ANybody here drive a Focus??

Black_67stang · 10-06-2009, 07:43 PM

I finally got my insurance claim, so now I start my quest for a new DD. I have been really looking into the 03+ Focuses. I found one here locally for a very good price due to a rebuilt title. The owner seems like a trustworthy guy and told me the car was marked with a rebuilt title because some of the suspension components were damaged (no airbag deployed) . All has been fixed since.

That being said, does anyone ahve any experience with these cars? The car has 74k on it and is a 5 speed.

Thanks

silverblueBP · 10-06-2009, 07:59 PM

I drive an 04 ZX3 auto and Deb drives an 07 4 door SE; GREAT cars for the size and price IMO. The ZX3 has almost 80,000 on it, only thing replaced was the ignition cylinder many moons ago. Other than general maintenance, it's been trouble free.

The 07 is loaded and so far not the first problem with it. They both get around 30mpg.

Black_67stang · 10-06-2009, 08:44 PM

Perfect info, Thanks. This car is also a 2004 zx3. It will be nice to own another Ford as well. Going to check it out in a little bit

Black_67stang · 10-06-2009, 11:23 PM

Just got back from the test drive. Seems like a very solid car, has a few small issues but I cannot complain since it is only 3500! Needless to say, it will be in my garage this weekend.

70sportsroof · 10-07-2009, 12:35 AM

I spent quite a few months and thousands of $ repairing a friend's 2001 Z3 with 165,000 miles on it.

A couple of points - the front engine mounts have a design flaw in the upper mount, passenger side. This tends to start splitting. When it does, it stress the remaining two mounts causing them to break. Changing the engine mounts is a two person job, as you have to have one person raising and lowering the engine to take the torque off the upper engine mount so that you can lift it off, once unbolted.

The suspension is a PIA. To replace the front sway bar bushings requires dropping the front steering and "dogbone" crossbracing. The parts cost around $30 but the labor to hire it costs around $300 or more.

Fuel filter. The fuel filter is installed with special ford designed clamps that require a ford designed tool to unclamp. Labor to replace a fuel filter cost me $90.

Brakes. The front pads are held in the caliper by a weird wire clip. Over time the wire breaks, causing the clip to spring out of position and dig into the inner sideway of the front tire. The rear brakes are weird also. The axle nut is a wafer type sacrificial nut that more or less falls apart when the nut is removed. If you don't use an air impact with the correct metric socket, the nut will fall apart before you can remove it, which makes it difficult to get the remnant off. The rear brake drums are bolted into place! The bolts tend to rust in place, which requires long-term soaking with penetrating oil plus air tools to get them removed.

Front seats. The metal framework tends to split apart on the outside bolster, digging into the occupant as he or she enters or leaves the vehicle.

PCV valve is a PIA to remove and replace in ordinary maintenance (Z3 dual overhead cam engine).

Engine is sensitive to aftermarket plugs. The stock plug has a nib on the electrode to fire the waste spark generated by the engine computer. Aftermarket plugs without this screw up the tuning.

The owner of the car likes it a lot. Even with all the work and $$ into it, still refuses to part with it.

Black_67stang · 10-07-2009, 01:02 AM

Thanks a bunch for the good info. I know the focus had a lot of issues in the first production (00-02) but I have read that the models from 03 on fix a lot of the nitpicking issues. But thanks for the insight, I will give the motor mounts a look over as well as the front seats when I go look at the car again this weekend.

nymustang · 10-07-2009, 05:59 AM

I have an 01 4 door 5spd, in my family since new. I have been driving it as my DD basiclly for the last 6 years. Its been a terrific little car with minor issues here and there. I'm at 150,000 and the suspension feels like some bushings are starting to go and I just replaced the valve cover gasket. It needs some rear brake work and we put a new clutch in maybe 10,000 miles ago. Certainly feels like it has plenty more miles to go and for a DD its pretty hard to beat. Doesn't fit as much stuff as my 91 Escort hatch though!

66sprint200 · 10-07-2009, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70sportsroof

Fuel filter. The fuel filter is installed with special ford designed clamps that require a ford designed tool to unclamp. Labor to replace a fuel filter cost me $90.

Does the Focus have the same fuel line clamps as other newer Fords ?? If so, this inexpensive tool should allow you to to DYI. Tool #K-D 3321 is $12 at auto parts stores. There is also a smaller plastic version. Dean

pprince · 10-07-2009, 08:50 AM

We have had 3 Focus wagons and still have two of them, a 2002 and a 2007.

Never had any warranty work done on either of them while our first 2000 was on the recall of the month club.

My son replaced the sway bar link kits last week on the 2007.

We really like the Focus wagons.

autoxsteve · 10-07-2009, 10:00 AM

2007 Stripper ZX3 here. Picked it up last March brand new (135miles on it).

It just rolled over 34k on the clock and I have had ZERO problems with it other than understanding the passenger air bag indicator on the dash (it's below the emergency flasher switch). When SWMBO gets in the car, the light remains on.

I've been averaging 42-44 MPG with it for my 110 mile per day commute. That gets me over 600 miles per tank. I'm using costco fuel and dumping a Techron fuel injector cleaner in it every 10kmiles or so.

I'm also running Amsoil sewing machine oil in it (5W-20 iirc) and changing that and the filter annually.......

Love the vehicle. it handles well, gets GREAT fuel milage and was priced right. I am hoping to get another 8 years out of it (at that time, I expect to have 200k+ on the clock).....

gotstang · 10-07-2009, 10:23 AM

Anybody have a 2.0L? I'm looking at 04+ Focuses (Foci?) myself and the 2.3L Mazda motor seems to have a great rep, but with the horrible rep of the early cars, I'm hesitant to look at anything else, if the 2.0L is related to the old motors?

pprince · 10-07-2009, 10:26 AM

As far as I know the 2.0 DOHC is the same motor since day one.

We have not had a single problem related to the motor.

autoxsteve · 10-07-2009, 04:56 PM

My Focus is a 2.0L PZEV engine. As I stated before, it's got over 34k on the clock and the inside of the tailpipe is still shiny galvanized steel (no soot)!

solomaniac · 10-07-2009, 11:08 PM

I've never driven or even owned one, but there is a guy in my local SCCA region who has the ST version (sport suspension pkg) and does very well in HS Solo2--at least I've had a rough time beating him with my new Mazda3!

dougp · 10-08-2009, 06:58 AM

We have an 2003 with about 200,000 Kilometers on it for one of our clinical staff. It has been very reliable. As a matter of fact we would have purchased an additional 2 this past summer replacing a couple of chrysler mini vans; however the focus wagon is not being built again until next year. We could not wait. I also understand (if this is correct) the focus desiel will be introduced into North America in 2010.