Opinions on 00 Focus Wagon

[gotchills]

Any comments on 00 Focus wagon with Auto Tran, and manual windows? I was reading the comments made in another thread saying that they were not so good until 2003.
I don't care if it looks like I'm going to get groceries but I do like a strong engine especially at take off and reliability is very important to me. Also suspension is important, I tend to carry heavy loads at times. I found one for about $4500. with 60,000 mi.
Any opinions welcome.

[Mustangman25]

Good deal for sure. I read a bunch about early Focus reliability problems, but so far after 5 months of owning it, no major problems. The engine is very strong indeed, and responds well to mods if you're looking to do any.
Oh...and crank windows rock...

[gotchills]

Thank you Mustangman25.

[pre98zetec]

wait, is it the zetec or the whimpy sohc?

[gotchills]

Don't know. What is the difference between them? Or should I ask what is a zetec and sohc?
gotchills

[pre98zetec]

Zetec is a 2L DOHC 130hp 135tq motor, ton's of power. the other is a 2L SOHC 110hp 125tq. The split port (sohc motor) is almost just like what was found in the older escorts and tempos. I would if you could, go with the Zetec as it's the better motor of the bunch.

[Mustangman25]

I sort of think that you wouldn't get the punch you desribed with the SPI. It's most likely the Zetec.

[gotchills]

Thanks guys. That would make a difference- and it is probably why I don't like the Escort I'm driving now. I'm checking it out and I'll let you know how it goes.

Carol

[gotchills]

I went, I saw, I really liked the (in/out) size..... I drove, I checked, I found the whimp. I really thought I might not care, having no other experience with which to compare.
But alas I found another flaw, and can't quite figure out what it could be. I believed the guy when he told he didn't know, he never noticed. He owned the car for only six months (he was here visiting from another country and he his leaving to go back soon) But what do you think could have caused the tires to look so new on the drivers side (still had nubbies on the side walls) and then to have quite a bit more wear (and alot less tread) on the passenger side?
Am I just naive or is this a sellers trick that I know nothing about?
What do you think it is?
Other than that the car looked a little used (by a slob)/ dirty (no rips) on the inside but the out side had "neery a ding" except a few itsy bitsy little nicks on the back bumper.
I did notice that there was no real power to the eng. something that would ultimately drive me over the edge! Thanks again.
Carol

[Mustangman25]

Hmmm...whichever engine you pick is your decision based on how much power you want, but the uneven tire wear is a sign that you either have an allignment problem, or the driver's side wheel has too much camber, i.e. the strut has slowly tilted a little so that the wheel and the whole strut is angled out, even only slightly. The solution could be a simple retightening of the strut bolts to the right torque specs, or something needing a little more work. If I were you, I would have a mechanic check it out, to 1) make sure that you didn't miss anything else, and 2) to see if the camber problem is major, and if it is easily fixable. It seems a little premature for the front struts to allready be showing uneven wear like that, but anything is possible. I have a 2000, but mine is a ZX3, so it is much smaller, and slightly lighter, and I've had no uneven wear, aside from the fronts going a little fast...but that's just me driving aggresivley . The extra weight and length of the wagon might be putting some extra strain on the front suspension.

[zx2srdotnet]

did he just say 130hp and 135tq was tons of power lol

[GO17ZILLA]

if ur a mom and got kids or something, like u said groceries, then the wagon is the way to go, the 2 door zx3 is very nice, lots of room, but hard to get in and out of. When u go to check out the car, open the hood and look on the engine, the zetec motor has a black casing with the word ZETEC on it, the SOHC would have SPLIT PORT on it. i owned a split port, kinda sucked, not too much power, almost the same as my friends 98 eclipse, slooooow! LOL, go with the Zetec of possible, they are a bit faster. Ive got the new 2.3 l engine in mine, and mine flies, i love the little car!

[gotchills]

Am I confused? The focus wagon comes in one size with option of two different engines or does it come in two sizes, one smaller with one kind of eng and the other larger with another kind?
If the later is the case which is larger? And which has the zetec engine?
Please rush your responses because I only have till Saturday to decide on this one.
Carol

[gotchills]

But its not the front, its the passenger side?

[Mustangman25]

I'm confused by your last post.
In 2000, your options for the Focus were the ZX3 with the Zetec, the sedan with a standard SPI, optional Zetec, and the wagon with stock SPI and optional Zetec. The wagon you're looking at is either the SPI or the Zetec. HTH