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Sept. 7, 2011 8:46 a.m. Alan Cesar Associate Editor

MCarp22 wrote:

Alan Cesar wrote: I'm curious as to whether they have some major, common flaw that makes them particularly undesirable.

The wiring harness is pretty badtacular. Google search 99M03.

Looks like that recall only affected '95-'97 models. SVT versions started in '98. So it looks like I'd be OK on that front.

Iceracer: ZX2s are tough enough to find here in central Florida, never mind an S/R. Escorts must not have sold well around here; it's really bizarre. I have been watching Craigslist and the TeamZX2 for sale section for an S/R. But I've already owned 3 Escorts, one of which was a ZX2, so I'm in the mood for a change.

Duratec Focus with SVT suspension is an intriguing idea. There's one or two SVTF partouts around here right now.
Sept. 7, 2011 8:49 a.m. Alan Cesar Associate Editor

Oooooh, they made that first-gen Mazda6 in a hatchback too. Though no one bought one. A bit bigger than I'd really considered or would need, but worth a look. I liked those in orange, too. I wonder how much they go for.

Problem with Mazda's naming convention in the last half-decade: really tough to search Craigslist.
Sept. 7, 2011 9:10 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

They also made the 88-92 626 in hatchback form, too...

And you can get it with turbo goodness.

323s and MX3s are pretty cool, too. You can put pretty much any Mazda motor you can think of into them fairly easily as well.
Sept. 7, 2011 9:16 a.m. Schmidlap HalfDork

miatame wrote:

I remember my friend's younger brother blowing three transmissions in his. He was a Mustang guy and liked to power shift so the car didn't have a chance. It seemed like a fun car though.

The differential is the weak point of the transaxle, though it typically fails from drag racing launches rather than power shifts. The Contour suspension isn't designed for hard launches so you get a lot of wheelhop if you're not careful. The wheelhop sends shock loads to the differential and it grenades. Torsen and Quaife both offer LSDs that are much stronger than the stock diff and help with launches and autocross tremendously.

Here's a turbo'd 3L Contour SVT for sale in the Detroit region for $3500, though the ad says the car is in rough shape.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/2551802723.html

Bob
Sept. 7, 2011 9:23 a.m. SVTF Reader

I'll mention that everyone who says "Duratec Focus with SVT suspension" doesn't have the whole story. The SVT suspension is not worth swapping into a Duratec Focus unless it is for street duty only - for anything else you'll want an upgrade (Koni Sports and more spring rate).

When comparing a Duratec Focus to the SVT, you have to compare the whole package:

1) You have to mod the Duratec to get up to the factory SVT engine power.
2) The SVT engine is built from the factory for a bit more abuse (track days) than a Duratec.
3) Part of what makes the SVT fast is the excellent brake package, and the 6-speed Getrag tranny is very sweet on a road course. Neither of these came on a Duratec Focus.

4) The power steering is the best I've ever sampled. The feel, feedback and ratio is perfect. Period.

So if you're going to look for a Duratec Focus, you have a lot of mods and swaps to do in order to better a factory SVT.
Sept. 7, 2011 9:23 a.m. belteshazzar SuperDork

any interest in Vibe GT/Matrix XRS's?
Sept. 7, 2011 9:52 a.m. Hal Dork
SVTF wrote: When comparing a Duratec Focus to the SVT, you have to compare the whole package:

1) You have to mod the Duratec to get up to the factory SVT engine power.
2) The SVT engine is built from the factory for a bit more abuse (track days) than a Duratec.
3) Part of what makes the SVT fast is the excellent brake package, and the 6-speed Getrag tranny is very sweet on a road course. Neither of these came on a Duratec Focus.
1. If you start with the 2.3L Duratec it doesn't take much to equal the SVT.
2. I have crewed for people who endurance raced both and didn't see any difference.
3. The SVT brake swap is easy to do but a lot of people will argue that the 05 and up front brakes with the SVT rears is just as good and allows a much larger wheel selection.
  3a. The Getrag is nice on a road course but the 5 speed and diff from a 05-07 St is more versatile and fits right on a Duratec
I do agree that the SVT suspension makes a very good street suspension but there are better setups for any type of competition out there.
Sept. 7, 2011 11:32 a.m. fastEddie SuperDork

Here's another vote for the Duratec Focus, not that I'm biased or anything. When shopping for mine I drove a couple SVT's and thought the Duratec felt faster without having to rev to the moon. And seeing that I was looking for a DD and not a track car, I ended up with a Duratec.

This is how she currently looks with Steeda springs. I'm seriously considering going up to SVT springs though as this is my DD and I'm a bit concerned with the height and the coming winter and snow. We'll see though, still on the fence about it.
Sept. 7, 2011 12:29 p.m. SVTF Reader

I love the Steeda springs - I have them and Koni Sports on my DD SVTF. They ride like the factory SVT springs 90% of the time (progressive). I don't think you'll get a noticable ride height gain with the SVT springs...............
Sept. 7, 2011 12:31 p.m. Per Schroeder Technical Editor/Advertising Director

cough Focus cough
Sept. 7, 2011 1:15 p.m. N Sperlo Dork

In reply to Per Schroeder:

I <3 my Focus. Hell, I <3 my Escort too!
Sept. 7, 2011 3:53 p.m. Alan Cesar Associate Editor

belteshazzar: thanks for the offbeat suggestions. Matrix/Vibe though are thoroughly boring Mom-wagon looking things. Just a bit too dumpy and blech. I worry about reliability and cost of repair of a Saab turbo in this price range; likewise with the 3-series. I'm a fan of simple econoboxes. You know, that whole punching-above-your-weight thing.

N Sperio: That blue ZX3 looks pretty excellent. It seems more and more like a Duratec Focus will be the answer. These cars have SO much aftermarket.
Sept. 7, 2011 6:33 p.m. ccrelan Reader

I had a friend with a 2000 SVT Contour. He had a intake on the car and it was one best sounding engines I have ever heard. I used to own a Alfa Milano Verde for reference. The car was a riot to drive.

I owned a 2003 5 door SVT focus and was disappointed with it. I installed a short shift kit, but still found the shifting to be clunky at best. The 6 speeds gear ratios were poor as well. There was little point to having all the extra gears in that car.
Sept. 7, 2011 6:51 p.m. belteshazzar SuperDork

Alan Cesar wrote:

belteshazzar: thanks for the offbeat suggestions. Matrix/Vibe though are thoroughly boring Mom-wagon looking things.

correction; thoroughly boring mom-wagon looking things that have a 6-sp, rev over 8000rpm, and have more suspension options than the contour.
Sept. 7, 2011 6:53 p.m. belteshazzar SuperDork

basically a Celica GT-S with more hatch, and less police attention.
Sept. 8, 2011 9:00 a.m. 92CelicaHalfTrac SuperDork

Said motor will also put out 220-225whp with bolt ons and a tune. They are seriously nasty motors.
Sept. 8, 2011 10:32 a.m. Rusted_Busted_Spit SuperDork

I would not get to wrapped up in the repair cost as long as you do/get a good PPI done.

I tried to talk my brother into a Matrix but he ended up not getting anything. They are one of those cool to people in the "know" cars.
Sept. 8, 2011 10:38 a.m. problemaddict Reader

What about some other grassrootsy hot hatches? While pondering this thread, I saw one of the much-unloved '02 Civic Si hatch's drive by. I would think they would fare pretty well against an SVTF. I know they are unloved, but are they bad? And for that matter, what about a VW GTI VR6 or Turbo?

Just found this C&D comparo. SVT beats the Si, but that's with the Si hobbled w/ skinny all season radials vs. the SVT's 215/45-17 tires.

I found a few Si's on CL for $5k.
Sept. 8, 2011 10:39 a.m. Stealthtercel HalfDork

Can you tell me more about suspension options for the Matrix/Vibe? This is something I know nothing about.
Sept. 8, 2011 12:01 p.m. Alan Cesar Associate Editor

Matrix ain't gonna happen. That car does not appeal to me in any way.

problemaddict wrote:

What about some other grassrootsy hot hatches? While pondering this thread, I saw one of the much-unloved '02 Civic Si hatch's drive by. I would think they would fare pretty well against an SVTF. I know they are unloved, but are they bad? And for that matter, what about a VW GTI VR6 or Turbo?

Just found this C&D comparo. SVT beats the Si, but that's with the Si hobbled w/ skinny all season radials vs. the SVT's 215/45-17 tires.

I found a few Si's on CL for $5k.

I remember that review, and the gripe about skinny tires. I've known a couple guys who have owned them and been nothing but satisfied with those cars. One of them moved from Chicago to LA in his. I liked their look too. But the cheapest I see around here are $7k, with most between eight and ten thousand. Beyond my price range.
Sept. 8, 2011 12:23 p.m. Grtechguy SuperDork

$900 SVT? http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/2572317555.html
Sept. 8, 2011 1:33 p.m. GTwannaB Reader

ccrelan wrote:

I owned a 2003 5 door SVT focus and was disappointed with it. I installed a short shift kit, but still found the shifting to be clunky at best. The 6 speeds gear ratios were poor as well. There was little point to having all the extra gears in that car.

This is why I like my SVT Focus, but I do not love it. I feel like the six speed was for marketing purposes.
Sept. 8, 2011 1:47 p.m. ultraclyde HalfDork

Nothing to really contribute, but I test drove a stock SVTF (04?) and was not impressed compared to our 05 MINI S. Might not be apples-apples though....
Sept. 8, 2011 2:33 p.m. SVTF Reader

GTwannaB wrote:
ccrelan wrote: I owned a 2003 5 door SVT focus and was disappointed with it. I installed a short shift kit, but still found the shifting to be clunky at best. The 6 speeds gear ratios were poor as well. There was little point to having all the extra gears in that car.
This is why I like my SVT Focus, but I do not love it. I feel like the six speed was for marketing purposes.

The SVT 6-speed Getrag was seemingly not designed for feeling torquey from stoplights, but some of that is the ECU tune - the drivability benefits from an aftermarket tune for around town. Short shifters are useless bling and just make things worse, at least on this car. The first gear ratio is a bit tall and is def not for drag racing; but while the 6-speed isn't perfect from stoplight to stoplight, it is extremely sweet driven in anger or on a road course. I use 2nd thru 5th gears on track days and I'd say it's a nearly perfect match. The sixth gear gets me 33 MPG at 75 MPH with a full load on the way to the track. I suspect SVT/Ford matched the 6-speed with more than the typical "transportation appliance" in mind; there's emphasis on being competent at higher revs with the right shift points, so perhaps that's why the first gear suffers. The SVTF really has two personailites, one below 4000 RPM and one above 40000 that is a heck of a lot of fun and very competent.

I drove a Contour 2000 SVT and was somewhat disappointed - I expected more guts. I ended up preferring the Focus SVT to the Coutour SVT. Around here the Coutour SVTs are now getting pricey (even the higher mileage examples), while the Focus SVTs are still a bargain for dual purpose DD/track day duty. At half the price of a Mini Cooper S.

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