The Ford Focus RS is almost ridiculously fun to drive

That's Ben Collins, who was once The Stig on "Top Gear." He ripped around the course like a real pro.

Then I turned some laps. I was wrung out with joy at the end of the day.

Then Ford kindly let me borrow the RS for a week of everyday motoring.

The zany color is "Nitrous Blue Quad-Coat," and it is eye-catching.

Hard to miss, especially with the blacked-out 19-inch alloy wheels.

The spoiler isn't subtle, but would it be a proper hot hatch without one?

Speaking of hatches, when you open the RS's, there's a decent amount of cargo space. And you can always drop the rear seats for more room.

The design is aggressive, but not off-putting. The car has a distinct Euro vibe.

The headlights are composed of sharp, back-sweeping angles.

Some RS badging — it stands for "Rallye Sport."

Yep, it's a Ford.

The RS badging is picked up at the rear.

And there's your model name. Ford has been building the Focus since 1998 and started selling it in the US in 2000.

Check out those tail pipes. Yes, they issue some pleasing backfire, pops, and burbles at times.

The motor!

The Ford Performance engine is a 2.3-liter, turbocharged 4-banger that makes a stunning 350 horsepower. It's got a lot of go.

The RS airbox.

Brembo brakes provide the stopping power.

Let's slip inside.

The interior isn't fancy, but it isn't bare-bones, either.

The back seat is fine, but large adults may feel cramped. Kids will be perfectly happy.

Recaro seats provide excellent bolstering for spirited driving.

Some more RS badging.

This is what the driver sees. Basic, simple gauges — just what you want in a car intended be managed with purpose.

And more RS-ness.

The perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel, with its sporty blue contrast stitching, is superb. The steering itself is precise and responsive. It inspires a lot of confidence.

The stop-start button is kind of tucked away.

Some old-school gauges. Turbo boost levels are expressed by the PSI readout.

The infotainment system is powered by the latest version of Ford's Sync. It covers all the bases: satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, USB, AUX port, and voice commands. Voice, by the way, I found to be very good.

Not a big fan of this toggle controller. But with a bit of practice, it works fine. The Sony audio system sounds reasonably good, but not premium.

This is cool: Adaptable cup-holders, for beverages of different sizes.

See, they pop out!

Let's get into it. The drive modes are selected by punching this button.

Normal keeps the steering smooth and the suspension soft. But I'd be hard-pressed to say that the ride is ever actually plush.

Sport mode firms everything up and tightens. But track mode shows the RS in its most aggressive mood: taut, sharp, and almost missile-like. The 0-60 mph time is achieved in a Ford-claimed 4.7 seconds, which is darn quick.

Ok, ok, ok. Yes, you can drift this puppy. Even though it has all-wheel-drive, which otherwise makes it highly stable to drive hard. I didn't not drift it.

Drift mode cancels the traction control.

Now for the really good stuff. This 6-speed manual is exceptional. It's designed to be useful when the car is being pushed on a track. But in boring everyday driving, it's quick and direct. The gears are no challenge to find.

Three pedals on the floor. The clutch is very crisp and sensitive, ready to do your bidding once you get the hang of it.

Sooo ... what was it like to drive off the track?

I won't lie: it wasn't nearly as much fun. But if you want a track car than can do double duty as a daily driver, the Focus RS is one of the best, if not the best, values for the money. You can take it to the track and get into all 350 horses. That's what most amateur racers should be aiming for.

Obviously, the car was designed to appeal to traditional hot-hatch fans: young guys in their 20s and 30s. They're going to like this car. In fact, Ford is sold out of the 2017 model year worldwide.

For me, the car was indeed a blast on winding back roads, with its point-and-shoot steering, faultless brakes, sonically thrilling engine, and wonderful gearshifter and clutch.

But on torn up roads in NYC, the stiffness of the suspension, even in Normal mode, is an issue. Around the 'burbs, this wasn't as much of a problem. On the highway, the RS is capable, but a road-trip machine it isn't. As a commuter, however, I think it could be all right. And with fuel economy of 19 mpg city/25 highway/22 combined, it won't lay waste to your bank account.

It's adorably punchy and tons of fun! I didn't love it on the road as much as on the track. But I definitely LIKED it.