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Ford Escort ZX2

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Comments

  • ralex2ralex2 Member Posts: 287
    I felt good in the Tiburon, but the S/R should ourperform it, and like you, I think the exterior is pretty strange looking. The hood / front fender design is terrible. The earlier tibs looked much better. All those Leggo knobs on the interior are hard to get used to. I understand they are plastic with silver paint to emulate pot metal. I do like the Tibs shifter and the suspension is supposed to be very good. Hope they make one for grown-ups next year.
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    I agree with you there about the Tiburion's looks. Slightly odd resembling the current Acura Integra but not quite as refined. The front end in particular needs some work. I wouldn't have mind test driving one. But there is only about 2 dealers within 50 miles of location. And niether could provide me one for a test drive when I was making my desicion.

    The primary competitors to the ZX2 are the Neon, and Cavalier. Both of those cars failed badly during my shopping center cart tests. Though both in my opinion are far more luxurious cars with nicer and far more generous options packages. My problem with both cars is that I couldn't get past the sloppy handling and performance. Yes I like comfort and yes I am royal furious for not getting the top line fully loaded ZX2 when I could have. However with me I was looking for a car at an affordable price that could compete with my now dead 89 Acura Integra; hence the ZX2.

    Luxury and comfort are nice and should not be overlooked BUT good Performance was my first issue after price. Besides you can always add the luxuries later on down the road.

    One of the dangers in the ZX2 is that we tend to compare it against cars other categories. I suspect part of this is because the performance is so much higher than it's competitors. A customer of mine in the shop I work who owns one was even suggesting it was a rival for Jaguar and Lexus. To which all I can say is "yeah right". Five minutes behind the wheel of either of those two cars I am sure would have have convinced him of his stupidity. Beyond a passing slight resemblance in Body Style to the Lexus, four wheels, seats, the presence of an internal combustion engine, there is NO COMPARISON.

    I have often said many times when people have suggested I could have gotten this car or that car. My only regrets with the ZX2 are that I was too conservative with my wallet and didn't plan the purchase very well. Short of moving into the next category of car I still would have purchased the ZX2. Though with a much higher end luxury package. The car handles like a dream, it can and will hold it's own against most of it's contemporaries. Including many those in the next two categories up of cars.

    Right now though I think I will just be happy to get my car back from South Carolina and have my court case behind me. Damn that accident realy screwed my life up for the moment. I keep wanting to plan for this or that, but until I know whats going to happen in the near future I am afraid to get my hopes up. I am starting to see why people sue for emotional recompensation.
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    Ralex...
    A couple weeks ago you mentioned the mud guards. Today parked in the parking lot beside my "rent a @#@#" Escort, was a Tropic Green ZX2 with black Mudguards. It actually looked pretty good. The owner had also added some 1/4 inch thich 3 inch wide black body side moldings around the rear bumper. Very tasteful to look at and though it seems ridiculous to protect your bumper with a bumper. I daresay though very practical for minor nicks and abrasions. The interior had also been dressed up with lots of custom leather around the window frames, roof liner, and doors. Though I question the wisdom of addding a padded leather roof to a car that is notorious for it's lack of head room. IT did however look very comfortable. He had also replaced the seats with some overly padded leather ones that where of a different shape, and the interior was trimmed in simulated wood. I have no idea how much of a small fortune he paid for all the mods; probably a small fortune. Cosmetically though they did look rather nice and gave me lots of food for thought.

    Other than the mud guards and trim; exterior wise the car's owner had replaced the wheels with spoked 14 inch ones and added I think Good Year Eagle GA tires. What other mods he had done I don't know, but it was interesting to see. Even if I can't afford a damn thing right now and I am still bemoaning my ZX2s absence.

    Silly point Ralex my old dad agrees with you about Focus ZX3. He was checking up on my cars progress for me, and on a lark he test drove one. He fell in love with it it immediately.
  • freddy_kfreddy_k Member Posts: 376
    Am I the only one who thinks the Tiburton shifter (I've only test driven the '00 model) is an even longer throw then the ZX2, and a little too smooth (some resistence is nice) Personally the only thing I liked about the Tiburon was that it a superior sporty feel. The car is lower, and the seats are designed with a sportier feel. The car also seemed to hug the road a little better, giving the driver a better feel for it. Otherwise I found the car sluggish in both acceleration and response, and overall very cheaply finished. Hyundai has come a far way, but they have more miles ahead of them.
  • ralex2ralex2 Member Posts: 287
    Yes Freddy, you are the only one! I have driven 3 Tibs, one automatic and 2 five speeds. Of course the automatic couldn't get out of its own way - very sluggish. My main attraction to the Tibs was the sportscar feeling the cockpit provides. The seats are good, the seating position is much better than the Z, shifter/wheel/pedal positions were just right for me, shifter was short throw & smooth, steering felt better than Z, and suspension felt very good. Unfortunatlely, it was all just a "feeling." The car is slower than the Z and does not grip as well as the S/R. I like the warranty, but overall -- the Z is still the better buy - especially if you ever need to buy parts!!

    The Z is lighter than the Tib and the two are close to being same size. Yet the Tib is very smmall inside by comparison. Personally I like that. It creates a "intimate" cockpit feel that the Z lacks. Z is very "old Taurus" like on the inside. Typical Ford thing - afraid to do the cockpit the right way instead of the Ford way!
  • freddy_kfreddy_k Member Posts: 376
    It seems we agree on everything else, but I just can't figure out the shifter thing. Maybe they've improved on them recently. Ore was it the old model that you are thinking of? It wouldn't be the first car to have something get worse instead of improve.
  • ralex2ralex2 Member Posts: 287
    2000 models Freddy. They were nothing like Miata toploaders, but for transaxle with 5 feet of linkage, they were great.

    Only vehicle with longer shifter throw than ZX2 is coming off Fords truck line.
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    STrange discovery here. I have Actualy discovered something I like in the crappy Escort I have as a loaner. I gets better gas mileage than my ZX2. Granted I am not too sure exactly what the gas mileage is I have not done the mileage calculations on it. However I guess it is close to 40 miles per gallon. BUT I still want my ZX2 BACK!!!
  • freddy_kfreddy_k Member Posts: 376
    Performance first. Mileage second.
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    Freddy I couldn't agree with you more... The more I drive this Escort the greater the loathing I have for this blue 4 door piece of @#@#. Honestly if I had to buy 4 door sedan in the same price range I think I would be looking at getting a used Sentra or some other car. I really is pathetic.
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    The Continuing the saga of my ZX2 that was in a wreck. The driver and owner who caused my nightmare are now confirmed to be residing in Mexico (I wonder if they could get me a deal on some parts?). The legal experts believe that if I tried to sue the [non-permissible content removed] who hit me; I would only end up incuring a massive legal bill and get nothing from him.

    All the best legal advise also seems to suggest the best I can hope for in court is a "No Fault" declaration. Which basically means both parties are at fault. Meanwhile the $500 loaner allowance looks as though it will run out just before I get my car back, leaving me responsible for the balance. Also the estimate is now upto $5500 for the repairs. My car in theory should be ready by the last week of June. Damn it, I am frustrated, furious, befuddled and just generally feel as though some has hit me over back of the head with brick.

    Whatever happened to honour and self respect? In the 21 years I have been driving I have never run from an incident that was my fault this includes a couple speeding tickets I picked up in my youth. The one accident I did cause that was my fault (about 15 years ago) I stood before the judge, and freely admited it was me who was traveling to fast. All my friends said I was stupid for doing it but the judge said "my parents had raised me the right way and reduced my fine". On the flip side though, I have never run away from a fight either, when I believe very stongly in my arguements. In this case what's frustrating me is that it looks as though my enemy is afraid to fight, and admit his error. Good Lord I am afraid to think of whats going to happen to my insurance when I renew it in January.
  • freddy_kfreddy_k Member Posts: 376
    A guy in an old Civic hit me once, when I was on the off ramp of the highway, he changed lanes right into my back drivers side. It was just a tap, but he pulled back into his own lane, sped up and kept going! I followed him for 5 minutes or so befor he finaly pulled into a parking lot and stopped the car. We both got out of our respective cars and he started yelling at me! I could barely understand what he was saying, he must of been pretty new to canada, but I think he didn't even have a drivers license or own the car. I just started yelling at him about how he's supposed to pull over after hitting someone but I think he understood me as well as I understood him. I checked for damage, and couldn't see any, but the car was winter-filthy. A couple of minutes later a guy in an SUV pulled up. He had seen the whole thing happen and followed us all the way too back me up! Anyway, the guy refused to give me any insurance info, I'm sure cause he had none, so I had to take his plate number, and the witnesses tel. number. No damage in the end though. I realized It was kind of foolish if me to follow like that but it pi**ed me off.

    Anyway, sorry to bore you with the story, but It was kind of crazy at the time.

    photog0264" you might have mentioned it already and I missed it, did your airbags go off?
  • ddoggddogg Member Posts: 13
    I parked my 98 ZX2 on a side street adjacent to my house one night. When I got up the next morning for work, I found my car pushed up against the curb with the front quarter panel bashed in. Alignment was jacked big-time. Just another inconsiderate @!#hole with no respect for other people's property. Ended up costing me 500 dollars for my deductible (ridiculous) and I lost a few discounts with my insurance company. It ended up costing 1000 dollars to make it new again.
  • ddoggddogg Member Posts: 13
    Does anyone know of where I could get my hands on a good used set of Ford alloys (used to be on the 94-96 escort-gts, 15" 8 spoke) other than paying through the nose at Ford??
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    I supose if I had side impact airbags they would of. However mine only has the conventional front airbags and thankfully they did not deploy. Granted if it had been a front end impact and they had I would probably be greatfull for a deployment. Part of the stated reason of my staggering repair bill is that the car had less than 4000 miles on it. I am quite sure I will be greatful that they are being so religious in using only Ford Parts and not taking in any short cuts. The only problem is I am feeling a little be stunned right now.

    Point of interest to all concerned: Check your insurance to see how high your loaner car allowance is. Mine is at $500 and will probably run out just before my car is ready. Needless to say I will be shopping for better insurance once this episode is behind me.
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    A couple weeks back I noticed some guy had wheels offered for an Escort GT. Every now and again used parts for Escorts appear there..
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    Not that I am in any position to buy new tires right now. However while waiting for a Chinese Take Out, I wondered into to a Firestone Tire and Auto Center in the hopes of a little education. He advised me that 205 tires on a ZX2 are no good for the Washington Dc metro area because of the amount of rain and snow we get. According to him the 205s would be great on dry roads and would be a definate plus on long drives. It was his opinion that if wider tires where prefered it would also be a good idea to replace the wheels with a wider ones.

    To those more learned in "tire and wheel othology"
    than me. What are your thoughts? The three things I would be looking for in a new tire would be road grip, quiet ride, and longevity. I have a feeling those three though are not compatible with each other.
  • edswordsedswords Member Posts: 47
    I have a ZX2 S/R and it comes standard with 205 tires. I live in Pennsylvania and I am sure that there is a trade off in the snow. I dont expect problems in the rain, but if the car tends to hydroplane I can always just slow down.

    I recommend 195's for the base rims. It will look slightly more agressive but will not effect foul weather driving significantly.

    If your in a situation where you can stay home when the weather is bad I recommend the 205's. They really fill out the fenderwell and give the car a sporty look.
  • twig93twig93 Member Posts: 38
    The air bags did not deploy in either of my accidents. One was front end, the other was rear. I was told that the air bags now are very "smart." There are certain sensors placed on your car for the bags. These sensors must be triggered in certain combinations and under certain speeds in order to deploy the bags. This stops senseless deployment of the air bags.
  • ralex2ralex2 Member Posts: 287
    There are 205s that will fit on your stock 5.5" rims. Some manufacturers say it's ok, some say go to at least a 6 in rim and 6.5 is ideal. You can go all the way out to 8 in but they won't fit your ZX2, probably. Even though you can squeeze a 205 onto a 5.5 in rim, I didn't want to risk deforming the tire, or preloading it, so I went to a 7 in rim.

    With 185x60s or 195x60s choices of compound, tread, speed rating, etc seem limited. With 205x55s you will have more choices. I'm sure that if you want to go to a 205, you will find one that is better on dry asphalt than your stock RSAs and still has an open enought tread to work well on snow and rain. We are only talking about 20mm difference - not much. Better rubber and good tread design will more than offset the reduced lb/sq.in. Compromises will probably have to be made for noise though. If you want winter performance you will probably get increased noise. Some brands are also noisier than others. The important thing is that you have choices.

    Goto Tirerack.com for some good info. Goodyears home page also has lots of info as does Dunlop and various others. I'm still shopping, but will defintely go to 205s. Luckilly I drive on snow only once per year and rain isn't a big factor.

    I think the S/R does .85g on the skid pad compared to the standard ZX2s .78g. I'd bet most of that is rubber. Given the gentle application of loads on the skid pad I wouldn't expect the suspension to figure into it too much, except for the lower CG.

    Another tire characteristic, just as important or perhaps more important than grip is "feel." Some grippy tires just don't communicate well and others do. Sidewall construction is very important. You want a tire that tells you what it is about to do and does what you ask it to do. Then there is tread life. Just too many trade offs. Everything is a compromise. Maybe the smart folks just go to their favorite tire shop and tell them they want a cheap 50,000 mile tire that fits go home happy! You can certainly overthink it and hell, we are talking about 12,000 dollar Fords here - not 427 Cobra replicas.
  • ralex2ralex2 Member Posts: 287
    If you put a 205 on your stock rim, it will give you a comfortable ride, but at the expense of handling. The same tire on a 7 inch rim will give much better handling but a harsher ride. The narrower rim obviously puts an angle on the sidewall where as the wider rim allows the sidewall to be more nearly perpendicular to the surface. Generally, the rim should be 90 per cent of the tread width. A 205 has a tread width of about 8.4 in so the ideal rims would be about seven and a half inches wide.
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    Interesting and thanks very much...

    I still have that $100 credit for Goodyear tires. Perhaps I when I get my car back from South Carolina, and I have recovered financialy I will persue this a bit further. I do like the look of the Goodyear G/A tires. Curious would these tires reduce the noise much??? Not that I have too much a problem with noise right now... I have read here, and elsewhere that the right tire can significantly reduce the interior cockpit noise...
    I guess based upon what people are saying the 195 would be the better compromise.

    Curiously the G/A doesn't appear on the websight for tires listed for my car. On the funny side according to the Goodyear web sight Ford hasn't produce any cars in the year 2000. Does anybody have any experience with the Goodyear HP?

    At the moment it is all fantasy talk. As I don't even have my car back (and won't till the end of June), and once I finnish recovery from all the bills I will be adding a few luxuries to the car that where in my original plans. However I am planing on perhaps swapping up for a much better tire by the late fall. I have heard from several people that the R/S tires are not the best in snow. Granted it is mid summer now however I do try to plan ahead when I can.

    Another person even suggested I get that sunroof I want added in Winter. The theory being the installers will be much more eager to make a deal in the cold of winter when people are not looking at sunroofs. He also suggested that melting snow on the roof it would be the best way to check for leaks.

    Sandwhiches for Lunch, as much overtime as I can work, and no dates for quite awhile. Until I get all this accident crap behind me I am afraid. I will also have to finaly give in, and start shooting people if I am requested.

    Relax everyone apart from a certain Mexican for whom I have decidedly dark thoughts; I will be shooting with a 35mm and Medium Format Camera.
  • freddy_kfreddy_k Member Posts: 376
    What I did was bought a new set of 16" x 7" rims and Yokahoma 205/45' HRs. The ride is a bit harsher, but the handling has improved immensly. I highly recommend replacing the tires with stickier 195's on the stock, but I love the 16s. Anyway, my plan is to stick back on the old tires and rims come the winter, because the thin tires are better for the snow, and I don't want to ruin the cutoms. My new tires are also much better in the rain then the stocks, which I never found very stable.
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    I am curious why was Ralex's responce number 70 suddenly hidden?? It was on topic and provided usefull info on tires for the ZX2...
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    Tonight while driving home in that crappy little Escort 4 door sedan I currently have on loan I had to make a panic stop in the rain (some twit ran a red light). Suddenly despite my loathing for the Escort 4 door sedan, I had a new appreciation for what Anti lock brakes can do even in an econobox. Needless to say it has got me wondering if they could be added as an aftermarket item for the ZX2. Does anybody have any knowledge of this being added after in the aftermarket? The speed with which I managed to stop this car was amazing. All with no skid and just a fast steering correction (that I didn't really need to do).

    On the humorous side of this tale, the car behind me was a Fairfax County Police car. Suddenly there was a mild roar, some pretty blue and red lights, along with a siren, and off he went after the imbecile.
  • edgar_navedgar_nav Member Posts: 8
    Hi everyone, I made some modifications in my ZX2, I remove the big air resonator and block the extra part of the little one, perforate the cover of the air filter. Sounds different but accelerates faster.

    Send my 4 disk brakes to a special place where they drill and grooved them for a better braking.

    They cut the springs about an inch, it´s not too low but it looks better, the suspensions get a little harder and the handling improve.

    Soon I´m planning to install a sportchip, maybe some headers and remove the catalizer converter, then buy some tires and rims 16" 205x50, but I will go gradually because it´s not cheap doing this.
  • ralex2ralex2 Member Posts: 287
    I am almost 100% certain than adding ABS at this point would be financially abusrd. I will check with a friend, but I know he will laugh. It would be better to trade cars.
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    Ralex, I was talking to someone who works in service at a Chevy dealer today. He seemed to have the same opinion as you. His advice was get a couple years out of my ZX2, and then trade it in for a Chevy. Though of course I think we would all dispute his choice of cars; in a couple years it's possible that there maybe a GM car that interests me. Oh well another sterling example of my overly conservative wallet gone astray at the time of purchase.

    Oh point of interest my new door is on "national backorder" so now there is no saying how much longer it will be for my car. I am planing to call them again on Tuesday. At this rate I am almost tempted to see if could pickup a crappy little high mileage Hyundai Excel used. At least I would not have not to worry about the length of time my car is taking. Of course in REALITY that would in the long term end up costing far more money. However despite how ludicrous such a purchase would be the thought is there.
  • twig93twig93 Member Posts: 38
    This does not necessarily pertain to the ZX2, but it is an auto question. When I turn the air or vent on....it stinks! It is a nauseating smell. I noticed this last summer also. Is this from humidity? I never had it happen in any other vehicle...I also own an F250 and that doesn't stink. Someone suggested spraying Lysol in the vents, but it doesn't help.
  • edswordsedswords Member Posts: 47
    For all of you who do your own maintenence I just found out that changing the oil filter on my ZX2 S/R is terribly difficult.

    It is located on the back of the engine block up between the block and the fire wall. I also had to work around the axle shaft.

    After an 1/2 hr of reaching and straining I removed the plastic baffle on the passenger front wheel-well (about 6 bolts) and was able to reach the filter from the side.

    The factory also overtightenned the oil filter making it even more difficult to remove.

    Has anybody else had trouble with changing the oil filter? My other car is a Neon and I didnt realize how easy Dodge made it for us do-it-yourselvers until i tried to change the filter on the ZX2.
  • ralex2ralex2 Member Posts: 287
    Wouldn't it be easier to get the filter off from underneath the car?
  • ralex2ralex2 Member Posts: 287
    I once heard a story about a guy with a St Bernard that like to ride sitting up in the passengers seat of his new pick up truck. One day the big Saint had a little stomach trouble and splattered several pounds of St Bernard barf onto the guys dash, much of it running down into the vents.

    Needless to say, the ventilation system in that truck was pretty ripe smelling afterwards. The solution was to locate the plastic plumbing from the fan to the vents, remove it and clean it. Of course on some vehicles that could be very difficult. On his truck it was pretty straight forward.

    I have seen pack rats build nests in vent intakes. Those could get fragrant in the summer. What kind of smell do you have in your vents Twig? - hot motor smell, dead animal smell, Gravy Train smell?
  • twig93twig93 Member Posts: 38
    Ralex...I am still cracking up from the St. Bernard story!!!!! What a sight that must have been ( I have 2 large dogs and I can understand it totally...while driving through town my choc. lab decided to take a $#!? in the back of the pickup truck!). Anyway, it is hard to describe...I guess like rotting dead leaves or actually like a rotten urine smell...you know like when your dog pees somewhere and you don't find it for weeks. The funny thing is that it is not there when I turn the heat on in the winter. It is only there in the summer when it is hot and I use the air or vent. It is not as bad with the vent, but it is downright obnoxious with the air on. Help!!!!

    Oil change...YES extreme difficulties getting the filter off from the factory. It doesn't help that it is packed in there either. There were a lot of 4 letter words in the driveway on that first oil change.
  • drm4869drm4869 Member Posts: 4
    I too own a s/r and actually thought it was easier too change oil on this than it was on the 88 gt i have.i was able to change the filter without putting the car on ramps.i just reached behind the engine and was able to put oil filter wrench on it pretty easy,i agree ford did tighten it way too much.
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    On my previous car (an 1987 Acura Integra)the A/C compressor failed. After I had it replaced I too had a rather strong foul smell, more akin to salt marshes at the beach than anything else (no surprise there as I was living at the beach). One week later I went back to the service center and complained, because it was pretty over powering. The solution was to flush the system and replace the freon again. Afterwards it smelled more like chemicals, than anything else. I could faintly still smell the original odor it was but only very slightly. Regardless it was worlds better than it was before. Happily they did all that at no charge. On the newer cars such as our ZX2s I think they use something other than Freon to keep it them cool; however perhaps there is solution in my experience.
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    Ralex,
    If I didn't know better I would swear that St Bernard had slept in that Escort I have on loan. This another reason I want my car back. This Escort stinks of tobacco, and dog. It might not be so bad to some, but am an Ex smoker who only smokes under the highest of stress (I have had 7 cigarettes in 2 years), and I am a cat person who prefers the company of felines to canines. Of course cats can also create their fair share of aromas when cooped up in a car.
  • freddy_kfreddy_k Member Posts: 376
    If it makes you feel any better, when my car was in getting repaired my rental was a base Cavalier. Uhhg.
  • ralex2ralex2 Member Posts: 287
    Was putting a little wax on the Z last weekend, Photog, and noticed the Escort and Sport emblems were just slightly loose at the ends. I went ahead and ripped 'em off. A little wax removed any evidence they had ever been there. Looks much better now...less clutter. Now if that stupid blue oval wasn't recessed....
  • floridianfloridian Member Posts: 219
    try servicing the auto tranny. most quick oil change shops in our area will NOT service a ZX2 auto tranny. decided to help my son do it. bad idea. after 2 1/2hours of sweating, cussing, trying to get pan bolts out etc (plus a small crossmember under there) we finally got it done. then we understood why the guys @ Jiffylube declined to do the job at any price. don't blame 'em. by the way, the ZX2 auto tranny does not have a filter !!! only a couple magnets to collect the metal debris from the clutch packs and there was a LOT of it at 18k miles of mostly highway driving. could this be a bad omen of things to come?

    floridian
  • ralex2ralex2 Member Posts: 287
    Should have drained it at 1K miles. Actually, I think the collection of junk on the magnets is a good sign. If there hadn't been anything on them at 18k, I would really have been worried. It would have been collecting elsewhere and there is no other place thats good.
  • JohnYJohnY Member Posts: 1
    Both my '98 had the problem and my '99 ZX2 has the problem with "swamp smell". Condensation of moist air in the cool vents after running the A/C seems to be the cause. I mostly get the problem in the spring and fall, and I'm guessing that I don't get it in the summer because the heat kills all the microbes and during the winter because I use the heat there isn't enough moisture to condense.

    As to fixing it, I have no idea. I have changed the way I use the vent setting to reduce the problems though. I either avoid using the vent entirely, so as not to introduce the warm, humid air, or I run the vents for several minutes so the water that does condense on the vent walls gets dried up immediately. The second option means letting warm, humid air blow into the cabin. It's a peeve that I don't think I have ever really mentioned on here before, but there it is.
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    I was wondering around a Ford Dealer in Manasass today looking at fresh delivery of ZX2 (they had NINE of them IN STOCK!!!) and noticed one that looked a little different. It was a Midnight Blue with 14 inch wheels and Goodyear G/A tires on. It also had that new thinner powered sunroof I mentioned before. The salesman proceeded to tell me it was a custom S/R and the person who ordered it had canceled the order. After a few minutes of conversation I took it for a test drive. IT WAS NOT AN S/R!!! Though I did like the feel of the tires and really enjoyed zipping through Manassas City back roads. After getting the car back I proceeded to clue him in on reality, regarding what a real S/R has on it. He sort of gave me this dumb look and confessed it was NOT a True S/R but the part about being a cancelled custom order was true. As was evidenced by that sunroof and the fact that the car was priced $17,000. And yes you read that right SEVENTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A CUSTOM ZX2!!! For some strange reason I didn't buy it.

    In summary, Yes I did like the leather interior, the sunroof with the added headroom and I loved the feel of those tires. However apart from the luxury safety and convienance improvements; the improved handling that WAS VERY clearly caused by the tires, it performed was just like my own plain jane BUT very much missed ZX2. Acceleration noise, seats, suspension where all the same. I will say though the Midnight Blue Colour is my favourite one for this car. Classey and sporty at the same time.

    Another car I glanced at and test drove on their used lot was the 1999 Chevy Cavalier. Sorry Chevy you really do need to improve that car. IT has terrific potencial the Cavalier, but the design and performance just don't seem to measure up. Perhaps the Sunbird is a little better, but I stand quite firm in the opinions I formed when I test drove a Cavalier about 2 months ago. The ZX2 really is the better car. However will say I have a feeling the Cavalier would have withstood my side impact better than the ZX2 did.
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    Quick update all being well I will be able to collect my repaired ZX2 a week from Friday.

    Ralex I have seen a couple ZX2s with the Escort Logo removed like I did with mine (and now you with yours). On the 2000 models they only have the name Escort glued on. Versus the previous years which feature Escort AND Sport Logos. Another little difference between the two Models is on the rear bumper. The 1998s and some 1999s have the name "Escort ZX2" molded into the rear bumper. On the 2000 models they only have name "ZX2" molded there.
  • ralex2ralex2 Member Posts: 287
    My '99 just has "ZX2" molded into the bumper. That's more than enough. I would hate to see the whole name pemanently scribbled across the bumper.

    Were the tires on that bogus SR 205s?

    Glad to hear you are getting yours back next week. Hope they did a good job for you.

    I have been chasing a rattle in mine and finally figured it out. I knew it was the heat shield, but every time we had it on the lift and looked for loose screws, we couldn't find any. We would beat on the heat shield and it refused to rattle. Turns out the bottom of the B&M shifter hangs down low enough to rub on the heat shield and in first gear - they vibrate together. Best fix is to shim the shield down closer to the exhaust pipe, but just bending it may be more realistic.
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    I believe they where 205s but I could be mistaken. The wheels where also a bit different, obviously Ford approved as they had the Ford Logo on them. They sort of looked a bit like my friends 87 Toyota Tercels quasi spoked wheels (spoked on the edges only) but only much wider. Around the edges they had a definate recess bulging out to cover the anti-lock brake housing (another give away). The person who ordered it must have lost the proverbial packet. I can't envsion a dealer taking an order for such a radicaly enhanced, and over priced version of the ZX2 without at least 50% down. Some how I think paying $17000 for a ZX2 is a little stupid myself. I didn't even know dealers could order cars modified like this one was.

    The enhancements though did get me thinking about my own car for when I am free of accident. In particular that thinner Sunroof. Another wierd little detail the sunroofs controls where on the doors. I know this for a fact because I was confused when I glanced down and saw THREE power window toggles and pressed the wrong one (the sunroof opened up rather than the window).

    I think if I can get financial house in order I may pickup a used Econo Zip Box next year. This rented Escort I am in is really driving me nuts. What between the smell, the dirt, the lack of performance and the fact that it's not mine (if it was, I would trade it in as fast as I could get to a dealer), I am about ready to have myself commited... Dear God I have been obsessing over this incident in my life! The sooner it is over with the better...

    IF it tells you anything during a breif wig out while on the phone to the body shop. I offered the guy the $225 over my rental allowance that I will probably incur. In the hopes of getting the car by THIS Saturday. He politely informed me that "I really don't want a rushed job do I"? Which about a minute after my little wig out passed, suddenly made sense to me. I really DON'T WANT a rushed job on this type of major repair.
  • photog0264photog0264 Member Posts: 314
    On my now late Acura Integra several years ago I was getting a strange vibration and a loud rattle. I took it to the dealer several times but he couldn't find anything wrong it (the special effects always stopped like magicaly 1/2 mile from the dealer), I took it to a Merchants Tire and Auto Center here in Va. He told me I had a hole about the size of a quarter in my exhaust system and it would be about $400 to repair it as he had to replace several parts. Damn it I thought another repair. About a month later I took it to another and slightly more convieniant Merchants location, with the intent of having the repairs done. The mechanic puts it up on the ramp to do the work. About a half an hour later he calls me in from the waiting room. He wanted to know why I was having all this work done to my exhaust system. I explained about what the other Mechanic had found. He replied "Bull@#@#" the only thing wrong was there was a loose mounting nut on a bracket that held my tail pipe in place. Heavily relieved I asked him how much will it cost to replace it. He responded by pulling out a wrench, attaching it to the offending nut giving it a few cranks and saying "it's done now, no charge". In appreciation I gave him a $20. Not surprisingly I wrote a letter both to a local TV news station and to Merchants executive offices. Several months later I learned almost the entire staff at that location had been replaced. Also I never again had any strange rattles coming from the car during the 13 years I owned her.

    Moral to the story: always get a THIRD opionion when you hear strange unexplained noises.
  • floridianfloridian Member Posts: 219
    here in florida ZX2's are getting scarce let alone ANY s/r's. Most dealers have none or mabe one ZX in stock. don't want to even talk about a ZX2 S/R. All I hear is "don't know" if any 2001's will be built,"don't know" if production will continue up till the end of the calander year. blah, blah, blah but let me put you into that "pretty" ZX3 out there,it's a whole lot better anyway !! also have seen some ZX2's with "ersatz" ?? decals on the lower panel BEHIND the doors. Where are these coming from ? Look like factory decals but in the wrong place. weren't they originally on the lower front corner of the doors ? These were NOT real S/R cars as no special wheels, HAD a spolier and were other colors (not red, black or white)one green one and a silver. What gives? are these people so desperate for s/r cars that they are settling for just a decal? Can't get any info even from "Blue Oval News",they mostly cover "stang" things anyway.

    Floridian (killjoy)
  • ralex2ralex2 Member Posts: 287
    Some ZX2s around, but nobody ever heard of the SR.
    Can't order them, Ford says unrecognized option. As I understand it, there were no white SRs. Just Red, Black, and Zinc Yellow. If I see an SR that may be real, the first thing I look for is rear disc brakes. Unlikely fakes will go that far - and if they do, might be as good as the real thing.
  • freddy_kfreddy_k Member Posts: 376
    I know rear discs sound good, but according to the motortrend test I read on the S/R (I've never driven one, so this must be based on theory) comparing it to the regular Z the S/R had 146 ft braking 60-0 vs the regular Z's 142 ft. All of the speed oriented changes brought the cars 7.8 sec 0-60 run to a whopping 7.6 sec. Basically the only thing the S/R really improved was the handling. That means for the price difference of the S/R I have my rims and rubber (both superior to the S/R's) plus I can replace the struts and springs for less $. For the same price I can also go ahead and tack on a wingswest 4 piece body package for visual effect.
  • ralex2ralex2 Member Posts: 287
    I'm not interested in the disks so much for stopping power as for "feel" but I have to admit, I'm getting pretty comfortable with the feel of the drums. The disks are 700 bucks, and I really don't think they are worth it unless you are engaged in organized competition. If you want the increased acceleration, go with the superchip ($229). It doesn't help the 0-60 much, but really shows up in 30-80 times. Sorry, no numbers, but remember, you have my word on it. Still, the SR is about handling - tires, struts, springs. I wonder how much difference the SR bushing kit makes? Anyone know?

    It's been two weeks since I ordered the SR struts and they haven't shipped yet. Sounds like a problem - I need to call and check.
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