Ford Focus Hatchback ZX3 - Part VIII

vermontrealer

I just got word from the dealer - my sangria red, 5-spd ZX3 is finally here! They just have to get the cruise control installed and I should be able to pick it up in two days. I want to thank you all for the help and advice I have found on here as a lurker for the past 2 1/2 mos I've been waiting for my order. Now I can let you know my impressions first-hand after I pick it up on Thursday. Thanx again.

razor5

Nothing bugs me more that following a driver who's turn signal did not cut off after the turn and I keep wondering when they are going to realize it, or will it be just as I try to pass them that they were serious and way premature with the signal. Tonight, with radio turned up, I looked down at the speedometer and noticed that I had been driving at 65 for many miles and my left turn blinker was still on. Then I tested it on the right side and it did not click off. Has anyone noticed that their turn signal does not cut off by itself once the turn is complete?
LOVIN MY ZX3

razor5

And another thing. The floor tracks for the front seats have a plastic cover on the ends, on the door side, but not on the inside. I don't like looking down and seeing the raw end of the track. Does your ZX3 have caps on all tracks?

fgaydos

Hey Doug,
No offense taken, Philly drivers are the worst in snow...

As for reliability, the Focus in Europe has a year head start ahead of us. If it had a rep for breaking down we would have heard about it by now.

silver_bullet

Your car is normal - Ford put caps on the outside seat track only. You must be a taller driver like me, since the seat has to move back a bit to really notice the naked inner track. I haven't looked too closely, but perhaps extra caps could be ordered and fit onto the inner tracks - cap for left side outer track going on right side inner track, and vice versa.

Re: turn signal not cancelling, is your steering wheel on center when you drive on a flat, straight road? If they installed it too much off center, it will affect how your signals cancel. Just a thought. BTW - I love the "tick-tock" turn signals, but they are pretty quiet - guess you have to pay attention, something most drivers in this country don't care to do.

razor5

Makes sense. I'm nearing 1,000 miles, so when I take it in for my "free" oil change, I'll have them check it. Didn't think Ford would be so cheap as to not have the blinker cut off, which could be evidence in a court case. I would assume that this type mechanism is standard with the turn signal.
LOVIN MY ZX3!

tickbitty

I agree with you guys on all your points about defensive driving. I was just trying to defend poor zx3 (I think that's who it was) with his scraped up car by pointing out that sometimes around here people sqeeze in where they aren't supposed to! Hence the big bump things they are now installing in many "unofficial turn lanes" round here!

imsoyboy

On Monday, my husband and I were doing some Spring Cleaning. We had one of those foldable couches
(34" wide, 31 height" and 62" long) not too big but not too small either. We've been trying to give it away for months now but no one wanted to pick it up. So..I told him, pop the hatch we're taken this thing down to the Salvation Army. Of course, he didn't think it would fit, "I'm not moving this outside to take it back in". Well, it fit! I had to tie the hatch down but it closed almost completely...I love me little Big Baby ZX3.

projectzx3

the euro focus has proven to be a great automobile. why should the north american version be any different? sorry to hear about the accident. by now i would think the parts situation has improved. you know truthfully, i feel the lights up top (which i love style wise), are maybe a little radical safety wise. i think some lower lights should have been incorporated as well. doesn't the euro focus have them high and low? still, love my zx3!!!

tickbitty

actually a friend and I were just discussing the wide, unitilised shoulders just the other day. He said that "in France, there would be 6 cars crammed in there, as many as they could fit!" Whereas here, there's all that space, and you're not supposed to be in there!

jwkessler1

Living in upstate NY state, mechanical reliability is only one part of the longevity question. The other part is how long will it be before the car ceases to cast a shadow due to all the rust!

I'm currently driving a 93 Escort GT with 134000 trouble free miles on it. Last year, with over 100000 on it, it had it's first brake job! At least I think it was the first - I bought it used with 50K, but the machanic said the brakes looked original, and he had a major problem getting things apart. In February I drove it several hundred miles to Missouri and back with no problems. This is a great car!

But it's beginning to dissolve. It started with the front of the hood, and now the rear fenders are rusting through.It's pretty ugly now.

So I have a Focus ZX3 on order.

Anyone care to discuss Ford's rust fighting techniques? Any guesses as to if the Focus will tend to go the way of the Chevy Vega or will it hold up like the stainless steel bodied Delorian?

Sometimes I wish I lived in the desert.

silver_bullet

No rust here in Texas - we just have to worry about our cars melting in the heat. The summertime is murder on paint, plastics and interior trim. I've used car covers for years, and just ignore the curious stares of other folks. A car without covered parking is like Dracula without a coffin to go home to... bad news.

Yes, the Euro Focus has lighting in the bumper, but it is only the reverse lights and red rear fog lamps (rarely seen in the US). When most of the vehicles on the road are minvans, SUVs and pickups, brake lights and blinkers up high make a lot of sense.

vadp

Hey, norwaydoug
please don't be so apologetic.
Everything you said about the american drivers is so right on the money.
Now, a question:
I heard from several sources that european focus as well as VW Golf has a fully galvanized body. Therefore their rust proof warranty is something like 10-12 years long.
Can anybody confirm this?

razor5

Anyone know a good source for a good, fitted car cover for my awsome pitch black ZX3. Someone has mentioned a laser cut cover for the ZX3, but can't find it in past posts. I'd like one that wraps and has a velcro seam so I can leave the antenna exposed. Won't that be an awsome sight!

mzn

Friends, I hope all of you will also visit the News & Views conference where we have several topics that address driving habits.

And pcleveland2, you've given me a great idea. I'll be starting a topic in News & Views about 18-wheelers and their drivers. Please come and see!

carlady/host

silver_bullet

I ordered my custom fitted cover in the NOAH barrier fabric from Big Sky Car Cover Co. in Montana. They have the best prices on Covercraft covers that I have found - be aware that virtually every vendor of custom fitted car covers is selling a Covercraft product. They just forward your order on to Covercraft & make their profit. The cover fits perfectly, and has pockets for both mirrors as well as a long, cone shaped pocket for the antenna! My pride won't allow me to use that last feature - I unscrew the antenna before covering the car, and the cone just hangs limp... no Viagra jokes, please

togneter

Spoken like a true Italian. Strangely enough, I prefer to drive in Italy. I've driven in Rome quite a bit. The difference, I've found, is that you have to have the mentality of expecting anybody to do anything at any given time. That way you'r ready. Here in the States, people expect everybody to follow the rules, so when someone doesn't, there's an anomaly in the system, and an accident occurs.

When my Roman cousins came to visit, we saw an accident, and they absolutely could not understand how it was possible, since we all stay in our lanes and drive in straight lines...They thought it was the funniest thing ever.

ZX3-- thanks for the tip on the polish. Let us know how it works.

Also, you all should read this month's Automobile Magazine. I know this was already mentioned, but it compares the Civic Si, Neon, GTI 1.8T, and ZX3. One good quote: "Outside of the Mazda Miata and cars three or four times the price, no car give you a better connection between driver and road (than the ZX3)."

jedimaster1

Razor5,

I bought a Car and Driver car cover for my ZX3 and it fits perfectly! It is zippered on the door side so you can get in your car when it is covered. It also has two little places for the mirrors to go, so you don't bump into them because you can't see them. Looks like a cover with ears! It doesn't have a place for the antenna, but it shows you in the instructions how to cut a hole to fit your antenna through. I don't bother with that, I just unscrew my antenna and stick it in the car when I cover it and screw it back on when I take the cover off. Not a big deal really.

Clint

pcleveland2

Carlady (mzn),
Please don't, I can just hear it now - "Killer Trucks"! Maybe it will be better here than on TV.
If you must - Okay, with my blessing.

Pat

zx3beast

preventative maintenance always will ensure longevity in a cars finish.paying special attention
to thoroughly drying vehicle after washing .the
areas in door jambs,hatch+front hood(underneath)are
always prone to rusting(door hinges) etc.good waxing,whatever your choice may be is essential.ive
seen more imports prone to rusting than american
mfg. autos in the past 10 yrs. bottom line is keep
finish clean ,wax it + lubricate where needed it
will last for many years.dont sweat a rust problem
with todays car finishes,car mfg.have made great strides in this area.think of the cost of cars today, the length of the average car loan and the
length of most warranties,it was deliberate to make finishes last longer.

torinopaddy

Vadp, both the Golf and the Focus are galvanised, but here in Italy, VW seems more convinced of their craftsmanship. The golf (along with the Passat and the Lupo) comes with a 12 year anti-corrosion unlimited mileage warranty.

Here, Ford gives a one year warranty on the paintwork and a six year anti-corrosion warranty, both unlimited mileage. The anti-corrosion warranty can be extended up to 9 years if you pay for it. In the UK the Focus comes with a 12yr anti-corrosion warranty. Maybe the RHD models are more heavily galvanised. Could go some way towards explaining why the car I bought here sells for $8000 more in the UK.

Not worth it here really as the climate in Turin is not conducive to rust. The worst problems are probably due to the salt they spread on the roads during the winter.

anonymous

pcleveland2

1. Covers body sheet metal panels against corrosion due to defect in factory supplied materials or workmanship. 5 years/unlimited milage, and only applies if the corrosion causes perforations in body sheet metal panels.

2. If corrosion does not cause perforations and is not the result of usage and or environmental conditions, paint damage is covered under terms of the 3 year or 36,000 miles (whichever is first) Bumper to Bumper Warranty.

3. For damage caused by airborne material ("environmental fallout"), there is no factory related defect involved and therefore no warranty - Their policy is to cover paint damage due to airborn material for 12,000 miles or 12 months (again whichever comes first).

It states further that your New Vehicle Limited Warranty does not cover surface rust and deterioration of paint, trip, ----, and other appearance items that result from use and or exposure to the elements. Examples are: stone chips, scratches, dings, dents, cuts, burns, punctures or tears, road salt, tree sap, bird and bee droppings, lightning, hail, windstorm, earthquake, water or flood.

This is from the 2000 - Model Warranty Guide. Think their attorneys covered things pretty well. Guess I would to.

Pat

pcleveland2

4th para, 3rd sentence, word after paint should be trip, not trip.

jwkessler1

I try to take care of my finish, and make sure to touch up any chips and dings. But it seems most often the rust bubbles up from inside where you have no real access.

In the case of my Escort, the metal at the front of the hood began to bubble up under the paint. My guess is it started in the folds and seams underneath the hood and worked it's way out. The rear fenders were a similar story.

My guess is the manufacturers really walk a fine line with their corrosion protection. Of course it's possible, if a bit more expensive, to make a car that will never rust - use stainless or heavily galvanized steel. But then, why would we buy new cars every few years?

Today's cars are of course a lot better. In the past after just three years we would start having trouble. Now a five year corrosion warrantee seems fairly common. But beyond that, it's problematic.

I guess we should all understand that our shiny new cars are really very temporary creations. But what do you expect for just $15,000 or so? Actually I would like to expect a lot more. I think I may have underwear that's older then my rusty car!

rvtex1

Jedimaster and Silver-bullet, could you provide a little more vendor information on your car covers such as website, address, or phone number? I hope it's not against the rules of this forum.

Thanks,

RV

rvtex1

Thanks for the tips on oil filter wrench.

Last time I changed my own oil many years ago was on a Chevy Suburbun whose factory seal was so strong I finally had to put a screwdriver all the way through the filter and then chisel the remaining lip of the filter off from below. (Back then we didn't have the choice in filter wrenches we have today!)

I was dreading having to tell the wife we need to call a wrecker because I can't remove an oil filter a day before a vacation trip. Oh the good old days!

Am going to try synthetic oil in my Z after first 1000 miles as I am convinced a 4 cylinder has to work a lot harder than a bigger engine.

As for reliability, my wife's car is a 95 Chrysler LHS with 68,000 miles that has had 2 recalls, and over $3,500 worth of repairs on it since we bought it at 35,000 miles. That includes steering, suspension, and transmission repairs. This was after our 2 year extended warranty ran out.

With reliability like that, I am not too worried about my Focus.

torinopaddy

togneter,
when people first come to Italy they are normally shocked by the way people drive. I have often been asked by newcomers how I cope with the driving conditions. Personally I actually enjoy driving here. It is chaotic but you really get the feeling that most people are actually in control of their vehicles and aware of what is going on around them.

An italian joke which isn't too far from the truth tells the story of two guys in a car speeding down the road, they run a red light and the driver is still accelerating, "Hey the light was red", says one guy. "Don't worry", his friend replies, "my brother does it all the time". They come to another red light and he drives straight through "that was red too" says the friend. "I told you, my brother does it all the time.", replies the driver. They come to a green light and the driver slams on the brakes. "But the lights are green", notes the friend. "I know, i was just checking to see if my brother was coming."

Here in Turin this isn't that true but it is a reality down south.

On another note, i didn't realise there were so few hatchbacks in the US. Here we have lots. A quick list of some competitors to the ZX3:
Alfa Romeo - 145
Audi - A3
BMW - 3-series compact
Citroen - Xsara
Daewoo - Lanos
Fiat - Bravo; Coupe
Honda - Civic
Hyundai - Accent
Lancia - Delta
Mazda - 323
Mercedes - A Class
Mitsubishi - Colt
Nissan - Almera
Opel - Astra
Peugeot - 306
Proton - Compact
Renault - Megane
Rover - 45
Saab - 9-3
Seat - Leon
Toyota - Corolla; Celica
Volkswagen - Golf; Beetle

zx3beast

jwkessler1-are we to assume that more than your escort is a little rusty?........just kidding!

powerslide

Just a little advice on changing your own oil. If you did it while the car is under warranty and have an engine failure that may be possibly related to lubrication, you have no proof the oil was changed. Do you think they will take your word for it? I ALWAYS have the oil changed by a dealership while the car is under warranty. And make sure you keep the receipt and that it has the mileage printed on it. You can't be too careful. BTW I change my own oil after the warranty has expired.

silver_bullet

rvtex, I had the same "stuck filter" problem years ago on a VW Fox (a sorry car). Came time for the first oil change, and I could not remove the factory installed filter. Ended up mangling it so badly that the car did have to go to the dealer on a flatbed. The service mgr. said it happened all the time due to how tightly they cranked them on at the factory. I'm happy to report that the filter came off my ZX3 without drama, and I switched over to Mobil 1 synthetic oil at my first change.

rvtex1

Thanks for the car cover phone number silver bullet. As you know, here in Houston we have so much crud in the air, especially on south side where I live, that I think a car cover might prolong the life of my ZX3, as we use our garage for storage that my little Z will not fit into. I am surprised that a custom fit cover is already available for the ZX3, so I appreciate the post.

I have never experienced a problem either about proof of oil change when I did it myself as long as I kept cash register dated receipt and posted the mileage on it. It would be obvious to a dealer also, if it came down to a spitting contest, that the purchase of the oil and filter was specific to our ZXR by the identification number of the oil filter purchased.

powerslide

If it gets bitter, there is no way you can prove the oil and filter went into that particular vehicle. As for writing the mileage on the receipt, come on now , you could write anything on it. It's also better for resale if you can show a buyer receipts for service. Warranty period oil changes under should cost under $200. That doesn't sound like too much to cover your butt.

silver_bullet

As a final comment, if you want to really cover your bases, and don't mind paying extra for parts, you can always buy FL-2005 filters AND Motorcraft oil (even Motorcraft synthetic)from your dealer's parts dept. It will be pretty hard for Ford to argue with you should you have a warranty claim down the road. I always buy my coolant from the dealer, and use it along with distilled water when it comes time to flush and refill the cooling system - not a bad idea, and more "CYA" protection in the event of a warranty claim.

silver_bullet

I agree, but many of us don't like the inconvenience of dealer service for routine work like oil changes - plus, many of the posts here attest to the problem of dealers overfilling the crankcase, spilling oil, etc. Who needs it?

As far as keeping receipts is concerned, sure, anyone can write down anything, and install parts in another car, etc. In my friend's case, the dated receipts were fine, because what mattered was that the beginning mileage was a known quantity, as was the current mileage. The dealer then calculated the average miles per month, looked at how many receipts my friend had, and was satisfied the work had been done. Hey, let's be really paranoid here... how do you know your dealer is actually changing your filter and putting in decent quality oil? Why not have a friend videotape you while you change your oil? Seriously, at some point some trust has to enter the picture.

jedimaster1

I got my car cover at Walmart...it's the Car & Driver brand. They may have a website, I'm not sure.

Clint

norwaydoug

Have anyone ever had an experience where the dealer doubted that you changed your own oil? (Lease cars are another issue). I have never heard of such an occurance.

I would be very surprised. IMHO, you do not have to keep any receipts of your oil changes if you do it yourself. Ford will not doubt you if you say that you changed your own oil. If there is evidence that you have not changed your oil, Ford would tell you. The interior of the engine would definitely tell the mechanic that the car was maintained properly or not. If an engine is not maintained, all sorts of gunky solids form in the engine. If the engine was maintained and the oil was changed every 5000 miles, then the internal appearance of the engine would be clean in appearance.

Change your own oil if you like, there is absolutely no reason why not. There are NO warranty issues if you do not have a receipt. If you have any questions regarding this issue, talk to your dealer.

Why should you spend 200 dollars changing oil at a shop when you could do it yourself for a fraction of the price?

Do what makes sense to you and be responsible for what you do. If you are intelligent and honest, then how could it be wrong?

ND

torinopaddy

I have to agree with all the previous posts on doing it yourself. As silver bullet pointed out there have been many complaints from this group about over-filling. Overfilling will potentially damage the engine, damage which may not show up until the warranty is well past and where does that leave you with all your factory receipts? Try getting Ford to admit that it was their fault then.

Look, listen and learn. If you know what you are doing, do it yourself. It will take you twice as long, but you will be happy in the knowledge that it was done right.

This is not how some car companies see the future. There have been several cars coming on to the market which propose "maintenance free" engines. They have no hood as such, just a flap which folds down to show the things the driver is allowed to touch, all colour-coded to keep the oil out of the water and vice-versa. What a nightmare!

powerslide

Want examples of car corporations giving people a hard time with documentation? Check out the infamous Camry sludge problem in the Camry forum if you have time to read a couple of hundred posts. Do what you want but I hope you never have any problems.

anonymous

pcleveland2

Some people create their own problems. Do it right and you should have no problems. If you note on "ownerconnection.com", they even have a "at home" for where your service was done.

silver_bullet

I'm an advocate for owner maintenance whenever possible, for several reasons. As the owner/driver, no one is in a better position to note changes in vehicle behavior than you. By taking the opportunity to check your car over yourself, you will attain a level of familiarity that will allow you to spot small problems before they become larger ones. As an example, I use the "drain time" during an oil change to perform a bumper-to-bumper underside inspection, looking for signs of abnormal wear, component damage, corrosion, etc. Likewise for the "shiny" side - try to hand wash the car yourself, and inspect the paintwork for any imperfections that should be touched up before corrosion sets in. Even if you have to rely on others to fix a problem, you will be better able to understand what needs to be done, and why. As with most aspects of life, car knowledge is power -- or is at least worth some extra peace of mind.

hatchqueen

There isn't a subject, area or concept that Americans won't be thought of as ignorant, slowwitted or generaly mismanaging by others in the world(what a gramatic nightmare). Try driving in San Diego rush, people have actually tried to run me off the road on several occasions.

zx3

I want to register my new Z hatchling with Ford.
Is that necessary, or even desirable?
Or was it automatically done when Dealer sold me the Z ?

I heard about an "Ford Owner Connection" website, so I went there and clicked on Register. A menu opened, asking me for "personal info" (name, address, phone, e-mail, etc.) I balked at that, and didn't register. Here's why ....

It said the "benefits of Registering" were that I'd get "access to all sorts of info", etc.
That's nice but it's not what I'm after (which is ... Register my new Ford car with FoMoCo).
"Ford Owners-Connection" site does not even require me to enter my VIN# (it's only an "optional" entry). Heck, if "Ford Owner-Connect." was serious about getting my car "registered with Ford" -- their Registration Procedure would REQUIRE me to enter my "VIN #".
That's why I refused to give them my personal info, and did not Register.

Bottom Line:
By buying this shiny new Z from a Ford Dealer two days ago -- did I ipso facto "register" with Ford as a bonafide new owner?
If not, will someone please give me a web address for getting my baby registered? Big Thanks.
zx3

P.S. ... Thanks Togneter, but that wasn't my Z that banged up. I've only had mine 48 hours.

zx3beast

advantages-instant notification of recalls+safety issues. www.ford.com
when i registered,they asked for vin

zx3beast

silver bullet- would you mind elaborating on the
benefits of using a synthetic oil?i am planning my
first change this weekend.is it simply a personal preference or have you found it to be a worthwhile
investment?also,any thoughts on quality filter choices.i would appreciatr any feedback.-thanks!

zx3

TO ALL:
In this Post, I'm NOT talking about the relatively-few "nutty or inconsiderate Wanko's (every nation has 'em). I'm talking about the vast, overwhelming bulk of Americans ............

Why do we Yanks bash ourselves so much?
It's unique in the world.
"Trash The Americans" (their manners, their morals, their habits, their politics, their mannerisms, their driving) you name it -- is a fashionable "worldwide hobby".
And, we take it. Quietly, even humbly.

I say, "BULL----"!!!

We Americans are generally damn fine drivers. And courteous. And considerate. And kind, to each other's driving habits.
We drive MORE miles per day, than all the rest of the world combined.
In every type of climate and road conditions.....

Twistys, Straights, Uphills, Downhills, Ice, Sand, Snow, Blazing heat, 40-below Arctic cold, Empty roads, Packed-to-the-gills-with-traffic roads, Tiny city streets that were once cowpaths, Streets that are broad and well laid out, Potted roads, Fine roads, Mountain roads where you can plunge to your death, Desert roads you can die in.

In short, almost EVERY kind of road, weather, climate and traffic condition on the Planet Earth.
We are the Most Experienced, the Best Drivers in the World!!!!
We HAVE to be the best --- we drive in all those conditions -- every day -- by the uncounted tens of millions!!!

If this crap I've been hearing ("Americans are lousy drivers")were true, it would be a LITERAL SLAUGHTERHOUSE out there -- THOUSANDS dead and maimed daily -- or at least weekly!!

We're damn GOOD drivers!
So LAY OFF, this humble, apologetic, Bull----!!
We Yanks have little to be ashamed of -- MUCH to be proud of .... as regards our driving skills, our road courtesy, our kindness to each other.
I see it EVERY day!

And if ANYONE doesn't like what I just said (and I AIN'T backing-off one inch, to ANYONE!!) then just contact Carlady, and have me tossed off this Forum, godammit!!!
zx3

guyindasky

Hey ZX3 tell us how your really feel ;-)

fgaydos

Hey car lady....................... only kidding.

ZX3, you never drove in rush hour traffic in Philly. Guys will kill to get in front of you and now that I have a zippy ZX3 they can't do it anymore. Ha,ha,ha

But really, I could tell you road rage stories that would make your hair stand on end.

jwkessler1

I too have driving horror stories, including a recent road rage event where I was sure I was a gonner.

But still, zx3 has a point. A majority of drivers, probably in any country, are competent, cautious, and considerate. But there will always be a small minority of inconsiderate clods and crazies.

Unfortunately, when we are driving, we pretty much forget all the good drivers around us, but we remember the idiots. The only variable seems to be the good driver to idiot ratio.

This applies to rush hour in Philly, rural areas in Missouri, and to the entire state of Massachusetts, where traffic laws appear to me to be optional.