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Comments
The dash of our zx-3 reminds me of many things that I have taken apart: easy to disassemble and a lot harder putting back together.
I am in agreement with pcleveland regarding the installation of new white faced gauges: One could really screw-up.
If you do proceed with the gauge transplant, please have a professional do it.
The term, 'old hat' I used to describe my opinion of White Gauges means I think it is a little out of date now. I first saw it on a early 90s Maxima. Even a Sentra has white gauges now.
Personally, I wish Ford would install a filter that allowed us to change the color of our spedometer from green to blue. My friend's killer 1991 Mitsu Galant 4x4 Turbo had a feature where he could turn the dash lights from green to orange with a touch of the button!
Just be careful installing new gauges.
ND
is a good quality carnauba as well. anyone inter-ested can order direct at :
members.aol.comharlywax/home.html
Think they were headed to a rental agency like Hertz as they had Fleet Carrier on the side.
To hkoenen2- I think paint protection is necessary so that water beads up and rolls off, instead of drying and creating hard water spots that dulls the appearance.
a lasting finish.it helps to protect finish from
acid rain,road tar,road salt,bird droppings,dust,
dirt+pollen.it is true that car mfg.have made great strides in rust protection ,however a clearcoat
still needs to be protected.a polish will remove
paint.it may not be readily noticeable,but it is
an abrasive.i have used polishes but only sparingly.quality carnauba is a natural substance.
in my experience,nothing better to protect finish.
dirt comes off a waxed finish easier.you can see +
feel the difference.its worth the effort.
They warn that some wax/polish will actually scratch your finish. This effect was most noticeable with black painted cars.
They recommend Zymol and NuFinish Paste for gloss.
The NuFinish lasted longer than the Zymol.
carlady/host
On another note, if any of you ZX3 owners are looking for a good car cover for your car, I recommend Car & Driver's car cover. The medium cover easily covers the entire car, and it also has a zip-down part at the driver side area so you can get in your car (like me, forgot something after I covered it) when it is covered. It also has a travel bag which you can put the cover in when you are traveling. I have had my cover for about 5 weeks now and it is nice. It also cleans very easily, and it is made with something that reflects the sun's rays (makes them bounce back off) so that the inside of the car does not get very hot when covered. You can get this at most department stores (I got mine at Target) for about 35 bucks. It's worth the money.
Clint
Also, I checked out the Ford Racing(or something like that) magazine with the yellow ZX3. After seeing the pictures, I'm glad I went with silver. I think I'd get tired of the yellow after a few months.
Audiolizard
Waxes: I recently applied Turtle Wax "Finish 2001," and not only is the car even shinier, it really does make it easier to wipe crap off. Finish 2001 is supposed to last a year -- we'll see.
Drove behind my wife while she drove my hatchling. First time I had seen the tail lights in action; they're cool! Another first: today a guy actually walked up to me while I was at a gas station and wanted to check out my car. After we chatted, I heard him saying to someone else, "what a beautiful car!" Yeah, that makes me feel pretty good. I still think this is the best car for the money I have ever bought.
This car is twilight blue, with ABS, side impact air bags, power locks, and remote entry. It has 500 miles. Will send photos if interested. Let me know if you are interested in buying this car too.
mail to: utex97@msn.com
Kind of discouraging to be waiting 8-10 weeks for delivery of that ZX3 (as my wife is) when you see them loaded on the piggyback, bound for a rental car outfit, isn't it?
Ah well... Like it or not, ALL of the domestics have financial interest in one rental company or another (last check, Ford owned a good portion of Hertz). It's strictly a marketing move, and a SMART one!
Through my years in sales training for Ford and others, the statistics will prove that once a salesperson has you in that car on a demo drive, the chances of your buying it are 75% or more. So, it only makes sense that Ford wants to fill the daily rental "pipeline" with ZX3s!
In effect, the customer is actually PAYING Ford for a demo drive... and increasing the liklihood of purchasing that vehicle in the future.
Perhaps it's not "fair" to those on the order list... But it's good business for the manufacturer!!!
has sort of a "different" kind of review as well as a rear shot of the "R" and a focus"woodie" wagon!
Utex97: I feel bad for you because the 5-speed is part of the ZX3's persona. Sure you can't coax the "family member" into learning to use the stick? The shifting is pretty smooth.....I wish I could afford to buy your Malibu Blue hatchling.
Utex97: I feel bad for you because the 5-speed is part of the ZX3's persona. Sure you can't coax the "family member" into learning to use the stick? The shifting is pretty smooth.....I wish I could afford to buy your Malibu Blue hatchling.
Thanks for the update on the european wheels.
I figured that they would be expensive.
Let me know what you hear.
BTW, I also agree with you on the amber turn signals. I wonder why Ford changed ours from the european setup. (I bet the back-up lenses were expensive to replace in our 5mph bumpers. I'm sure the Insurance companies had something to say about it too!)
Our models don't have the cool fender lights, which, I feel, give a nice expensive look, since most high end cars Lexus, BMW etc have the side markers on their fenders. I also think that our bumper turn signals are cheap looking compaired to the Euro models. We just have those small paralelagram looking lenses. I do like the fact that we have the amber turn signals in the front grill, I think they look really cool.
You can see alot of good shots of the Euro lenses at the Focusparts.com site.
A friend of mine had indiglo gauges installed in his Civic and I think they look great. What an improvement it would be from our generic gauges. I was thinking about getting them I think they cost my friend around 200 bucks. The disadvantage is that the people installing it kept breaking the needles during instalation and they have to be very careful not to misscalibrate the gauges. I am curious to see how long the indiglo lasts. I believe that I read somewhere that the indiglo watches tended to fade eventualy and I wondering if that is the same for the gauges.
Update : My car is almost back to its former glory. I visited it this weekend and the inside was finally finished. I had asked a while back if anyone knew if their cars lights flashed when locking the doors by remote and beeped when pressed a second time. Whell I tried mine again and this time they did, I think the last time they didnt because that wireing was disconnected while waiting for the airbag sensor.
It's the home stretch, fingers still crossed, I'm getting the nervous thrill again, have to get back into manual trans learning mode again.
Later my fellow ZX3 teamates
I used it on my ZX3 and am extremely pleased with the outcome. It's like looking in a mirror. Reflection of colors is fantastic. My ZX3 is Malibu Blue and other colors show up great. Really glows and shines. Can't compare it to the quality waxes you mention. Know that you get very little canauba in most of the waxes out there. Plus it yellows with age from what I've researched here on the net. I do now that some of the Mustang and Caramo Clubs here on the net rave about Zaino. Zaino claims to be 99.9% optically clear. Customer support (i.e. getting it off un-smooth plastic with out buying additional expensive products) has been great. You can even talk to the owner if you call him. Product very pricey, but I will buy again. Have no connection to the company. Do your homework before you buy anything along this line. There's good info here on Edmunds and elsewhere on the web.
Have to admit that I'm sold on Zaino! But I think I still open minded on the subject. Right now my ZX3 looks better than it did coming off the dealers lot, and better than any I've seen on the road.
Pat
Pat
The automatic in the Focus is pretty good (Mazda design), but the 5 speed is just so much better with its communicative clutch and its positive engaging shifter. It's a pretty good 5 speed in my opinion. The shifter seems solid and not flimsy or overly sensitive.....good job, Ford.
I am in agreement with everyone regarding the lights. I like the back up lights in the upper vertical rear lens too.
I was once behind a zx-3 during a rainy dark afternoon and its rear vertical light looked pretty impressive. The driver was really cooking too! Of course, I was not driving a zx-3 at the time (but I am now!).
I wish the car had side markers as the euro model and Drebe73 is right about the current amber front bumper signals...they look cheap. The grill lights look good, but I wish the grill was honeycomb like the euro ZX-3 (trend model) rather than the horizontal (ambient model). The Ambient model is like the SE sedan.
I am beginning to really like the color combination of my zx-3. It is forest green with the charcoal interior. I actually think the amber rear light would make it look even cooler. The forest green is also available in Europe under a different name. All is well with my zx-3. No serious flaws at all so far. I have noticed the steering wheel is slightly turned to the right when I drive straight. Has anyone noticed this? It tracks perfectly straight, but when I look at the steering wheel it is slightly to the right. I am in no rush to go to the dealer to say the least and it doesn't concern that much, but I would appreciate the advice.
Good luck Drebe. I am truly looking forward to your return on the roads as a lot of other concerned people!
I realize this is a long post, but I am just thrilled to be back on the road. Love my zx-3!
ND
Tickbitty, thanks for the link. Pretty cool.
I am still wondering if I am the only one who has to fight with my seatbelt to get it out of its holster and across my chest? Such contortions might not have been so painful in my younger years, but geez! Any suggestions?
I had several compliments (some from strangers!) over the past week in my calicomobile. I told every one of my complimenters about the wonders of the hatchling, but told them also not to get their hopes up about getting one any time in the immediate future.
Oh, and the steering wheel....I have no such leaning on mine, but I have a new steering wheel that came with the cruise control.
Please help with the seatbelt. It's probably just my car, but I'd like to know that for sure before I complain to the dealer about it.
Thanks, gang--
Calico
I share calico's frustration on the seat belt contortionism. Here's one solution: relax, take a deep breath and exhale while calmly pulling the bottom of the belt forward along the bottom rail; then, gently pull (do not tug) the belt across your chest. This is only thing you can do to minimize neck/shoulder strain, short of pushing your seat way back. I call my method "zen and the art of zx3 seat belt buckling."
I haven't had any problems with the seat belt. I just reach back with my left arm and grab it. I actually like the fact that it's that far back, because it's out of my way when I take it off and get out of the car!
I got my chrome Focus cup today (for the recall fix). It will stay filled in the mornings with Mountain Dew (I'm NOT a coffee drinker, bleh).
I was filling my car with gas yesterday and two guys were at the other side of the pump, and they both came over to check out my car. I had gone in to pay and came out and saw them standing before my hatchling, their eyes really big and mouths agape. Heh...we ZX3 owners are an elite group!
Clint
center.thats one of the main reasons i prefer fords.they usually get that part right on all their
models.by the way,i went for a leisurely ride down
roosevelt blvd.except everyone seemed to want to race at every stoplight.
to the person considering auto trans-youll regret
it later-once you learn stick-youll never go back
fun factor will be gone.ive been driving stick 30
yrs.the zx3 is the easiest yet.ayoung lady at work
just got a 4dr.focus stick-never driven one before
one week later you would never know it.
"Choosing Between Two Colors Ain't So Easy".
Today was very bright, sunny, a cloudless sky. So, I dropped by the local Ford dealer, headed to back of the lot --- where many factory-new Focus cars were parked (sedans, and two Z-hatchlings).
I was interested only in the Z's ... a "Silver" Z, and "Autumn-Orange" Z.
Here are my impressions of the two hatchlings, as they sat parked (partly in brilliant sunlight, partly in shade)..........
The Silver Z glistened, like bright silver (where sun was hitting it directly) and the part of it that was in the shade was a subdued, Platinum.
The overall effect was one of quiet, expensive refinement. Rich. I really, liked it.
Also, the Silver Z looks classy, in the rain. It really does. Check for yourself.
Walk around one sometime when it's parked in the rain, sitting there, all beaded with raindrops. The effect is really nice...an expensive-looking, a classy-looking, car.
With custom-painted Black Bumpers/Black Lower Side Panels --- that Silver Z would be even more Supremely Cool --- an "Absolute-Knock-Out"!!
Now, I turned to the Autumn Z, parked next to it.
Where the bright-sun bounced off it directly --- it was a brilliant fiery-Autumn color, blazing like the Autumn-leaves of a New England hillside in September/October ("Gold"/"Orange"/"Red-ish"). Absolutely awesome.
The part of the Autumn Z, that was not in sunlight (but was in partial-shade) looked like a Red ... and the part that was in full-shade, seemed like a Maroon Red.
Yes, more than ANY other car-paint I've seen --- the Autumn Z, seems to be different colors -- depending on "how bright" the sunlight shining on it is, or "how dark" the shadows on it are.
Like a Chameleon, it seems to "radically change color" with time-of-day or weather. Wow. Way cool.
Hmmmm, How will I decide here? Flip a Coin?
If you guys had to choose "one-of-the-two", WHICH would it be, and WHY?
Thanks to all.
ZX3
This new title is the correct one.
I had checked out almost all of the colors available in person before I choose the Autumn Orange, which was the one color I had not seen!
Your point about the fact it seems to change color in the light is very true, and something I really like, adds a little more style to a well designed car. When the car is waxed, and in the sun, like this past weekend, it really stands out. Most people when they see the car mention the color first,asking what color it is, before they ask about the car itself.
I do like the silver as well, although it did not make my short list of color choices, some of the other metallic clear-coats are real nice too.
Enjoy whatever color you choose...
Kevin
(silver bullet) I didn't realize you were so tall, but you confirmed what I had said, which is that if you push the seat way back, no sweat with the belt. This only underscores, of course, the problem with any "one size fits all" design, but no big deal ... us normal sized folks just need to be patient and use my "zen" method. BTW, a ZX3 couple -- that is radical! Funny thing, I'm actually thinking about selling my wife's Honda Accord and getting her ZX3 also. Are we all nuts or what?
(jedimaster1) I concur with your observation re the belt being far back -- that is a plus, never having to worry about getting caught on the belt as you exit!
(zx3beast) Looks like we share the same feelings about the dead-on-center steering. Knock on wood, let's hope the steering stays that way.
(x3) My hatchling is Autumn Orange and I've noticed the same color-shifting, especially since I applied Turtlewax's "Finish 2001." Now it really gleams. A neighbor got the same orange on a brand new Ford Truck, and he noticed the same color shifting. It is cool, however, (teamzx3yellow) I think my next hatchling maybe Zinc Yellow with the 16" wheels, but right now I'm just dreaming ...