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Hatchbacks Hatchbacks - Archived Discussions Ford Focus ZX3 Hatchback - Part IV 
430 messages, Last post on Mar 24, 2000 at 3:30 PM
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IMHO, Ford did a favor to you and I and all of the other current and future ZX3 owners by producing the ZX3 for North America solely in Mexico. I'm not an accountant, but I just have to believe that our ZX3s would cost a good deal more if they were produced in a US plant by UAW Ford employees. Nothing against the UAW, but I'm very pleased with the quality of my ZX3, and I'm sure that the lower labor costs in Mexico help keep the price of the ZX3 to such a reasonable amount. I believe that Ford correctly judged the size of the hot hatch market in NA, and sourced the ZX3 to the Hermosillo plant, which runs at a much slower pace than the US Ford plants. In time, product will catch up with demand. Look what's happened with the New Beetle. Not so long ago, they were very difficult to find. My local dealer now has about a dozen New Beetles looking for buyers. Once demand slows down for the ZX3 Zetec, you may see Ford augment the line with the entry-level ZX3 that was originally scheduled for US consumption, equipped with the base 2.0l engine. Does anyone know if the Ford Mexico plant is running additional shifts to handle current demand? |
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Alf3 and I are in perfect agreement regarding the quality and potential cost reductions. I am not so sure of the latter. I believe profit would be higher for Ford. The zx-3 is well assembled and the paint job in my eyes looks better than the sedan/wagon. In my opinion, the Mexicans should get a raise. They are doing a great job and shame on Ford for underpaying them. NorwayDoug |
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| So how do you know that the Mexicans are underpaid? | |
| I have now tried to register 5 times at the Ford "Owner's" webpage to read about the recalls - after going through the very lengthy registration process I got a message saying "Sorry, this site is not available - try again in a few minutes..." Well, it's been that way since late last night (and I tried again this morning at 8 am, East Coast time). Can someone just tell us what the recalls are????? You would think they would tell you BEFORE you fill in 3 pages of forms that the freakin' website is down. m.p. p.s. I'm a tad grumpy - can you tell? | |
| I purchased my ZX3 in mid-January, and my 'shoebox' arrived just now! Well worth waiting for! Picture frame / 'T4U' info (didn't open it yet, and the prized watch. So much for color-coordination, however; my ZX3 is Pitch Black - the watchband is Lifesavers' Red!! Perhaps Casio sells replacement watchbands ??? I can only hope! | |
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Don't you think that zx3 is selling extremely well. Don't you think that zx3 will sell better and better as people like all of us will buy it and pass the great news along.The best marketing for Focus is our great opinion about it. Focus is such a great success without major media campaign, I expect a focus mania soon,we'll see them everywhere! Do you still think that Mexico will be able to produce enough of them down the road. I agree that zx3 paint looks better that on other models,and I have nothing bad to say about quality of work that Mexicans do, I think it's great! |
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I too, agree with Alf3 about the Ford Mexico Connection and the ZX3. And as far as what they make, saw a TV program about it and I sure would not want to work under their conditions, but it's a lot better than what they had before. Besides it's their country and their form of government. I've spent enough time in other countries to understand why we are called "Ugly American go home". I appreciate the Mexican Ford Employees who put my ZX3 together and believe that the XZ3 shows the quality of work they are capable of. And yes the paint job is great compared to that coming out of older American auto plants. Going to "clay" my ZX3 as soom as weather gets better, and then I will give you a report on "rail dust" (factory contamintation paint damage). From what I see and feel on the finish, I don't think its a big problem at the Mexican plant. Pat |
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i was driving home with my zx3 and while passing Shea Stadium ( home of the NY mets ) i saw another zx3 parked alone away from the other cars inside the stadium lot. after checking my brochure from last year the color it matches is light sapphire blue which supposed to be not available with our zx3. sorry to say i didn't the color. The other weird part is when i got home and parked my car i say a yellow box by my door. and i said to myself..WOW!!! yup..it's the watch..and guess what color i got?....... "Light Sapphire Blue"  WeLL now i guess i have to learn to like this color unless anyone wants to trade watches. My car is cd silver not sapphire blue. |
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At first, the Focus was to be the new 2000 Escort. Then the name change was approved after the sales dept. gave in. Then there was to be only a sedan and wagon, no HB, since they were thought to be unpopular. Research of young people showed that hatchbacks had no negative image, so the ZX3 came about at the 11th hour. Ford probably expected that the "new" styling wouldn't have caught on so fast. Anyway, they are supposedly adding 30,000 units to the total 2000 production. (Chicago Tribune 3/10/00) |
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| bought my zx3 mid december, got the watch today, march 10. Love my sangria red zx3 5-speed | |
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