Ford wouldn’t dirty itself with the word ‘Comfort’ on an RS, but VW allows it and, although it might be a slight overstatement by Golf SE standards, the R rides acceptably on its 235/35 R19 Bridgestones. The Golf – like the Ford, as we’ll see – has settings that adjust things like damper stiffness, engine note and steering response. Provided, that is, you make full use of its drive modes. Yes, the Golf R has given some ride quality away to body control and keenness of handling, but it remains an exceptionally easy car in which to drive many hundreds of miles in a day. I suspect, as the miles begin to add up, that they don’t have those kinds of conversations in Wolfsburg. Ford is prepared to give ride quality away to handling it’ll allow steering corruption if it gives feel and so on. Ford’s RS progamme, though, is something different: the team dispenses with everyday usability and replaces it with focus and keenness. STs are usable everyday cars given a passable dynamic makeover. Ford’s ST models’ closest equivalents are VW’s GTIs. VW, you see, doesn’t quite have the same ethos as Ford when it comes to its sporting cars. Read our thoughts on the Volkswagen Golf R, as we give it a thorough going over The rest of the journey reminds you what a Golf is good at all the time, regardless of what letters come after its name. The occasional roundabout and slip road remind you what the Golf R can do when roads turn corners. You find out quite a lot about a car if you drive 1300 miles in two days, even if 98% of it is a cruise-controlled 80mph straight-line schlep. I’m not one of ’em before I start, and even less so when I arrive in Valencia. Some people might put money on this being a foregone conclusion. But a Golf R is anything but second-rate. Yes, you’ll already know the Ford is brilliant if you've visited or read Autocar in the last week/three weeks/six weeks (delete as applicable). Ford Focus RS vs Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evo 1: new vs used.Matt Prior: Farewell Focus RS, my bold friend.Mikkelsen is the man who the WRC forgot.

Will it drift? Mk3 Ford Focus RS video review.

2016 ford focus rs nurburgring time