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Ford Focus Hatchback ZX3 - Part VIII

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Comments

  • fgaydosfgaydos Member Posts: 319
    "It's a pain to
    keep from getting polish/wax on them."

    I have not tried to polish my ZX3 yet. What is the problem with getting polish on the black molding? Why not polish the whole thing?
    Does it make it look bad?
    I feel if they were painted they would get scratched everytime someone opened their door into them.
  • rubberbanrubberban Member Posts: 37
    I have the superchip installed and i was trying out my digital tach today. the chip seems to have a rev limiter set around 7000, the digital tach goes just over 7000 and then brings you back to around 6800. has anyone else tried this?
  • mattozzi_ajmattozzi_aj Member Posts: 24
    Hey fgaydos-whatever you do-Do NOT get wax or polish on the black side molding!! It leaves a white residue and it looks terrible!! My husband waxed my zx3 the day I brought it home and got wax all over the moldings!! I could have killed him! I have tried every thing to get it off to no avail! The manager of the auto store by me suggested using brake cleaner-but I'm afraid to try it-that sounds a little harsh and I'm afraid of ruining the molding.
  • silver_bulletsilver_bullet Member Posts: 1,339
    As a last resort before replacing the mouldings (not that big a deal to do), try using 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner #08984. This stuff comes in a quart can, and is available at better auto parts stores, or shops that sell automotive paint and supplies. Apply it to a clean cloth, and carefully wipe the affected areas - don't rub excessively.
  • tickbittytickbitty Member Posts: 250
    also try denatured alcohol. If you do nothing at all, it will also eventually "wear off" - I got was all over the rubbery window surrounds of my truck and after many months and hosing off, it eventually disappeared.
  • razor5razor5 Member Posts: 27
    blacktrec92: I had an ASC 750 VSS Full featured electric sunroof/compact installed upon delivery by a local installer. $1,125.00 complete and it's the best mod I've done. I don't count Rain-X as a mod, but it sure keep the water off the windshield. The sunroof is almost as good as driving a Miata with top down. Be aware however, at certain speeds, the wind circulating through the car can cause interesting air pressure changes on your ears and distort your hearing abilities. This occurs around 35-40 and sounds as though the car is vibrating.
  • towcrazy2towcrazy2 Member Posts: 337
    Your dealer service department is clearly not performing as it should.

    Even if they didn't have the valve cover gasket in stock, they could (and should) easily have special-ordered it and had it installed the next day.

    Whether the problem has been resolved or not, I would suggest contacting FCSD (Ford Customer Service Division) to register a complaint.
  • zx3zx3 Member Posts: 167
    Guys who have dark cars (black, dark-blue, dark-green) might get irritated here, so I apologize beforehand.
    But I have to ask, because "Safety" is not a small issue with me, and I haven't picked my car color yet.

    My Question: Is "Car-Color" related to "Safety"?

    Has anyone ever proven, that you are more likely to get in an accident with a dark-colored car, than with a light-colored car .... at night-time?

    ALSO ... is a "sleepy-headed" Pedestrian, MORE LIKELY to notice (out of corner of his eye) a light-colored car coming at him --- than he'd be likely to notice a dark-colored car coming at him?

    Anyone have any answers / opinions?
    zx3
  • cahollancahollan Member Posts: 32
    My ZX3's service engine soon light came on yesterday. It began stumbling and bucking anywhere from idle to 2500 rpms. I made an appointment for service this morning and it died on me on the way home last night.

    Roadside assistance picked me up 15 minutes later. Diagnosis will come later this afternoon.
  • cahollancahollan Member Posts: 32
    I've found "Black Magic" works wonders on those rub strips. Don't use denatured alcohol or paint thinner to remove the wax...it only makes the strips fade.

    Apply the Magic after every wash for a few months and the strips will stay looking like new for a long, long time.
  • mknightmknight Member Posts: 57
    I've heard peanut butter works good at removing wax from black plastic trim. I haven't tried it myself.
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    Ford focus was ranked 131 with 176 problems.

    http://news.excite.com:80/news/r/000512/16/autos-quality-list-vehicles
  • imsoyboyimsoyboy Member Posts: 34
    I have a dumb question...Is automatic speed control - cruise control? If it is then only car with that are affected...
  • tickbittytickbitty Member Posts: 250
    people who are affected by this had it fixed months ago. It is one of the, I think, 2 recalls on the car. Sorry to burst your bubble but the owners here are usually pretty well-informed.
  • tickbittytickbitty Member Posts: 250
    I was responding to the one above yours. And yup, it is cruise control.
  • imsoyboyimsoyboy Member Posts: 34
    Thanks!!! Ahhhh doesn't affect me...
  • jwkessler1jwkessler1 Member Posts: 99
    zx3 - On the topic of light vs dark colors and safety ... You may have noticed that many fire trucks are now painted a nasty light yellow green color instead of the old "Fire Engine Red." That change was instituted after studies indicated that dark red was not very visible in low light.

    Deep in the recesses of my memory I seem to recall that it was proven that red fire trucks had more collisions at intersections then yellow trucks. Still, many fire departments choose to paint their equipment red, cause it looks cool.

    This change dates back quite a few years, and I imagine an internet search would turn up some further information.

    Having driven many cars from both color samples, I can say I've been struck twice by other cars, once while driving a white car and once while driving a red car. While lighter colors are in fact a bit more visible, color probably plays a relatively small part in overall safety.

    As for the mechanic's rude comments - I once worked as a computer repair technician for a large manufacturer of industrial machinery. One part of my job was to assist customers troubleshoot problems over the phone. Occasionally I would be asked if the particular computer we used in our products was unreliable. I would always answer "I really can't say, but every one that I see is defective."

    The point is that a mechanic almost always deals with defective equipment and is by nature seeing a biased picture of the overall quality and reliability of a product. His sample only includes defective product. His expertise is more in fixing problems and not in predicting overall reliability.
  • rex12rex12 Member Posts: 133
    No bubble. Just an informative post with a friendly little jab.

    Of course, I could have a bubble if I compared the Focus to the Civic in the post above mine. But, I won't you're well informed and probably already know what it says.
  • tickbittytickbitty Member Posts: 250
    sorry, I just read both this forum and the other focus one where the same thing was posted, along with a comparison to a mazda. Over there there's a madza lover who loves to come in and cry "recall, recall!!!!" about the focus to kind of an annoying extent. You don't do that, sorry!
  • tuner1tuner1 Member Posts: 44
    For all of those[myself included]new to this topic please read all parts of this conf. That way old info.will not be repeated 100 times over. Hey,did you guys hear about the ford focus its a great car!
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    I still haven't heard if you can order paint-matched molding, since I've seen it on various Foci.

    Anyone?

    Beuller?
  • kdominczakkdominczak Member Posts: 174
    http://www.nctd.com/00/comp/00fordfocus.cfm
  • pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    Wonder how many Focus owners they surveyed? How many owned ZX3? Did they survey 100 owners of each of the 191 vehicles? i.e. 100 owners of the Lexus 400 vs 100 owners of the Ford Focus (what ever model)? They say "customer reported problems within first 3 months of ownership per 100 vehicles". If they surveyed 47,000 owners, at 191 vehicles, that works out to 246 owners per vehicle.

    Gee, I've always been told that "figures don't lie, but liars will figure" That's the nature of the statistics business. Just give me their figures and I can do all kinds of things with it.
    But we don't have their figures, just their output. They even admit that some of the models reported on are "small sample size".

    They didn't survey me, did they survey you?
    Pat
  • tickbittytickbitty Member Posts: 250
    73. Dodge Neon 146
    93. Plymouth Neon 155

    What the hecks the deal with that? Aren't they the exact same car? That makes me think these things aren't so accurate...
  • judasjudas Member Posts: 217
    Yeah, they're the exact same car, but that doesnt mean they're going to have the exact same problems. JD Power actually has a reputation for being fairly reliable and accurate as far as the stat companies go, although it certainly doesn't mean everything they say is gospel.
  • anonymousanonymous Member Posts: 314
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    Yes, JD Power and all of his associates are pretty reliable.

    The issue with that survey is that they don't qualify what a "customer-reported problem" is.

    If one company only has 10 complaints, but they're all, say...exploding engines, and another has 150, but they are things like, "I get a funny smell from my AC," then what do the numbers mean?

    I'd like to see what the categories are.

    Also, because of the recall that the Focus had, the numbers might be inflated for the car. We are all aware of the recall, and the preoblem has been rectified.
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    Yu'll notice that the NEW BEETLE and the AUDI TT are near the Focus. These are relatively new models (like the Focus), and new models tend to have kinks to be worked out.

    Also, you'll notice that the GOLF is rated at #153 with 187 problems, and we all know that this is a well-built, reliable car.

    I'm having trouble deciphering the significance of this survey...
  • focusfanaticfocusfanatic Member Posts: 42
    I picked up an issue of "Automobile" today. In it theres a comparo of a civic si, neon r/t, golf gti, and of course the zx3. It seemed a little unfair to compare it to others costing almost 9 grand more, but it still kicked some butt. They recommend ya buy a zx3 or a GTI. I'll take the zx3 and skip the much softer suspension on the vw. Although that engine is very cool...(for 8 grand more, it should be!) Anyway, I'm glad to see it can stand up to most competition, even before a few upgrades....
  • zx3zx3 Member Posts: 167
    Jwkessler:
    Thanks for the info that fire trucks are changing from "fire engine red" to "hideous light green" for purpose of "increased visibility".
    But your own experiences (two collisions) makes you doubt color is all that closely tied to safety.
    Anyone else have opinion on this subject?
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    Give me a break. Since when VW became reliable cars? And we all know that?
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    My opinion is that it only makes a difference in situations with low ambient light or decreased contrast (like rain). Low light is worse for darker colors, rain/snow i worse for light colors (silver/white).

    The net safety effect of any color is probably negligible. I drive a silver ZX3. Remember that fire trucks are driving almost recklessly because they're, 1)in a hurry and 2)assuming that people can hear their sirens.

    I don't think color should be much of a safety consideration...
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    vadp- Do you just lurk around here now waiting to contradict me?

    Let's see. I have multiple friends who are owners of both Golf/GTIs and Jettas. NONE of them have had problems. This is just empirical evidence from my own experience.

    So I decided to look it up. Seems Edmunds agrees. The reliability rating for the Golf for '97 and '98 are 7.9 and 8.3--out of 10--respectively. There are no numbers for '99 yet, but they are presumably at least 8.3, or very close to that. This is more than respectable. Todays VWs are very well-built cars.

    By the way, VWs became reliable cars in the early nineties....
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    Some people say Focus gives them a headache.
    Valve cover gasket is leaking and so on.
    Check the VW forum, togneter.
    Lots of those folks wish they've never bought their's well built Golfs and Jetta's.

    http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/engaged/edmund.cgi?c=Hatchbacks&t=139
  • jwkessler1jwkessler1 Member Posts: 99
    zx3 - I don't doubt color makes a difference. I only mean that it's just one factor of many, and perhaps not the most important one.

    As togneter says, color plays a bigger role under low lighting conditions.

    If safety is an important issue for you, then you should take every reasonable precaution. You don't need to have your car specially painted in fire truck yellow, but I think white,or zinc yellow (my selection) would be good choices for low light, and Infra Red might be a good all around choice.

    Silver is a bit problematic because I think it may be hard to see on overcast days, and I find it sometimes blends in with the color of faded blacktop. I've personally almost missed spotting gray and silver cars at intersections.

    I would also think Day Time Running lights would be a good option, providing much better visibility, at least from the front, then any color.

    Then there's always the roof top Mars light option... : )
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    vadp-- I went through and read a few pages of that forum for which you provided the link.

    Let's see, ONE guy said he'd "heard" the new Jetta was unreliable. Other people talked about the car being "perfect" (a bit of a stretch) and about the reputation of the late model VWs as being well built.

    You might wanna try again...
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    Hey, togneter. My apologies.
    I provided a wrong link.
    Yes I can try again.
    So far nobody started to scream that this is not a VW forum. :)
  • calico1calico1 Member Posts: 52
    I've told this story before, but it's worth telling again on the question of color. I used to get hit ALL THE TIME in my silver capri. Hardly ever in my blue escort. And, naturally, EVERYONE notices me in my malibu blue ZX3. For what it's worth.

    Pat, I didn't realize that you were malibu blue, too. There's you, me, and that one that still (incredibly) sits on the lot at Star Ford (and, I know, others among us).

    As far as a sun/moon roof "weakening" the vehicle. Not so. A good one will have, in fact, the opposite effect. Not quite like installing I-beams, but along those lines. Trust me on this...I'm a steel town girl.

    Calico
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    This is the most critical one.

    http://www.myvwlemon.com/
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    One example does not a pattern make. ;)
  • anonymousanonymous Member Posts: 314
  • zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    if one drives defensively+intelligently it doesn't
    matter what color your car is.
    re:pcleveland-on pure carnauba wax-you were right.
    what i was trying to relate was carnauba wax without
    petroleum by-products.a carnauba blended with bees wax + aloe is all natural+will do a fine job.
    for all you honda+vw lovers-why not post all your
    smooches on the fat z-behind.as far as im concerned
    anyone who comes in here to slam the hatchling,simply doesnt get it or does get it and is extremely envious.as far as honda+vw-ive seen better
    metal in a soup can+ better paint job on a subway wall.enjoy your overpriced wannabe zx3
  • focusfanaticfocusfanatic Member Posts: 42
    On another forum: http://www.discussion-board.com/clubfocus/
    I read that the Ground Control Coil over kit does not come complete with shocks or struts. This would make sense- only $415 sounded a bit cheap. I'd still like to get the kit, but now what shocks/struts should I get? I like those koni adjustables.
  • fgaydosfgaydos Member Posts: 319
    That is what it must have sounded like when someone smacked my right front bumper and took off some silver paint down to the black.
    What to do??
    I think I will just touch it up with paint and let it go. Life in the City I suppose.
    Might have happened in the parking lot at work to boot. Will have to get it touched up prior to selling in a few years.
    Any thoughts?
  • pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    fgaydos,
    I don't care where you live, where you work, or where you drive. It can happen anywhere. Hate to hear about it happening to any of us. I'm still parking at farthest end of parking lots and walking to where ever. Hate parking lots, you never know what will happen there. I had a guy almost hit me cutting thru parking lot in a bit hurry to go no where. Always careful where I park my ZX3.
  • zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    see-it doesnt matter what color your car is,sorry
    to hear about your car,fgaydos. pcleveland2-ive
    been doing the same as well. in the old days,people
    were decent enough to find you or leave a note.man
    i must be old.
  • fgaydosfgaydos Member Posts: 319
    Try topic #122 townhall.


    I read about Silver being the current most popular color. I keep my lights on at dawn and dusk, just in case.
  • fgaydosfgaydos Member Posts: 319
    The sound of my head on my wall.

    (Sorry, are we off topic here?)
  • zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    i think your right,fgaydos-people seem to get a
    bang out of it.you can always get a dent fixed.
    but a femur.....
  • teamzx3yellowteamzx3yellow Member Posts: 21
    I was checking out autotrim.com ang came accross a trim color i would like... anyone have any experience with their kits... any comments? here is the link:
    http://www.autodash.com/shadow.lasso?Make=Ford&Model=Focus&ProductType=Flat%20Dash%20Kit&ShadowSheet=focus
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