03 European Package Focus

[tomsgarage]

I am the SVT Coordinator for Bob Bennett Ford in Columbia, SC, and I need your input! I am getting ready to submit orders for 2003 SVT Focus and I am wondering how much demand is out there for the European Package? This option bring the car to $22540.00. :jawdrop:

Any input would be appreciated!

[deactivated]

I'm going to go on the assumption that you sold SVTs last year. Correct me if I'm wrong.


Maybe your dealership is different, but a lot of dealerships have 02s still sitting on the lot. They are going for 14995 regularly and some of them still aren't moving. How many did you sell with the winter package last year? That's how many euro packages you should order. Most people are not going to get the euro package cause the winter package kills performance.


Also another word of advice, if you want to sell these cars steadily and not have them lingering on your lot all year, avoid the greed and don't put any aftermarket markups on them. A dealer that throws a markup on them is suddenly competing with WRXs and sometimes even EVOs. The SVTF demographic is not like the Lightning and Cobra demographic, they won't bite at just any price. And after seeing how low 02s sold this year, they WILL wait.

[tomsgarage]

Thanks for your reply!

We are a full line SVT dealer since 1993, and have never charged over MSRP for any of the SVT products. We have done fairly well with our SVT Focus inventory. We had 8 at one time and are now down to 2 left in stock. It is a great car but, it is a different demographics than the Cobra or Lightning customer. And with Ford offering the incentives on the SVT Focus makes it an even better value!

Again, thanks for your reply, and keep the comments coming! It will help me better understand the SVT Focus buyer!

[deactivated]

Originally posted by tomsgarage
Thanks for your reply!

We are a full line SVT dealer since 1993, and have never charged over MSRP for any of the SVT products.

I wish all of your peers did the same.


Do you sponser a local SVTOA chapter?

[bubba]

if I had known the euro package would be available as an option when I bought my focus, I would have waited for it. I like everything that i different better than the stuff it is replacing.
One concern I would have is the comfort of the seats on a long drive. Other than that, I would pay the extra money for stuff that is under warranty and cheaper than if I purchased the extras seperatly. That is why I bought the SVT focus and not the regular zx3.

[deactivated]

heh, i dont think you'd find much use for the winter package though in San jose. you do realize that the euro package comes with the winter package?

[bubba]

Originally posted by inteller
heh, i dont think you'd find much use for the winter package though in San jose. you do realize that the euro package comes with the winter package?
oh. um, I guess the heated seats would be awesome in the winter.

[Chuck G.]

Originally posted by inteller
I wish all of your peers did the same.


Do you sponser a local SVTOA chapter? Toms Dealership BB Ford has offerd to sponsor our chapter ,but another dealer has it right now,Tom has been a real help to our chapter and is currently trying to help us do an event maybe at Carolina Motorsports Park maybe even with another club to defray costs.Any one interested? Bob Bennett is my official Parts and Service Dealer.While they may not be perfect,Dealers don't get much better.;)

[DaveSVT03]

I bought my car there and I live 2 hours away. Great dealer, wish more were like Bennet.

[tomsgarage]

Thanks for all your replys and kind words! The European Edition of the Focus is late availability, so keep the replys coming! Depending on what kind of response I get here, and other websites, will impact how many, if any, we order.
Again keep the replys coming!:D

[cmezip]

I could see having one or 2 but I am not for the 3K$ mark up for the seats and wheels and color choice I would not buy it, now if it had a turbo or 30 extra HP I would be interested. I think the SVTF is a great value the way it was in 2002 and I think it puts it out of the price range with all that stuff on there. I owned 2 Bullitts and could see how they justified the 3600$ premium over a GT but in my opinion I don't see how the european package adds any real value? I am an A planner and have owned several Fords (we also have a "NBX" package Explorer) and I am 30 yrs old with a decent income, maybe some of the younger guys and gals would like it but I don't car for it. ( I also think its silly you have to get the package to get the color). I would save the $ 3K for my own modifications.

[Ridgerunner]

Pardon me for being dense....I've only had my SVT for about a month....but what is the Euro package? :confused: Don

[deactivated]

it is an option code for the 03 SVTFs. It is a package that includes all the available options that you can get on the 02, plus some fancy recaro seats, some different wheels and your choice of either yellow or orange exterior paint color (I believe you can also still get it in red silver blue and black as well but you can only get orange and yellow with this package)

[Ridgerunner]

Thanks inteller! I would hope that in the future, a Euro option package would include a higher output engine.....something in the 190 to 210 hp region, and a limited-slip differential. The true Euro Focus, the RS, has a turbo and about 215 hp. I think the seats need to extend slightly farther forward; they don't support my legs as well as the ones in my SVX. Maybe the Recaro seats would solve that little problem.... :) Don

[SVTfcs]

I didn't know that the Euro package comes standard with the winter package! That kind of sucks! I like the wheels and seats in my SVTF but those HID headlights are sweet.

:allhail:

[deactivated]

well the HIDs are a totally seperate option form the Euro package. You can order those in any configuration.

[tomsgarage]

Thanks for all you replys! At this time I have come to the conclusion that we will not order any of this option for stock units. I have ordered our 2003 ZX3 SVT as 4 base model and 4 with just the moon roof option. By the time you add all the options to the SVT Focus it starts to get pretty pricey in our opinion. I beleive this vehicle is an entry level vehicle into the SVT family, in other words,you get a lot of bang for your dollar! As an example, my 15 year old son wants one , and maybe down the road we will have one to go along with my 03 Cobra Coupe, that he thinks he is going to drive when he gets his license, ha ha!;)

[Fordfanactic4ev]

some of you have said that you would buy the european package if it had a higher output engine. To me that defeats the whole SVT concept. It would be akin to offering different horsepower options in a mustang SVT or a lightning SVT. the SVT is about the entire package, and that SVT package offers a uniform engine and suspension regardless of the platform. so to me, to offer a higher output engine in the SVT would be contradictive to the SVT concept. I can understand offering different colors, wheels etc ( I think they should make the REcaro seat standard in the SVTF) as an option package makes economic sense as there are people who want a stripper base model BUT still have the SVT engine and suspension, and others like myself that like to have some "nice to have " options such as the sunroof, audio. just my thoughts.
havign said this I for one would be really pissed if Ford offered a higher output engine AS AN OPTION to the SVTF . Before any of you respond that Ford is considering a higher output engne in 2004 or later, I am awware of this, but please keep in mind that it will be an accross the board option as part of the SVT package.