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Ford Focus Hatchback ZX3 - Part XI
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Oh boy - you just opened the jackinthebox of fun (see the honda hatch vs focus forum)
And this should really be it's own topic but...
before I drove the focus I test drove just about everything anyone would get my hands on. I was going to by my first new car so I researched and researched.
And as much as I drive, some people say I should be driving either a honda (for reliability) or an echo (for the gas economy)and I agree with their points. but ultimately chose the zx3 because after test driving all of them numerous times, I just couldn't get over how much I liked the zx3. the way it handled, the room, the way everything was so accesible. The gas milage is decent and as far as reliability goes, it's not "proven" like Honda - meaning no one knows what 150,000 mile will do to a ZX3, but it has been in Europe for a few years - and done well as far as I can tell - if that is something that concerns you.
But, I just couldn't get over how much I LOVED driving the ZX3.
My impression driving the echo - it wasn't too bad on the "zippy" factor - but it seemed noisy to me. And driving it I couldn't get over the "box on wheels" feel of the drive. I felt like I was going to tip turning corners - even at a slow pace (and I did read in USA today the echo was rated most likely to tip and roll in accidents - I don't have a link right now tho - but I did read the study).
The Echo's interior was just all right to me. Some people just cant get over the fact the speedometer etc is in the middle of the dash instead of right in front of the driver as in all cars. That didn't bother me too much...but the amount of "storage" space in the echo is hilarious. There's a nook and cranny in every corner for you to put something - if that's the kind of thing you like. Loved the gas milage - HATED the drive. And when I did the math - the ehco's options were pretty darn confusing - and in the end to get what I wanted - it was actually more than what I paid for my ZX3 with the same options - but I think that was because with the echo they had more "packaged options" and with the ZX3 you could just pick and choose more.
I did read a lot of the echo forum too and there seem to be many a happy driver there. Some just as passionate as ZX3 drivers.
Even though I have had a few probs with my ZX3 I love it and ultimately I made the right choice for ME. Because I know I can deal with the consequences of "taking the chance". With as much as I do drive I do need dependabilty but I dont want to fall alseep everytime I get behind the wheel I am so bored with the car.
Other first time car buyers who just CAN'T take a risk should maybe buy a stripped down honda - then later when more established - get their dream ZX3 will sunroof and all
there were a few more things I could go on about but I've babbled enough here already and I am sure others have A LOT to say.
in the end - happy driving!
Tenth Place (tie): Toyota Echo
Toyota is trying something new here, a tall-car shape (the body is shared with the European Yaris) assiduously designed for light weight and low cost. We don't like it much. It's noisy, it handles poorly, it feels cheap, and the interior details fall far below the Toyota standard.
The lumpy exterior styling is controversial, stump ugly at first meeting, but we'd probably love its nonconformist proportions if the car itself had the usual Toyota finesse. Instead, we have a noisy box that rattles in time to the engine's vibrations (in a Toyota? Heresy!) with an odd driving position — the pedals are too close relative to the (tilt adjustable) steering wheel. The instrument cluster is small and positioned far off in the hazy distance near the wipers in the center of the dash, as if to maximize its illegibility. There's no tach, and it would be too small to read were there one. What you do get from the tall shape, apart from a sit-up driving position, are huge walk-in storage bins in the dash (okay, a slight exaggeration), perfect if you want to keep an eye on your stuff as you drive.
The promised payoff for the tall-box shape is lots of room inside for this shortest-of-the bunch car, only 163.2 inches overall. Yep, the space is there, 14 cubic feet in the trunk, best in the group, and chair-height seating in back. But for coach passengers, the seat feels spartan and the shape isn't quite right. We ranked the rear-cabin comfort second best for two rear passengers and only midpack for three.
This shortest car also comes with the shortest wheelbase, just 93.4 inches, nearly a foot less than the Neon's, and this compact dimension surely contributes to the Echo's unforgivable drunken-sailor path in crosswinds. The steering response is nonlinear and quirky over irregular surfaces, and gusty winds merely compound the problem.
Fuel economy tops the group (EPA 34 city, 41 highway), thanks to light weight and the smallest engine, but more road savvy is necessary to win us over.
(tie) Toyota Echo
Highs: Well, there's the roofline. And storage bins galore, if you get off on that.
Lows: Terrible crosswind stability, awkward driving position, lots of buzzes and rattles.
The Verdict: Something entirely new from Toyota — a big mistake.
_________
Plus those wheels? And the handling's a joke.
Third Place: Ford Focus ZTS
This is a vastly different car than the Escort it effectively replaces. It has far more room inside, it's more sure-footed in its handling, and it has tenacious road grip. It's a heckuva lot more fun, too.
But let's deal with one controversial point first. A significant minority of us dislikes the front seats. The cushion's butt pocket is too far forward, bending the upper body into a half-moon when seen from the side. This complaint is serious enough to earn a won't-buy rating from several staffers.
Apart from that, this Focus is an impressive piece. Its ride motions are supple and absorbent, as if a road crew had carpeted the bumps. It takes a major pothole to throw the Focus off its stride. Understeer is modest, leaving the steering sharp right up to the superb 0.81-g limit. This is a handling sort of car in the Euro style, quite soft in roll, almost tippy at times, yet unflappable over the rough stuff.
Acceleration is about average in all the tests, but there's no sense of strain at full power. The engine has a muted yet lusty song that invites visits to the tach's upper reaches, where you'll find no redline, only a rev limiter at 6750 rpm should you get too exuberant. The clutch is creamy in its actions, and the long-throw shifter feels as if it were enjoying a fresh squirt of WD-40. Heel-and-toe pedaling is easy. The ABS provides excellent control and short stops, only 178 feet from 70 mph.
Wind roar is a bit louder than we'd expect in a newly engineered car packing the freshest technology, but it's well below the Neon level.
As a passenger hauler, the Focus has no equal in this group. The firm rear cushion is chair height with superb thigh support; the backrest angle is exactly right. And there's so much space under the front seats that toes think they have headroom.
The as-tested price is $15,970, within 50 bucks of the most-expensive Saturn. We think the Focus would be just as appealing in the less-luxo version without the imitation wood, and the resultant sticker price would be more inviting.
Ford Focus ZTS
Highs: Harsh-free ride, huge back seat, hearty road grip, refined sounds from all systems.
Lows: Front seat badly shaped for some, center armrest blocks elbow when shifting.
The Verdict: Euro road manners in a class dominated by Asians.
_________
And the only reason the Echo gets decent accelleration is 'cause it weighs almost nothing.
Only the Kia and the Daewoo came in behind it...
C'mon now you were thinking about getting that focus all along, eh? No one spending their hard earned dough makes up their mind after reading one consumer reports post
just kidding.
But if I were you and you can make the long possible 10-12 week wait - get the 2001.
Over all - have fun!
Pat
P.S.:
Now Brakes and brake pressure: Lot's of studies out on this subject in the heavy truck industry - and they don't all agree with each other on the subject.
And Motor Oil: How does this sound? New vehicle, Change oil filter at 25,000 and change oil and filter at 50,000. Recommended interval and under warranty. Motor Warranty is 500,000 miles. That's what I like about diesels. Oh, it's dino oil.
(don't tell me no has noticed!)
No actually probably everyone here knows how to do it, they just don't so they don't annoy anyone. I just started doing it, so when I go back and have to scroll through everything I can find my posts and don't have to keep asking everyone the same questions etc.
Dissapointed?
Whanna feel special?
Always have an option to move to another forum.
mfg.(in this case ford) is now building + selling
a high-quality vehicle at a reasonable price.
however there is lingering doubt about reliability
of a domestic vehicle. time will tell.personally,
im not concerned.on the other side you have toyota,
with their proven reliability record.it is well-earned.now that they have you sold, they start to make a cheaper vehicle.im talking cheaper materials
here.there is no real comparison one can make to
say the echo is a better vehicle.its not even in the same league with the focus.the zx3 hatch is the new benchmark in which others will follow and try to surpass.so far,ford has exceeded their initial
objectives with the focus sedan .the hatchback was
the icing on the cake.i dont tell anyone how to spend their hard-earned money.enjoy your ride no
matter what you decide.
going to leave it at that for now.
zx3
I would never send a girl there... how could you?!
And the yellow font on white background is even harder.
zx3beast,
no, I'm not kidding.
I'm just trying to say that posting in the hard to read colors is an act of disrespect to everyone reading this board.
You can say that posting in broken english is the same thing.
Hey, I'm trying my best.
At least it doesn't hurt anybody's yes.
I don't know if I'll be able to post pics of my Black&Pumkin vinyl-seats when they're done.
The Custom Seat Cover shop hasn't taken my z in yet.
They say it'll take a day, and will call me when they "have an opening". ("Well, La-De-Dah!").
They have nice rep, so are loaded with business. I'll just humbly wait till they call >:
zx3
BTW, how do you do it; change the colors? I haven't figgered it out yet.
zx3
Should I wait till mfr's "recommended first oil change" (3000-5000mi.) before switching to synthetic -- or can I switch earlier than that? I've heard that rings seat better using conventional oil for first 3000-5000mi.
REDLINE REPLY:
"At 2,000 miles you can most certainly switch over to the Red Line (synthetic) Oil."
"At this mileage the rings will have seated and most of the initial wear will have taken place."
(In fact)"the rings in most engines will seal well before 600 miles."
"Thank you for your interest in Red Line Oil".
zx3
what kind of oil do you use in your engine now?
The synth. oil forum has some information in regards of different brands of synth oils.
I wonder if anybody runs one of those brands in their engines (R.Purple, Amsoil, Redline, Mobil1...).
As I understand the cheapest of the above mentioned would be Mobil1 (often on sale at K-Mart).
How about oil filters?
The Motorcraft one is of decent quality.
Anybody tried the "fully synth" Mobil1 oil filter?
Is this worth it? I like the color, and the more performance-oriented wheels, but do not know if this is a good deal. Will this "special edition" hold its resale value better?
Any help would be appreciated. Here is the car I was looking at:
Kona Manual Trans., with all options EXCEPT: ABS and SIDE AIR BAGS. Thanks so much for any advice!
I finally got word from my dealer that my delivery date will be Labor Day (9/4)... that is a whopping 15 weeks to the day from when I ordered my Z. I feel like a little kid that knows that christmas is soon, but feels like it could never be soon enough... Man, I will have waited almost a third of a year for this car by the time I get it. It's a good thing I am totally in love with the car. Otherwise I would have cancelled the order long ago. Anyways, to lunaquest, this post should put into perspective what you're looking at if you decide to order a '01 Z. The kona is a great car, the side moldings dont quite do anything for me, but it truly is a great looking Z. But I wish you luck and happy driving in whatever it is you chose to buy. Just be sure that when you buy, you arent settling for less just to get it sooner. My Z will be worth every long second of the 4 month wait.
NJ
.
not really need)"
If you get the kona, you can sell the bike on e-bay for a decent sum of cash. I recently was checking Focus accesories on E-bay and saw someone selling their Focus limited edition Kona Mountain Bike for well over $900 and the auction still was not over at that point.
Asides from that, the Kona is sweet. I love the 16" wheels, and i'm still trying to locate a set of those waterproof seatcovers for when my focus arrives.
Best of luck on yourfocus shopping
NJ
be here in no time.i know you probably posted this
before,but what color did you order? auto or 5spd.?
best of luck.
I do know how to drive standard, but I have come to the conclusion driving my girlfriends car that standard truly is not fun to drive in an area like NJ/NYC with such dense traffic at every time of day.
I know, I know... most of you 5-speed owners are prolly laughing at me, but I gotta be comfy driving my baby... maybe in a couple years when I move up to NH i'll trade her in for a 5spd
NJ
tempted to switch to the auto.i dont believe the fun factor will be lacking with the auto. i drove
the z with an auto and took a couple of days to
ponder about it.i really like the z auto trans.
ive been driving a manual since i was 16.that was
30yrs.ago and i never made the switch.i was afraid if i went with the auto,id be sorry later.i am really more comfortable and confident with the manual.where you do your driving it probably would
be more of a chore than fun.i am outside philly
but when you hit the city,it is rough in stop+go,
no doubt about it.my kids absolutely despise the manual trans.they wont go anywhere near it.however,
the better half has driven the manual, but much prefers the auto.besides, its your money and your
car,you are the only person you have to please.
the twilight blue is a sharp color.maybe we can get
a poll going to tally-up here,who has manual or auto.
-Auto
POLL ANSWER... I have 5spd stick. Would have loved auto. it would have been my first in years.
zx3
www.mobil.com
You guys have kept me sane during these past 12 weeks...Thanks.
Scouse: Wow, our Z's are definately going to be siblings... will be a good comparison basis for the two of us. I'll keep you posted.
it'll be interesting to see how my Z holds up since I will be making the 1000+ mile drive back to Tampa within a week of delivery... if anyone sees a broken down twilight blue Z on rt95s the weekend after labor day, it'll be me, and i guarantee i'll be a very angry person... but i'll knock on wood and hope for the best.
NJ
NJ
just graduated h.s.,will be starting school in fall.i get a break for 6yrs. for the youngest.would
you believe in 1973 i only paid 15.00 a credit hr.
and gas skyrocketed to .50 a gallon? i was earning
1.50 hr.i had a car pymt.insurance pymt.and tuition
cost.man,have the times changed or what? i dont want to be preachy here,but finish if you can,i know its tough,but as time passes and you look back
the sacrifices you make today,will pay you back in
the future.i wish they had cars like the z when i was a teen.the muscle cars were cool but i am most
fond of zx3.this is one car i will never part with.
i plan on saving it for my 12yr.old son.by that time i hope there will be a turbo version of the zx3.
mine is AUTO.love it .problem free car so far.