Why not a ford focus zx5?

2003?

I see no reason.

Only reason not to is that you can just as easily go wagon:

Link to more info

I was lucky enough to meet the guy who built this car. Awesome dude and I think on this forum every once in a while. Now I have awful ideas for replacing my SVT 2-door.

doesnt the wagon have a different rear suspension setup than the hatchbacks? dont get me wrong, wagons are great.

focus fanatics seems to think that:

"Rear shocks are shorter & layed down (on the wgns) vs the long verticle ones on zx3/zx4/zx5's. Everthing else is the same."

I cannot validate or verify that though.

When people add a turbo to a Focus do they call them Forced Focus instead of Ford Focus?

In reply to Knurled:

Might of been - it was back in August - looking at it used.

As noted though - I haven't ever seen a ZX5 in a 2.3L with a 5spd. Only 2.0L

NGTD wrote: In reply to Knurled: Might of been - it was back in August - looking at it used. As noted though - I haven't ever seen a ZX5 in a 2.3L with a 5spd. Only 2.0L

There was one on the Facebook WTB/FS Group not too long ago. In New York City.

I agree that you should look far and wide for a 2.3 car. I have an SVT with the 6-speed and Cosworth tuned VVT Zetec Engine. I like it okay enough, but I'd rather have a 2.3 car. If I find a silver 2.3 manual car anytime soon, I'm going to swap over all of the SVT goodies to the 2.3 car. I'd like to have a 5-door as well. This is my SVT that I'm swapping the stock silver 5-spokes back to:

Just realized you're the guy who contacted me through Focus Fanatics. Sending email your way right now.

yeah i know its a sedan but hhhhnnnnnggggg http://s3mag.com/blog/cut-corners/

NGTD wrote: As noted though - I haven't ever seen a ZX5 in a 2.3L with a 5spd. Only 2.0L

Not so, I test drove a 5-speed 2.3 ZX5 and nearly bought it. It came from California.

The reason I did not buy it was that I thought the door openings were a little short to get in/out with my long legs. The car drove very nicely and seemed to have plenty of power.

ScreaminE wrote: Just realized you're the guy who contacted me through Focus Fanatics. Sending email your way right now.

Ok thanks

rcutclif wrote: Only reason not to is that you can just as easily go wagon: Link to more info I was lucky enough to meet the guy who built this car. Awesome dude and I think on this forum every once in a while. Now I have awful ideas for replacing my SVT 2-door.

That is awesome

2.3's as low emissions vehicles (PZEV)were available in CA and northeastern states beginning in 2003. They were definitely available with manual transmissions. I know 4 people with a manual 2.3's, but they aren't selling!

The best of the stock 2.3's is the 2005-2007 ST sedan. Better gear ratios, upgraded seats, etc.

Hal wrote: The best of the stock 2.3's is the 2005-2007 ST sedan. Better gear ratios, upgraded seats, etc.

You mean like this?

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/barrie/great-deal-but-it-before-i-trade-it-in/1030682214?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

Had this car been available in August, I wouldn't be driving a Golf right now!

That is a pretty good buy for the $$$'s.

NGTD wrote:

Hal wrote: The best of the stock 2.3's is the 2005-2007 ST sedan. Better gear ratios, upgraded seats, etc.

You mean like this? http://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/barrie/great-deal-but-it-before-i-trade-it-in/1030682214?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true Had this car been available in August, I wouldn't be driving a Golf right now! That is a pretty good buy for the $$$'s.

Yep, and that is a good price. The leather seats in those are Recaro's

Two quick questions, do the 2.3 car's only have 150HP, second do they come with a LSD like the SVT cars??

Thanks, Paul

Donebrokeit wrote: Two quick questions, do the 2.3 car's only have 150HP, second do they come with a LSD like the SVT cars??

SVT's did not come with an LSD. The only one available was a Quaife unit which was very expensive. The SVT used a Getrag 6 speed transmission not the MT75 that the rest of the Focuses used. There are a number of LSD's available for the MT75(I have a Torsen in mine).

150 sounds like a reasonable number. The 2.3's varied in power between the different versions of the engine setup. The early PZEV versions had less power than the later ST versions. The PZEV's also had a 3.2X final drive vs. the 3.82(same as Zetec's) in the ST's.

The PZEV's could pick up ~5HP just by getting rid of the extremely restrictive intake plumbing. Also the 2.3's could pick up another ~5hp by using a balance shaft delete(BSD) kit. Both of these modifications are easy to do and fairly inexpensive.

The downside to the Focus is that the 2.3L has 150 Hp vs. the 170 Hp in the Mazda 2.3L. The 2.3L is also mre common in the 3.

I think the Focus with the 2.0L has less Hp than the Mazda 2.0L too.

You may have to buy an auto and convert it to manual. 8th digit being a "z" gives it the 2.3 duratec on the 03-04 cars. Honestly, they sell like hot cakes. I look for them a lot on searchtempest and most ads are gone within a day or two. Here a few that I found:

http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/cto/4743242721.html

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/4746211982.html

http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/ctd/4738824839.html

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/ctd/4748232080.html

http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/cto/4734219546.html

http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/cto/4730741618.html

I have found a wagon with a 2.3 5 speed, but they not reasonably priced and high mileage. What they are asking you can choose from many other vehicles that would fit the bill. I much rather have a SVT with 6 speed. I have found a couple but am waiting for a decent deal.