Tell me about the SVT Focus

AFC-911 · 04-20-2011, 02:40 PM

After nearly 10 years of using a Miata as a DD (with the exception of 2 years of using the RoW Cab), I've grown really tired of the Mazda and am looking for a new DD.

Anyway, I just started looking at the SVT Focus and I really like the price these are selling for. And it looks like it could be a fun driver that is new enough, as well as reliable.

Anyone here have any experience with these?

FWIW, I'm also looking into a 90s MR2, but I fear those might be too old. (note, my mechanical skills are limited to using a checkbook/credit card). Although, I really like the wedge design.

BeyGon · 04-20-2011, 03:01 PM

Shelby says he is working on a Focus, how long can you wait?

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

My brother was looking at a new 40 mpg Focus, called his insurance company and got a nasty surprise. He asked what the rates would be on a base V6 300 hp 31 mpg hwy Mustang. The rates were much lower for the Mustang because it does not get totaled in a fender bender.

His Mustang is nice, and worth considering.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

I drive the Mazdaspeed3 as a daily driver. Have you considered that car?

Oh Haha · 04-20-2011, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azasadny

I drive the Mazdaspeed3 as a daily driver. Have you considered that car?

+1 Much, much better all around car than the Focus......and I think the new Focus is a great car. My brother has a 2010.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

2011 Ford Mustang Coupe MSRP from $22,145
2011 Ford Mustang

2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 MSRP from $23,700
2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3

2012 Ford Focus Hatchback MSRP from $18,065......SVT will be how much more?
2012 Ford Focus

Consider the price of gas going up and the insurance cost.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

My 2010 MazdaSpeed3 gets 32mpg on the highway if I drive nice, which I rarely do... The insurance for the Speed3 wasn't too bad because it's a 5 door, it was cheaper than ins for a MINI Cooper S, which I'm glad I didn't get.

I bought my Speed3 at the local Ford/Mazda dealership where we've done business for a long time and I got A-Plan on it because Ford used to own 33% of Mazda, but no more... The owner of the dealership told me that he'll always sell cars to me for A-Plan price and that takes about $1,600 off the $24,000 price tag, I believe.

dafischer · 04-20-2011, 05:49 PM

Guys, the SVT Focus is no longer produced. It was discontinued in the US in 2004. He's talking about value as a used car.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Well, good point! I would recommend planning on replacing front struts on a 2004 Focus unless the PO already replaced them. The front struts are notorious for wearing out and costing big $ to replace. We replaced our son's front struts/rear shocks on his 2002 Focus (not the SVT, but has many SVT options) last summer and it was expensive but made a huge difference in the ride. Our 2002 Focus has about 198,000 miles on it now. Good 1st car for a teen, but not very comfortable for long trips, should be good as a daily driver. We put Bridgestone Blizzaks on it during the winter and the car handles the snow just fine.

AFC-911 · 05:13 AM

Yep, I'm definitely thinking used (circa 2004). These are pretty dang cheap from where I'm looking.

And no, I'm not considering a MS3. I don't really want a Japanese car unless it's a relatively good looking sports car. At least the SVT Focus can be had as a coupe and is not Japanese and is fairly reliable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by azasadny

Good 1st car for a teen, but not very comfortable for long trips, should be good as a daily driver. We put Bridgestone Blizzaks on it during the winter and the car handles the snow just fine.

I DD a '91 Miata with no p/s, no a/c and has fixed bucket Scheels...I don't think I can complain.

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

My bro-in-law had one - nice car - decent handling for a FWD chassis. Power was decent for a souped-up econo-box. Six-speed transmission was crisp.

I always thought they looked sharp.

Just a warning - lots of young kids souped up these cars (intake, exhaust, chip) incorrectly, which can cause some drivability issues. Find a decent bone-stock one, and you should be fine.

-Z

jhynesrockmtn · 04-21-2011, 08:13 AM

The Chief Driving Instructor at the Porsche Club here had one he used for track days. Funny, we never saw his 911 out there or at least I didn't. Fun car to drive and I rode with him a few times. He could make that car dance. The front end failed at speed on a slight off camber corner. Totaled the car. There was a thread a while back on how much abuse the SVT can take before a catastrophic failure. Now, he ran the car hard and had pretty sticky tires on it. If you're not using it as a track toy I'm sure it will hold up much better. Just a data point.

Jeff Higgins · 04-21-2011, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhynesrockmtn

The Chief Driving Instructor at the Porsche Club here had one he used for track days. Funny, we never saw his 911 out there or at least I didn't. Fun car to drive and I rode with him a few times. He could make that car dance. The front end failed at speed on a slight off camber corner. Totaled the car. There was a thread a while back on how much abuse the SVT can take before a catastrophic failure. Now, he ran the car hard and had pretty sticky tires on it. If you're not using it as a track toy I'm sure it will hold up much better. Just a data point.

I was right behind him, just going around turn six, when it happened. For those of you who don't know our track, six is a hard left hander just starting up a hill. It really loads up the right front. On his car, it was the right front that failed, with the wheel and hub (or at least part of the hub) breaking completely off. Pretty frightening to watch; I thought he was going to take me out as well. His car had not yet come to a rest as I was going through seven and lost sight of him.

I'm sure these are decent cars for their intended purpose. That kind of (ab)use does not fall under its "intended purpose". It's still a cheap little econobox, built to a price, not to a standard. It was only a matter of time, with the way he was driving it (he is a very good driver) and the sticky tires on it. I have never seen over-stressed suspension components simply fail under load (as opposed to hitting something, or due to age and neglect) on a relatively new, well maintained car. With all of the Subarus, Mitsubishis, Mazdas, Toyotas, and whatnot running with us, I have never seen one of them have issues.

Granted, this might be an extreme example. I do think, however, that it speaks to the relative design, build, and materials qualities. Like I said, built to a price, not a standard (of course all cars are, it's just a matter of where they land on that spectrum). The Focus is definitely pushing the "cheap" end. Other, similar cars of the same vintage are of much higher quality, and not that much more used. As an "enthusiast" driver, I would not even consider the Focus. There is a reason they are cheaper than the rest.

As an aside, I took a lot of heat for the concerns I raised over this incident. Nobody had a better view of it than me, other than the driver himself, maybe.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by azasadny

Well, good point! I would recommend planning on replacing front struts on a 2004 Focus unless the PO already replaced them. The front struts are notorious for wearing out and costing big $ to replace.

My wife has a 200 Focus.

The A-Arms bend from the tiniest curb bump too.

Even when you replace everything up front it's never good as new. The car used to be fun to drive when new. It's fallen apart, but it is 11 years old now.

gtc · gtc's Garage

I have to echo kach22i's point... i had a friend in college who nearly totalled his brand new focus when he hit a patch of ice and slid ever so slowly into a curb. It completely mangled the front suspension.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

my integra is 14 years old and is still pretty fun to drive, clutch has survived 170K me beating on it fairly frequently, still shifts sweet and makes nice sounds when you go from 5 to 8 on the tach, though the suspension is getting plenty tired. Have toyed with the idea of putting a few grand into replacing that stuff, with a bit more progressive springs and adjustible dampers and turning it into a semi-track whore. It has been a pretty great car for me, and when I replaced the pretty much everything but the body of the distributor recently, it got me from 25 to 27 mpg around town. This economy is only possible if the car is driven with a bit of restraint, short shifting to stay off the cam.

AFC-911 · 04-22-2011, 06:45 AM

Won't be putting on sticky tires on it nor would I be driving in icy conditions...I think it'll hold up ok.

As far as the Integra, far too many have been JDM-ified (to put it nicely). Plus, correct me if I'm wrong, aren't these thieves magnets?

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Our "suspension replacement project" went very well. We put KYB struts, shocks, new sway bar links, tie rods, ball joints, brakes, rotors, etc... and the car rides like new again. It's been a great car for us, but at 198k miles, things just have to be replaced, fortunately we do some of the work ourselves and we have an awesome, honest mechanic who works on it for us!

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Art, I hate to say this... But you will probably regret those KYB struts....

I put some on my Corrado, and was less than pleased after a few months....

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Sidney,
KYB were the only ones I could find when I really needed them. so far... so good. My son drives the car, I don't. It's done well this winter for him and the improvement in ride was incredible.