must say I was quite impressed on my drive home last night in the rain at how well my standard octy 4x4 coped with lots of nice long empty roundabouts. it even compared quite nicely with my old celica gt4, all be it with a bit more body roll and a little bit of understeer before the rear wheels kicked in.

It got me wondering if anyone had got comparitive track day times of similarly tuned 4x4's vs vRS's to see what the differences are? Granted the tyres and wheels probably make more difference than anything, but it would still be interesting.

oops Here we go again. RS v 4x4

To start the ball rolling, in the dry the Rs will probably be a little bit quicker with low bhp as its lighter but as you tune them I guess the 4x4 will take over.

Ive driven track days in the dry with Rs's & theres not a lot in it. I did one recently albeit no RS's but a gaggle of Ford RS Focus's & in the dry we we fairly close, then the heavens opened & suddenly I was fastest on track by far. The caterhams which had been the quickest all ran for the pits, the Fords were just so slow, just couldnt get the power down.

Ive also driven on a damp track with Octy RS's & could keep with them

To add Ive got KW suspension & Bigger Brakes on the 4x4

As an owner of both....I'd say the RS has the advantage on track, in the dry 99% assuming equal tuning & driver...wet...tyres tyres tyres.

However on road assuming equal modification of suspension, brakes etc...I'd prefer the 4x4 as it's more dependable.

However for that very reason I ened up geting an RS so I had to think about my driving and not just hoof it into a bend and turn the wheel or launch at 3k in the wet...actually I do miss that a lot.

Times have moved on in the last 18months and I would strongly recommend ARB's. For one they have rsformed my RS more than coilovers did for the 4x4, the same must therefore be true for the 4x4.

A day in wales driving, the 4x4 is far better and quicker owing to gearing, traction and comfort

There I've said it...let the couldrons of hell pour down upon me.