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Ford Focus SVT

422 messages,  Last post on Dec 16, 2011 at 5:15 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Focus SVT, Hatchback

Messages Page 38 of 43

#367 of 422 Long live the SVT Focus. by creakid1

Dec 25, 2004 (3:21 pm)

Replying to: the_man (Jan 30, 2004 7:44 pm)
Read post # 147 & 148:
creakid1, "Ford Focus vs. Mazda3" #147, 12 Dec 2004 2:33 am
 
W/ the bigger more-refined Mazda engine, who needs the 6-sp?
 
& why I bought the ST instead of the SVT:
creakid1, "Ford Focus vs. Mazda3" #163, 17 Dec 2004 2:41 am
"I bought this "playful puppy" for this sole purpose! & why wait till '05? Because when the SVT was introduced earlier, I wanted to to get rid of the hatch's narrow rear visibility, the shortened suspension travel, & the Ford-developed engine. & this '05 ST took care of all that! It's like a dream came true, & the CR 2005 future car issue also rated the '03 & '04 w/ "above average reliability", so it's safe to buy & COLLECT this car for a long time."

#368 of 422 Re: Seats... Continued [the_man] by creakid1

Dec 25, 2004 (3:22 pm)

"I stoped at a Ford dealer today and sat in the Recaro Seats in the fouus and they felt small to me an not as comfortable as the standard seat. There was too much side bolstering. DO NOT get the European package."
  
I'd stay away from Recaro's due to the lack of vertical bump absorption. No wonder BMW 325i sport seats aren't Recaro's like the way VW/Audi do.
  
I installed a traditional Recaro SE, which is more supportive & comfortably shaped than the one used in the FSVT Euro Package, on my '98 Corolla LE 5-sp, & suddenly the ride became much bumpier. So I checked out other aftermarket seats, & it seems that the sofa-like FloFit, also made in Taiwan just like the Recaro SE, has the best absorption as I bounced my body on it. So far, I think the best aftermarket seat is the Monaco, which rides less bumpy & is shaped similar to the Recaro SE but w/ extra lateral support for your thighs.
  
I was happy to request an '05 Focus ST w/ SVT-like std front seats in two-tone full cloth w/ the $115 heated feature:
 
http://www.canadiandriver.com/cgi-bin/schlabo/sp.pl?/testdrives/i- - mages/05zx4_st_9.jpg&info=2005 Ford Focus ZX4 ST&from=http://www.canadiandriver.com/testdrives/05zx4.htm
 
The red trim is also on the front door panels.

#369 of 422 LSD for SVT by svtf

Mar 06, 2005 (2:06 pm)

Replying to: creakid1 (Dec 25, 2004 3:22 pm)
I just got a SVTF and first must-have aftermarket part for it is a limited-slip differential. I was wondering if anyone knew what company makes the best, there's the Quaife $995 (ford used this in there euro focus RS), Torsen $720 (used in the FR200 focus), Kaaz $880 (ITR's lsd), and the Phantom Grip $300 (never heard of).

#370 of 422 Ford Focus by kbalman

May 03, 2005 (5:48 am)

I need a little info on the Ford Focus. Is this a partnership car made by some other company other than Ford, like Mazda. Someone please advise me on this.
Thanks

#371 of 422 No! Ours is still the German-engineered old Focus I by creakid1

May 06, 2005 (10:52 pm)

but built in N.A.
 
We never had any imported ones from Germany. Lately it's been adopting Mazda-developed 4-cyl Duratec since late '03. You might find some of its other components from Mazda such as the auto tranny?
 
Then new comfier-but-less-thrilling Focus II won't be here, at least for a long time. & its a shared-platform car w/ the Mazda3 & the new Volvo S40. From 40 to 62% parts sharing. The suspension is still the German-engineered Control Blades. The ST version of the Focus II adopts the 5-cyl turbo from the new S40 T5:
creakid1, "Ford Focus 2005 release date" #61, 1 Nov 2004 4:08 am
 
The sedan version of the new Focus II was first built in Taiwan in late '04:
http://roadtest.u-car.com.tw/roadtest-detail.asp?rid=61

#372 of 422 The Ford Festiva/Aspire by creakid1

May 06, 2005 (11:29 pm)

is really "a partnership car made by some other company other than Ford, like Mazda", but we only had the ones built in S. Korea.
 
Our Tracer & post-'90 Escort are clones of the Ford Laser, which is a Mazda 323/Protege twin sold in the Pacific region. But most of the N.A.-models don't come w/ Mazda engines.

#374 of 422 Next SVT? by adam8

Jul 27, 2005 (9:44 am)

Anbody know if/when Ford is planning to build another SVT Focus?

#375 of 422 Should I buy this car on Ebay?? by needsadvice

Jul 30, 2005 (8:06 am)

it's a 2004 Focus SVT with 9900 miles...i might be able to get for 14,000(if it goes higher, i have to bail out)...is that a good price? Need input asap, because the auction ends on monday. Also, i see noise mentioned...plus stiffer ride..are both of these a lot more intense than a normal passenger car? Also, i have to use premium gas....can't use regular??? if there are any peculiarities about this car, please let me know....and thanks for the help

#376 of 422 Re: Should I buy this car on Ebay?? [needsadvice] by creakid1

Aug 06, 2005 (1:32 am)

Replying to: needsadvice (Jul 30, 2005 8:06 am)
"Also, i see noise mentioned...plus stiffer ride..are both of these a lot more intense than a normal passenger car? Also, i have to use premium gas....can't use regular???"
 
Hope you didn't go for it. Why do you want an SVT? 'cause it looks cool? Maybe that's why there was this Euro-made Focus RS Jr. available in Taiwan. It's an RS look alike, but just the looks.
 
Why don't you find an used '04 w/ the optional 2.3 4-cyl, or an '05 Focus SES -- the highest-score compact from Consumer Reports?
 
Unlike the Zetec-engine SVT, they got reliable Mazda-developed engines & ride like a premium sedan while handle like a sports car.
 
The SVT still rides smoother than competitors like Mazdaspeed 3, Civic Si, Sentra SE-R SpecV & Neon SRT-4 w/ better steering feel than all of them.
 
Only a RWD platform w/ lighter nose can do better in ride/handling compromise. Go check out the 16"-wheel base RX-8 auto...
 
I know what I'm talking about, 'cause I own an '05 Focus ST, which has the same shocks & sway bars as the SVT. So it still rides a bit over dampened despite improvement over the SVT due to the lack of SVT's lowered springs.
 
By the way, my ST's Mazda-developed 2.3 can run circles around SVT's Ford-developed engine, at least throughout most of the rev range, & only requires regular.

Messages Page 38 of 43

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