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get it now.
I was checking out the Ford site, and it seems that you can get ABS but not Traction Control in the ZTS, but in the SE you can get both. Is this right, or am I missing something?
Thanks!
The 2004 Focus also has the 2.3L Duratec in PZEV form. I believe it's rated at 143 HP with a similar torque number.
The 2004 Mazda3 (as well as the base Mazda6) also uses a VVT version which puts out 160 HP and, from what I'm told, more low end torque than the SVT's 2.0L Zetec. But, the Mazda3 looks to be a bit heavier than the SVT so it should be a bit slower.
Close enough if you ask me!
03 Focus SE comfort
Zetec 5 speed tranny,
3100 miles
First of all,I am surprised at how well this car drives.I'm not even going to mention the awesome sounding stereo,I wonder what the audiophile system sounds like.
Anyway,my problem is this,At idle my car feels like it has a skip in the engine.Basically,it feels like the car has'nt been tuned up for 10 years.I have looked through this entire thread and couldn't find a similar problem.The first 2 times the dealer said they could'nt find a problem but after the last visit they said a factory rep will be in town the following week and would be able to help me.The explanation I got from him was this,the Zetec engine is tuned slightly burn slightly lean and that is what is causing the skip.In other words,this was normal.
Now I've been driving many different cars for many years and never have I had a brand new car feel like it's 10 years old.I looked for other cars similar to mine at other ford dealers but they are all automatics (I tested the automatics and they purred like a kitten)
Does anyone out there with a car similar to mine have the same issue?
Thx in advance
My pzev automatic ZTs sedan w/ sport package does feel strong. On a brief sprint on the turnpike yesterday, 80 mph was reached quietly at only a tick over 3000 on the tach.
That is a strong Four banger and I think these pzev's should have a separate thread on this FOCUS discussion board. When I finally opened up the hood last week to see what made this thing go, it did not have an econobox "feel" to it. I have 1000 miles on it now. This model is very different then the original impression which I had of the Focus when it hit the show room a few years ago.
Both my brother and my friend commented on it so I brought it to the dealer, and the mechanic said that was a normal sound, because the car was in too low a gear. Does anyone know what I am talking about? I had a leased automatic focus and it did not make this sound. So Im guessing it has to do with either the manual trans or the zetec engine. Any thoughts? I'm curious to know what causes it and why. I believe the mechanic when he says it's normal.
Exterior
http://membres.lycos.fr/ascariss/foc1.jpg
http://membres.lycos.fr/ascariss/foc2.jpg
http://membres.lycos.fr/ascariss/foc4.jpg
http://membres.lycos.fr/ascariss/foc5.jpg
Interior
http://membres.lycos.fr/ascariss/foc3.jpg
http://membres.lycos.fr/ascariss/foc6.jpg
Is the 05 dash the same as the 05 Euro Focus now then?
While the current curvy dash is interesting its not really envogue anymore. They had to change it, but I had wished it had some more pizazz. Tasteful though.
I recently drove an SVT. Loved it. Followed it up with a Mazda3 test drive. The 2.3 motor is so much smoother....dilemma.....scarf a great deal on the loaded up SVT or wait for the 05 ST with the smoother motor?
Focus SVT now or wait some and get a Focus ST?
when do the 05's go on sale?
The 2005's debut in Detroit, but no sale date has been announced. My guess is April/May.
No, this is not the dash from the new euro focus, though it has some of the cues. The exterior takes some of these cues as well, but it's not nearly as stylish and aggressive as the new euro focus. The euro model has much more class...whereas, to me, this car looks like it belongs on a rental fleet. And, of course, under the skin, this is the SAME Focus (more or less) that everyone is already driving.
Engine choices are nice, but the fuel economy is going to suffer for it (and gas ain't gettin' any cheaper).
I want to see the hatch!
the hatchbacks and wagon better have the 2.3 as an option or its 04 shopping for me.......
As for the 2.3L in the '05 ST sedan, note that it makes 150+ HP as opposed to the ~143 of the '04's 2.3L. All Focus models should have the ~143 HP version as an option but you can only get the slightly more powerful copy in the ST sedan which basically replaces the SVT.
Also, remember that Ford is putting all three SVT models on hiatus for a year and there's no guarantee that the Focus will ever wear that badge again. The ST is supposed to be the new "sport" model. Why they chose the sedan is beyond me though.
Also, there will be a 2.0L version of the 2.3L Duratec for more milage. The 8v 2.0L is dead this spring, along with the Zetec.
Clearly, EPA estimate or not, it's moving in a bad direction. Somehow, Japanese engines manage to get bigger and retain mileage.
The new Golf in europe has leap frogged the Focus and is the highest rated car in its class. If they can get reliability issues under control here in North America, I'm all over it!
The 2005 Focus is coming in a few months, spring 2004, not 2005. The Civic, Sentra, and Corolla (which are Focus comptetition, not VW) will be the same for 2005. What other manufacturer will offer "something better" that year? The Chevy Cobalt is nice, but is equal to Focus.
The Mazda3 is what you're looking for. It costs about the same (sticker price anyway) as the Focus and rides on the new Euro Focus platform. Plus it has a VW-like interior.
The VW is in the same class as the Focus and is a competitor, even if on the high end it outprices the Focus. The interior quality is best in class from what I've seen.
The Focus will be left to be the next Escort/Cavalier. A car no one talks about and is a big yawn living on a platform older than dirt ... as long as it brings in cash for Ford, they don't care. People pay top dollar for SUVs, not small cars... so there is no incentive to build them better and American manufacturers have proven time and time again they can't build good small cars (or don't want to). The Focus is essentially a German car with super cheap global parts.
I suspect the same fate will fall upon the Cobalt.... GM's so called last big effort to gain a foothold in that segment. It's doomed to fail with GM behind it.