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If you want the best gas mileage you can get follow the sift lights on the dash that there for Best the economical gas mileage.
i can't be stranded...any help would be greatly appreciated!
thanks,
jessica
When I had my Escort it was doing that and when I took it to a mechanic he showed me a hole in the PCV Line he covered it with his finger and it ran fine. He didn't charge me anything and even showed me how to fix it myself. $27 and a few minutes of my time and it was running fine. This sounds like what is happening to your car. Check the line and if you see a hole put some tape over it to see if the problem clears up and if so head on over to the parts store.
UKBB
http://www.genuineflmservice.com/default.asp?page=E4
UKBB
http://tinyurl.com/65jhg
Has anyone done this and is it as easy as they make it sound also should I worry about my warranty if I mess with it?
UKBB
LIKES: Handled very nicely while maintaining a comfortable ride, functional 5 door set up with plenty of room in hatch with seats up, plenty of usable cubbies/spaces in front, nice, well placed, functional armrest, basic controls easy to decipher, especially the stereo (handy steering wheel controls) /AC. A small thing I especially appreciated was the automatic volume control of the stereo, seems to be a Ford specialty that should be emulated by other makers. AT is smooth, responsive, low revs on highway. Height adjustable front seat (though awkward mechanism). NIce combo of standard features (PW, PL, PM, remote
NEUTRAL: Power with AT adequate, not exhilarating, I liked the exterior look, wife does not, highway noise par or slightly better for class as is equipment.
DISLIKES:Gas mileage less than 30 mpg with mixed, conservative driving. Both my wife & I found seats comfortable initially, but that was short lived - after about 1/2 hour started to notice a lack of lower back support.
BOTTOM LINE: Nice car over all, lack of lumbar support in seats is a deal killer.
What I Really Want: a hatchback (prefer 4 doors) under $17K, 30+ city mileage, 38+ highway; both front seats height adjustable with good lumbar support (especially important for my wife), adjustable arm rest, decent cornering and relatively smooth quiet ride, readable, straight forward stereo & heater controls, basic luxuries of PW, PL, PM, AC, sunroof, ABS, SAB. The two main contenders now are used 2002-2004 GTi (class act of bunch, I assume it do as well or better that the amazinging gas mileage of our A4 w CVT), Spectra5 (quite nice, but gas mileage falls short - I look forward to what the Edmunds long term test results), Mazda3 (stereo controls & HAV control are small and confusing), or Honda Jazz if they bring it to USA. Looks like I will continue to ready what y'all have to say on Edmunds and keep on slumming around in the ol' Civic w 169K. It lacks the comfort and convenience of all the above cars, but it still gets 33+ mpg in mixed driving, has a certain verve and has the proverbial old shoe feeling.
RENTAL CAR NOTE -- BEWARE OF USED RENTAL CARS - maintainace may be poor: I spotted the ZX5 on the lot and asked specifically for it. The agent asked how many miles I expected to drive. When I said:" less than 500 he indiciated that it was due for an oil change, but since I wasn't going far, he rented it to me. I inquired how often they change the oil -- normally at 5,000. However, this rig had 8,100 and the oil had yet to be changed and was just above the add mark.
after about 1/2 hour started to notice a lack of lower back support.
On my 2000 ZX3, when you raised or lowered the seat, the seat back and the cushion where linked and moved up and down as one piece.
In subsequent years, they changed the mechanism so only the cushion goes up or down. This can result in an uncomfortable gap between the top of the cushion and the bottom of the seat back, and may have been what you were experienced. if you forego the seat height adjustment and reset the seat height so it closes the gap with the seat back, the seat is much more comfortable.
You are right about the lack of lower back support - at least on the 2005 model. I have rented a 2005 Focus ZX4 SE (which is the plane jane four door) for a week now, and it has much worse lower back support than my former ZX3's. It isn't an issue of the seat being lowered, as I had suggested in my prior email. They must have changed something.
On the other hand, I have been using the rental Focus for a 35 mile commute which is almost all freeway, and been pleasantly surprised by the 30 mpg on my first tank, despite having an automatic. This matches the mileage I typically get on stick shift cars of this size and weight, and is much better than the 26 mpg I got on my 2002 ZX3 with automatic (and older style Zetec engine).
The pzev engine continues to have flat spots and hesitations, except under hard acceleration it feels "out of tune" though of course the mileage proves it isn't. These flatspots and hesitations are similar to what I had experienced in the 2003 2.3 pzev I had. I think it's because the engine must run very lean under light throttle (cruising etc.). I guess it's a trade off between the nice feel of a Golf or Scion and the outstanding emissions levels on the new Focus...although maybe Ford can do something about the flat spots and hesitation as they further develop the technology.
You are right about rental cars. This 5000 mile old, 2005 Focus from Hertz feels less "tight" than my 44,000 mile 2001 Golf did when I sold it. Theoretically there isn't any maintenance required on this rental unit, but rental drivers must beat the heck out of it.
BTW, you might want to be a little cautious if you buy a used Golf GTi vintage 2004-2004. I love VW's, but always worried about the heat put out by these smaller engines (and turbos from other manufacturers) the heat is hard on oil. In fact, there are now widely reported serious sludge problems in the 1.8 turbo when installed in the heavier Passat - synthetic oil and 5,000 mile changes are a must, which is no problem when you buy new but who knows what the former owner did, right? As I said, the problem so far is limited to the Passat but does emphasize the importance of regular oil changes using the recommended synthetic oil.
All good cars and tough choices, but the Subie feel right for the next few years.
Robert
Robert
I would encourage y'all to post your MPG on thatr site. Only one or two Focus owners have posted so far, leaving a dearth of information on this model.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm
Actually, the "Rules of the Road" state:
"No profanity
The Forums do not tolerate profanity, obscenity, or racial or sexist slurs. This includes abbreviations and profanity with strategically replaced vowels. Even if a coarse expression is common in popular culture, it may not be acceptable."
It seems to me that stringing *#(&$#5' together as a mask for something else does not even begin to approach the "strategically replaced vowels" restriction.
Thanks!
Thanks!
First, I have a 2001 ZX3 with 155,000 miles on it. There are only 4 recalls to this model issued. That's pretty low compared to the previous year that had 15 in the first 6 months.
Outside from these few recalls, I have had my car in for a broken control arm which I did when I ran into an 8" curb with my wheels turned at 5mph on ice, and regular oil changes and maintenance. It has never had a tune up and the struts and shocks are original. Ford brakes laster 40,000 (normal) and the second of brakes were Midas which lasted 85,000. I'm now on my third set of brakes, also Midas. Original exhaust, 3rd set of tires.
Now for your issues:
1. DPFE sensors, no problem at all. None, zero zilch.
2. I've already told you about my brakes. Excellent, perfect.
3. CD player. No problems. I clean it every 40 hours of play.
4. Fuel pump. This was a recall and fixed free.
5. Thermostat housing leaks. I have no problem with the housing, just replaced the thermostat and gasket, and filler cap. Car has never overheated, never leaked.
6. I have an automatic so I cannot answer to this issue.
7. Headlights have not been a problem. No melted clips.
8. I have no issue with the belt, the coil, the adjuster, or anything else with the seatbelt system. It has worked fine.
9. I average 28 mpg, 31 on highway, 26 city, without tuning it up for over 150,000 miles.
10. No problem with license plate bult or any other bulb. Looked at owners manual and it gives very specific steps with pictures of changing all bulbs.
I'd also like to add that both my sons have the same kind of car and in 2002 versions with no problems at all, my wife's entire family drive Ford as they are ford employees and retirees with no problems, and I have friends who I recommended this car to who have had no problems. I am not a Ford worker, nor do I believe Ford is the end all of cars. But this Focus ZX3 with the Zetec is the most reliable car I've owned and maybe you must drive very hard, like off-road!!!
I am seriously considering getting a ZX3 in a few months for commuting.
2FastDre.
but wait until Ford has at least $2-3K in rebates on them, this happens about 5 times a year.
I recommend shopping for "menu" pricing on struts/shocks at some Ford dealers. OEM is best - exactly the right spec matched to your VIN. Pricing does vary a lot from dealer to dealer, on the menu pricing deals it includes installation which is the biggest part of the cost. That having been said, any number of independents seem to do fine strut work at great prices, including Pep Boys (used them), Wheel Works (used them), Big O Tires (used them) etc. Sears also has great ad specials and uses Monroe, I believe.
Ian'
When we received our Mass registration renewal in Jan '06, it came with an offer to test drive any Ford and get a $100.00 Gift card. I did drive a V6 Fusion but was not impressed, especially the cheap hard plastic inside trim.
Since I did not make a copy of the offer coupon I do not have the phone number or website to check the status of the offer. Anyone out there have the info ?
Thanks
Edmunds just selected the Ford Focus for 2 awards. Well, one award and one top recommendation. The First, it has just been selected as one of the top coupes for 2006 by edmunds.com
Top Recommended Coupes
Also, it won the award for Lowest TCO. I guess it's kind of hard to win if the car is living in the shop like all the Honda fans would want us to believe.
Lowest TCO coupes
Well this is good news. Thoughts !?!?!?!
Thanks,
Chintan Talati
Justin