Hi guys i have a ZX3 Focus at the time. I would like to get an SVT, however there is a lot of people saying that svt does not have too many aftermarket parts and that it is really expensive to get more than 200 HP without spending BIG MONEY! on the other hand i can buy this other car the SE-R spec V (nissan sentra) which i don't know too much about it but it brings 10 Hp more than the SVT, and people says that it has more aftermarket parts at a cheaper price. WHAT WOULD YOU GUYS DO? being the case that i love FOCUSES but at the same time i love speed! Thanks!
I would mod the hell out of my ZX3 or buy a 2.3 Duratec (PZEV). You can get more HP out of a ZX3 by modding it than purchasing the more expensive SVT IMHO. Just check out what some of our members here have done and some of their gains.
With the ZX3 or even the Sedans you can add SVT suspension and few other OEM parts and then bolt on a bunch that will fee some hp - to get real hp gains you'll need to spend extra $$$ no matter what you're getting.
If you love your Focus and want to stick with it I say keep your ZX3 and ask questions.
RUFocused has recently done some mods that have given him some gains he's quite happy with.
Just to let you know - I wrecked my 2002 ZX3 in January and have been driving a 2003 2.3 PZEV 5 speed since and I'm more than happy with the improvement in power & response.
Also remember, when you're talking about hp- you need to be certain you're talking about 10 more at the wheels or are you talking from the flywheel? Power is always lost between the flywheel and the pavement.
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
When I was shopping for a new car I drove an SE-R specV. I thought it had very good power. Better than the SVT, of which I also drove a few examples. I liked the Nissan, but it was hard for me to get past the (IMO) dowdy looks. Not that my ZX3 is a beauty queen, but I liked the looks better than the Nissan, & it handles lots better. The other thing that turned me toward the ZX3 was storage. You couldn't hardly get anything in the Nissan, even with the seats folded. Since I'm an extremely avid biker, there are plenty of times where I need to carry my bike, & that just wasn't going to happen with the Spec V.
As for cheaper mods/parts for the Spec V vs the Focus...I just don't know.
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
HP is good and all but torque gets you out of the hole and pulls your car up to speed.
I don't know what the torque specs are on the 2 cars but I would check that. Also the weight to power aspect. For example (I know its excessive) look at the new F150 with the 5.4L 300horse motor and the new Focus 2.3L 155horse motor. The Focus will eat the truck all day long because the truck is over double the weight of the Focus but the truck would pull the focus around all day while all 4 focus tires are locked up due to the torque of the motor, but thats a whole differant story. The 10 extra HP could make the Nissan more powerfull or give it the same road performance depending on weight.
Also as Mr. V stated the looks of the car can affect buying it.
As for cheap parts..... Well you get what you pay for. The Nissan parts may be cheaper because they have been using the same parts for years and the mass production has brought the prices down or the cheap parts are just of lesser quality. Friends and I joke around about Civic parts being avalable at 7-11 because of the mass production and the cheap price of parts. There are also cheap Focus parts but they are cheap in 2 ways price and quality. The cheaper parts may do the exact same thing as the more expensive part but you take the rist of having to replace it sooner or rist breaking another part due to premature wear. This same analogy goes for all manufacturers like the Nissan.
As with anything look into the parts and see what other are saying about parts you are looking at.
As for the SVT having no aftermarket parts there are some. The SVT focus does not really need any parts thrown at it as Ford has done a good job to maxamize the potential of the motor. All the cheap bolt ons have already been done to the SVT and all that left is Cams, Porting, polishing, over boring and FI.
What were you looking to do to the car after you purchase it? Motor work? Body work?
Unless you are into hardcore racing or drag racing the SVT does a good job of holding its own on the open road and in that aspect Chelly's 2.3L with restrictive intake and exhaust holds it own on the highway against a 2001(or 02??) Mustang GT. I know I was there
The SER-V spec has more tq than the svtf and 2.3, I beleive it has 180#'tq. Than is because it has a larger displacement engine, 2.5l. There are alot of mods for the SER but it's a heavy car and doesn't handle great. It depends on what you are looking for in a car.
____________________ Honda's are like assholes, everyone has one.
fx3 wrote: Also as Mr. V stated the looks of the car can affect buying it.
Actually, I think this is very important. You could buy the fastest, best handling, best riding car on the road, but if it looked like a Pontiac Aztec, you'd never like it. Well, at least I wouldn't. The Pontiac GTO is a very nice car. Handles well, it's fast, etc, but it's a really, really slow seller. Why? IMO it's because it looks like a telephone company fleet car.
People frequently ask me for suggestions about buying bikes. I make suggestions, based on what & where & how they ride. But I always tell them to but a color they like. If they don't think it looks good, they just won't have it long.
Last edited on Tue Mar 22nd, 2005 12:25 pm by Mr. Versatile
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
Mr. Versatile wrote: fx3 wrote: Also as Mr. V stated the looks of the car can affect buying it.
Actually, I think this is very important. You could buy the fastest, best handling, best riding car on the road, but if it looked like a Pontiac Aztec, you'd never like it. Well, at least I wouldn't. The Pontiac GTO is a very nice car. Handles well, it's fast, etc, but it's a really, really slow seller. Why? IMO it's because it looks like a telephone company fleet car.
People frequently ask me for suggestions about buying bikes. I make suggestions, based on what & where & how they ride. But I always tell them to but a color they like. If they don't think it looks good, they just won't have it long.
Looks like a Gran Prix to me, such a shame in my opinion. Though I suppose that's good for the sleeper effect.
I don't know...you can get an SVTF fairly cheap...I paid $14,500 for mine new in 2002. Would I have bought it for $23,000...no..Don't just look at h.p. If the car weighs 500 lbs. more, the added 10 h.p. won't matter. As for an overall great car, you can't beat the SVTF. I love mine.
Drive them both for an extend period of time and make your decision...
Last edited on Tue Mar 22nd, 2005 05:18 pm by Blurry
____________________ 02 SVT Focus, CD Silver, No. 2032.
Guys thanks for the all the advices! they really made me think more about it, and i think i'll keep the idea of buying an SVT. I love the focus, they just look so good. I really don't like how the SE-R looks but i thouth that it could be like really faster than the Focus.
I have a ZX3 right now and i want to change it b/c ZX3 is missing too many things that the svt has. How much Hp's could i get on an SVT if i spend around $3000 on it, I know i could get the JRSC and it is about $2500 what else could i put on it. I just want to have an idea before buying it....
The svtf doesn't need to many parts to make it much better, just ask Blurry. I would look at the Vortec sc for the svtf and maybe motor mounts. The Vortec sc is more than the JRSC but the performance is so much better.
____________________ Honda's are like assholes, everyone has one.
emgc64 - I have an SVTF with not too many mods and it transformed my SVTF to what it should have been from the factory. This is what I have...The first thing I would do if I were to do it again would be the tune. I don't know where you live but check out some TF'rs who have done different mods to their SVTF and see which ones you like.
Diablo Predator (Tom's tune), FS CoolFlo, Screamin Demon Coil and LiveWire Plugs,FC 65mm Throtle Body, Borla 2.5" Exhaust, Steeda Short Shift, MAC Rear Engine Mount, FS Upper Strut Bar, BAT Lowering Springs w/adjustable SPAX Shocks, Dual Guage Pod with Air/Fuel and Volt Meter.
____________________ 02 SVT Focus, CD Silver, No. 2032.
Blurry, you need to get that thing on a dyno and see what kinda power you are making and where in the power band. I think alot of people here with svtf would be intrested in the results.
____________________ Honda's are like assholes, everyone has one.
Just kiddin'. Whoever said there wasnt many mods for the SVT must live on Planet Zorch.
Basically what it comes to is, do you want a Limited Production car? If so, get an SVT. Everyone is different. Me personally, I would never even consider getting a non-SVT focus or mustang, but thats just me. Do you want a base model that you can mod the hell out of? With that said, I have seen a few SVTf's that were just demolished by too many mods. I really dont see the point of getting an SVT, only to go ahead and change everything it is about. But again, thats just me.
t3-rex wrote: Blurry, you need to get that thing on a dyno and see what kinda power you are making and where in the power band. I think alot of people here with svtf would be intrested in the results.I'd like to find a dyno nearby to get it dynoed...I'd be interested in seeing what if any benefits I've gotten from the mods...I know driving it is like a new car.
____________________ 02 SVT Focus, CD Silver, No. 2032.
Blurry wrote: t3-rex wrote: Blurry, you need to get that thing on a dyno and see what kinda power you are making and where in the power band. I think alot of people here with svtf would be intrested in the results.I'd like to find a dyno nearby to get it dynoed...I'd be interested in seeing what if any benefits I've gotten from the mods...I know driving it is like a new car.
Ask and you shall recieve... the best closest thing around here Blurry.
I'm glad to hear all that since i just don't like the look of the SE-R it just looks ugly. One more question for you guys. Does the SVTF come w/any GLITCHES from the factory that i should know? i just want to make sure that i make the right Desission.
I actually wouldn't moddify the exterior ( i would probably get the gold euro rims ). The engine is what i want to modify but just to make it a bit faster. I actually liked the mods blurry made to his SVTF.... thanks once more.
