Hi All! A bit overdue but I thought it was time to start a thread on what has turned out to be my second Mk2 Focus RS. I had started a thread previously (see here) on another Mk2 RS which I had won in a Facebook raffle competition, and despite clearly being incredibly lucky, it had a few more miles on it than I was comfortable with plus various other things so I felt it worth selling it and saving a bit more to buy my dream RS. So the RS No.1 was sold in spring 2021 and I purchased my current RS (EO59 ZPF) in June 2021!
The market was (is still?) going bit crazy for these cars and without my previous win, I wouldn't have been in a position to buy any RS at all, so I am really am a very lucky boy to now be an owner. That said, it was frustrating watching the prices go up when I had been keeping an eye on the market for years, and just a few years previously I could've got an even lower mileage car for quite a bit less! Hey ho, not much I could do about that and you can say that about so many cars especially old Fords. Anyway, after a few months of saving and searching I found EO59 ZPF advertised for sale in Bristol with 35k on the clock, 5 previous owners (now 6 as I am a new owner), full service history with all Ford stamps between 2010 and 2020 (except for one at an independent in 2012). I would have been happy with PB or UG but I wasn't fussed about paying a premium for UG, I had previously owned a PB Mk2 ST and loved the car and the colour. It also had my perfect spec, which seemed surprisingly difficult to pin down, which is Lux 1, Dynamica seats and BT/USB. All good, although the number of owners is at the upper end of what I was looking for, I figured it didn't really matter in the end and it averages one owner every two years, I've never owned a car longer than three years myself yet always looked after them. The car was on H&R lowering springs but other than that seemed standard, although the springs suggested to me that it may well have been modified in the past as so many have, but given my plans for it I wasn't too bothered. Anyway, a deal was done and I was soon the proud owner of a Mk2 Focus RS again!
Photos of the car at the dealership:
I have long been a Mountune fanatic and so a Mountune spec RS was the ultimate dream, but seemed hugely unlikely given so many of the parts and kits had long been discontinued. However, around the time when I won the first RS (Christmas 2019) Mountune and started taking pre-orders for the discontinued Clubsport items (suspension, brakes and wheels). I was in two minds whether to buy the parts to fit to the first RS, but ultimately I felt that wasn't the right car. So once that car was sold I was in the tricky situation of wondering do I fork out for all of the Clubsport gear while available, even though I don't actually own a car? I decided I had to really, as if I missed the opportunity I would be forever kicking myself. So I went ahead and ordered along with a plenum, roll restrictor, recirc valve and various other bits with a plan to buy a equivalent parts (Pro Alloy intercooler, Milltek exhaust) for what was no longer available, and get FJRS to supply a fuel pump and install the MR375 map. So it wouldn't be 'proper' Mountune spec, but I would have the power and the Clubsport gear, so happy days
But there was another amazing stroke of luck and another turn in the tale! I had purchased a set of black Mountune exhaust tips off of FB marketplace, with a view to attaching them to the Milltek exhaust to at least get the Mountune look. However, I really preferred the stainless steel ones so I thought 'sod it', and put an optimistic wanted ad on FB for the steel tips and I received a reply from a chap saying he had a full Mountune exhaust system! I honestly thought he was a scammer and ignored the message, but after a few days of mulling it over I thought I had to follow it up in case he was genuine. It turned out the guy was returning a low mileage UG Mk2 with full MR375 kit to standard to sell on. After a few more questions it turned out he had all the Mountune parts for MR375, the intercooler, air box, full exhaust and even the fuel pump! He also had a x4 induction kit was another bonus! I sent photos of all the kit to Fred Clack (legend) at FJRS who confirmed that all of the parts were genuine, a deal was struck and the seller even dropped all of the parts at FJRS for me as they were based in Essex! When I placed the ad for the exhaust tips I was literally just about to place an order for a brand new Milltek exhaust, so for all of these parts to land in my lap was just incredibly fortunate and I am still pinching myself.
Photos of the Mountune parts:
Super geeky fact, the intercooler is an early one as it has a FoMoCo serial number so technically it's an RS500 item!
The real test for the car was to come after a trip to FJRS as I wanted Fred to inspect the car and check I hadn't bought a duffer, as well as fit all the parts. While I waited on my installation day I made some little cosmetic changes like replacing the wing mirror indicator covers which had discoloured, all of the RS badges as they had faded plus some fancy new number plates:
Having gone for yellow Mountune brake calipers I bought some used rear calipers and got them refurbished by Biggred and painted in yellow to match. They did a really fantastic job.
Before:
After:
So on 23rd August 2021 I made the trip over to FJRS with the RS stacked full of parts (impressive luggage capacity with seats folded down) to get everything installed (photos from a test loading to check it would all fit!):
During the week of installation FJRS and Mountune released a few teaser pics on Instagram etc which was pretty exciting at the time. I don't think they are getting many RSs coming though the doors any more getting a full suite of Mountune parts fitted, indeed Fred suggested that it is quite likely the last full Mountune spec MR375 with full Clubsport setup that they'll do. Never say never I suppose, but that's quite cool to think that about the car. Also, Fred gave the car the thumbs up condition wise and reckoned I'd found a good one, great news and a bit of a relief!
Here are some pictures from the build:
The market was (is still?) going bit crazy for these cars and without my previous win, I wouldn't have been in a position to buy any RS at all, so I am really am a very lucky boy to now be an owner. That said, it was frustrating watching the prices go up when I had been keeping an eye on the market for years, and just a few years previously I could've got an even lower mileage car for quite a bit less! Hey ho, not much I could do about that and you can say that about so many cars especially old Fords. Anyway, after a few months of saving and searching I found EO59 ZPF advertised for sale in Bristol with 35k on the clock, 5 previous owners (now 6 as I am a new owner), full service history with all Ford stamps between 2010 and 2020 (except for one at an independent in 2012). I would have been happy with PB or UG but I wasn't fussed about paying a premium for UG, I had previously owned a PB Mk2 ST and loved the car and the colour. It also had my perfect spec, which seemed surprisingly difficult to pin down, which is Lux 1, Dynamica seats and BT/USB. All good, although the number of owners is at the upper end of what I was looking for, I figured it didn't really matter in the end and it averages one owner every two years, I've never owned a car longer than three years myself yet always looked after them. The car was on H&R lowering springs but other than that seemed standard, although the springs suggested to me that it may well have been modified in the past as so many have, but given my plans for it I wasn't too bothered. Anyway, a deal was done and I was soon the proud owner of a Mk2 Focus RS again!
Photos of the car at the dealership:
I have long been a Mountune fanatic and so a Mountune spec RS was the ultimate dream, but seemed hugely unlikely given so many of the parts and kits had long been discontinued. However, around the time when I won the first RS (Christmas 2019) Mountune and started taking pre-orders for the discontinued Clubsport items (suspension, brakes and wheels). I was in two minds whether to buy the parts to fit to the first RS, but ultimately I felt that wasn't the right car. So once that car was sold I was in the tricky situation of wondering do I fork out for all of the Clubsport gear while available, even though I don't actually own a car? I decided I had to really, as if I missed the opportunity I would be forever kicking myself. So I went ahead and ordered along with a plenum, roll restrictor, recirc valve and various other bits with a plan to buy a equivalent parts (Pro Alloy intercooler, Milltek exhaust) for what was no longer available, and get FJRS to supply a fuel pump and install the MR375 map. So it wouldn't be 'proper' Mountune spec, but I would have the power and the Clubsport gear, so happy days
But there was another amazing stroke of luck and another turn in the tale! I had purchased a set of black Mountune exhaust tips off of FB marketplace, with a view to attaching them to the Milltek exhaust to at least get the Mountune look. However, I really preferred the stainless steel ones so I thought 'sod it', and put an optimistic wanted ad on FB for the steel tips and I received a reply from a chap saying he had a full Mountune exhaust system! I honestly thought he was a scammer and ignored the message, but after a few days of mulling it over I thought I had to follow it up in case he was genuine. It turned out the guy was returning a low mileage UG Mk2 with full MR375 kit to standard to sell on. After a few more questions it turned out he had all the Mountune parts for MR375, the intercooler, air box, full exhaust and even the fuel pump! He also had a x4 induction kit was another bonus! I sent photos of all the kit to Fred Clack (legend) at FJRS who confirmed that all of the parts were genuine, a deal was struck and the seller even dropped all of the parts at FJRS for me as they were based in Essex! When I placed the ad for the exhaust tips I was literally just about to place an order for a brand new Milltek exhaust, so for all of these parts to land in my lap was just incredibly fortunate and I am still pinching myself.
Photos of the Mountune parts:
Super geeky fact, the intercooler is an early one as it has a FoMoCo serial number so technically it's an RS500 item!
The real test for the car was to come after a trip to FJRS as I wanted Fred to inspect the car and check I hadn't bought a duffer, as well as fit all the parts. While I waited on my installation day I made some little cosmetic changes like replacing the wing mirror indicator covers which had discoloured, all of the RS badges as they had faded plus some fancy new number plates:
Having gone for yellow Mountune brake calipers I bought some used rear calipers and got them refurbished by Biggred and painted in yellow to match. They did a really fantastic job.
Before:
After:
So on 23rd August 2021 I made the trip over to FJRS with the RS stacked full of parts (impressive luggage capacity with seats folded down) to get everything installed (photos from a test loading to check it would all fit!):
During the week of installation FJRS and Mountune released a few teaser pics on Instagram etc which was pretty exciting at the time. I don't think they are getting many RSs coming though the doors any more getting a full suite of Mountune parts fitted, indeed Fred suggested that it is quite likely the last full Mountune spec MR375 with full Clubsport setup that they'll do. Never say never I suppose, but that's quite cool to think that about the car. Also, Fred gave the car the thumbs up condition wise and reckoned I'd found a good one, great news and a bit of a relief!
Here are some pictures from the build: