Bad decision bro. Like my man said you could have at least gotten a civic Fucus are $hitty a$$ cars period. Even if someone gave me that car I would not drive it ford should be ashame of even making such trash.

 

You would drive it if you had to get to work to feed your family. You'd drive a Geo Metro.. At least I'd hope you would...

 

I would. Again on what basis are you making your statements?
review:
http://www.edmunds.com/new/2003/ford...links..2.Ford*

Hmm why did the SVT focus win this comparision test w/ the civic and beetle?? hmmm Consumer reports sucks right?
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/compa...tests....Ford*

 

REsearch suks!

Comparison Tests

2002 Sport Hatchbacks Comparison Test
First Place - 2002 Ford SVT Focus
By Brent Romans
Date Posted 04-18-2002


It is with rare exception that a domestic automaker builds a good small car. Most offerings during the last 20 years have been highly mediocre. Some have been so bad that they rival The Very Best of Yanni in their unpleasantness. Only a select few have been able to match up against the traditionally superior Japanese products. For the SVT Focus, we have unhooked the velvet rope. Welcome to the exception club.

Not since the days of the Escort GT has there been a sporty compact Ford worth talking positively about. SVT (Special Vehicle Team, Ford's in-house tuning division) has worked up an impressive stat sheet for the car: Cosworth-developed engine, six-speed transmission, sport-tuned suspension, bigger brakes, 17-inch wheels and tires, special interior trim and unique exterior elements. And unlike the Honda Civic Si, the Focus makes good on its promises.

The massaged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (with an iron block and aluminum head) doesn't imbue the Focus with supernatural grunt. If the tachometer is below 4,000 rpm, power is only adequate. Above this mark, however, the Focus becomes the snarly pocket rocket it's supposed to be.

Compared to a regular Focus ZX3 hatchback's, this engine features stronger connecting rods, lightweight pistons (along with a higher compression ratio) and a freer-flowing cylinder head. The intake camshaft timing is variable, making this the first time the technology has been applied to a North American Ford vehicle. This feature helps to improve low-end torque, and a dual-stage intake manifold bolsters high-end power. The result is 170 hp at 7,000 rpm and 145 pound-feet of torque at 5,500 rpm, and redline is set at 7,200 rpm.

The six-speed transmission, manufactured by German transmission-specialist Getrag, is well matched to the engine. The gearing is short, as are the shifter throws and the clutch pedal stroke. Zero-to-60 mph took 7.5 seconds, and the quarter-mile was achieved in 15.8 seconds at 90.2 mph. Not only were these the best acceleration times in the test, they aren't far off from the times we've recorded for 200-hp sport coupes like the Acura RSX Type-S and Mitsubishi Eclipse GT.

SVT has seen to it that the Focus can stop and turn as well as it accelerates. Thanks to larger front rotors (compared to the ZX3's), rear disc brakes, standard ABS and sticky tires, hauling down from 60 mph requires a short 118 feet. Our drivers commented that pedal feel is excellent and the brakes are easy to modulate.

Around corners, the Focus sucks itself to the pavement like a 15-year-old drinking a Wendy's Frosty through a straw. The suspension — MacPherson struts in front and an independent multilink rear — features stiffer springs, retuned shocks and different antiroll bars that allow the Continental 215/45WR17 ContiSport Contact tires to work at maximum adhesion. Steering, already a Focus strong point, is even better because of a revised power steering system.

Linus from the Peanuts comic strip said happiness is a warm blanket. We say happiness is an SVT Focus ripping down a curvy road or arcing around a racetrack. Turn-in is quick as the car zips from apex to apex. Whereas Honda played it safe with the Si, the SVT is tuned to be lively and reward skilled drivers. The rear end will actually step out in extreme situations, but it's never fear-inducing. The SVT blasted through our 600-foot slalom at 68.2 mph. Not only was it faster than the Civic and New Beetle, its slalom speed was higher than that of cars like the Chevy Corvette Z06, BMW M3 and Subaru Impreza WRX.

A racetrack is the place to put it all together, and the Ford performed brilliantly for us. Its lap times were consistently faster than the cars in this test, as well as the cars from the Econosports test. Some of our drivers complained that the positioning for the gas and brake pedals made it difficult to heel-and-toe downshift, but this is nitpicking. If you want bang for the buck, this is the car to get.

Another nice aspect: Utility and comfort haven't been sacrificed for performance. Certainly, the ride quality is stiffer than a stock ZX3's, but none of our drivers complained about it being too firm considering the performance gained. Our editors felt that the Focus has the highest amounts of wind and road noise, but it still wasn't excessive.

Compared to the New Beetle's opulence or the Civic's refinement, the Focus is lacking cabin ambiance, but SVT has done its best to spruce things up. This effort includes racer-style pedals, an aluminum shift **** and white-faced gauges that light up indigo-style at night. There are also two additional gauges — oil pressure and oil temperature — taking up what used to be a small tray to the right of the main gauges.

The leather-trimmed front seats come with either blue- or red-colored inserts and have firm bolsters that keep occupants tight during cornering. Our editors were somewhat split about the actual comfort of them, but the final scores show that, overall, they were the best in the test. The 60/40-split rear seat (also leather-trimmed) is unquestionably comfortable and roomy. It also has a third center-mounted headrest. The seats can be folded nearly flat once the bottom cushions are raised and the headrests removed.

Even the features list is solid. Nearly every item is standard, with the only options being a sunroof, an upgraded audio system and a winter package.

How good is the SVT Focus? In our search for cons, the best we could come up with is a high level of wind and road noise. We're guessing most buyers in this market couldn't care less about that. The SVT is a fantastic package. Its final score was 91.6, the best score in any comparison test we've conducted over the past two years. Ladies and gents, boys and girls — this is your winner.

SECOND OPINIONS

Road Test Editor John DiPietro says:
Anyone who's single and not getting any younger has heard it from a well-meaning friend or relative: "She (or he) isn't gorgeous but she's (or he's) got a great personality." The Focus SVT is similar in that I wasn't exactly struck by its looks, but once I discovered its spunky personality, I loved it anyway. I was so impressed by this Ford that it obliterated any remaining doubts I had about an American car company being able to build a world-class four-cylinder engine.

Yes, it's that good. A few of the motor's endearing traits include high output and a broad power spread, two things that usually aren't found together in a small-displacement engine. Topping it off is a ripping exhaust note, though I wonder if that soundtrack will make the final edit, as this was a pre-production car.

And she can dance! Backing up the spit and vinegar is a taut, balanced chassis matched up to a very communicative and precise steering system. All the bases are covered: strong brakes, a shifter and clutch pedal with short throws and a pair of supportive buckets up front leave almost nothing to be desired. I thought it'd be a cold day in you-know-where before I'd take a small Ford over a Honda Civic, but that day has arrived.

Road Test Editor Ed Hellwig says:
As factory-tuner projects go, it doesn't get much better than the SVT Focus. That's not much of a stretch considering the already capable vehicle they started with, but still a pleasant surprise nonetheless.

Without a doubt, this car's real strength lies in the fully reworked suspension. Out on the racetrack, this Focus is about as nimble and predictable as any car I've ever driven. It hunkers down hard in fast sweepers and turns on a dime in tight hairpins. Stay in the throttle and it understeers progressively, with a quick lift of the foot or tap of the brake bringing the nose back in line.

Of course, track time is scarce in the real world, but rest assured that this little gem is every bit as fun on the street. The terrific seats and compliant suspension keep it comfortable on less-than-perfect highways, and even the "tuned" exhaust manages to keep itself from being a constant nuisance.

If you're looking for the most performance for the least dinero, the SVT Focus is a no-brainer. Even if the looks don't float your boat, you can't argue with the numbers. This is one serious performance machine that effectively puts the imports on notice.


Senior Editor Christian Wardlaw says:
I have two primary gripes about the outstanding Ford SVT Focus: 1) I cannot successfully heel and toe this car, which is maddening because the rest of the hardware package is nearly perfect, and 2) the seats, while greatly improved over the regular Focus', still aren't models of comfort and support.

Otherwise, the SVT is the best car in the test from a performance perspective. Unlike some other hopped-up econosports, this one allows you to feel mature and intelligent when driving. It's a more serious piece of hardware than your prototypical Fast and Furious-style street racer, one that young and old can enjoy equally turn after turn.

The Ford's inherent utility and functionality, good looks, brilliant handling and attractive price make it unbeatable. This one was my favorite, the one I'd buy. I only wish there were a more family-friendly sedan version. Or even a wagon.

 

Consumer Reports is not research

this is the same place that swears by the Ford Taurus enough said

Best research is to ask Real life owners not biased answers as done by Consumer Reports and most magazines of today.

2 years down the road you will not be able to sell you Focus for half of what you bought it for, whereas a Honda Civic will hold its value like a champ. Not myth not research. pure Fact

see how many repeat buyers ford has in the compact car market and how many repeat buyer Honda has, and then do the switch around and ask would they trade their cars for the other and see what they say.

like i said the best research you can do is ask real people who are not paid by anybody like Magazines, to give their advice.

 

That's freakin beautiful man.

 

I thought this was funny being posted by somebody who owns a Maxima! Our cars probably have worse resale than the Focus. Anyways, who cares about resale if you like the car and plan to keep it past X years?

 

I know how you feel about the Maxima.
But, I went the extra mile and traded
up to a 350Z. Good luck with your new car.


ADMAN

 

OK gang. Just buy cars based upon who you trust. Period.

As for research, how many poeple are you actually going to talk to and get their opinions? Where is this available?

By the way, before you start slamming a resource, Jeepik, perhaps you should understand how they work. Consumer reports in not paid by any manufacturer.

 

Did I say anything about resale? Did the article? So instead of ALL aspects, it's down to resale now?

Repeat buyers? Where are you getting this info? What does that specificly have to do with the other aspects of the car? And how is that data translating to more accurate information than the magazines that directly address the questions at hand? (vs extrapolating it from a possible biased repeat customer #?)

Consumer reports also has the reliability ratings also.

Plus how do you know magazines get paid? Honda has more $ so they should pay more thus get a better review right?

Taurus actually had decent relability lately.

Exactly how do you know these magazines are biased? And how is that more or less biased than people that have PAID thousands of their own MONEY? You don't think that makes them biased?

 

 

Well since my Maxima was only worth 1/3 of what I paid for it I guess that line of thinking really doesnt matter lol


I won't argue with you one bit that a Civic will hold it's resale value more than a Focus will.

However since I probably have a different plan on what I do with my cars than you would I guess it really doesnt matter.

I said earlier that the Civic doesnt fit me comfortably. I'd feel pretty foolish buying something just because the trade in value was going to be higher in a couple of years but my knees were up around my chin. I spend 2-3 hours a day in my car and I want to be comfortable.

Lets have no false illusions here...I didn't go into buying a Ford with blinders on...I know of the potential problems I could have. I didn't expect to have 3 sets of warped rotors, a slippy transmission, absolutely dogcrap paint and a car that had more rattles in it than my fishing tackle box. Also not to mention a drivers seat that felt like it was going to come unbolted everytime I took a turn. But thats what I got with a flagship car of a top Japanese import. The Focus is in its 4th year of production and hopefully they have worked a lot of the bugs out...if not I expect to have them fixed, probably with a lot less hassle than I got from Nissan dealers.

I could have bought a lot more expensive car but why? The ZX3 is a stick which I wanted(no fuel cut issue thank you), PW/PL, Moonroof, 6 cd changer stereo, basically everything but leather. All for half of what I paid for my Maxima 3 years ago. Not to mention a bumper to bumper 100K warranty along with a 100k Powertrain warranty.

I'm not slamming the Maxima and I'm not saying the ZX3 is the end of all cars.

I'm just saying I have some new wheels and was thanking people who have helped me with the issues I had with my Maxima which I believe was the exception rather than rule when it came to Max's.

Keep on driving...

Ps did I mention no rattles? lol

 

Oh yeah...whats up with 5W20 oil? I've never heard of it before...waht is its benefits as far as hot/cold weather?

 

As long as you like your ride then who cares what everyone thinks. Congrats on the trade and enjoy

 

The Brits freakin LOOOOOOOOOOVE the Ford Focus. Esp the hatch model. They're freakin everywhere over there. They're as common as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord in the US. COMBINED!! Nobody buys Camcords over there.

Anyhow, Consumer Reports rates the car #1 in the small car segment, and thats in spite of its less than stellar reliability, so obviously it's probably a pretty darn good car. I would rather be drving a Ford Focus hatch than a god-damned Civic any day.

 

So what kind of car do YOU drive? I assume a Jeep, no? Jeeps are pretty unreliable as well and don't hold value worth a shia either.

So which one are you? The pot or the kettle?

 

I want a Honduh!

 

I want to stand up behind the Civic. You don't need to refer to any consumer reports, just open up your local classifieds and look at the mileage of those 10-yr Civic being sold. Now look up under FORD. However, by buying a cheap car, he could get out of it much faster than us, who paid $20K+ for a car.
Personally, I would not drive neither one. For 10 grand, you can buy a better made used car, even if its 5 yrs old.
To each his own. Enjoy your new car!

 

The only thing with the focus is that the first yr or two had some SERIOUS recall issues...things like wheels that could FALL OFF and electrical fires. Not good....I do like the car though and if they get the bugs worked out (which they probably will), I'd buy one for the wifey!

Good luck.

ARFF

 

i'd say Pretty unreliable is an understatement. they are very unreliable. especially if constantly abused offroad like mine has been. I bought it to be a tinker toy and a weekend beater, and it has served my quite well for 139K miles and still going strong.

as far as not holding on to their value???? yo uare talking out of your *** right there buddy, look how much 1997 Wranglers are being sold for theses days, and when they were new they were 17K. they are still being sold for around 10-12 grand... i'd say that it holds its value better then most vehicles out there.

 

fucus is a PAS

Like buddy said you could easily buy a used car for the same price of way better quality. Plus you can't get hoes driving a focus.

 

Pretty sad you have to settle for hoes!!

 

C'mon you have to have something on the side.

 

So what issues did you have the your 2K. We just got a 2k GLE and are curious about issues that have come up...

Thanks

 

Got a Focus (wifes) and we love it. Reliable and they have indeed got most of the bugs worked out (2K2+'s). Brakes were the one thing I was leary about. But after 25K, they are still in good shape. But then again, because I am **** and I check them every two weeks or so.

As for the oil, I have bumped her up to the 5W-30 like in my car. No issues, no real gas mileage loss. The reason Ford did this is to squeeze every little bit of mileage outta the motor, or so I have read and have been told. Since I am running AMSOil 5W-30. I figure protection is not going to be an issue.

Things I love:
1) Doors UNLOCK when you pull the handle. Simple right, try this on your Max.
2) Auto locking mechanism (auto which btw aint to bad....for an auto)
3) Handling (its fun in the twisties)
4) Standard sized tires, no funny **** here.
5) Only 1 paint chip in 25K of driving. Its a 2K2 bought in Feb 2K2
6) Only 1 real issue, dome lights. AND I got a FREE loaner car from my "domestic horrible crappy dealer"
7) NO rattles. None. Zero. And all the interior plastic seems "fit" as well.
8) No wind noise. Remember this car is not a 30K car.

Things I hate:
1) #$##@$%^%^*$@$ Placement of the frickin oil filter...I hate it I hate it I hate it....did I mention I hate it?
2) Front brakes dust. Horribly. Cause me to pull the rims every week/two weeks to clean in and out because it so bad.
3) Manufacturing "goo" left in the door areas.
4) 4 cyclinder buzz.

Would I buy one again. Oh yeah. I dont buy a car for resale value. We drive our cars to death. When we get new ones, there is no such thing as resale value. To get a comp equip Honda we would be payin 2-3K more. Errrr, no. Hondas are overrated.

For the individual that said look at a paper, its the "heritage" of Honda that causes this. NOT the current quality. Sorry. People hear the word Honda and think its the most solid car. They are wrong. I have 3 friends that have had civics thinking never a problem eh? Wrong. Only 1 will consider a Honda right now. The other 2 feel like we do sometimes about our Maxs.

 

Get a civic si. It's more expensive, slower, handles worse and brakes worse!!!!!

Don't you just love uneducated, biased statements?

 

Hey how he wants to spend his money....as you know a "fucus" is a "PAS" Because you know its all about owning a "hon-duh"

 

 

Lol colonel...you must have read my mind..everything you mention about the Focus as far as likes and dislikes mirrors my thoughts...right down to the dome light.

I brought it into the shop today because my dome light doesn't turn on when I open the door(yes its in the right spot)and the switch to turn it on is real touchy. And yes, I was provided with a rental!

A great 2003 Chevy Cavalier...you guys want to bag on a American car? Feel free to aim away at this thing...omg.....decent peppy engine but the build quality and comfort is awful! But then again it beats sticking my thumb out for a ride which I'd have to do at Nissan

I cannot wait to get my wheels back...

Mike- My issues were a lot...maybe the avg joe wouldnt have been bothered by them but to me they took away the joy of owning a car....3 sets of warped rotors, my engine mounts chirped...sounded like a belt squealing when I gave it gas in stop and go traffic, could never really get the wheels balanced no matter where I went, horrible paint and last but not least, rattles galore. As I said before I believe my Max was the exception not the rule. Probably a Friday build n:


We traded in my wifes 99 Wrangler 4x4 with about 68K on it and got a whopping 4800 bucks....not what I would call exactly a vehicle holding its value...granted it was a SE but still...

I like the car, I like the comments I've gotten form owners I work with who have had them for a year or 2 and like the Colonel said, it is fun as heck to drive.

 

 

Hmm someone else said the resale was uber great!

 

Wranglers are the oposite of most cars in terms of model and resale value. where as most cars out there the bottom of the line model holds the value the best, for Wranglers it works the otherway around the 6 cylinders hold their value like champs, 4 cylinders get no love.

you said you have some ideas for your focus??? care to let the secret in one thing i think looks tight on those things is the projector lights people put on them.

 

I just read recently,where the FORD FOCUS ( FUNGUS ) has set a new record for vehicle recalls.
Although I'm not entirely happy with my 03 GLE,I would not have bought a Focus.
Yours seems good,enjoy the ride !!

 

I sold my SVT Contour, took a bath on it, due to all the reliability problems I had with the car. It seemed that every 3000-5000 miles I had something else major break on it. I got 95K out of it which ain't bad, but I swore that I would never get another Ford again!

OK, true confessions, the SVT blew away the handling of the Max, they are not even in the same league! It was fast, reasonably comfortable, MUCH smoother ride even with the craters they call potholes around here, and cornered better than my friends BMW 330 with suspension mods. If it wasn't for the terrible reliability, strike that, NO reliability, I would probably have considered the SVT Focus.

FYI when I sold it, the engine was basically worn out as the oil pressure light would come on at idle, my mechanic who I had become best buddies with to pay for his daughter's college, said that the wear in the cylinders and bearings was where the problem was, too much clearance!

Anyway, the Max has been dead nuts reliable for me, sure, a few paint chips (had same problem with Contour, come to think of it!), ignition recall at 25K, lousy brakes (Brembos now, all better!), and the usual tires, etc. I would never go back the Ford, and would seriously consider against American.

 

OK, what exactly do you consider American?

 

SVT contour should have sold tons. Great idea but that V6 motor had a host of overheating problems correct? Were most of your problems w/ the SVT engine related? Or with the whole car?
It's a good thing the Focus svt has a different engine!

 

I consider "American" products as anything that was at one time exclusively produced or originally manufactured only in the United States by a company that was "American" in origin. No auto company is truly American, Japanese, German, Italian, or whatever now, so who really cares? It's all brand loyalty, with some exceptions (like Chevy Cavalier's really are POS cars, and KIA, Daewoo...etc...).

 

Hey, did they replace some relay to solve the issue? I am curious.

Dont forget to check out the Focus Forums...there are some brutal Foci out there. I just have yet to find a good forum though.... DOH!

Thanks!
Colonel

 

No, not you. I know you know your crap about this...not sure about the person I was responding to though.

 

What year? That makes a BIG difference in discussing the Focus. <2K2 and you have issues. 2K2 + and its make LARGE strides in production problems. Trust me I get the Ford report AND other recall data.