The honesy answer is that we don't really know yet.

It really depends primarily on how much money you have.

 

The honesy answer is that we don't really know yet.

It really depends primarily on how much money you have.

and what you consider driveable.

dont be surprised when 400 and 500 whp turbo 2.3's start popping up but to do that you would definitely need big time fuel system upgrades and big time internal upgrades.

 

You forgot the most important one!!! Big time money.

 

Big time money? Nah, it can be done for the price of a turbo kit with intercooler, pistons, rods, race fasteners, and clutch/press plate/flywheel. I guess big time is relative, but I would say it's well under $8K for everything.

 

No! I didn’t forget, that is the point, why would you spend more money to build a Duratec Focus when you can buy a new other car with a warranty for less.

 

Because you might already have a Focus and you'll lose your ass if you try to sell it. :dunno: Some people, like me, just like the Focus and don't want to go out and buy a Caliber. :hurl:

 

The ecotec is a great motor with huge tuning potential. Actually the ecotec might be ahead.

 

Randy, if you haven’t already poured a bunch of money into your Focus, you won’t be losing your A**.
Maybe not a Caliber, but how’s about a GTI, or Mini Cooper, soon to be MazdaSpeed3, & the list goes on, I love my Focus too, but it seems to me that it has continually become a losing proposition trying to keep up with the newer cars. Enough of these threads show that most of us here if were to have a windfall of $25,000 or $30,000, the last car we would buy is a Focus & with the balance cash put into modifications.

 

I disagree... with any newer vehicle it will cost more, sure you get more power, but you still pay more out the door...

I paid 16k for my car, sure I could go out and buy a MazdaSpeed6/3 with more power, but at what cost? Think of it this way, Focus = Fun, and = Cheap Power... You drop 1-4k into it pushing you to 20k-ish and you have well over 200whp...

Fun little buggers if you ask me...

 

Randy, if you haven’t already poured a bunch of money into your Focus, you won’t be losing your A**.
Maybe not a Caliber, but how’s about a GTI, or Mini Cooper, soon to be MazdaSpeed3, & the list goes on, I love my Focus too, but it seems to me that it has continually become a losing proposition trying to keep up with the newer cars. Enough of these threads show that most of us here if were to have a windfall of $25,000 or $30,000, the last car we would buy is a Focus & with the balance cash put into modifications.

not I

think about it the FS car put down 350 to the wheels and it wasnt more because of not enough fuel.

The focus has pretty big potential.

Its way more fun to build a car than to buy one and not be able to afford to do anything to it. and you can build the focus to be WAY faster for lots less than those other cars cost.

 

Randy, if you haven’t already poured a bunch of money into your Focus, you won’t be losing your A**.
Maybe not a Caliber, but how’s about a GTI, or Mini Cooper, soon to be MazdaSpeed3, & the list goes on, I love my Focus too, but it seems to me that it has continually become a losing proposition trying to keep up with the newer cars. Enough of these threads show that most of us here if were to have a windfall of $25,000 or $30,000, the last car we would buy is a Focus & with the balance cash put into modifications.

I love the Focus. Though, if you have a lot of cash, a new GTi is a good choice. However, like I said, try to sell your Focus right now. You'll see that the resale value isn't great. You might even be upside down. :what:

 

Randy, If I had a lot of cash, i wouldn’t be worried about how much I got out of the Focus. LOL
Paulhaskew, Don’t forget what Randy said, check the resale value on a Mazda3 as compared to the Focus, that’s where you recover your initial cash.
Sleeperlove, My guess is that you’re twenty-something, yeah! it’s definitely a lot more fun to build a car, but wait till you’re out of school & hold down an 9-5 & maybe a family to spend time with, I guarantee you will be singing a different tune.

 

Randy, If I had a lot of cash, i wouldn’t be worried about how much I got out of the Focus. LOL
Paulhaskew, Don’t forget what Randy said, check the resale value on a Mazda3 as compared to the Focus, that’s where you recover your initial cash.
Sleeperlove, My guess is that you’re twenty-something, yeah! it’s definitely a lot more fun to build a car, but wait till you’re out of school & hold down an 9-5 & maybe a family to spend time with, I guarantee you will be singing a different tune.

I am twenty good call. As for the 9-5 thing I will be working a lot more hours than that probably at least for a while until i get established.

But in my free time i am pretty sure i will always work on my cars and modify them. Its passion that keeps car guys doing it over and over. and that has brought this board intoexistence with thousands of people having a blast modifying their supposed to be econobox foci to make them faster.

Its all in the name of fun and passion.

 

I love my Focus too, but it seems to me that it has continually become a losing proposition trying to keep up with the newer cars.

Who said you have to "Keep up with the Joneses"? Just enjoy your car.

While I don't have a family, I do have a 9to5 and a mortgage, so I understand what you mean. But you don't have to have a new car every third year when something cool comes out. Do what you want to your Focus and enjoy driving it well past when it's paid off.

 

Randy, If I had a lot of cash, i wouldn’t be worried about how much I got out of the Focus. LOL
Paulhaskew, Don’t forget what Randy said, check the resale value on a Mazda3 as compared to the Focus, that’s where you recover your initial cash.
Sleeperlove, My guess is that you’re twenty-something, yeah! it’s definitely a lot more fun to build a car, but wait till you’re out of school & hold down an 9-5 & maybe a family to spend time with, I guarantee you will be singing a different tune.

Hmm, I'm 36, work full time in management, have two teenage kids and still find time to tweak my focus.

Granted I'm not pushing my car to the limit but I'd rather drop another $4k into my focus (Im thinking FS turbo at 8psi intercooled) than buy any of the other new “Out-Of The-Box” cars in the same genre.

My focus cost me $16k out the door, a loaded ZX5 with 2.3, another $500 in suspension and chassis.

Add to that the cost of a turbo kit I'm right around $20k

the GTI is nice but starts at $22k + tax and license.

So I'd have more power in a lighter car that handles better and cost less.

Oh and it's been 'personalized' too. I don't see the downside.

I think you original question is a little off though, If we mod an fi 2.3 Duratec to the edge of pracitical drivabity & reliablity, we'd be in the performance arena of cars that cost $50-60k or more.

To keep up with Cobalt SS', GTI Civic SI's etc, won't need to be anywhere near the edge.

arty:

 

Juan at HiBoost has broken 500 whp with his Mazda3 (with forged internals, of course).

 

I don't intend on selling my Focus... its my toy, and the wife is aware of it too... If my car breaks down I will just drive hers till it gets fixed... she is going with me to all the focus meets now too, she loves em... (I think I made a non-car girl a car loving gal!)

Cameroon got the point I was driving at, and said it better... Kudos (Its my word for the day, heh)

 

Hmm, I'm 36, work full time in management, have two teenage kids and still find time to tweak my focus.

Granted I'm not pushing my car to the limit but I'd rather drop another $4k into my focus (Im thinking FS turbo at 8psi intercooled) than buy any of the other new “Out-Of The-Box” cars in the same genre.

My focus cost me $16k out the door, a loaded ZX5 with 2.3, another $500 in suspension and chassis.

Add to that the cost of a turbo kit I'm right around $20k

the GTI is nice but starts at $22k + tax and license.

So I'd have more power in a lighter car that handles better and cost less.

Oh and it's been 'personalized' too. I don't see the downside.

I think you original question is a little off though, If we mod an fi 2.3 Duratec to the edge of pracitical drivabity & reliablity, we'd be in the performance arena of cars that cost $50-60k or more.

To keep up with Cobalt SS', GTI Civic SI's etc, won't need to be anywhere near the edge.

arty:

If you were to take the Focus to the edge to compete with the 50-60G cars, it would cost you more than the 20 you have invested in your car & wil exceed the Out Of The Box price tag of the cars you mentioned. And don’t forget that you will never recover the cost of the upgrades, whereas the other cars will hold their value. And don’t forget to factor in the cost of a clutch assem., lsd, SVT rear brake conv., & re-doing the internals.

 

And by drivabilty, I mean would you feel comfortable using your mod 300-400hp Foci to drive the kids to school, be a grocery getter, feel OK for your wife to drive, truck clients around, & be in traffic with a Stage III clutch?

The Out Of The Box cars can certainly do that in style.

 

many of my honda friends do :lol:

95' civc hatch turbo J-spec gsr engine stg 3 cluth - buddy's daily
98' integra typeR engine stg 2 clutch - another buddy's daily

 

And by drivabilty, I mean would you feel comfortable using your mod 300-400hp Foci to drive the kids to school, be a grocery getter, feel OK for your wife to drive, truck clients around, & be in traffic with a Stage III clutch?

The Out Of The Box cars can certainly do that in style.

300-400 hp can be nice and smooth. its not going to be rediculous all the time. and it can be quiet as well. and out of the box 300 hp cars arent exactly plush( most of the time) and if they are plush they are gonna be heavy and the 300 hp isnt gonna be that fun. and they cost a lot more.

 

but they arent as fast. or as fun to drive.

Hey! We already know you’re twenty. LOL
Some of us older guys like the bells & whistles.

 

Hey! We already know you’re twenty. LOL
Some of us older guys like the bells & whistles.

:lol::lol:

you can have bells and whistles in the focus too. :thumbup:

 

:lol::lol:

you can have bells and whistles in the focus too. :thumbup:

Well, tell you what, get back to me after you’ve gotten married & have a family & do your 10 second quarter mile & twisties like a pro driver with your wife & baby & the two year old in the back seat, if you haven’t gutted out the backseat already & have your kids strapped to the trunk lid. Or are you that guy in the VW commercials. Your “FAST” will get you the fastest divorce in history. LOL again!

 

Well, tell you what, get back to me after you’ve gotten married & have a family & do your 10 second quarter mile & twisties like a pro driver with your wife & baby & the two year old in the back seat, if you haven’t gutted out the backseat already & have your kids strapped to the trunk lid. Or are you that guy in the VW commercials. Your “FAST” will get you the fastest divorce in history. LOL again!

Just because the car can do that stuff does not mean that it has to be driven like that 24/7. It is possible to drive sanely with family in the car and cut loose on track and in the twisties is it not?