I'd almost understand that, except the opposite effect happens over here...last months car sales (with gas prices skyrocketing mind you) showed that SUV's and Trucks went up about 5-7% but small cars actually decreased 3%. Overall sales for the year show a similar trend. So I don't think that as intuitive as gas goes up small cars go up is...it doesn't seem to be the case here in the states.
I have been reading alot about the new Focus and they have made some improvements that are sweet and some that I don't like. The new/not so new engines are an improvement. All of the engines have benefited from the svtf,sad to see its passing, they all come with a variable-intake design. Short runners for low end torque and longer runners for max power. The zx4 st also has the suspension from the svtf also.
I'm not a big fan of the square vents but I do like the return of black interiors and the option of the 2 tone seats in the zx4 st, they look sweet.
Body colored side and rear moldings, ARG I have spent alot of time painting my rear and side moldings and love the option of the color matched rear view mirrors.
And last but not least the choice of Sonic Blue Metallic, yes you heard me. What a sweet color, I wish I could have gotten my car in that color.
Now for a short list of the things I don't like, and I mean short. The vents inside the car, I like the oval shape of them and the head lights. I like that FOMOCO put the turn signals inside the lights but they are to short. They needed to be more like the euro lights.
That is it, the things I like far out weight the things I don't like. My verdict is the new 2005 focus are good in my book, the inside and the out side is nice. Now start modding them.
____________________ Honda's are like assholes, everyone has one.
I dont know yet about this. I think with a lower front bumper or body kit, it might look, dare I say.....mean?
And hey look, Ford went ahead and offered the SVT Sonic Blue color on these cars. Nice. Ford really sucks a polar bears dick with mayo lately. Ridiculous. Lets see, my window sticker says, wait lets see.....gotta grab it....ok here it is......."Performance, Substance, EXCLUSIVITY, and Value".
Hmmmm, doesnt seem to "exclusive" anymore. Rotten bastards.
Focus ZX4 ST performance sedan, that marries chassis components from Europe's Focus ST170 and the SVT Focus with a 2.3-liter/151-horsepower Duratec engine, which boasts 30 percent cleaner emissions than the 2004 models. Focus receives a front-end treatment with styling cues taken from the Ford's recently unveiled flagship sedan, the Five Hundred. Other changes include an all-new interior, designed to be clean and modern looking, with four different color themes and plenty of functional storage.
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Air Conditioning
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Dual Stage Driver & Front Passenger Air Bags
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AM/FM 6-disc In-dash/MP3 Player with Clock, 4-Speakers
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Duplicate Audio Controls on Steering Column
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Instrument Cluster - Silver Appliqué with Black Faced Gauges
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Front Color Keyed, Carpeted Floor Mats with Driver Retention Hook
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Rear Color Keyed, Carpeted Floor Mats
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Sport Bucket Front Seats with Black/Red Sport Fabric Inserts, Adjustable Head Restraints & Single Passenger Side Map Pocket & Black/Red Sport Fabric Door Trim Inserts
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Manual Driver Seat Height Adjuster
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60/40 Seatback with Flip-Up Rear Seat Cushion
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SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System
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Speed Control
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Tilt/Telescoping Steering Wheel
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Tachometer
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Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel with Red Contrast Stitching
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Shift Knob - Black Leather with Red Contrast Stitching
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2.3L Duratec 23 DOHC I4 Engine
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5-Speed Manual Transmission
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Front Fog Lamps w/Silver Surround
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Chrome Tipped Exhaust
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Grille - Satin Alloy Mesh with Body Color Surround
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Dual Power Mirrors - Heated, A-gloss Body Color
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Front Body Color, 5 MPH Impact Absorbing Bumper
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Rear Fascia Ground Effects with Blacked Out Lower
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Solar Tinted Glass
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16" 5-Spoke Machined Alloy Wheels
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P205/50Rx16 All-Season (Pirelli) Tires
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Anti-Lock Braking System
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Power 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
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Traction Control
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Power Rack & Pinion Steering
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European Inspired Suspension Includes: Independent Front Suspension MacPherson Struts, Front Stabilizer Bar, Control Blade Independent Rear Suspension
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Performance Tuned Suspension w/Rear Stabilizer Bar
I know Im all late but I just drove an ST for the first time today. IMO, the red ones look HOT!!!! and they power like a mother fucker! just brilliant to drive. first gear is a bit of a whore but the rest just wind up like crazy. took no effort at all to wind it up to the rev limiter in every gear. just a super super car. guy was on me to buy the thing after I scared the shit out of him for a half hour. truth is, I aint spending 18 on a focus. I can get a 2.3 from KSGerry for about a G and do the rest myself. Must admit the clutch is great though. I got back in mine and the clutch is so goddam heavy!
Wow, what a difference in power. The torque comes on quick. Can't wait to start modding. Gotta save up some cash first.
I have read other mention that the ST has the SVT suspension. Yes and No. It has the SVT struts and shocks but uses regular sedan springs. I think my first mod will be lowering springs.
____________________ 05 CD Silver ZX4 ST w/Audiophile and Sunroof.
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05 Red Fire Five Hundred SE
98 Red Ranger XLT
I would poke around - unfortunately not a whole lot of 05 owners have posted much about where they have gotten their parts, but some good places to look into things based on past history are below: Good luck!
MyFordPerformance.com
New Edge Performance
BAT-inc.
McNews
Be careful with what you look at on E-Bay if you go that route - many generic parts don't fit as well as parts you may purchase from a reputable dealer who has been in the business for some time.
Ray at MyFordPerformance.com is a fantastic guy and always goes that extra mile for his customers.
You'll have to post some pics and keep us posted on what you do to your car - we'd love to have dealer feedback too so we know how the customer service is for the places you buy.
Take care and have fun!
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
thanks for the welcome and info chelly this will be my first domestic car that i will be hooking up so its something new for me and my it took 3 years but i finally got my girl to start liking stuff like that so im trying to start quick before she loses that fire lol
Well, if she becomes anything like us girls in here on TF you may have to cut her off - I know I could go completely nuts on my car, but for the desire to own a real home keeps me from going off the deep end. My B/F fx3 in here - he's not going to help any - he's just as bad as I am - damn that ebay! lol
good luck...oh, btw Duratec stuff is being made by Marcy Motorsports too. forgot to mention that. I know that you can go direct to them & they sell through other vendors as well.
Egz (member here and on other boards) has more experience w/ Marcy than I do, but he's given thumbs up on their products.
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
Here is my opinion. I'm going to try and tone it down a bit. I still think Foci are Foci and I will still maintain my loalty to them. I love my ZX3 but I hate that it's moving on to a new group of people. I guess the fun days of the old Foci are numbered, pretty soon the Zetec is going to be the one motor without posts in the site. That I'm not looking forward too. I tend to keep my cars for years and I'm sure I'll still be driving it for years to come.
Anyway... Back to my personal review. I'm surprised there are so many questions about the new style. When the 05's came out I was all over the details. The 2.3 motor is more powerful but nothing that puts it above other cars. I'm not a big fan of the new interior either. I liked the more rounded stlye not so boxy. The exerior is ok. It took me some time to get use to the front end. But with the after market front lip it looks pretty good. The OEM one just seems to terminate to soon making the front look to high up. It just to have lost all the euro looks. I'm overseas and I can't believe how badass there Foci are vers ours. I'm getting ready to buy a new car and I'm going to get a Mazda 3. Nothing against Foci but I like the looks of the 3 better. Oh well that's my opinion.
thanks smokin and you're not alone in the dissapointment in the looks of the '05 and newer foci. Many of us who love our car(s) like the 'old' style better due to the exact fact you stated -more rounded, euro style look. This is what grabbed my attention back in 1999 when I was in the UK for the Millennium. I'm not fond of the interior either, no offense to our fellow Escort owners, but it's very back to that look inside. I love the older dash, w/ the nice curve to it - not to mention how accessable and ergonomically set up it is.
I had a 2.0 Zetec, and not by choice I lost her. It was my first new car, never owned by anyone else and she was babied - I now have the 2.3 Duratec PZEV engine and even with all of its restrictive 'plumbing' it still kicks butt on my old Zetec - i've not found it difficult at all to keep up with some SVT models out there.
All in all, the Focus is still a Focus - it gives us a base engine with loads of possiblities and the things you can do to the interior and exterior is nearly limitless - I don't think you'll see the ZETEC talk ever going away.
Heck, fx3 has a 2001 ZX3 with 35,000 miles on it - it's garaged in the winter and spoiled in the summer.
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
I would like to run a 2.3 Duratec PZEV with my car. I don't have any problems hanging with SVT's. It would be an itresting race. Of course that's with all my added goodies.
I love the look of the new Foci over here. They look real close to the mazda 3 design. They also come with the 5 cylinder 200+hp motor. Ford in the US needs to get a clue. Did they not see how the Focus did in 2000? People want the Euro style. The 05 06 foci in the states just feel so plain. Almost like there was no thought put into them.
Something to keep in mind with the 06+ models is that they have changed quite a bit of the suspension and components. The 05 models had the same geometries and mountings and sizes as the earlier versions of focus, however, for example, you can't put SVT springs on an 06 Focus. And there hasn't been alot of development work done yet for the 06's. One of the reasons I won't jump into a new ST. The suspension is to squishy for me, and I can't stuff the SVT suspension I have in it, so that's a no go on that front. Plus, how can Ford bill that as a performance package and not slip 17's on it. The 16's just look...small.
RPIJG wrote: Something to keep in mind with the 06+ models is that they have changed quite a bit of the suspension and components. The 05 models had the same geometries and mountings and sizes as the earlier versions of focus, however, for example, you can't put SVT springs on an 06 Focus. And there hasn't been alot of development work done yet for the 06's. One of the reasons I won't jump into a new ST. The suspension is to squishy for me, and I can't stuff the SVT suspension I have in it, so that's a no go on that front. Plus, how can Ford bill that as a performance package and not slip 17's on it. The 16's just look...small.
Ya.
somthing with a newly designed front spindle. The 06 even has differant pads and rotors on the front from what I have heard. I think the front brakes(rotors) are slightly larger than the 00-05 ones
That I'm not looking forward too. I tend to keep my cars for years and I'm sure I'll still be driving it for years to come. 
