ohh poop. ford cancels fiesta rs

Strizzo wrote: we would all be bitching and moaning just as much if the genesis coupe was available with only the nonturbo 4 and a castrated version of the v6 in the US, while the rest of the civilized world got the hotter version. we would (and did) say the same thing when honda/acura only brought a type s or Si version of the rsx/civic to the US instead of the hotter type R version sold elsewhere. when fiat and chrysler get together, and fiat brings over the 500, and we don't get an abarth version, expect the same sort of E36 M3 storm then as well.

+1

mblommel wrote: Well they might not be building an RS, but at least we supposed to be getting this: If Ford manages not to screw it up I do plan to put this one at the top of my shopping list. Ford if you are listening, ship it just as in the picture: keep the funky green paint, no stupid Gillette razor grill, keep the 17 inch alloys, keep the real suspension. You know, don't "fix" anything so it's more "attractive" to us dumb 'mericans. Oh and also, supposedly this car weighs 2200 lbs. Anybody have any idea if this is the case or total crap? With 118hp pushing that kind of mass this car would be a hoot RS or no.

I thought it was 160hp, time to review my TopGear...

Edit: ok Clarkson says 120hp. Still I wonder how hard an extra 40hp would be to extract? Hmmm....

And it's 40kilos lighter than the last fiesta.

The Jalopnik link says the RS is back on. We'll see. 305 HP is nuts! I do think it would do Ford good to have a Halo-Econobox. The SRT4 helped the neon line, the Mazdaspeed 3 has put a lot of butts into normal Mazda 3's, and I can't help but think that a 305HP bitch-slap to the rest of the sport compact world would leave an impression.

DILYSI Dave wrote: 305 HP is nuts!

+1. Once upon a time, that sort of power figure was reserved for supercars.

The Powershift sounds pretty good too, wonder how refined it'll be.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/01/21/ford-powershift-transmission-to-launch-in-2010/

Damn - a dual clutch trans. This is getting better and better.

Looks like Ford will be introducing that transmission into more than the fiesta too, there should be fun times ahead.

I've never driven a dual-clutch auto but I know it doesn't have a clutch pedal and I know I don't want one. Make mine manual.

PaulY wrote: I've never driven a dual-clutch auto but I know it doesn't have a clutch pedal and I know I don't want one. Make mine manual.

I hate manu-matics as much as the next guy. Trust me. Don't judge a dual clutch until you've driven one. They really are the best of both worlds. It's the torque converter that makes automatics suck. Dual clutch autos don't have a torque converter. There is a direct link between the crankshaft and the drive wheels, just as God intended.

I understand how they all work but I like the feeling of clutching and rowing my own gears. Feeling some sort of mechanical link than a push of a button. I know when i drive autos with select shift or whatever they are calling it, it's better than a regular auto for the downshifting and rev holding but i get bored and forget to shift cause I don't really have to. I'm sure a dual clutch would be waaaay better since there is a real solid clutch in there but I still prefer a proper manual.

DILYSI Dave wrote:

PaulY wrote: I've never driven a dual-clutch auto but I know it doesn't have a clutch pedal and I know I don't want one. Make mine manual.

I hate manu-matics as much as the next guy. Trust me. Don't judge a dual clutch until you've driven one. They really are the best of both worlds. It's the torque converter that makes automatics suck. Dual clutch autos don't have a torque converter. There is a direct link between the crankshaft and the drive wheels, just as God intended.

Kinda funny that you don't like the torque converter. It's what makes a shift smooth. So far, that's the real challenge of the auto shifting manuals. And with modern locking converters, there is a direct link to the wheels. The remaining losses are fully in the oil pump that keeps everything running.

But, to each his own.

(and I have not driven one yet, but a friend has been working on it for a while)

Eric

alfadriver wrote:

DILYSI Dave wrote:

PaulY wrote: I've never driven a dual-clutch auto but I know it doesn't have a clutch pedal and I know I don't want one. Make mine manual.

I hate manu-matics as much as the next guy. Trust me. Don't judge a dual clutch until you've driven one. They really are the best of both worlds. It's the torque converter that makes automatics suck. Dual clutch autos don't have a torque converter. There is a direct link between the crankshaft and the drive wheels, just as God intended.

Kinda funny that you don't like the torque converter. It's what makes a shift smooth. So far, that's the real challenge of the auto shifting manuals. And with modern locking converters, there is a direct link to the wheels. The remaining losses are fully in the oil pump that keeps everything running. But, to each his own. (and I have not driven one yet, but a friend has been working on it for a while) Eric

Once we have reached 5mph, I don't really care that much. Especially if it will lock up and hold a gear when I want it to. The part I hate is that instant where I step on the gas and have to wait for the TC to decide "Oh, I guess it's time to go now."

I also don't really desire smooth shifts. I mean, they are OK, but I'll take responsiveness over a smooth shift anyday.

For a car just for me, I'll still take a traditional manual just based on price and simplicity. But for a car that me and my wife share, I love the idea of a DSG or DSG-like trans.

I just told my fiance that i'm only buying standard cars so she might want to learn.

She's getting much better.

PaulY wrote: I just told my fiance that i'm only buying standard cars so she might want to learn. She's getting much better.

My wife can drive a manual, she just doesn't like to. If it's something with other redeeming factors (like the Jeep on a nice day) she will choose one of the cars with a manual, but that is in spite of the trans.

I've driven an smg bmw before I liked it. That was a few years ago I can't imagine ford is gonna a screw it up, but....

alfadriver wrote: I'd put a Focus up agaist a Corolla any day, any time, any where.

i like Ford more than any company except Mazda, but good luck with this (unless you mean the C1-based Focus we don't get here). the Focus was great when it came out here...almost 10 years ago. why have we had to wait so long for a new Focus?

i had a rental focus back in 2001. it was awesome. i had a rental focus last week. it was terrible. different car? nope. different small car standard? yup.

that said, i am very much looking forward to the Fiesta, especially if it comes in a hatch style at that low, low curb weight. a softened, 2500lb fiesta? not so much.