drove a SVT Focus

[jcp123]

I used to own one. It's a kind of fun car, but it has some clutch issues. I would grill the guy on whether he replaced it or not, and if so which unit it was replaced with. Last August saw a redesigned flywheel, pressure plate, and clutch disc that supposedly solves this problem once and for all. And of course, parts are largely only available thorugh your friendly Ford dealer, and being that it's an SVT...they are priced accordingly.

Other than that...the strong points are that like any hatchback, it can swallow a lot of crap with the seats down, handles great, and if you're easy on it, you can get decent mileage on the highway (consistently got 33+mpg highway, one tank even over 36). In-town mileage is middling, but with the 6-speed it's easy to keep your revs down and do some gramma driving to mitigate this.

 

[Cobra912]

Still a focus.............

 

[chefster]

Ya has a new 2 stage clutch with an aluminum flywheel. I also like it because I travel 80 miles round trip every day to work. Its all winding hilly country roads.
Also I can fit my Tri bike in the back. Stiil a Focus?, but that was the 2000 models which were not fully tested for the public yet full of problems. I drove this car and tested it hard, it was cool . My son and I are excited about picking iy up tomorrow.
Y ou know they are gonna come back with a vengence onthese gas prices the Bas----s.

 

[white 89 GT]

i personally would rather have an SVT Contour

still though, both are wrong wheel drive

You got that right, will never buy another front wheel drive car. Junk I tell ya, junk.

 

[white 89 GT]

Still a focus.............

Yeah its made of steel,plastic and rubber just like all other cars, and that includes cobras

 

[Mr. Rustypwnz]

if looking for a fun 4 cyl car, i'd get an srt4 or a DSM car (eagle talon or mitsubishi eclipese) those car are awesome and can be made real fast.

ours the other day threw the timing belt and launched a valve through the piston, that sucked!! But I would rather not mess with one again, and there are some srt-4's around but all have problems like the dsm cars...

 

[jcp123]

Ya has a new 2 stage clutch with an aluminum flywheel. I also like it because I travel 80 miles round trip every day to work. Its all winding hilly country roads.
Also I can fit my Tri bike in the back. Stiil a Focus?, but that was the 2000 models which were not fully tested for the public yet full of problems. I drove this car and tested it hard, it was cool . My son and I are excited about picking iy up tomorrow.
Y ou know they are gonna come back with a vengence onthese gas prices the Bas----s.

Mine was an '04, the last year of the SVT's, but they still had teething problems, apparently. But that's a good sign it has an upgraded clutch, that was the major expense I ran into. Mini Coopers, which use the same 6-speed, had some of the same problems as the SVT's. If you can stomach the prices for the SVT-only parts (my other major beef), then it should treat you pretty well. Really good roadtripper too

 

[jhonda]

I had a 02 svt focus...good handling car from the start. I added a h&r cupkit suspension not much could touch it in the turns. I ran it at Vir and lowes motor speedway both times toping 150mph. I did have a blower on it and it was gutted. I loved that car and would have another one.
blower dyno with 6psi vs 8psi jackson racing blower

turbo vs blower same 6psi but the turbo was on a zx3

stock vs pulleys and a intake

my car weighed about 2400lbs

 

[chefster]

VerY cool , what did you do about the wires going into the coil that seem to like to fry.
Drove it home yesterday,...its quick ..and the chicks love it ;-)

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

If it's a dailiy driver go for it. Just don't buy it, mod it out, and expect it to keep up with Mustangs. A lot of 17-18 year old kids around here do that stuff and always try and roll race me. I hate that.

Althought, this guy I know put the FMS supercharger on it and ran 13.1-13.30's all day and that was with no traction.

 

[ryan218]

my buddy has one. yellow euro package one. ( there rare i guess) decently quick but my 5.0 eats him alive.( he always talks **** about it ) nice DD have to run 93 though, and a tune really helps them. stock tune is junk.