Looking to purchase a ZX2 S/R edition and wanted to get some feed back and opinions on the purchase.
Looking to purchase a ZX2 S/R edition and wanted to get some feed back and opinions on the purchase.
They are crap, you need to convince the current owner to sell it to me for $1000.00.
They are pretty freaking good cars.
Mine is holding up very well after ~80,000 miles of less than kind treatment.
any specific questions?
+1.
I like them very much.
I saw one in the Target parking lot the other day.
Yea, want to start a solo car...seem like its a natural...so wanted to get some opinions. It is yellow , but thats cool. Is there anything I need to look for that was a gremlin on them?
In reply to akamcfly Do you solo yours.
Also, I know they come with a ton of aftermarket parts directly from Ford. But is there any other go fast I can add to it?
You guys are funny.
S/R Package is: - B&M Shifter - slightly different computer program - Eibach Springs with Tokico Struts - "Daisy" Wheels - different intake - plug wires - fog lights - Borla muffler.
Cheaper power adders are a custom ECU Flash/Program, Underdrive Pulley, and Header.
Everything else starts a decrease in power/price.
rare cars really and worth latching on to.
I have only seen one at a track event. It was Road Atlanta a few years back. It had the blue hoses like the Mustang Cop cars....
I think the S/R was comparable to the Neon ACR and Civic SI in production number, something like 6,000 or so all told, but their were more S/R's produced in a shorter amount of time.
Honestly, a normal ZX2 with about 200-400 in mods can easily outrun a S/R.
The factory modifications on the S/R's are not substantial enough to warrant people getting all worked up over them.
The SR was a performance package that was available on '99 and 2000 models. 500 in '99 all were yellow. 1500 in 2000. I have one of the 500 red ones. Purchased new. The SR package consisted of an Iceman intake,Borla muffler, specially calibrated PCM, more agressive fuel map and spark advance. no governor. App. 10% power increase. Centerforce Clutch, some late ones had an Exedy short throw shifter Eibach pro kit with specific Tokiko struts Energy suspension bushings and motor mounts Four wheel disc brakes And some other trim and accessory stuff. I currently have 6500 miles on it. It is my daily drive except when I set it up for a track day, autocross or ice racing.
Cool cars, but, as noted, you can make a regular ZX2 faster than an S/R pretty easily. I think you can also get most of the special parts out of the Ford Racing catalog. Oddly, I've never seen one of these in person. I always wanted one, though.
David S. Wallens wrote: I saw one in the Target parking lot the other day.
Me too! Different Target and different car I'll bet though 
Many S/R had AC, some had sunroofs, most had power options.
You could away with saving quite a bit of weight by buying a base model ZX2, probably would save you a good chunk of cash as well.
Fords idea was to develop aftermarket parts that could be installed on any ZX2. The SR was to demonstrate that. One thing they forgot was a bigger rear sway bar, keeping the wimpy 13mm bar. A 19mm bar or larger makes a huge difference. They are available off other Escort models.
maturbo951 wrote: In reply to akamcfly Do you solo yours.
No I don't - too "house poor" for such things... 
There's a wikipedia article on the zx2 with an s/r section.
~110 made in '99 all except two were sold in Southern California 2000 made in 2000 - 500 red, 500 black, 1000 yellow
Mine is yellow
A few items were missed by PHeller
My s/r has a/c and power windows, remote locks, power moonroof,
Like iceracer mentioned, the rear sway bar is the regular zx2 13mm piece. I bought a 91-96 sedan rear sway bar (19mm) from a salvage yard (~$40) and a new set of energy suspension bushings ($29) to accommodate. The older GTs and Wagons have larger bars, but bushings are harder to find.
I also bought some 15" Konig Helium wheels to replace the daisy wheels - but I run the stock 205/55-15 size tires (had Proxes T1S but now I have Ecsta SPT). The Heliums are 1/2" wider and weigh less than the daisies.
Yes it's true that a regular zx2 can be made to keep up with an s/r. The big upgrade over the regular zx2 is the suspension and tires. The PCM is the other upgrade (ignition curve is more aggressive - requires premium gas).
Other power adders? There are some headers out there. JBA, Pacesetter and OBX make/made them. There was also a Kamikazi header a while back. Gains are questionable.
Trubendz makes a full cat back exhaust in aluminized or stainless steel.
there are some CDI ignitions out there as well as coil packs and wires from all the popular makers.
Under drive pulleys, adjustable cam pulleys and the like - focus zetec parts fit although the exhaust cam timing on the escort zetec engine is variable. You need an adapter for an adjustable exhaust cam gear and you lose the variable valve timing (and the PCM won't like it either).
zxtuner.com has cam shafts and other goodies.
There are some nitrous kits that will work with the zetec too, but you have to remember that the fuel system has no return line.
SCT made a PCM programmer. I don't know if they still offer it.
There are lots of turbo and supercgarger kits for the zetec focus, but non of them fit the zx2 because of the engine compartment layout. Plus, the programming would have to be custom due to the variable exhaust cam timing and likely some other differences. There are some turbo zx2s out there though...
Edit: I just realized the date-stamp on this thread and apologize for reviving an ancient thread lol.
I'm a new member who was searching Google with ZX2 S/R, and came to you guys' dicussion. I'm a long-time member of TeamZX2.com as well as PHeller and iceracer (the authors of the wiki article). I am the owner of 1 of 500 Black S/Rs. There is a bit of mis-info in this thread with the exception of the previous wiki article.
1999 ZX2 S/R press release:
ZX2 S/R Takes Fun to Higher Level
Featured Stories Press Releases
POMONA, Calif., March 26, 1999 – Ford is taking the fun of Escort ZX2 to a new level, introducing the limited edition ZX2 S/R today at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Import Salon.
Eight SEMA products are built into ZX2 S/R. The addition of sports car extras and refinements under the hood improve the already excellent handling of ZX2 to make ZX2 S/R a real street and racetrack performer. ZX2 S/R is the first product jointly developed by Ford Racing and Ford Motor Company's Small Vehicle Center Product Development.
ZX2 S/R horsepower is increased by 10 percent over the base ZX2 by use of a recommended premium fuel re-calibration, new air inlet system and improved muffler and pipe. All performance parts on the ZX2 S/R are tuned to complement each other. Ford's Powertrain Control Module has been calibrated to improve wide-open throttle performance and response while still meeting both federal and California low-emission vehicle standards. Premium fuel is recommended but not mandatory.
Handling is improved by the use of tuned progressive rate springs that also lower the car by 1 inch; struts tuned to match the new springs and improve body control; urethane sway bar mount and end link bushes; 15-inch P205 55ZR 15 Eagle F1 Goodyear tires on seven-spoke aluminum wheels; and rear disc brakes. Driving is enhanced by the improved pedal feel and stopping power from the rear disc brake system, improved precision and feel of the new short-throw gear shifter system. The new dual friction clutch system in ZX2 S/R improves clamping force by more than 90 percent with excellent clutch feel while maintaining low pedal effort.
SEMA products that add value and performance to ZX2 S/R include tuned, progressive rate Eibach Springs; Tokico struts; Energy Suspension sway bar; Goodyear P205 55ZR 15 tires; B&M Pro-Edge Shifter with leather boot and carbon fiber/leather shift knob; Borla custom muffler and tip; Roush intake system; and Centerforce dual friction clutch and pressure plate.
The cockpit features a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 150-mph speedometer with silver surround and the carbon fiber and leather shift knob that lend comfort and fun to the driving experience. Besides upgrades to the gauges, shifter and steering wheel; ZX2 S/R has additional features that match its sporty image. These include lowered stance and reduced wheel-well gap for a sportier appearance; a full length leather shift boot; good-looking Roush intake with increased-diameter air induction tube and with a deeper, more aggressive muffler note.
Also available for all-out racing, ZX2 S/R can be further upgraded to a Dynamic Suspension kit that includes 500-pound rear, 300-pound front coil over springs and adjustable race specification struts. Ride height can be adjusted easily through the spring seats. An upgraded rear sway bar is also adjustable. The race camber bolt kit allows up to 2 degrees negative camber on the front or rear wheels. The racing suspension bushing kit offers tuned urethane bushings with steel inserts for front lower control arms and rear trailing links to improve suspension precision and control in racing. Adapters for the front and rear engine mounts reduce engine movement using the urethane inserts to improve driveability in extreme loading.
ZX2 S/R is due out this summer with an option package price of $1,495. Initial production of the 100 S/Rs is planned but could lead to additional production.
** In 2000 Ford released 2000 S/Rs- 1000 S/R specific Yellow, 500 Black and 500 Red. Most were sold in SoCal and the first of the Y2Ks was sold in Columbus, OH.
There are a ton of affordable bolt-ons (mine is equipped with the best of all. TeamZX2 has a coupla members that produce very limited bolt-ons (powder pulleys [UDP/ODP combo with Gatorback belt) are the Holy grail). In addition to the server admin, whose name is Vit, but he's known as TheGhostintheMachine, is the premier PCM tuner for these cars. Many members have the SCT Xcal2 or 3 with amazing power. Many members are turbo'd/boosted. I personally run a 50 wet-shot.
IMHO you would be hard-pressed to find another limited production vehicle that proves to be an icon of the sport compact scene with roots here in good ol USA.
Check out TeamZX2.com for more insight on your decision! We're a community more than a forum. See you there!
Funny, I worked on that car and have forgotten half the thing you guys drag up.
Interesting point on wheels. Although people keep saying they all came with the daisy wheels, the first batch of cars came with the much better looking 7 spokes from the previous generation CT20 Escort GT. I was the wheel engineer, I hated those daisy wheels! They were originaly designed and tooled for the never released Mercury version of the coupe.
Carson wrote:David S. Wallens wrote: I saw one in the Target parking lot the other day.Me too! Different Target and different car I'll bet though
this is getting creepy. the only S/R I've ever seen in person was in a Target parking lot as well. I didn't realize it was an actual thing at first, I thought the decals where just some dumb kid getting excited about his escort.
belteshazzar wrote: I didn't realize it was an actual thing at first, I thought the decals where just some dumb kid getting excited about his escort.
That is what the S/R is.
Hhaha, just kidding. Really, calm down, I'm kidding.
I have only ever seen one of these.. also in Yellow.. and while it was at the local Acme Supermarket, the Target was across the street.
Seriously, I always wondered what they were.. thanks
I kinda thought the SR decals on the doors were ghey, when I first started learning about em. I had alotta the bolt-ons in my 98 ZX2. I jumped at the chance to buy my Preshuss. I considered peeling the decals, but it'd be blasphemy in the ZX2 community lol.
I realized, also after posting the 99 pres release that some of the anticipated hardware was never offered and some of the upgrade equipment is incorrect. The "dynamic suspension" never came to fruition. The ES kit was actually a master bushing kit, instead of just swaybar endlinks. Only a limited number actually came with the Roush intake, which was superceded by the Iceman intake in FR blue to match the VC. Some had red, yellow or black Icemans, also. Black being the rarest. Also, it's been discovered by quite a few SR owners that the advertised Centerforce clutch was substituted with either a Dakin or Exedy clutch, but with quite similar peformance. I "upgraded" to a Spec1 with Fidanza flywheel, and found the Exedy was quite similar to that as well. It's held well, but as mods progress I look to a stage 2 or 3 clutch in the future.
The non-upgraded RSB is quite a disappointment, but as stated earlier, 19mm can be found in 2nd gen wagons, and 21mms are an easy pick from a 2nd gen Escort GT. I really wish there was a larger front swaybar to be had, but alas, the stock 23mm hasta suffice. There are a few people producing limited numbers of front tie bars that appear to give alot more rigidity than the almost non-functional front strut tower bars.
Once again, as a long time forum member (elsewhere), I feel like a total n00b for resurrecting a dead thread here. Please forgive me lol.
There are a few of us that have secret plans for ZX2s. Mine would be more along the line of a ZX2.5
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