The problem took 4 hours to fix, including a slight realignment of the rear hatch. It involved an insufficient application of weather proofing material around a couple of rivets. So far so good. And the dealer seems quite helpful though a bit pricey when it comes to oil changes.
Hasn't been a month yet and I have 4000 miles on the car. Still very happy with my purchase.
Greetings chigagodriver & Zgrril I to was a Carbondaleite, from 70-76. And was one of the original professional students at SIU! Yes I remember Halloween nights, but it started out as a kind of street party, and over the years got a little out of hand. My ZX3 is 6mos old and 6k miles. I love it! I somewhat disappointed with the gas mileage, I was getting about 18-19 in town with air on. Since I turned off the air it's only about 22-24. I brought this up with the dealer and wrote Ford, they smile politely and nod their heads in a affirmative manner..... and thats it! My T-Bird 5.0 ltr V8 got 30mpg on the hwy! it seems to be getting better so I'm going to give it 10k before I get serious. As far as recalls go even Lexus had some serious recalls, to me its no big deal, the quality of the vehicle is quite incredible for the money. My parter bought a Honda SI that cost him almost 20k, I drive both cars and can tell you the focus is the better all around vehicle. Yes the Honda's have a neat 8k top end but I would rather have the torque of our Z-tech any day of the week. The fanatical following of the ricers is nothing more then self assuring rhetoric. If you paid the prices Honda ask you would be talking to your self too! By the way I paid 12,180 with air with tax that was exactly 13k at 4% 3 years! yes ricers that is 7k under your SI's...anyway what ever comes up I still think we have a great car!
had the rear wheel recall 00S31 fixed and a couple of days later get a card from the parts manager at my dealership telling me that the part for recall 00S20 is on backorder for me. Didn't know I had another recall..... anyone know what this one is for?
This recall is on the NHTSA site - it is for the A-pillar trim modification. Ford is going to have to come up with replacement trim pieces that provide more impact protection than the hard plastic pieces currently in our cars.
I have been planning to buy a new car for awhile, but have been busy and haven't actually done it yet. I had pretty much decided on the ZX3, as the Focus received such great reviews in various magazine articles, as the best small car, etc.
Now I've just read all the posts here, and it seems like many people are unhappy with their purchase of a Focus, many recalls, etc.
Would people recommend I get a different car instead, like the Civic?
Have the problems with the 2000 Focus been fixed in the 2001 models? Does anyone know?
hello there maiki, I would highly suggest the focus zx3. I ordered a 2001 and am loving it. So far I have not encountered any real problems. At first my chair would squeek a little bit but I haven't noticed it in a week, probably had to wear some of the springs in. This car was definetyl a wise decision. Before I ordered it I too was nervous about it, with all of the recalls and such but my nerves have been settled with my purchase. One thing I noticed now is that I'm driving a whole lot more, I used to just drive to get to places now when I need a break from something I just pop into my car and drive. I love this car and I think that if you purchase one you'll have the same feelings.
I am happy with my ZX3 and would recommend it over a Civic. Remember that Honda discontinued the Civic hatchback for the U.S. in 2001 - you will need to look for a 2000 Civic if you want a hatchback. I hope Ford has fixed the problems with the Focus for the 2001 model year, but only time will tell.
Locally, my auto parts stores tell me that dust free brake pads for 2001 Focus are not listed in catalogs as of yet. Will pads from the 2000 focus fit a 2001 model?
Someone told me that using metalic or kelvar brake pads in cold climates is not good as the cold reduces brake responsiveness or effectiveness. can anyone confirm this?
Unless Ford changed the front calipers for 2001 (not very likely), the EBC Kevlar pads that fit the 2000 model will work fine in the 2001. Regarding cold weather and brakes, I can't confirm this since south TX never gets really cold. I think the person you spoke with is confusing low ambient temps with "cold brakes". It is true that some competition spec pads do not provide much stopping power until they've been heated up by several hard applications. For this reason, EBC recommends their "Green Stuff" pad for the street, not their "Red" or "Yellow" pads.
What's with this number? I paid CAD $20K loaded, auto. Are you including tax? (For those of you unfamiliar with my icy northern homeland, our swinging sales taxes are 7% federal + variable provincial = 15% where I live.)
door locks that are not remote.
Not the greatest mile/per/gallon nor litre?
Blind spots galore.
I have to agree with all this. I often resort to the "chin trick" for the remote. And you can add the split back / non-split bench issue.
Squeeky brake drums.
An engine that surges/pauses/hesitates....
Under acceleration when steering off center vibrates.
I've been lucky enough to escape these problems.
Can't find the seat belt.
Brake pad residue on front rims soon after washing.
The feelings these complaints evoke in me are too puny to do justice to "love" or "hate".
I'm amazed that you've had trouble beating a minivan off the line. I guess you should've got auto - I've never had trouble that way. Passing on a 2-lane, on the other hand, is not the ZX3's strong suit.
My ZX3 (Black,Premium pkg. Auto) should be arriving at my dealer in December. Postings about problems and recalls didn't effect my purchase decision. I had the same experience with my last two cars, and had no problems in both cases. Remember that we tend to "focus" on the bad news, but we don't hear about all the good experiences people are having with their new cars! That's just the nature of these boards. I look forward to giving you my impressions in a few months -
Had the fix today, no biggie. While waiting I went into the showroom to look at the new '01 red Zx3 with fancy 'skirts' all around looking cool and a motorized sunroof. They also had the center arm rest installed. I was really tempted to trade in right then and there.:>) Maybe next year.
on the contrary, an overwhelming percentage of post are of a positive nature concerning the zx3.you have to go back to the beginning and read the whole story.in this forum there are many who have tried to give an honest assessment of their likes, dis- likes and recent frustration of recalls and timely delivery of parts.it can be reasonably assumed that most are delighted with the z overall,however there are others who have issues that need to be addressed and resolved.its the service after the delivery that makes the difference.no question,the z is a price/performance leader,the real question is will it be reliable for the long term.right now, it seems suspect.im upset about the recalls and inconvenience of same.i still enjoy the ride.
Well I got the call today from the dealer. My sangria red ZX3 with Premium group, on moonroof will be waiting for me in the morning. I have only been waiting since Aug. 3rd. Well I will give everyone an update on the placement of the arm rest and the operation of the moonroof since I was never able to get a good answer on these issues since they are new in 2001 model year. later.
OK lets get real, the price you pay is the price of the car plus everything else they could stick in your butt. All you Honda freaks pay A.D.M. additional dealer margin! Here in central Florida its about $2500! the price {I have actually seen the REAL bill of sale} for a Honda SI with Honda equity lease financing, warranty insurance, because if you finance longer then the three years they want you to buy it! 12% interest for 4 years and a $8000 buy out ....are you ready for this was $31,200. I'm not making this up. Remember the price you pay is the total of all the extras thrown in with the compounding interest. My focus cost me $13,800 total.....now lets see how many moon roofs, power windows, whatever I could add in with the savings! But thats not the point, The SI is a great car its just that you have to go to a Honda dealer to get one, and around here that could be dangerous.
Has anyone tried the AdvanceTrac traction control on the 2001 ZX3 yet? Is it really worth the $1200 or so extra that it costs? Does it add significantly to the safety of the auto? Could it add more problems?
Hi. I too am about to get my 2001 with moonroof and as you know the wait has been long. (I still have a couple of weeks left.) Please ask about whether the 2001 has been affected by the recalls of the 2000. Good luck!
Am I being overly picky or does anyone else feel that the felt lining in the rear wheel wells will hold moisture and contribute to rust, etc.? I guess they lined them w/ felt to quell noise but really, how much can it help over the older plastic lining used on other vehicles?
why not sell it? Not many used ZX3 on the market as of yet, so somebody might snap it up if it is still looking sharp. Lots of people probably know less about cars than you do, and might not even notice the noise or have a problem with it. And you'd be free to move on to the next car of your dreams....
I want to attach mud flaps on the front of my zx3, however, there doesn't seem to be anywhere substantial to attach them. Anyone else put flaps on their car successfully?
yes, if you had to sell it at a loss I would certainly understand your reluctance to do so. Do hope you find some satisfaction. If my car was doing this, would it be obvious to me? Because compared to my last vehicle (an Isuzu truck with a completely shot engine and everything else) this car is quiet as it can be. Could I miss the sound you describe?
You can miss the rattling sound while accelerating if you drive with your windows up. That sound could be clearly heard at the normal take off next to a wall on a relatively quiet street. Under this condition you can hear every sound, your car emits, bouncing back to you.
The most obvious one is the knocking/tapping like sound at idle. It's always there during the cold start up. Start up your engine on the cold morning, lower your window and listen. You should hear a tapping like sound through the regular cold engine noise. And I'm not talking about the normal noise produced by meshing in gears. That tapping is very much pronounced. Pronounced enough to be noticed by any non-car person. Now press your clutch pedal. Tapping/knocking should go away. Release the pedal - it's back. After the car/drivetrain completely warms up this knocking becoming more of intermitting nature. If it's not there I can induce it by quickly pressing/releasing the clutch pedal several times. This is exactly a type of the noise you can induce by slightly moving the shifter within the gate at idle in neutral, like if you're trying to engage a gear without pressing on the clutch pedal.
If you followed those procedures and can't hear any strange noises, lucky you - your car doesn't have it.
vadp, not good for your blood pressure, or the ticker.
Oh, the only Honda I've ever been able to negotiate was a used one. That's why I would not by a new Honda. Same for Toyota. In the part of NYS where I live they will not negotiate, and there is a lack of dealers. Seems like the Honda and Toyota dealers we have here have a attitude.
I understand your frustration in war against sloppiness. "If it moves ahead and the wheels are not falling off-it's all right" That philosophy makes Ford looking really sloppy. It's not a third world here (where that kind of attitude could work) and Ford does have very high aspirations. Modern car should do a lot more than just move ahead. Focus could set a new standard in quality and performance. Unfortunately it still needs some substantial tweaking. I hope that your war will not turn into the fight against the "wind-mills". Good luck.
I understand your concern with "taking a bath" by selling your car, but how much is your peace of mind worth? If it REALLY burns you up, and you truly don't have the time or inclination to do battle with Ford, why not sell the car, take the loss, and chalk it up to experience? Life is too short to waste so much time and energy on something like an automobile. Vote with your checkbook, and make your next purchase elsewhere. Ford is a big company, and it is unlikely you'll ever get much satisfaction on your noisy transaxle problem - unless Ford is forced to do something, and this isn't a safety or emissions issue.
I have driven BMW's and a German Focus with this feature and it is most noticable in evasive driving or situations like autocrossing. In normal driving conditions you'll never know it's there except that it costs a lot and you do get 4 wheel disc brakes with it. There are more parts, so more chances for things to go wrong but the system is basic and uses the ABS and traction control. I have not driven a north American version but did order my FocusZX3 with this option.
For other people in this group...
Has anyone had any allergy symptoms they think might be related to the fabric or foam used in the seats? A Visteon factory had to reassign workers due to allergic reaction to materials used in Focus seats. I'm curious about this, there was no mention of which seats only Focus seats.
i always welcome your input regarding the trans noise. it is real and you are right,it shouldnt exist.i have the same symptoms you have described. i am deliberately keeping my mileage low.i am pres- ently leaving the option open to trading my car. i am also disappointed with ford.i,also give weight to how i had to work to purchase this car.my time alive however,cant be measured in dollars.if you have the will and determination, get the ford district rep involved.presently,i am taking one recall at a time and documenting every contact with the dealer and ford customer service. who i talk to, what was said,what was promised, parts delay, completed work and so on.you can get what you want, but it requires patience and resolve. sometimes at my age, i have little patience,i want it done yesterday.remember,you know more about your car and the problems you are experiencing.they are legitimate and in no way unreasonable.by the way,most of the baby boomers here have parents with the same values regarding hard work + money.their sacrifices have made a better world for all of us.i try hard to never forget it.by the way,i think i know who that anonymous
It's a lot easier for me to understand where your frustration is coming from. Similar backgrounds and overall expectations from "the promise land" must have a lot to do with it. I also agree with the comments from other veterans (s.bullet, zx3beast) Take it this way: It's only a car. Car made by a big company. That big company is building it's cars without much attention to detail and with a van-like finish quality(totally different than VW). Focus is a first car from Ford that was going to change that unfocused image. There will be next generation of focuses, hopefully with a different engine/transmission set. And if you can wait till 2002 or so, trade in for that model. That's what I'm planning to do. My dream Focus would be zx3 based, with smoother,more fuel efficient and more powerful engine 150hp. I like the automatics(hate the traffic)but I'm praying for a more modern automatic transmission (5-speed auto,programmable more sporty when needed) I like current ZX3 a lot, but I also can't stand sloppiness and a lack of attention to detail that Ford is showing (very American way, sad but true) Size over Skill Power over Finesse ...still love America, zx3,and almost forgot ....my wife-to-be too, good night.
I'm looking at the ZX3, but got the discouraging news from friends that the Focus is considered the kind of car that a girl would drive. (I'm a guy in his late 20's). Not the kind of thing I wanted to hear. Then some auto body guy told me that the only people bringing the Focus into his shop have been women. That's just great.
Other possible choices: Sentra SE, Golf, Jetta.
Yeah, I know the Focus isn't exactly a Dodge Ram, and I'm not looking for anything that defines masculinity. But as to Focus/female: All in my head?
Take a ride in a 97' dakota w/ a 5-speed..you will hear it. that truck had about 90k and its fine. As for the colt i was actually to young to remember, but there is nothin wrong with those noises and if your listening to the radio you dont even hear it. I was the only one to ever notice the noise, and I have had alot of people in the car who know alot about them.. All you people are nuts. All the problems alot of you have can be linked to mistreatment and nothing more. Most of these cars are fine. As for civics being dependable..one reason is for the most part people use them for commuting and dont beat ont hem..if they were looking for a car to beat on they would have got a more flashy car..and the ones that are beat on are usually screwed up. I know of plenty civics that have lots fo problems, because they arent taken care of...ANY CAR WILL BE DEPENDABLE IF TAKEN CAR OF!
That's funny, I was just told that the new Beetle was a female car by a female. Maybe the reason the body shop guy is seeing so many women is because they are getting in more accidents than men? Sorry ladies.:>) That will be the dumbest reason not to buy a car. Male, Female, who knows?
Thanks for taking the time to explain your feelings about car problems and unsatisfied expectations. I certainly share your frustration, since my car has its share of minor glitches. I think you should take the approach of Norwaydoug and just keep after Ford until they make it right. If Ford really wants to shed their "tin box" image, they are going to have to work harder, and we should all hold them to a higher standard. Good luck!
So far, ive only seen guys driving around in ZX3's... No offence ladies, just reporting what ive seen
The new Beetle is conicedered a "Girl-car" along with the Celica by the General public and from seeing whose driving them... Meanwhile, the Jetta is pretty much a guys car from what ive seen.
Has anyone else had a problem with a ticking noise when they have their a/c on? It sounds like it is coming out of the glovebox. I took my car in the other day and they put a new switch on it under the hood, but I still hear the noise a little bit. (The dealer said I might.) Just curious if I am the only one who hears this. Thanks
To the guy that couldn't beat the Windstar..... Did you start in 3rd gear or something?? I will admit a ZX3 has semi tall gears but I have beaten most minivan and full size trucks as well as a high school kid driving a Civic Si in addition to Probe GT's and all manner of family cars driven by walking hormones. As for 2 lane road passing, did you double clutch from 5th to 3rd and rocket past them, or did you leave it in 5th? My beef with my car is the fact that black interior is a b***h to keep clean and I am not kidding. I gotta ask this and get some scathing flame mail from VADP or some other Honda non-freak. What is so great about the Civic? If you look at at 90% of the super hot/cool Civic's out there in magazines and whatnot, the first thing they do is drop in a 1.8l Integra engine...... That is insane.
My dad has the stability control on his S Type Jaguar. It helps a lot with a rear wheel drive car. I like it a lot actually. It can be somewhat invasive though. It will individually brake a wheel to keep you where you want to be going. News though to whoever said you get 4 wheel disc on the focus....sorry.....wrong. Drums in the back. THere are no more moving parts or anything than a regualr focus. It is all done by computer and the ABS.
I assure everyone that the advance trac option includes 4 wheel disk brakes. The previous poster is wrong. I personally would buy it in a second.
I have 10K on my Focus now. It seems to be running fine. I get 29-31 mpg. Much better after not using the air conditioner for a few weeks.
I haven't been paying much attention whether it is tapping or not at idle. I can say that it is much better after the slave, clutch and pressure plate replacement. I recommend to Vadp to talk to the district manager in his area or the manager of a dealership to get his problem fixed. Talk to them as often as it takes, but never get mad. This works. This is what I do. Just go over and see them.
People may be correct that this 'knocking at idle' is a mechanical noise and will not shorten the life of the component. My contention is that it should not be present. This is a newly designed car and it should not have a flaw of this nature.
I would definitely follow VADP advice on how to check to see if you have it in your 5 spd focus. Essentially, with your fan off and windows shut, start your car and listen for this tapping noise when warming up. Drive to where ever you are going and when you are parked, (After it is warmed up), push on the clutch a few times and while all pedals are off the clutch, listen and see if you can hear a tap (Remember have your heater fan off). If you have it, go see your dealer. Demand that they call the Technical People at Ford on a fix. The more people who do this will expedite a repair.
The tapping sound is easy to hear because it is not a typical mechanical noise. It is separate from the normal whirring of the engine.
I no longer have the 'tractor sound'. I think this is because I have a new pressure plate. I believe this is the case after talking to a friend of mine who knows about cars.
I still recommend the Focus to my friends, but only the automatic.
I still believe that there is a lot of emotion when people write about their zx-3. Every time there is a recall notice people respond negatively or to a small problem.
Remember we are all going to get a recall regarding our A-Pillar redesign in a few weeks. So prepare yourself. I am going to get the a-pillar fixed when I take my car in for an oil change. I am not going to make a special trip to get this trim piece fixed.
So far after 10,000 miles on my RF green z, I have paid 60 dollars out of pocket for my car. This is the cost of 2 oil changes.
I have had a lot of hassles, but still Ford has been good to me. They have never questioned any of my requests for repair.
Comments
Hasn't been a month yet and I have 4000 miles on the car. Still very happy with my purchase.
Now I've just read all the posts here, and it seems like many people are unhappy with their purchase of a Focus, many recalls, etc.
Would people recommend I get a different car instead, like the Civic?
Have the problems with the 2000 Focus been fixed in the 2001 models? Does anyone know?
I would highly suggest the focus zx3. I ordered a 2001 and am loving it. So far I have not encountered any real problems. At first my chair would squeek a little bit but I haven't noticed it in a week, probably had to wear some of the springs in. This car was definetyl a wise decision. Before I ordered it I too was nervous about it, with all of the recalls and such but my nerves have been settled with my purchase. One thing I noticed now is that I'm driving a whole lot more, I used to just drive to get to places now when I need a break from something I just pop into my car and drive. I love this car and I think that if you purchase one you'll have the same feelings.
I am happy with my ZX3 and would recommend it over a Civic. Remember that Honda discontinued the Civic hatchback for the U.S. in 2001 - you will need to look for a 2000 Civic if you want a hatchback. I hope Ford has fixed the problems with the Focus for the 2001 model year, but only time will tell.
can anyone confirm this?
"You got a bad battery. It happens"
Yep. That's the "official" reasoning.
And I know "it happens" but I remember someone posting here about the very same thing - having it replaced shortly after she purchased the car.
Normal? Who knows...
I got remote? door locks that are not remote.
Not the greatest mile/per/gallon nor litre?
Squeeky brake drums.
Blind spots galore.
An engine that surges/pauses/hesitates....
Can't find the seat belt.
Under acceleration when steering off center vibrates.
Shifter does not wish to engage at times.
Left window edge molding came up with window.
Brake pad residue on front rims soon after washing.
Recalls known by dealer but not sent any recall.
_______________________________________________
Pros?
Handles great.
Stereo is nice.
Manno is this thing a pig or what?
Okay, i gave her the test yesterday...FAILED!
Red light.......me and a Windstar Van....GO
I'm not racing i am driving by sound and shift at around 4,000 (heck that's both US and CDN).
By the end of the (===========) median the van has me.
New Volks again (Suburban city trust me it's light to light and i only rate the ones that were clear )
Volks wanted to race.....not in this town.
Ahhhhhh my third Toyota corolla and been following this woman for about twenty clicks...the road opens for passing lane and.......
I kept up:(
This car has no life.
Why?
What's with this number? I paid CAD $20K loaded, auto. Are you including tax? (For those of you unfamiliar with my icy northern homeland, our swinging sales taxes are 7% federal + variable provincial = 15% where I live.)
door locks that are not remote.
Not the greatest mile/per/gallon nor litre?
Blind spots galore.
I have to agree with all this. I often resort to the "chin trick" for the remote. And you can add the split back / non-split bench issue.
Squeeky brake drums.
An engine that surges/pauses/hesitates....
Under acceleration when steering off center vibrates.
I've been lucky enough to escape these problems.
Can't find the seat belt.
Brake pad residue on front rims soon after washing.
The feelings these complaints evoke in me are too puny to do justice to "love" or "hate".
I'm amazed that you've had trouble beating a minivan off the line. I guess you should've got auto - I've never had trouble that way. Passing on a 2-lane, on the other hand, is not the ZX3's strong suit.
While waiting I went into the showroom to look at the new '01 red Zx3 with fancy 'skirts' all around looking cool and a motorized sunroof. They also had the center arm rest installed.
I was really tempted to trade in right then and there.:>) Maybe next year.
are of a positive nature concerning the zx3.you
have to go back to the beginning and read the whole
story.in this forum there are many who have tried to give an honest assessment of their likes, dis-
likes and recent frustration of recalls and timely
delivery of parts.it can be reasonably assumed that
most are delighted with the z overall,however there
are others who have issues that need to be addressed and resolved.its the service after the delivery that makes the difference.no question,the
z is a price/performance leader,the real question is will it be reliable for the long term.right now,
it seems suspect.im upset about the recalls and inconvenience of same.i still enjoy the ride.
if you drive with your windows up. That sound could be clearly heard at the normal take off next to a wall on a relatively quiet street. Under this condition you can hear every sound, your car emits, bouncing back to you.
The most obvious one is the knocking/tapping like sound at idle.
It's always there during the cold start up.
Start up your engine on the cold morning, lower your window and listen. You should hear a tapping
like sound through the regular cold engine noise.
And I'm not talking about the normal noise produced by meshing in gears. That tapping is very much pronounced. Pronounced enough to be noticed by any non-car person.
Now press your clutch pedal. Tapping/knocking
should go away. Release the pedal - it's back.
After the car/drivetrain completely warms up this knocking becoming more of intermitting nature. If it's not there I can induce it by quickly pressing/releasing the clutch pedal several times.
This is exactly a type of the noise you can induce by slightly moving the shifter within the gate at idle in neutral, like if you're trying to engage a gear without pressing on the clutch pedal.
If you followed those procedures and can't hear any strange noises, lucky you - your car doesn't have it.
Oh, the only Honda I've ever been able to negotiate was a used one. That's why I would not by a new Honda. Same for Toyota. In the part of NYS where I live they will not negotiate, and there is a lack of dealers. Seems like the Honda and Toyota dealers we have here have a attitude.
Pat
"If it moves ahead and the wheels are not falling off-it's all right" That philosophy makes Ford looking really sloppy.
It's not a third world here (where that kind of attitude could work) and Ford does have very high aspirations.
Modern car should do a lot more than just move ahead.
Focus could set a new standard in quality and performance. Unfortunately it still needs some substantial tweaking.
I hope that your war will not turn into the fight against the "wind-mills".
Good luck.
You got it right. I was expecting more from Ford.
Thanks for the support.
pcleveland2,
I'll be a good boy: no more complaining and name calling.
Promise.
Gotta go.
I have driven BMW's and a German Focus with this feature and it is most noticable in evasive driving or situations like autocrossing. In normal driving conditions you'll never know it's there except that it costs a lot and you do get 4 wheel disc brakes with it. There are more parts, so more chances for things to go wrong but the system is basic and uses the ABS and traction control. I have not driven a north American version but did order my FocusZX3 with this option.
For other people in this group...
Has anyone had any allergy symptoms they think might be related to the fabric or foam used in the seats? A Visteon factory had to reassign workers due to allergic reaction to materials used in Focus seats. I'm curious about this, there was no mention of which seats only Focus seats.
cg
noise. it is real and you are right,it shouldnt
exist.i have the same symptoms you have described.
i am deliberately keeping my mileage low.i am pres-
ently leaving the option open to trading my car.
i am also disappointed with ford.i,also give weight
to how i had to work to purchase this car.my time
alive however,cant be measured in dollars.if you have the will and determination, get the ford district rep involved.presently,i am taking one recall at a time and documenting every contact with
the dealer and ford customer service. who i talk to, what was said,what was promised, parts delay,
completed work and so on.you can get what you want,
but it requires patience and resolve. sometimes at my age, i have little patience,i want it done yesterday.remember,you know more about your car and
the problems you are experiencing.they are legitimate and in no way unreasonable.by the way,most of the baby boomers here have parents with the same
values regarding hard work + money.their sacrifices
have made a better world for all of us.i try hard to never forget it.by the way,i think i know who that anonymous
Well, I will follow your advise and try the District Rep route.
Thanks.
Similar backgrounds and overall expectations from "the promise land" must have a lot to do with it.
I also agree with the comments from other veterans (s.bullet, zx3beast)
Take it this way:
It's only a car.
Car made by a big company.
That big company is building it's cars without much attention to detail and with a van-like finish quality(totally different than VW).
Focus is a first car from Ford that was going to change that unfocused image.
There will be next generation of focuses, hopefully with a different engine/transmission set.
And if you can wait till 2002 or so, trade in for that model.
That's what I'm planning to do.
My dream Focus would be zx3 based, with smoother,more fuel efficient and more powerful engine 150hp.
I like the automatics(hate the traffic)but I'm praying for a more modern automatic transmission (5-speed auto,programmable more sporty when needed)
I like current ZX3 a lot, but I also can't stand sloppiness and a lack of attention to detail that Ford is showing (very American way, sad but true)
Size over Skill
Power over Finesse
...still love America, zx3,and almost forgot ....my wife-to-be too, good night.
Other possible choices: Sentra SE, Golf, Jetta.
Yeah, I know the Focus isn't exactly a Dodge Ram, and I'm not looking for anything that defines masculinity. But as to Focus/female: All in my head?
Maybe the reason the body shop guy is seeing so many women is because they are getting in more accidents than men? Sorry ladies.:>)
That will be the dumbest reason not to buy a car. Male, Female, who knows?
The new Beetle is conicedered a "Girl-car" along with the Celica by the General public and from seeing whose driving them... Meanwhile, the Jetta is pretty much a guys car from what ive seen.
I gotta ask this and get some scathing flame mail from VADP or some other Honda non-freak. What is so great about the Civic? If you look at at 90% of the super hot/cool Civic's out there in magazines and whatnot, the first thing they do is drop in a 1.8l Integra engine...... That is insane.
I have 10K on my Focus now. It seems to be running fine. I get 29-31 mpg. Much better after not using the air conditioner for a few weeks.
I haven't been paying much attention whether it is tapping or not at idle. I can say that it is much better after the slave, clutch and pressure plate replacement. I recommend to Vadp to talk to the district manager in his area or the manager of a dealership to get his problem fixed. Talk to them as often as it takes, but never get mad. This works. This is what I do. Just go over and see them.
People may be correct that this 'knocking at idle' is a mechanical noise and will not shorten the life of the component. My contention is that it should not be present. This is a newly designed car and it should not have a flaw of this nature.
I would definitely follow VADP advice on how to check to see if you have it in your 5 spd focus. Essentially, with your fan off and windows shut, start your car and listen for this tapping noise when warming up. Drive to where ever you are going and when you are parked, (After it is warmed up), push on the clutch a few times and while all pedals are off the clutch, listen and see if you can hear a tap (Remember have your heater fan off). If you have it, go see your dealer. Demand that they call the Technical People at Ford on a fix. The more people who do this will expedite a repair.
The tapping sound is easy to hear because it is not a typical mechanical noise. It is separate from the normal whirring of the engine.
I no longer have the 'tractor sound'. I think this is because I have a new pressure plate. I believe this is the case after talking to a friend of mine who knows about cars.
I still recommend the Focus to my friends, but only the automatic.
ND
Over all Satisfaction: 1-10
Fun to Drive: 1-10
Quality of Build: 1-10
DesigN: 1-10
Engine/Transmission: 1-10
Value: 1-10
Remember we are all going to get a recall regarding our A-Pillar redesign in a few weeks. So prepare yourself. I am going to get the a-pillar fixed when I take my car in for an oil change. I am not going to make a special trip to get this trim piece fixed.
So far after 10,000 miles on my RF green z, I have paid 60 dollars out of pocket for my car. This is the cost of 2 oil changes.
I have had a lot of hassles, but still Ford has been good to me. They have never questioned any of my requests for repair.
ND