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Ford Focus Hatchback ZX3 - Part XIV - READ ONLY

522 messages,  Last post on Nov 06, 2000 at 1:09 AM

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Messages Page 51 of 53

#493 of 522 Ford has lost it by ltrez

Oct 31, 2000 (4:06 am)

Take a look at what they introduced at SEMA ![URL=http://ford.wieck.com/db/*query?00sema&source=FRD&cf_user=]http://ford.wieck.com/db/*query?00sema&source=FRD&cf_user=[/URL]

#494 of 522 FR2000 by ltrez

Oct 31, 2000 (4:12 am)

UGLY,UGLY,UGLY get rid of the Hood scoop and ridiculous Whale Tail

#495 of 522 Ford's Lack of Attention: The Answer by z2benzo

Oct 31, 2000 (1:28 pm)

The reason for the non-attentiveness and indifference to consumer complaints exhibited by Ford Motor Company (as often highlighted in this forum)can now be understood: The president and CEO has been distracted! No, not the tire thing. Today's Detroit Free Press reports that Jacques Nasser and his wife of 29 years, Jennifer Nasser, are headed to divorce court. The court documents report the standard "... a breakdown of the marriage relationship ..." with no other juicy details. Jac, make sure YOU get the ZX3!!!

#496 of 522 Ford's dealer education by fdanna

Oct 31, 2000 (2:21 pm)

I went to test drive a ZX3 last night and in my mind I had put the ZX3 on par with a VW Golf or an upscale hatchback. I travel to europe regularly and have lost that old American attitude which says "if it's a hatchback it must be economy." In fact, if it's a hatchback it must be practical. I don't know how many times I've not been able to get things into my rather large trunk but have been blocked by the small opening.


Anyway, the dealer had NO models with the moonroof and none with advancetrac. They said "we don't stock fully loaded models because this is an economy car."


Talk about a slap in the face by the hand of reality.


Ford needs desperately to educate the public and it's dealers that small cars don't always mean economy and sacrifice. I make 57k a year and I'm obviously not rich, but I can afford more than a Focus. I want the Focus because it's practical and handles better than cars costing thousands more. Unfortuantely I fear that this hatchback mentality is going to seriously reduce the resale value of the car which is leading me to believe it's useless loading the vehicle up. The dealer kept trying to talk me down....even though I told him money was not a concern!


On top of that I need a car within two weeks and if I want a loaded one I'll have to wait 6-8 weeks...and since they always lie, it means 3 to 4 months.


So back to my point. We'd be all better off as a country when people start realizing that fuel saving, small, safe, and fun to drive cars are better than large obnoxious, gas guzzling, view blocking, tipping, land yachts.


My last 2 cents is about the manual transmission. The overwhelming majority of people drive manual transmissions in europe for a number of reasons. Namely, fuel economy, driver control and cost. European cities are congested and trafficky....but no one every complains that they have manual transmissions. I live in boston and I never regretted manual tranny's ever. The clutch must be light and the stick must be smooth and you're all set (just don't break a leg).

#497 of 522 Why do the europeans have all the fun? by fdanna

Oct 31, 2000 (4:31 pm)

Check out this Focus RS in England....coming soon


http://www.ford.co.uk/focusrs/

#498 of 522 manual vs automatic etc. by tickbitty

Oct 31, 2000 (4:55 pm)

I forgot to say that if you are buying your car off the lot, they will absolutely try to sell you an automatic. One reason is they make more money off them, two is they sell autos more often (you can make a stick driver drive auto but you cant "make" an auto driver learn stick.) Three is they will try to tell you that you won't be able to resell the vehicle as easily with a manual trans. Forget that. I buy a car for ME, not the next guy down the line.


I have read a lot of posts lately where people say "---- is a great car, I have owned 3 in the last 10 yrs and I never had any problems!" Yeah, because the real test of a reliable car is whether it will last you more than a couple of years without degrading into a pile of JUNK. All my previous cars were used and it is amazing how fast they decay. I'm hoping that since I bought new this time I'll at least get an additional 50,000 over what I'm used to.

#499 of 522 pcleveland2 by chicagodriver

Oct 31, 2000 (5:11 pm)

I saw in the old accessory archives that you found a bug deflector by Lund, I was just wondering if you went with that or chose to get the 3M clear bra? Also were you able to find some door sill protectors? I know auto ventshades company makes some. I just want to protect my car as much as possible and would like to get a bug deflector and some door sills, so if you could inform me as to what is out there it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

#500 of 522 by kostamojen

Nov 03, 2000 (7:33 am)

They reason the dealer said "We dont have any fully-loaded models cause this is a economy car" is because they made a choice, to ONLY stock the lower-grade versions.
Ive been to several fords in my area, each one carries Different focus stocks... The biggest one, carries EVERY type of focus, and I just saw a fully-loaded (before the moonroof was out though) ZX3 with advance track and auto, and that dealer usually ONLY carries the fully loaded ones.
Meanwhile, another dealer in an off-beat location had very few foci, and they had almost nothing on it.
They were just giving an excuse instead of saying "We only sell the economy models cause thats what you people are buying from this dealer"

#501 of 522 New Focus by rwgreenberg

Nov 03, 2000 (1:36 pm)

Hi all. Picked up my new white 2001 a few days ago (I'm not sure if the post made it.) So far, so good. That upshifting light is a drag though, seems to go on more often after the shift is made, rather than before. What's with this? Only other gripe is the overhand above the coffee holders. My favorite sized, large coffee, has to be tilted to get it in and out.

#502 of 522 College Rebate by rwgreenberg

Nov 03, 2000 (1:35 pm)

Forgot to ask this question of the collective. Has anyone pulled off the college rebate. What was the procedure followed? I'm a part time graduate student and according to Ford's web site info, it looks like I should qualify. Any info here would be appreciated. Thanks

Messages Page 51 of 53

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