check the actual vent slides( open/ close) positions. loose plastic piece-may be the the seat rail endcap- glue may not have cured properly. you are right,birds do like black! last week on the way to work the last thing i saw was feathers everywhere.i t was a kamikazee run on the front end. my condolences.
besides making sure that all vents are open, press the circulating button next the the a/c button, it makes it cool a lot faster.
about that k&n filter, does it improve anything at all? I'd like to put a better air filter that way I don't have to worry about buying another one ever again....
on a different note, has anyone installed a sunroof on their zx3's? how much? thanks
I finally did it. Though I am not 'too hot' about the ZX3, I finally thought I'd take a test drive. I was ...positively impressed. Really!
Mostly, by the feel of the steering. Firm and precise, like it should be. Good braking. As far as I could tell, ...good handling too. The engine was 'enough' but not THAT exciting. But again, no negatives really here. There were some 'points' which didn't 'score' high with me: - the seats and seating position. The seats are a bit too 'bowly' for me, not giving enough lumbar support. The driving position is very upright, not what I expected. But then I parked the ZX3 next to my Jetta and realized it was quite taller too. This is not really 'bad', it's just very different from what I'm used to. - I hated the constant blinking arrow which told me to shift (I decide that, thank you - especially as it was going on CONSTANTLY) - there was no red-line marking on the tach. It just struck me as odd... - OVERALL, while I applaud the bold design inside and out, the dash design and quality does not 'do it' for me. Same with the choice of materials on doors and levers (the test car was missing the mirror control knob on the left too).
Honestly, I think this car has a lot of good points, and a lot of personality. Give the seats a bit more lumbar support, and improve the plastic components inside. Not really a lot of changes in order to make this great car even better.
I will not purchase it, because, as I've said before, the design is not really 'up my alley'. But the car deserves to be taken for a test. I think that many would fall in love with it.
Good job, Ford! (I have NEVER said THAT before!)
ps: a small note about dealers... they really oughta let people take the test on their own. VW always lets me do that. Mazda let me try the Miata several times at the same dealership. The Honda dealers I've been to and 'this' Ford dealer obviously believe that adding 250lbs of human inertia will improve the test drive. If they really insist on it, they should employ underfed midgets which could ride along without sacrificing too much of the driving impression!
Superf22, EVERY air filter will have to be either replaced, or (in the case of the K&N) cleaned periodically. There's no way to avoid it - dust and dirt are a fact of life. Don't sweat it, the air filter in the ZX3 is incredibly easy to change. Besides, check your maintenance booklet and you'll see this is something you don't have to do very often. Now, replacing the alternator on the ZX3 looks like no fun at all :-( ...
Glad you decided to give the ZX3 a test drive. Unlike another forum I could name, it is good to see folks like you who are a bit more open-minded, and are willing to give Ford a chance.
Personally, while the current larger Alfas are beautiful cars, the Alfa hatch pics you posted don't impress me. Grafting the traditional Alfa grille onto the nose of the car looks truly bizarre, and the interior isn't to my taste either. I also doubt Alfa could bring this car to our market and price it at $13K, so no thanks. I had several friends who were burned with the Milano model, so Alfa has quite an evil reputation to overcome if they want to sell cars in the U.S. again.
As promised to some, I will 'take' my Alfa discussions in the appropriate column. Some have been ticked off that I mention them 'all the time' everywhere else - again, sorry for that.
But on that note, the 147 will probably never find its way 'over here'. It's too small (a lot smaller than a ZX3). But K13usd? More like K10usd, judging by the 'going rates' back in the old country...
Yes folks it arrived last Friday and though the initial impressions were a little disappointing, I am quickly getting to know and love it :-).
Next to the little Peugeot 205 Gti, it felt slow, lumbering but very quiet. I have put over 1000kms on the clock in a week and taken it up to 180km/hr on the highway (112mph). Things are loosening up now and I am gaining in confidence.
I am really glad that up-shift light doesn't exist on my car!
The car has disk brakes front and rear, ABS, traction control and electronic stability systems, power windows and tilt, body coloured electric rear view mirrors and rear seat headrests. It is sitting on Michelin Energy XV1 195/60 R15 tyres.
All told I am a happy and proud owner! I won't be getting many "What's that?" comments as they are all over the place here, though most people seem to prefer the wagon or the 4dr hatch. There are no sedans here as Ford Italy decided that it would not sell in this market.
Whyford.....welcome to the world of front-wheel drive understeer. Most front-wheel drives are set-up to understeer at the limit as it is considered safer and more forgiving.
How much is the base price for a ZX3 in Italy (converted to USD, please!). I am just curious. It seems to me that cars in the US are a lot more expensive than they are in France, but then, I lived there some years ago...
If you compare the ZX3 to any other current model Ford, you'll fing the fit/finish is significantly better. Better materials used, etc. If you compare it to an Audi, well...
This is also my first front wheel drive. I find that there is less understeer than others that I have driven. I've also found that if you tickle the gas and point it when you feel the understeer, it goes exactly where you tell it. I've learned to anticipate when my Z will understeer, and I can now hit the gas just before that and give it a little more wheel, and I'm accellerating right through the apex. This is where the Z is at its most fun. Enjoy.
There is nothing wrong with your car. It is normal for this to happen in new cars because of the OBD II computers. When you changed from your regular to the kn high flow, you sent more air through your mass air flow sensor. You computer reads this and thinks there is somethign wrong. To fiw it, disconnect your battery cable for like 20 minutes so that your computer can reset. If it resest, when you reconnect and start it up, it will adjust to the new filter and your check engine light will not be on. Good Luck ps my blue ZX3 just hit 3k and is going without a hitch, ecept for the damege when my car was hit, totalling $2500--its getting fixed june 27 I love my ZX3 my website - http://members.xoom.com/SubaruRally
Rathstar, Previous post could be right. The filter is pre-oiled and does not require any oil when new. May have to much oil (especially if you added more oil), and you will have to clean the MAF sensor just inside the intake tube beyond the air box. If this is the case, be very careful not to damage this sensor as it is very expensive. You might want to let one of the guys at speed shop where you got filter do this. They should be familiar with the problem as foci are not the only vehicle which have the problem (overoiling/MAF sensor).
To reset the computer, simply disconnect the plus side of your battery for about 3 to 5 minutes. Them reconnect it. Computer reset and ready to learn all over again.
I am running the K&N drop in filter and has no problem at all. It did increase my MPG.
What is up with all the ZX3 comparisons to more expensive European cars? This car car sells for under $15,000 (usually), and should be compared to similar cars in the same price range.
And to all the negative comments about Ford: Have any of you naysayers ever owned a Ford before? And if so, what was it--as that may say a lot. Ford is no different than any other manufacturer, some of their vehicles in the past, present, and most likely in the future will have problems. All of my previous experiences with Ford vehicles have been positive and the same with all the other Ford owners I know. (And yes, I have owned vehicles that were not Fords.)
My point is, substantiate your negative thoughts on Ford and realize that maybe the reason that Ford vehicles are not in the same realm as some of the European cars is that they simply do not cost as much. Perfect performance, fit, and finish are useless if you can't afford it.
adamzx3-i agree with you.ford-bashing has been a popular sport for years.as you have pointed out all car mfg. have had a lemon.i believe that compar- isons with more expensive imports are made because the z is that good for so much less.its the first vehicle by ford in this category to seriously challenge a honda,vw,nissan,or toyota.i have mostly owned fords,however ive owned other mfg.vehicles as well.in my opinion ford,especially the zx3,gives one more value for your hard-earned money.i think its a great package just as it is.i dont expect any problems and any changes made by ford to tweak it in the future is extra icing on the cake.
Regarding 'Ford bashing'... I have probably made a few comments a few times about Ford. But mostly, they are based on a 'subjective' impression. Not a factual one. I have never said that Fords are bad or unreliable, just that I have never considered buying one. I think it's reasonable that some of us have a perfectly subjective attachment or 'repulsion' for a given brand and should be able to voice it. I am European, and therefore am more familiar with European Fords. They are good cars. In Europe, they are very succesful and have quite good reliability track. But for me, Ford - and Opel for that matter - have always been cars 'for old people'. Not cars which I had posters of on my walls. My parents had one (1966 Ford Taunus). My sister bought a European Escort. For me, they just didn't 'do it'. I could mention several brands like that, which 'historically' did not appeal to me. Ford, Opel, Renault, Fiat, AUDI (!) just to name a few. Some have come out with cars which have reversed that opinion. But again, it's perfectly subjective and personal. Not factual. I think lots of people have the same 'impression' against many brands (Alfa Romeo clearly 'sucks' in many peoples minds). I grew up with a fascination for Golfs GTIs, Porsches, Ferrari, Mustangs and Corvettes, Mercedes vintage sports cars and so on. Then one day, there was an 1983 Audi Quattro Sport 2-door Coupe (330 bhp, 4 wheel drive, and a look to kill) parked just outside my door. 0-100kmh in less than 5.0 seconds. Won the Monte Carlo rally, beating the legendary Lancia Stratos. Then, all of a sudden, my eyes had opened up for Audi! I guess it's very childish, but that's how it was... and still is!
How could you not like the Opel GT?! (Other than its biodegradeable body!) Had a couple of those, as well as the Kadett Rallye and, later, the Manta. All good handling cars and fun to drive. In fact, the GT is what I compare my Focus to - corners like a go-kart and makes the drive enjoyable. May not be the fastest in the class, but as far as grins per dollar, it leads the group.
The Opel GT... was that the 'midget corvette'? I think it was called GT 1800 or so ...right? Opel has made (and is making) a lot of really nice cars. The Manta was really nice too (come to think of it, the Ford Capri was popular as a powerful coupe too). But that's exactly my point though. In spite of producing good, performing cars, some brands stand out in our 'subconscient memory' as more or less attractive, regardless of how good cars they make. Ford in Europe has actually made 'avant-garde' design for some time. I remember the Sierra and the Scorpio as 'eye-openers' when they came out (the most recent, the ZX3 and 'Ka'). But again, I guess that somewhere we are victims to marketing and image.
Sorry for a lengthy post... some people are going to get mad at me...
we love our zx3! 98F here the past couple of days with high humidity. our a/c will freeze you out within a couple of minutes! i mention this as i saw a couple of posts about a/c but was too lazy to read them. so i don't know if anyone has a prob or not. need to do a mpg check soon with a/c running and city driving. i'm guessing low to mid 20's but thats not official. as far as air filters... we had put in a so-called high performance drop in filter that came with our Borla exhaust system. After 1500 or so miles we put the stock motorcraft air filter back in. the car runs smoother and is more responsive with the stock one. we also had the aftermarket spark plug wires from focus sport on the car. but low and behold our zx3 runs smoother with the stock wires. your results may vary. 6500+ GREAT miles and we expect many,many more trouble-free, fun-packed miles! if HP stiffer shocks/struts ever become available we are going to use the Eibach Pro-Kit springs for a 1.2" drop. But it's just not my style to drop a car and then have stock shocks that can't handle it just for the sake of looking good. we may do window tint next instead.
***How much $ for Borla itself? ***How much is install cost? ***Will Ford dealer do it? Any warranty problems? ***Is "noise level" at idle (and also at drive-speed) sufficient to attract a cop's notice? (I don't need "problems", heh.) ***Has it done anything for your "mpg" (how much) ... or "engine response/power" ... or stopping that "slight hesitation" z owners sometimes experience at 2k-3k rpm? Thanks in advance for any info. zx3
While it would be nice if the rotors didn't look rusty, as you know it has no effect on their stopping power. Howevever I think SilverB or someone once said there is a paint you can put on to make them look nice, but to be careful doing it. zx3
reading these post made me think about all the cars the wife and I have owned. Here is a list if you care (not in order of ownership): - 64 Electra Sedan - my gray gunboat - 64 Electra Hardtop - bought it for parts to restore the other one - bought it of a junkyard put a battery in it and drove 600 miles home - 66 Mustang - spend way to much to restore it but it sure turned heads - 66 VW Bug- great car sold it for more than I paid for it - 72 Fiat 128 - towed it to the dealer monthly and paid at least $150 to drive it again each time - 75 Kawasaki 400 bike - death on wheels - 75 Impala Wagon - 10 mpg Highway on a good day - 75 Opel Manta - great car till the frame rusted out remember seting the brake fluid on fire and driving it another 60 miles on the freeway without brakes to get home - 78 Fiesta - great car loved driving it but rusted quick - 78 Capri - rebuild the motor twice and redid the timing weekly - 76 Impala sedan sold it with 200,000 on the original engine and still going strong - 80 Buick Century - held up ok but boring - 81 Suzuki 550T bike - 81 Checker Marathon seated 6 in the backseat - great car but way underpowered and very loud drove it for 130,000 and the next owner put another 200,000 on it - 86 Mazda B2000 great pickup leased it and was sorry the lease ended - 86 Ranger 4x4 - I just remember lots of trip to the dealer to keep it going - 90 Jamaha Radian bike - 90 Geo Metro - greates car of them all - sold it with 130,000 and never did anything besides oil changes, tires and mufler and a couple of clutches, never left me stranded not even a dead battery - 91 Tracker 4x4, great little toy four wheeler loved the soft top - 93 Explorer - I should have learned from the Ranger and stayed away from a Ford - 95 Neon - not a bad car but small - 95 Safari Van - does a nice job pulling the camper but lots of front end problems and tire wear - 96 Stratus - nice roomy great mpg but boring to drive - 00 Focus - you would think after two bad Ford's I would have learned but I fell in love with the body style. Lets hope all the little things get fixed and I can enjoy it without monthly stops at the dealer.
Wow can't believe I went through all those vehicles.
I'm having a small problem with the calicomobile. It hasn't caused any major difficulty, but I'm concerned. I have been experiencing sudden but obvious loss of power every so often -- it can be felt--sort of like a slight tug, and is corroborated by loss of rpms. I compensate by stepping harder on the pedal, but I'd hate for it to happen at a high speed. I remember driving a turbo trans am that was supposed to do that, but the zetec is not a turbo, and the loss of power is so obvious that I know it can't be intentional. So, what suggestions should I make when I take her in to be checked out? I still love my car, even with this temporary setback!!! Thanks, gang. Calico1
You saw all those posts and then ran out and bought a hyundai????? Thats very hypocritical! Have you ever read the Accent message board?? You ran away from the Focus because of potential problems and then went and got a Hyundai?? Tha is the most flawed logic I have ever heard! I could understand if u went with a Civic because of a concern with reliability, but a Hyundai?? Wow thats insane! Just venting--if u wanna talk bout ur ZX3 and have aim or aol, IM me on the sn Team ZX3
After about $35,000, you are no longer getting what you paid for. That's why people are compareing a $15,000 car to a $40,000 car. I think the Focus is good for about 95% of what cars are used for. A $40,000 Honda might drop to 60%. Why? Because ZX3s make good rentals, and the SE makes good taxis. Both make good student driving cars. They are for cost efficient.
As a cheap race car, the six speed can go 140 mph. Not many dirt tracks go that fast. For shopping, the wagons and the ZX3 are the way to go. You can put more stuff in them than any Honda.
The Focus is cheaper transportation, something that more people can afford.
Tried the recirculate switch and still only cool air came out. Guess it needs a recharge.
Understeer is getting easier to time as i get used to the front driver but i must say that there is no torque steer under gas as i have felt on many other front drivers!
Was going to wash the car today but rain was forecast. Front rims are covered with brake pad dust and only 800 kms on it and it was washed at about 260 kms. Very soft pads i guess.
Remote doors open only when i'm about next to the car. Have to click 'open' twice every time but no big deal really.
Fuel mileage still hurting but with so few kms on it i will wait for awhile to measure actual MPG.
Is it because the car is new that birds aim for it or what! Sheesh.
Seats are fine as far as comfort goes but just can't seem to reach the steering wheel without my arms outstretched...this is a major problem at this time because to get my arms bent the seats are too forward and my thights are off the seat fronts and when i push the clutch i punch it into the floor and almost feel like i have to lift my leg up to release the clutch...also in this position i hammer the gas all the time.
Will have to spend some time to see how i can change this driving position but i can't see how.
Wonder how hard/expensive it would be to put a tilt/tele wheel set up in?
Find it not so bad wearing running shoes but hiking boots with my Orthotic insoles really makes me reach.
The July issue of 'SPORT COMPACT CAR' has a picture of a Supercharged ZX3 on the cover. I like the head lamp treatment but mucho expensive when converted into CDN$!!
One simple Q. How do ya turn on the fog lights?
Opps make that two Q's. Does Ford sell a SHOP repair manual for the ZX3 yet? The ones the Mechanics use?
Hkoenen2, Sounds like a great name for a movie. "Cars I have owned" -- John Candy would have had the lead. A combined "Planes, Traines, and Automobiles", and "Gone in 60 Seconds" filmed in western New York and co-starring some drive-bys of my current ZX3.
Wonder what happened to the Chrylser, think it was a Newport, I use to own. Anyway it was a big boat.
*Borla exhaust $419.00 included shipping *gas mileage is the same...of course i am running it harder. * Borla system is loud. make no mistake about it. it is oddly enough quieter at highway speeds. * exhaust has not stopped the lugging/hesitation experienced by many focus owners including myself. i thought it did at first but it was only because i was using alot of throttle. my hesitation is at cruise or light throttle @ approx 2000-2500 rpm. *we do seem to have more power... most noticeable at 3000-6000 rpm. *we are planning on going to a dragstrip this coming weekend. i will make our times known and substantiate them. *i do recommend the Borla system for those who are looking to be noticed more and like hot rodding around!
the dealership i bought from will not cooperate with me on the modification. so i am taking it to another ford dealership nearby that is receptive. i will be showing the car off at their dealership events when it fits my schedule and in return they have no problem honoring my warranty and even extending it(per owner). Mods cannot void a warranty unless the dealership proves that the mod caused the problem. most aftermarket products meet or exceed OEM parts. certainly the Borla cat back exceeds the quality of the original exhaust. i am not a proponet of super chips though. chips will cause major warranty concerns with most any dealer/manufacturer. Bottom line, do your mods in good taste and professionally. Goodyear charged me 60.00 for the complete job. Happy Fathers Day everyone:)
Nice info about the Borla, project, and I thank you. The "hesitation" thingy seems to be widespread in the zetec engine, judging by the number of posts. I have experienced it also, but it's no big deal, I'll live with it. Thanks again for lengthy replies you made. zx3
At least, I might have. You all know the Problem: You wax your z, and some of it gets on the black plastic trim and turns white, when it dries. Looks awful. And it's a son'va'gun to get rid of. Heck, it's like armor plate!
Here's what I did (figuring, "I'll fite fire with fire")..... I briskly rubbed fresh wax on the stains, (softening, dissolving them) till they disappeared. (I didn't use a different wax, mind you, but the SAME wax that made the stains). Then immediately (NO waiting!) I rubbed the affected-area real good, with clean terry cloth. Depending on how thoroughly, briskly, I rubbed the affected trim (then immediately, briskly, rubbed it clean with terry-towel) the white crap seems to have mostly disappeared.
I'll wait a day, check it again, when weather is dry and let you know. Don't do it yourself till you hear how I made out. So that if I failed (or, Gadzooks!!-- made things even wortse!) you'll know not to try this stunt. Wish me luck. zx3
zx3-pcleveland claims black magic works real well.waiting on answer from him to see if it dries glossy or to a flat sheen like original. i would like to try it if i knew how it dries.
At today's exchange rates, the cheapest focus 3dr in Italy is the 1.6L at US$13,337. The 2.0L ESP costs US$14,700. Mine with the various optionals cost me US$15,530.
I recently bought some Zaino wax products, but before I did I contacted the owner of the company about this very problem. He said if you should ever get wax on the black porous moldings and it turns white to use peanut butter- get the creamy kind rub it into the moldings with a 100% cotton terry cloth, then re-wash and clean the area. I'm guessing the peanut butter has a slight amount of natural oil that will disolve the wax and take it out. I've heard this from other posts as well. Try it and tell us how it works, got nothin to lose.
Alfaromeo-yep, that was the "mini-vette". Came with a 1.5 or 1.9 engine. Manta was nice, also. Had 1 of those, too. In fact, reading through hkoenen2's post on "all the cars I've loved before" (sing it, Julio & Willie!), we've had a lot of overlap. I definitely agree on the 78 Fiesta. Cost $3800 new (glove box door was extra) & got 35-40 mpg no matter how hard I drove it. Had it for 2 years, put 80,000 miles on it and traded it in with the original everything, including tires. I'm surprised at the 86 Mazda B2000 being great and the 86 Ranger being a dog. Essentially the same vehicle, as I understand it, built side by side at the same plant. Must have been the 4x4 stuff that caused the problem. If I did a full list of previous cars & bikes, I'd be overcome by nostalgia (and remorse for all the money I've spent). But the ones that stand out are: The Opels. The Fiesta 86 Mazda B2000 - great runner 69 AMC Javelin 343-strong car, but the seat back kept breaking. 75 Chevy Vega(matic). It slices, it dices, it does everything but run without burning oil. Ah, heck, too long a list makes for too long a post. Let's just hope that the Focus ends up on the good list. As for the fog lights, turn your light on, then pull the knob toward you. As for the birds, they apparently really like the Focus, too. Especially a freshly washed one. Happy driving everyone!!
Does anyone have comments regarding Edmund's poor review of the 'Assembly and Build' in their recent Economy Car Comparison. I was surprised at the Focus low rating regarding the build. To me, it seemed that aspect of the car prevented it from winning the comparison.
Is the Zx-3 better built than the sedan? My Forest Green Machine is running very fine and no internal parts have falling off. I am quite pleased over all and believe me....I am one picky customer! For me to be pleased, it needs to be pretty darn fantastic (I still have a slight rattle near the driver's side door, but other than that...the car is assembled better than any other car I have ever owned). I have had a Dodge Colt, Corolla and a Mitsu Galant----I know, I know...not the most exciting cars in the world.
To Alfa Romeo,
Nei, jeg er ikke Norsk, men jeg bodde i Norge for 2 år!!!
Pehaps Whyford the vent is closed. There is a small rotary dial under each vent. Try shutting and opening them to initiate the flow of air.
Of course, it could be a disconnected plastic duct within the dash. If that is the case, take your car to the dealer and they will fix it at no cost to you!
I've got the sedan SE and the build quality is fine. Good fit/alignment on the body panels, same on the interior parts, paint quality excellent, NO rattles or squeaks. Don't have any idea what the problem could be. Mel
norway- i just read it. it just edged-out the elantra.are these guys for real? just goes to show what it takes to be an expert. they called the protege sportier.my opinion is,if the nameplate didnt say ford,it would have reviewed higher. the reviewer even admitted his bias against ford products.his comments pro +con contradict the statements and final analysis of the review presented.reading that makes one want to scream.........
Congrats on your Norwegian. Not bad for someone who lived there only 2 years
With regard to 'assembly and build', like I've said in a previous post, I think Ford could have done a lot better on the choice of materials inside the car. On the car I tested, I noted that there were plastic linings on the door panels that were rough and irregular at the edges. It may not mean anything with regard to durability, but it wasn't too pretty. Maybe that's the sort of 'detail' that Edmunds got caught up on...
After a 12-weeks wait, I finally got my silver ZX3 with 11 miles on Tuesday. Everything worked fine except it came with a CD player (I ordered a tape cassette!) So I drove the car around that day and found no problem with it. The next time I drive it was Friday, but I couldn't start it. The engine was not cranking; just a clicking sound, so I thought I missed some weird step to properly start the car. I was in a hurry then, so it was till late that night I finished reading the manual, and found out there must be something wrong with the car.
Saturday I called Ford's roadside assistance, and the tow truck came after almost 2 hours (I was told 1 hour). I had to meet a friend so I signed the paper and took off.
I decided to stop by the dealer just to talk to the people about the car later in the afternoon. They told me they didn't have a Focus towed in that day! What the heck! Where was my car? The manager there was kind enough to help me search for my car(we spent at least an hour doing that). It turns out that stupid tow truck driver towed my FORD to the Lincoln/Mercury dealer 2 blocks away from the Ford dealer. The Ford service manager said the service dept. at Lincoln/Mercury don't open on weekends, so we assumed that someone (maybe a sale person) accepted the car, and it should be "secured" in their lot. I'll be calling them first thing in the morning tomorrow! And I was told L/M's CAN actually work on a Ford vehicle!
An un-related question here: My friend owns a '99 Taurus, and got this weird thing with the fan. We noticed that if you step on the gas to accelerate going upslope with more than 2500/3000 rpm, the fan (either with A/C or vent) which is set ON blowing air thru the front panel would STOP while you're accelerating. Once your foot is off the gas, it comes back. She hasn't been able to "show" the dealers the problem yet since for 2 times, 2 different dealers claim they couldn't find that problem!
Comments
positions. loose plastic piece-may be the
the seat rail endcap- glue may not have cured properly. you are right,birds do like black!
last week on the way to work the last thing i saw was feathers everywhere.i t was a kamikazee run on the front end. my condolences.
about that k&n filter, does it improve anything at all? I'd like to put a better air filter that way I don't have to worry about buying another one ever again....
on a different note, has anyone installed a sunroof on their zx3's? how much?
thanks
got to go drive
I was ...positively impressed. Really!
Mostly, by the feel of the steering. Firm and precise, like it should be. Good braking. As far as I could tell, ...good handling too. The engine was 'enough' but not THAT exciting. But again, no negatives really here.
There were some 'points' which didn't 'score' high with me:
- the seats and seating position. The seats are a bit too 'bowly' for me, not giving enough lumbar support. The driving position is very upright, not what I expected. But then I parked the ZX3 next to my Jetta and realized it was quite taller too. This is not really 'bad', it's just very different from what I'm used to.
- I hated the constant blinking arrow which told me to shift (I decide that, thank you - especially as it was going on CONSTANTLY)
- there was no red-line marking on the tach. It just struck me as odd...
- OVERALL, while I applaud the bold design inside and out, the dash design and quality does not 'do it' for me. Same with the choice of materials on doors and levers (the test car was missing the mirror control knob on the left too).
Honestly, I think this car has a lot of good points, and a lot of personality. Give the seats a bit more lumbar support, and improve the plastic components inside. Not really a lot of changes in order to make this great car even better.
I will not purchase it, because, as I've said before, the design is not really 'up my alley'. But the car deserves to be taken for a test. I think that many would fall in love with it.
Good job, Ford! (I have NEVER said THAT before!)
ps: a small note about dealers... they really oughta let people take the test on their own. VW always lets me do that. Mazda let me try the Miata several times at the same dealership. The Honda dealers I've been to and 'this' Ford dealer obviously believe that adding 250lbs of human inertia will improve the test drive. If they really insist on it, they should employ underfed midgets which could ride along without sacrificing too much of the driving impression!
Personally, while the current larger Alfas are beautiful cars, the Alfa hatch pics you posted don't impress me. Grafting the traditional Alfa grille onto the nose of the car looks truly bizarre, and the interior isn't to my taste either. I also doubt Alfa could bring this car to our market and price it at $13K, so no thanks. I had several friends who were burned with the Milano model, so Alfa has quite an evil reputation to overcome if they want to sell cars in the U.S. again.
But on that note, the 147 will probably never find its way 'over here'. It's too small (a lot smaller than a ZX3). But K13usd? More like K10usd, judging by the 'going rates' back in the old country...
Next to the little Peugeot 205 Gti, it felt slow, lumbering but very quiet. I have put over 1000kms on the clock in a week and taken it up to 180km/hr on the highway (112mph). Things are loosening up now and I am gaining in confidence.
I am really glad that up-shift light doesn't exist on my car!
The car has disk brakes front and rear, ABS, traction control and electronic stability systems, power windows and tilt, body coloured electric rear view mirrors and rear seat headrests. It is sitting on Michelin Energy XV1 195/60 R15 tyres.
All told I am a happy and proud owner! I won't be getting many "What's that?" comments as they are all over the place here, though most people seem to prefer the wagon or the 4dr hatch. There are no sedans here as Ford Italy decided that it would not sell in this market.
Whyford.....welcome to the world of front-wheel drive understeer. Most front-wheel drives are set-up to understeer at the limit as it is considered safer and more forgiving.
And nice to hear you like your car!
This is also my first front wheel drive. I find that there is less understeer than others that I have driven. I've also found that if you tickle the gas and point it when you feel the understeer, it goes exactly where you tell it. I've learned to anticipate when my Z will understeer, and I can now hit the gas just before that and give it a little more wheel, and I'm accellerating right through the apex. This is where the Z is at its most fun. Enjoy.
Good Luck
ps my blue ZX3 just hit 3k and is going without a hitch, ecept for the damege when my car was hit, totalling $2500--its getting fixed june 27 I love my ZX3
my website -
http://members.xoom.com/SubaruRally
Previous post could be right. The filter is pre-oiled and does not require any oil when new. May have to much oil (especially if you added more oil), and you will have to clean the MAF sensor just inside the intake tube beyond the air box. If this is the case, be very careful not to damage this sensor as it is very expensive. You might want to let one of the guys at speed shop where you got filter do this. They should be familiar with the problem as foci are not the only vehicle which have the problem (overoiling/MAF sensor).
To reset the computer, simply disconnect the plus side of your battery for about 3 to 5 minutes. Them reconnect it. Computer reset and ready to learn all over again.
I am running the K&N drop in filter and has no problem at all. It did increase my MPG.
Good Luck,
Pat
And to all the negative comments about Ford: Have any of you naysayers ever owned a Ford before? And if so, what was it--as that may say a lot. Ford is no different than any other manufacturer, some of their vehicles in the past, present, and most likely in the future will have problems. All of my previous experiences with Ford vehicles have been positive and the same with all the other Ford owners I know. (And yes, I have owned vehicles that were not Fords.)
My point is, substantiate your negative thoughts on Ford and realize that maybe the reason that Ford vehicles are not in the same realm as some of the European cars is that they simply do not cost as much. Perfect performance, fit, and finish are useless if you can't afford it.
popular sport for years.as you have pointed out all
car mfg. have had a lemon.i believe that compar-
isons with more expensive imports are made because the z is that good for so much less.its the first
vehicle by ford in this category to seriously challenge a honda,vw,nissan,or toyota.i have mostly
owned fords,however ive owned other mfg.vehicles as well.in my opinion ford,especially the zx3,gives one more value for your hard-earned money.i think
its a great package just as it is.i dont expect any problems and any changes made by ford to tweak it in the future is extra icing on the cake.
http://www.discussion-board.com/teamfocaljet/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro
I have probably made a few comments a few times about Ford. But mostly, they are based on a 'subjective' impression. Not a factual one. I have never said that Fords are bad or unreliable, just that I have never considered buying one.
I think it's reasonable that some of us have a perfectly subjective attachment or 'repulsion' for a given brand and should be able to voice it.
I am European, and therefore am more familiar with European Fords. They are good cars. In Europe, they are very succesful and have quite good reliability track.
But for me, Ford - and Opel for that matter - have always been cars 'for old people'. Not cars which I had posters of on my walls. My parents had one (1966 Ford Taunus). My sister bought a European Escort. For me, they just didn't 'do it'.
I could mention several brands like that, which 'historically' did not appeal to me. Ford, Opel, Renault, Fiat, AUDI (!) just to name a few.
Some have come out with cars which have reversed that opinion. But again, it's perfectly subjective and personal. Not factual.
I think lots of people have the same 'impression' against many brands (Alfa Romeo clearly 'sucks' in many peoples minds).
I grew up with a fascination for Golfs GTIs, Porsches, Ferrari, Mustangs and Corvettes, Mercedes vintage sports cars and so on. Then one day, there was an 1983 Audi Quattro Sport 2-door Coupe (330 bhp, 4 wheel drive, and a look to kill) parked just outside my door. 0-100kmh in less than 5.0 seconds. Won the Monte Carlo rally, beating the legendary Lancia Stratos. Then, all of a sudden, my eyes had opened up for Audi!
I guess it's very childish, but that's how it was... and still is!
(Other than its biodegradeable body!)
Had a couple of those, as well as the Kadett Rallye and, later, the Manta. All good handling cars and fun to drive. In fact, the GT is what I compare my Focus to - corners like a go-kart and makes the drive enjoyable. May not be the fastest in the class, but as far as grins per dollar, it leads the group.
Opel has made (and is making) a lot of really nice cars. The Manta was really nice too (come to think of it, the Ford Capri was popular as a powerful coupe too). But that's exactly my point though. In spite of producing good, performing cars, some brands stand out in our 'subconscient memory' as more or less attractive, regardless of how good cars they make.
Ford in Europe has actually made 'avant-garde' design for some time. I remember the Sierra and the Scorpio as 'eye-openers' when they came out (the most recent, the ZX3 and 'Ka').
But again, I guess that somewhere we are victims to marketing and image.
Sorry for a lengthy post... some people are going to get mad at me...
Pat
gotta go drive
***How much $ for Borla itself?
***How much is install cost?
***Will Ford dealer do it? Any warranty problems?
***Is "noise level" at idle (and also at drive-speed) sufficient to attract a cop's notice? (I don't need "problems", heh.)
***Has it done anything for your "mpg" (how much) ... or "engine response/power" ... or stopping that "slight hesitation" z owners sometimes experience at 2k-3k rpm?
Thanks in advance for any info.
zx3
Howevever I think SilverB or someone once said there is a paint you can put on to make them look nice, but to be careful doing it.
zx3
- 64 Electra Sedan - my gray gunboat
- 64 Electra Hardtop - bought it for parts to restore the other one - bought it of a junkyard put a battery in it and drove 600 miles home
- 66 Mustang - spend way to much to restore it but it sure turned heads
- 66 VW Bug- great car sold it for more than I paid for it
- 72 Fiat 128 - towed it to the dealer monthly and paid at least $150 to drive it again each time
- 75 Kawasaki 400 bike - death on wheels
- 75 Impala Wagon - 10 mpg Highway on a good day
- 75 Opel Manta - great car till the frame rusted out remember seting the brake fluid on fire and driving it another 60 miles on the freeway without brakes to get home
- 78 Fiesta - great car loved driving it but rusted quick
- 78 Capri - rebuild the motor twice and redid the timing weekly
- 76 Impala sedan sold it with 200,000 on the original engine and still going strong
- 80 Buick Century - held up ok but boring
- 81 Suzuki 550T bike
- 81 Checker Marathon seated 6 in the backseat - great car but way underpowered and very loud drove it for 130,000 and the next owner put another 200,000 on it
- 86 Mazda B2000 great pickup leased it and was sorry the lease ended
- 86 Ranger 4x4 - I just remember lots of trip to the dealer to keep it going
- 90 Jamaha Radian bike
- 90 Geo Metro - greates car of them all - sold it with 130,000 and never did anything besides oil changes, tires and mufler and a couple of clutches, never left me stranded not even a dead battery
- 91 Tracker 4x4, great little toy four wheeler loved the soft top
- 93 Explorer - I should have learned from the Ranger and stayed away from a Ford
- 95 Neon - not a bad car but small
- 95 Safari Van - does a nice job pulling the camper but lots of front end problems and tire wear
- 96 Stratus - nice roomy great mpg but boring to drive
- 00 Focus - you would think after two bad Ford's I would have learned but I fell in love with the body style. Lets hope all the little things get fixed and I can enjoy it without monthly stops at the dealer.
Wow can't believe I went through all those vehicles.
Thanks, gang.
Calico1
Just venting--if u wanna talk bout ur ZX3 and have aim or aol, IM me on the sn Team ZX3
As a cheap race car, the six speed can go 140 mph. Not many dirt tracks go that fast. For shopping, the wagons and the ZX3 are the way to go. You can put more stuff in them than any Honda.
The Focus is cheaper transportation, something that more people can afford.
Tried the recirculate switch and still only cool air came out. Guess it needs a recharge.
Understeer is getting easier to time as i get used to the front driver but i must say that there is no torque steer under gas as i have felt on many other front drivers!
Was going to wash the car today but rain was forecast. Front rims are covered with brake pad dust and only 800 kms on it and it was washed at about 260 kms. Very soft pads i guess.
Remote doors open only when i'm about next to the car. Have to click 'open' twice every time but no big deal really.
Fuel mileage still hurting but with so few kms on it i will wait for awhile to measure actual MPG.
Is it because the car is new that birds aim for it or what! Sheesh.
Seats are fine as far as comfort goes but just can't seem to reach the steering wheel without my arms outstretched...this is a major problem at this time because to get my arms bent the seats are too forward and my thights are off the seat fronts and when i push the clutch i punch it into the floor and almost feel like i have to lift my leg up to release the clutch...also in this position i hammer the gas all the time.
Will have to spend some time to see how i can change this driving position but i can't see how.
Wonder how hard/expensive it would be to put a tilt/tele wheel set up in?
Find it not so bad wearing running shoes but hiking boots with my Orthotic insoles really makes me reach.
The July issue of 'SPORT COMPACT CAR' has a picture of a Supercharged ZX3 on the cover. I like the head lamp treatment but mucho expensive when converted into CDN$!!
One simple Q. How do ya turn on the fog lights?
Opps make that two Q's. Does Ford sell a SHOP repair manual for the ZX3 yet? The ones the Mechanics use?
Nothing i will mention to the dealer though.
With your headlights on, pull the light switch up. The fog lights go on.
Sounds like a great name for a movie. "Cars I have owned" -- John Candy would have had the lead. A combined "Planes, Traines, and Automobiles", and "Gone in 60 Seconds" filmed in western New York and co-starring some drive-bys of my current ZX3.
Wonder what happened to the Chrylser, think it was a Newport, I use to own. Anyway it was a big boat.
*gas mileage is the same...of course i am running it harder.
* Borla system is loud. make no mistake about it. it is oddly enough quieter at highway speeds.
* exhaust has not stopped the lugging/hesitation experienced by many focus owners including myself. i thought it did at first but it was only because i was using alot of throttle. my hesitation is at cruise or light throttle @ approx 2000-2500 rpm.
*we do seem to have more power... most noticeable at 3000-6000 rpm.
*we are planning on going to a dragstrip this coming weekend. i will make our times known and substantiate them.
*i do recommend the Borla system for those who are looking to be noticed more and like hot rodding around!
check it out...click on problems and complaints
http://www.discussion-board.com/clubfocus/
The "hesitation" thingy seems to be widespread in the zetec engine, judging by the number of posts. I have experienced it also, but it's no big deal, I'll live with it.
Thanks again for lengthy replies you made.
zx3
You all know the Problem: You wax your z, and some of it gets on the black plastic trim and turns white, when it dries. Looks awful. And it's a son'va'gun to get rid of. Heck, it's like armor plate!
Here's what I did (figuring, "I'll fite fire with fire").....
I briskly rubbed fresh wax on the stains, (softening, dissolving them) till they disappeared. (I didn't use a different wax, mind you, but the SAME wax that made the stains).
Then immediately (NO waiting!) I rubbed the affected-area real good, with clean terry cloth.
Depending on how thoroughly, briskly, I rubbed the affected trim (then immediately, briskly, rubbed it clean with terry-towel) the white crap seems to have mostly disappeared.
I'll wait a day, check it again, when weather is dry and let you know.
Don't do it yourself till you hear how I made out.
So that if I failed (or, Gadzooks!!-- made things even wortse!) you'll know not to try this stunt.
Wish me luck.
zx3
real well.waiting on answer from him to see
if it dries glossy or to a flat sheen like original.
i would like to try it if i knew how it dries.
I definitely agree on the 78 Fiesta. Cost $3800 new (glove box door was extra) & got 35-40 mpg no matter how hard I drove it. Had it for 2 years, put 80,000 miles on it and traded it in with the original everything, including tires.
I'm surprised at the 86 Mazda B2000 being great and the 86 Ranger being a dog. Essentially the same vehicle, as I understand it, built side by side at the same plant. Must have been the 4x4 stuff that caused the problem.
If I did a full list of previous cars & bikes, I'd be overcome by nostalgia (and remorse for all the money I've spent). But the ones that stand out are:
The Opels.
The Fiesta
86 Mazda B2000 - great runner
69 AMC Javelin 343-strong car, but the seat back kept breaking.
75 Chevy Vega(matic). It slices, it dices, it does everything but run without burning oil.
Ah, heck, too long a list makes for too long a post. Let's just hope that the Focus ends up on the good list.
As for the fog lights, turn your light on, then pull the knob toward you.
As for the birds, they apparently really like the Focus, too. Especially a freshly washed one.
Happy driving everyone!!
Does anyone have comments regarding Edmund's poor review of the 'Assembly and Build' in their recent Economy Car Comparison. I was surprised at the Focus low rating regarding the build. To me, it seemed that aspect of the car prevented it from winning the comparison.
Is the Zx-3 better built than the sedan? My Forest Green Machine is running very fine and no internal parts have falling off. I am quite pleased over all and believe me....I am one picky customer! For me to be pleased, it needs to be pretty darn fantastic (I still have a slight rattle near the driver's side door, but other than that...the car is assembled better than any other car I have ever owned). I have had a Dodge Colt, Corolla and a Mitsu Galant----I know, I know...not the most exciting cars in the world.
To Alfa Romeo,
Nei, jeg er ikke Norsk, men jeg bodde i Norge for 2 år!!!
Enjoy Summer (it is almost here!)
NorwayDoug
Of course, it could be a disconnected plastic duct within the dash. If that is the case, take your car to the dealer and they will fix it at no cost to you!
ND
Mel
elantra.are these guys for real? just goes to show what it takes to be an expert. they called
the protege sportier.my opinion is,if the nameplate didnt say ford,it would have reviewed higher. the reviewer even admitted
his bias against ford products.his comments pro +con contradict the statements and final
analysis of the review presented.reading that
makes one want to scream.........
The black magic worked really well getting the NuFinish off my plastic.
With regard to 'assembly and build', like I've said in a previous post, I think Ford could have done a lot better on the choice of materials inside the car. On the car I tested, I noted that there were plastic linings on the door panels that were rough and irregular at the edges.
It may not mean anything with regard to durability, but it wasn't too pretty. Maybe that's the sort of 'detail' that Edmunds got caught up on...
If Sal Zaino says peanut butter works, IT WORKS! I never got the time to try it, and the black magic was the easier, simpler way out of the problem.
Pat
Saturday I called Ford's roadside assistance, and the tow truck came after almost 2 hours (I was told 1 hour). I had to meet a friend so I signed the paper and took off.
I decided to stop by the dealer just to talk to the people about the car later in the afternoon. They told me they didn't have a Focus towed in that day! What the heck! Where was my car? The manager there was kind enough to help me search for my car(we spent at least an hour doing that). It turns out that stupid tow truck driver towed my FORD to the Lincoln/Mercury dealer 2 blocks away from the Ford dealer. The Ford service manager said the service dept. at Lincoln/Mercury don't open on weekends, so we assumed that someone (maybe a sale person) accepted the car, and it should be "secured" in their lot. I'll be calling them first thing in the morning tomorrow! And I was told L/M's CAN actually work on a Ford vehicle!
An un-related question here:
My friend owns a '99 Taurus, and got this weird thing with the fan. We noticed that if you step on the gas to accelerate going upslope with more than 2500/3000 rpm, the fan (either with A/C or vent) which is set ON blowing air thru the front panel would STOP while you're accelerating. Once your foot is off the gas, it comes back.
She hasn't been able to "show" the dealers the problem yet since for 2 times, 2 different dealers claim they couldn't find that problem!