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Ford Focus Hatchback ZX3 - Part X
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Comments
the scenario you had described.i was assuming the
worse but hoping for the better.i had posted earlier about that piece of junk clutch pedal
return spring,given that experience and what drebe was initially describing i didnt want to see him get stuck.also,drebe is new to the manual trans.
better safe than sorry.i have experienced the bad throw-out bearing many years ago,where you can shift than it gets stuck,then it frees and event-
ually gets stuck.it struck me odd that he just noticed this because he has been driving for a while.by the way,how are you making out with your situation?
Twilight Blue
Dark Charcoal
Zx3 Premium Package
Zx3 Power Group
Anti-Lock Brakes
Side-Impact Air Bags
5-Speed
And the best part of all- I got this car at dealer invoice!!!! I would highly recommend Valley Ford in Longmont, CO to anyone in this area. Mary Merill-Sweeny is who I worked with and she was great!
I really don't think it's safe to say this car is proving to be unreliable just yet, bugs I knew it would have before I even considered buying it, but that's something all cars from all brands have to deal with, specially all new models like the focus. I think most people are pretty happy with their z's.
or thereabouts is an extremely slight aberration.
it can go unnoticed and does. as the engine
breaks-in performance will significantly improve
even with a/c on. i agree that the z will prove to be reliable long-term.there will be bugs but i dont
expect anything major.
I was pulling into work and a guy i work with driving his 911 porche was looking REAL hard at my car. First time anyone really looked that i noticed anyhow.
Well at work i asked him how the car was running and he said he bought a T-Bird turbo for $300 Beaver Bucks and had most of the plumbing done! Wow i said...then he told me about a Turbo set up for the Focus! Egads a TURBO? Really?? And i mentioned that Sports Compact Car had a supercharged Focus zx3 and for $3k US V.S 1/4 mile times i thought it not much good.
9.5 seconds 0 - 60 now seems real. For the money spent for a supercharger to gain...what? .75 seconds? Nahhhhh.
My beefs so far,
The other day my 5-speed with 700 U.S miles (in Canada we drive K.M's) clutch vibrated about half throw to the floor and FELT like a bad throw out bearing (second gear and between residential stop signs, no power on). well i put the zx-3 in neutral and pumped the clutch a few times and the problem was still present.
Gone now but i will watch for this as this is not normal.
Third gear residential roads at 2400-2800 RPMS no gas....slow cruise, the engine power boats with A/C on and with A/C off...This is getting to me!
The car feels wierd when this happens and does so every day in all weather. As this is a 5-speed and not an automatic i would tend to think that it is a fuel management fault in the Chip itself?
In the next few weeks i am going on a 200 mile Highway trip ending in Gods Country with lakes,hills and underused straight roads
Might have a former World Class race car driver there that weekend and if he let's me follow in his M3 BMW.....i might let him drive my NEW Focus.
Other thoughts?
My Dealer is good so far. My Salesperson has called to enquire about how i feel (on the answering M/C) but i WILL get back to them when i have an HONEST and TIME tested opinion.
Rims and tires.
WHY would anyone want to spend money on rims and tires? Sheesh, not to many years ago what are stock tires on the ZX-3 were aftermarket. These are GOOD tires and rims boys and girls.
Thanks to every that posts the bad points as most of us know the good points already.
Nuff said
color looks incredible on the z .the owner bought
the 5spd. charcoal interior right off the showroom
floor.this z had stock ground-effects,including
rear wing.i didnt realize this was a current
option or if dealer had it done.it really adds
a nicely finished look to the z. anyone who orderd the zinc or is thinking about it,will not be disappointed.i just wish it was available when i bought.it looks very sporty without being gaudy.
it just looks right on the z.
www.focussport.com/bodykit.htm
I am one of the great masses which view this site daily but somehow have nothing of importance to pass on and thus just sit back and enjoy the ride and am thankful that my experience thus far has been totally positive.
I happened to come upon my Infra red Zx3 on a local dealers lot as I was in the process of looking for a replacement for another (Dodge Omni Hatchback). I was very impressed with the automobile and turned to the Internet to check out its reputation. I gained a wealth of knowledge in reading about its attributes here on this site. Thanks to all who have shared their experience and knowledge about our auto.
To make a long story short, I went back and bought one of the two that were on the lot. I think I ended up with a good deal and paid cash for the new family member ($13400) and took it home that day (purchased at the end of March).
It has about 4500 miles and that includes a trip to New Mexico from NC and through Colorado. My gas mileage seems to be better than most of the folks here on the site. I get about 37 miles/gal with my 5 speed, but I am 60 years old and have very little interest in speed other than going the speed limit which is 65-75 across country.
The car has A/C, ABS, mats, Keyless entry and theft prevention(?) smokers package (which I have no need for since I run 10 miles each day and on alternate days ride my bike 30+ miles) So far I am totally satisfied with its performance and have nothing negative to report. I will continue to read and watch the posts and enjoy them very much. I will let you know if anything develops which may have bearing on others. Thanks for being there and my best to all and may you all enjoy miles of happy and peaceful motoring.
So I put the peanut butter on it and time will tell.
book(1001 uses for peanut butter). some i cant describe here.but the one where he states to use
it to remove wax from molding is ingenious.it works
and it works well.
I would suggest having your dealer look in that area real closly.
< Third gear residential roads at 2400-2800 RPMS no
< gas....slow cruise, the engine power boats with
< A/C on and with A/C off...This is getting to me!
< The car feels wierd when this happens and does so
< every day in all weather. As this is a 5-speed
< and not an automatic i would tend to think that
< it is a fuel management fault in the Chip itself?
Runs fine. Noticed the glitch @2800 rpm. Gas
milage sucks, only getting about 22 mpg. My 94 GEO Prism with 182m miles still gets 30 mpg with auto transmissin -- my ZX3 is 5 - speed.
Thanks for all the good info on the posts.
Since i ordered my 2000 model about a month and a half ago (the end of may) do you guys think that my Z will be less prone to problems since Ford is aware of so many of the issues that they would correct them while building my car? Being that I dont have my car yet, and in just over a month I have to drive from NJ back to Tampa, FL... i'm not gonna be a happy driver if my new car starts crappin out on me on that 1000+ mile trip.
as for the yellow Z... I saw one on my way from NJ to NH today.. boy 'o' boy was it SMOKIN! Not a color that I would chose since i tend to have a lead foot and dont want to be a big yellow radar target, but I must say, those of you who have zincers ordered are going to absolutely love it.
Also, I was looking into a body kit for my Z for when it finally comes, but i dont think a 1,600 appearance mod fits anywhere into my budget for quite a while. My girlfriend is gonna get me all tinted up as a gift!!
anyways, im rambling. it's good to be back
Kevin
What color/options did you get on your Z?
Kevin
Do you know when your car was manufactured? (I'm curious to know if it was manufactured before 2000...)
What are you replacing the ZX3 with? (Another ZX3 I hope!) Really, overall, very few of us have had problems with the car...
cheers,
Gabe
Throttle position control sensor (resulted in towing),
Brake fluid sensor,
Water in both headlights,
Leak from the roof antenna area,
Leak on the pass. floor from dash area (still not fixed after multiple attempts),
This car is not waterproof. Guess it doesn't rain much in Mexico. My car is in the shop more than my '87 blazer with 175K on it that it replaced! On top of it, is not uncommon to wait up to a month for a part with this model - as I did with the headlights. Oh yea, the engine sounds like a diesel between 1500 and 2500 rpms as well. The service at the dealerships is great, the car is total and complete crap though. I don't care how well it rides, steers, about features v. price --- if it can't stay out of the shop for more than a month at a time there are serious reliability issues here. Pay more, buy a Honda or Toyota!!!
Please take my advice,
Joe
stanky73@peoplepc.com
Hope your luck improves.
to be a trouble-free vehicle with minor problems.
i have personally experienced two myself but i cant
fault the entire car based on that.this is the first post i have heard concerning water leakage.
heres hoping your problems are resolved in a timely
manner.
If you got a lemon, you have your state lemon law for protection. There was a link in one of the post last week to the states lemon laws. Go for it, but make sure you do it right, get all the documentation.
As to the leak on the passenger side, this is covered by a technical bulletin. Get your service manager to look it up. It is fixable. Don't know why the headlights had water in them, but that normally should have been a easy fix. Usually a new gasket does it. Shouldn't have had any down time on that. The sensors are the only things which should have caused down time.
In other words - your ford might be crap in your mind, BUT that doesn't make all fords crap.
Pat
Who was it? (Please step forward)
(How much was the armrest? I'm hearing conflicting stories. I hear $80, then I hear $180)
thanks,
Gabe
I've got several hundred miles on the EBC Kevlar brake pads now - if you are thinking about it, do it. Your wheels will thank you, and the pedal feels great. Their claim of virtually no dust has proven true.
alternatly accellerating then slowing
uncontrollably at low speeds, I experianced that on
my Escort GT when it developed a leak (crack) in
the air intake duct which messed up the Mass Air
Flow Sensor. The thing was darn nearly undriveable
until the leak was patched, after which is ran
perfectly."
Thanks for you reply. My "Motor Boating" term is something i must have read....if you are in a boat and shut down the power the wake behind the boat will surge forward and push the boat ahead...this is not a harsh push but a gentle surge.
My L'il ZX-3 does this. I agree with your point about a cracked boot or whatever because that makes very good sense. I'm going to wait to see if i have any further beefs and then bring the car in for a look see from the FORD Mechanics.
About my tire/rim statement,
Okay i agree the rims and tires are not racing tires! BUT i may toss the car into a Slalom timed event held at the Mall for fun! Last time i did that was in a Fiat Bertone X-19 and spun the sucker out into the wall back-ended. It was a PoS then (white metal fasteners etc...rust bucket but it looked nice?)
Here's my plan (If you are from Florida DON'T READ ANY FURTHER!)
Scrub da Rubber this season and get a WINTER outta them then park the rims for next year and get 17"? 18"? Rims and Dunlops? Yokohamas sucked on my Mazda RX-7.
Wait till SUMMER SALE on a good WINTER tire and then mount them onto the stock rims.
Now just how HARD has anyone slid their ZX-3? Any Stories? I pushed the car a wee bit more and notta slide///squeel nothing!
If you are really pulling G's then tell me when and how your car slipped!
Is it the COOL Look your after or what because at work i say Ford Focus and i get "UGLY". AWWWWWW!
Just my opinion but with the Twlight Blue it takes the edges off the look and dark tint helps the flow of the body lines. I do HATE the headlights though. Going to place 'Static Film' (Cars come covered with it to prevent acid rain damage etal) painted body color and narrow down the peaked look.
I really liked the Supertuner Focus headlight treatment ala 'Sport Compact Car' July 2000 issue but exchange $US/CDN? NO WAY!
"Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheels"......Jim Morrison (my age shows?)
WhyFord?
Going to place 'Static Film' (Cars come
covered with it to prevent acid rain damage etal)
painted body color and narrow down the peaked look.
I mean to do this as a temporary look see...
Not sure how i would do a final cover..
With respect,
WhyFord?
Look at the bottom for the modified red ZX3.
Copuld you be a little more specific?
Check this website out -
http://www.autobuzz.com/gallery/gallery1.cfm?eventid=203&manu=
Look at the bottom for the modified red ZX3.
before its worth the time to get it checked out.
drebe-does your stick have the lock-out ring?
Anyway, as we talked I told him my z now has 1300 mi. on it --- without a glitch, without a flaw, without a failure. Told him how pleased I am. Now, this guy has no axe to grind. He don't sell cars, he just fixes 'em. Nice guy. Up front.
He said, "You aren't the only one says that. When I prep new ones for delivery --- they drive outta here, and except for scheduled oil change, etc. --- I never see them back unless its some whacky, crazy little thing, like a small busted spring, or door handle loose, or screwed-up ignition key, or wierd rattle, or they don't know how to shift gears properly 'cause its their first stick ....things like that. That car is really well built. Not like a few Crap-Box-Models I've had to work on these past 30 years, but of course I can't name 'em".
Later...
zx3
really has been.a couple of little crappy parts
here + there.i wonder what the acceptable vendor
defect rate is in regards to sourced parts.
anyways... ford is now tellin me that my car isnt even gonna hit the production line until mid august... well, i kinda need to be back at college in mid august... does anyone know where i can do a dealer inventory search to find a car off a dealers lot?
thanks
im gonna go talk to my salesman tomorrow... see what he has to say about it
in the meantime. if any of you are at your dealer and see a Z with these options, please let me know:
Color: Twilight Blue(preferably) or Black
auto trans
convenience group
power group
floor mats
Air Cond
Speed control
remote entry
smokers package
ABS
the only thing im willing to get rid of is Speed Control, but would like to have it... I take a lot of long trips
Thanks,
Kevin
Anyways, as for the traction control, I smoked up my tires one night, it was kool
Here is my update:
1. I had my oil changed. Had 4.5 quarts oil change. I smell oil whenever I stop while the engine is hot. Still an issue , but getting better. Where does this oil smell come from? (The engine compartment is totally clean and the oil level using the dipstick looks right to me)
2. There is a small hesitation between 1800-2200 rpm. Definitely a 'feature' of the ztec. More noticeable with the air conditioner on. lack of Power is also an issue with the air on.
I always shift in such a manner to be beyond this rpm range and it is not a major issue. The engine is running better all the time. I still feel it is not broken in.
3. Gas mileage with my 5 spd ranges from 28-33 mpg (US Gallon).
4. Car is running wonderfully. No major issues.
The z rocks!
How is zzgrrl? I miss her notes!
ND