It cracks me up how people can make judgements like this on cars they have never driven or even seen driven, nor do they know anyone that has driven one.
The SVT Focus will kick butt. It will at least hang with an SVT Contour in a straight line, if not beat it, and out handle it in the corners with ease. The only real complaints anyone can have right now about it is if they don't like its looks, and if they need 4 doors.