SVT Focus? How are they?

[stprorolla49]

I know I'm always complaining about my car, and I'm sure everyone does the same sometimes. Its a love / hate relationship that will never end. Lately I'm tired of the 13mpg around Savannah, being worried about where I park, and little dings that keep appearing. I get awesome mileage on the highway; I clocked 24.3mpg on the highway from NJ to GA on the way to school, but Savannah is more stop and go than anywhere else I've ever driven. It's getting to the point where I'm spending more on gas per week than on everything else put together, which shouldn't be the case.

On that note, how many of you guys either own or have driven an SVT Focus, and what are your honest opinions. My dad's gonna let me drive the Nova this summer so I'm most likely not going to be racing my car anymore, so I just kinda want something thats still a Ford, is good on gas, has decent room for all my crap, comfortable, handles well, etc. I know Paul has one and loves it but its also his DD and he has the Mustang on the side which is not an option for me...it's one or the other. I've driven one before but that was 2 years ago and I don't really remember how it was quite honestly.

Thanks guys!

 

[RMODEL65]

go somewhere else besides savannah where are you going scad?

 

[95BlueStallion]

Youre gonna miss your mustang if you get a SVT focus. Ive driven one, and they are sporty and fun cars. But for me, front wheel drive gets old really quick... It would be one thing to keep the stang and use a focus for a dd, but I wouldnt REPLACE the stang with one. To me there is nothing better than the exhaust note from a V8, and being able to do donuts in a forward gear! Just my .02

 

[95five-oh]

It would be one thing to keep the stang and use a focus for a dd, but I wouldnt REPLACE the stang with one. To me there is nothing better than the exhaust note from a V8, and being able to do donuts in a forward gear! Just my .02

+1
my mom has a focus zx4 which obviously isnt an svt but its the sportiest version they currently sell. Its a nice little car, pretty quick and great on gas (also has a killer stock stereo) but i would never trade a mustang for one. i had the same issues youre having with daily driving the stang after spending all that time fixing it up. I'd honestly just wait till you can afford a beater and keep the GT. itll be worth it.

 

[stprorolla49]

go somewhere else besides savannah where are you going scad?

Yea, I go to SCAD. This is my 2nd year I've had the car with me here, and I'm moving off campus next year so I'm worried about parking it outside my house in the street.

I guess you guys are right. I dunno, my brain wonders in interesting directions when I procrastinate my schoolwork hahaha. But seriously though, I've really been thinking about this a lot lately.

 

[ga94gt]

Nooooooooo! Man you got a real nice car If I were you I would try my hardest to get up enough money and buy a cheap reliable car and keep the stang.

Just my .02

 

[stprorolla49]

Nooooooooo! Man you got a real nice car If I were you I would try my hardest to get up enough money and buy a cheap reliable car and keep the stang.

Just my .02

That would be optimal, the only problem is I have no time for a job while at school. I'm an industrial design major which is the hardest 4-yr major at my school only, and people who are ID majors know what I'm talking about. Ask Dan (95riosnake), he'll tell you the same thing. When I'm at home, I work as much as possible without going insane and that money goes towards car insurance and spending money. As it is I barely make enough. Not to mention theres no way I can afford to insure 2 cars, nor do I have room for another car at my house. As it is my driveway looks like a used car lot between my dad's 2 cars in the garage, my car, my bros jeep, my moms truck, my dads truck, and the trailer.

 

[chaos254]

I to have a love/hate relationshop with my stang lol. I would love to have a nice SUV(denali/escalade), gas mileage wont be any better but personally that doesn't bother me. Been looking around and have found some good deals but I really don't want a car payment. This is one of the main reasons I dont do it. My stang is paid off and there really is no point in trading it in because I know I won't get **** for it. So until I can afford my stang and another vehicle, the stang will be my only vehicle.

 

[parchisi]

There have been some minor quality issues with the SVT Focus, but nothing too bad or dissimlar to those of similar early model Foci. Should be a good car.

 

[Black95GTS]

Look into a 4 banger Ranger. Will knock down good mileage and once you own a pick up truck you'll find you can't live without the convenience.

Adam

 

[Killercanary]

Michael, I love my SVTF, but I'd never trade a mustang for it. It handles increadibly well, it stops insanely quick, but its not fast at all and the gas mileage is so-so. When i drive it for work I really baby it to try and get as much MPG as I can, and thus far I've gotten 26mpg on every tank I've run through it. I try not to shift it above 2500rpms, I don't travel more than 65mph on the highway, and I get into 6th gear as quick as I can in town. The biggest known issue with these cars that I have come across is the clutch. Ford tried to use a dual mass flywheel in these cars and they are notorious for eating clutches. Replacement clutches are $$$ too, the cheapest stock replacement I've found is ~$500.

 

[95BlueStallion]

Michael, I love my SVTF, but I'd never trade a mustang for it. It handles increadibly well, it stops insanely quick, but its not fast at all and the gas mileage is so-so. When i drive it for work I really baby it to try and get as much MPG as I can, and thus far I've gotten 26mpg on every tank I've run through it. I try not to shift it above 2500rpms, I don't travel more than 65mph on the highway, and I get into 6th gear as quick as I can in town. The biggest known issue with these cars that I have come across is the clutch. Ford tried to use a dual mass flywheel in these cars and they are notorious for eating clutches. Replacement clutches are $$$ too, the cheapest stock replacement I've found is ~$500.

With that said, I would keep the stang!

 

[stprorolla49]

Michael, I love my SVTF, but I'd never trade a mustang for it. It handles increadibly well, it stops insanely quick, but its not fast at all and the gas mileage is so-so. When i drive it for work I really baby it to try and get as much MPG as I can, and thus far I've gotten 26mpg on every tank I've run through it. I try not to shift it above 2500rpms, I don't travel more than 65mph on the highway, and I get into 6th gear as quick as I can in town. The biggest known issue with these cars that I have come across is the clutch. Ford tried to use a dual mass flywheel in these cars and they are notorious for eating clutches. Replacement clutches are $$$ too, the cheapest stock replacement I've found is ~$500.

Yea the more I thought about it last nite, the more I realized it would be a sweet DD, but I don't think I could replace the Mustang with it. I'm surprised it doesn't get better gas mileage to be honest...I expected at least 30 mpg. I was also reading about how the clutches suck on them, and that threw me also. With the Mustang, I can replace the clutch by myself in an afternoon. I wouldn't even know where to start changing a clutch on a front wheel drive car...I don't even know where the clutch is on a FWD to be totally honest.

 

[95Mustang302]

just get some beater car to drive around town in and put the least amount of insurance on it to cover your ass in case something happens, i mean its a beater, who cares about the car...

 

[Bosko5.0]

I use to have a 89 golf insurance was only $50 bare min. thats when I first bought my stang, then the golf got jelous and started to overheat leaked out all the power steeering fluid, then wouldn't start So I sent it to the junk yard

usually if you have 2 or more cars you can get a discount on insurance, I know what you mean about having too many cars in the driveway.