Why should I buy an SVT focus?

[Lemond2002]

I am ready to buy a new car. I have been considering buying the Focus SVT or the Nissan SE-R Spec V. I really like the Focus SVT but I am worried about reliablity on this car. It seems that there has been a lot of recalls on the focus model and one on the SVT already. I plan on keeping the car until 150,000 miles. I drive cars into the ground....lots of highway miles. Can anyone help?

Can I expect to have many miles on this car without any problems?

What is the most comin problems that is happening to this car?

[SVTfcs]

The SVT Focus is the best car EVER!!! The government should even give us our own "Reserved for SVT Foci" parking spaces right next to the handicap spots. You didn't give me much information about yourself, so I will explain why the SVT Focus is the perfect vehicle for me.

First, I will tell you a little about myself:
This is the 3rd vehicle I have bought/leased. I do a variety of driving, from highway driving like yourself to gallivanting around cities to cruising back country roads. I go to college for 3 months at a time, so I am constantly driving all over the state of Michigan. And I'm single and 21 years old.

Ok, I have always driven trucks before I decided to buy this spunky little thing. So needless to say, I was slightly concerned about owning this car. I read all the reviews from magazines and did lots of research before finally being convinced to buy this car. Well, this car has completely proven itself worthy to me. It is just so much fun to drive, I can't express it in words! Every time I start the engine, this hopped up Focus just gives me a weird "vibe." It says to me, "hey lets go drive around really really fast!" I have never had a vehicle say anything quite like this to me. And I've driven more than a handful of "fast" cars.

The chassis on this car is truely world class. That might be why it's so damn fun to drive. For the price you just can't go wrong!

Before I bought this car I had a pimp @$$ Explorer with a sweet sound system. The girls totally loved this truck. So, I was also concerned that I wouldn't impress any females with this little Focus. Well, let me tell you that I was totally wrong! At first they think it's just a cute little car. But when they get inside and observe the interior they fall in love with it. What I'm trying to say is that: it actually is possible to pick up chicks in this car! My favorite compliment so far was when a female admired my dash board saying it went with the "racey" theme.

Now I will explain why this is the perfect car for you:

"lots of highway miles" you say... That's great, because the 6 speed trans in the SVT Focus is more fun to drive on the highway than you can possibly imagine! There are 3 gears you can use at highway speeds: 6th gear - set your speed control and switch your sterio to a good cruising CD (you have 6 to effortlessly choose from by just pressing a button); 5th gear - this gear is very convenient for passing that slow @$$ in front of you!; 4th gear - use this gear for aggressive passes (example: pulling ahead of that slow Nissan SE-R spec V in the other lane!)
reliability... Of course you're concerned about how reliable this car is! Ford recalling a car is not necessarily a bad thing. It can just be a customer satisfaction issue. The early Foci did indeed have several recalls. In fact this problem plagued them for about the first year of there existance (around 1999-2000). But keep one factor in mind. The Ford Focus is a "World Car." There have been over 2 million Foci that have been manufactured! So obviously, every quality issue was handled promptly after the first few batches rolled off assembly lines. The SVT focus did have a recall on the throttle. But don't wory this was a minor problem and has been fixed. And if there is a problem with your car, there is always a Ford dealership somewhere near you to help you out. I don't know where you live but chances are, there is one within about 50 miles of wherever you happen to be (anywhere in the U.S.A.)!

So this is why I think you should buy a Ford SVT Focus. If you want to continue hearing my explinations of this car's prominence, just ask me and I will continue to post right here until you love this car as much as I do. Whatever you want! I will compare my car to the Nissan SE-R spec V or justify the quality of the Ford brand. Also tell me a little more about yourself so that I can relate to you. There is even some old guys on this site (check out the poll: SVT Focus Owners: Your age please) that are driving around SVT Foci. HA!!! I can picture them braging about how much faster their SVT Focus is than their buddies Lincoln or Cadillac.

[wileytheman]

Speaking from having about 11,000 miles on my SVTF so far, I have been very pleased with the reliability. Not to mention that driving it is very addictive! This is the first car I've owned where it's just plain fun to drive. The handling and acceleration is such a good combination.

I've heard that the 2002 Focus models resolved a lot of problems the earlier Focus had. And so far that rumor seems to be holding up. Focaljet.com has a really large forum userbase where you get to see all the problems Focus and SVTF owners have experienced.

A couple months ago there was a really good article from R&T that put the SVTF up against the Honda Civic Si and a host of others, and it got top honors.

Anyway, it's a true SVT representative. An excellent mix of handling and power.

[timssvtfocus]

All I can say it is that I have driven a lot of performance vehicles and this one by far is the best handling and braking and for the money the speed is fabulous compared to civc si's and gsr's you will not believe the advantage you will have!

[Osiris]

Actually, the Escort is the first "world car." Circa 1982.

Followed by the Contour/Mystique.

Focus is the third attempt at a world car platform. I've seen the reliability issues and they are a reason to be concerned. However, it seems the SVT is a little better put together, I haven't seen many people with significant issues, either.

For the money, current incentives and critical evaluation, the SVTF is the best car out there. True it needs to be quicker, but mods will take care of that issue real quick. Focus seems to be getting the kind of aftermarket attention Mustang gets, which is a great thing.

I like Nissan, they build a great car, but in this comparo, the SVT is the clear choice.

[SVTfcs]

Oops! I edited my post. Thanks for the correction Osiris.

:allhail:

[Stanger58]

I don't own an SVT Focus... but, from driving them (hard) at the SVT dealer training and at several On Track events, three things that REALLY impressed me were;

1) Chassis - This car has a wonderful chassis. Tight, rigid and predictable. Yes, it's a front-wheel drive, but you can learn to drive it like a rear wheel drive vehicle (get the back end to "rotate" for you.

2) Brakes - truly world class. OUTSTANDING braking performance, on the track (hee...hee...hee...hee...hee) and on the street.

3) Six-speed transaxle - lots of "choices" for keeping the engine in the "sweet spot" of the powerband.

All in all, a perfect example of SVT's mission: balance of handling, power, appearance and exclusivity.

The five-door model will be even more of a sleeper!!

Keep us posted... let us know what you decide to purchase.

[PitchBlackSVT]

Before I got my SVT Focus i drove a 89 CRX dx. Before i bought the car i wondered it would be to drive and how well it would handle compared to my CRX. But for the past 3 days i've been driving it, (I've driven over 100 miles every day) it has been the funnest car i've ever driven. It has a buttload of torque for a I4, and instead of that torque at some high rpm, such as on honda B series motors. It gets 85% of it at a mere 2200, which is perfect for everyday driving. Another great thing about it are the looks. I've had it for only three days and i've gotten tons of looks from people. (girls in IS300, a bunch of people in Hondas and Acuras because they have torque envy) So i've concluded that this car is worth way more than you pay for it. The Focus definetely represents SVT's goals for their cars.

[quicksilver]

:D I'm one of those 'old guys' on the site...52 years young....I've had 2 Mustang GT's in my past and was in the market for another 'fun' car. I make a pretty good living and could have spent much more than I did for my SVTF. For me, it came down to value.....I just couldn't find another new small car with this level of comfort, power, handling!!!, options, great sound, etc...for under $20K. I do believe Ford has addressed the initial reliability issues (primarily the 2000 model). The SVT Focus ain't no BMW, for sure, but it ain't $30+K either.

I drive it every day, 2,000 miles per month. It's a blast to drive...I look forward to getting in the car every time. This car made the Car & Driver 10 Best list in 2002 and 2003.

Good luck with your choice.

[skatepunk]

Originally posted by Lemond2002
I am ready to buy a new car. I have been considering buying the Focus SVT or the Nissan SE-R Spec V. I really like the Focus SVT but I am worried about reliablity on this car. It seems that there has been a lot of recalls on the focus model and one on the SVT already. I plan on keeping the car until 150,000 miles. I drive cars into the ground....lots of highway miles. Can anyone help?

Can I expect to have many miles on this car without any problems?

What is the most comin problems that is happening to this car?


I am impressed with the package SVT puts together... I had a 2000 Lightning before I got the focus and drove that sucker hard... it just laughed at me... I had about 90,000 KM on it when I sold it..

I have only had the focus for a month and a half and can tell it is going to be a good car... I think as long as you do the routine maitanence on the car you should make it to 150,000 miles with very little problem... if you don't take care of it and drive it hard forget it.

I would say the SVT because they are built to be beaten on

[Jonny Bolt]

Well, it looks like lemond hasnt returned yet, or he hasnt atleast posted again anyway. Anyway, I was just going to say that I do like my SVTF, I'd reather have a 93 Saleen SA-10, or 03 Terminator Cobra, but I still like my car for many reasons, which I wont even get into. Honestly, as much as I'd like to tell you to get this car, I'm not going to. Why? Because thats one less person with the same car as me.

[BlownVenom]

Originally posted by Jonny Bolt
Well, it looks like lemond hasnt returned yet, or he hasnt atleast posted again anyway. Anyway, I was just going to say that I do like my SVTF, I'd reather have a 93 Saleen SA-10, or 03 Terminator Cobra, but I still like my car for many reasons, which I wont even get into. Honestly, as much as I'd like to tell you to get this car, I'm not going to. Why? Because thats one less person with the same car as me.


actually the production numbers won't change if he doesn't buy it, someone else will...?

[Jonny Bolt]

Point taken.

but ya nevah know. ya nevah......nevah know.