SVT Focus on the East Coast!
03-29-2001, 03:29 PM
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SVT Focus on the East Coast!
To all interested automotive enthusiasts,
The 2002 Ford SVT Focus will make an appearance over the weekend of April 6-7 in the state of New Jersery.
First, on Friday afternoon, April 6, the SVT Focus will be on display at Holman Ford in Mount Laurel, NJ. SVT representatives will be on hand to answer questions.
Address: 1301 Route 73
Phone: 856-866-0111
Second, on Saturday night, April 7, the SVT Focus will take on the "import scene" at the Atlantic City "Hot Import Nights" event. SVT reps will be on hand to answer any questions. To find out more, check out www.hotimportnights.com
The SVT Focus will also make an appearance at the New York Auto Show from April 13-22. More info at www.autoshowny.com
And as always, for more information, call
1-800-FORD-SVT or visit www.svt.ford.com for more info.
Check it out.
The 2002 Ford SVT Focus will make an appearance over the weekend of April 6-7 in the state of New Jersery.
First, on Friday afternoon, April 6, the SVT Focus will be on display at Holman Ford in Mount Laurel, NJ. SVT representatives will be on hand to answer questions.
Address: 1301 Route 73
Phone: 856-866-0111
Second, on Saturday night, April 7, the SVT Focus will take on the "import scene" at the Atlantic City "Hot Import Nights" event. SVT reps will be on hand to answer any questions. To find out more, check out www.hotimportnights.com
The SVT Focus will also make an appearance at the New York Auto Show from April 13-22. More info at www.autoshowny.com
And as always, for more information, call
1-800-FORD-SVT or visit www.svt.ford.com for more info.
Check it out.
03-30-2001, 10:30 AM
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You can't polish a turd...
You have got to be kidding me.
Any "automotive enthusiast" would not look twice at a Ford Focus. A Ford Focus may be economical transportation or a good starter car, but is in no way in the same league with an A4, a Miata, an Imprezza or other cars that have "enthusiasts".
If FoMoCo is finally getting into the Import racing scene, it just goes to show how out-of-touch they really are. Like any "scene" it has a boom period (like the dot-coms), a shake-out, then a long leveled off period. The boom is over for the rice scene.
More money wasted at Ford. Guess they needed something new to ruin after destroying the beautiful lines of the Jaguars....
Just my humble opinion,
Audi-Os everyone!
Michael
Any "automotive enthusiast" would not look twice at a Ford Focus. A Ford Focus may be economical transportation or a good starter car, but is in no way in the same league with an A4, a Miata, an Imprezza or other cars that have "enthusiasts".
If FoMoCo is finally getting into the Import racing scene, it just goes to show how out-of-touch they really are. Like any "scene" it has a boom period (like the dot-coms), a shake-out, then a long leveled off period. The boom is over for the rice scene.
More money wasted at Ford. Guess they needed something new to ruin after destroying the beautiful lines of the Jaguars....
Just my humble opinion,
Audi-Os everyone!
Michael
03-31-2001, 01:12 PM
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Not kidding, and definately not the jealous type...
Hey,
Cosworth Escorts aside I have driven a new ZX3 Focus hatchback (578 miles on it) as a rental and its fit/finish left much to be desired, and mechanically it felt like a cheap Civic with 75,000 on it. I honestly felt more safe at 80MPH in my girlfriends 91 Civic LX with 148,000 miles on it than in the new Focus!
Comparison of an American market Ford/GM to what these same auto makers sell in Europe is an interesting point, but I feel supports my argument that this is not a car worthy to be advertised to people who drive VW/Audi. GM seems to make a great car in Europe (Opal) but these refined, reliable creatures never seem to make it to American shores (the Catera lost seriously in the translation). The Cosworth Escort has virtually nothing in common with any Escort sold in the North American market.
Agreed, cars should be based on their peers, so lets run through a quick comparo with how out-of-touch Ford is with this car:
170hp from 2.0L in 2002 from SVT, I don't know but Honda/Acura has been getting 160-170hp out of 1.6-1.8L since 1993! I owned a Del Sol VTEC and a GS-R and can attest to the durability and power of these motors.
The Focus needs a diet. 2700+ lbs.? Someone needs to tell someone at Ford to reduce the lead content of their steel. Typical Civics (before the 01s) and Integras weigh in at 2500-2660lbs.
At least Ford saved us from their boy-racer plastic body panel treatment they gave the Contour SVT. Remember, the last SVT product Car and Driver put up against the A4 came in third (Even though the Contour superior power and handling aside). So why should the Focus be any different?
Jealous, nope. I gladly gave up a 1996 fully prepped Integra GS-R that would out corner and out accelerate any stock A4 or mildly modded A4. Comparing a GS-R to an A4 is unfair, the Acura is a coupe with a 600lb weight and $6000.00 price advantage. My point is what makes Ford think that any Audi driver would look twice at a car that is not even in the same class???
Given the specs of the Focus (and having driven the next model down from the SVT), and having experience with its true competition (driven Civics, Neons, Miatas, Integras and DSMs at the track) the Focus is well behind the competition.
Just my opinion, but I feel the advertising of a Focus on an "Audi Performance" board is quite funny. It would be more appropriate on a website that would cater to the "Sport Compact Car" or "Honda Performance" crowd. Then it would be truly marketed at its competition.
Please assure me that you wouldn't consider trading your Audi for the Focus! ;-)
Take care,
Michael
Cosworth Escorts aside I have driven a new ZX3 Focus hatchback (578 miles on it) as a rental and its fit/finish left much to be desired, and mechanically it felt like a cheap Civic with 75,000 on it. I honestly felt more safe at 80MPH in my girlfriends 91 Civic LX with 148,000 miles on it than in the new Focus!
Comparison of an American market Ford/GM to what these same auto makers sell in Europe is an interesting point, but I feel supports my argument that this is not a car worthy to be advertised to people who drive VW/Audi. GM seems to make a great car in Europe (Opal) but these refined, reliable creatures never seem to make it to American shores (the Catera lost seriously in the translation). The Cosworth Escort has virtually nothing in common with any Escort sold in the North American market.
Agreed, cars should be based on their peers, so lets run through a quick comparo with how out-of-touch Ford is with this car:
170hp from 2.0L in 2002 from SVT, I don't know but Honda/Acura has been getting 160-170hp out of 1.6-1.8L since 1993! I owned a Del Sol VTEC and a GS-R and can attest to the durability and power of these motors.
The Focus needs a diet. 2700+ lbs.? Someone needs to tell someone at Ford to reduce the lead content of their steel. Typical Civics (before the 01s) and Integras weigh in at 2500-2660lbs.
At least Ford saved us from their boy-racer plastic body panel treatment they gave the Contour SVT. Remember, the last SVT product Car and Driver put up against the A4 came in third (Even though the Contour superior power and handling aside). So why should the Focus be any different?
Jealous, nope. I gladly gave up a 1996 fully prepped Integra GS-R that would out corner and out accelerate any stock A4 or mildly modded A4. Comparing a GS-R to an A4 is unfair, the Acura is a coupe with a 600lb weight and $6000.00 price advantage. My point is what makes Ford think that any Audi driver would look twice at a car that is not even in the same class???
Given the specs of the Focus (and having driven the next model down from the SVT), and having experience with its true competition (driven Civics, Neons, Miatas, Integras and DSMs at the track) the Focus is well behind the competition.
Just my opinion, but I feel the advertising of a Focus on an "Audi Performance" board is quite funny. It would be more appropriate on a website that would cater to the "Sport Compact Car" or "Honda Performance" crowd. Then it would be truly marketed at its competition.
Please assure me that you wouldn't consider trading your Audi for the Focus! ;-)
Take care,
Michael
03-31-2001, 03:42 PM
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there is already a sport Focus in Europe
Not as hot as we would like it, but they are more concentrated on size and cornering, less on engine power. I don't know how well it is selling honestly.
Honda gets far more power from a smaller power plant because they rev higher. The problem with this is that if you don't rev it, you don't get the power. I'll take the more torquey, wider power band 2.0L from the Focus. Most auto mags say the same about the Zetec engine, they prefer it to the Civic engine. Have you heard of Honda's new VTEC II (I think renamed now) engines? Their emphasis? More torque. Honda makes great engines, but they do leave something to be desired, something the Zetec does well at. Something Honda intends to do better at in the future (and I'm sure they will).
Acura Integra weights (2001) (MT/AT):
2643/2685 LS Coupe
2639/2681 GS Coupe
2667/NA GS-R Coupe
2639/NA Type R Coupe
2703/2745 LS Sedan
2725/2767 GS Sedan
2764 GS-R Sedan
Wow, the all-out, no holds barred Type R is a whopping 51lbs lighter than a 2700lb Focus. The car you owned was only 33lbs lighter (unless it was a sedan, which I doubt).
But which Focus is 2700lbs? Let's see (sorry, data here is incomplete)
(MT/AT)
2551/NL ZX3
2564/NL LX
NL/2717 SE Wagon
I'm sorry the other data isn't available. (All data from www.autosite.com).
The Focus is significantly lighter than the Integra where parallel data is available. It may be heavier with an auto tranny, if the Wagon is any indication. Who buys a performance compact car with an auto?
I think your data is faulty and your bias obvious.
I would never trade my Audi for a Focus. I own an A6, and I bought it because of the size. Ford doesn't make a Focus with the kind of rear legroom I need.
Honda gets far more power from a smaller power plant because they rev higher. The problem with this is that if you don't rev it, you don't get the power. I'll take the more torquey, wider power band 2.0L from the Focus. Most auto mags say the same about the Zetec engine, they prefer it to the Civic engine. Have you heard of Honda's new VTEC II (I think renamed now) engines? Their emphasis? More torque. Honda makes great engines, but they do leave something to be desired, something the Zetec does well at. Something Honda intends to do better at in the future (and I'm sure they will).
Acura Integra weights (2001) (MT/AT):
2643/2685 LS Coupe
2639/2681 GS Coupe
2667/NA GS-R Coupe
2639/NA Type R Coupe
2703/2745 LS Sedan
2725/2767 GS Sedan
2764 GS-R Sedan
Wow, the all-out, no holds barred Type R is a whopping 51lbs lighter than a 2700lb Focus. The car you owned was only 33lbs lighter (unless it was a sedan, which I doubt).
But which Focus is 2700lbs? Let's see (sorry, data here is incomplete)
(MT/AT)
2551/NL ZX3
2564/NL LX
NL/2717 SE Wagon
I'm sorry the other data isn't available. (All data from www.autosite.com).
The Focus is significantly lighter than the Integra where parallel data is available. It may be heavier with an auto tranny, if the Wagon is any indication. Who buys a performance compact car with an auto?
I think your data is faulty and your bias obvious.
I would never trade my Audi for a Focus. I own an A6, and I bought it because of the size. Ford doesn't make a Focus with the kind of rear legroom I need.
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04-01-2001, 10:23 AM
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Focus weight from the SVT link above...2770
Hi Steve,
My Integra weight was from actually weighing the car, so the data is far from faulty. The Focus weight I stated is from the link above, 2770lbs, a full 100lbs heavier than an Integra GS-R by your data.
As for bias, it is natural to bias any car one has owned or does own, otherwise you would never have purchased the vehicle.
In my opinion, Honda is going backwards (for my tastes, maybe not yours) in their lineup. They are making there Civic more like the Accord, a comfortable cruiser car. Strut suspension on a Civic? I consider blasphemy. I didn't buy my GS-R to be a torquey cruiser (I would have purchased a Probe GT or a Imprezza), I bought it to listen to 16 valves dance at 6000-8100 rpm. At least Honda still remembers a little of this passion in the S2000...
Take this in the humor in which it is meant: I'm biased, I admit it. I just can't stand the fact that I want to hop in that little Focus and hit the track so much, that I just hate the little thing. I feel so guilty for buying this overpriced Quattro sport sedan with the heated seats for my spoiled post-doctoral butt....oh the agony!
Have a great week, I only wish we could laugh over this in person!
Michael
My Integra weight was from actually weighing the car, so the data is far from faulty. The Focus weight I stated is from the link above, 2770lbs, a full 100lbs heavier than an Integra GS-R by your data.
As for bias, it is natural to bias any car one has owned or does own, otherwise you would never have purchased the vehicle.
In my opinion, Honda is going backwards (for my tastes, maybe not yours) in their lineup. They are making there Civic more like the Accord, a comfortable cruiser car. Strut suspension on a Civic? I consider blasphemy. I didn't buy my GS-R to be a torquey cruiser (I would have purchased a Probe GT or a Imprezza), I bought it to listen to 16 valves dance at 6000-8100 rpm. At least Honda still remembers a little of this passion in the S2000...
Take this in the humor in which it is meant: I'm biased, I admit it. I just can't stand the fact that I want to hop in that little Focus and hit the track so much, that I just hate the little thing. I feel so guilty for buying this overpriced Quattro sport sedan with the heated seats for my spoiled post-doctoral butt....oh the agony!
Have a great week, I only wish we could laugh over this in person!
Michael
04-01-2001, 08:42 PM
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did you have a full tank of gas?
When you weigh your car, you need a full tank of gas. Also, it's unfair modifying your car first. Yes, modifying your car can make it lighter, but if you compare a modded Integra against a unmodded Focus, you are giving the Integra an unfair advantage.
The struts in the Civic thing is way overblown. BMW uses struts in the front of the 3-series. They can be made to perform well.
The RSX (new Integra) is supposedly based not based off the Civic any more, so if you really need wishbones on front, perhaps you can hold out for that.
Sounds like you are a perfect match for a Honda, I can't understand why you would buy an Audi. No sound of valves dancing in an S4.
I appreciate the qualities of a race car on a race car. I'd like to own an MR2 some day. But that doesn't mean I want to drive a race car every day. Honda isn't really in the race car business anyway except for the NSX, so I can understand them softening their stance a little.
There's still hope for the Type R version of the Civic, if we ever see it this time. Despite the worship, the last once wasn't a good car for most people. It's a very rough and ready car, the likes of which we don't see in the US very much. Things which seem to be changing with the introduction of the WRX and the certain compact power war it will start.
The struts in the Civic thing is way overblown. BMW uses struts in the front of the 3-series. They can be made to perform well.
The RSX (new Integra) is supposedly based not based off the Civic any more, so if you really need wishbones on front, perhaps you can hold out for that.
Sounds like you are a perfect match for a Honda, I can't understand why you would buy an Audi. No sound of valves dancing in an S4.
I appreciate the qualities of a race car on a race car. I'd like to own an MR2 some day. But that doesn't mean I want to drive a race car every day. Honda isn't really in the race car business anyway except for the NSX, so I can understand them softening their stance a little.
There's still hope for the Type R version of the Civic, if we ever see it this time. Despite the worship, the last once wasn't a good car for most people. It's a very rough and ready car, the likes of which we don't see in the US very much. Things which seem to be changing with the introduction of the WRX and the certain compact power war it will start.
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