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Ford Focus Hatchback ZX3 - Part XI

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Comments

  • neonclearneonclear Member Posts: 1
    bought is in april. about 6,500 miles.
    did the oil change and tire rotation
    for it's price, this car is great
    the seat was uncomfortable at first, but
    it has broken in. the mileage is good. it varies,
    but usually no less than 25 in the city
    cool
    the sound system is kosher
    the brake dust sucks
    i love the keyless entry
    there is soooo much room
    i fit seven big boxes with the seat down,
    and i didn't even have to stack them
    my roomate is 6'2" and he sat comfortably in
    the back seat
    I am 5'9" and have no problem
    driving long distances is quite enjoyable
    autumn orange, tinted windows, cd player, 5spd
    wow....cute...i love the antenna right in the middle front....rear windsheild wiper is sooo
    handy...
    impressive
  • brettzx3brettzx3 Member Posts: 28
    I've had my 2000 ZX3 since December, 1999. It's Infra-Red with the upgraded engine (automatic - I can't drive stick). I love the way it drives and handles. I get so many compliments on it - people stopping me to ask me how I like it, how much it costs, telling me that they think it's so "interesting" looking. We fit an entire huge gas grill in the back of it. It's the best of both worlds - great car with lots of room. I started out with two gripes, but now only have one. First, I don't have tilt steering, but have since adjusted to it and it no longer bothers me. Second, I get the worst gas mileage (like 17 mph, if I'm lucky). I've had it back to the dealer, but they say they can't find anything wrong, that the car needs to "break-in." I'm not buying that, but don't know what else to do. I have a little less than 4,000 miles on it. Suggestions?
  • silver_bulletsilver_bullet Member Posts: 1,339
    Brettzx3, what is an "upgraded" engine? Ford equips the ZX3 with the 130HP twin cam 2.0 liter Zetec - what do you have?
  • scotty_95073scotty_95073 Member Posts: 1
    Does anyone know if an armrest for in between the front seats is available for a ZX3?

    And what about a spoiler for the "upper" part of the rear window?
  • jwkessler1jwkessler1 Member Posts: 99
    Arm rests can be ordered from Ford and you can install them yourself. As I recall, there was a lot on this on the Focus Forum a while back.

    http://www.discussion-board.com/clubfocus/
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    Anybody knows the drag coefficient number of the ZX3?
    I red somewhere that it is very high, as high as
    0.36, which is terrible for a small car.
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    I'm willing to be he mean the 2.0L Zetec. Which is "upgraded" from the 8v engine, but stock on our car. I'm sure the dealer said something like "...and this one comes with the upgraded engine."
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    I thin that .36 is close, but i thought .34. I think the June Automobile Mag has those numbers. I have it at home...I'll check.
  • brettzx3brettzx3 Member Posts: 28
    If I remember correctly the dealer probably did tell me that the engine that I have is an "optional" engine. I didn't realize that it is standard. That aside, any suggestions or comments about the poor gas mileage? Anything I could suggest to the dealer to check?
  • tickbittytickbitty Member Posts: 250
    that gas mileage is unacceptable, and is NOT because it needs to break in. I got 33 mpg on my very first tank, and have gotten no worse than 25-26 for about town driving. I've gotten over 38 for highway. THis is on a five speed but I think there must be some real problem if you are not getting out of the teens. I couldn't say what, just know that it is not normal! Good luck..
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    Looks like the ZX3 shape is not that aerodynamic at all.
    .34 sounds more like a truck than a small car.
    Space efficiency didn't come cheap in the ZX3 case.
    And it doesn't help fuel efficiency either.
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    Yes...I remember being a little underwhelmed by that number, but the car is stable in wind (trust me on this one, I took it through the Columbia River Gorge). It will affect mileage a little, but .34 isn't bad fr a hatch. I think it's comparable to the golf and Civic. But, again, I'll check and get some real numbers.
  • uthemanutheman Member Posts: 18
    Does anyone know where I can get a list of all the Ford factory recalls on the Focus?

    Thanks in advance.
  • njzx3njzx3 Member Posts: 170
    im right where you are with production... ordered the end of may, build date i think is the 8th of august... looks like our Z's are gona be brothers... or is it sisters? what is a Z? anyways, it's nice to know someone will be gettin one from the same build... we'll be able to compare problems/mileage, etc...

    NJ
  • pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    utherman,
    Go to Edmunds.com, upper left on your screen and click, scroll down to "safety", left side of screen, and click again, then follow instructions.
    Thats about the best I can send you to. Maybe somebody knows of something else. Don't know if Blue Oval News has anything or not.

    If you register your car at: "www.ownerconnection.com", it will tell you if there are any recalls each time you log in.

    Pat
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    All my cars have been girls, but I named this one Edgar, so he's gotta be a boy. Although I do slip and refer to it, or him, as her sometimes.

    Wow...that's a lot of pronouns for one sentence... =]
  • pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    Just catching up. Understand what your saying. Was at a interchange, so all I got was a quick glance. Didn't even see lic plates to see where it was from.

    From everything I have read about focus and accidents, the XZ3 is the car to be in if you are going to be in a accident! Odds of walking away are in our favor.

    Pat
  • njzx3njzx3 Member Posts: 170
    Togneter...

    I think my Z is gonna have to be a Boy as well.. being that it's twilight blue, boy seems to fit the color... but then again... there's just something unsettling about getting "inside a boy" =) ok... that was pretty gross...

    NJ
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    Quite appropriate if the car has a rainbow sticker attached.
  • njzx3njzx3 Member Posts: 170
    nope... wont be any rainbows or purple triangles on my Z... maybe some skate company stickers... but thats about it

    got my chrome exhaust tip today... only cost $7 from a friend of mine whos family owns an auto parts shop here in NJ. Now i just need the car to put it on

    NJ
  • gabegarwickgabegarwick Member Posts: 127
    Wow! I noticed from some of the posts that quite a few of you have been racking up the miles on your ZX3's since delivery. (Either that, or it just seems that way to me)

    I've had mine 4 months now...
    ...only 2400 miles on the odo. :)
    I'm sure that I'm atypical in my mileage habits though...

    cheers,
    Gabe
  • drebe73drebe73 Member Posts: 243
    Hey gang lets not get off topic here with the Gender issue. I don't like where the discussion is going. ;)
  • zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    i know for sure mine is definitely a female, or
    i wouldnt be driving in it.
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    Yeah...I have about 6000 miles on my car in 3.5 months. That is mostly due to 3 road trips of 600-700 miles each. Otherwise I put about 180-200 miles on my car per week.

    I road-trip a lot in the summer. In the winter, I'll hardly put any miles on my Z.
  • fgaydosfgaydos Member Posts: 319
    Was just looking at the Daewoo vs Protege site, in the top ten board, wow! They are really going at it over there. Talk about bad manners. This board is positively civilized by comparison.
    I hope when we have disagreements in the future we continue to display restraint and good manners.
    Kinda funny when you can step back away from it.
  • fgaydosfgaydos Member Posts: 319
    I also noticed they are posting pictures in the discussion board. How did they do that?
    Try 399 and 400. Mazda vs Protege.
  • zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    have you read honda civic vs. ford focus zx3
    recently? this board here is tops,at least we all
    know how to lighten up a little and have some fun.
    you only live once, makes no sense to live it bitter.have you been inconvenienced this week with
    the convention in town? i cant wait for the humidity to break, since you told me about that a/c
    re-circ button my air has been icy cold.i run it all the time.thanks man!
  • maynard7maynard7 Member Posts: 16
    I hope the photo appears here
  • focuszx3rfocuszx3r Member Posts: 92
    no photo
  • superf22superf22 Member Posts: 54
    n/t
  • brettzx3brettzx3 Member Posts: 28
    I did the same thing. Driving around complaining that my air-conditioning was not all it should be, when my husband reached over and pushed the re-circ button and then smugly said "have you tried using THIS button?" Ok, so I felt a little dumb for a couple minutes, but I sure was more comfortable.

    I noticed you mention the convention. Are you in Philly too?

    P.S. No photo, just a square.
  • judasjudas Member Posts: 217
    I think the CD for the golf is .29 or .30, but I'm not positive.
  • drjaxdrjax Member Posts: 1
    Hi there everyone,
    Just to let you know I got my new ZX3 yesterday
    Rainforest Green Auto and a/c. Dealer had what I wanted in stock - I phoned monday - told them what I wanted - No money down, No trade in and finance for $250 a month - got it no messin' so I'm happy ($100 over invoice and $400 recent grad reduction gotthe ZX3 for just under $13,000. Not too happy about the mileages you are all reporting tho' (mpg) but I guess I'll just have to get used to the different compression here in the US. (my car in the UK (Vauxhall) was getting 50 mpg (station wagon)
    When gas prices get to where they were last year here then I reckon I'll get equivalent miles for my money but certainly hope I get better than the teens pg.
  • fgaydosfgaydos Member Posts: 319
    No, have not been inconvenienced by the protestors. The night they went on the rampage I was going to my outdoor pool at 20th and Lombard and missed them. :>) Sat by the cabana with drink in hand and watched the choppers circle downtown.
    Am seeing more and more Focus around town. Give them the 'ol thunbs up sign.

    Maybe the car lady can suggest how we can post pics.?
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    A picture of me:

    image
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    It worked...
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    ...you can post pics using HTML tags.
  • judasjudas Member Posts: 217
    image
  • judasjudas Member Posts: 217
    You can make href's too.

    You don't have to close out an IMG with /IMG.
  • judasjudas Member Posts: 217
    Forgot to put the http:// in. Oh well.
  • zx3borizx3bori Member Posts: 3
    I recall reading about drebe73 getting the Clutch Master Cyn replace, and my ZX3 is having the same part replaced, ¿¿¿I was wondering how it work out for drebe73??? Also is the A/C on '4' suppose to be so loud?
  • maynard7maynard7 Member Posts: 16
    I posted a photo late last night & it showed up then. When I checked the discussion group this morning, I got a broken link. I then did a page reload, and the photo displayed. I'm a web site developer, so I know how to do a link to an image. I'm not sure why photos sometimes show up & sometimes they don't (on this newsgroup).
  • gabegarwickgabegarwick Member Posts: 127
    If anyone does not see the above photo of a silver ZX3 (post #363), please speak up!

    thanks,
    Gabe
  • zgrrrlzgrrrl Member Posts: 147
    I work for a motorsports promoter....one of our Monster Trucks was in the parking lot today and I wanted a pic of me in my little silver Z next to it...but by the time I got out there....it was gone. I am going to have to take a trip to the warehouse and have it done. I think it'd be too funny...
    since you are all postings pics and all :)
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    I see al the pictures just fine except for the first one.
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    If you look back a few posts (not many) you'll see that drebe73 was very happy with the new Master Cylinder.

    With the A/C on 4, you should expect some noise, Now, if you're talking about like clanking, banging noises, then that's out of the ordinarty. If the A/C is just loud...well...you have it on FOUR, fer crying out loud. That means that a large volume of air is being forced through a small hole very quickly. Try blowing through a straw some time. It makes more noise the harder you blow. I've found that I just need the A/C on 4 for about 30 seconds to cool down the car, then I turn it to 1 or 2 to maintain the temp.
  • miata23miata23 Member Posts: 26
    zxbori,

    there's a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 0066) on
    a "fluttering noise" when the A/C is on high. You might want to review it if this is the sort of sound you are noticing. Go to:

    http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/tsb/

    and then plug in "Ford Focus 2000" in the appropriate boxes - then scroll through the
    92 records - it's near the end of the list
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    O.K.
    Here is an update for my Z.
    Production date -- 4th week of May.
    Got it on June 24.
    Put 3500 miles on it since then.
    Since the day one my car had the following problems:

    1. Infamous engine hesitation (tried to reset the ECU by disconnecting the battery for 20 min. The problem came back the following day.)
    2. Diesel rattle noise coming from the transaxle.
    3. An intermittent fuel gauge problem.(first and third fill ups)
    4. A misterious gear whine in higher gears at the
    highway speeds.(especially noticeable in 5th at 70MPH.
    5. The throttle hangs up at higher RPMs--makes it difficult to power shift.(a car's feature - everybody with the man. tranny has it)

    All of the problems were described in detail in the previous posts.

    The most annoying of them are hesitation and the diesel noise. I can't tolerate them anymore. Just scheduled an appointment with the dealer.
  • tognetertogneter Member Posts: 245
    I heard a noise like this when I was accellerating through a tunnel the other day, and I thought about your posts. If it's the same nois I heard, I think it's normal.

    I don't have the throttle han-up problem. Not at all. Hmm.
This discussion has been closed.