Congrats on your Zx3...i'm from new york also...Queens.....i got my silver Zx3 on Janaury. If you see a silver with TEAM ZX3 plates...that's me. Oh yeah...you'll hear my BorLa. Just like PROJECTZ..my Borla is 2.50 and yup it's pretty loud
it seems you pointed out the exceptions rather than the rule. in my experiences most salespeople + lot persons are responsible and respectful of the vehicles that are in their care. having been there in my younger years ,delivering vehicles to prep for delivery-idiots like you describe wouldnt last very long.
had my phat chrome tip installed today looks great and the muffler shop charged me only 10 bucks. washed the car for the first time today, drove it to dry and now i have ugly water spots all over it now. Vacumed the broken glass that the detail guys left in the glove box and under the seats, cut my self with a sliver of the glass. Put on the Kurts Kustom gas pedal, was not easy as compaired to the clutch and break, was a B!*%H to put on actually. will post pics eventualy
i'm not sure what the diameter of my borla is but all the clamps fit right. and yes the tip fits perfectly in the stock exhaust cut out. i agree that the borla is loud but it just wasn't as loud as i'd expected, i think it would seem louder if i wasn't actually in the car and with this crappy weather i didn't have my windows open that much. and i also get the crackling sound at back pressure, call me a novice but i think it's kinda cool. the werring/wooshing sound at full throttle is sweet.
I'm wondering if the 2.5 exhaust diameter would be best.I was thinking of going with 2.25 I would'nt want to lose any low end power.Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. Hey jamers85 I use to live in bayside,look for a black ZX3 with scarsdale license plate frames.
guess what..i live in Flushing right now...not far eh....you should get the focus sport frame from www.focussport.com Although the Borla is loud it's not annoying...i had MIDAS installed it. Midas at queens boulevard near elmhurst..this guy alfred only charged me 40 dollars. not bad..i was watching through out the process. I would not be able to do it myself. you need to saw the pipe to get it out. well now i have the originaL muffler with the BMW tip on it....Here's how i feeL driving with the BorLa exhaust>>>> Every traffic light and stop signs are like a start up line of the race....Red..Yellow...Green...Broooooommmmmmm! it seems like i'm racing everyone.
you guys are pretty close, i'm on long island in suffolk county, i'll be passing through nyc this weekend...i've seen 7-8 zx3's around here but i haven't seen another black one. i have the focussport license cover, focussport sent it with the cool flo intake. about the sawing, it can be done with a typical hand hacksaw, i've read someone did it with a dremel, but 40 bucks is pretty good.
to those who had the borla exhaust installed- does it have any effect on emissions or passing inspection? i understand that borla provides an immediate improvement in performance.in pa.we have unfortunately,strict emissions testing.i would like to do the borla change as well.i read where some mentioned 2.25 dia.+ 2.50 dia.any big difference? its been years,er,decades actually, as we used to say,souped-up a rod. is the sound loud loud? or is is it more like a pleasant drone + rumble? is there any vibrations felt inside? i would appreciate any feedback...thanks!
For any of you that have changed your own oil on your Z, what typical tools other than the ramps did you use? Is there a preferred oil filter wrench that is better for the Z? Did anyone have problems with the first oil filter change such as a troublesome special seal that is hard to break for the first time? I used to always change my own oil but haven't done it in years. From all the posts, I think I will go back to doing my own, saving the Jiffy-Lube charge and put it into synthetic oil and know the job was done right and not overfilled. Any tips will be appreciated.
I just got my car yesterday afternoon and drove around town for a while. Later on, I decided to go on another drive at night to see how the lights looked,etc. Well...I LOVE the dash board! It lights up real nice and I love the colors. Way to go Ford!
any danger in going to a 5/50 instead of 5/30? just curious because kmart has a huge sale on castrol syntec (full synthetic)... but only wieghts available are 10/30 or 5/50.
not sure about emissions, i'm curious to know too but i don't think it would have any effect on emissions and inspection. IMHO it's loud but not too loud. inside the car with the windows up and music playing moderately it's a nice low rumble and when you rev it, it doesn't get too loud. to give you a little perspective on vibration, when i go above @4500 rpms, the change in my car start to rattle together a bit.
I REALLY like the dash lights on this 1999 Audi A4 a guy I know bought. All red. I guess it's that way because red doesnt affect night vision, but I think it also looks way cool.
I havent driven my ZX3 much at night, but I always did like riding in cars at night because of the pretty dash light colors :-)
Projectzx3. I would say (as a layperson) that it would not be good to go from the -w30 to the -w50, vs going from the 5w-- to 0w--. Reason being the the oil viscosity would be to thick (w50) at normal operating temp. My personal opinion is that it would be okay to go to the 0w30, but not to the 5 or 10 w50.
But the 10w30 might be okay to run in the summer. The manufactures are getting quite specific on their requirements for oils. I like to stay within their guidelines for weight and api service ratings; while running a quality full synthetic oil. Some of the "real" synthetics are fantastic products.
My ZX3 gets nothing but synthetic. Am also going with synthetic ATF after she gets some more miles on her.
Also a note on anti-freeze. Its my understanding the the new "green envitro friendly" anti-freezes are having problems; or should I say that engines running these anti-freezes are having problems. Don't know if its just in diesel engines or also in gas engines. If I hear more I will let you guys know. Stick with the recommended OEM product for anti-freeze.
Someone mentioned that the over filling problem might be confusion between the zetec and spi engines.If you look at the owners manual it says that the spi engines take 4qts not 5qts as mentioned before.There is no excuse for over filling our engines.[zetec 4.5qts,spi 4qts]
tuner, thanks thats a good point. there is justno excuse. i would like to mention that i am sorry for straying off of the point in this conference in regards to posting mods i have made and such. while interesting and highly informative, i don't want to lose sight that this conf. is dedicated to general observations and is more main-stream. i should have posted in the appropriate conference such as aftermarket & accessories. with that in mind i do have a question. my manual tranny is still crunchy. i don't mind it at all but i was wondering if everyone else with the 5 spd has the same feel??? thanks... oh and what about the owners club... any news?
Do car mfr's put a special kind of oil in new cars? An oil that is only used for the 'Break-in" period? A "special oil" that's NOT the kind you buy at car stores? Anyone know, for sure? zx3
Well I finally did it and bought my new car. I picked it up last monday, and couldn't be happier. I got twilight blue, air, auto and keyless remote. My first brand new car!!! yeah! I've waited a long time. So far, everything has been great, except for the night i picked it up, I found 2 small scratches on the inside of the drivers door jam (not the door, but on the body) and a tiny chip (already touched up with paint - but they neglected to buff it smooth) on the drivers front fender. The salesman was very concerned about these blemishes and promised to take care of it ASAP. He was apologetic to the point of embarrassment! I finally had a chance to check it over in bright sunlight (it's been dull and rainy here all week) and those were the only flaws i noticed. I am leaving for a road trip this Friday. I'll be driving about 3400 km round trip. Any tips on any sort of breaking-in or maintenance prep I should do ahead of time?
chandra, glad to hear it! i have twilight blue also! you're gonna love the way the color changes depending on what time of day it is. cool color to say the least! let me know how the automatic tranny performs... i have a speed and love it as well! for your first new car you sure made a wise choice.
I'm havung alot of trouble getting water stains off of my car. Mine is black and every thing shows. I even noticed these little white discolorations on the hood. looks maybe like a chemical blemish because there is a hint of irridecent around the marks. any tips on what to use to clean the dash and rubber switches. any input on these concerns would be appreciated.
drebe 73-hand wash your car,dry with a chamois. then get a good carnauba wax on it.i posted a lengthy ritual previously. it works,i also have black. inside i use plain water with diluted vinegar.im not recommending it, its just what i use.rubberban-thanks for borla feedback. chandra7-congrats+good luck!
dre, let me direct you to the conference on waxes and such. these guys really know what they are talking about. i noticed the same thing on my dark blue after it sat in the body shop 'forever'! you know what i'm talkin about! clay the car....hang on...let me find it...
Different strokes for different Auto Makers! Both Mustang and Vette are arriving at dealers with Mobil 1 or Castrolsyntec. Can't remember which. Subrau did use some type of break-in oil, but don't know what it was. Know a Subrau service manager who never changed his oil. He changed filter and topped off with the break-in oil which was drained out of Subrau's at their first service. He put on over 250,000 miles that way. So much for the metal fileings in the first service oil.
This post may be redundant, if so I apologize. For those who just got their Z like myself, I was mad at Ford for the way I had to raise and lower the rear hatch. Couldn't figure out how to get it up or down without getting finger/hand prints all over my new wax job. Just now discovered a hidden recessed hand lift just above the rear license plate to raise it by. Once it's up, there are two hidden recessed hand holds to pull it down by on the inside of the hatch. Hopes this helps anyone else who was trying to figure out a better way to raise and lower rear hatch.
rvtex1, Your post certaintly is not redundant. Keep the info coming. I think we are all still learning things about our foci. Learning more that the ford salesmen who "sold" them to us. Some of us are learning more than the ford service people. And I think that there are a few ford engineers out there who are hoping we don't go to far with our "learning" experiences.
Had to sell my gas guzzler because of a 125 mile round trip new job commute. Now it's time to buy somehing economical (TIGHT budget)...but fun (I spend so much time driving I better like it)
Now I need your help (please try and put bias aside
The options I am after? 5spd or automatic, doesn't matter -- it's highway miles for me.
A/C is really the only thing I "need".
I have driven the Honda DX hatch and it was ...nice. Altho I am short, so I need to pull the seat up all the way to reach the pedals and while driving I felt like my head was going to go through the windshield and I didnt even want ti know what was going to happen if the air bad deployed! This is from a person who actually LIKEs hatched .Just a drive. The HX coupe was better (even had some bells and whistles power windows & locks etc)
I want a Honda for all the practical reasons, costs a bit more but overall, driving an estimated 33,000 miles a year I will blow through the warrenty in no time and I know they are dependable cars with high resale value. It's proven itself.
Then, I drove a Focus ZX3. Halfway through the test drive (w/o salesmen) my mom told me I better be careful once we got back to the dealership because I had all the "buyer's signs". I was seriously happy. I was thrilled. I wanted that car right then and there (altho I don't need speed control). Not at all the feelign I got from the Hondas.
So, am I just being sucked in by the flash of the focus? I really want it, but I am afraid 2 years from now, my 14,000 car will be worth 2,000 with serious mechanical problems and I wont even be close to paying it off...
Help?
(i have a million other issues but this is WAY too long already...thanks!)
Maybe I am getting weak from all of the reseach here, but...in the brochure and here it says
Securilock Passive antitheft system is standard on ALL models of the focus.
The dealer invoice I have in fron of me (the one with the marked up prices for options, not the "real one" ...states
All door remote entery/antitheft power locks. and has a a price of $375 next to it.
So, are they one in the same? If the antitheft feature comes with the power locks then is the antitheft feature not really standard (becuse on the ZX3 power locks are not?)
Like I said, maybe my brain is mush from researching so much, but for 375....it's worth investigating.
The focus comes standard with two "passive" antitheft devices, and one "active" device can be purchased.
Securilock is the little unique chip in every focus key without which the car should not start. It is passuve because to "arm" the system the owner does nothing put turn off the car and pull out the key. This is the standard system.
All door remote/autotheft is the active system that the label said 375 for. This si your standard press-the-button-arm-the-alarm system that keeps my wife and I up some nights here in New Brunswick (but I digress).
The securilock passive system is already an antitheft device for insurance purposes and for some peace of mind. However, to get a car alarm, you need to pay for the option.
Also, I have been told to make sure that any alarm system is factory installed, as dealers occasionally mess up the wiring with an installation.
Hope it was helpfull
- Gooch ZX3
ps - I figured an easy and cheap way to mount my celphone in the zx3 without putting a huge ugly bracket in the car. If you are interested, Ill post what I did.
thanks for the info, ill have to buy a nice kit for cleaning the car. Luckily I have a little carwash place in my apartment complex so i can do it myself. I saw an older woman, looked to be in her late 50's early 60's, driving a rainforest green ZX3 today. I've also seen a malibu blue ZX3 a couple of times in my complex. I see the white one parked at a hotel alot that is next to my bank, the owner must work at the hotel. My ZX3 sightings have been very sparse.
I have something called The Navigator Speakerphone that I bought online at http://www.ezcellular.com/ that plugs right into the cigarette lighter outlet. I just leave it plugged in and put the phone in when im in the car. I looks great and it is fairly unobtrusive unless you want to slide out the ash tray/change holder. It was 43 bucks and I have seen it being sold as much as 70 bucks.
thanks so much for the info. Which makes me wonder....is the factory alarm worth it? and just how much (not exact numbers, but is it worth it ) can a person save insurance wise w/ a facorty alarm and ABS? does it make a difference?
and...speaking of insurance....I havent researched how much a zx3 costs to inusre. I know its different for everyone, but tell me - comapred to what you were paying for other new cars, is it more less or comparable to insure a new zx3 (anyone?!)
to Jsbx .... From reading your two Posts, I can see you're a buyer who wants "answers" BEFORE he lays out his hard earned cash. You've come to the right place. I wasn't even going to get a Z until one day I accidently found this Forum. Result: I'm signing papers for my new Z hatchling next week. Why? Because a great bunch of guys here answered my endless questions ... patiently replying, with comments/info. Also I read hundreds of posts, back to January. So keep yer questions coming -- it's a sign of intelligence to ask before your buy. Best o'luck. zx3
BTW, I assume that you already use some sort of hands-free attachment when driving (I'm a Jabra man myself).
1 - Get a cellphone case with a belt-clip attachment. Don't buy at a cellphone store. Go to a place like Target/Kmart, where they sell nice leather cases for every phone for about $10.
2 - Radio Shack sells a clip-attachment with adhesive backing for about $3.
3 - The space on the console immediately to the right of the CD player. I stuck my clip holder with the top paralell to the top of the CD.
This does not seem to ruin the nice lines of the console, and places the cellphone in as eacy reach as everything else. Also, the power chord from my power socket hangs right below the console.
JSBX, glad you are doing your research. I spent about a year looking for an economy car that would be fun to drive. I put 100 commuter miles a day on my car. I went to the spring Houston Auto show and looked at many cars including VW and Honda. I had my late bloomer 12 year old along and he did the back seat test. There is only ONE car that anyone over 5yrs does not have to get into a fetal position to sit in the back seat. Ford Focus. VW Golf comes close.
I did not go for a more expensive car because it depreciates too much with the mileage I put on it. I did not consider the Focus in the spring because I had not seen the hatchback.
I'm 51 and tired of minivans, station wagons, and "family" sedans. I spend too much time on my commute not to have some fun.
I had settled on the VW GTI 1.8T at $20 grand (OUCH) before I discovered this forum and the ZX3. Even though I could have afforded it, the looks and size do not justify $20 grand when compared to the ZX3.
I also looked at the Honda Civic SI but the Honda Civic line is at the end of its current model cycle and is pretty plain. (Not to mention that everyone has one).
The current issue of CAR & Driver magazine compares the Golf GTI, Honda Civic and ZX3 which might be of help to you.
Good luck in your search. I am very satisfied with my choice (with similar criteria as yours) after a year of search.
JSBX, I have the optional remote entry/alarm combination in addition to the passive key system. State Farm insurance is giving me a 10% discount for these features. I do not know what the discount would be if I did not have the optional system.
Has anyone bought a roof rack for their ZX3? I will take ownership tomorrow and want to use it for some longer trips. Thule sells a rack that fits but their shortest box is 55". I can't imagine that would work. I know that I could get an ugly sears model to fit but they kill the aerodynamics and look of the vehicle.
Has anyone thought about a small trailer based storage device much like the Prowler's matching trailer. I think that would look great and really stand out on the road if you painted it to match. Any and all comments would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work everybody.
well i changed the oil today. i used castrol syntec 5w-30 and the motorcraft fl-2005 (stock) filter. i was very careful not to overfill...haha! i'll check my mpg to see if i gain anything. walmart seemed to have the best prices and availability. the filter was 3.47 and the full synthetic was 3.94/qt.
I bought a half bra for my ZX3 and cannot figure how to put the side parts on. The directions are not very good at all. All they show are a couple pictures. If anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.
Think we need a FordMoCo Tech or Engineer to get a answer on that question. Maybe the dealer tech who have gone to "school" on the Zetec engine might know. Pat
Here is the best advice I can offer. RETURN IT TO THE STORE YOU BOUGHT IT FROM!!! Seriously, I bought a bra for my previous car and then happened to read an article telling how those damage the finish underneath the bra if dirt and moisture get trapped underneath the bra. After I had mine on for 2 weeks, I went and checked it and noticed small scratches under the bra. I took it off immediately and brought it back to the store. The guys at the store made comments like "if its on correctly it won't be a problem", I put it on perfectly but that wasn't the point. I didn't want to risk causing costly damage to the car over time. I have heard that if you make a point to religiously remove the bra and wash it and allow it to dry completely and wash the car and dry it completely then it shouldn't cause any damage. I myself don't have that much free time on ,my hands. If this is something you feel you will be able to maintain, then feel free. This is just my advice.
My ZX3 came with the standard passive anti theft device. Which I believe is only the key chip. I have remote power locks but no factory audible alarm. I asked my insurance company (Geico) if I were to install an audible alarm would I receive another discount. They said that I have already received the maximum discount allowable for anti theft devices.
Speaking of insurance, when I was looking for my new car I asked my insurance company how much it would cost me to cover an Elantra. It was outrageous, I think it was about 350 bucks a month for 6 months for the required coverage for a financed car. It costs me 199 a month for 6 months to cover my ZX3 and thats full coverage including rental reimbursement and uninsured motorists. It was a deal, about the same that it cost me to insure my 96 chevy cavalier.
no it is not a fad, it is a trend.it is fords first serious attempt to manufacture a world class sub- compact.they have delivered the goods.price/performance ,an exceptional value and a rare achievement at this level.if i didnt think highly of this car i would not give them the free word of mouth advertising by posting here.witness all the positive post about the zx3-the car is that good.i do not try persuade anyone in their purchase,just sharing some thoughts.
i had my second oiL change wed. the 17th of May. The next morning check the amount of oiL that was placed. It's about/more than quarter inch above the full line of the dip stick. Since i got my BorLa installed on Friday the 19th, i've been accelarating more than usuaL...you know, with BorLa..it's always a race out there. Now i just read from the manuaL that overfilling your car of OiL can cause engine "D A M A G E" (pg.180/owners' guide). I'm heading to my dealer's early monday morning. Do you guys think i've already done some serious problem to my engine?......yup, i'm stiLL worried.
Can any of you who have put on the BMW exhaust tip post a picture on the web? I'm curious and want to see how it looks. Thanks! Oh, by the way, 210 miles and the new car is fulfilling ALL my expectations!!
Comments
If you see a silver with TEAM ZX3 plates...that's me. Oh yeah...you'll hear my BorLa. Just like PROJECTZ..my Borla is 2.50 and yup it's pretty loud
the rule. in my experiences most salespeople + lot
persons are responsible and respectful of the vehicles that are in their care. having been there in my younger years ,delivering vehicles to prep
for delivery-idiots like you describe wouldnt last very long.
Midas at queens boulevard near elmhurst..this guy alfred only charged me 40 dollars. not bad..i was watching through out the process. I would not be able to do it myself. you need to saw the pipe to get it out. well now i have the originaL muffler with the BMW tip on it....Here's how i feeL driving with the BorLa exhaust>>>> Every traffic light and stop signs are like a start up line of the race....Red..Yellow...Green...Broooooommmmmmm!
it seems like i'm racing everyone.
does it have any effect on emissions or passing
inspection? i understand that borla provides an
immediate improvement in performance.in pa.we have
unfortunately,strict emissions testing.i would like
to do the borla change as well.i read where some
mentioned 2.25 dia.+ 2.50 dia.any big difference?
its been years,er,decades actually, as we used to say,souped-up a rod. is the sound loud loud? or is
is it more like a pleasant drone + rumble? is there
any vibrations felt inside? i would appreciate any
feedback...thanks!
RV
Way to go Ford!
I havent driven my ZX3 much at night, but I always did like riding in cars at night because of the pretty dash light colors :-)
I would say (as a layperson) that it would not be good to go from the -w30 to the -w50, vs going from the 5w-- to 0w--. Reason being the the oil viscosity would be to thick (w50) at normal operating temp. My personal opinion is that it would be okay to go to the 0w30, but not to the 5 or 10 w50.
But the 10w30 might be okay to run in the summer. The manufactures are getting quite specific on their requirements for oils. I like to stay within their guidelines for weight and api service ratings; while running a quality full synthetic oil. Some of the "real" synthetics are fantastic products.
My ZX3 gets nothing but synthetic. Am also going with synthetic ATF after she gets some more miles on her.
Also a note on anti-freeze. Its my understanding the the new "green envitro friendly" anti-freezes are having problems; or should I say that engines running these anti-freezes are having problems. Don't know if its just in diesel engines or also in gas engines. If I hear more I will let you guys know. Stick with the recommended OEM product for anti-freeze.
Pat
A "special oil" that's NOT the kind you buy at car stores?
Anyone know, for sure?
zx3
I am leaving for a road trip this Friday. I'll be driving about 3400 km round trip. Any tips on any sort of breaking-in or maintenance prep I should do ahead of time?
Thanks!
Loving my new Focus!
then get a good carnauba wax on it.i posted a lengthy ritual previously. it works,i also have black. inside i use plain water with diluted vinegar.im not recommending it, its just what i use.rubberban-thanks for borla feedback.
chandra7-congrats+good luck!
Bit off topic, but interesting tidbit.
Pat
RV
Your post certaintly is not redundant. Keep the info coming. I think we are all still learning things about our foci. Learning more that the ford salesmen who "sold" them to us. Some of us are learning more than the ford service people. And I think that there are a few ford engineers out there who are hoping we don't go to far with our "learning" experiences.
Pat
Now I need your help (please try and put bias aside
The options I am after? 5spd or automatic, doesn't matter -- it's highway miles for me.
A/C is really the only thing I "need".
I have driven the Honda DX hatch and it was ...nice. Altho I am short, so I need to pull the seat up all the way to reach the pedals and while driving I felt like my head was going to go through the windshield and I didnt even want ti know what was going to happen if the air bad deployed! This is from a person who actually LIKEs hatched .Just a drive. The HX coupe was better (even had some bells and whistles power windows & locks etc)
I want a Honda for all the practical reasons, costs a bit more but overall, driving an estimated 33,000 miles a year I will blow through the warrenty in no time and I know they are dependable cars with high resale value. It's proven itself.
Then, I drove a Focus ZX3. Halfway through the test drive (w/o salesmen) my mom told me I better be careful once we got back to the dealership because I had all the "buyer's signs". I was seriously happy. I was thrilled. I wanted that car right then and there (altho I don't need speed control). Not at all the feelign I got from the Hondas.
So, am I just being sucked in by the flash of the focus? I really want it, but I am afraid 2 years from now, my 14,000 car will be worth 2,000 with serious mechanical problems and I wont even be close to paying it off...
Help?
(i have a million other issues but this is WAY too long already...thanks!)
Securilock Passive antitheft system is standard on ALL models of the focus.
The dealer invoice I have in fron of me (the one with the marked up prices for options, not the "real one" ...states
All door remote entery/antitheft power locks. and has a a price of $375 next to it.
So, are they one in the same? If the antitheft feature comes with the power locks then is the antitheft feature not really standard (becuse on the ZX3 power locks are not?)
Like I said, maybe my brain is mush from researching so much, but for 375....it's worth investigating.
Thanks
Securilock is the little unique chip in every focus key without which the car should not start. It is passuve because to "arm" the system the owner does nothing put turn off the car and pull out the key. This is the standard system.
All door remote/autotheft is the active system that the label said 375 for. This si your standard press-the-button-arm-the-alarm system that keeps my wife and I up some nights here in New Brunswick (but I digress).
The securilock passive system is already an antitheft device for insurance purposes and for some peace of mind. However, to get a car alarm, you need to pay for the option.
Also, I have been told to make sure that any alarm system is factory installed, as dealers occasionally mess up the wiring with an installation.
Hope it was helpfull
- Gooch ZX3
ps - I figured an easy and cheap way to mount my celphone in the zx3 without putting a huge ugly bracket in the car. If you are interested, Ill post what I did.
It was 43 bucks and I have seen it being sold as much as 70 bucks.
thanks so much for the info. Which makes me wonder....is the factory alarm worth it? and just how much (not exact numbers, but is it worth it ) can a person save insurance wise w/ a facorty alarm and ABS? does it make a difference?
and...speaking of insurance....I havent researched how much a zx3 costs to inusre. I know its different for everyone, but tell me - comapred to what you were paying for other new cars, is it more less or comparable to insure a new zx3 (anyone?!)
thanks again!
From reading your two Posts, I can see you're a buyer who wants "answers" BEFORE he lays out his hard earned cash.
You've come to the right place. I wasn't even going to get a Z until one day I accidently found this Forum.
Result: I'm signing papers for my new Z hatchling next week. Why? Because a great bunch of guys here answered my endless questions ... patiently replying, with comments/info.
Also I read hundreds of posts, back to January.
So keep yer questions coming -- it's a sign of intelligence to ask before your buy. Best o'luck.
zx3
This will cost you about $15 TOPS.
BTW, I assume that you already use some sort of hands-free attachment when driving (I'm a Jabra man myself).
1 - Get a cellphone case with a belt-clip attachment. Don't buy at a cellphone store. Go to a place like Target/Kmart, where they sell nice leather cases for every phone for about $10.
2 - Radio Shack sells a clip-attachment with adhesive backing for about $3.
3 - The space on the console immediately to the right of the CD player. I stuck my clip holder with the top paralell to the top of the CD.
This does not seem to ruin the nice lines of the console, and places the cellphone in as eacy reach as everything else. Also, the power chord from my power socket hangs right below the console.
Hope this was helpful!
- GoochZX3
I did not go for a more expensive car because it depreciates too much with the mileage I put on it. I did not consider the Focus in the spring because I had not seen the hatchback.
I'm 51 and tired of minivans, station wagons, and "family" sedans. I spend too much time on my commute not to have some fun.
I had settled on the VW GTI 1.8T at $20 grand (OUCH) before I discovered this forum and the ZX3. Even though I could have afforded it, the looks and size do not justify $20 grand when compared to the ZX3.
I also looked at the Honda Civic SI but the Honda Civic line is at the end of its current model cycle and is pretty plain. (Not to mention that everyone has one).
The current issue of CAR & Driver magazine compares the Golf GTI, Honda Civic and ZX3 which might be of help to you.
Good luck in your search. I am very satisfied with my choice (with similar criteria as yours) after a year of search.
RV
RV
If it is different, where do you buy it?
zx3
Has anyone thought about a small trailer based storage device much like the Prowler's matching trailer. I think that would look great and really stand out on the road if you painted it to match.
Any and all comments would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work everybody.
Pat
Pat
My ZX3 came with the standard passive anti theft device. Which I believe is only the key chip. I have remote power locks but no factory audible alarm. I asked my insurance company (Geico) if I were to install an audible alarm would I receive another discount. They said that I have already received the maximum discount allowable for anti theft devices.
Speaking of insurance, when I was looking for my new car I asked my insurance company how much it would cost me to cover an Elantra. It was outrageous, I think it was about 350 bucks a month for 6 months for the required coverage for a financed car. It costs me 199 a month for 6 months to cover my ZX3 and thats full coverage including rental reimbursement and uninsured motorists. It was a deal, about the same that it cost me to insure my 96 chevy cavalier.
serious attempt to manufacture a world class sub-
compact.they have delivered the goods.price/performance ,an exceptional value and a rare achievement at this level.if i didnt think highly
of this car i would not give them the free word of mouth advertising by posting here.witness all the
positive post about the zx3-the car is that good.i
do not try persuade anyone in their purchase,just sharing some thoughts.
Oh, by the way, 210 miles and the new car is fulfilling ALL my expectations!!