This right here is what I have teen talking about this whole time. As I too owned a Focus SE before I had my FiST. Test drove the FoST , knew the FoRS was going to be a FoST on steroids with a form of AWD , i.e great concept did not drive bad , had a terrible turning radius even compared to a regular Focus.
Outside of Toyota not screwing up the turning radius like Ford did, and based off wheel base 103 for the GR vs 98 for the FiST. It will just drive like a larger car. There is no way of getting around that.
Now as much as people here seem to be love for all things AWD I question outside of taking it to the dirt a lot how much usefulness the car will be in street form. I mentioned this too my friend last night. If I was offroading or tracking all the time i.e some form of dedicated race car this car would make some sense.
As a daily or single choice sports car I don’t see it. As a second or third car it would make a bit more sense.
I get it though for the guy with the family who still wants his fun it might be the answer.
For me the two new cars that have my attention are the new Z coming in and the GR86 and seriously If I were a 86 owner with an order in for the new GR version I would not cancel my GR86 order.
Truth be told in the end HP aside the same argument I make about the FiST vs the Rolla could be said about the Z vs the 86. 86 will be lighter and most likely more nimble. Though Nissan is pretty amazing in the suspension handling department as they have proved in the past and with the way the GTR seemed to defy physics in its handling prowess.
Though both are a RWD and power on slide machines something I love beyond all belief and in fact the slide factor of the FiST is one of the things that got me from the get go.
So ya maybe I am a bit more biased towards a RWD orientation overall vs FWD and AWD except GTR.
I do not expect the Rolla to be anything like any of the GTR’s I am glad Toyota did it.
This discussion is and has been quite entertaining .