its fixings. The long term solution it remove and refit the spoiler with a small bead of sealant around its base to hold it firmly in place and absorb any future rattles.
PHer's view:
"I've covered 60,000 miles in my RS from new and it still looks as good as the day I drove it home. Cleaning takes longer than most cars because of the vents and wheels, but it's worth it for the looks and to keep this car's value as one of the best hot hatches ever."
Pete Tee
