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My Focus was ordered in May of last year after a couple of visits to our local dealer to obtain information on availability and specifications. At the time of ordering the quoted delivery date was August 2002, not to long and an opportunity to save the purchase price.

My car is finally scheduled for delivery late in January after being delayed by the Christmas break; delivery is scheduled for the 28th.

My first sight of the car is from the opposite side of the road, it looks simply stunning in Imperial blue and as I get closer to it I realise that it has just got so much presence. The photos in the brochure and the press really don't convey just how different these cars are from a standard focus. These cars just look so right from any angle, the huge vent in the front spoiler, the extended wheel arches, the subtle roof spoiler and that distinctive imperial blue colour. I think you can tell if a car looks right by simply seeing if you keep returning for one more look at it, The Focus RS will make you take a second look.

The first 1000 miles were tempered by the need to run the car in, no more than 4,000 rpm for the first 5- 600 miles and then progressively more revs over the next 400 miles. In practice the RS received more than this because it turned 1000 miles at the start of a 300-mile motorway journey and spent most of that journey cruising at 3,500 rpm. These cars have got so much torque that even when running in you can get an idea of the performance that awaits once the car is run in, it is possible to make very rapid progress without straying over the 4,000 rpm limit.

Once running in was completed it was time to explore the performance potential, make no mistake in everyday UK driving conditions a Focus RS is very fast. The first time you change down into second to overtake a slow moving car and floor it, the acceleration simply takes you completely by surprise, sure the car will move about on the road under hard acceleration but this is nothing that a little time with the car won't sort out and it isn't very long before you find that you are used to this characteristic of Focus RS ownership. Overtaking other traffic becomes a task where you not only assess whether you can overtake but also how many cars you can pass in one go. In some respects the performance is quite brutal and everyone who has ridden in the vehicle has been astounded at how fast it feels and how quickly you can cover ground over A and B roads. However during normal driving this car can be completely docile and will happily trundle around town or cruise at a comfortable 80 - 90 on motorways.

Some of the initial road tests suggested that a Focus RS would be tiring on a long haul due to the short gearing and hard ride. I cover approximately 5 - 800 miles a week most of which is on motorways and yes the car has a firm ride but it is not as short geared as some road testers would have us believe and it is possible to cover long distances without a break and without getting out feeling completely knackered.

The cars handling is everything I had hoped it would be, these cars go round corners like they are stuck to the road. The ride is on the hard side of firm but the superb Sparco seats do an excellent job of compensating for this and provide outstanding lateral grip. The car has a real feeling of being planted on the road and when driving the car hard through tight corners you can almost feel that trick differential pulling the car through the bend and planting the car on the right line. One friend who has ridden in the car described it as a "rocket on rails!" enough said.

The Focus has only blotted its copybook once. At 2,100 miles I had a coolant hose go. The hose in question is the one that runs from the top left hand side of the radiator to the intercooler radiator and it threads its way down the radiator past the power steering pump. The hose coming off of the power steering pump closest to the radiator has a securing clip on it that must have the actual tightening section of the clip facing the engine block, If it isn't it will rub through the intercooler hose. If you own a Focus RS check that this won't happen to you it is quite difficult to spot at first but if you persevere you will see what I mean. Full marks to Vospers of St Austell who had the car back on the road in three hours after finding a hose of an Iveco truck that would fit as a temporary measure. The new hose has now been fitted and should anyone need the part number it is 1230049, I was lucky mine went whilst sitting at a set of traffic lights a mile from home, it could have been much worse!

The focus has averaged 26 mpg over a variety of driving conditions including urban, long haul motorway cruising and balls out A and B road driving, not bad for a car which offers so much performance. Insurance was £550 a year through Ford direct, so apart from tyre wear I don't think it will be that expensive to run in the long term.

Modifications to the car have been fairly conservative to date and amount only to the fitment of a Zetec switch surround to replace the plain black one fitted as standard, replacing the CL spec interior light with a Ghia spec one with map reading lights and the fitment of variable speed intermittent wipers again from a Focus Ghia. Future modifications may include a Superchip and Mongoose exhaust but I'm still thinking about those.

In November I was one of the few people lucky enough to be invited to Gaydon to test drive the press cars on a closed track because our cars had not been delivered by the anticipated delivery date. Deep joy an open track and a Focus RS that belonged to Ford! These cars really need to be driven on a track to fully appreciate just how good they are and I will certainly be doing some track days with mine.

I am absolutely delighted with this car, if you haven't driven one beg someone to let you drive theirs, if you own one you will know what I mean and if you are still waiting to take delivery one it will be worth the wait! The Focus RS really is a car that you end up going out in just because it is so enjoyable to drive and similarly when you park it up you can't help taking another look at it to take in those WRC inspired looks.

CheeRS

Mark Hammond AKA The Cornish Pixie

MARKGHAMMOND@aol.com