Five Days, 22 Test Drives

[Guest]

Okay,

So it's now been a week since the 'Speedy' (my affectionate nickname for the little fella, surname is Gonzalez) arrived our dealership.

Although still not even close to being broken in, after a total of now, 19 test drives, with me insisting on initially demonstrating to the potential customer, the Turbo Focus is a settling in very very nicely. Point and Shoot is how I describe the car, its drivability, road handling and tolerance to Sydneys roads is fantastic.

Standard, it rolls on an 18inch wheel, so my initial thoughts were visits to the dentist to repair chipped teeth. This isn't the case, as Speedy has always forgiven me everytime I've taken him over one.

I'm starting to feel very comfortable to the fact that I can negotiate both sharp and shallow corners at speeds I'm not used to, even on the sharpest corners so far, the DSC and unintrusive traction control (I usually turn it off) It feels like back end becomes light when entering sharp corners, but it never feel like its about to break away of lift.

The way this gearbox is mated to the engine, through is close ratios, seemingly self guiding and short throw feels perfect to how the Focus was meant to behave. Initially a bit notchy and required some guiding through the gates, it now accepts and places the lever in gear for you.

It's not a slick as say an S2000, but the reassuring heaviness in the clutch and, perfect take up point and divides the share of gear changing 50:50 with the driver proves why this car doesn't and shouldn't have an Auto. The engine, despite being found in Volvos initially, is not only AWESOME to drive, but it dead set has the best engine exhaust note I've heard in a while, especially in standard form.

To me, it sounds like a WRX with a nice exhaust. With a deep, very basey burble when idling to a deeper basier grumble when underway, I though it may perhaps be due to the engine sitting transversely instead of north-south.

Instant throttle response, in any gear, even when in 6th gear resting on 80-90kph, an increase in peddle, shows a instant reply and pushes you FWD without delay, but the real fun is in the lower speeds, whilst in a lower gears, foot down, on comes boost, (S#$T) up comes the rpms, there goes the gear change...start all over again.

Fuel consumption...Don't know, not bothered but, will be sure to check for future updates.

I did and still think that when the XR6T came out "would I ever need an '8' for performance reasons" and my answer is not really, only unless you want the sound of V8.

As compared to my XR6T (only when it was stock) to the XR5 Turbo, then....hard to say, and I'll leave it at 'unsure' for now.

Although their was a poor unfortunate in a Honda Integra Type-R that failed to see the XR5 Turbo logo on the side of the vehicle, so...I made sure he had a good long hard stare at the badging from behind !

Cheers

Darren

Edited 04/05/06 08:57 AM by DARREN

[Adrian6T]

Great post. Well done.

[boosted_sa]

I think the other half needs one of these!!! I'm sure she does, she just doesn't know it! YET

[Guest]

Cheers,

This far, their isn't too much I'd fault the XR5T on, if anything although only minor they would be;

1. Interior is very basic 'looking' even though it is very well put together, ergonimical and user friendly, it's very drab. Night time driving however would is a different story as the instrumentation and the three guages through their ambience adds a subtle, raw, and very modern atmosphere

2. No cruise control

3. No left side drivers footrest.

thanks

Darren

[cooltint]

Hi Darren

Sounds impressive so far.

How about an under bonnet pic?

Big AL

[CountryPhoon]

Hey Darren,

If you want to give that little jigger a proper work-out, in a controlled environment, take it out to Eastern Creek on one of these track days: Events ONeil

I have taken a couple of FPVs and an STi out there. It's a great way to find the handling limits and compare directly to other makes/models that you share the track with... And, if you want it, you get 'free' advanced driver training thrown in.

Cheers

Chris

[FordT6]

They look good, how is the power compared to the XR6T stock and when you have a chance post the stats for the XR5T.

[Guest]

Hey everyone,

To be honest, it may seem fairly easy to compare vehicle 'A' to vehicle 'B' but to give a completely fair comparison I'd have to jump straight from one to the other, and doing so with my ute wouldn't be fair, especially since the ute has been modified.

What I will say though is that I do enjoy the feeling of a solid, sturdy and agile smaller vehicle, and can clearly understand why some people would opt for a smaller 'import'.

the XR5T has been now the 'Focus' of attention in our showroom for near on two weeks, and the attention it draws from the public viewpoint is yet to waiver.

In a little while I'm going to take the XR5T for a few runs, and since it's a brisk night, I'm going to calibrate my G-tech Pro Comp and see what numbers I can extract. Will keep you all posted

Darren