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Comments
Be forewarned, dollars for doughnuts the odds are low you're gonna get this car in six weeks. Don't let any dealers feed you their BS. I preordered the mid year options on Jan 15 and I just picked up the car today. Granted, some of you will get lucky, but don't count on it.
Thanks to all for all the thoughtfull and interesting posts, I hung on to your every word, counting every painful day till my baby showed up. If you are thinking of buying this car: do it. Its an incredible value, and probably the most beautiful hatchback on Gods green earth.
Silver_bullet: you're right, we have to bite the bullet and elect some people. You are the obvious choice for one of the posts, nominate a co-chairman, and we can get this club started.
--Peace
CONGRATS to Hatchqueen. I've had mine two weeks tonight, have almost forgotten the agony of waiting!!
today I drained the excess oil the dealer put in yesterday, but it wasn't overfilled as much as I first thought. the dipstick is difficult to read so I began by removing about 10 oz. (or 1/3 qt). it then showed the oil level in the middle of the normal range so I put about 3 or 4 oz. back in and now it's just below the high end of the normal range. projectzx3... I noticed the same smell you described when I drove mine home yesterday, so evidently it doesn't take much to overfill the Zetec engine. sorry to hear you had to drain a whopping 3/4 qt.!
jim
Very excited though. As a euro car driver all my life, I never thought I'd even slow down on the way by a Ford dealership. Got mine fully loaded (ABS, front/side air, cruise, power package, etc.). Everything but the automatic (silly things that they are) and the tilt wheel.
One thing I noticed is that I get lots of looks. Being a new model, and with few ZX3s out there, I somewhat expected this, but not as much as it happens. People either love the styling or hate it. I can deal with that.
By the way, I know there's been a bit of discussion about this, but what do you all know about Superchips. Worth it? Warranty issues?
One more hour...
changes-no problem w/smell- as stated in earlier post -you have to be careful with right filter
congrats to hatchquen-happy motoring!
to hugoz-were not only decent + cool-were the coolest!!!!!!humbly speaking that is.
the most satisfying feeling is that all of us recognize a truly wonderful value price/performance
and are willing to share our enthusiasm with others
about this breakthrough automobile.so glad i purchased a first year model-future classic? you bet!
I would suggest the best upgrades would be in places Ford looked to save money. Shocks & tires come to mind first, but a stainless exhaust system would get rid of the cheap rusty muffler and hanger. Exhaust systems can cause a number of changes, some good, some bad. Your best bet is research. Start with yourself, what are you trying to accomplish? Bravo Silver Bullet, that was a great,
informative post.
Scott
Thanks. I hate sweekey brakes.
Anyway, here's my help. I don't want to volunteer to be one of the two official ringleaders, but I will take charge temporarily and say this: Pat and Gabe, since we need to get this show on the road, please log on and give us either a yes or no so that we can get on with putting our club together. Gabe has already said yes, but that was days ago and I want him to be sure about it.
So, that's it. Under the assumption that Pat and Gabe are willing to be our fearless leaders, let's stop the nominations and start our club. And yes, I still want to help any way I can -- newsletter, organizing regional get-togethers, etc.--but I don't want to take on more than I have time to do. You guys deserve better than that. (and, Silver Bullet, I can't imagine ever tiring of any of you! :-) ).
p.s. a little box from Ford arrived unexpectedly at my front door today. I thought it would be the famous watch, but, alas, it was a stainless steel Focus cup designed to fit the cup holder. It's pretty cool, and rather ironic considering the recent to-do about our "problem" cup holders! Happy driving!
Calico1
Anyway, with all the talk about the BMW exhaust tip, I think I'm gonna get one too. My stepdad gave me his if I want it, it's made by 3ARacing (??) and it's chrome, and it makes this deep, resonating sound when you rev your engine. But I'm gonna go by the BMW dealer and take a look at theirs first.
With all this bad talk about oil overfills, I'm thinking of changing my own oil. Only thing is I'm not too knowledgeable about cars, I can change a tire and check fluids, that's about it. But Edmunds has a section on How-tos, and they have oil changes in there. But the Focus is a very low car, what should i use to prop it up? Drive-up ramps for the front tires, or does it need to be level?
One other thing, has anyone noticed that the antenna is pretty useless? I get great reception without it. It does look pretty cool in the center of the roof like that, but I cover my car up every night when I get home and I don't want to deal with taking it on and off every day, so I just stuck mine in my trunk.
Before I make this post too long, I am thinking of waxing my car in a few weeks when the beads of water don't start showing up on the car. Does anyone recommend a certain brand? I am thinking of using NuFinish. And I'll throw this warning out there, TurtleWax has a Wash/Wax mix that's half wax and half cleaner, you shake it up and just wash your car like normal, and it dries by itself. DO NOT USE THIS ON YOUR CAR! The wax messes up the windows and it can also clump up on your car if you don't rinse it off good enough. Also, if you subscribe to Consumer Reports (which I do), this month's issue rates the car waxes and polishes, and it's worth checking out.
I nominate Drebe and Calico to be moderators for the Focus Owner's Club.
Clint
I drove behind a Lincoln Navigator tonight on the highway -- those monstrosities look kinda like a small house jacked up on a truck chassis. What kind of people buy Silly Ungainly Vehicles ("SUV")like that? [nevermind...I don't think I want to know!]
Has anyone read the 3 reviews on the kelleysbluebook.com site? They're pretty good. I like the way one review describes the Zetec engine's noise as a "growl." Yeah, I like that.
If you read in your owner's manual it states that you can obtain spare keys from your dealer. They will then cut the key(s) to match yours. Then the manual goes on to explain how you can program the new keys yourself. (page 77 or thereabout I think) You do need to have the two original keys for this to work.
So I go to my dealership (parts dept.) and have them make two duplicate keys for me. $25.00 per key. That's no typo -$25.00 I go home and try to program my new keys. I gave up after 45 minutes.
Later that week, I went back to the dealership (parts dept. again) and explained the difficulties I had with the new keys. They thought perhaps that they had (again) received a bad batch of keys (bad computer chips). They cut me two more keys (these newest ones were not made by ford). Went out and tried them in my car. They would open the doors, but now these wouldn't even turn the ignition! (wouldn't go in far enough). I told the parts guy what happened. Now he comes out with me and tries it himself (evidently he didn't believe me). He can't get them to work either. So, after around an hour of him fooling around with different keys, rebuffing, walking to and from my car, he gives up. I make a joke of it saying "I guess I'd better not lose the keys that I have eh?" He was a good sport and had the idea of asking the service manager if they had any previous trouble with focus keys. The answer was no troubles they were aware of. Deciding to take matters into my own hands at this point, I went to talk to the service manager myself. I asked him if perhaps the original duplicates they made me were fine, just that I was missing a step in programming them. He had me pull my car into the service garage. (while I was pulling my car in, he had the parts guy dig the original duplicates out of the trash)
Here's where it gets interesting. I watched the service mgr. the entire time. He tried it about 6 times the way the manual indicates, it didn't work. He then started doing things differently than indicated in the manual. He finally did get them programmed after about 25 minutes. When turning the key forward as stated in the manual, he had to actually start the car each time.
[Note: while trying to program keys, if you do not do it correctly, the car may get angry with you and not start at all, even with the good keys! Simply turn off the car and wait 30 seconds. All will be fine after that. This happened while the service mgr. was trying to program my keys. (He thought he had messed up my computer) I informed him, I had the same problem happen when I was trying it, and that I just let the car sit for 1/2 minute then tried again. Of course he then pretended he already knew this (though just moments before he was bordering on frustration/confusion).
I know, I know, long story but I wanted to share. I do have a total of 4 keys that work now.
Oh, it does say in the manual that the duplicate keys must have the same letter/number designation on the blade. My factory keys say H1 (the 'h' is italicized and very narrow, hard to read). The duplicates say I1. I questioned the service mgr. about this and was told "It shouldn't make any difference as long as the physical characteristics of the key are the same" (for example: other ford models, the expedition, uses a key with a longer blade I think).
For me anyway 2 keys=Two 15 mi. round trips + 2hrs. of fooling around at dealership
But in the end I was satisfied, and it was a learning experience.
Also found out that one of the salesmen is currently driving a black ZX3 and really likes it.
Great to hear Silverbullet is from Houston also. Haven't seen him unless he was driving at night in front of Nasa, which is fittingly the first place I have seen one on the road in Houston.
Thanks, Silverbullet for all the info on chips and other aftermarket accs.
(by the way, the comfort group code is 50C...not 50A)
Tomaso
Look in to the right side, I think that's what you're looking for.
back that ever made it off the drawing board.4dr.
would destroy the sharp angle creases+ lines.
you would have 4 flimsy doors + very different
ride + feel.the hatch rules!checkout the wagon
if you want more doors.everyone has their own taste
having grown-up in the sixties , no teen would be
caught dead in a 4dr.a car this size + design
is more solid feeling as a 2 dr. hatch.do you remember the 4dr.chevy chevette?need i say more!
You are entirely right about salesmen knowledge of the ZX3 options. I've lead 3 by the nose to options that even the Ford Customer Service department didn't know about. What the dickins do they need salemen for anyhow. Cut them out, sell more direct and save us all more money to spend on options. My salesman even ordered my ZX3 without even asking me what I wanted on it. He assumed that if I ask the price of the option, I wanted it. H U L L O ?
Scott
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/NCAP/
Click on 'Cars'
For Make type: ford
For Model type: focus
For Year type: 2000
Click the 'Search' button
(I had trouble a couple of times with it saying "The page cannot be found." -this is an http 404 not found error) If this happens click the back button on your browser and click the 'Search' button again.
It should take you to a page displaying the summaries of both the 2 dr. and 4 dr. models.
I'm the owner of fastfoci.com which has just put up a new website design and is very user interactive. To kick off the new site, we're having a give away of an MBRP Cat-Back Exhaust. If you're interested, be sure and stop by the site.
thanks gabe for the crash test results link... i wonder if the wagon would have fared any better than the sedan?
In about a month this info will be back about 400 or so posts. This is why I keep telling everyone to go back and read the past posts all the way from part 1. Theres some great information back there. We can even do a "search" to find it.
Pat
1.paint sealant (dupont teflon) $295
2.interior protection(stain res.)$295
3.undercoating(sound deadener) $295
4.rustproofing $295
Regular price is $1150 for all of above,but they are offering a sale price of $795...
Did anyone of you did anything like it ,if you did how much have you paid?
Is it worth it?
If anyone wants to know about the Club Conference just go to post 0, above and follow the link. It will give you all the information you need.
NOW, Calico 1: Tell us just a little more about the coffee mug. Maybe a special offer we don't know about? Or, a special friend? My last stainless steel coffee mug lays lost somewhere along the side of the road. I really miss it. Wonder if anybody at Ford or Eddie Bauer is reading this. Hint, hint!
Have a great day!
Pat
It is a big rip off.
The car is complete as is.
You do not need 'Paint sealer' It already has it on.
You do not need Undercoating. The car is guaranteed for life against rusting. It is already very quiet.
You can spray your seats with protectant for $2.00
a can. I did!
If I were you I would run, not walk away from this dealer. They are trying to gouge you.
a co-spokesperson. We understand, time is a
commodity for some.
Okay, we/I need someone willing to do this with
me. We need a volunteer! "Yes, you with your hand
up in the back, please come forward." "Hi, I'm Gabe and you are....?"
-{to be continued}
PAINT SEALANT: Got a interesting question for your dealer. Now if Dupont says their teflon DOES NOT stick to auto paint, WHY does your dealer want to put it on your new car.
INTERIOR PROTECTION: Scotguard, you can buy it at Walmart and it does the same thing.
UNDERCOATING: Go to the parts store and ask for Kendall "Seal and Sound". Great product, know the guys who make it and the quality control is really good. (But, I don't have it under my ZX3 and don't plan on putting it there.)
RUSTPROOFING: Doesn't the Ford Warranty cover rust. Last I know it did.
All your paying for is "Insurance" in case any thing like stains or rust happen. And try to collect on this "insurance". You might once, that is if you need it.
Now I thought I paid a lot for auto polish, Makes me feel good. I brought "Zaino" and did it my self. Two coats so far and my ZX3 reflects like a mirror. Cost well under a hundred and looks great. I put my finish up against the teflon any day in the week. I sure there are other products out there which will stand up with mine too.
If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, go for it, but be informed before you do. And remember, the guy who is trying to sell you this stuff is just doing his job, so be gentle on him if you say no.
Pat
Pat