Originally Posted by: Kirsty172 
well like i said, sounds like you've made your mind up for a compromised warm hatch. 0-60 doesn't really indicate a car's capability as a hot hatch, although if that is your measure then there's also a good number of fast diesel estates that might also be of interest to you.
it will be good if it is lighter than the last focus. for sure, the focus RS i had was heavier than my house, and it felt it unfortunately whilst driving. the motoring reviews strangely didn't make as big an issue of that as it really was...
i see no conflict actually with renault's offering. the person who 'needs' an lsd equipped car will typically also want a more deliberate chassis set-up. the 2 are not in conflict. check out the reviews of the fiesta st with and without it's diff. you might want to think if you really need one.
so like i say, i don't actually see renault being 'in the past' with their selection of chassis selections. i don't see a conflict in their set-ups. i think you'll probably find that when an fk8 CTR driver is using their car in 'comfort' mode, they'll not be testing the front axle traction that much to warrant the lsd...so if that comfort is important to you, the softer ford sounds perfect for you. you've done an excellent job of selling it to the target audience.
A man who thinks a 280hp, sub six second 0-100kph hatch with manual box, adaptive dampers, sport and track modes, limited slip diff, anti lag, launch control etc.... isn't a hot hatch, is a man that either a) knows very little about cars or b) has a grudge against a manufacturer. Either way, the reasons behind your lack of motoring knowledge don't interest me.
As for the RS being heavy. The RS is a heavy pig, it weighs 1599kg, this information was widely available to all before buying. It was always going to feel it whilst driving, weight is one thing you can't hide, i'm surprised this was a surprise to any owner!!!!
It's laughable, almost fanboy stuff, to say there is no conflict in the offering from Renault. For example, I want maximum grip and acceleration out of tight wet corners, which the LSD assists in providing by preventing spinning up a one wheel drive 280hp front wheel drive car. Yet, Renault decide, oh no, because you also want a car that's capable of being comfortable as a daily and family life hot hatch (after all it's a hot hatch, not a lotus elise), you sir must have a spinning one wheel drive car. It's bad enough the car isn't dynamically adjustable like it's competitors, but worse still they don't even provide all the options on the fixed setups. Absolute nonsense to hardcode a suspension setup to essentially a traction choice. Utterly old hat. Thankfully however, Renault is one of the few manufacturers still caught in the noughties. Us as hot hatch buyers should demand more, not less, from manufacturers, and as one of the few hot hatch makers imposing such restrictions, it's a simple fact that Renault is not providing potential customers with the options its competitors are.... Maybe it'll work for Renault and they'll outsell their competitors, I very much doubt that however.
As I said about the Civic, it's technically brilliant, but only has four seats and it looks absolutely ridiculous, so i wouldn't even consider it.
Now, lets see if Ford have delivered with this ST, the drive has to back up the very promising specifications.