If your goal was to build a faster car, what would be the route you choose...Purchase a used STV for let’s say $10,000 or a used ZX3 of the same year for let’s say $6,000, taking in the account of the build-in mods in the SVT against the ZX3, but on the other side you have an extra $4,000 in cash to work with in the ZX3. Also factoring in a higher insurance cost for SVT, but a higher resale value for the SVT. Which option would you choose to achieve your ultimate goal of having the faster car that you wanted?
opus1
Depends on how we're defining faster, and what satisfies "...that you wanted".
IMO, the ZX3 wins it for a straightline speed contest. $4k buys you FI...the PW kit, the Roush kit, probably others in that pricerange can give you 200+whp, and that's right in the ballpark for 13s, which is plenty quicker than a stock SVT (those do low 15s?). However, our boosted ZX3 is lacking the suspension, the brakes, the interior, the appearance, and the SVT-ness of the SVT. Whether or not the other characteristics are important to you is, of course, up to you.
Faster and desirable to me is a well-balanced car that can stop and turn as well as it can go. With that in mind, i'd either buy the SVT, or spread the money around more evenly (i.e: not a supercharger that doubles the stock power output and stock suspension/brakes/rubber
)...my ZX3 wouldn't be much faster than the SVT in a straight line, but I know i'd be happier with it.
I guess my point is to look at the rest of the car when doing stuff...don't neglect the brakes, the suspension, the tires, or the driver, for that matter, as they all contribute to how the car works. (this isn't necessarily directed at the poster, rather at the FI FI FI! vibe I got from the thread)
IMO, the ZX3 wins it for a straightline speed contest. $4k buys you FI...the PW kit, the Roush kit, probably others in that pricerange can give you 200+whp, and that's right in the ballpark for 13s, which is plenty quicker than a stock SVT (those do low 15s?). However, our boosted ZX3 is lacking the suspension, the brakes, the interior, the appearance, and the SVT-ness of the SVT. Whether or not the other characteristics are important to you is, of course, up to you.
Faster and desirable to me is a well-balanced car that can stop and turn as well as it can go. With that in mind, i'd either buy the SVT, or spread the money around more evenly (i.e: not a supercharger that doubles the stock power output and stock suspension/brakes/rubber
)...my ZX3 wouldn't be much faster than the SVT in a straight line, but I know i'd be happier with it. I guess my point is to look at the rest of the car when doing stuff...don't neglect the brakes, the suspension, the tires, or the driver, for that matter, as they all contribute to how the car works.
(this isn't necessarily directed at the poster, rather at the FI FI FI! vibe I got from the thread)I think the SVT gives you the most bang for the buck with the stock hp, appearance, suspension, stereo, and braking. The average driver is quite content with the stock SVT setup. However, and I've been told this by my tuner, the ZX3 tends to put out more hp using FI due to the fact that the engine isn't restricted by the variable valve timing of the SVT. But I agree with Demon4545 and the point that he makes. I have the money as we speak to buy a SC or turbo, but everytime I get ready to buy a kit I stop and think about what else I might need to make the turbo or SC work better and I realize that I still don't have a Quaife, or upgraded clutch and fw, but due to the fact that I have a SVT and it is so nice stock I'm less inclined to rush myself into a bad decisison. Just keep that in mind. Also, I don't know what kind of speed you are after, but my nearly bone stock SVT hits 140mph consistently and still has RPMs left to go faster, I just usually run out of open road.
The ZX2 interior is way more sportier than the Zx3, yes we might have a piece of crap shifter boot and other rubbery interior parts. But we don't have that little lite that keeps flashing to tell us to shift! And the suspension of the ZX2, sits lower than the ZX3.racerx said:
U should go with the ZX2 though, way better gear ratios then both cars (ZX3 and SVT) The motor is as agressive as a SVT Focus, and is about in think 300-500 pounds lighter than both cars. Don't forget way CHEAPER....(thats the only draw back of owner a ZX2)
Yes thier is more aftermarket parts for the Focus than the ZX2, but more than 75% of the parts are interchangable! Half the parts on my ZX2, are for a Focus. And with the ton of money u save from buying a ZX2, u can easily get a turbo kit or a Gude ported and polished head.
And if u want a better ZX2, get the S/R ZX2, wich has almost all the upgrade a SVT has, but in a ZX2; Lower and better suspenion with Eibach springs, rear disc brakes, more agressive PCM with better fuel and timing tables and eliminated Speed governor, ICE MAN or Roush cold air intake, Borla High Flow muffler W/ 3" tip, Centerforce Dual Fritcion clutch, B&M SHort throw shifter, Leather steering wheel and shift knob, 150MPH gauge cluster.
Some might say what F/I are thier offering for the ZX2? Powerworks is currently working on a S/C for the ZX2 as we speak. The first kit is for sale now. And then theres plenty of turbo kits for the ZX2 too.
If u going to mod a car, where it won't be stock any more go with the ZX2, if u want to keep it partically stock and sell it back to a dealership, then stay with the ZX3 or SVT.
Whoa! Kids, let’s stop this family feud. I posted this thread originally & as couple of the guys said, I’m not at all interested in the Escort, my ex girlfriend had one of the earlier ones & I think Ford in their haste to develop an econo car to keep up with the Japanese market, didn’t give enough thought to the overall design of the car & consequently it wasn’t a very good car. Ford kelp putting bandades on it till they ran out of bandades & knew that they have to come up with a better mouse trap in order to compete in the World Market, therefore; giving birth to the Focus & IMO is one of the best cars that has come out of the US market in a long, long time & in many ways we owe that to the Escort. After all we are all brothers from the same parents & to start comparing my girlfriend is purtier than yours is senseless, but it’s great to see this emotional passion you guys have for your rides.
PEACE
PEACE
First of all, opus1 I'm sorry for thread jacking. I just wanted to give u another alternitive to buliding a racecar. I didn not execpt to get attack like this, i just hate it when people think thier right, and all thier info is wrong...
Thank you for supporting and understanding, good job with the info all2envyZX3.
AmyFocus, if u go to TeamZX2.com we have ZX2 pushing over 400WHP, and a couple that is pushing 350WHP. I have a vid of one on the dyno doing it.
BackNFocus, the S/R was sold all over the country, just the first set was sold in CA. And AGAIN Powerworks is making a kit for the ZX2, Y would they update u guys? Yall have Focuses. And again, the trannies are differnt in the ZX2 and the Focus. The bell housing might be the same to mount to the same engine, but the internals are way differnt. If the were i would loved to have one of yall t-06 LSD's!
So get ur SH%T straight BackNFocus
Again SORRY opus1, I hope u find the best car that suites you best. good luck.
Thank you for supporting and understanding, good job with the info all2envyZX3.
AmyFocus, if u go to TeamZX2.com we have ZX2 pushing over 400WHP, and a couple that is pushing 350WHP. I have a vid of one on the dyno doing it.
BackNFocus, the S/R was sold all over the country, just the first set was sold in CA. And AGAIN Powerworks is making a kit for the ZX2, Y would they update u guys? Yall have Focuses. And again, the trannies are differnt in the ZX2 and the Focus. The bell housing might be the same to mount to the same engine, but the internals are way differnt. If the were i would loved to have one of yall t-06 LSD's!
So get ur SH%T straight BackNFocus
Again SORRY opus1, I hope u find the best car that suites you best. good luck.
BacknFocus, the differences aren't easily see-able in the transmissions and such between the cars, the gear ratios and cams and such are different between the 2 and the 3. Please read up on what you are going to spew out before you say something, or you'll make yourself look stupid in a technical forum when you can't get your facts straight. I would probably just walk away from this topic before you get yourself in more trouble.
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