opinions please

Is that what the Focus RS is fitted with?

-- James

The torque band has been widened apparently. Widening a torque band with a turbocharged engine typically means you spend less time "off turbo" if you know what I mean.

-- James

Hmmm, a bit of Rover, Honda, Focus, MG, Holden & Beetle blended together to make a car that's nicer than the sum of it's parts! I'm pleasantly surprised.

But with that level of performance, at £12k, what's missing? Is it build by blind monkeys?

Theres no such thing as a point to point city car :)

You want a scooter/smallish bike if you're 'point to pointing' in citys.

No, the Focus one isn't a TorSen diff. It's a Quaife ATB diff IIRC.

Good info on the TorSen diff here :

I find mine to be VERY unintrusive. The Focus RS has a very poor reputation for torque-steer, and general wheel yanking - this isn't a problem at all with the TorSen diff.

Agreed.

But "something like an Automatic SMART" is about as near as you can get with a car :)

Although most (all ?) of it's peers will also hit 60mph in 2nd gear. There can't be many (any ?) ~200bhp Turbo cars that need third to get to 60mph can there ?

This would probably account for the difference.

Agreed. It's got 340Nm vs my TI's 240Nm - although I've got substantially more than 240Nm with my replacement Boost Controller - I'd estimate somewhere around 280Nm now :) Peak power is probably unchanged though.

The Neon actually looks really rather good. If it rides and handles well, then I'll seriously consider one in the future - 340Nm will make for a VERY nice drive :)

Makes full boost at just over 2000rpm - the same as the Rover Turbos. It's not as wide band as the Rover's ~2000rpm to ~6000rpm, although the Rover has substantially less torque at 240Nm :)

In fact, if you raised the boost appropriately (and did some other things ;) to give around 230bhp, and removed the stock boost-controller, the Rover's figures would probably be very close to the Neon's !

With age comes experience; just because you have it doesn't mean you need to use it, and using over 200 PS at every traffic light is a bit dippy! :)

But fun! A bit like trying to manhandle a 35 year old rear engined "sports" coupe round a tight bend. Only with less: "Oh my god I'm going to die!" from the passenger seat (and "Probably!" from the driver). When you get older I hear you find other ways to scare your self like credit card bills and kids.

Fun? You're assuming you've the opportunity to use it . . . on the open road's a different story, in stop / go city traffic . . . ?

230ps for 0.6 seconds then off the power. ;) You just need quick reactions.

Theo raved thus:

::

:: new neon coming soon, its got 230bhp with fwd lsd setup and does :: 0-60 in less than 6 seconds.... :: :: and it cost about £12k new..... :: :: it not the best looking car imo but it looks like a lot of fun for :: the money.

It needs lowering. It looks like a 4x4!

Abo

And mirror tinted windows so you don't see the people doing the "he's a w****r" song actions at you? :)

Agreed!

i almost got a neon RT :) i like em

I've never seen mirror tints that way round. Then again maybe I have as you probably wouldn't notice the mirror to it from the outside. That gives me an idea for the back of my camper. ;)

Me neither!

:)

Why is it rubbish? Ok so its not 4wd, but if a scooby with 220bhp can do it in 5.9 why can't a 2.5t do it in 5.8?

On a nice dry day with slicks on:-)

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