Would you buy a Focus with 249,900 miles on it?

Adrian_Thompson wrote: Oh, and comparing it to the Turdbota Rustrolla thing is like comparing Natalie Portman to Sarah Jessica Parker, yes they’re both actresses, but do you really want to be seen with old horse face when you can be seen in the SVT, sorry Natalie?

My fiance has a Corolla, my ex-roommate and best friend has a Focus. This makes me sound like an old person, but the reason I'd be going with the Corolla is road noise. In the Focus at highway speeds, we'd be shouting.

Bear in mind that the Corolla has good tires, and the Focus probably has extremely cheap tires, so it is likely an unfair comparison.

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/4454522063.html $4,000 112K miles

pinchvalve wrote: Congratulations. Red cars are the best (obviously, are you calling Enzo wrong?) and I think the SVT is a neat little hot hatch. What is the JDM equivalent for European cars? EDM? Either way, this is your goal:

Then never sold that generation here, but you could add Euro bumpers from the ST170 which was the Euro version of the SVT but with thinner bumpers which look great.

Or you could go for the full Series 1 RS look which has fender flares too

IF you really want to go over the top you can do a WRC body kit :) I need one of those emoticons that rolls around for LOL here)

sethmeister4 wrote: In reply to Adrian_Thompson: Wait, Natalie Portman is the horse face over Sarah Jessica Parker?!?! Well, that explains our disagreement over Focus's...

Typical deliberate misreading, about what you'd expect from a Turdbota fan

In reply to Adrian_Thompson:

You said "sorry Natalie", which implied that you were calling her a horse face! And I'm more of an anti-Focus fan than a Toyota fan.

No, I said but do you really want to be seen with old horse face (turdbota ugly POS) when you can be seen in the SVT, sorry Natalie?

Simple, Natalie = Focus = Gorgeous Horse face = weird ass looking crapmoble turdbota = run and hide or wear a paper bag over your head.

To bring this back on track to decent cars. Here's some inspiration.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: No, I said but do you really want to be seen with old horse face (turdbota ugly POS) when you can be seen in the SVT, sorry Natalie? Simple, Natalie = Focus = Gorgeous Horse face = weird ass looking crapmoble turdbota = run and hide or wear a paper bag over your head.

I think they are both a little closer to SJP. Natalie is a bit more upscale. Possibly a Jag.

Mileage doesn't matter as much as body condition, especially salt states. I over paid a bit for mine at $4500 (120k) but my body is perfect and interior is spotless. I replaced every control arm, CV joins, hub/bearing, brakes, end links, etc. and I believe I spent just around $1000 in parts. I've also changed out every fluid, new valve cover gasket, hoses, and filter. With a new set of tires and new SVT wheels, I think I'm into it for <$2k in parts. Timing belt and clutch were done by PO. So for $6500 I have what amounts to virtually a new car that is good for many more miles. For arguments sake, I can drive it 80k to 200k and only "lose" $3k. Try buying a new car and putting 80k on it.

There is nothing wrong with paying more for a high mileage car that is in great shape and has been taken care of. If it's what you want, you pay more, it's simple economics. There's a Honda Accord in the classifieds w/ 170k on it that I'd buy with out batting an eye over one with half that mileage that was treated like an appliance. The alternative is you buy a zero maintenance hooptie that smells like a cross between a gym locker and McDonalds....but you saved money right?!?! People need to stop being so cheap.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: Wow, so much hate for Focii. WTF? I'm a past Focus owner, the only reason I don't still have it is because I was in an accident and it was totaled (I mean really totaled not just insurance book vale totaled). I love that car, great to drive, great on track, comfortable on long journeys and around town. It's was a base ZX3 not the SVT, but it was a great car. I have a friend who still has her 200K miles since new ZX5 Wagon, approx. 180K of those with the Ford Racing head, Jackson Super Charger and Torson LSD. I actually prefer the MTX5 5 speed in the regular cars over the SCT 6 speed, but others like them. Other than the trans I loved everything about the SVT. At around 40K miles I put SVT seats in my car, basically the same as the ZX3 but some changes. They are great cars and I wouldn't hesitate to own another, even with high miles. My preference for another would be the Euro Appearance Package in the metallic orange if you could find one. All that said though, I have to agree, no matter how well cared for $4,500 is crack smokingly high for 250k Oh, and comparing it to the Turdbota Rustrolla thing is like comparing Natalie Portman to Sarah Jessica Parker, yes they’re both actresses, but do you really want to be seen with old horse face when you can be seen in the SVT, sorry Natalie?

I think the analogy is, if i'm going to be seen with a 5/10 wearing too much makeup, i'd rather be with the one that can service me faster in the bedroom.

Ergo: Corolla XRS, please and thanks. And yes, it looks awful. They both do.

Hmm, my SVT only has about 64K on it. I must be worth a bazillion if people are getting $6000 for cars with 130K on them.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: To bring this back on track to decent cars. Here's some inspiration.

2 door but this car - still wish I'd gotten it.... and I like the Euro bumps on that blue one (ST170/ZX3).

I have seen the car. It looks really clean.

mtn wrote:

Adrian_Thompson wrote: Oh, and comparing it to the Turdbota Rustrolla thing is like comparing Natalie Portman to Sarah Jessica Parker, yes they’re both actresses, but do you really want to be seen with old horse face when you can be seen in the SVT, sorry Natalie?

My fiance has a Corolla, my ex-roommate and best friend has a Focus. This makes me sound like an old person, but the reason I'd be going with the Corolla is road noise. In the Focus at highway speeds, we'd be shouting. Bear in mind that the Corolla has good tires, and the Focus probably has extremely cheap tires, so it is likely an unfair comparison.

Before I changed a lot of wear items, my Focus was the same way. With new motor mounts, it is way quieter. At speed, and a new clutch and flywheel remedied chattering at idle with the clutch pedal out.

I still have a few squeaks and rattles that I need to track down, though.

I have a strange attraction to high mileage, good condition cars. I think my formative years were affected by the grill plates Volvo used to issue at notable intervals.

Here's more info:

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/project-cars/2003-ford-focus-svt/focusing-focus/

I've already put 1,000 miles on the car, and it has been perfect.

I think you will love the car. Despite what many have posted, the SVT focus is an incredible tool for inducing a smile on its driver's face. I know mine is.

Mine only has 120k miles but looks to be in much worse condition than what you just got. Have fun with it!

p.s. the stock sound system in my 2002 SVT focus is miles better than the stock sound system in my 2012 focus se.

rcutclif wrote: p.s. the stock sound system in my 2002 SVT focus is miles better than the stock sound system in my 2012 focus se.

Heh, very true. Mine is way better than our new M235i.

I don't know about you guys, but I don't tolerate crappy stereo systems in my car. The first mod for me is usually a good CD player if the factory one is not good. Then good speakers in the front and back, and you have excellent sound quality from your music.

Tom, I was just going to say, If you want it buy it. and you did.

I love red cars.

Tom Suddard wrote: So... I bought it.

And now that you have it, bring it to the All-Ford Nationals in Carlisle next June. When you sign up make sure you choose Focus Rising as your club (largest club in attendance 3 of the last 4 years).

We have a bunch of activities besides the show. Usually have a least one VIP speaker for the group. This year we had two; some people from Holman Moody who brought a Focus to show us what they were making for the Focus and some people from Montune USA to show us their stuff.

There is a caravan that comes out of Florida every year that I could hook you up with and if you wanted to be a VIP speaker I could arrange that also.

Mr_Clutch42 wrote: I don't know about you guys, but I don't tolerate crappy stereo systems in my car. The first mod for me is usually a good CD player if the factory one is not good. Then good speakers in the front and back, and you have excellent sound quality from your music.

And while it is a little extra work, if you have the "audiophile" system, all of the stock functionality can be maintained with an aftermarket deck without cutting into any of the body wiring. It's nice having HD radio and iPod control.

For when the Automotive-ADD sets in?

These guys, 'TSS FAB' are working on some of this-

To be sold for 'Bolt on' (as much as it can be) use.

Ford won't give us a proper Escort... Maybe the local market will fix that particular blunder.

You could get the 5.0/5.8 or 4.6/5.4 V8 swap kit and RWD conversion straight out of the Ford Motorsports catalog.

How is the TSS system new?

Because this RWD swap isn't ruined by a V8

Set up for duratec, Boost optional.