[moon111]

You're 17, probably not allot of money, and chances are the car's last owner. You can go wilder then most. A great thing is the older Focuses are dying at a rapid rate, so used aftermarket parts do become available. One thing that could have a huge impact is paint.
You might want to google $50 paint jobs. Allot of work, not allot of cash. Use a bright color and it'll make huge impact. Colour is the first thing people notice.