Lean, Mean, Green Machine

THERE are times when you come across something that makes you go wide-eyed and slack-jawed with surprise.

It's becoming rarer for me when I get behind the wheel of a car, not because I find the whole affair tedious and boring, but rather I don't want my expectations to be raised so high only for that anticipation to be cruelly deflated.

What I'm writing about this time isn't about a new car, in fact it's quite old when you consider that this will be the third year it's been around in Brunei. It's just that they're so very rare, that the opportunity to sit in one, drive it around and actually write about it had never presented itself. Until late last year.

My cousin sent me a message, asking if I'd be keen to get behind the wheel of a Ford Focus RS, the second iteration, as the first never made it to Brunei Darussalam. This car was supposed to be one of the best hatches to have ever been developed, and I wasn't going to say no.

If you're not familiar with this Ford, I have to start with the obvious.

You can't miss the car as it looks like it's a complete hooligan. I'm not mincing words here either, because all these cars, just under a dozen of them, were brought in with bright Viper Green colour. When you combine that with the flared wheel arches, the 19-inch wheels with low profile tyres and that wing at the back, you realise immediately that this couldn't at all be a normal hatchback.

Subtle it ain't, as the first thing that comes to mind, when walking up to it I got the feeling that this was going to be a memorable drive ... one way or another.

Its looks alone bring about the feeling that this car is part of an elaborate act. The proportions are all out there, it looks hunched over, beefed up, and spoiling for a fight. And that's before you've even stepped inside the car to fire it up.

Before stepping into the car, I walked around it, simply because I was intrigued and awed at the same time. Everything about it has a tinge of excitement, simply because there isn't anything else out there like it.

Take for instance, the racing recaro bucket seats. It looks nifty with flared side bolsters and headrest. You'd half expected racing harness and a roll cage inside as well but there are no other racing surprises in that regard.

Walking around to the back of the car, the tail pipes also exude a quiet menacing look as they're positioned under a rear diffuser. Maybe it also has to do with how the paint underscores everything about the overall look of the car.

Powered by a five-cylinder turbo engine, the idle of the car is subtle enough. Not as loud as the paint, but a nice and firm note.

When settling into the bucket seat, everything is within easy reach, the climate control and radio easy enough to operate.

The first surprise from this car was that it has extremely good road manners when you're doing normal every day things. The clutch, shifting and engagement is all very accommodating, not at all notchy and the last thing you would expect from a limited edition rally-bred hatchback.

I should really say it's a sports car, because that's what this car really is, except it has all the conveniences of a hatchback. In fact it is such a practical little thing, despite having two doors, the rear seats are pretty comfortable.

I would dare say it has a cavernous space, and behind it the space could swallow up the groceries, maybe even fit in some football gear at the same time.

Although firmly set up, it's not the most uncomfortable ride, and that being the case you can drive it confidently on highways without much fear of upsetting passenger comfort.

Derived from Ford's participation in rallying, the car has a very good pedigree, to say the very least. The reason why I prefer to call the Focus RS a sports car is because it has approximately 300bhp.

Previously nobody had even ventured past the 250bhp mark for a front wheel drive car, and those that even go up to that find that their cars are edgy to drive, with vast amounts of torque steer.

While some manufacturers have tried to engineer that particular trait out of their cars, others choose to dull it down to the detriment of a vehicle's road holding abilities. Ford has chosen to do neither, giving the Focus RS a quirk that plasters a grin on my face when driving it.

When you push the car you feel as if something's just yanked the car to veer to the right.

If you're not prepared for it you'll get the shock of your life, as it's not exactly the ideal thing to happen as you're accelerating and picking up speed.

Just as abruptly as it introduces itself when jumping on the gas, the torque steer completely disappears when you jump off the gas, and again potentially catching a driver off guard.

It may sound a bit haphazard, but in my opinion the car's ability to communicate to the driver just what exactly is happening on the road is partly to blame for the exaggerated feel of the torque steer. In fact it keeps you on your toes, and doesn't impede any progress unless you're willing to let it.

It becomes an endearing trait, as the sound of the forced induction kicks in and propels you from corner to corner, meaning that this car won't become a bore to drive when you're going for it.

That's when this car really comes into its own, it scurries its way around corners, and devours kilometre after kilometre of road. Every thing else becomes secondary to the joy of driving this car. While those who aren't interested in driving a car with this ability should walk away right now.

If you enjoy getting to grips with a car and I'm not talking about driving fast with flappy gear paddle nonsense this has got to be a car that you have to drive at least once.

Those who have taken the plunge and actually own one, I am deeply envious of you. The only downside I can think of after getting out of the car and driving it was how quickly it guzzles fuel.

Keep the car driven sensibly and it will return a reasonable fuel economy. That's the hard part though with something this fun to drive. You'll be paying at the pumps for it, but ultimately it's a burden that those who own it will be happy to live with.

I know it is already 2012, and although I'm about two years late to the party in saying this (as it came to Brunei around 2010), the Ford Focus RS was my favourite drive of 2011.

The Brunei Times