I am sad we never got this here.... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

iwrock · #1 06-10-2013, 01:04 PM

FORD FOCUS 2.5 RS RS500 | eBay

One of the most epic hot-hatches EVER.

Wonder what it would cost to import one... Or maybe build one...

Would you guys rock a hot hatch?

I know I would!

iwrock · #2 06-10-2013, 01:05 PM

Hell, I would even take one of these:

FORD FOCUS 2.5 RS LUXURY PACK 1 | eBay

SwampYankee · #3 06-10-2013, 02:17 PM

We certainly get the shaft when it comes to some cool rides.

I would have A LOT of fun with it! Prefer a more muted color though. Black, maybe blue.

Pooka · #4 06-10-2013, 03:52 PM

I recall that when this was produced the US was going through an MPG fetish and anything with this kind of performance would be DOA.

Ford tried to bring in the MEKUR which was really a rather well set up car and it flopped big time.

Exchange rates at the time also a bit to do with it, or at least that was what Ford said. It really all came down to Ford sold Fords and not BMW's, and no one looking for a BMW would ever wander into a Ford showroom.

But....

I can remember shopping for a Ford in 1966 and while I was looking at a Falcon there was also a 427 Cobra sitting on the showroom floor. The price was $7,500 even. The Falcon was around $2,300.

Ford did not seem to have trouble selling Cobra's then.

aklim · #5 06-10-2013, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pooka

Ford tried to bring in the MEKUR which was really a rather well set up car and it flopped big time.

MERKUR was brought in for 5 years under the XR4Ti 85. Basically a 2.3 motor. Then they went to the Scorpio using a 2.9 for 88 and 89. I think part of the issue is they didn't give it enough time to mature. Had they given it 10 years, I do wonder if it could have worked.

tbomachines · #6 06-10-2013, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwrock

FORD FOCUS 2.5 RS RS500 | eBay

One of the most epic hot-hatches EVER.

Wonder what it would cost to import one... Or maybe build one...

Would you guys rock a hot hatch?

I know I would!

I do, daily. I also saw an ST yesterday, I like it but a bit busy with the styling (like all the focii as of late)

Stoney · #7 06-10-2013, 05:17 PM

The thing just ate up the Autobahn between Frankfurt and Hamburg!
Much better than the one they imported to the US. Same with the Merkur.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

MERKUR was brought in for 5 years under the XR4Ti 85. Basically a 2.3 motor. Then they went to the Scorpio using a 2.9 for 88 and 89. I think part of the issue is they didn't give it enough time to mature. Had they given it 10 years, I do wonder if it could have worked.

Pooka · #8 06-10-2013, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

MERKUR was brought in for 5 years under the XR4Ti 85. Basically a 2.3 motor. Then they went to the Scorpio using a 2.9 for 88 and 89. I think part of the issue is they didn't give it enough time to mature. Had they given it 10 years, I do wonder if it could have worked.

I agree. I think the Dealers were the ones that got tired of having to mess with them as they were so far outside the norm of their customer base.

But the Scorpio was too close to the five series to take sales from it. Something I heard a lot then was 'If I am going to pay five series prices then I might as well get a five series BMW.'

Angel · #9 06-10-2013, 10:48 PM

The Merkur's had a turbo4 and rwd - not common, but a good combination to start from. I guess all that hardware is expensive...

-John

aklim · #10 06-10-2013, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel

The Merkur's had a turbo4 and rwd - not common, but a good combination to start from. I guess all that hardware is expensive...

-John

Only the Xr4Ti was turbo. It had some weak C3 which was NOT as US made C3 since the trans mount was different from the C3 units made here. It could not be rebuilt well so I ditched it and installed a C4. I had to make a custom trans mount.

I was breaking the trans and I knew it was a common occurrence with me so I didn't want to rebuild it. Of course, I had tweaked it a little. Changed the Vane Air meter to a Mass Air meter and added an intercooler, changed the turbo to a C3/C4 turbo, ported the heads and rebuilt block and fire rings added to help with the breaking of the gasket. Had an adjustable cam wheel and an aftermarket cam. With the auto, the boost only went up so far and bleeds off too fast so I had to change the wastegate a little so that it would spool up with no bleed and dump at 20 psi. To make it work, I used the ECM off an 88 TurboCoupe and repinned the ECM harness. Kinda fun to play with till I got bored.

P.C. · #11 06-10-2013, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pooka

I recall that when this was produced the US was going through an MPG fetish and anything with this kind of performance would be DOA.

Ford tried to bring in the MEKUR which was really a rather well set up car and it flopped big time.

Exchange rates at the time also a bit to do with it, or at least that was what Ford said. It really all came down to Ford sold Fords and not BMW's, and no one looking for a BMW would ever wander into a Ford showroom.

But....

I can remember shopping for a Ford in 1966 and while I was looking at a Falcon there was also a 427 Cobra sitting on the showroom floor. The price was $7,500 even. The Falcon was around $2,300.

Ford did not seem to have trouble selling Cobra's then.

Merkur was actually sharing showroom space with the Mercury Grand Marquis. Can't get a BMW enthusiast into a Ford showroom? Try getting him into a Mercury showroom! If Ford had only put a good independent rear suspension under the Mustang SVO of that era, the Merkur would have been unnecessary.

Jorn · #12 06-10-2013, 11:52 PM

Forget about the Merkur and the Focus, this is what I want: Ford RS200, the evo's had up to 650 bhp and did 0-60 in 2 seconds in 1985!

TheDon · #13 06-11-2013, 06:47 PM

Got to love the days when Homologation was mandatory. I do not think it is now.

Such rare and awesome one off cars were made through those programs, like the CLK GTR.....