Did you recently rush to buy a new vehicle before tariff-related price hikes? A reporter is looking to speak with shoppers who felt pressure to act quickly due to expected cost increases; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com for more details by 4/24.

Ford Focus - Part III

2456710

Comments

  • clayman1clayman1 Member Posts: 41
    I was told by my dealer to change my first change at 5000 miles. I always thought it should be done at 3000! I will talk with my mechanic and see what he wants to do. After the first it will always be 3000.
  • pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    To: MICH9139,
    I have had excellent result the the following brand. "Sav-A-Life" from Sav-A-Life Industries, Ltd., P.O. Box 1226, New York, NY 10025, Phone 800-OK-4-DEER. I have used this product for the past 10 years and have not hit a deer in that period. Was averaging at least one deer per year before then. Most of the local sheriff and police departments around here use them. Live in one of the most deer populated area in rural upstate New York, south of Buffalo, and north of Bradford, Pa. and travel almost 30,000 miles a year. We are well noted in all the hunting magazines for our deer population and also size of the individual deer. This brand of deer alerts are going on my new zx3 this weekend when the dealer waxes it. Didn't get done when I test drove her, brought her and took her home all in the same day.

    To forum: about oil. Check out the Maintenance forum in Edmunds Town Hall. Lots of great info on oil here. Even found a link to test on oil filters. Found out I was using the best one all along.

    One fantastic automobile.. The Focus ZX3 is deserving of the title, "Car of the Year". And just think next year we will all be complaining about how many there are out there.

    Pat
  • pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    Since when does Aluminum Alloy Cast BEND??? Any of you engineer types out there tell me. I know it will crack or break, but bend, I don't think so. Is this guys dealer giving him a line, what do you guys think?
    Pat
  • pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    Since when does Aluminum Alloy Cast BEND??? Any of you engineer types out there tell me. I know it will crack or break, but bend, I don't think so. Is this guys dealer giving him a line, what do you guys think?
    Pat
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    Friends, sylvai's post above is hidden only because it contains a link that skews our screen size. To read it, just click on "hidden." Thanks!

    carlady/host
  • projectzx3projectzx3 Member Posts: 256
    the bodyshop called me yesterday evening and said in all likelihood our ZX3 will be ready Friday. they were started painting her yesterday! cool! Tickbitty... i should have had them give me a price to do her in Zinc Yellow! I Love that color! it belongs on the ZX3! anyway, i really did think about it but i believe there's no substitute for the factory paint (i don't care how good the bodyshop is)... so we didn't. very excited to be getting our car back. hopefully the 'project' will begin soon but after all of this my son and i just decided to 'get the car home and enjoy it for a while'. As far as the transaxles... the Ford engineer Dr.Horace informed us that the type A tranny will not bolt up. all Ztec & manual foci MUST have the type B with the reverse latch. so he had my salesman research the Foci on his lot that were in question. Guess what... some idiot had assembled the boot wrong on the shifter! it was actually pulled up and over some type of pin and it engaged the latch spring all the time ...thus hiding the ring itself but nevertheless allowing one to shift to reverse. so that mystery is solved. weird huh?
  • projectzx3projectzx3 Member Posts: 256
    pcleveland2, you can bet i am going to call and get those deer alerts. thank you for the info! do they have a web site to order from as well?
  • hkoenen2hkoenen2 Member Posts: 70
    Here is an article I found that might be of interest to those of you that have been waiting on your new car. And no, I don't work for Ford or UPS.
    ----------
    Ford, UPS Ally To Speed Auto Shipments

    While auto dealers hash out strategies to bring in new customers and
    lower costs via the Web, Ford Motor Co. is looking to help dealers on
    the supply end--using the Web to get cars to showrooms faster.

    Ford and UPS Logistics Group yesterday announced they are forming
    an alliance that will interconnect the logistics systems used in
    shipping Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars with dealers across the
    country.

    The alliance, a separate UPS-owned entity that includes both Ford and
    UPS employees, will create a "precision delivery system" that could
    slice more than 40 percent off the 14 to 15 days it now takes to get
    finished cars to each dealership, officials said.

    The system also will let dealers and customers tap the Web to check
    the status of car deliveries, said Frank Taylor, vice president of
    material, planning and logistics at Ford. "This will reduce the
    distribution costs for both Ford and its dealers, and will help us to
    reduce our inventory levels as well," Taylor said. -- Tim Wilson

    http://www.internetwk.com/story/INW20000202S0004
  • briand789briand789 Member Posts: 49
    I'm already itching for spring so I can deck out my zx3. www.focussport.com advertises a spark plug wire set that is supposed to increase hp. How true is this? Do the spark plugs need to be upgraded too in order to realize the improvement? Has anyone installed a performance exhaust on their zx3? I can't wait to hear how it sounds!
  • jpthreejpthree Member Posts: 16
    hey folks,

    I picked up my ZX-3 last night that I had on order (yes, it took 3 months). I paid $150 over invoice for it, no fake fees. I don't remember who on here got a silver one, but now you have a twin! I ordered it with the cassette player, a/c, abs, floor mats, and block heater.

    I love this car :-)

    There's a couple of things I would love to change, such as the plastic gas fill door (when it breaks I guess I'll just have to get one of those cool aluminum racing-style fills like on the Focus R). I would also like to put a short-throw shift kit in, since the action is so light I think I could deal with the extra effort for the reduction in distance. The triangular euro side-markers would also be nice to have on, but I think the euro fenders have an indentation to accommodate these. If someone comes out with a plastic fender liner for the rear wheel wells, I'll be the first to buy a set too.

    -Joe
  • drebe73drebe73 Member Posts: 243
    I'm so happy to hear that you will finally get your car back. Enjoy it and be safe, here's to no more wildlife getting in your way.
  • briand789briand789 Member Posts: 49
    There's a cool review of the Euro Focus 2.0 in the Britsh mag "Car" this month. It comes equipped with ESC - Electronic Stability Control, which includes yaw control, steering control and traction control. Also has 16 inch wheels. And all wheel discs. Seems pretty cool. Maybe parts bin development for the SVT?
  • drebe73drebe73 Member Posts: 243
    I sent pictures of my car to the http://www.premiercompacts.com
    web site. they have them in the misc. pictures section if you want to check them out.
    I didnt send the wide shot where you can see all of the damage but you get the picture.
  • jamers85jamers85 Member Posts: 100
    Where does my twin lives? Here's the site where you'll see your twin and our 4 door silver cousin.
    And other pics of our relatives. Check it out.
    http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/jamers85/Index.html
  • silver_bulletsilver_bullet Member Posts: 1,339
    Just picked up my new ZX3 this afternoon. CD Silver with Medium Graphite cloth, 5-speed, A/C, floor mats, and smokers package. This is the typical configuration for every ZX3 I found on the ground here in Houston. I just love it! I wanted ABS, but didn't want to order a car and wait(and maybe miss the 4.9% financing). The brakes feel very good as is, and if I decide to go crazy my salesman said the rear discs from the SVT Contour do indeed bolt on - and having a non-ABS car makes it pretty straightforward. This car is a wonderful design, and looks so much better than any picture. I'm 43 and my ZX3 is my 19th car. Accepting the car for what it is, and looking at the price Ford charges for it(I paid $27 UNDER Edmund's factory invoice price), I don't think there is anything that can touch it. Hope time doesn't prove me a liar :-)
  • espowariespowari Member Posts: 36
    The Green zx3 I test drove had the Dark seats with the light center strip down the middle. It's not like I can figure out what color this is from the Brochure! .
    In the brochure, is the Med Graphite the one on the far left?

    Thanks,

    B
  • silver_bulletsilver_bullet Member Posts: 1,339
    Check the top of the window sticker for the color combo of a particular car. The brochure shows the charcoal cloth seat - from what I can see, the textured center cloth is the same, only the smooth outer bolsters change color from grey (graphite) to nearly black (charcoal). Before I fell for my silver car, I thought I wanted Autumn Orange, but I couldn't really see either interior looking very good - just my opinion. Plus, no dealers said they were willing to order an orange car without a deposit - they were afraid they'd get stuck with it!
  • projectzx3projectzx3 Member Posts: 256
    i happened to find some pics of the zx3. it helps if you understand german though! still cool pics of euro models and rally car. www.autowelt-wolf.de
  • tickbittytickbitty Member Posts: 250
    I've seen lots of people talking about the orange, lots liked it but for other reasons, (resale, etc) did not want to risk it. I say, don't fear the orange! I figure if I ever want to sell the car, there are plenty like me who will like it. I actually think it would be even better if it were less red and brighter, more coppery. Only thing I worry about is if in ten years it looks as "dated" as the teal blues do now. But hey, to each his own. I changed my preference back and forth from red and silver 8 times before going for orange. Right now I wouldn't care a bit what the color if I could just get the darn car!

    But speaking of colors, didn't somebody on here wish for a "true" silver? How would that differ from the silver they offer? Just curious!
  • tickbittytickbitty Member Posts: 250
    Is today the day?!! Drive careful now!
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    Great site, projectzx3! Thanks for sharing it.

    For our non-German speakers, try the AltaVista translation service. Cut and paste what you want to translate into the box. Then select "German to English" in the pulldown menu at the bottom. Click and read!

    carlady/host
  • projectzx3projectzx3 Member Posts: 256
    after i write this i am heading out the door and over to my dealer. i don't know if the paint has dried sufficiently... it may be delayed until Monday. i want to find out in person! keeping my fingers crossed. and , yes, i will be very careful! i'll let everyone know asap... if you don't hear from me i'm out 'ripping gears'!!! (just kidding)
  • briand789briand789 Member Posts: 49
    There is a company now selling aftermarket sunroofs for the Focus, for anyone else who is interested. It does not include pricing info, but does link to regional dealers:

    http://www.solairesunroofs.com/focus.htm
  • projectzx3projectzx3 Member Posts: 256
    so good to me.... well i have to give the body shop mgr. credit. he wants to hold the car until monday so 'he can go over it and make sure it's perfect' as he put it. that's ok by me although it would have been nice to have the car for the weekend. oh well.. waited this long... we can surely wait until monday to make sure the car is right!
    on a side note... i got the scoop on aftermarket wheels for the zx3. the zx3 has a 4 x 4.25 bolt pattern (not widely used at all, the new t-bird will have the same). in addition there is a 40mm offset. wheels for this baby are going to be very difficult to find. the only one so far is ATP's Spa listed on tirerack. yes there are others that fit the lug pattern but they don't have the offset. RH Alurad wheels a newcomer from Germany will have one style available but not for 5 weeks. so to put it plainly we're pretty much 'stuck' with the wheels that we have for now unless of course you like the ATP style (we don't). so the project is delayed a little more ... perhaps springs will be first afterall. all good things are worth waiting for.
  • projectzx3projectzx3 Member Posts: 256
    i will post the wheel info in topic #321 Aftermarket & Accessories also. a couple of us are trying to put all aftermarket wheel, tire & performance posts there so as not to clutter this general conference. thought it was important enough to post in both. thanks for understanding.
  • tickbittytickbitty Member Posts: 250
    I had my heart set on one of these sunroofs, http://www.hollandia.com/sapphire2.html
    thought it would look so great on the zx3, but now somebody says they can't put them in because the roof of the focus is too curved. bummer!
  • jamers85jamers85 Member Posts: 100
    sorry for the wrong site address...here's the correct one. They said only TSW wheels will fit our zx3. check this site...the TSW Imola looks like the one that Focus R has.
    www.discounttiredirect.com
  • jpthreejpthree Member Posts: 16
    Hey Jamers85, I live in RI. I bought my car in nearby Mass though. I also failed to mention that my car is a 5-speed.

    I can't wait to see another ZX3 on the road so we can wave to each other. :-)

    -Joe
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    projectzx3, you're right. Because there is so much interest in aftermarket items for the zx3, I'd like to encourage you to visit the FORD FOCUS ZX3: AFTERMKT topic in our Aftermarket and Accessories conference. Thanks!

    carlady/host
  • projectzx3projectzx3 Member Posts: 256
    where is everyone? out driving your ZX3's huh!?
  • drebe73drebe73 Member Posts: 243
    Does anyone know how to get the G-shock watch from ford? What survey are people refering to?
    Maybe a number to call to inquire about it.
  • silver_bulletsilver_bullet Member Posts: 1,339
    Yes, I have been out driving my ZX3, and I like it more with each passing mile. What a kick to drive! I still can't believe the overall product that Ford has managed to put together for the price. Interesting and thoughtful design is everywhere in this car. I spent this afternoon cleaning and waxing the beastie, and it just glows. A tip for all of you wanting to get rid of the ugly front brake dust on your wheels - check out an aftermarket supplier for Repco (now PBR) deluxe brake pads. I've used them in my BMWs for years with very good results, and they produce virtually no dust. I'm going to swap my stock pads as soon as I find the Repcos. Might as well take off the unpainted caliper bracket, clean it down, and spray it with a nice high temp paint (maybe red!) while we're there... the fun of a new toy :-)
  • clayman1clayman1 Member Posts: 41
    Not sure if there really is a watch as no one seems to know anything about them. As for the survey, I believe you will receive one in the mail in a few weeks from Ford after you purchase?
  • jamers85jamers85 Member Posts: 100
    I contacted ford cust.service regarding this gift(s). They said they're not aware of it, unless the dealer has their own thing. I got the survey but I have not send it back yet. Maybe that's the key to getting the watch.
  • espowariespowari Member Posts: 36
    I can finally order the zx3 of my dreams on Monday. I really want the extra packages that are avail. Power everything, cruise...

    The dealer says 6 weeks. Man I hope it is sooner than that.
  • clayman1clayman1 Member Posts: 41
    Good luck and be patient. I'm sorry I did not wait for the power windows as the crank is pretty awkward to turn.
    I took my silver ZX3 into the self serve car wash today and did it myself, afraid the commercial wash will scratch my finish. :>)
    It looks really great all cleaned up. Actually got a few stares, folks were in front and to the left, turned all the way around to check the car out. Happened a few times today. What fun.
  • mattozzi_ajmattozzi_aj Member Posts: 24
    I know what you mean-I LOVE when my little sangria red zx3 is clean! I just want to fill the tank and drive for hours!! Every time I pull up at a drive thru the person waiting on me always asks about my car. The young girls think it is cute- the guys dig the stereo. As of yet I haven't seen another zx3 in my area. Sure wish the snow would stop!! I'm sick the salt on my car!!!
  • projectzx3projectzx3 Member Posts: 256
    dragway! of all the low-down tricks!!! haha!! i couldn't have done it better myself! you da man! i have posted some wheel info on the aftmkt. site for those interested.
  • norwaydougnorwaydoug Member Posts: 249
    As some may recall...I struck a deer with my car and damaged the left fender, headlight fixture and windshield 3 weeks ago. I had the windshield repaired and was driving it while waiting for parts.

    Well....Saturday morning I discovered my car in a snowbank because someone drove about 10 mph into the driver side and knocked it 7 feet! The car does not look too bad, but it is undriveable due to the bent right rear wheel. I think it needs a new rear bumper facia, black strip that is below the doors, a new rear panel and an alignment. The struts and parts of that nature are damaged. The rear hatch is not well aligned anymore. It was towed to the shop and it is now sitting there.

    I am renting a 1996 Taurus.

    A young man came and saw me and he apologized for hitting my car. His insurance will cover the reparir. I give the guy credit and at least it wasn't a hit and run.

    I love my Focus though, but it is being battered. It is a real shame and it just ruins my week ends! 2 hits in one month is too cruel to a car that is 6 weeks old.

    Who knows when I will get the car back?!
    Remember......Drive Carefully.

    norwaydoug
  • drebe73drebe73 Member Posts: 243
    Oh My Gosh!!! Norwaydoug man I can't believe what I just read. You car got hurt again!!! That is terrible. Are we cursed? My ZX3 has had absolutley nothing done to it yet. Its still in the same spot it has been for 3 weeks now. Tuesday it will be a month since the accident. I really wish I knew what we could do to speed along the process. At least you have a rental though, I have to bum rides and take the bus. Also, the guy that hurt my focus didnt have insurance; I'm glad the guy that hit yours has insurance to cover the repairs when they finally do repair it. Good luck, I wrote to Ford Customer Service about my incident, maybe if more people complain to them they will do more to make the parts available.
  • mp10mp10 Member Posts: 103
    I was reluctant to recount my latest woes as some readers have indicated they wanted this to remain something of a feel-good forum, but in light of the above, here's my continuing bad luck story: after 13 days in stir for the broken power steering pump, I got my car back on Monday. Tuesday, all was well. Wednesday morning on the way to work I found myself behind a tractor trailer truck and immediately tried to fall back while waiting for a chance to change to another lane when sure enough, BAM!...a rock the size of a small asteroid hits my windshield. There's a small BB-sized hole on the outside, a 3/4" cloud on the interior side. So I call up the dealer and ask if I can have one of the windshields from the cannibalized Foci they've been using for parts. Sure they said, bring it in. I left it there Thursday morning. At 2 pm they call me with bad news - I even guessed what it was. They BROKE the windshield from the other car when they were trying to remove it. I actually started crying over all this on Friday. I know it's mostly just incredibly bad luck, but it's been made so much worse because of the problem of getting parts. Apparently they found out they *could* get windshields so they say they ordered me one and it's on premises and I am going to try again on Monday. When will this all end? When I look at my car and drive it, I fall in love with it all over again, but gee, it's getting harder. I know it's just a car and there are worse problems to have in life, but this is the first brand new car I ever bought, and it hasn't been the fun experience I thought it would be. I've had my hatchling 37 days, 13 of them spent at the dealer's. m.p.
  • norwaydougnorwaydoug Member Posts: 249
    MP10,

    I am sorry to hear about your news. I know how you feel. I hope they get the window in soon for you. I think they are readily available since I had mine done in a matter of hours after I hit the deer.

    I am now renting a car, but it costs more per day to rent than the insurance company will pay me. I live north of Philadelphia and I am 100% dependent on a car. I have newly returned to the area too, as my name implies and I have just a handful of friends to 'bum a ride' from (and we are so spread out here that it is impossible! Virtually no buses. It's terrible. I am hoping that the dealership can get my Focus in driveable condition and I can return the rental as soon as possible.

    Parts is a real issue for this car. We also seem to be keen ZX-3 owners too and when our cars get damaged, our hearts bleed a little bit. Still it is only metal, glass and plastic as mp10 says .... and there are more important things in life. Still I have a passion for my ZX-3. I hope I still love it when it comes back fixed.

    Thanks for the sympathy drebe 73. I hope you get your car back soon. Can the dealer get a car for you? I think since they have had it for so long that they should provide you with a rental car for no charge. Ask them for a car and explain that you have been waiting for a month! It is not your fault that FORD doesn't have any parts. The dealer should pay for a car for you! Try it...can't hurt.

    I have a feeling that the insurance company of the person who hit me will be unwilling to pay for the use of this car for more than 10 days. And then.......it will be out of my pocket! I told the adjustor that there are no parts for this car. Oh well....I guess I will find out soon enough.

    NorwayDoug
  • drebe73drebe73 Member Posts: 243
    I was wondering if anyone has installed a CD
    Changer in their ZX3? I have a Sony 10 disc
    changer that I bought for my previous car which was a sedan. I had the Changer suspended from the
    roof of the trunk. Now that I have a hatchback,
    There is no trunk roof to hang the changer from.
    I'm also a little hesitant about taking up any
    valuable floor space in the trunk.

    I was also wondering if anyone has purchased
    and/or installed an after market security alarm
    system in their ZX3? I want to get one but the one from Ford is a bit pricey so I was thinking about going to Best Buy or Circuit City to buy one. My reasons for concern are, 1. Will they be able to incorporate the alarm into my existing remote? and 2. Will they be able to install the alarm without causing any electrical problems due to the fact that the car is a "new" design?

    I was just wondering if anyone has had any
    experience with these two issues and if they can
    offer me any suggestions or insight based on those
    experiences?

    Thanks in advance,
    Dre'
  • drebe73drebe73 Member Posts: 243
    I was just wondering but wouldn't it have just been easier to call one of those companies that repair windshields? I remember seeing a commercial where they come to you and put this suction cup looking thing on the hole and repair it right there.

    PS I realy wish there was a Focus chat room on this web site. It would be much easier to communicate with each other.
  • mattozzi_ajmattozzi_aj Member Posts: 24
    hey norwaydoug and mp10-my heart is breaking for you guys!! I don't know what I would do if something happened to my zx3. I know that reading your stories have made me a very cautious driver! almost paranoid! Hang in there!
  • projectzx3projectzx3 Member Posts: 256
    an unreliable source in the CIA has leaked information that Honda, Mitsubishi, Subaru and other but smaller Japanese Corporation have hired ,and paid quite handsomly i might add, 'hit persons'to roam US highways and by-ways looking for the Ford Focus to make 'Kamikaze' strikes. Apparently these billion dollar import companies, afraid of thier shrinking market share, are not above producing robot deer to take out thier vengence either! just trying to cheer you folks up :) Well tomorrow is the day for us here. Seems like a lifetime from December 16th to now. We sincerly hope you all get your car back faster than we are. If it were not for the famous 'Orlock', we would in all likelihood still be waiting for our left fender. Where is he? Need to thank him in some way.
  • mp10mp10 Member Posts: 103
    Oh, the insurance company MADE me call Settles and Giant Glass FIRST even though I said they wouldn't have a windshield for a Ford Focus. Sure enough, when I called them, they said, a Ford WHAT? Then the Settles Glass woman looked in her computer and said, Oh, we have them, let me check the warehouse ...oh, no we don't have any. But I had to go through the motions to satisfy the insurance people. I hope this replacement windshield has the original UV filter dotted stuff and not blue tint (someone told me that's what the black dots are - I thought they were some kind of defroster stuff). At any rate, why can Ford get the windshields and not other parts???? One other thing, I have to leave the car sit for 4 hours after they install the glass - how come you can go to a glass place and they put the windshield in and then you drive off? The Ford Service guy said there can't be any fluctuations until the glue dries (???!!). Does anyone know why that is? m.p.
  • mp10mp10 Member Posts: 103
    Since most people probably got the "standard" CD player with their hatchlings, I don't expect there's much info on this but...I too would like to know about putting in a CD player/changer. Mine came with a cassette player and I've called Circuit City and they said they don't have the "kit" yet to make 3rd party audio equipment fit into the Focus opening. Also, since the digital clock is part of the Ford audio system, do 3rd party systems usually have a clock display? m.p.
  • pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    NorwayDoug and MP10: Could not believe what I read. Had to read it twice before it sank in. Makes me afraid to take mine out of the driveway, but transportation is a necessity these days. Will be darn'd before I put the plates back on the Nissan or drive wife's Ranger, so I guess I will have to take my chances. Beside this is exactly why I quite buying red cars a number of years back. Seemed like everything happened to them.

    Hope you guys get back on the road real fast and that nothing happens again.

    One thing I want to know - What's the deal on the bent wheels. I still don't get about cast aluminum wheels bending. But saw a ad in Automobile Mag about a company who repairs them and guarantees his work. interesting maybe I better cut it out and keep it for reference.

    Pat C.
  • pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    MP10:
    The Ford Service Guy was right. Read a article is a Automotive Service Magazine about this and there is a awful lot we lay people don't know about the libility of installing windshields. Using the right products for different vehicles and different glass. How long the "glue" sets. In other words, it sounds like your Ford guy knows what he's doing and is doing it the right way. I like that in a service tech person, but he should go on and explain the libility and the fact that he is protecting you and his boss at the same time. It seems that there has been a number of lawsuits over inproperly installed windshields, and its usually discovered only after a accident when someone goes thru a windshield. You can tell him I said thank you.

    Pat C.
This discussion has been closed.