I bought mine new on the lot Nov 2001 (2002 SE). Over the next 140k miles, I replaced the battery and fuel pump twice each, spark plugs/wires once. I bought a timing belt around 90k, but it was still in the box of random parts (non cruise steering wheel, old turn signals, radio, etc) when I sold it in Mar 2012. The only engine work it ever needed was about a week before I sold it, when #3 spark plug threads needed a helicoil. I guess I overtorqued it when I replaced the plugs.
It was a damn good car, and I actually looked at the '12 Focus when I was shopping to replace it. Unfortunately for Ford, a reasonably-equipped model had an MSRP about $1500 more than what I paid for a brand new Wrangler, which has a lot more utility for me, though I pay for it at the pump.
Not once did I regret getting an SPI instead of a Zetec. It seemed to take several years before the SPI's problems surfaced, while the Zetec forum/Team Tech were always full of people having sh***y mechanical issues.
It was a damn good car, and I actually looked at the '12 Focus when I was shopping to replace it. Unfortunately for Ford, a reasonably-equipped model had an MSRP about $1500 more than what I paid for a brand new Wrangler, which has a lot more utility for me, though I pay for it at the pump.
Not once did I regret getting an SPI instead of a Zetec. It seemed to take several years before the SPI's problems surfaced, while the Zetec forum/Team Tech were always full of people having sh***y mechanical issues.
