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The front seats are tricky-especially the drivers seat.
I keep my seat 3 notches from the rear(leg-room adjustment), then use the seat crank(up/down),-three whole turns downward, and then set the 'seatback' until it's comfortable.
If you work at it, you'll find putting the 'seatback' at a comfortable level easier if you take the time to play with its adjustment.....at the same time ....adjusting the crank handle (up-down) until you feel the level just right for your back.
I have a friend with back problems swear up and down that the passenger seat is one of the most comfortable car seats he's ever sat in. He drives a Ram Pickup.
Car now has 35,000 miles on it, and the rear brakes have not needed to be serviced yet.
The newer discs are definitely bigger, but the scarring issue remains the same. After 5,000 miles, the things started to get wear. Ford has an issue with these brakes. I also decided to go up a tire size on the 15 inch multispokes. We have Douglas Performance GT-H 205/60/15 tires on there now,(same size on my Taurus) and the ride is almost that of Crown Victoria stature.....well, as smooth as a Focus could get ....let's just say I don't feel the bumps in the road as much.
The GT-H tires are quieter than the RSA, and besides...RSA's have NO MILEAGE WARRANTY (OUCH)!!
These have 40,000 treadwear warranty at least.
You can get a Blaupunkt MP3/CD unit for the Focus on E-Bay for cheap.
The trays and electical connections on your LX should be the same as any other Focus.
Get the MP3!
Make sure your license plate is screwed down WITH ALL 4 BOLTS IN PLACE.
If you only use the top 2, the bottom of the plate rattles uncontrollably and is a real bother.
Also, the hatch door needs to be closed with a tad more effort. This seems to really allow the car to be as quiet as possible.
Hopes this helped.
I am also Cal, so it was PZEV - actually I think all 04 2.3's were PZEV. . I'm reading at another site that there are some long cold start problems and even cold non-starts on the 05 5-sp MX PZEV and Ford acknowledges the problem and is working on a fix. I need to see this resolved before I step up to the plate. The flat spot you mentioned is pretty well known and not a big deal for me. I liked that 2.3 but I think the new 2.0 is not a bad choice, cuz I'm gaining 2 MPG and it does have the same updated heads so it is defintely a cut above the old 2.0 Zetec. Front end styling - I still don't like it but noticed it's not too bad with the ST grille which is all painted instead of chrome, so I can always get an ST grille.
- Jaz
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I don't know if it'll help you or not...
Does anyone have information regardin these incentives? Particularly, have they added a "Dealer Incentive?" My dealer says he will give me the rebated effective tomorrow, but if there is a Dealer Incentive, he just might decide to pocket it himself unless I know the specifics.
Thanks for any info you might provide!
Historically, we can expect it to progress to 3K or more as the model year comes to an end.
Jaz
COULD ANYONE TELL ME THE FUSE FOR THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER COULD BE AT. I THINK...i HAVE FOUND THE FUSE BOX, UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, BUT I HAVE NO OWNERS MANUAL AND THE FUSE BOX IS NOT LISTED. THRE COULD BE ANOTHER FUSE BOX SOMEWHERE, NOT SURE,
ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATEDD
dENNIS
What are anyone's thoughts on this? And does anyone have info on how I might be able to do work myself. All spots right now 1 1/2" or less in diameter. Thanks! and hope everyone had a safe holiday weekend.
I was hoping to hit 30 mpg on my marathon drive at about 75 mph. I was really stoked when I hit 36.5 on my first full tank. On the second tank I was using the AC most of the time and had some long climbs and I averaged 33.5. The calculated average was 34.98 mpg over 2 tanks. So with steady CC highway driving the MPG can be really good. In mixed driving though it looks like 29-30 is about tops. On the highway I hit over 400 miles per tank with plenty of fuel left.
Before buying the ZTW I had been waiting for the intro of the Mazda5, but it became clear that the 2.3L Focus Wagon made much more sense. Same cargo volume, wider cargo bay (at it's narrowest point), and EPA 33 MPG vs 28 for the MZ5. In addition they have esentially the same engine but the Focus is much lighter. I am guessing the MZ5 will do 0-60 in 9.0 at best. Initial reports indicate it is marginally powered.
Also the MZ5 is a high rever, spinning 4,000 rpm at 76 mph. AT 76 mph my ZTW was under 3,000 rpm's.
-Jaz
What I see most folks do is buy the Yakima or Thule crossbars that clamp onto the rails - these actually are on top of the rails and extend a bit past the rails on both sides. Maybe not so elegant looking but it provides a wider base and you can buy all the Yakima or Thule attachments you want for skis, Kayaks, Mountain Bike etc. I think this is actually one of the better platforms and I think Kayaks would not be a problem at all.
Actually come to think of it, you will want this wide platform for 2 Kayaks and if you like, the cross bars could go out almost as wide as the car
WHat I am doing: I already have a ROla rack and am adapting it it to bolt into the channels so it will be a sleek aero type of deal, but I have to spend a little time fabing the bits to make it work. I have a racing skull it will eventually get up on the rack and I hope to get a 2 man ocean Kayak up there as well. IN summary the focus rails are very good and one of the many reasons I went with the Focus.
PS: I would encourage anyone to find a low miles 03 or 04 with the 2.3 and at least try it out. If you want an automatic they are easy to find. If you want a stick it will be very hard to locate one though. They have fully transferable warrantys and the 2.3 is one sweet motor - a cut above the 2.0. It has balance shafts as well as the extra torque and hp and still gets good MPG. Let us know what you do on the rack....
-Jaz
Thanks
Thaicat
After all was said and done, it was the best deal ever.
Only thing my SE does not have is the Tilt/Cruise. It came with a regional program that included fleet options such as premium 15" alloys/cargo cover/CD-MP3.
I added foglights-oem Ford-and it's now just what I wanted.
I couldn't part with it. Besides, there were no SVT's in my area then, and the 2.3 was only a Cali option. Boo.
P.S. I've noticed how bare bones the SE Wagon has become for 2005. They've even taken off the color coded side moldings, and that Jetta dashboard's gotta go.
I know there is this reviewer that put it to shame, but the old dash is what sold me on it. I had never seen anything like it in an American car.
Another factor is the built in roof rack and the nice thing on a wagon is that it is at a very usefull height, about 60". On a minivan or SUV it's a real stretch to get a bike on the rack for example, so I figure on the wagon you are gaining some roof rack utility. The 5 is only about 3" higher then the Focus so the rack would still be at a pretty good height. But I haven't seen any racks on the photos of the US 5's.
-Jaz
-Jaz
Your idea of tape measure, will travel!! is a good one and one I will definately do this when the call comes that the 5 is in!!!
Again thanks
Thai
Regards from Massachusetts
-Jaz
Test drove a used focus wagon, (an '02) and didn't hate it, but didn't love it either. I missed the leather steering wheel and stuff from my car, and the automatic was a little sluggish (I usually drive a stick but again due to the kid thing I am thinking about switching to Auto)
I also have some real fit&finish issues with the wagon. How do you all feel about that? I HATE that you have to pull the bottom cushion up and WEDGE it behind the front seats in order to fold the backs flat. And when I tried it, I saw that the rug for the back isn't finished off at all, but has a raw edge with the batting showing. What the heck? My 2000 ZX3 materials didn't wear too well either, the back rug in that one was a stiffened carpet that eventually sunk in, easily pulling away from the cheap sticky velcro patches that were supposed to hold it up.
So, I'm still considering the wagon, but not loving it... anyone have any insights to offer me about loving theirs?
I'm tempted by the Pontiac Vibe, which appears to be similar to my ZX3 but is a little bigger.... (it's a rebadged Toyota Matrix :confuse: ) -- those seats fold down FLAT without any big issue and I love it that it's hard plastic back there instead of cheap upholstery that catches all the dirt & dog hair.
There is certainly nothing wrong with the 2.0 Zetec and it is pretty reliable. The general reliability of Foci improved every year. Probably avoid 2000 and 2001 and look for 2002 and later.
There a few good search engines on the internet including the Ford Direct site for dealer used cars. Personally I did not care for the Matrix/Vibe. The 1.8 seems very "torque challenged" and the floor does fold easier but the Focus winds up with more cargo room.
-Jaz
(Well, it was a love/hate relationship)
First to answer your Vibe Question, I owned an 04 & it was AWESOME!! I just loved that thing! I just got divorced & I owned all the cars, I got the Vibe for my unappreciative husband, who only liked it after his friends kept telling him how cool it was. I wanted to keep the Vibe & sell my Focus :lemon: because frankly it was AWFUL mechanically. It had been in the shop for :
3 times front suspension replacement, whole brake system failure at 18,000 miles (which I had to negotiate a refund through Ford Dispute Resolution board & they gave me a thousand bucks back but made my 6 year extended warranty untransferable if I sell. they told me that the brakes were too small for the size of the car. :confuse: The entire steering column had to be replaced, The condenser on the air conditioner was replaced, the electrical system shorted out & was replced, the rear suspension was replaced, the window mechanism broke on the drivers window & both rear windows, new motor mounts, The headliner fell down in the back & was repaired 3 times. & This was all before the Factory warranty went out! Since then I've spent $200 in deductables not to mention the rude people at their service department who make you feel like you're making things up & oh yeah, this one I just love, The entire car shakes at the stop lights. "Well thats NORMAL" I can't tell you how pissed I was. :mad: They wouldn't do the motor mounts again & chalked it up to "bad design of the mounts", "but thats normal for a Ford" GEEZ!!! I got rid of the heap w/ 41,000 miles on it & its already an old beater! What a colossal waste of money . I paid close to $20,000 & 3 years later I sell it for $6500! Needless to say I wanted to keep the Vibe, I bought it w/ 25,000 miles on it for $12,000 & in 10 months we never had to bring it by the dealer once! It was great, & It had a 5 star crash rating & boy did it deserve it! The day after we signed divorce papers, my ex was sitting in traffic , w/ my son in the back, NOT in a car seat ( boy did he get it for that!) & was rear ended & plowed into 3 cars by a guy in a Tahoe w/ one eye (I'm NOT joking) who then swerved into 2 other cars. My Vibe was totaled but my son was FINE! (& unfortunately so too was my ex) the insurance company gave me $16,000 for it & although I loved that car, it had too many memories & was a bit too small in the back w/ kid gear, so now I have my new Mitsu Lancer Sportback Ralliart & it is AWESOME!!!
If you can find one I highly reccommend it! :shades:
-Jaz
1) has qualtiy improved from earlier years?
2) is the 2.0 a Mazda engine?
3) are signficant changes planned for the 06 Focus?
The only real down side I see to this little wagon from my intial observations is poor resale value.
2. Yes the 2005 2.0 is a Mazda-design which is called the Duratec. It is manufactured by Ford in the case of the Focus and Mazda manufactures the same engine for some Mazdas. The head design is more efficient then the older 2.0 Zetec. The Focus Duratec motors began in some mid 2003 Foci and was at that time a 2.3. The 2005 2.0 Duratec is essentially that same motor but destroked to 2.0 and without balance shafts which aren't as necessary with the shorter stroke. The 2.0 picks up a few mpg which isn't a bad trade off.
3. My understanding is the US Focus doesn't change until 2007. The new generation Focus however is already out in Europe and the Mazda3 shares most of the mechanicals of the new generation Focus - So except for styling the Mazda3 is kind of the new Focus and the Mazda5 is kind of a big new-generation Focus wagon, but it has some poor specs compared to the US Focus wagons, like 22-27 mpg, tepid acceleration and less cargo room.
The resale takes a pretty good hit the 1st year, but I don't know how that is calculated because Foci typically have $3,000 rebates at the end of the year. Anyway I decided to take advantage of the 1st year resale hi and bought a low-miles one year old wagon.
I don't know where the rebates are now but I think they will hit 3,000 for sure if they are not already there.
-Jaz
The rebates are at $2500 now, but there's slim picking of station wagons at my local dealerships.
-Jaz
Do the rear seats fold down flat?
The Focus cargo floor winds up with about 36" bottom to ceiling. The disadvantage as someone pointed out is that the tumbled-forward rear seat bottom wedges up behind the front seat and if you are tall you may have to move the front seats forward, then tumble the rear and then slide the fronts back again, but in any event you get a bigger cargo volume then even bigger wagons. For me, the hassle of sliding seats is less then the cost of getting a bigger car.
If you really want to maximize volume you can remove the rear seat bottom (just 2 Torx bolts and 2 minutes) and leave it home. Ok, that is too much of a hassle for most folks, but you do have that option if you have a special requirement.
The other reason it has so much volume for a small wagon is that the shocks are mounted diagonally under the floor. Typically the shock extends up and takes up wheel well space and narrows the cargo bay. Between the wheel wells the Focus wagon is wider then the Mazda5, Mazda6, Outback and many more I am sure, and that is one reason Focus winds up with the high volume number.
I'd recommend going down Auto Row someday with a tape measure and check all the candidates out. That's basically what we did. We were surprised by what we saw.
-Jaz
The darn thing gets dirty. Both inside and out. No one seems to want to clean it.
I did get two notices of a recall for the cargo latch. I just haven't gotten over to the dealer yet.
My daughter bought a 2003 four door. It has the 2.3L engine. It has more pick up than my 2.0L Duratek. When I test drove a 2002 2.0L that wasn't a Duratek the pick up was not there. That is one of the reasons I bought the SW because all SWs have the Duratek in 2002.
There is not enough head room for my 6'5" (1.9555968m) son. Even with the seat cranked all the way down. He leaves dirt on the headliner. Maybe, I can get him to wear one of those hats worn in food and drug manufacturing plants.
Overall, I like it.
We are out now looking to replace our Aerostar. We tried the Ford Five Hundred. We like it, too.
Sorry!