Ford Focus Hatchback - Part II

projectzx3

a car like the zx3 deserves nothing but a manual tranny. become 'part of the car' and you'll be glad you did! i can see the suto in a sedan but i guess i'm just partial to the stick in the hatch. no news yet.

mp10

I was at the supermarket today and picked up the Feb. issue of Automobile Magazine which, as mentioned here already, picked the Focus as Car of the Year. The competition was: the Audi TT, the BMW M5, the Honda S2000, the Jaguar S-type, and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Can you believe it? The article prominently featured pictures of a red hatchback - I think I don't like it in red so much...although if the power steering worked, I might be persuaded...

projectzx3

just thought id ask again if anyone has any additional info/sites pertaining to aftermarket wheels for the ZX3. i am trying to start a conference under aftermarket and accessories specifically on this topic so as not to clog up this area with aftermarket parts questions.

projectzx3

for those of you who wish to turn your foci into 'import slayers' the topic # is 321 in aftermarket & accessories.

clayman1

Read all about it or see it in streaming video if you have a power system at:
http://www.automobilemag.com/

They have nice pics on the site and also covers the other winners.

jebogija

I live in the UK and picked up my new Focus last night. Here we get a much larger range than you do and as fuel here cost almost 6 us dollars a gallon!! i have the 1.4 16v engine. This engine was developed by yamaha and is wonderfully smooth and free revving, which is impressive considering that the engine has only done 27 miles!!! My is the 5 door hatchback that you don't get in the states and in the Dark Blue Mica paint it looks superb. We doo get a bit more equipment as standard too, mine is the base model and comes with power locks, power windows, tilt/telescope wheel, cassette radio with RDS, rear headrests and other such stuff, but we do pay more for our cars than u guys. Overall I love the car it feels very well made, ours are built in germany, handles brilliantly and feels like a much larger car. I love it its the best car i have owned!!!

asadorian

The streaming videos I found show only the presentation of the Automobile Magazine awards. Is there information on the Focus itself? If so, where on the site is it?

Thanks

clayman1

I don't think there is any more info about the award. They won't sell too many mags if they put it all online for free. Most likely they will have it after the next issue hits the stands.

jamers85

Steering lock i have is called DR.HOOK. It fits perfectly and it protects the driver's air bag from the bag snatchers. You may be able to find it in any car center.

mp10

There's a market for stolen airbags??????

clayman1

Oh yeah. Big market. Junkies will steal anything!

bjammin2

Hey, have any of you heard of problems with the focus 5-speed? I really love my zx3, but it's really hard to believe that a Car and Driver's 10 best would seem so unrefined. The pedals vibrate. The engine and tranny make popping and buzzing noizes at just under 2000 rpm's especially getting into gear. I'm new with manuals and don't really have a frame of reference. I'm pretty good driving a stick now,so I don't think I'm the root of the problems. Nevertheless, I can live with the problems because everthing else about the car put a big grin on my face when I'm driving it.

clayman1

Thanks Jamers85, I'll keep a lookout for the Dr. Hook.
I have one now but it does not cover the bag.

bjammin2

I was reading the section on prices people had paid on their zx3's. I didn't really remember the initial price because I had a bunch of other credit and loyalty rebates. I looked at carpoint's site to find out the invoice price on my car and saw that Ford has made some changes to the focus packaging. Cruise is now available on the hatchback but wasn't when I ordered mine. I also thought the easy access passenger seat was pretty much standard on all new fords. I guess they are now, but mine doesn't have one. That's what I get for wanting to be the first one on the block with one.

dragway

What is the difference between the easy entry and the first available seat? I noticed when we checked them out that the front seat didn't slide up when tilted forward to let people into the back. Is that the difference

nschort

Is it true-You can order cruise on a zx3 !!!!
(Ref 329)

cefurod

I'm having horrible gas mileage and was wondering how everybody else are doing. I got my zx3 last week and have only filled up once. But i got less than 300 miles on 10 gallons. My needle is on the half mark now and i've gotten only about 150miles.
I thought we could get about 400 miles on full tank of gas? Is this normal for the break in period?

crb0563

I'm definitely interested in the cruise control option for the ZX3. If it's not yet an option will it ever be or are there any after markets on that kind of an item? Also is their anyone else out there who compared the VW Golf GL TDI to the Focus? If so, what was your impression, what did you buy and why. I have just recently test driven the Focus. I was surprised, nice car.

tomcat630

One post a long time back inferred that the ZX3 engine was a Mazda design. It is definitly not.

It is the Zetec from the Contour with 5 more HP. If someone can prove it's a Mazda with hard facts, not heresay, I will eat crow.

espowari

You should be able to get the Power Group, or the Convenience Group as of Feb 1 2000.
I'm approved by Ford Credit, but am waiting to order the car until then (or when the Dealer can).


E

mattozzi_aj

after driving a jeep wrangler, anything gets great mileage as far as I'm concerned! But I thought my zx3 did alittle better than 300miles on a tank. I'll have to check. It's been so cold here that I haven't let the tank get beyond half.

monikaann

If you check the brochure (the one with big picture of the ZX3 on the inside, the power windows and mirrors are shown as an option on the ZX3 with an asterisk next to it. The asterisk (at the bottom says Feb 2000). If you go to the WWW.ford.com site where you can build your own car
http://www.fordvehicles.com/vehiclespec.asp?vid=11
it shows the options for the various Focus models.
It doesn't show tilt steering, cruise control or arm rest for the ZX3. At the bottom of the list of options on the printed brochure under PRODUCT CHANGES AND OPTIONS AVAILABILITY, it says your FORD dealer is the best place to check for up to date information. So far my dealer hasn't had much information. The ZX3 is a fun car. It's a a little like an suv or van but its also like a sports car. With gas prices getting higher, it's more economical than those vehicles. I haven't seen a ZX3 on the street yet.

bjammin2

I haven't had the chance to go back to my dealer yet, but I did check out msn carpoint and another site for info on the zx3. Both show that if you purchase A/C you can also purchase cruise for about $210-190. The details also lists the easy entry seat, which is like the Cougars where it slides forward when tilted and remembers it original position. As far as mileage goes, maybe I'm a leadfoot and love zipping past other cars in my speedy zx3, I get about 24 miles/gallon city driving. That's a whole lot better than what I used to get in my Topaz.

tjts2

The engine in the ZX3 is a Mazda motor and is different from the one found in the Contour/Mondeo. The motor in the Focus is identical to the one found in the Mazda 626. If you check Edmund's, you will see that the Focus has the same specific output at the same RPM as the 626.
Horsepower: 130 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque: 130 ft-lbs. @ 3000 rpm.
The only difference is the RPM for the same max torque. While I can't give you more proof, it does seem to make sense. Ford and Mazda have been sharing motors for years (Ford Probe, Mazda MPV.) The 2.0 Focus motor found in Europe, is the same as Mondeo. But it has a lower max output at higher RPM. But I suspect it is a little more efficient. The motor in the ZX3 is also shared with the ZX2.
This is the original page where I found this:

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Track/9120/html/Ford_Europe1.htm#AmericanFocus

wmichgrad

When I click on your link, it shows a silver sedan. When I hit the reload button, the black ZX3 comes up. What's up with that? And yes, I did go to school north of Ohio!

projectzx3

drebe, norway and mp, how are you all making out on your repairs? i am hoping to hear something soon ... false hope?... probably. keep us advised ok. any mpg reports on manual trans zx3s?

norwaydoug

Dear ZX-3 Owners:

Last week a deer struck my sangria red ZX-3 and damaged my fender and light and destroyed my windshield. I described this accident in an e-mail last week. I wanted to let everyone know that my Ford Dealer will have a fender in tomorrow. A week wait for a part seems pretty good to me and not like Project's experience at all. I will let everyone know if the part indeed comes in. I hope all you ZX-3 owners are driving carefully!

I have had a lot of positive feedback about my car and still have only seen 1 besides mine on the road!

ZX-3 Rules,

Doug

projectzx3

hi, let me know if you do indeed get the fender in that quickly! compared to my experience that is fantastic! could i ask you to email me personally with confirmation including your dealerships name and location? because i will be ready to raise the roof with my dealership. my car and i have been waiting since 12/17/99! and i think it's crazy. my primary email is 'down' today so you could use my secondary one. markotto@iwon.com thank you, mark

tickbitty

Anybody else on here order thru Carorder? I've noticed a lot on that forum about how they have shifted to "preference orders" where they may still have to settle for a car that does not have what they wanted. CO ordered my ZX3 but said nothing about the possibility of "settling." This will be a rude awakening for me if I wait another 2-3 months for this car, and don't get the ABS!!

On another note, have seen only 3 foci about town, one of each model! All looked good, but the white wagon with color matched side moldings looked a little like a rolling bathtub.

tickbitty

So you have the 4 door hatch, what are the dimensions of that car? THe zx3-door "hatchling" (love that name for it, by the way!) is 168.1 inches long. Uh, thats 426.974 cm. (thank goodness for conversion calculators.) I wondered if the 4 door hatch is on the longer sedan wheelbase. I'm hoping they will offer the 4 door here, someday. I could use the room but prefer the hatch over the wagon.

hkoenen2

I am very frustrated with the mileage on my zx3. My 96 Stratus with the 2.4L gets better mileage. So far the car has 1200 miles on it and average just over 20. Used to get 28-30 on my Stratus. Yes, the car is new and not broken in but this is not great mileage. Maybe I should sell it and get another Geo Metro, had a 91 that got over 50mpg and never broke down in the 130,000 miles I had it. By the way I am still waiting for my ABS wheel sensors, been three weeks now.

tomcat630

Check Automotive News, AutoWeek, Car and Driver, Automobile, etc. No where is there anything that says the Zetec is a Mazda engine. Spec numbers on paper do not mean its the same. I would be willing to write to a Ford rep to clarify this, too.

tomcat630

I checked your link and they are not 100% correct. The ZX2 is derived from the Escort platform, which is rooted in the Mazda Protege. BUt, if you check all the facts about the ZX2, the Zetec is NOT a Mazda engine.

End of this discussion.

tjts2

The only way to be sure would be to find out the exact specs of each motor (bore/stroke) and compare with the Contour and 626. Also , this does not have to mean that the engine is purely a Mazda motor. They might have designed it together and the engine could have simply appeared on the 626 first therefore be viewed by some as a Mazda motor. Either way, it makes no difference to me. It looks like a good motor and if it can power the 626 or Contour, then it should be a blast in the Focus.

johnhec

Although I have a ZTS (with MTX) rather than a ZX3, FWIW I've got >4K miles on it and am getting over 33 mpg, with a mix of about 70/30 highway/city. Based on my experience, and what I'm aware of from others here as well as on the alt.autos.ford.focus Usenet group, anyone getting much less than 30 mpg probably has a fuel system adjustment problem, or constantly drives in 3rd gear at 6500 RPM...

jebogija

My UK 4 door hatch is 163.5 inches long. The 3 and 4 door hatchs in the UK are the same length. Remember the cars you get in the US have larger front and rear bumpers than the euro ones, this makes the US cars longer than the euros. If you got the 4 door hatch over there the it would be the same size as the 3 door. About the wheelbase i have not checked the US website yet, but i will. the cars sedan, wagon and hatch are all based on the same platform and have exactly the same wheel base. infact the overall size of the passenger cell, the part we sit in, is the same which ever car you have, the wagon does have a bit more headroom though not much more.

I assume the US cars share this wheelbase with the Euro ones but i will check

hope that helps

tickbitty

Ah yes, I used the wrong term. Wheelbase is 103 inches on all focus models! (that's why they are all focus, of course!) I guess I just wondered if your car was a little longer. It kind of looked like it in the pics. I guess those 4 doors just give it a different look. Definitely versatile. Thanks for the input!

mp10

My dealership, "the largest Ford dealership in New England" did not get my power steering pump today as they expected. Well, they expected it last Thursday. I brought the car home on New Year's Eve, so I had it in my hot little hands for exactly 19 days. Now it's been at the dealership for 6 days - it's spent roughly 1/5 of its after-sale life at the dealership. And tomorrow we're getting a HUGE storm...oh, the pain. m.p.

projectzx3

my zx3 has been in the shop 40 days tomorrow! i am at wits end. friday i am calling the dealership and explaining they either give me a finish date or i am going to go regional and then if necessary i will go corporate. if that doesn't work i'll hit every tv and radio station in maryland and take it to another shop. i haven't the heart to tell you all what i heard today. let's just say it wasn't what i wanted to hear. service mgr ..." we thought the fender had been shipped" ...ahhhDUH! "you know the parts are coming from mexico" me..."i could have bicycled to hermosillo, sonora by now and been back with the parts". i am actually a very patient and understanding individual but they have until weeks end to get the car to me. norwaydoug stated his fender is due in tomorrow after a week. i hope he gets it and gets his car back soon. when he does i hope he emails me the name of his dealer so i can bust a#% on mine. this is probably my last posting for a while.

mp10

FWIW, I don't think any dealership wants to have someone's broken car hanging about for an extended time. In my case, since I paid only $45 over invoice, the cost of them renting me a car at say $30 a day for 6+ days is certainly eating up what little profit they made on the deal. If the parts are indeed coming from Mexico...um...well, that could be the problem there. I once sent a Christmas card in November by airmail to someone at a Mexican GOVERNMENT address - they got it in March. Mexico...now I'm *really* getting worried... m.p.

briand789

mp10, we must have bought our ZX3 at the same dealer, unless there are two dealerships claiming to be the largest Ford dealers in New England. I picked mine up on Jan. 6 from Portsmouth Ford.

tomcat630

It was another person who pointed out that maybe the Zetec was a Mazda design. From what I have read, this engine was designed in Europe by Ford Werke. The ZX2 and Focus get 5 more HP than the Contour due to better exhaust.

xqu

I just wondering where did they build my tranny. There is no way I can put it into 2nd gear this morning and it happened couple of times. It was about 20F and I warmed it up for 5 minutes, but I still have to shift from 1st to 3rd cause 2nd just didn't work. I guess idel doesn't warm up tranny oil.
Except that, everything is wonderful.

I feel so sorry for those ZX3s still in the shop. Hope everything will be worked out soon.

segacide

I'm looking forward to installing aftermarket coil-overs, exhaust, intake, header and spark wires to my new ZX3, is there any way to do this without waiting 3 years for the warranty to run out? (Or rendering the warranty void) The Ford customer service rep I was talking to was a flake and didn't really understand why my new car "needed" new parts but the said only the dealership can work on it without voiding the warranty.
If I do it myself, will it void the warranty on the whole car, or just the part replaced? The second option would make sense. It will really suck if I have to overpay some goon to do all of the fun stuff I was looking forward to doing myself. Will they install third-party parts, or do they have to be Ford parts?
I wanted to have the baddest Focus of them all right now, by my own 2 hands, not 3 years from now...
Anybody out there with the same predicament?

segacide

I'm looking forward to installing aftermarket coil-overs, exhaust, intake, header and spark wires to my new ZX3, is there any way to do this without waiting 3 years for the warranty to run out? (Or rendering the warranty void) The Ford customer service rep I was talking to was a flake and didn't really understand why my new car "needed" new parts but the said only the dealership can work on it without voiding the warranty.
If I do it myself, will it void the warranty on the whole car, or just the part replaced? The second option would make sense. It will really suck if I have to overpay some goon to do all of the fun stuff I was looking forward to doing myself. Will they install third-party parts, or do they have to be Ford parts?
I wanted to have the baddest Focus of them all right now, by my own 2 hands, not 3 years from now...
Anybody out there with the same predicament?

segacide

I didn't post the previous message twice, I don't know why it did that...

briand789

My tranny is stiff in the NH cold, as well. If you look on your retail sticker, it will show the place of manufacture for your engine and tranny. I assume all ZX3's are the same for both - my tranny is from Mexico, the engine from USA. I guess the tranny was made for tropical leisure.

By the way, any definitive answer to segacide's question would be appreciated. I've read my manual for the exact same question, and although vague, I think it implies that only the part replaced is no longer under warranty. Or, any part that is impacted by the replacement part. For example, if you put a Borla header on the car, and blew the engine, Ford could say the increased horsepower lead to a decreased lifespan, and not cover the engine repair.

mp10

Wellll...here are the facts: all the parts for the ZX3 have to come from Mexico and nothing is getting through customs - except the drugs 8- ). That's what QUIRK Ford told me (and which I already knew about Mexico, anyway). So they said NEXT Monday at the earliest, but you know, they had to say something - they couldn't say, "we don't really know when or if your pump will ever come in..." I guess this is a lesson in buying a newly introduced car that's manufactured elsewhere. And I hope it's a lesson to Ford about building factories in countries where they have not arranged for some special consideration at the Customs office...

mp10

Er...that was my little comment about the drugs getting through - not Fords...ahem. .p.

mp10

I just called the Ford Corporate HQ Customer Service Center and they basically washed their hands of the problem of getting parts for the Ford Focus through Mexico or anywhere else - they said, "Talk to your Dealership..." So if you haven't bought a Focus, don't, because if something happens to *any* part, you won't be able to get it fixed anytime soon. m.p.