So for less than 4k, I found this Focus...

"Ryanator122" (hawkeye122) 03/17/2014 at 20:46 • Filed to: None

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I know the answer is always "Miata", but I'm simply too tall. Ideas?

Right now I've got my eye one this Ford Focus. 2.0, manual, ZX3. The idea would be to splurge a bit on wheels and shocks, and hopefully get it up to 170 HP.

I need a new car, I've decided to gift the now broken Camry back to my father and am beginning the hunt for a new car. I have a list if things I want/need from a car, so here goes:

I must, of course, fit into the damn thing. 6'4" with long legs makes a first-gen Miata undriveable.

It ought to get reasonable gas mileage. Sure, I'd love to have an old Challenger that's been freshly primered and needs interior work, but I simply can't afford the fuel. I don't exactly need a Prius either... I'd hope to get at least 20 in town and more than 25 on the freeway.

It needs to run.
While I relish the idea of getting a Volvo or something unique, I simply can't afford to waste time ordering obscure parts and spending heaps of money on labor. Upkeep can be planned, but a lack of reliability kills my life.

It should have room for stuff.
I quite enjoyed the ample trunk and rear seat space in the Camry. I could fill it to the brim with everything I needed, and off I went. I don't need a 4-door anymore, but if it's a two-door it needs to have a reasonable chunk of storage space.

It shouldn't be uncomfortable.
Notice how I worded that. I don't need a great big cushy Jag, but the seats shouldn't be total trash either.

Obviously this is Oppo, so I assume you know I'd like something sporty too. Any ideas?

Bandit > Ryanator122 03/17/2014 at 20:48

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944, 2nd gen Trans Am, RX7/RX8

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Ryanator122 03/17/2014 at 20:53

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http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/i-found-a-car-…

Milky > Ryanator122 03/17/2014 at 20:54

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SC400/300. Can be had for cheap, got my old beater for $1500 & I always got 20-22mpg, which is the worst mileage you can get because I had the V8-auto combo (other options are I6 auto/man).

They're fun to slide around too, just don't crash like I did.

48 Spoons > Ryanator122 03/17/2014 at 20:55

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Focus is supposed to be a pretty good car. Although avoid the 00-01 ones as they were not very reliable. 02 after are much better from what I've heard.

Ryanator122 > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 03/17/2014 at 20:58

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I'd love that, but it's on literally the opposite side of the country

Ryanator122 > Bandit 03/17/2014 at 21:00

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944? Reliable? Hokay.

AthomSfere > 48 Spoons 03/17/2014 at 21:07

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Not so sure there. I had a friend who bought an 03, mechanically it seemed "rough". No real problems in the year he owned it from what I recall... But everything rattled / vibrated. I am not a "touch plastics" person, but the interior felt like it was taped in place... and that rattling! I can't remember any other car that felt so cheap (besides an Escort ZX2 of the last gen).

AthomSfere > Ryanator122 03/17/2014 at 21:08

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Also, the 2nd Gen Trans Am and the "Oh, another oil leak" Rotaries...

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Milky 03/17/2014 at 21:16

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Was the SC400 right hand drive only? I had a buddy who had a Soarer with the I6. It pulled surprisingly well for being a a heavier car.

Milky > BaconSandwich is tasty. 03/17/2014 at 21:20

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No sir, the SC's were mad for the US market. They are kind of portly, but still they feel decently fast (esp. with exhaust mods).

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > Ryanator122 03/17/2014 at 21:24

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I'd avoid the Focus in all honesty. The first-gens can be a gamble: Ford rushed the development process early on so they're either really great cars or complete basket cases, and it's almost impossible to tell between the two. Someone else mentioned a Protege5 which IMO would be a much better option (I've heard really good thing from owners, including my uncle took his Protege5 to ~210k miles with little issues, while I've put about 3k into my Focus in the last 10k miles at 105k).

Bandit > AthomSfere 03/17/2014 at 21:31

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What? I dd a 2nd gen Trans Am.

AthomSfere > Bandit 03/17/2014 at 21:36

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Sorry...

OK, I like the looks. But a 70's American car == Not reliable, or fast.

I would love to resto-mod one though. Fully update suspension and the engine with say a LS... Perfect.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Milky 03/17/2014 at 21:43

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Interesting. I guess you learn something new every day!

CrazyMike366 > Ryanator122 03/17/2014 at 21:55

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The Focus was a great car in its time, especially the first gen, but it hasn't aged well - compacts have come a long way since then. But on your budget most of those newer cars won't be an option, and a lot of the older cars from the 90's won't meet the other requirements you laid out for reliability and efficiency etc. The Focus is probably a good choice.

I'd advise you to look for an '03-04 hatch (more useful) with the "big" 2.3L Duratec PZEV engine (a rare option in '03-04 in a few states with stricter emissions laws...later "2nd" gen Foci had a smaller 2.0 Duratec and looked worse) and a stick if you want it to have reasonably sporty intentions. The SVT suspension and brakes can be sourced from Ford Racing for pretty cheap and will swap right in, Quaife and Torsen both make good LSD's to help put power to the ground, and Cosworth made some very high quality parts that can push the motor well past SVT levels of hp at the top end with better grunt in the low end. If you're interested in doing bodykits at all, the Euro bodywork will take a bit of work to fit on a first gen US-spec model (gotta trim the crash foam and cut a few inches off the crash bars) but they're simply a thing of beauty, imo.

If you go with an '00-04 with a 2.oL Zetec (either base model or SVT) be prepared to go with forced induction if you want to make a lot of power (Jackson Racing marketed a kit that would probably meet the hp numbers you're targeting). The Zetec engine was dated even in the '98 Euro model, and the SVT Zetec is probably the pinnacle of that engine family at a merely whelming 170 hp. Given age you'll be looking at less.

I'd also strongly advise loooking at first gen Mazda3's. They're on the nifty second gen Focus platform that we didn't get in the states and have a derivative of the Duratec with mild variable valve timing. They'll be a bit more expensive than a Focus though, and not as easy to modify to go faster.

KirkyV > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him 03/17/2014 at 22:00

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I've always been curious about exactly why first gen Focii have that reputation in the US; here, they're pretty much universally seen as great, reliable cars, if a little prone to rust.

signintokinjalol > Milky 03/17/2014 at 22:28

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SVT.

Milky > signintokinjalol 03/17/2014 at 22:37

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#RWDfanboy

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > KirkyV 03/17/2014 at 22:38

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Well, the reputation of glitchy Focuses isn't exactly undeserved here in the States: IIRC Ford issued something like ten safety recalls for the pre-2004 model years along with dozens of TSB's for various issues from loose bolts in the rear hatch panels to head gaskets. I'm still rooting out problems with my 2003 even a decade later. I think besides rushing the U.S. drivetrain development your Focii were also a lot better built than the North American ones as well: the Hermosillo plant doesn't exactly have a reputation for superb quality control. It is kinda strange, though: apart from engines the European and NA Focii are basically identical, yet yours have such a stellar reputation for economy and value while ours can be so hit or miss.

signintokinjalol > Milky 03/17/2014 at 22:39

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http://www.kugelkomponents.com/focus/focusv8.…

You were saying?

Milky > signintokinjalol 03/17/2014 at 22:49

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4k price cap …. so what were you were saying?

signintokinjalol > Milky 03/17/2014 at 22:50

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You could pick one up for $1k. Find a used 5.0 and tranny. Be one hell of a story.

Milky > signintokinjalol 03/17/2014 at 22:54

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The engine cradle alone is $1,300! That would be one super tight budget.

Ryanator122 > CrazyMike366 03/17/2014 at 23:11

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Cosworth doesn't appear to deal in the US. And their parts list is just that- a parts list. I'm not sure what I would get first from the list...

Ryanator122 > signintokinjalol 03/17/2014 at 23:16

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There's actually a 90's 5.0 sitting in my mechanic's shop... Tempting

Soloburrito > Ryanator122 03/17/2014 at 23:24

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don't give up on the miata dream! Bolt a seat to the floor, remove the door card and get an eBay steering wheel with an offset.

D > Ryanator122 03/18/2014 at 01:21

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Well.. what's the budget look like?

Ryanator122 > D 03/18/2014 at 01:45

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4k or less. Planning to spend about 1k a year on maintenance/mods

CrazyMike366 > Ryanator122 03/18/2014 at 01:56

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The popular combination for streetable cars was Cosworth intake/header/exhaust (FSWerks is a pretty reputable name) with the Cosworth intake manifold, Cossie Stage 1 cams, and a Cosworth SuperChip tune. I believe FSWerks sells all of that still. The Cosworth stuff used to be marketed under the label 'Cosworth d-power' (d="duratec") and were available in stages 1-4. Evidently Cosworth no longer markets them as such, but I bet you could find them still. Cosworth has dealers all over the US amd I bet FSWerks could help you source them, or at very least find suitable alternatives.

D > Ryanator122 03/18/2014 at 01:56

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Oh, my bad it says right in the title.

Uh... It's a shame about the NA. There are several things you can do, however, that make the car more suitable for larger drivers. I have a seat in mine that is about 2 inches lower than stock (and if I used different rails I could get it lower) It also has a thinner back, so if I fabbed some brackets, I could theoretically more the seat backward a few more inches than stock. And like another guy mentioned, smaller steering wheel can help with your legs.

Moving past that car, I'd recommend the Integra GSR. Good motor, good handling, relatively comfortable, relatively economical, pretty practical, looks good, easy to upgrade, damned reliable... It's got a lot going for it.

300zx also comes to mind. Skip the TT and just find a clean N/A and that should check a lot of boxes. I know a guy with a MNP N/A and it looks pretty fun, it not a tad heavy.

CrazyMike366 > CrazyMike366 03/18/2014 at 02:03

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Here's a relevant article about a SoCal Cosworth distributer's demo car from Sport Compact Car magazine circa 2006. Obviously its a very well built streetable show car, but it shows off the platform well.