Ford Focus ZX3

1141517192056

Comments

  • leomortleomort Member Posts: 453
    does anyone know if the 2.0L engine in Mazda's Protege Sport Wagon is the Ford engine in the Focus or is this a seperate engine designed by Mazda?

    Leo
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    They are totally different.
  • leomortleomort Member Posts: 453
    Thank vadp,

    another question for you. the link you provide said that the 2.0L 4 cyc engine came from Mazda's 626 sedan. But I didn't a I see here on Edmund's about people having problems with their 4cyc 626 because it was a Ford engine. Or was this a different engine?

    Leo
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    I think that those people got confused about the origins of their engines.
    Mazda doesn't have the Ford engines in its car lineup. At least, as yet.
    The only exception are the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute small SUV twins.
  • fdannafdanna Member Posts: 263
    The engine block heater is only standard and "No charge" for vehicles sold in certain regions of the country where it's regularly well below freezing. I'd imagine most, if not all, of the Canadian models have this standard.
  • leomortleomort Member Posts: 453
    Vadp,

    Thank you. Are those engines very reliable?

    Leo
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    Well, I don't own one.
    I suggest you check the Mazda forums. image
  • hevshevs Member Posts: 2
    i was wondering if anyone knows anything about a focus hatchback called something like "KONA".
    SEEN IT IN THE STREET WHEN I WAS DRIVING BY DONT KNOW IF I CAUGHT THE NAME RIGHT BUT IM LOOKING TI GETTING A zx3 AND I REALLY LIKED THE WAY THAT LOOKED .
  • pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    You saw a ZX3 with the Kona package. You get a roof mounted bike rack and a Kona bike to mount up there. Along with different wheels and tires. Think you get special vehicle colour too.
    Pat
  • hevshevs Member Posts: 2
    I was on the ford web site and i didnt see the ZX3Kona. do you know if i have to go to the dealer and order it, or can i find it online?
    Or if you know where i can get any info on it i would greatly appreciate it?
    By the way Thanks Pat!
  • stant2stant2 Member Posts: 6
    I will be getting my 01 zx3 in a few weeks,can i put SLICK 50 in it to get better MPG?
  • stant2stant2 Member Posts: 6
    Is it a good idea to get the extended worranty for the 01 zx3 & if so,what should i pay for it?
  • silver_bulletsilver_bullet Member Posts: 1,339
    Stant2, Slick50 is just snake oil. Oil additives with PTFE (Teflon) have been proven time and again to be bogus, and recent litigation has spanked Slick50 for misleading consumers with questionable advertising. Read your manual - it says not to use oil additives.

    Extended warranties are expensive insurance policies for the most part. Read the good information available on the Edmunds' site, as well as from other consumer groups. Sometimes they pay off, but mostly they generate profit for the people that sell them and the companies that offer them.
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    Don't put anything in your engine, including the synthetic oil, until the manufacturer’s first
    scheduled oil change. This allows the engine time to break-in (seat the piston ring to the cylinder wall).
  • pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    Agree with silver bullet and vadp 100%.

    Pat
  • northguynorthguy Member Posts: 14
    I recall reading several warnings from various aircraft engine manufacturers warning against
    using Slick 50 and other similar products. The logic went something like this: since these
    products contain teflon or graphite etc. these particles can cause plugging of small oil ports
    and oil filter elements which results in the lube oil getting prematurely dirty due to loss of filter
    efficiencies and in the worst case engine failure due to lack of lubrication (plugged oil passages).
  • zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    you can find it at this link....
    www.canadiandriver.com/news000509.3.htm
  • zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    clutch master cylinder,etc. etc. being done.
    was given a free rental.a 2001 focus se sedan
    auto. although i prefer manual,this auto is rather very smooth shifting. i know pcleveland2 has stated this many times before and i can see why now. this auto actually has a rather pleasant drone type sound similar to a fine-tuned 6or 8. it is not buzzy-sounding like the engine paired with my 5spd. get-up and go was very impressive. maybe the auto is a better choice at this time for the z. any comments?
  • jimmyfocuszx3jimmyfocuszx3 Member Posts: 65
    Automatics are fine if you like giving up that measure of control. I like being able to modulated the forward motion of the car with throttle and clutch and steering. And, I like shifting at 6000 rpm, but then again, that is just me. =)

    I am still awaiting for the official proclomation of me being an "old guard."

    Jimmy
  • breakerbreaker Member Posts: 8
    The new Automobile magazine has the upcoming SVT Focus in it. Anybody know anything more about it? Performance, etc...
  • zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    caught a glimpse of it in mag. shown to me
    by a co-worker who is a car enthusiast. appears to be a watered-down version of the upcoming euro release.
  • silver_bulletsilver_bullet Member Posts: 1,339
    When I had my ZX3 in for all of its work, I rented a Focus LX sedan with an auto 'box. What a dreadful car :( The transmission did have an awful drone at highway speeds - sounded like someone was operating a Skil saw in the car behind me. When I got my ZX3 back, I could hardly believe it was basically the same car from the same company. If that rental car was any indication of what the "quality" is like at the Wayne assembly plant, well, Hermosillo has nothing to worry about. I know it's personal preference, but give me a manual transmission any day!

    www.blueovalnews.com says the SVT Focus has a projected Job 1 date (when they will start production) of November 2001, give or take a bit. Ford also hasn't decided whether they are going to do the SVT treatment on the hatchback or sedan, so don't get too excited about it yet.
  • zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    was it a 2000 or 2001? perhaps i was thrilled with no tractor-like sound. the one i am driving now is a 2001and it is a very smooth trans.
    engine idle does not exhibit any odd sounds. however, there is that
    burnt oil smell. i always prefer 5spd. but the 2001 auto is worth a test run.
  • silver_bulletsilver_bullet Member Posts: 1,339
    My rental was a 2000 model with about 16K miles. Since it was a base LX, it had the lumpy SOHC engine, and no amenities to speak of. Way too much like an Escort. Last weekend, I drove my friend's loaner car - his new BMW 323i is in the shop (nothing's perfect!), so the dealer gave him a new 330i sedan with an automatic. It still annoyed me, and the "manumatic" automanual shift mode was even more irritating than I expected. You still don't have the control of a true manual, so why bother?
  • Karen_SKaren_S Member Posts: 5,092
    Butting in again to say that there are some new discussions in the Ford Focus ZX3 Owners club folder. Please stop in and take a look and et me know what you think!

    KarenS
    Host
    Owner's Club
  • cgsangelcgsangel Member Posts: 79
    One more opinion about the auto trans...

    My auto trans is a good match with the ZX3 engine. I have the 2000 model built in 1999. For a guy who used to drive shifts exclusively, I wouldn't go back there now. City driving is no match for a stick. Neither is my left leg, anymore. But I admit a stick is fun when mated with the right engine. And if you can get away from the gridlock and if you can drive one, then a stick is a good choice. I haven't driven one for a long time and it's a good feeling to be able to keep two hands on the wheel at all times.

    I can't speak for the LX model with auto trans. since I didn't test drive one. But I wouldn't have gotten the Focus except for the hatch and the auto trans. combination.

    Charlie
  • focusfaqfocusfaq Member Posts: 7
    All,

    I've updated the Focus FAQ I'm currently maintaining. Please take a look and let me know if you can contribute any information:

    http://users.ev1.net/~sturgeon/car/focus/faq/focus-faq.htm

    Many thanks,
    Jon
  • km54201km54201 Member Posts: 4
    Just picked up our new 2000 ZX3 Sunday evening. Reading previous Town Hall posts really helped us decide to buy. Problem...when my daughter and I got home today, I had her stop in the driveway so we could switch places and I would pull into the garage (she's just learning). She left the car running and we both got out and closed our doors. Then we discovered the doors were locked! My purse, extra keys, everything was inside the still running car! After AAA got us back in and I pulled into the garage, I tried to see what happened...the doors unlocked when they were opened, then without getting out, I closed them again and they were still unlocked. Can anyone tell me why were locked out? I can see nothing in the handbook that even talks about the door locks.
  • northguynorthguy Member Posts: 14
    Some (not sure if all) 2000 Foci with power door locks have an AUTO LOCK feature that locks the doors after they are closed. I'm not sure if the key has to be in the ignition or the engine has to be running or both conditions need to be met for this feature to work. In any event, it's supposed to protect the vehicles occupants after the doors are closed by locking them. The problem is that the feature can't distinguish an occupied vehicle from an unoccupied vehicle and results in the keys being locked in. You need to have an extra key on your person to solve the problem or have the dealer disable the auto lock feature if possible. You can have a spare key
    cut that does not have the computer chip on it. This key will only unlock the doors and WILL NOT start the car. It is a cheap alternative to having a spare key with the chip in it cut since the keys with the chips cost around 50 dollars. The spare key without the chip is also a good alternative if you intend to hide the key somwhere on the exterior of the vehicle. If a potential thief finds the spare he can gain access to the vehicle but won't be able to use the key to start the engine.
  • stant2stant2 Member Posts: 6
    Will be getting zx3 soon.All the windows are tinted.I never had a car that had tinted windowes before.
    WHAT GOOD IS IT? What is the down side of having it?
  • jimmyfocuszx3jimmyfocuszx3 Member Posts: 65
    Your problem happed to one of the writers [editor?] at Automobile Magazine. I have yet to have it happen to me and close the doors with the engine running. My doors don't lock until a speed of 7-10 mph is achived.

    Jimmy
  • stant2stant2 Member Posts: 6
    Will be getting zx3 soon.All the windows are tinted.I never had a car that had tinted windowes before.
    WHAT GOOD IS IT? What is the down side of having it?
  • cobiecobie Member Posts: 108
    I've a friend with a Contour and another I/ a Mystique. Both cars' doors lock automatically with engine running and no one in car. Major inconvienence! Pay attention, Ford!!!
    I was concerned about this I/ my zx3, however, I'm lucky that my car either doesn't have the auto-lock feature or it's been disabled before I accepted delivery.
    I'd recommend running your car in the driveway and, with an extra key in hand, close the door and see if it lock on you.
  • pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    Jimmyfocuszx3,
    If you like shifting at 6000 rpm, you have to try the automatic. That's the "pushing it" shift point. You just have to try it. Plus the gearing is different. Take my word, you will be impressed! I've almost always had a manual, and I'm impressed.

    Pat
  • pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    I don't close door when key is in ignition with no one in car anymore. I learned my lesson. The car was not even running and locked when I closed the door. Called the 1-800 Ford help line and they had a guy there in no time at all. Happened last March and hasn't happened again. Got a spare key without the chip made and it is taped under vehicle just in case.
    Pat
  • zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    personally,i prefer the less is more. i like the manual crank seat,
    windows,mirrors and doors and no abs and of course the 5spd. i will
    say i am impressed with the auto performance of the 2001 focus
    loaner. notified by dealer to pick-up my car yesterday. i was informed the work was completed. sure it was. drove out with a free loaner 2001
    all powers contour2.4 sport. three dealer trips,three free loaners.
    keeping the mileage down on the beast.a-trim -o.k. b-trim - no
    waiting on parts. washer fluid mystery -solved,crack in plastic resevoir. waiting on parts. i dont mind taking it back,i dont even have to ask for a loaner anymore. dealer is being decent about the situation
    and for that reason it softens the disappointment and general aggravation.glad to have my car back for now,its still a great ride.
  • newowner3newowner3 Member Posts: 1
    I bought a 2001 ZX3 today. For some reason the dealer had to make a 2nd key for me. I drove it home, and at some point (it may have been before I left the dealership, I was playing with all the other features and might have missed it) the antitheft light started blinking. It is still blinking now, 3 hours after I drove it last, with the key out of the ignition. It doesn't stop blinking when the key is in the ignition either. Why? And how do I make it stop? Thanks.
  • zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    congrats + best of luck with your new z. dont worry about the blinking
    light. this is completely a normal function of the passive anti-theft system.you can find a description of the system in your owners manual.
    im not going to preach about reading the manual but if you do you will
    find a lot of neat info about other features built-in to your vehicle.the
    reason for the 2nd key is that it is a program set for your car.
  • silver_bulletsilver_bullet Member Posts: 1,339
    There are two "anti-theft" blinking lights in the ZX3 - one pertaining to the Securilock feature, and one behind the stereo keypad that blinks when the keypad is removed and the ignition is off. If the Securilock light blinks while the car is running, you've got a problem - it is only supposed to blink when the ignition is off. Have your dealer check it out. When you insert the key and start the car, the light should go out.
  • silver_bulletsilver_bullet Member Posts: 1,339
    Predicted for this car is a modified 2.0 liter Zetec four producing 170HP and 145 lb-ft of torque, a six-speed Getrag manual, slightly lowered ride height and stiffer suspension. 215/45-17 tires with 4 wheel disks, revised foglamps and grille, serious sports seats, and more comprehensive gauges. Availability? Before the end of 2001.
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
  • zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    you know it!
  • fgaydos1fgaydos1 Member Posts: 5
    Thanks Bullet, sounds real juicy.
    Think the insurance rates will skyrocket due to the higher horsepower??

    I'm really happy with my Zx3 even with the nagging recalls. They seem mostly mickey mouse items.
    Was cruising with the radio off last night and was struck by how quiet the ride is and how solid it felt.
    I would still purchase the car knowing about the recalls.
    Looking forward to the 2003 model when I'll have paid this one off. Should be really fine.
  • sellingzx3konasellingzx3kona Member Posts: 12
    10,300 miles Automatic * Power Everything * Factory CD Player
    16” Factory Alloys * Kona Blast Mountain Bike * Factory Roof Rack
    Factory Water Proof Seat Covers * Every available factory option
    SELLING FOR $13,500 (o.b.o. within reason)
    I have ordered my new car so I must sell (214) 629-3061 or kprince@myfirstlink.net.
    E-MAIL FOR PICTURES!!!
  • pd01pd01 Member Posts: 25
    I just got my car monday and it does that too. Only when the car is not on right? Well...I figure that it aacts as a "fake or dummy" alarm. Just to scare off intruders. Thats my only guess.

    Hope that helps. Also:

    I have a little over 150 miles on it now and loving the car. Only things that I don't like about it is the seat belts and the trunk. I wish the seat belts weren't so far back and hard to reach. And i also wish that i could pop the trunk with my remote when the car is on.

    Does anyone know if there is a way to make the remote be able to pop the trunk while the car is running?

    And is there any way to turn on the fog lights without actually turning on the head lights?

    Thanks
  • davewilloughbydavewilloughby Member Posts: 4
    I am looking for a second car to do 100 highway miles/day to/from work. Must be economical.

    Does the Protege deliver GOOD highway gas mileage?
    The "S" plan for LX 2.0 is $14,800 less $750 rebate.
    Ford Focus ZX3 (Ford employee's A/Z plan) is $13,100 (no rebate at this time).
    Prizm GM suppliers discount for a $15,900 prizm is $13,500 with the $1,500 rebate.
    My step son will sell me any Honda $100 over invoice.

    Which one should I take a hard look at?

  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    Nothing beats Toyota Echo at the moment.
  • davewilloughbydavewilloughby Member Posts: 4
    I am unable to get a "deal" on any Toyota vehicle.
    I want to keep the o.t.d. price below 15k in order to pay cash, over $15k and we're are looking at small monthly payments. My goal is NOT to have two car payments!
Sign In or Register to comment.

Your Privacy

By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our Visitor Agreement.