TWO fast Fords. Both £40k. Both very orange.
But the question is: Which one is better? American muscle or European hot hatch?
Let’s find out.
On the left, we have the Mustang GT packing a naturally aspirated 5-litre V8. Crude and cool, rear-drive, 450hp, loud, drag-strip mode, line lock for big, smokey burnouts.
(Quick fact: Mustang outsold the Porsche 911 last year.)
On the right, we have the Focus RS powered by a turbocharged 2.3-litre EcoBoost.
Clever tech, all-wheel-drive, 375hp, legendary pops and bangs, drift mode for donuts.
Clearly, none of this mischief can ever happen on a public road or you’ll end up playing mummies and daddies with Big Vin at HMP Lincoln.
So we headed to Santa Pod, Britain’s drag-racing Mecca in Northants, for a quarter-mile face-off.
Actually, we gatecrashed official practice for the FIA European Drag Racing Championship, had a quick duel then drove home again.
Key facts
Ford Mustang GT
Price: £43,165
Engine: 5-litre V8
0-62mph: 4.3secs
Top speed: 155mph
Economy: 22.5mpg
CO2: 279g/km
The Mustang won, crossing the finish line in 13.1 seconds, at 111mph.
The Focus RS was half a second slower at 13.6 and 101mph.
At this point in a movie, Dom Toretto would say: “It don’t matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Winning’s winning.”
And then he’d take the keys to your Focus and go.
But hold up, Dom, me old fruit. It’s not that simple.
You might live your life “a quarter mile at a time” over the Pond — but we don’t. We have corners in Europe. Lots of them.
And that’s where the Focus RS would seriously own yo ass. Yes, the Mustang V8 has charm and serious attitude and goes like the clappers in a straight line — it should do, it breathes more air.
It also sounds utterly wonderful.
But it has a lot of weight over the nose, whereas the Focus is built for amusing twisty roads.
Key facts
Ford Focus RS Heritage Edition
Price: £39,925
Engine: 2.3-litre turbo
0-62mph: 4.5 secs
Top speed: 165mph
Economy: 36.7mpg
CO2: 175g/km
Other observations. The 2018 Mustang has a 12in digital cluster (taken from the GT supercar), a slick ten-speed auto, “good neighbour” mode for early-morning starts, and safety tech like adaptive cruise control.
The 2016 Mustangs were stung badly by Euro NCAP. But the interior quality is still not Ford’s finest hour.
As for the Focus RS, this is a future classic.
Production ended last month and this is one of 50 Heritage editions saluting the 50th anniversary of the Escort.
It has all the toys — Mountune power upgrade (+25hp compared to standard RS), Quaife limited-slip differential, Mexico orange paint. And I promise you this, even your Nan can drift it.
The clever all-wheel-drive system sends as much torque as possible to the outside rear wheel, while the ESC brakes the front wheels to kill understeer. The sensors work 100 times a second.
Result: You exit the corner sideways like a pro.
The next Focus RS is due in 2020 and I’m told it will have a mild-hybrid punching out 400hp.
Holy moly.
Now, to answer the question: Which is better? Mustang or Focus RS?
The orange one, silly.
Test drive
TEST your car or bike on the famous quarter-mile at Santa Pod from £35.
“Run What Ya Brung” sessions take place on June 2, 9, 16 and 23, subject to weather. For details see rwyb.com.
The 300mph Top Fuel dragsters return to Santa Pod for the FIA European finals, Sept 6-9.
Mercedes S 560 Coupe
Ignore all the performance stats for a moment and just look at that interior.
It’s not just the widescreen dash, the saddle-brown leather, or the wrap-round wood, it’s the combination of all those things.
It’s Riva yacht cool.
It’s one of the few cars you’ll step inside and get straight back out again and sign on the dotted line – even before you’ve turned a wheel.
So, is it fast? Yes. Stealthy.
You’ll cover two postcodes before you know it. Merc’s brilliant 4-litre twin turbo V8 pulls like a train and just keeps on going.
And that brings me back to the interior again. The front seats hug you when you turn a corner – inflating the right side bolster when you go left and vice-versa. It’s my new favourite thing.
And all the while you are being spoiled with a heated back massage in a cabin as quiet as a library.
Of course, the S 560 is daft money at £100k but who doesn’t want Swarovski crystals in their headlights?
I did have one small issue. My son’s 1.2m wakeboard didn’t fit in the boot so we had to put it on the back seats.
Soz about the duck poo.
Key facts
Price: £103,715
Engine: 4-litre V8 turbo
Power: 469hp, 700Nm
0-62mph: 4.6 secs
Top speed: 155mph
CO2: 188g/km
Seat Leon Cupra R
It’s either a serious collector’s car or a serious waste of cash. And I think I know which.
All 24 cars coming to the UK are sold at £34,995 a pop. Rare and expensive, then.
But will a bronzed Leon Cupra R appreciate like, say, a VW Golf GTI Clubsport S? Probably not.
It’s not even the fastest Cupra. The 300hp estate with 4WD and DSG will mince it in a traffic light Grand Prix by nine tenths of a second. That’s a lot.
And then there’s the Golf R which uses the same 310hp 2-litre turbo and is two grand cheaper. And it’s 4WD. This is front-wheel drive.
Surely, it should be the other way round? Seats are supposed to be cut-price VWs. That’s not to say the Cupra R isn’t a good car. Because it is.
It is the most focused Cupra yet. More negative camber on the front axle, quicker steering, wider track and bigger Brembo brakes make it an absolute hoot down a B-road.
And the blobs of carbon-fibre and copper look dandy.
But £35k? No mate. I’d have a Golf R and a holiday.
Or Hyundai i30N and a holiday. Or Honda Civic Type R GT and a holiday.
Now I’ve just upset 24 readers. Soz.
Key facts
Price: £34,995
Engine: 2-litre turbo
Power: 310hp
0-62mph: 5.8 secs
Top speed: 155mph
Economy: 38mpg
Under £2,000
2003 Audi TT Quattro, 1.8, 84,000 miles, £1,550
Under £3,000
2005 Audi TT convertible, 1.8, 97,000 miles, £2,250
Under £4,000
2004 Audi TT Quattro convertible, 3.2 V6, 103,000 miles, £3,790
Garage of dreams
AS far as dream garages go, David Coulthard is killing it.
£2.5million Aston Martin Valkyrie. Tick.
£2.2million Mercedes-AMG Project One. Tick.
He said: “I’m a Mercedes guy so I’ve got a Project One. But I also have an order for a Valkyrie. All my F1 wins were in Adrian Newey-designed cars and if he’s doing a road car it’s going to be special.”
DC’s daily runner is a C 63 estate and he also owns a 1984 G-Class convertible. Class.
165mph pick-up truck
THE daft lads at Honda have been at it again.
First, it was a 134mph ride-on lawnmower with a 998cc Fireblade engine, now they’ve built a 165mph Civic Type R pick-up truck. No, you can’t buy either of them.
Turbocharged
THIS one’s for you, trainee speed enthusiasts. Vauxhall has confirmed the Corsa GSi will be powered by a 150hp 1.4-litre turbo petrol and share the same chassis as the hot VXR.
Out September, priced around £17,000. Should be a good duel with the Ford Fiesta ST-Line (140hp from 1-litre EcoBoost). Fiiiiiiiight.
GO: Motofest Coventry - June 2-3
Sprint races on the city’s ring road, supercar paddock (near the cathedral) and lots more – and it’s all FREE.
GTI INTERNATIONAL – June 2-3, Rockingham, Northants.
Track day for VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda owners, plus show ’n’ shine and autojumble.
Tickets £18 on the gate.
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