ZX2 engine = Mazda engine?

I am looking to buy a used zx2 for my 16 year old daughter and have been informed by several parties that the zx2 uses a mazda engine.

Is this true???? In all my research on the zx2, I never came accross this remarkable fact. If true, this is good news as the the mazda engine is pretty solid.

Thanks,
Brian

no its not, its a Ford motor based on a Cosworth design. Escorts have not had a Mazda motor since 96. and you cant say "the mazda engine " as there are more then one. and the Zetec is a very reliable motor, but the ZX2's Zetec is is different enough to not be effected by the Focus recalls.

Also, as far as I know (I'm a Ford dealer tech), the Focus recalls have not been engine related. I'll qualify that statement by saying that the affected systems may relate to the engine but are separate from it.

hte SVT focus has had 4 recalls on teh PCM alone

Again, the PCM is specific to the car that the engine is in. PCM recalls are simple software/programming updates that are uploaded into the existing PCM. Also, the SVT Focus engine is much different than either the Zetec in the base Focus or the ZX2.

you really dont know what you are talking about do you?

it the Focus/SVT/ZX2 share the same block only the heads and intake manifolds are different, and since the SVT still has the VCT the head on the SVT is closer to the ZX2 head then the regular focus head.

i know what a PCM recall is, and seeing how the "udates" were to fix hesitations and sputtering caused by fords crappy job when it was released it took them aobut 4 tries to get it right

as i said above "hte SVT focus has had 4 recalls on teh PCM alone" and that recall affects ALL SVT foci that do not have the updated code or a equal one (which is about 70-80% of them)

If you have nothing useful to say, spew it on the internet...

I have nothing to prove, only helpful advice. If you don't like it, ignore it.

Yes, the SVT Focus has VCT while the standard Focus does not. However, the VCT is on the intake cam, while the ZX2 VCT is on the exhaust cam. PCM programming for each of these 3 different engine versions is specific to each type. PCM recalls that affect the SVT Focus do not necessarily affect other Zetecs in other cars.

Go ahead and think I don't know what I'm talking about. It's obvious that in your worldview, no one but you knows what they're talking about anyway. What I post here is for those who are looking for advice, not those, like you, who are simply looking for a way to put others down to make yourself look like a bigger person in your own mind.

hte SVT focus has had 4 recalls on teh PCM alone


since when does "the SVT Focus has had 4 recalls" imply that they effect all of the Zetecs? is the zts or the zx2 a SVT focus? NO then it doesnt.

it doesnt seem like you like to try and understand what you read. I know the VCT is on the Exaust on the zx2 and intake on the SVT

ill tell you what i know... the svt slowcus sucks donkey ballz and the zx2 doesn't... how else do you explain how slow the svt is compared to the zx2 which is rated at 40 hp less?

ill tell you what i know... the svt slowcus sucks donkey ballz and the zx2 doesn't... how else do you explain how slow the svt is compared to the zx2 which is rated at 40 hp less?How are you implying slow? The SVT Focus is a low 15 second car, something your ZX2 is not.

svt focus= 20k performance car that runs 15.3 with a good driver
zx2=13k compact car that runs 15.7 with a good driver
zx2 s/r = 15kcar that runs 15.5 with a good driver

zx2 +7k = high13's 20k total
s/r +6k = high13's 20k total
svt focus = low15's 20k total

for 20k the svt is shit

HEY I HAVE A GREAT IDEA LET ME GO PAY FOR 7,000 MORE FOR A CAR THAT ISNT WORTH IT!

for 7k you can have a zx2 with 230whp and better suspention then the svt

I never said a focus svt was worth the money, so why the hell are you acting like I did?

ZX2000 said the SVT focus was slow, No it's not in my oppinion, The svt focus needs that 40 more hp to pull the 2,780 lbs it weights. On the other hand the ZX2 only weights in at around 2478lbs. Do the math, the focus has around 300 more lbs to carry. Whether or not you think that makes much of a difference, It does.

The highest base price of a SVT Focus i've seen was 17,300.

for 170hp its slow the 99-00 si run even with it with less hp and lot less tq, mazdaspeed protege runs faster with only 10ftlbs more tq

MazdaSpeed Protege is faster because it has boost.

Si's are geared for acceleration, SVT Focus's are not. Ford made that more of the "twistes" worthy car then it did a 1/4 mile car.

I think you all seem amazingly knowledgeable about these cars, and can't figure out why the bickering?

Or did I miss something?

I'm glad I've found a resource of knowledge and experience with these cars, I am a mechanic(or was, until 2000), but this motor/car is one I know virtually nothing about, from a specific technical and quirks/tendencies standpoint, which makes me nervous. I like to fully understand what I drive.

I am suprised by the seat of the pants grunt this little motor displays, especially just off idle. What is the HP and torque ratings, and at what RPM, if you have that? What is average MPG for these? So far, I am seeing better than 35, by estimation.

Jeff,
I work for Volvo, got away from Ford here not to long ago. But I had a ZX2 (2000/AT/minor mods) and I was getting 37MPG on the highway, and 29-30MPG combined. They do have a solid torq curve, if I could find my dyno sheet I would post it so you all could see the baseline for the car in mostly stock form.

Now to Srdotnet, for 7k I picked up a car that runs in the mid 14s and it weighs 1700KGs. I love the ZX2 I plan on getting another down the road for a daily driver when my 300ZX(Z32) becomes a weekend car. But thats a bit down the road. The ZX2 has a mildy sloppy suspension that has a tendancy to severaly understeer when in the corner, but it can be fixed with a better sway bar setup, and a strut brace. The tires and wheels are the weak point on the ZX2 stock, the 15s I had were by far WAY too thin and the contact patch just sucked. But it was ok in the snow.

130hp @ 5740
127ft-lbs @ 4250
about 28-33mpg depending how you drive, some picky manual drivers have hit close to 38ishmpg

Jeff,
I work for Volvo, got away from Ford here not to long ago. But I had a ZX2 (2000/AT/minor mods) and I was getting 37MPG on the highway, and 29-30MPG combined. They do have a solid torq curve, if I could find my dyno sheet I would post it so you all could see the baseline for the car in mostly stock form.

Now to Srdotnet, for 7k I picked up a car that runs in the mid 14s and it weighs 1700KGs. I love the ZX2 I plan on getting another down the road for a daily driver when my 300ZX(Z32) becomes a weekend car. But thats a bit down the road. The ZX2 has a mildy sloppy suspension that has a tendancy to severaly understeer when in the corner, but it can be fixed with a better sway bar setup, and a strut brace. The tires and wheels are the weak point on the ZX2 stock, the 15s I had were by far WAY too thin and the contact patch just sucked. But it was ok in the snow.


i wouldnt know i have an s/r better suspention, more power, and wider tires. and a Escort GT swaybar is a comon mod

MazdaSpeed Protege is faster because it has boost.

Si's are geared for acceleration, SVT Focus's are not. Ford made that more of the "twistes" worthy car then it did a 1/4 mile car.

that doesnt mean anythign after its warmed up the MSP makes the same whp and tq as the svt focus. making the only difference the gearing. not becaust its boosted, same power but better gearing and is better for AutoX then the SVT focus.

that 2 for the MSP 0 for the SVT

the Si will run even with a SVT with 10less hp and 34 less ft-lbs tq and its suspention is only moderatly lower then the SVT making them even again

that 0 for SI 0 for SVT

total 2 for other MSP, 1 for Si, and 0 for SVT

MazdaSpeed Protege is faster because it has boost.

Si's are geared for acceleration, SVT Focus's are not. Ford made that more of the "twistes" worthy car then it did a 1/4 mile car.


the focus svt isnt a twisties car. it handles good but its fwd... as is the zx2, the focus weighs more, i know what ure getting at i agree they 'tried' to make it like that, but until they incorporate awd with the svt and add maybe a s/c or turbo then the twisties are nothing for the focus.... im sure weve all driving rwd and awd now thats twisties, the svtfocus... takes highway offramps well.. .agreed.?

It was geared for autoX, and has a much better skidpad then almost any other i4. Hell if fwd isn't good for autoX then why would an Integra Type-R constantly kill a Firbird in autoX or why would a ZX2 have a higher exit speed then a c5 and an S/R with slicks and a upgraded rear swaybar get a .98g skidpad?

first of all, the mazdaspeed responds better than both the SI and the SVT combined to breather mods. the exhaust is soooo tiny on the friggin car that a 3" gives it 22whp.

Hodo, my car doesn't understeer or oversteer... thats w/ not really all that much done to it. maybe $500. ive got 21mm rear sway bar, Progress springs, strut brace and front and rear lower tie bars. id put your 300ZX to shame in autox...

well yeah the MSP is a turbo lol

um... ya...