What does Oppo think...

"Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen" (sportwagen)
10/14/2014 at 10:28 • Filed to: SVT Focus

of the 2002-04 Ford SVT Focus? I really like them and I want one SO SO BADLY.

I really like this one in particular (minus the fat lip LOL)!

Competition Orange please! So, what say you?

DISCUSSION (31)

mcseanerson > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 10:30

Kinja'd!!!

O HIO!

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 10:30

supposed to be great cars. My girlfriends sister just got a 2000 Focus zx3 Kona edition and it's actually a pretty sweet car. I would love to own a SVT in addition to my FoST. would complement well and be an awesome car to take some miles off my FoST.

That color is fan. Tactic.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > mcseanerson
10/14/2014 at 10:31

Sadly the guy parted it out (I think) :(

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 10:31

I like focii in general, I considered one when I was looking for my first car.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > sefeing, actually bought an E46
10/14/2014 at 10:32

The awesome part is that they are REALLY cheap right now (in the low 3-4k's) and they are just a Focus (cheap to insure and work on)

 V8 Rustler > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 10:33

I test drove a Focus SVT because a friend was interested in buying one. The Recaro seats are awesome. From the research I made, the timing belt is quite special, but not impossible to DIY.

JBurd67 > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 10:34

They're not too bad. My buddy would absolutely love to have one. I'm not a fan of that body style and greatly prefer the two newer ones over this, but these specific models really aren't terrible. I personally wouldn't own one, but I'd like the chance to try it out!

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
10/14/2014 at 10:34

I'm looking into buying one when I start college! I honestly don't want to break my Jetta (ha! that shouldn't be too hard, it will break itself eventually!) so I think this would be a fun car for AutoCross and track days!

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 10:35

don't tell me these things! I can't afford a second car but this will force me into it hahaha

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > V8 Rustler
10/14/2014 at 10:35

Huh, the want is still strong!

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > sefeing, actually bought an E46
10/14/2014 at 10:35

Haha okay then... um, disregard?

RazoE > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 10:36

It's the rose that grew out of a pot of dirt. I say go for it.

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 10:36

Too late. Wallet over. Already purchased ;)

Also trying to get a LeMons team together. If I could find a SVT a for 500, even in rough condition I would die.

KnowsAboutCars > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 10:38

RS is cooler. (Yes, I know you didn't get it on that side of the pond.)

Kinja'd!!!

Jon-o > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 10:38

The most fun per dollar! My dad owned one for years. I learned to drive stick on it and it is great on (premium) gas and it handles like a go-kart. The Orange one is the most rare too. Just be ware the build quality is not the greatest, expect broken heated seats, the sunroof might need some fiddling with the track, and on ours anyway the power window motor died and the 6 disc CD changer will eat CDs. But I also want one very badly it's worth looking for one that isn't totally beat up its getting tough.

Dsscats > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 10:39

They're good cars to drive, but absolutely unreliable. And since the head was specific for that model only, the replacements will eventually run out, driving the price up.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 10:39

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/4684682632…

I've been really tempted, but I just can't justify spending the money right now since I am currently saving for a house...damn craigslist...so many wants all the time

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 10:40

GO BUY ONE

Textured Soy Protein > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 10:45

A friend of mine had one back in the day. It was alright. At the time I was more partial to the competing Honda products.

swansong, rockin' the wagons > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 10:47

Go buy one! I had an 02 sonic blue 3 door. Loved it. Couple notes:

1. The 5 door is usually more expensive than the 3 door, but more practical. Only the door length/count changes though. 5 door only available 03-04.

2. It is an interference engine, so changing the timing belt every 80k or so is critical.

3. The Recaros and the HIDs are so worth it. Get an EAP if you can find one. (Comp O color necessitaties the EAP)

4. Does require premium, but I averaged almost 30 mpg in mine.

5. With winter tires, as well as heated seats and mirrors, it was a beast in winter.

6. Aftermarket support is there, but not crazy. Intake and exhaust are solely noise mods, since they were designed very well from stock. Tune (from Tom at FocusPower) is always money well spent. There are super/turbocharger kits out there, but expect to pay $3k+ for a well sorted system.

7. Get on FocusFanatics and FocalJet and read read read! Also, the most well cared for examples are usually in the Buy Sell Trade section. Unfortunately these cars are getting old and cheap enough where they're getting thrashed, so it's tough to find a good one.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 10:47

They're pretty good cars. I was half thinking about getting one as a rally car/autocrosser for a while.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > swansong, rockin' the wagons
10/14/2014 at 10:50

Thank you!!! Now I just need to save up the dough to get one! I would probably be looking in the low 3k's for a decent one and 4k for a nice one... it is possible!

raitchison > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 10:54

The last of the Mexican built Foci (this is a good thing). It's based on an older engine design but that also means it's pretty bulletproof.

I almost bought one new in 2004 but ended up getting a Mazda3 because it was a lot more car for the money.

djmt1 > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 11:01

Is SVT Americanese for ST or RS?

swansong, rockin' the wagons > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 11:13

Definitely possible with that budget. For reference, I sold mine for $4k. It had 143k miles and was in pretty good shape, minus some bumps, bruises, and a bit of rust. Had the winter package, I retrofitted the Mach HID headlights, it had a killer aftermarket audio setup, Tom's Tune, HFC with Borla exhaust, short shifter, a full set of winter wheels/tires, and all maintenance was up to date.

NaturallyAspirated > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 11:35

I've always thought the Contour SVT was cooler, due to it's total stealth nature.

Kinja'd!!!

No idea how the Focus SVTs are though. I've only worked on the Zetec Focuses before. Those seem easy enough to work on, but they cheaped out in some surprising areas, like the plastic thermostat housing.

pitstop_pitowski > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
10/14/2014 at 11:54

I found one a month ago in North KC near the airport for @ $6k. Red. So very tempting. As a former owner of a hunter green ZX3 Kona I would definitely recommend the SVT. Since I am buying a home soon the fiancé was not happy with $6k gone for a winter/fun car.

SVTyler > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
11/01/2014 at 18:06

Kinda late reply but I own a 2003 3-door and I love it to death: it's fantastic fun to drive, easily the best-handling FWD car you can buy in the price range, sounds like a bastard child of a Mustang and a rally car, and has the nicest interior of any sub-25k car built during that time. Unfortunately it's kinda like the WRX where a lot of bros bought these things and beat the shit out of them so there are some time-bombs for sale and the earlier ones have some quirks and niggles that Ford fixed for 2004 (crap idle, 02 sensors throwing codes, IMRC actuators, to name a few).

That being said if you don't mind working on the car and spending time getting it perfect it's the absolute best choice for a gearhead's first car. I bought mine three years ago and I'm going to be keeping it for another thirty or so, it's that good. Any more questions just ask me or ADabOfOppo or Sl040, there are a few other owners on here iirc.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > SVTyler
11/01/2014 at 18:09

I'm still considering it...I won't be buying one for another year or so. The choices are down to N/A 944, Starion/Conquest TSi, this, and Fox Body (if I find one I like)...

SVTyler > Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen
11/01/2014 at 18:20

Gotcha, those are some choice rides to pick from. I'd keep it on the list but also keep in mind that Ford only built 14,000 SVT Focuses so you might not be able to find one and good examples hover in the 4-7k range, so they might be more expensive than the others cars on your list. It all depends on what you're looking for in a car; RWD/V8 fun go Fox-body, old-school, analog performance go Conquest/944, or if you want practicality with a ton of fun regardless of what wheels are powered then go SVTF.

Sportwägen, Driver Of The Red Sportwagen > SVTyler
11/01/2014 at 18:25

Yeah, price is pretty much the main problem :( That is where the StarQuest wins because most people overlook them for things like Supras, 300ZX's, RX7's, etc instead.