Focus SVT handling compared to RX8 & more
 

I've seen the numbers, weight, skipad, distribution, etc. The RX8 appears to have more body roll but the weight distribution is superior. Skidpad ratings don't say everything do they? I'd have to imagine the weight distribution comes in handy when the car starts sliding. They're totally different cars but which handles better? What would happen at the autoX? Would the Mazda be better suited for high speed corners?

are you kidding me? svt focus? ugly, silly-looking econo hatchback vs. sexy, sleek sports coupe? the rx-8 would win any day of the week.

win what?

The 228bhp RX-8 in the UK performed better on the top gear test track than the FocusRS. Thats a 200bhp turbo'd beast of a focus (which I assume the US didnt get).

The SVT is similar to our ST170 focus, which is tame in comparison.

I have a ZX3 (only small suspension changes compared to the SVT) and it's a pig compared to the 8.

Comparing a Focus to an Rx8 is as bad as comparing a 350Z to a FD. No comparision and silly to try it.

What? It depends on what focus doesnt it?

As I said the FocusRS is incredibly competent car, lighter than the RX-8 and only inferior because its front wheel drive - which was set up for German roads (d'oh 2/3rds sold in UK!).

Wait until the Focus Cosworth turns up - that will(or should) eat Evo/Sti's.

If the SVT = St170 (170bhp version) then the RX-8 will destroy it anywhere apart from at the hardware store tho.

compare a RX8 to a focus? two entirely different classes of cars.

Bubble was asking about autocrossing. I imagine an svt focus does better at autocrosses than those of you who haven't attended or read up on autocrossing would expect.

I plan to spend a lot of time autocrossing the rx8, and it will be a while before I can get it around the track as fast as my old miata.

I've never driven an svt focus, much less at an autox. The rear-wheel drive will give the rx8 a better feel imho. But that's really subjective. The rx8 will feel bigger and that's gonna be tuff to get used to for me.

Coupe? :D

B

How would either one "do better" than the other when it comes to autocrossing? It's entirely dependent on the whims of the SEB and the decisions of where to class each car. With the SVT in GS and the RX-8 in BS they don't compete against each other. The only question is whether the SVT and RX-8 are classed where they can be competitive. The SVT hasn't done very well against the MINI Cooper S and Celica GT in GS (highest finishing SVT at Topeka last year was 29th). The jury is still out on how the RX-8 will do in BS, but I like its chances (especially for 2005 if the '00-'03 S2Ks end up moving to AS next year).

If it's about "feel" and fun to run quotient, RX-8. No contest. :D

Nobody should be even mentioning the piece of sh*t focus here. Your talking bout high end and lowwww end. NO COMPARISON!

everybody is missing the point here just to flame on the SVT focus. now i know this a biased board, but im sure we all have more sense than to knock other cars and degrade them for no reason other than being a car other than an rx-8

im not defending the focus but the purpose of this thread was to see how well an SVT focus would do against an 8 in autox.

the answer is unknown because its all driver in autox. ive heard stories of a 150hp FWD beating out 400 hp exotics with the right driver behind the wheel.

Is this board full of flamers? I didn't ask about a road race or a speed comparison. I'm talking about handling. So, none of you autoX?

While I know there are people who are so into Autocrossing that they have cars specifically set up to do it, I sort of doubt there are any listening in here.

The one thing I can contribute to a more real-world comparison of the two is that a bud of mine bought the SVT Focus a few months ago and after driving my 8, he wanted to throw rocks at his Focus.

Interestingly, he's gonna bolt-on the factory supercharger kit to try to improve the power curve on the Focus. Maybe more interestingly, he said it felt like the 8 makes more power in the lower rev ranges than his car - and probably at the high end as well. Doesn't sound like much of a comparison to me...

*moderator hat on*
stop flaming the focus. that is not answering his question.

The bashing on this board makes me sick sometimes... The Focus for what it is is a very nice car. However if you want to compare it to something the Mazdaspped Protege would be a better comparison.

If you're talking just plain time with equal drivers on an autox course, the RX-8 will do much better. If you're asking how well they will do in their class in autox, neither are the top of the heap in their class. The RX-8 will struggle to beat the S2K on a national level IMO and the Boxer to a lesser degree. The SVT focus will struggle with the Mini, Celica, and even the ACR Neon and 2.5RS to a lesser degree.

Ike

times have changed when you are the voice of reason IKE.

good points. thank you. the comparison between the Focus and the MS Protege is an excellent choice and i wonder how they have faired against each other.

C&D did an interesting comparison between the SVT Focus, SE-R Spec V, Mazdaspeed Protege, and SRT-4 a while back. It's an interesting read, check it out.

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....rticle_id=6569

As for an autox course, the Protege is in DS, so it is the faster car around the autox track.

That's good stuff. The Spec V, Mazdaspeed Protege, SRT4, & SVTF are competitors around the same price range. I thought the MSP was in a different class because it had a turbocharger. So you guys don't think the higher skidpad rating and lower body weight help it get around the cones faster?

The SE-R Spec V and SRT-4 are in DS too.

And I'm just wondering...was my earlier post in this thread invisible?

Nope, and the non 04 S2K isn't going to be in AS in 2005, there's talk of it but I just don't see it happening :)

By the way when I said the Protege is in DS, I say it because we I was responding to Zoom44 and pointing out they also are in 2 different classes much like the 8 and the SVT. Lets keep in mind here with these comparisons that how a car does in autox is not always the best for determining if it handles well or not. On a tight course like that where you rarely get out of second gear, there are too many oddities to really determine how a car would fare on a real racetrack.

From Consumers Reports:

The agile, fun-to-drive Focus handles like a true sports car, especially in its nimble, souped-up SVT version. Reliability has finally improved, allowing us to recommend it. The seating position is high and commanding, major controls are clear and logically laid out, and the easy-to-access interior has a spacious, airy feel. The ride is firm, steady, and well-controlled. The base engine is a 110-hp Four, but even the 130-hp Four delivers only adequate acceleration. All versions we tested handled nimbly and felt forgiving at their limits. The wagon is a cleverly packaged and very practical choice, with better rear-seat and cargo space. A four-door SVT version is now available.

The SVTs appear to be less than $20,000 and averaged 24 MPG in Consumers testing. Consumers also liked the RX-8, said it was super agile, reported it at 18 MPG, but couldn't recommend it because it was a new car.

Doing well enough to have taken 2-4 and 7 of the top 10 in AS at Topeka last year had it been there says a lot. Since the class by type ideal seems to be getting set aside more and more often... who knows. We'll find out soon enough. I can see it going either way.

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By the way when I said the Protege is in DS, I say it because we I was responding to Zoom44 and pointing out they also are in 2 different classes much like the 8 and the SVT.

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Gotcha.

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Lets keep in mind here with these comparisons that how a car does in autox is not always the best for determining if it handles well or not. On a tight course like that where you rarely get out of second gear, there are too many oddities to really determine how a car would fare on a real racetrack.

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Whether on a full track or an autox course or even the street, how something "handles" depends on your metric. Is it completely objective (time over distance) or totally subjective (how it "feels"). Some cars that are great at one of those two things and awful in the other. Which one of two mythical cars like that handles better? Good question...and one that I can't answer.

Comparing the svt focus to the RX8 is rediculous. Hell, my protege 5 will keep up with the focuse on the auotX. While were at it,why don't we compare the svt focus to the Viper, wait how about the skyline GTR. Comon now. The two care are in a totally different class.