Ford Focus Hatchback ZX3 - Part VIII
We're still on the list for club status and I'll
keep everyone posted on progress as I know it. In
the meantime, let the adventure continue!
For folks just joining us, you can catch up by
reading Part VII here. In the first post in VII
you'll find a link to VI, and so on. Earlier Parts
are still available in Archives and you will be
taken there automatically by using the link. We
don't want you to miss anything!
carlady/host
keep everyone posted on progress as I know it. In
the meantime, let the adventure continue!
For folks just joining us, you can catch up by
reading Part VII here. In the first post in VII
you'll find a link to VI, and so on. Earlier Parts
are still available in Archives and you will be
taken there automatically by using the link. We
don't want you to miss anything!
carlady/host
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Anyway, that's my informal survey. I'll count to a hundred, maybe, and let you know what the final percentage is.
Anybody else?
Moines, Iowa.
I'd say the numbers are pretty equal.
7 hatches
5 sedans
1 wagon
(Of course, these are just the ones I've seen or had reported to me be friends.)
Saw an Autumn Orange Sedan yesterday. I really
like that color. There is a Dodge Neon parked here
at work that is almost the same color.
thanks silver_bullet for the info on 'backlight',
Gabe
Also, when I went car shopping, the dealer was low on hatchlings, 'cause parents are buying them as "gifts" to their graduating high schoolers. Look around college towns in Sep, ther'll be ZX3s a plenty!
Pat
Keep it simple. Catback exaust and the chip and air intake! You'll blow their minds.
Pat
I skipped the lower price offer because I don't have a lot of confidence in that dealer's service department. I figured it was best to support the dealer that's more likely to give me better support.
I stuck with the yellow. I set the retouched photo as my work PC's desktop picture and stared at it all morning. It quickly grew on me.
Even in that form the Z attracted a number of comments from coworkers. What's the real thing going to do?
I went for a drive this afternoon, passed a different dealer, and spotted a white ZX3 on the lot. I immediately stopped and shot some pix with the digicam. I think lighter colors are quite effective on this car.
I was able to modify the color of the white pix a lot better then I could on the silver. I posted three views ofthe car in yellow on a simple web page if anyone wishes to give them a peek. The full size versions look a lot better then the down sampled and compressed versions on the web page. If anyone is interested, I can send out, or post, the bigger versions.
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Meadows/6732/graphics/yellow.html
Note that the old link I gave yesterday is now dead. I'll keep this one alive until we see some pictures of the real thing.
I've read several posts saying that Koni's upcoming shocks will be designed to work with the stock springs. Will that be a problem on shorter springs?
Rubberban-any new thoughts on your chip upgrade?
Re: comercial with focus. Someone commented on the recent commercial featuring the focus. I believe they are hatchbacks. Its a commercial for Honey Bunches of Oats.
Jwkessler1-the yellow in your pic looks exactly like the zinc yellow zx3 featured in Super Ford.
Gas cover: I was pouring over Pa's airplane supply catalog(he's building a plane). The tank covers seem to match more closely the one installed on the Focus R, but they seemed to be the direct connecting type you see on motorcycles. I didn't see how they could be used, bummer. Keep in mind I don't really know how these are set up.
Mods: I know you're all sick of this topic. I personally love the slammed japanese look. It's nice if someone does something outrageous, even if it is a little silly sometimes. I hope we didn't scare off the mighty projectzx3, I love his posts.
I wanted to hear more about the borla cat back he was installing.
I reached 1400 mil., this car is smoothing out beautifully. But it feels less "broken-in" in the 5000 rpm area, where I haven't gone is much. Hope this passes.
Later...
that zinc yellow. way to go with your gut instinct.
i dont think it looks silly at all,actually a great
match for such a radically-designed car.personally,
i dont think anyone could pick a wrong color for the z-they all look good.enjoy!
silver bullet- i had a bad hatch lock,it kept getting caught-up.it was replaced. striker post cushion + assembly is now being replaced under warranty of course.
Pat
as for power mod's, i know we all went through this before but i'll reiterate the argument and say that i think it's highly unlikely that the simple mods of exhaust, intake and chip will produce 25-30 more horsepower. somewhere between 10-20 seems more realistic.
as for wheels, i was really tempted to get 17 inch wheels but the idea of adding unsprung weight to the car is a major negative. especially after investing my hard earned money and time into making my car a little more athletic. i didn't want to negate this increased power by carrying heavier wheels. it was still tempting so instead i opted to put on better tires on the car (potenza re730) obliging me to get good use from both sets of tires before i get those wheels. hopefully by then there will be a larger selection of wheels and i can find something that's close to the stock wheels weight (16.75 lbs each).
1: KurtZ Kustomz intake is a sham. It may increase throttle response but all the other claims of functionality on their website are unfounded. Go for the Focus Sport intake or another brand with a heat shield. I know Focus Sport extensively tests all of their products before selling them. That's where I'm going to buy a majority of my upgrades. KKM also sells another haphazard upgrade: The super chip. Another untested item not worth voiding part of your warranty over, I'm waiting for Focus Sport to bring out theirs.
2: Never lower your focus without upgrading your stock shocks at the same time. The stock shocks are too weak and won't be able to bounce back, eventually they are rendered useless.
3: Don't add decals and banners to your car without actually adding upgrades. You are viewed as loser by everyone when you can't walk the walk. This is THE #1 pet peeve of all the aftermarket parts dealers online and in shops. When your car says KKM or Focus Sport, there better be an item under the hood to justify the sticker. Aftermarket parts stores actually sell more decals and stickers than they have parts for, so legit customers like me have to be put on back order for a window banner when all the posers have them without the parts.
4: Overall: the focus is still too new in the US to risk many untested upgrades. I wouldn't want anybody here to go without their ride. I'm still waiting for my Focus to get here in Germany. I'll be the first one on base with a 3 door. Maybe even the first one in this section of Germany, all I see is the 5-door models around here.
jwkessler1's doctored pic of a yellow Z is very good, but I wouldn't base my decision on it. The actual colour, IMO, is more intense, for lack of a better word....
My only concern is looking silly in such a brightly coloured car. I decided that if I regret my choice, I can always get it repainted. (My cousin owns an autobody shop....he'll repaint it at cost)
So, has anyone else seen a *real* yellow hatchling yet? Any thoughts?
If true, it means you're going to be one happy dude. I've seen a yellow New Beetle --- the color's so intense it knocks yer socks off.
zx3
Also, what does are the Negatives (engine rpm, tansmission, gas mileage, wear, ... whatever)?
zx3
As for Zinc Yellow, I am VERY disappointed by it, and the whole range of Focus colors. I have Malibu Blue, and i think its the best color, the others arent radical enough for the car (especially that autumn orange, if you think its orange, could have been cool...) I was mad when I found out that there was a Yellow, but I was hoping for a VW GTI Yellow and its not that at all.. It just dont look right, and I am happy to say no regrets on this purchase or color, though defogger performance is bad without a/c.
Later--
Calico1
more than forged?- i thought the opposite to be true.just wondering......thanks
I bought the intake and it is sweet. Easy to install a making a difference big time.
I couldn't agree more with the fact that FOCUSSPORT makes/markets nice products and that you shouldn't boast company logos you can't back up, but I think KKM is a nice addition to the Focus world of non-OEM parts.
Thanks teamzx3yellow for the picture! The lighting is a lot different then my outdoor shots, but I'll see if I can tweek my fakes to be a bit closer to the real thing.
If anyone with a digicam spots a zinc yellow Focus, please grab a shot or two.
As for the comparison to the Beetle color, I can't say, but it is definetly the same color that Ford uses on the Mustang. Yellow Mustangs are fairly common so you may stand a better chance of spotting one.
I just spent five hours detailing my ride. Looks better than the day I picked it up(two hours later its covered with pollen). I used a product called California Water Blade to dry it. Its a thin silicone strip that you run along the car to scrape water off. Supposedly it has less friction than cloth. It worked better on my girl friend's Corola, what with all the sharp angles of the focus. All in all its a great product. Got the Orick car-vac and lint roller, not to mention the static charged dry wipes. All work wonders to cherry the dark charcoal interior.
Honda, acura and every other make has 'em. why not ford?! I think they should re-write them to say FOCUS and not ford as well.
Steve
jwkessler1 #47: Let me tell you that on base the Hummer does outnumber the ZX3. Mine seems to be the only 3-door in Germany. All the German spec cars are 5-doors. I know that their are some differences between the civilian and military Humvees as far as ride and accommodations, but driving that big green diesel monster around leaves you yearning for that sporty coupe. People definitely get out of your way (even the aggressive German drivers) when you are coming through!
Haven't been in the forum for a bit, but thought it might be helpful to potential buyers to embellish on your factory holdback/dealer invoice comments.
You're right in saying that dealers can still make a profit while selling at their invoice. Factory holdback is typically about 3% of the dealer invoice credited to the dealer on the financial statement.
HOWEVER, the lower the dealer invoice, the less "latitude" a dealer has in the selling price. Considering selling costs such as advertising (mandatory charge) and salesperson commissions, and the net profit on a ZX3 can get a bit skinny.
Conversely, on a higher-end vehicle (using my Dodge Dak Quad Cab at $28K as an example), holdback provides significantly more pricing latitude for the dealer. I bought the Quad at $200 under dealer invoice. We ordered the ZX3 at $100 over dealer invoice. In each case, we felt the pricing was fair.
TO ALL:
Sounds like ZX3s are more common in other areas than here in metro Detroit... Since ordering hers two weeks ago, my wife and I have each seen ONE on the road... A total of TWO ZX3 "sightings" in two weeks!
We've seen a number of sedans and the occasional wagon on the lots around here... But the ZX3 is definitely a rare bird! While hatchbacks are very common in Europe, they seem to have faded here in the States... Nice to see the combination of performance/form/function returning in the ZX3!
go to www.zing.com click on directory
in the album search box type the words ford focus chrome grill it will lead you to a album of photos of a ford focus with a chrome grill that you can do yourself for under $15.00 US Dollars!
Check it out!
upon original. if it was any cheezier one might
find it on a philly steak sandwich. i perhaps do not get the look,however....to each his own.