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Comments
Matt
I'm not sure how much time you've spent in the ZX2, but I do most of my driving in and around the city, and it's a fun car, but If I had to travel highways a lot I would definetly choose something quiter.
oh yeah, here is my bio:
Matt Simpson
Bolingbrook, IL
19 yrs old (20 May 4th)
College Sophmore studying computer science
But as you stated it is a very quick car to begin with. Throw that cash into shocks and struts and you will actually get a noticable difference for your money. Not only will it greatly improve cornering problems common in all compacts like body roll, but it will diminish the high stance and large wheelwells that ford seems to like.
I have 74,000 miles on it and have had no problems whatsoever. None at all. It's the best car I've ever owned. I've made numerous trips back and forth to North Carolina with no problems.
The only reason I'm upgrading is that I want a more luxurious car. If I could buy one and commute in my ZX2 I'd do it in a second. Unfortunately I have to sell it to get a new car =(
Just in case you want to think about it.
I believe $9,000 for a 99 is high.
A brand new manual tranny ZX2 with Comfort Group (cruise control, map lights, leather wrapped steering wheel, tilt steering wheel) only (no power windows or power door locks)can go for $10,500 or so depending on the dealer. I got mine last year for $10,800 including all the rebates and I suppose some of the dealer's manufacturer holdback. On the sales slip, it will show the real price minus the rebates. Use Edmunds or KBB.com to get a "fair price" computation. And check out their info on current rebates.
Like I said, it depends on the dealer.
It won't hurt to visit several dealers in your area. Usually one that shows its discounted price vs. ist price on the windshield will even dicker a little more.
On the other hand, ask your dealer if they have a demo car which usually has under 1,000 miles. They could be cheaper as well.
Two reasons for going with a new car:
- you get the full 3 year/36,000 mile warranty
- many banks will give you a 101% loan on a new car with a reasonable interest rate
Sorry to have dropped so quiet...
Some minor good news though my ZX2 Pages are up and running at their new sight. The old pages over at Netscape have been replaced by links to the new sight. The new address is http://www.photogsweb.com/zx2page.htm
Do not go there looking for anything new. As beyond a couple minor additions to the information on the Focus and the Cavailer I really haven't changed the format very much. I did refresh a few of the photos though.
- Eric
Ralex some months back you sent me a link to company offering that as a package... Since then I have changed computers and I was wondering if you could send me the link again if you still have it.
Thanks...
Speaking of which I am eagerly looking for any of the more unusual ZX2 links out there. Not the normal stuff like ZX2.com. But the more interesting ones that cover additions to the ZX2.
thanks
Again Ralex,
MjC
I spoke to the company that creates the gauges in an E-mail, and they made me what sounded like a rather nice sponsorship offer. So there is a chance I will have them as a real corporate sponsor. Cross your fingers for me on this one... In any event I definatly need to give them a call on Tuesday or perhaps tomorrow (Friday) if I have the time.
I think part of the appeal with the white instruments is that they are just a little bit different. Also if there is anything to what ford says they will not violate the warranty.
I have heard that the increased speedometer visibilty can make the car a little safer. in half light conditions Whether or not there is anything to this I wouldn't like to say... Though to be truthfull even in the half light I have never had any difficulty reading the instruments...
In any event I think I will order them next week. After that I am thinking I may go for the woodgrained dash board.
The first one I like the most. It was an automatic, power everything, and tilt steering which i really like. I think it had a cd changer in the back because I looked at the radio and it had a cassete player, but i noticed a button that said "cd" next the the "am/fm" button. Does this mean it has a cd changer in the back? I can't remember exactly the price, but i think it was $8000. I'm going to call them up tomorrow, to get all of the details. I didn't pay that much attention to this car because there was a sunfire right next to it that I really liked, but I've looked up stuff on the sunfire and the zx2 and found out that a lot more people are happier w/ the zx2.
The second car i saw was also a automatic. It had a cd player in the dash, no tilt steering, all power, but this car was being sold at a really junky auto dealer. The price was $6,800.
The third one I saw was a manual, which i really would like because of the speed advantage, power everything, and tilt steering. I think it just had a cassette player. The only thing that i really didn't like about it was that it didn't look like the previous owner took car of it very well. There was long scratches all over the car. You could tell that the previous owner was a smoker with ash burn on the door, and where the cigarrete lighter thingey goes, had large marks all over it. The price of this car was $9200.
Unless I find something else that I like I'll probably get the first car. I have some questions though in case it doesn't have a cd changer. I know you can get the panel at crutchfield, but i've looked on their web-site but i can't find. Could someone please give the url address to the page that has it.
thanks,
joe
My questions is, what should a ZX2 rev at 65mph? I drove one today (a 98) and at 65mph, the tach was at 3000, which seemed a bit high to me. Also, it seems to idle a little rough, and varies between 750 and 1250 RPMS. Is this a common thing for this car and is it a problem or is everything running normal? I drove a newer ZX2 yesterday which was only revving at 2250 at 65mph. Thanks for the help!
The rough idle is not unusual. Some are annoyed by it, but it's something you learn to live with. I think it is more noticeable with auto than manual.
MjC
I'd advice spending a few dollars to get a vehicle history report. Since ZX2s are usually driven by younger males (and females too) who like to go fast, checking for accidents and such makes sense.
If you use traderonline.com to check for Escorts in your zip code area, chances are you will find the ZX2 you are looking at. There's a button that allows you to purchase a vehicle history report, just get your credit card ready.
I think this site (Edmunds) has this service too, you need to know the car's VIN.
As for that elusive S/R that I wish I could get if I had the money, there's a 2000 Black S/R at Crystal Ford in Silver Spring, MD for $12,800.
and it's only got 5k miles on it!
Oh well...
At any rate given the fun I had (at least for me it wasn't raining) it has got me thinking again about that 2nd car option. Perhaps a marginal high mileage Taurus, or Escort Station wagon. On the strength of this idea I even inquired at my newest insurance company about getting a liabilty only policy for such a car. The Rough estimate would be about $30 to $40 with a rather dramatic drop once last years games drop off my record (in about 2 and half years now). Of course I could always go for a Pick up truck or SUV. God I love the ZX2 but it is far from perfect...
Nobody had any ideas on "Fliphed's" post about the ZX2 that only turned 2200 rpm at 65 mph. That still puzzles me. Wonder if a tach malfunction could be the cause? Fliphed, your ear should tell you whether the car was turning 2200 or 3000 rpm. Do automatics have pretty much the same gearing as 5 speeds or are they taller in the top gear?
Plhotog, I looked at flat screen moitors and really liked them. Really weird when you first look at them because your eye has come to believe standard monitors are flat. I dedided since the 17 in flat and the standard 19 were the same price, to go with the 19.
Granted other mildly more exotic cars may have the ZX2 beat for speed, and general handling. However for general pleasure of driving on low country roads the ZX2 is very hard to beat. Unlike so many of it's contemporaries it realy does seem to drop it's body down low, and hug the bends. In many of the cars I test drove such as Cavalier, and Mirage the cars either started to lose the back end out, or you couldn't feel the road at all. I can only imagine how much better the ZX2 would be with improved shocks, and Tires such as Ralex and few others have. So many of the other Sports Coupes out there seem to have lost the feel of the road in favour of open highway performance. Oh well more fuel for my wish list.
Ralex thinking about what you said I wondered over to CompUsa (it's in the same shopping center where I work) and glanced at the 19 and 21 inch monitors. Specifically those by Envision like the one I purchased. I also looked at the boxes and there is Zero chance of one of those larger boxes fitting into the ZX2. Though I am wondering how the ZX3 hatchback would fair under similar circumstances.
Different manufacturers are going to use different sized boxes for their monitors. The 19 in Viewsonics would only fit in my front seat one way and then it was close. Like you, I'm thinking I need a pick-up or wagon as a second vehicle.
Perhaps your friend's car had aftermarket wheels and tires thus taking them to a smaller diameter?
And thus showing a faster speed on the speedometer when actually it's 3-5mph less?
I can't account for such a big difference unless perhaps he has put in a Superchip or something like that which enormously changed the program.
Here's what I saw on my speedo and tach yesterday:
Speed RPMs
55 2400
65 2750
70 3000
My car has manual 5 speed and stock everything, including tires with 15,000 miles on the odometer.
As for the Speeds2much's post, why not?
I take his post as compliment to our cars.
The Zetec engine is used in a wide variety of European Fords, including a 1.8L version in the Puma which uses the same platform as the Ka (which we also don't see here).
Ford Puma vs. Opel (GM) Tigra get it?
Anyway, it's a testament to the versatility of this engine to see so many uses and configurations of the design.
There is no ZX2 in Europe or Asia, as this is a purely North American vehicle: USA, Canada and Mexico only.
Europeans have different requirements of their cars. Immediate speed as acceleration off the line at traffic lights is not as important as overall gasoline economy and top speed.
Whereas in the US, top speed capability would be "why the hell do we need to build a 150MPH car when you can't drive anywhere like that without going straight to jail?"
Therefore one will find the Zetec 2.0L in the Focus ZX3 and ZTS (designed in Europe) having different gearing and different camshaft configuration from the ZX2.
The ZX2 also has a Mazda-built tranny vs. the Focus's which I believe is Ford and similar to the one on the old 4-cyl Contour.
Their Escorts were built on a different platform from ours which are Mazda 323 based.
If anyone has a copy of Auto Motor und Sport's AutoKatalog, or a British one which I forget the name you'll see so many cars we will never get here in the US. Things like an Opel roadster called VX200 or something like that, or a Fiat Coupe and the aforementioned Ford Puma not to speak of the Mondeo. Oh well, we have SUVs over here hahaha.
if the ecu burns fuel more efficiently, giving more power to the engine would it not affect the rpms it takes to take a car to a certain speed?
or perhaps he changed his underpulley which might then explain why there is less load on the engine, and less necessity for it to turn so many times? whatever it is, there must be a reasonable explanation.
He immediately wanted to trade cars, and I offered to try and hook him up with a dealer. The Wagon really was underpowered considering it's size. I wasn't expecting it to be that bad, however as I understand it the wagon has the same engine as the regular sedan. I suppose it still might be a viable option though as you can pick up a used one for around 2 to 3 grand in average condition with about 70k miles. Perhaps a Taurus Wagon would be a better option. The only problem is the high mileage ones have such high Maintence costs.
Yesterday in an unrelated note some stupid cow driving a monster suburban ran a stop sign near where I work, and almost wiped myself and Metro driver out. The woman was chatting away on her cell phone, and didn't even slow down. She just blew her horn, shouted an expletive at both of us and waved the "single fingered have a nice day salute" as she kept on going. The funny part about it when she saluted us she almost ran into a UPS van. I suppose the loss of control can be attributed to the fact that one hand had a cell phone in it, and the other is waving out the window. At the next traffic light I saw her again, honked my horn at her shouted what a nice and considerate driver she was. When the light turned green she attempted to race away. Funny thing about the Suburban, it may have enormous power and massive size but against a ZX2 one on one it doesn't stand a chance.
In retrospect my actions when I approached her, and my rocket take off where pretty stupid. Given the speed of my take off and potencial for disaster to other drivers on the road. I guess the old addage to wrongs don't make a right applies here. Damn it though if she had of hit me it would most likely of killed me as it the impact point would have been at the drives side door hinges.
In an odd after thought I don't think she would have had the same issues as I did with the monitor. Hell she could probably fit my entire home/office in the back of that thing.
I understand this SUV trend - humans are the closest relative to sheep, but what can justify buying such a monster like a Suburban or Excursion? Anywone with a boat that big would keep it in the water and store it at a club, they chug gas like student downing beer at a party, and they are awful for any offroading. and you can get as much interior room in a smaller, more practacle and more environmentally friendly mini-van.
sorry for the rant, I know it's totally off topic and people in this forum are likely not part of the problem.
One notable tale that comes to mind last year and gave me a tale of sweet revenge; is what happened to some kids who couldn't find a parking space outside our shop. So the driver decided he was going to park on the grassy slope along side it (they didn't want to get his feet wet in the rain). I called out to them and advised them that the hill was not a parking space. The driver called back "oh very well" and he went back out and moved it. As luck would have it he ended up being my customer. One rule applies to both camera salesmen and car salesmen. NEVER EVER UPSET THE SALESMAN when you want something. If memory serves he walked out with 3 point and shoots, 3 SLRs with mulitple lenses, and one Mamiya 7 with 3 lenses. His total bill came to a little over 9 grand. The kid had dads money, not a clue about photography, and a massive ego that was child's play to manipulate. At the end of the sale I was rather sorry I didn't work commision. Sweet revenge by playing with someone's ego always brings a smile to may face. My favourite part in all this is that he threw away all the boxes on the premise that he didn't need them. This effectively killed his chances for a return. I still wonder if ever figured out how to load the Mamiya 7? In case your curious this a 645 medium format camera that cruises in low thousands.
At any rate the good Mr. Shiftright will no doubt be pointing out to me fairly shortly that this forum concerns the ZX2 and not idiot SUV drivers. He will of course be correct in his arguments. So I will bring up a ZX2 mention just to make this posting fit... I ran my ac today for the first time this year. I was a little concerned because of all those strange smells that others have reported. Happily the AC smelled it's usual self with nary hint of "mustiness" (thats an exact term by the way).
Point of interest Ralex, outside Compusa yesterday I was parked along side a Yellow S/R. Damn is that a nice looking car. When I came back I was hoping steal a couple snaps of it, alas it was gone. I should have pulled out my trusty Yashica when I first parked there.
I don't think we want to launch a topic to attack any particular driving segment, but we might get by with a topic on the social and environmental responsibility of vehicle manufacturers and buyers in the 21st century. Condense that into a short, clear title. lol. But you know what I mean. The thought that it's OK for Suburbans and Excursions to run up and down the road all day with no passengers or cargo while we are being told there is an energy shortage and pollution problems gives me a pain. I haven't checked - maybe there is already a similar topic posted.
Ford and GM will be in big trouble unless they launch smaller cars (Ford of Europe and Opel respectively) in the meantime.
But then, Toyota will be sucking eggs too cause of their range of SEVEN SUVs.
Honda will stop making that stupid CRV that has four inches of ground clearance.
Suburbans will be for Texan ranchers only (again).
Renault and Fiat will be back on American shores.
Hurrah for small cars! And the ZX2 will come back as a 2003 Focus ZX2 (had to stick that in).
(ok, tonight I get on my knees and pray)
As for bashing the big guys for being insecure... Freddy may have a point about the slow phase out. Given that we are already setting records for gas prices and it is not even high season; it is entirely possible that SUVs will be on the way out.
ZX2 Focus...
Hmmm I wouldn't rule it out.
ZX2 Focus... I heard Ford had some surprises coming. It was from a dealer though, so who knows... that would be interesting. Would that be like a cross between the two or something?