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Comments
-SHOV6
For the record, Automobile's test of the Si with the more serious rubber pulled .90 avg., as opposed to the SVT's .90 avg. Actually, I guess that's not opposed at all.
-SHOV6
I ordered my sonic blue svt focus back in october. Ive been waiting anxiously. Anybody heard updates about a production date?
Something just occurred to me... I recently re-read an older issue of Car and Driver that compared the Olds 442, Chevy Monte Carlo SS, and the Buick Regal Grand National. If my memory serves, pretty much all of the "hot hatches" in the C&D and Automobile could equal or beat the Chevy and Monte in a drag race (but not the Regal)... But don't hold me to that. I just remember being amused at what passed for a "muscle car" back in the late 80's as compared to a hot-rodded entry-level car in '02. We won't even get into how easily any of these cars would out-handle that ancient rear-drive GM platform!
-SHOV6
As shov6 pointed out, things have changed (mostly for the better) when it comes to new cars. The fastest accelerating passenger car (perhaps discounting the Chrysler 300 and maybe the Chevy with the 180 hp "power pack" which they didn't test) sold in the U.S. in 1955 was the Hydramatic equipped Olds Super 88 which did 0-60 in 10.93 seconds. The two-speed Powerflight equipped Chrysler New Yorker was right behind at 10.97 secs - I have the book in my garage. The New Yorker blew the Olds away though in the 50-80 passing test. I don't remember those exact figures but the Olds was somewhere in the 11 second bracket and the Chrysler was in the eight second range. Guess the hemi needed to be wound out!
Don't forget, though, that any car made in the 50's and 60's is better than today's cars. Just go into AOL "Car Chat" and they'll set you straight.
-SHOV6
Anyway, I just called FORD-SVT and a guy named Matt said the SVT Focus will be badged as an '02 and production should start next month with cars arriving at dealers late next month(March). We've heard this before. Will see. Talked to the fleet guy at my local dealer and he said he would probably sell them at MSRP, though his dealership does mark up the SVT Lightning and will mark up the new supercharged '03 SVT Mustang featured in the March issue of Motor Trend. Hope they "get it right the first time" onn the SVT. The variable valve timing on the intake side is new to Ford over here. My ZX3 has had the usual recalls and also had to replace the sending unit on my fuel gauge and looks like I will have to again. I also had a complete steering rack replaced because of something faulty with the original. That should not need to be redone like the sending unit. Other than that, it's been as reliable as an anvil. Wonder if there's a design flaw in the sending unit or if they just got a bad batch from the supplier?
I'm also trying to locate a copy of Technical Service Bulletin 01-4-7 mentioned in the December 2001 Popular Mechanics which is supposed to list the pre-2001 Ford models that should and should not switch to 5W-20, which is a synthetic blend I found out.
I have linked this discussion into that folder, but it will always reside here in Hatchbacks.
Looking forward to meeting everyone!
KarenS
Host
Owners Clubs
An announcement and a few pictures are available over on FocalJet.
http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/upcomingshows.shtml
MotorWeek #2129
With Host John Davis
PBS Broadcast Window Begins March 22, 2002
* Roadtest of the BMW M Roadster vs. Mercedes-Benz SLK AMG
* Roadtest of the SVT Focus
* Goss' Garage: Stone Chips
* High Road: Fine Arts Society
* Long Term Roadtest Update: Suzuki XL7
P.S. I find it interesting that tiredofmanual is having trouble engaging 1st and 2nd gears as according to the shop manual they both have double cone synchronizers to make shifting easier. Maybe something is screwed up with the linkage.
No armrest in the SVT - it is a dorky item, and gets in the way of shifting.
Something else I'm puzzling over is whether or not to get the factory sunroof. That's the only option I'm considering on "my" SVT. I had a Solaraire from Webasto installed on my current ZX3 and have been completely satisfied. From what I've seen it looks slightly larger than the factory one. However, the aftermarket one cost about 400 bucks more than the factory version. Wish they still offered the manual crank one Ford offered for the Focus the last year or two. That was really really cheap - less than 400 bucks I think - but it wasn't a moonroof, rather it was the "old fashioned" sunroof.
Just some idle musings while I wait to hear from a Ford dealer
In any case, the hand-crank MOONroof on my '01 model ZX-3 retracts into the roof, not outside the body.
-SHOV6
Wonder if I'll hear from the two SVT dealers I contacted a month ago, this this weekend. You'd think by now they'd know their delivery dates. Still, since they're only making 7,500 this year for the entire country, that may be understandable. They sure don't seem particularly anxious about selling one to me. May have to place an order. Did that with my last three cars because I wanted a rather unusual combination of options. Given the fact that the SVT comes fully equipped with only three options I thought it would be pretty easy to pick one up when they arrived - the only option I want is the "moonroof," plus the car in Sonic Blue as that's that only color I believe that's unique to the SVT compared to other Focus models.
Have a most pleasant weekend everyone.
You might want to check out Focaljet.com to get some more information about the SVT.
"...it is highly likely that customers will want examples for the street. SVT could offer a "Street" option, adding A/C, radio, rear seat, and spoiler to accomodate these requests."
Someone will have to explain to me how a recall makes a car a "POS". It seems to me that a recall means that the company recognizes a problem and fixes it... And this is a good thing. I would rather have three recalls than have one thing that breaks that I have to pay for.
-SHOV6
Saying "that car sucks because of recalls" is more wishy-washy garbage from people who are so insecure with themselves and their own car purchase that they need to bring others down to bring themselves up. Utter mindlessness.
-SHOV6
Recalls are really annoying, but I agree that they aren't a measure of the quality of a car.
I don't have a url, but here's what I did:
http://www.dealerconnection.com/default.asp?FDVE=true&source=SVT
Type in the zip, and hunt until you find a close dealer with the Focus SVT. From there, you should find your way to the online window sticker. It's there -- 21 City/25 Highway.
Mark