FAST FORD PROJECTS See what fast Fords we’ve got in the garage, and what we’ve been up to with them
p48
JAMIE EDITOR MK3 FOCUS RS
DAN WILLIAMSON SUB-EDITOR MK3 FOCUS ST ESTATE
Jamie takes a trip to Essex to see FJRS for the RS’s annual service and a good going over.
Already filthy after last month’s waxing, the Fondeo’s still proving it’s a perfect everyday dog wagon.
Before fitting a nice new oil filter too
Johnny drains the old oil...
JAMIE FOCUS RS
TOP SERVICE Jamie’s RS gets some TLC ahead of a packed summer schedule QUICK SPEC Mountune m400R ■ Velgen Classic5 alloys ■ H&R lowering springs ■ 3M wrap ■ Mountune axle-back and sports cat ■ H&R anti-roll bars ■ Tarox brakes ■ Mishimoto intercooler, intake kit, and oil cooler kits ■ Quaife ATB
Flicking through the various Facebook groups and clubs that I’m a member of, I couldn’t help but notice a common thread among disgruntled owners citing examples of the poor service they had been subjected to when taking their beloved Blue Ovals in for regular service updates or routine maintenance. Thankfully, this is not something I’ve experienced personally, as I’m fortunate to 48
FAST FORD MAY 2022
have a circle of specialists that I trust and use. And, for me, that T-word is the key – trust. Ford fans are lucky enough to enjoy an outstanding army of specialists based all over the country, so make use of it! Whereas other scenes may only have one or two specialists to cover the entire population, the depth and breadth of the fast Ford fraternity means a reputable specialist is never far away. And even if they are, just jump in the car and go for a drive. It is a car, after all. You shouldn’t need any excuse to enjoy a drive in
your car, but having someone you know and trust working on pride and joy has got to be worth the extra effort, surely? That’s exactly what I did when I took my Focus RS from the West Country across to Essex to see FJRS for a thorough once-over and annual service. Having known Fred and Johnny for several years, I know first-hand the care and attention they take with customers’ cars. And you only need to take a quick glance around their workshops to see the kind of cars this work ethic attracts – my five-year-old, 17k-mile Mk3 Focus was by far the scabbiest car on the premises. In fact, on the next ramp over, another Mk3 RS was in for an underbody makeover; Fred and Johnny were eliminating any traces of corrosion and restoring all the underside components to a better-than-new finish. I was so impressed, I’ll be coming back with a boot full of camera gear to grab some proper photos so we can show the job in more detail in a full feature in the next issue. While I was gawping at their handiwork, Johnny got my RS up in the air and gave it a thorough visual inspection. Nothing major to report, but he did spot that the little rubber
0e479381-0069-45af-b2a9-c0a37e1e14de
