Ford Focus Sedan

kirbstoy

I have a 2001 Focus, ZTS with a manual transmission. The thing that is most attractive about the transmission, however, is the way Ford isolated the shifter from any engine or driveline vibration. I've never owned a manual transmission car (going back to a '53 Chevy with 3-by-the-knee and a '63 1/2 Ford Galaxy 500 XL with 427 / 4-speed)that hasn't transmitted engine and driveline vibrations to the shifter. Kudos to Ford. Also, re: brake dust, I've found cleaning the brake dust to be very difficult because the Wheel manufacturer did a crummy job on the clear-coating of the wheels. The Focus is a great little car.

tiredofmanual

The shifter is connected to the manual transmission by two cables ONLY. I didn't think much of it until I was browsing Porsche's web site and they mentioned that the same is true for the Boxster and did so in a manner that suggested this was a novel idea for reducing vibrations in the shifter. So indeed, Kudos to Ford.

mpgman

Am considering the Jetta TDI wagon but....since I expect to only put around 10-12k miles on it per year, is it really worth it to buy a diesel? Diesel fuel in Jersey seems to run about 10-20 cents per gallon higher right now than the cheapest unleaded. Do you think that the 1.8 is a better way to go since you get a 5 speed auto and traction control, although premium fuel is recommended? Can you get factory leather in the 1.8 without the roof? It appears that you can with the TDI.

class3

I've been reading the past postings by a few of us here. My Wife owns a 2000 ZTS that has been plagued by problem after problem. FIRST, I have NEVER experienced the pleasure of having my rotors completely worn out on the First pad replace. The rotors are NOT scored in any way, BUT the "Tech" at Newman Ford in Salem NH says that the "Rotors are under spec", and need to be replaced. The car was UNDER the 36K warranty, and the dealer says it's a "wear and tear" problem.
Am I missing something here? or is the dealer trying to weasel out of this? has ANYBODY here experienced this with their Focus? I've owned plenty or vehicles in my life, and I'm not a whiner, but somehow, I think the rotors should at LEAST be able to get re-surfaced at least once. OR is it the poor quality that's going into these vehicles?

vocus

..are only covered for 12 months/12,000 miles. It is a normal wear and tear item. Sorry dude.

focusmike

And I was wanting to know the difference between the premium and the basic. I have the auto so I think that the transmission is the difference. This car is very basic and has no cd player on the radio. But I do see a cd button on the radio and I was wondering what this is. I have gotten out of a 97 jeep wrangler that I had put a four inch lift on and 33" tires on. Lot of fun, but really bad gas mileage. I really was wanting the zx3 but I am wanting to hear some information about this car.

vocus

The difference is the air conditioning and the automatic transmission. On the basic one, automatic is not an option. I don't get these new packages that Ford offers. It just leads to buyer confusion I think. Why not offer the options separately like they used to? Who says everyone wants cruise and tilt just to get the 2.0 Zetec engine? Makes no sense to me at all.

bigcompact

...and I have the Zetec engine....

2001 SE w/ Sport package
12,000 miles...and no problems!

vocus

That's with a 2001 model. With the 2002 models, you have to get a loaded SE model in order to get the Zetec engine. That marketing tactic stinks, I think.

tiredofmanual

I just posted over in the hatchback forum a link to an announcement by an SVT engineer of Job #1 for the SVT Focus. The very first production SVT Focus was built today!

tomcat630

It's about darn time!

alantpool

I am considering the Focus SE or ZTS and I am curious if anyone has heard about any changes for the 2003 or when they will be launching the 2003s, I have until Sept 2002 to get out of my 1999 Ranger.

From what I have been reading in this forum and the other Focus groups (sorry for that one) is that there have been fewer recalls and fewer problems with this seemingly fine car.

I am 6'4" and I have had 2 Escorts in the past and now the gas guzzler Ranger, how have the seats been for long periods of time in the car?

Thanks in advance
al

seminole_kev

But I do have a 2000 ZTS and the seats are fine on long trips for me. 5'10" so it might be different if you're a center for the NBA or something ;-)

But I've taken some 6-8 hour drives and they're fine.

vocus

..once and found the seats were not the most comfortable. I drove it for about an hour, and found the seats to start hurting my back. I have back trouble from a car accident though, and I am 6'4. This was the LX model though, so there might be more seat adjustment on the upper models, not sure.

seminole_kev

the ZX3 has different seats with big side bolsters. The ZTS has different seats with lumbar adjustment. I'm not sure about the SE's seats. The ZX5 I have has leather seats which are different also. Lots of different seats I think ;-)

I have know idea which seats the wagons come with.

tomcat630

The Focus SE and LX have seats that give me a pain in my lower back. Rented and test drove a few. The ZTS leather seats are fine, but I have sat in better.

tlindeman

fdthird

Just fine...thanks for asking!~

seminole_kev

the sedan I have has almost 30K miles. They're fine. Still supportive and not ripping or anything.

komodo

I am currently trying to buy my daughter her first car and have narrowed it down to the Focus or Corolla. We brought home a used 2000 Focus LX but because of concerns about its history (thru Carfax found it had been a rental car and also suspect it had been in an accident)decided we would be better off buying her a new one. Can I expect any negotiating room on price with this car?

seminole_kev

for @$100 over invoice and that didn't include any of the rebates they are currently offering (I took the special financing instead). So there is room to negotiate down to. I delt with the internet sales manager which also made things very easy. You might try to do the same with your local dealers. Also if your just looking for a sedan, you might want to consider the Honda Civic as it has good crash test scores like the Focus also. I don't believe the new Corolla has been tested yet, but it should do better than the previous edition did.

komodo

Thanks for the input. Pretty sure we are going for the Focus but I will check out the Civic before we decide.

tiredofmanual

If you want to enjoy the Focus you need to get the zetec engine. The ZX3 is better equipped than the LX and is $500 cheaper. You get the better engine, better transmission, better stereo, better suspension, better wheels, better seats, etc. A comparable sedan is the SE with the sport package and some of the comfort package. If you go with the Focus, get either the hatchback or the SE sedan with comfort and sport packages. I think the only reason Ford makes the LX is for rental fleets and maybe a little for people who are allergic to hatchbacks but cant afford a decent sedan (and they punish those people by charging more for a worse car).

tiredofmanual

The 2002 Focus got a bit of a freshening including some very nice looking headlights. I think Ford screwed up their pricing on them though, because I got all of this shipped here from Germany for about $300.

hotx3

It makes all the difference if you get the stick or auto. I have a 2000 LX w/ 5spd, and it's zippy enough for me. I rode in a rental with the auto that was doggy.
You do have to turn off the AC if you want to move from a stop, but I can spin/chirp the wheels with the right touch on the gas. (I think I saw some postings about a dead spot at 2000 rpm.)
Didn't go with the ZX3 because of some largish teenage offspring I haul around.

vocus

I rented an LX model, and it was quite uncomfortable and underpowered for me.

Also, the Focus doesn't seem to hold its value well. I would think the best bet would be a certified used Focus from Carmax or from Ford used cars. After the first year, the first owner usually takes most of the depreciation. Something to think about for your new driving daughter, who is most likely going to nick it up driving anyway. May also save some money on insurance as well.

adrianb

The lease on my 2000 Focus SE (sport package) is up at the end of the summer. I am debating whether or not I should purchase it. I have no major complaints with the car to date. Any advice? Thanks.

tomcat630

If buying a leased car, check the state tax laws and see if you have to pay yet another sales tax.

mdaffron

http://www.auto.com/industry/nhtsa2_20020402.htm

Meade

seminole_kev

yeah I saw that. What I cannot figure out is why the wheel bearing is mentioned as it was an item recalled 2 years ago. Doesn't make sense. The rest of the items are just things they're checking into. I'll be curious to see what the results are. Just so we put this in place. Look at all the vehicles in just this month alone

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/defect/monthly/2002/200202.html

Look back through the months and you see even "bullet proof" vehicles being looked into for problems.

tiredofmanual

Was recalled last year, so that investigation isn't going to amount to anything. I have no idea if the others have been taken care of already or not.

All I have to say is that I feel sorry for Bill Ford. He has to do an awful lot to fix the nightmare created by Nasser.

seminole_kev

burns associated with the airbags. I've known several people who have been in acceidents where the airbag deployed (in different makes and models) and most of them had minor burns.

tiredofmanual

Do you get the feeling that the Focus is getting more than its fair share of bad press? The linked article makes it sound like opening an investigation is rare, when it happens dozens of times a month and often results in a finding of "No trend of defects found."

Whats next - "Focus engines fail when you slap on a turbo and then run it *very* lean?" I know of 3 people that did this - I think it's time for the NHTSA to open an investigation!

seminole_kev

yeah, I don't think it's a conspiracy or anything, just to make sure I don't sound like a nut. Just that the media likes to lock on to a story and beat it to death. Outside of automotive circles seldom does any other make and model get mentioned even when there are far worse defects. Oh, say like BMW's catching fire....

tomcat630

The domestic industry hating East Coast media loves to say "See look another recall!"

seminole_kev

I don't think it's that. Just the media beating a story to death when there isn't one.

tomcat630

Air bags burn, but prevent major injuries. My mother was in head on accident and swears by them. She thinks she would have had head and back injuries for years, instead of burns on the hands.

Some people believe that the bags are supposed to be "pillows", like the an old Honda commercial had in a cartoon.

lynninchicago

what are you all getting for gas mileage? i had a 2000 LX which got about 18mpg. now i've got a 2002 SE with the Zetec engine which is even worse (i dread actually calculating it). the dealership put my '00 on the machine and claimed it got 27--NOT! any advice on this?

tiredofmanual

18MPG??? I'm averaging about 27 in my Zetec SE. The Zetec is known for wide variances (cams are not lined up the same in every engine), but I can't imagine you getting less than 18 unless there is something seriously wrong with the car and/or you are sitting in traffic all day. I hate to insult your intelligence, but are you sure you're doing your calculations correctly? Especially if the dealership is saying you are gettng 27?

bigcompact

I ALSO have a Zetec SE and I also get in the 25-29 range consistently, and as high as 34 mpg for long highway trips.

seminole_kev

can I ask how you are determining your mileage? Maybe you're calculating it wrong?

lynninchicago

thanks for responding. i've certainly wondered if i'm calculating correctly too. here's the data from april-may 2001:

total gallons: 46.1
total mileage: 842
842 miles divided by 46.1 gallons = 18.26 mpg
right?

it's definitely city driving, mostly stop and go, but less than 10 miles most days. i get on the expressway once or twice a week.

again, any advice would be great!

that brings up another question. the service at dealership i bought this car from was horrible (i found it bitterly ironic when i learned they'd won the "coveted blue oval service award." i'd love to name names but it seems to be improper etiquette. i'd hate for others to have to go through what i did at this dealership however, so if you're in chicago and thinking of buying a ford, write me for feedback). any advice on how to find a dealership which does have good service?

dtownfb

If you only have 846 miles on the vehicle, i woudn't worry about it just yet. Next time you need gas, make sure you fill it up but stop at the first time the handle stops and then fill it to the next nickel. Run that tank down and when you fill up the next time, again stop the first time the handle stops. Don't overfill it. Then divide the number of miles driven during the last tankful by the number of gallons in that fill up. That will give you your MPG for that tank.

The only problem with doing total gas consumed and total mileage driven is you can accidently add an additional gas tank into the calculations. Also if you only have 846 miles on the car give it a few more months befor you panic.

As far as dealership to service your car, I would ask at your office to see if any of the other Ford dealeships are any good. Ford dealerships are a dime a dozen. Not like trying to find someone to service your VW or Mercedes.

monaco2

There was a Ford service campaign a while ago about the left rear wheel bearing. Later, in Nov. 2001, Ford did another rear wheel bearing service campaign, but only in high corrosion states, because the road salt was deteriorating the rear wheel seals and eating up the bearings. It turns out that this problem is occurring in other states, and they are also having problems with the right rear wheel bearing just like in the first service campaign. This is why NHTSA opened a safety investigation.

And by the way, I heard that there is going to be a 5th NHTSA investigation on the Focus.

I think Ford is doing this on purpose, for maybe sympathy reasons or something. No car company can possibly be this sloppy.

ehaase

The Focus badly needs the new Duratec four cylinder engine being used in the Mondeo, Mazda 6, and Ranger. It is more efficient, quieter, and more powerful than Ford's current engines.

regfootball

It is called the Duratec HE I think.

Another case of witholding the good product from the USA.

I think there is a petition somewhere on this very topic. If i can find it I will post the link.

tiredofmanual

My method of calculating gas mileage is the same as dtownfb. I always fill the tank until it stops and never top off. I then take the pen out of the pen holder on the center console and write the mileage on the trip odometer on the receipt and then reset the trip odometer. I enter the data into the database on my computer and it does the rest. My daily commute is 5 miles along Dundee road every morning (I.E. stop and go) with a few highway trips mixed in. I average around 25 mpg when my whole tank is used for commuting and I get in the low 30s when I'm on the highway the whole time. I just got back from a trip out to Ohio this weekend and I got around 34 mpg with the cruise set to about 80 the whole way.

The Zetec takes a while to fully break in - don't expect your best mileage until 8000 miles or so. Give our method of calculating mileage a try. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. And try to avoid jackrabbit starts and quick stops (if you're doing that then be prepared - Focus brakes wear out quickly!).

The Duratec will be in the Focus, most likely next year. It's not a matter of Ford witholding a better engine from the US market, it is a matter of them not being able to produce enough of them. Ford is diverting them to Europe because it is a more demanding market, and, if I'm not mistaken, the 2.3 Duratec currently in the Ranger is too tall to fit in the Focus. However, two new Duratec engine plants go online this year with the capacity to produce millions of them each year. Once the Focus starts to receive engines from these plants Ford can shut down the lines at the current Focus engine plants and convert them to Duratec production. If you think that there is some sort of conspiracy keeping Ford from selling a duratec Focus you should throw those thoughts out - the new Duratec engines cost Ford *much* less to produce than the Zetec. A complete Duratec engine costs Ford only about $1200 to produce! And you know how Ford is about cost cutting, right?

What I would like to see is two options in the Focus. The base engine should be the 1.8 Duratec (same power as the current Zetec but with 20% higher mileage) and the optional engine should be the 2.3 Duratec that fits in the Focus (20% more power but with same mileage as Zetec). Compared to the Zetec, both engines are smoother, quieter, more refined, lighter, cheaper, and easier to work on.

alantpool

Has anyone heard when the 2003 Foci will be hitting the dealships? And will any of the Duratecs be available?

regfootball

then why didn't they convert the plants prior to producing the focus?

tiredofmanual

I don't know, but I bet that they just weren't ready back then. The duratecs are a new engine design!