[oldeguy]

Gentlemen,
My 2000 ZTS is starting to show her age, with some rust, peeling paint and a lot of mechanical issues, including a nagging electronic gremlin that I've tried to fix for a very long time. I looking at purchasing a newer vehicle, for up to $5,000.00. I prefer a Focus, as I love the car, but things just added up too quick on mine. I have just a couple of questions.
1) since I have 14 inch snow tires, what year did they change the brake rotors to 15"?
2) Since I'm cheap, I'm probably looking at a 2000-2004 Focus, which year is best, as in what year did Ford iron out most of the 2000's little problems?

[SL8RZZX3]

02-04 ford had most of the bugs worked out, 2002 being the best year I believe

Let me know how much you want for your zts as I might be interested

[oldeguy]

(05-30-2011, 11:50 PM)SL8RZZX3 Wrote: 02-04 ford had most of the bugs worked out, 2002 being the best year I believe

Let me know how much you want for your zts as I might be interested

It's an automatic. Want a wagon with some repairs needed?

[SL8RZZX3]

I don't care what it is as long as it's cheap lol

[SVTseller]

do you want a SVT contour with 88 000km's for 2700 bucks? leather power everything, and sunroof. fast, practical, 5 speed...

[moon111]

There's a SVT Focus for $4500 I believe on Kijiji.
If you do get another car, I'll have a set of 14" all-seasons on steel rims available shortly. In case a car you're looking at needs tires.

[ZTWsquared]

(05-30-2011, 11:10 PM)oldeguy Wrote: Gentlemen,
My 2000 ZTS is starting to show her age, with some rust, peeling paint and a lot of mechanical issues, including a nagging electronic gremlin that I've tried to fix for a very long time. I looking at purchasing a newer vehicle, for up to $5,000.00. I prefer a Focus, as I love the car, but things just added up too quick on mine. I have just a couple of questions.
1) since I have 14 inch snow tires, what year did they change the brake rotors to 15"?
2) Since I'm cheap, I'm probably looking at a 2000-2004 Focus, which year is best, as in what year did Ford iron out most of the 2000's little problems?

The larger brakes started with the 2005 model year - so if keeping the 14"s is a priority, up to 2004 is it ... in any event, your budget range won't get you far into the 2005+ model years anyway.

In the "prior to 2005" category, the 2004 ZTW was the best car we had - with the one major caveat is that Ford didn't install rear seat heat ducts for that one year ... bad enough for the rear seat passengers in winter, but even worse is that the hot air that would normally be going to the rear seat is directed into the underside of the centre console ... and so it gets exceptionally hot. If you get an '04 I heartily suggest a trip to the wreckers to get the rear seat heat ducts.

My '07 ZXW was the best Focus I had - but the odds are you won't see one for 5k.

[Focus man. Focus.]

I love my 02 ZX5. Although the little things are starting to pop up. First the Alt and now the starter. But she is pushing 225k and 9 years. I guess it's time.

[NikiterZTS]

I remember when my '02 ZTS hit 200k $hit just went down hill. Gave her away with 250k+ on it

[Spinal]

(05-30-2011, 11:10 PM)oldeguy Wrote: 2) Since I'm cheap, I'm probably looking at a 2000-2004 Focus, which year is best, as in what year did Ford iron out most of the 2000's little problems?

theres a 2007 black zx5 fully loaded (with leather+sunroof) with 60k on it for like 6500......pretty good deal if you ask me.

[NOS2Go4Me]

It depends on where you're at, mentally, and what you want to endure. After a spate of replacements, it'll settle down. I've got 323K on mine - we're doing the clutch, front passenger wheel bearing and some other part swaps this week. SVT suspension went in last week (front).

[Oscar The Grouch]

(05-31-2011, 12:54 PM)Spinal Wrote:

(05-30-2011, 11:10 PM)oldeguy Wrote: 2) Since I'm cheap, I'm probably looking at a 2000-2004 Focus, which year is best, as in what year did Ford iron out most of the 2000's little problems?

theres a 2007 black zx5 fully loaded (with leather+sunroof) with 60k on it for like 6500......pretty good deal if you ask me.

Damn. 6500.00 wow. Wonder how much mine will fetch without leather seats and at 45,000kms.

[oldeguy]

(06-01-2011, 12:06 AM)NOS2Go4Me Wrote: It depends on where you're at, mentally, and what you want to endure. After a spate of replacements, it'll settle down. I've got 323K on mine - we're doing the clutch, front passenger wheel bearing and some other part swaps this week. SVT suspension went in last week (front).

The cost of repairs required, without looking at bodywork, is around what i want to spend on a "new to me"

[Mystake]

(05-31-2011, 12:54 PM)Spinal Wrote:

(05-30-2011, 11:10 PM)oldeguy Wrote: 2) Since I'm cheap, I'm probably looking at a 2000-2004 Focus, which year is best, as in what year did Ford iron out most of the 2000's little problems?

theres a 2007 black zx5 fully loaded (with leather+sunroof) with 60k on it for like 6500......pretty good deal if you ask me.

for reference, I paid about 6200 out the door for my zx5, about a year and a half ago with 103k on it. So yeah, that 6500 is a pretty decent deal IMO

[Focus man. Focus.]

I hear Nik on the 200K+ thing. Although things are coming up here and there, they never seem to happen at a good time.