2003 Ford Focus RS

The vendor, who has owned the car since July 2023, has followed the good example set by his two predecessors by not taking the car to Stage 1 or 2 states of tune-up, bolting on any mahoosive aftermarket intercoolers, fiddling about with the ICU, or otherwise making it look and feel as if it’s spent its life entertaining crowds of hooded nitrous oxide connoisseurs by doing doughnuts in a supermarket carpark at 3.00am. 

That makes this car both desirable and rare, in our opinion.

The car starts on the button, stops on a sixpence, and drives, accelerates, corners and handles precisely as it was engineered to do.

The car presents very decently from every angle and is reassuringly devoid of any dinks, dents, creases or other aberrations of consequence.

Its panel gaps and shut-lines are consistent and clean, and its stance is square and even. 

So far, so good.

The Imperial Blue Pearl paintwork has held on to plenty of shine and lustre, and there is an average number and distribution of stone chips, light scratches and minor scuffs here and there.

There is a spattering of stone chips in the usual places – front valance, bonnet, the ‘nose’ of the car and on the forward-facing aspects of the wheel arches.

We also found a few nicks and scuffs on the rear bumper, some moisture inside the side indicators, and some split paint atop the sill inside the driver’s door.

There are some lumps under the rubber trim at the base of the front passenger window where in meets the ‘B’ pillar.

This could just be some benign lumpiness or it could signify underlying bubbling. We don’t know and can’t guess. Either way, it’s a very small incidence of…whatever it is.

The O.Z Racing alloys look to have successfully avoided any meaningful encounters with kerbs or other roadside obstacles and the matching Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, which were fitted new in May 2023, have plenty of life left in them. 

The interior is following the condition and quality of its exterior counterpart and is a well preserved and cared-for space, from what we can see.

The Sparco brand is present on the seats (front and back), the pedals, and the chunky metal gear knob and handbrake.

The front buckets, with their RS-specific two-tone blue leather and black Alcantara trim, are in very decent condition and are a long way from developing any sort of age- or use-related patina.

The rear seats, as ever, don’t look as if they’ve been asked to do much more than occasionally bear the weight of a handbag or a coat.

The carpets and mats have endured the passage of time with commendable fortitude, and the headlining is free of any sagging or other damage that we can see.

There are a number of scratches on and around the door handle pulls.

Elsewhere, the plastics and carbon-fibre inserts have held up well and belie the car’s age and mileage.

As far as we and the vendor are aware, all knobs, dials, levers, buttons, gauges and switches do as they’re told in a timely and accurate fashion.

The boot is in similarly good order.

The engine bay looks reassuringly dry, clean and tidy. More importantly, perhaps, there’s nothing there that shouldn’t be there.

It all appears to be original, authentic and as unmolested as it was when it left the factory.

The undersides appear to have plenty of structural integrity and have given us no reason to tut, frown or otherwise question the car’s honesty.

The car comes with a stamped-up service book containing a partial but full-ish history. There are invoices, bills and receipts attesting to routine maintenance and repairs carried out over the course of the car’s life, and there is more recent expenditure to explain why it runs and drives as well as it does.

The car has recently had some remedial work carried out on the track rod ends, steering rack and rear brakes.

It has also had a recent cambelt change.

The car had new rear discs, pads and calipers in June ’23, a new battery in November ’23, and new front seat covers in May ’20.

It comes with two sets of keys, its RS wallet and book pack, plenty of old tax discs and MoTs, a clear HPI report, and an MoT certificate – with no advisories – that’s valid until 10.7.26.

The market for fast Fords grows stronger with every passing month and there’s no sign of that trend slackening off or abating.

As ever, originality matters and cars that are untweaked, pimped or otherwise molested will always be at a premium. 

With all of that in mind, this sound, low ownership, decent mileage example is, we think, a smart long-term buy for marque and model enthusiasts.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £15,000 - £20,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.