Thinking back on the 01 Focus

[DC Car Examiner]

After spending seven straight weeks in press-loan cars, I was curious how much of a shock it would be to end up back in my own old Focus. Write-up here:

 

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-1017-Autos-Examiner~y2010m6d17-A-week-in-the-2001-Ford-Focus-ZX3

 

 

[Edstock]

Good article about Focus perspective.

[2b2]

After spending seven straight weeks in press-loan cars, I was curious how much of a shock it would be to end up back in my own old Focus. Write-up here:

 

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-1017-Autos-Examiner~y2010m6d17-A-week-in-the-2001-Ford-Focus-ZX3

 

 

 

Congrats, Brady

that is a Superior Editorial!!!

 

If you can get your publisher to go along with it

(or surreptitiously if they won't)

suggest you aim more for that "personal take" on select vehicles

than trying to "step outside of yourself" to do regular(impartial)reviews.

Imho

this was your best article that I've seen

[AGR]

Good article, I share that perspective. After two weeks in California with a Toyota Corolla rental, I couldn't wait to get back to my '02 ZX5 with nearly 200K miles(I bought mine new, though). Even at her advanced age and high miles, the not-as-crisp-as-when-new handling and still fairly precise steering beat the softly sprung "handling" and numb steering of the nearly new Toyota.

[SVT_MAN]

The only bad thing I hear about those Focii is that they tend to lose their timing belts because Ford cheapened out on a small plastic tensioner. So many people I know have lost their engine this way. Other than that, a small, practical, precise little vehicle.

Edited June 18, 2010 by SVT_MAN

[DC Car Examiner]

Congrats, Brady

that is a Superior Editorial!!!

 

If you can get your publisher to go along with it

(or surreptitiously if they won't)

suggest you aim more for that "personal take" on select vehicles

than trying to "step outside of yourself" to do regular(impartial)reviews.

Imho

this was your best article that I've seen

 

Well, personally I would only buy something that's extremely cheap, so sticking to that perspective in every review would get quickly tiresome to read. Perhaps I should aim for more of a mix, but the other method is probably the more likely to help out a non-car-person -- which is what I try to do most.

[2b2]

Well, personally I would only buy something that's extremely cheap, so sticking to that perspective in every review would get quickly tiresome to read. Perhaps I should aim for more of a mix, but the other method is probably the more likely to help out a non-car-person -- which is what I try to do most.

hmmm

it may be a bit controversial but

maybe you could include a "Reality-Check Alternative" to every vehicle you review...

 

...you know for all those people who are afraid their job could evaporate before the payments are finished?

or are up to their eyebrows in upside-down mortgages

 

& controversy never hurt newspaper sales

[Fordowner]

The only bad thing I hear about those Focii is that they tend to lose their timing belts because Ford cheapened out on a small plastic tensioner. So many people I know have lost their engine this way. Other than that, a small, practical, precise little vehicle.

 

My nephew has my 2000 Kona Focus, it has been a great car and I've enjoyed it. I haven't replaced the timing belt, trying to figure out if its worth the investment. Though I don't have the cite I've always read that the Focus engine is set up so that loss of the timing belt doesn't lock up and destroy the engine.

 

The rear wheel bearings had to be replaced and I could swear I just did it a second time, but I can't find my paperwork for what I thought was the first time they rear wheel bearings were replaced, thought the first time was under warranty.

[YT90SC]

The only bad thing I hear about those Focii is that they tend to lose their timing belts because Ford cheapened out on a small plastic tensioner. So many people I know have lost their engine this way. Other than that, a small, practical, precise little vehicle.

All Focus engines with timing belts are free wheelers. It is impossible to ruin the engine by breaking the belt. The last north american Ford that was a valve banger was the 1.6l in the OLD escorts (1981?)

[Pioneer]

My nephew has my 2000 Kona Focus, it has been a great car and I've enjoyed it. I haven't replaced the timing belt, trying to figure out if its worth the investment. Though I don't have the cite I've always read that the Focus engine is set up so that loss of the timing belt doesn't lock up and destroy the engine.

 

 

IMHO, it's worth it. The SPI engine should have the belt changed at 120k miles. I also changed the water pump, thermostat, belt tensioner, idler pulley, and serpentine belt while I was at it along with a coolant flush.

 

I drive 100 miles round trip a day, Everybody that I know of that has an SPI that gambled with it had it break between 125 and 130k. Sitting by the side of the road for forever waiting for a tow, then having to pay to have it done anyway was not worth it for me.

 

Same goes for the Zetec. Why chance it. It IS going to break. Wouldn't you rather have the car down at your leisure? If not, sell it and buy a Duratec.

[J-150]

Way back, we had an '02 ZTS (Zetec) for the wife.

 

 

Great car for the entire 3 year lease. Never had a problem with it in the entire 3 yrs. Couldn't understand at the time why people were complaining of quality issues. Ours was rock solid. No panel gaps. No squeaks, rattles or other noise.

 

 

All-in-all a great car that at least 3 other friends bought Focii based on test driving ours. (You're welcome Ford)

[nswanberg]

I own a 2001 Focus. I believe the 2001 is the most recalled car in the history of the planet. Still ours has never had us walking. 170,000 miles and still running. The number 2 son has been beating the hell out of it for two years delivering pizzas. We can throw front brake pads on it with our eyes closed now.

 

We have a 2009 Focus as well. it does everything it is supposed to do well. Has never had a reason to go back to the dealership other than me getting into an accident with it during the first month of ownership. I am weary of the European Focus that is coming. That never seems to work - think Contour/Mondeo and Mercury Mistake. If they made a wagon version of the current Focus I would be buying another one. Not making a wagon is just the Ford brain trust way of making you pay bigger bux for an Edge.

[J-150]

I own a 2001 Focus. I believe the 2001 is the most recalled car in the history of the planet. Still ours has never had us walking. 170,000 miles and still running. The number 2 son has been beating the hell out of it for two years delivering pizzas. We can throw front brake pads on it with our eyes closed now.

 

We have a 2009 Focus as well. it does everything it is supposed to do well. Has never had a reason to go back to the dealership other than me getting into an accident with it during the first month of ownership. I am weary of the European Focus that is coming. That never seems to work - think Contour/Mondeo and Mercury Mistake. If they made a wagon version of the current Focus I would be buying another one. Not making a wagon is just the Ford brain trust way of making you pay bigger bux for an Edge.

 

 

Would disagree on the Contour/Mystique.

 

So old neighbours have a Mystique. Mid 90's vintage with 2 teenage boys beating the ever livin' snot out of it and it has never been in for anything other than routine maintenance.

 

It has been a good car for them. As opposed to their Intrpid which was on it's 3rd engine after 4 years (and it was the one that was babied and not drivien by the kids) before being traded in.

Edited June 21, 2010 by J-150

[silvrsvt]

Way back, we had an '02 ZTS (Zetec) for the wife.

 

 

Great car for the entire 3 year lease. Never had a problem with it in the entire 3 yrs. Couldn't understand at the time why people were complaining of quality issues. Ours was rock solid. No panel gaps. No squeaks, rattles or other noise.

 

I wish I could say the same about my 02 SVT Focus...to be honest, if my old man didn't work for Ford (his very same words when they had a 89 Taurus wagon that got recalled 13 times and had the self destructing transmission that went every 60K or so), I wouldn't have bought another Ford product. I had it tied up at the dealership for 2-3 weeks waiting on parts to fix the IRMC and other crap that went wrong on. The Clutch went at 50K and had an ABS sensor go bad when they replaced the clutch. I had a check engine light that wouldn't go out on it, even though I replaced the O2 sensors etc etc...it was a giant POS.

 

Thankfully my Mustangs have been great..and my current one runs like a top even after taking 10K of damage a couple years ago. The old Escort I had, that used to be my dads was still on the road in 1998 after racking 200+ K miles on it!. It had some issues on it, but it also had 120k+ miles on it when i got it.

[builtfordtough13]

We have a 2001 Focus with almost 160k and it still runs awesome.I think it must have been 00 that had all the recalls, our 01 has had like one or two... It is still tight and will hang with newer cars in the twistys. Other than needing to replace the original stock shocks, it drives like new. We have been super impressed with it and my grandma and aunt both bought focus's on our reccomendation, and countless other fords..I can't wait for the new focus, and plan on replacing ours with a 2013 sedan.