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Ford Focus Hatchback ZX3 - Part XI

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Comments

  • greycapgreycap Member Posts: 19
    My Z, when I finally get it, will have the slushbox. (Ordered 31 May, scheduled build 15 August, delivery - who knows?)

    The auto is best suited to the downtown streets where I live and mostly drive. But, assuming the Z transmission is identical to the sedan, there will be times when I'll really wish I had the 5-speed. I rented the sedan for couple weeks on a recent vacation, and noticed two problems at highway speed: A) the auto doesn't like to downshift, making passing on a 2-lane a nervous affair, and B) climbing a steep grade can cause the transmission to hunt back and forth at certain speeds.
  • greycapgreycap Member Posts: 19
    Oh, forgot one problem that occurred at (very) low speeds. A few times the auto refused to shift into drive after backing out of a parking spot. Had to stop the engine and restart to fix the problem.
  • zgrrrlzgrrrl Member Posts: 147


    I must apologize. It was never my intent to feel special. It was never my intent to keep secrets. Apparently you missed the entire post in your haste to reveal "the secret". If you were to scroll back and read the post you'll see "it's a secret (ha!) no actually everyone here probably knows how to do it"... I am truly sorry for any inconvenience I may have caused you. Should you adjust your "in jest detector" it may help clear up any confusion caused.Thank you!



    #551 of 583: Re:vadp ,re: zgrx3l (kdominczak) Thu 10 Aug '00 (04:48 PM)

    Civic vs. Focus is a "very special forum"
    I would never send a girl there... how could you?!

    A very special forum indeed that was stared by this girl under the other handle she could not use any longer because of some trumped up cookie problem and a lost pass word. A very special forum created to help this girl (and hopefully others) make her decision in purchasing her new car. A very special forum that has unfortunately become very hostile place with nuggets of very useful information.


    On another sad note. Managed to almost crack my driver's side mirror off at an ATm yesterday. Ran into a short pole I didn't see (obviously!) and heard a big CRUNCH. Ouch. It's fortunate the plastic kind of moved at the seams but did not crack. Altho now there is a small scrape and a strip of beige paint on it. Anyone know how to get that paint of the plastic? Same rules apply to that poor girl who had it all over the back of her car?

    Thanks guys!


  • minizx3minizx3 Member Posts: 32
    I opted for the automatic....I've always driven auto and wasn't sure I could drive a manual (I'm a girl...I know no excuse but..). Have the car since March 20th, 3,300 miles on it, nothing major wrong..gas gauge thingy and rattling that's disappeared. I LOVE MY ZX3!!!!

    Sighted my twin this morning going north on the Garden State Parkway at 5:40am if it was one of you HOWDY!!!

  • zgrrrlzgrrrl Member Posts: 147

    Oops! Forgot to vote. 5spd. LOVE it. Missed it when they loaned me the focus auto.

    Gas mileage - got about 36 mpg on my road trip (pure highway miles, little use of AC) but during the week with I'd say 75% highway driving I get about 30-ish.

    Which reminds me. Does anyone know the effects of Drag of car with windows open vs. air on? Is it true you may as well just run the air because the drag created from the windows down doesn't help the mpg?



  • guyindaskyguyindasky Member Posts: 28
    Have you heard???...Ford is hooking up with General Mills for some new cobranding of products...You can read all about it right here.

    http://www.edmunds.com/edweb/editorial/exhaust/cheerio.html?id=nl
  • zgrrrlzgrrrl Member Posts: 147
    That's HILARIOUS. Have you ever read "the onion"? Looks like something right out of there...

    like when they did the satire on a certain car makers "instant win airbags"...

    the article went on to talk about how, in an effort to boost sales, the car manufacturer was introducing their "instant win air bags" and there was a picture of a guy in the front seat of the car passed out, air bag deployed and in big letters on the air bag it said "SORRY TRY AGAIN". One of the funniest things I had ever seen.

    I digress....
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    Some are saying my words are too harsh.
    Sorry, had no intent to insult or put you down.
    It's just the way I'm.

    Regarding the Civic vs. Focus forum.
    If somebody call me names I would just ignore it.
    There is no reason to get insulted.
    I think you know that better. Every forum is special in its own way. The majority of them have very useful information and the most important, they have lots of feedaback coming from the real people,driving on the real world roads.
    Yes, there are gonna be some less than thoughtfull posts here and there. Hey, it is just the nature of the beast.
    I would never consider buying a Ford product before. People who know me were really surprised when I got the Focus-my first brand new car. And I made the decesion to buy it because of this forum which I started to read way back in Dec.
    And frankly I still think it was the right decision.
  • silver_bulletsilver_bullet Member Posts: 1,339
    Ouch! Too bad our mirrors don't fold back like on more expensive cars, huh? There's that cost cutting again...

    Try 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner no.08984. Don't rub excessively, and be ready to treat the mirror to a vinyl, plastic, and rubber care product to restore the sheen. I would try something milder first - maybe a bug and tar remover, which is mostly kerosine. Good luck!
  • gabegarwickgabegarwick Member Posts: 127
    I hid my #593 post not because it is a large pic, just out of consideration for those on dial-up accounts...

    Oh, mine is an auto.
    Kind of hard to see in the pic, but I do have WeatherTech Wind/Rain deflectors on.
    Also, I have pics of my Ractive Intake I installed.
    If anyone wants to see more pics, just ask. :)

    cheers,
    Gabe
  • gabegarwickgabegarwick Member Posts: 127
    I forgot! {smack forehead}
    If you do want to see the picture that I hid, in post # 593, just click on Hidden Response... 1 line
  • skater4skater4 Member Posts: 35
    Zgrrl, that's me who has the white paint all over her car. I think you and I should try the Bug and Tar remover and see how that works. Gosh, I hope I'm not starting some bad, karmic paint curse or anything! If all else fails, I can always break out the peanut butter, right? :-)
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    That looks exactly like my little siver beauty, but did you have to pay extra for the "tree growing out of the side window" option? =]
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    Mine's a 5-speed. Wouldn't have it any other way, even thpough I live in a city with lots of hills, and the 3rd worst traffi in the nation (Seattle)...

    Results so far:

    Auto - 7

    Manual - 6
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    I always forget to use the spell check. Grrrr....
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    Autumn orange, dark charcoal interior 5-speed with every option excluding the smoker's package.
    Ordered Jan.12 through CarOrder.($1000 UNDER invoice)
    Took delivery June 24.(reordered-dealer messed up the options the first time)
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    What would I do without it?

    http://www.theonion.com/onion3013/airbag.html
    ___________

    Auto - 7

    Manual - 7
  • njzx3njzx3 Member Posts: 170
    hey pat,
    was it you that bought the Lund "X-Terminator" bugshield? do you have any pictures of it installed on your car? also gabe, I'd love to see those a shot of that intake system you installed.

    thanks,
    NJ
  • davidmasdavidmas Member Posts: 12
    anybody know about advancetrac, over $1000 option for 2001? What is it's purpose, is it worth it,under what circumstances does it work?
  • zgrrrlzgrrrl Member Posts: 147

    You found it! I was going to go look for that link, but there it is! Isn't that just HILARIOUS? I thought the guy was passed out but I guess he's just showing it. I actually have that paper issue. I saved it 'cause I thought it was so darn funny.

    It also reminds me of another story I read somewhere (sorry, but I digress!)

    An older couple went to look for a new car. An eager young salesman was helping them telling them about a certain car. The older man was concerned with the model he was being shown because it only had a driver's side air bag. He wanted a vehicle that had a passanger air bag too he said because

    "If I am drivng and we get in an accident I don't wan to have to have hear my wife scream as I watch her go through the windshield of the car"

    The youngsalesman's response? "Oh no sir, once your air bag deploys, you won't be able to hear or see anything"

    Ok, I thought it was funny. I guess I better stop before carlady tells me to start my own "air bag humor" forum.

    :)
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    davidmas,
    in my opinion this systems are worth the money in the snow belt, worthless in CA,TX,FL etc.

    check out this link

    http://www.apbnews.com/safetycenter/transport/2000/05/23/rollover0523_01.html

    hope this helps
  • bjammin2bjammin2 Member Posts: 42
    Add another to the manual column. My Z is my first manual and I don't think anything short of San Francisco hills will have me ever going back to autos.
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    Autos - 7

    Manuals - 8
  • wbzx3fanwbzx3fan Member Posts: 10
    I think your wait is the shortest on record here. Your silver Z is a 2000?
  • njzx3njzx3 Member Posts: 170
    I think I'm taking the record for the longest wait so far... planned delivery on an order placed on may 30th is the week of September 4th which adds up to a whopping 15 weeks. And thats assuming that delivery is on time, but at the rate things have been going, I am having serious doubts about that.

    NJ
  • kkankkan Member Posts: 18
    I have ordered a manual with the 50p equipment group, just waiting to take delivery. Does anyone know if the singrea red that the focus comes in is the same hue as other red metalic ford cars. I also added the Manual moonroof but have not been able to find out any information on wether the roof will slide back or just flip up.
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    autos - 7

    manuals - 9
  • pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    That makes, lets see:

    autos = 8

    manuals = 9
  • pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    Here it is again for those interested in a bug deflector:
    "www.geocities.com/parmm005/index.html"

    Be patience as it takes a while to download. will have to get back there and fix it.

    Pat
  • catmomcatmom Member Posts: 42
    Count me for an auto tranny.

    "Sangria Red" is the same color as "Toreador Red" in all the other Ford lines. They changed the name on several colors so we would think they are COOL!
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    ...dead even.

    Autos - 9

    Manuals - 9

    This is interesting.
  • njzx3njzx3 Member Posts: 170
    I have that post checker thing on... cause I had the exact same post about to go through, but yer too quick for me togneter =)

    NJ
  • njzx3njzx3 Member Posts: 170
    where did you find the X-Terminator? do you have a part number or a website address that I can order from? that looks great and im sure it helps to keep quite a but of crap off your windshield/hood

    thanks,
    NJ
  • pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    If you go way back thru post, most of the foci enthustics wanted the manual and you couldn't find a manual on any of the lots. They were a very rare commodity. If you wanted a manual you had to order it. This was one of the reasons I ended up with a auto. I wanted it and I wanted it right now!
  • pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    I got it at local speed shop (at lower price than I could find on internet). Lund does have a web site, but can't remember the address now. Just search for lund products or bug deflectors and you should find it. They are the largest bug deflector manfg. for trucks in the US. If I remember right, I paided $42.00 (US) for it. At the time it was only available in smoke. I would have prefered clear. Very easy to install and really helps in protecting the hood!

    Pat
  • zx3zx3 Member Posts: 167
    In fact that silver z is beeoootiful!
    And yes Gabe, by all means, "more pics".

    Zgrrrl:
    nice colors you're using for text. For poor eyes (like mine? -- oh no, not mine of course!) could u hit "Bold" key? Color'd be even nicer.

    Zx3beast:
    thanx for Mobil-1 link, buddy!
    zx3
  • zx3zx3 Member Posts: 167
    Carlady:
    Is our Z ever going to have a Club of its own?
    I heard it was applied for months ago.
    You've granted certain other cars (Camaro?) a Club of their own here at Edmunds.
    Anything been decided on our Application yet?
    Big thanks for any info.....
    zx3
  • zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    very interesting results thus far.if you listen to
    car dealers they would have you believe that the
    5spd.was no longer desirable.given the reasonable price of the z,it seems that those who purchased the 5spd. didnt do so to save a few bucks but for
    the thrills.
  • zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    am i a bad weather forecaster or what? i missed this one by miles.another excuse for me not to drive down to the shore.hey,maybe next weekend.
  • zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    zx3 - is everything alright with your z? i know
    you were somewhat concerned about the oil change.
    im at 5,500 mi.after reading post on synthetic
    and silver bullets endorsement, i have decided to
    make the switch on the 6,000 mark. did you use the mobil one oil or the redline product?
  • zx3zx3 Member Posts: 167
    Beast, I was briefly w/synthetic, but I'm with dino now till I hit 3000, then I'll use Mobil-1 from there on out. thanx again for that link.
    BTW, do you think Carlady is on vacation? Notice how long this topic is now -- way over 600 posts.
    Reason I ask, is do you think the club thingy is still alive, or is Edmunds silence our answer?
    Would you like a club too? We have the top selling car in the world.
  • zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    zx3 - i remember way,way, back we were supposed to
    be on deck.i believe gabe was waiting on car lady.
    but man,that had to be a few thousand post ago.
    my guess is that it is still alive but there is
    probably technical issues to work out.sure,im for a
    club.it will probably happen soon.
    oil change-are you saying you had dumped synth for
    now? ....thanks!
  • rwgreenbergrwgreenberg Member Posts: 154
    Hi all. Does anyone have a take on the pros and cons of having 16 inch wheels, as opposed to the standard 15 inchers. Thanks, Rich
  • hondattitudehondattitude Member Posts: 17
    a quick hello to everyone ....
    9722 trouble-free miles
    razzi body kit
    ractive intake
    borla cat back
    white faced gauges
    b&m short throw shifter ( yes count me in as a manny)
    tint (cannot disclose % hehe)
    17x7 SGV's
    Pirelli 215/45ZR17 P7000's
    Focus Sport plug wires

    "WE LOVE THIS CAR!!!"
  • hondattitudehondattitude Member Posts: 17
    we use synthetic oil. change at 3000 miles oil & filter. Mobil 1 5W-30.
  • hondattitudehondattitude Member Posts: 17
    using my son's best friend's pc .... if you hadnt guessed he has a honda. oh well ... i am projectzx3! hehe
  • drebe73drebe73 Member Posts: 243
    pat that deflector looks great I had one for my cavalier from vent visor. Does yours install with self tapping screws?
    gabe are your rain deflectors the ones that install on the inside of the window or the ones that stick on the outside door frame. I had the outside ones on the cavalier but want the inside ones for my focus.

    Pitch Black, dark charcoal interior, with the beginnings of the synthetic brushed aluminum dash trim/manual transmission(first ever and loving it)/power locks/no comfort group, not available back in january/no side airbags/manual windows/standard CD player, sony 10 disc changer,transfered from my chevy./tint came with the car from the dealer (was charged way to much IMHO)/ my future planned additions: Viper alarm, seat covers, more dash trim, rain deflectors, and stone deflector/
    maybe a sun roof.
  • projectzx3projectzx3 Member Posts: 256
    anyway, lots of great focus parts out there now...
    focus = fun to drive! whether 100% stock or modified! most fun i've had in years! re-ignited my love affair with the automobile.
  • superf22superf22 Member Posts: 54
    gotta have a manual. definetly for the thrills.

    manual: 10

    auto: 9
  • jimmyfocuszx3jimmyfocuszx3 Member Posts: 65
    Hiya all. I bought my Autumn Orange ZX3 back in April and while it took a little doing, the stick wasn't all that hard to find, so add me in the "Rows gears by self" column. I just bought a new set of [same size] rims and tires and they should be on by the next weekend. I was looking for a rear wing like that on the WRC Rally Focus. So if anyone knows of any company making them, please let me know.
This discussion has been closed.