Hi, Guest
07-06-2011, 05:29 AM
People can say what they want, but the first-gens (2000-04) are the purest expression of the Euro Focus in terms of driveability and fun. I'm enjoying my 2000 ZX3 so much (when it's on the road) that I'm already looking for a lower mileage car to transfer everything to in case my extreme Kms (323,000) ever start to really work against me.
I had a 2001 SPI sedan. Handled ok when I was done, but it was an auto and had the SOHC engine. Boat anchor. I also had a 2007 ZX5 SES. Decent, quick enough with intake/tune.exhaust and secondary cat delete but still auto, so slower than it should have been. If it had been a manual, I would have kept it. Long story.
All that said, the first-gens are the best driving experience you'll get out of a Focus, pound-for-pound, until the mod parts start really appearing for the 2012+ which is a return to the Euro-spec Focus... mostly.
I had a 2001 SPI sedan. Handled ok when I was done, but it was an auto and had the SOHC engine. Boat anchor. I also had a 2007 ZX5 SES. Decent, quick enough with intake/tune.exhaust and secondary cat delete but still auto, so slower than it should have been. If it had been a manual, I would have kept it. Long story.
All that said, the first-gens are the best driving experience you'll get out of a Focus, pound-for-pound, until the mod parts start really appearing for the 2012+ which is a return to the Euro-spec Focus... mostly.
Daily driver 1: 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport "S"
33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.
Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT
COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.
33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.
Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT
COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.