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Ford Focus Hatchback - ZX3 - Part V
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Comments
Back to Foci:
A rumor going arond is that the 2001 Focus will have a price hike due to it's popularity and the "law of supply and demand". Hopefully NOT!
Some days later....I brought the car in and they confirmed the whinning sound. They spent the day diagnosing the problem. They ordered the parts and the parts arrived on Monday of this week. I returned the car on Tuesday and they fixed the bearing, but then the ABS light continues to stay on.... indicating a problem. So.......they have to order parts and it has been 2 days waiting for parts.
The dealership gave me a free rental car. An abused, fragranced with body odor, cigarette burned, dirty, ill-running Escort with bald tires. Thanks a lot.
So....I continue to drive rental cars (4 this month alone) while my Focus just sits in the shop.
Parts are the big issue with the car as mp10 states and to me is the only problem with this car. Even simple pieces takes days or perhaps a week to arrive at best. Worst case is 4-8 weeks for parts to arrive.
Ford is ruining a great car. They will get burned by this sour reputation. I am sure people have bought CIVICS instead of taking a chance buying a FOCUS. I can't blame them.
Again and again, I will say the FOCUS is great...but PARTS supply is a joke. I feel like I drive an exotic due to the fact that there are no parts. Rather than an exotic.......maybe I am driving a 1983 Skoda Rapide.
Norwaydoug
p.s. for the guy wanting turbo--Esslinger has a bolt on one for 1900 currently.
How could you? If you said a Pachard (Think thats how it spell it) I could understand, but a Skoda! Most people don't even know what a Skoda was, let alone where it was built. Maybe even a Dalphine, but a Skoda, oh no no no! Oh well, I always wanted a Citroen CV4, but it would never go over here.
Pat
However, the Skoda Rapide was a rear engined air cooled beast and a genuine piece of junk! Laughable really because it was a very old design, but still being built in the early 80s!
Thanks for enjoying my little joke. I am glad you responded.
With the weather so great in Philli....I just miss the opportunity to cruise in my 5spd zx-3.
ND
the wheels can be bolted on no problem. the only thing left after installation is taking them to your local tire garage and having them balance them so you don't ruin a worthy investment.
which wheels are you thinking about? i bought the OZ F1 (grey with yellow letters)and haven't regretted it yet. check out www.thetirerack.com
http://www.focuscanada.com/English/
They have some neat stuff and not too pricey either.
ND
Poor NorwayDoug. Let us know again who your dealer is. I spend time in SE Pennsylvania/Central Jersey several times a year. I need to know what to avoid.
Count me among those whose hatch release doesn't work. Well, to be fair, it worked once so I assumed I was just hitting it wrong. Not so. The once working was a fluke. No big deal, though. Until I take my calicomobile in for the recall, I'll just use the hatch release on the keyfob with the remote locks. Meanwhile, I've still got to get my chrome exhaust taken care of. I've got an awesome silver and malibu blue NY Yankees license plate on the front, now all I need to do is make the back just as gorgeous and I'm ready for anything!
Later-
Calico1
I would agree that awards alone don't mean that much. But driving the Focus certainly explains how it's been earning them! 650 miles, 30+ mpg, no problems so far.
I think mostly on the money,i don't agree with the seats critisism,i think seats are great(when you judge $35K BMW you can get that picky, not with a $13K focus!)Part stating that someone cut his leg added unnecessary "terror" element,what for?
Also why there is no word about availability of power windows,mirrors,telescoping steering wheel.
Overall, review is well written, but why not to remember that we're talking about $13K car here!
Why the tires were different size(smaller) than stock and, why brakes where all discs, where we get front discs only.
I'll have to read it again to say more about it.
Finally, is the engine really that loud? It is not M3 it is zx3 for 1/3 of the price!!!
still in love...
-Scott
A rubbery stickshift? I think of it as precision (in a bad way) shifting that clunks. The reverse gear stumped me for 5 minutes until I asked a lot boy to tell be how to go in reverse. A guy I work with got a sedan and his wife drove it. She called saying her transmission was broken. It ended up that she didn't know how to get it in reverse either. My '87 Escort had a clanking reverse (because it was dieing I think) but I had no trouble slaping it around.
I agree, the cup holders should have been moved back from the dash.
The seat belt is too far back. I like the active restraint system. My Escort was passive and kept getting in the way. They tend to hang up too.
I don't mind the adjustment mirror on the passenger side. If it doesn't get banged around a lot, it's not going to be set very often. Power mirrors are about three times the cost.
I'm 5'10" and had to raise the seat up just so I could see the front of the car. When I did that, I couldn't see the speedometer because the steering wheel was in the way. I don't want tilt steering (when they break its like steering with a wet noodle), so my dream car would have the gauges on top of the main dash. Some cars do this. Having a short front end improves the steering.
No body roll for me and the speed was fine. It goes up some major grades without a problem. This thing is shooting for gas mileage, not power. Ford has the Mustang.
Noise...not at 2500 rpm (the setting I like). In fact, that's what I use the gauge for since I can't hear (along with deaf drivers) the engine
(I know I'm going to double start it a few times).
So the guy cut himself in a vehicle.
Just look at OJ Simpson and his cell phone. I'm sure people cut themselves in their Lexuses too.
The seat doesn't bother me.
The review is fair, but I disagree about the seats. The seats are great.
I think it is great that you have 2 foci! Mine is sangria red too!!
ND
Happy cruising everyone
Yes, please post a description when you receive them. Length and so on... Sounds like they might be alright for the price. (I wasn't going to pay $100 for carbon fiber ones)
Gabe
CD silver ZX3
WHy oh why did they have to mention even the possibility of head gaskets failing someday (my great fear)!!
THanks for the congrats, I TRIED to catch a ride to my car last night but a third party screwed up. WIll try again tonight. Yipee!!!
Funny to read of the Citroen on here, my dad is picking up a 2CV in Calif this week and driving back east with it. Geez, good luck dad.
I agree about the blue - a cobalt blue would possibly have swayed me away from my silver car, and a bright yellow would have been too much to resist. The first ZX3 I ever saw was at the Houston Auto Show in January, and it was Malibu Blue. It is a "distinctive" color, I'll say that!
I agree with most of you that the reviewers are a bunch of “knuckle heads”. That is they do not compare things that are equal.
- Engine, more that adequate power, remember 135lbs torque at 4250RPM, so have fun driving and don’t shift at 1800 shift between 3200 and 3800.
- Stick is not “rubbery” did you ever drive a Civic?
- Handling, just great.
- Buy two for the price of a BMW 328
For 13K you can’t beat quality, fun, excellent road manners and good looks.
The only thing to should get extra is cruise control for those boring highway rides.
After 3000 miles my wife's 5sp ZX3 gets around 30mpg in a roughly 50/50 mix of highway/city driving. It will never be as high as an Aspire but you can't expect that with more than twice the horsepower (63 vs 130). Hope that helps!
Stefan
Ah! The FOCI two-step, entitled "Should I wait until May (June if there is another recall)" or "should I buy one off the lot>"
Scene: On the phone with the sales manager.
Dealer: I've got a silver SE with a 5-spd (sport no comfort, charcoal)."
"No thanks, say I.
"How about a ZTS, blue w parchment?"
"A 5 Speed w/ ABS?" I inquire.
"No, but we'll put in an ashtray."
"Wow!" I exclaimed. "I'll rush right down there and pick it up."
"Really?" He asks.
End.
I think this will either be a long wait or ...
Sorry, just venting.
C
And whats this about the brakes?
Pat
Think I got model #'s mixed up. Can he drop it off in western NY. Would love to have one of those "ugly ducklings" So cute and indestrictable too! My son said there's one on Ebay. Have to check it out. BUT, I wouldn't trade my ZX3 for one.
Pat
So the part number is correct!
P.S.
I've got a 5 speed with 4700 miles.