Test Drive :: Ford SVT Focus

[Rent]

I don't really know where to begin. I've been a fan of the SVT Focus since it was in development, but now that I've actually test driven one...

Originally my friend wanted to go test out a new Golf 1.8T. VW has just closed 10 minutes prior to our arrival, so I told him to swing by the Ford dealer to see if they might have a Focus by chance. They had 1, black, sunroof, and the audiophile package. I didn't even care about the options, I just wanted to drive it. After about 3 minutes of looking at the car, a young salesman approached us...

Sales Guy :: You want me to get the keys and open it up for ya?

Me :: Only if I can take it out for a spin

Sales Guy :: Sure!

So he found the keys and drove it off the lot. He hadn't had a chance to drive it, so he was ripping on it as soon as we got it out. The car felt smooth and sounded nice. We got about a mile off the lot and he pulled into a parking lot so I could switch with him. So I hopped in the drivers seat and pushed the seat back all the way (since I'm ~6'4") and surpisingly, it was almost too much room! Took the hand brake off and got on it.

Very smooth throttle response. Precise and confident steering. Supportive seats. And good AC to boot. About another mile down the road, he tells me to hook a right so I do and its a nice windy S-Curve. He just kinda looks at me and grins, so I nail it and hit the curve at around ~60mph. The car just digs in and asks for more! DAMN!

So we get back on the road to the dealer and I get on it some more. I was left with only one detraction - the clutch felt somewhat soft and ambiguous. Otherwise, a VERY impressive pocket rocket from Ford and the SVT Team.

Next on the list is the new Civic Si and if I can get to the VW Dealer in time, a 1.8T. We'll see.

 

[vi edit]

The focus will be the most fun to drive fast.
The honda will be the cheapest to own over time.
The VW offers luxury and technology at the compromise of sportiness.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

 

[Danman]

Hmmm, I was wondering how that car was. Thanks for your "review" or whatever you want to call it.

 

[TuffGuy]

too bad that it has problems with rims coming off and the engine catching on fire. (and i'm not being facetious)

 

[Rent]

Originally posted by: TuffGuy
too bad that it has problems with rims coming off and the engine catching on fire. (and i'm not being facetious)

Go sh!t in someone else's thread.

Perhaps you missed the fact that those problems are corrected and Ford recalled all SVT as well as regular model Focus's to make sure that they could correct this problem.

Ignorance abounds...

 

[saftey]

Dont bother with the civic si all the car ethusianst have agreed your money is better spend on a completlyl all around better rsx.The focus svt has some awesome braking power.I read a review in a magazine where they compared it to similar cars such as vws golfs/gtis and it had better braking than all of them,but i think thats the only thing it had on the other models

 

[TuffGuy]

Originally posted by: Radeon

Originally posted by: TuffGuy
too bad that it has problems with rims coming off and the engine catching on fire. (and i'm not being facetious)

Go sh!t in someone else's thread.

Perhaps you missed the fact that those problems are corrected and Ford recalled all SVT as well as regular model Focus's to make sure that they could correct this problem.

Ignorance abounds...

And ALL Focus' are now trouble free.

Let's talk performance then. It has a 1/4 mile time of what, 16 seconds now? And a 0-60mph of 7.5 seconds? DAMN THAT'S IMPRESSIVE!

Originally posted by: Radeon
The car just digs in and asks for more! DAMN!

a VERY impressive pocket rocket from Ford and the SVT Team.

 

[vi edit]

Let's talk performance then. It has a 1/4 mile time of what, 16 seconds now? And a 0-60mph of 7.5 seconds? DAMN THAT'S IMPRESSIVE!

For a $17,000 car with the options that it comes with, actually yeh, that is pretty good.

 

[UberDave]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Let's talk performance then. It has a 1/4 mile time of what, 16 seconds now? And a 0-60mph of 7.5 seconds? DAMN THAT'S IMPRESSIVE!

For a $17,000 car with the options that it comes with, actually yeh, that is pretty good.

I'd rather buy a used 2001 taurus for 13K

 

[TuffGuy]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Let's talk performance then. It has a 1/4 mile time of what, 16 seconds now? And a 0-60mph of 7.5 seconds? DAMN THAT'S IMPRESSIVE!

For a $17,000 car with the options that it comes with, actually yeh, that is pretty good.

Spec-V. 2000 Civic Si. Chipped Golf 1.8T.

Don't forget that this is an SVT model. Apparently that name doesn't mean as much as it used to. Let's see... SVT Mustang. SVT Lightning. SVT Focus?!?!

 

[vi edit]

Spec-V. - Not much quicker, and costs more
2000 Civic Si. - slower, much slower and costs more
Chipped Golf 1.8T. - not fair, doesn't handle as well, and costs more

 

[TuffGuy]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Spec-V. - Not much quicker, and costs more
2000 Civic Si. - slower, much slower and costs more
Chipped Golf 1.8T. - not fair, doesn't handle as well, and costs more

SVT Focus vs SE-R vs GTI 1.8T

I'll take a GTI.

 

[vi edit]

I'd take a GTi too...I should know, I owned one

The Focus WILL outhandle the GTi though. If handling, and a six speed were a top priority I'd go with the focus.

But, since easy driving around town and the best luxury out of the bunch are more important to me, I'd go with the Veedub as well.

I certainly wouldn't call someone stupid for going with Focus.

Why didn't you through in the new Tibby into your lineup?

 

[TuffGuy]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I'd take a GTi too...I should know, I owned one

The Focus WILL outhandle the GTi though. If handling, and a six speed were a top priority I'd go with the focus.

But, since easy driving around town and the best luxury out of the bunch are more important to me, I'd go with the Veedub as well.

I certainly wouldn't call someone stupid for going with Focus.

Why didn't you through in the new Tibby into your lineup?

cuz it's slow, and the engine isn't very smooth. i raced one in my eclipse gt up angeles crest and he couldn't hang.

alright alright. GTI 337 then. 6-speed tranny, sports suspension.

 

[saftey]

NO matter how you cut it or slice it when it comes down to it the focus and civic are still econo boxes i cant stand cars with that little torque its a joke

 

[vi edit]

337 = WIN

 

[Ryan]

Am I the only one who thinks that SVT is FUGLY!?!?!?! I woudl rather get the SI and be a little slower

 

[vi edit]

You like the SI and you're calling the SVT fugly?

Okay? The SI is obviously the fugly duckling of the hot hatches.

 

[RossMAN]

In terms of looks I'd rather have the Focus than a Civic Si.

 

[compuwiz1]

Hehe..
We just came back from moving about 200 cars back from a tent sale, late last night. We're proud, since we got all those cars over and back, but only totalled one. Guess which car it was?



Yep, a 2002 Focus. A "few" of us were racing each other and , well, this fire hydrant kind of stepped out into the path of the Focus. :Q

 

[Rent]

Originally posted by: TuffGuy

Originally posted by: Radeon

Originally posted by: TuffGuy
too bad that it has problems with rims coming off and the engine catching on fire. (and i'm not being facetious)

Go sh!t in someone else's thread.

Perhaps you missed the fact that those problems are corrected and Ford recalled all SVT as well as regular model Focus's to make sure that they could correct this problem.

Ignorance abounds...

And ALL Focus' are now trouble free.

Let's talk performance then. It has a 1/4 mile time of what, 16 seconds now? And a 0-60mph of 7.5 seconds? DAMN THAT'S IMPRESSIVE!

Originally posted by: Radeon
The car just digs in and asks for more! DAMN!

a VERY impressive pocket rocket from Ford and the SVT Team.

SCC and all other magazines which you net racers like to read recieved preliminary test mules with the winter package on them. I.E. massive traction control under 20mph. They even said that they would get better times if they could have defeated/disabled the traction control. Motor Trend popped a 15.7 out of it I belive. They're not the best drivers in the world either.

Its just a slip slower than the 1.8T with much better handling and a MUCH MUCH MUCH better shifter/clutch. I've driven several VWs and I can honestly say that they leave you rather disconnected from the car when it comes to shifting.

Have you found another problem with the Focus? Its easy to play ignorant when you don't know much about the car in the first place.

 

[CraigRT]

Nice... I am not a Ford fan overall, but that car sounds dope!! I really like the look of them, and their specs on paper..

I'm sure that's a far nicer car than the Civic SiR (2002) i test drove a few weekends ago

after driving the SVT Focus, dont even bother with the Civic Si, even the SiR....
they are overrated cars.. since driving the SiR I am not really sure there was a single thing I like about the car.. it looks like plain ass, it's way too quiet for a sports car.. you can't even hear it rev. which sucks madly.. the rally style gearbox was *OK*, not great.. clutch felt like it wasn't even connected to anything it was so soft.. this is my first time driving a Honda, and after that, likely my last.. I would love to take the SVT Focus for a drive soon though.. sweet car.

 

[TuffGuy]

Originally posted by: Radeon
SCC and all other magazines which you net racers like to read recieved preliminary test mules with the winter package on them. I.E. massive traction control under 20mph. They even said that they would get better times if they could have defeated/disabled the traction control. Motor Trend popped a 15.7 out of it I belive. They're not the best drivers in the world either.

Its just a slip slower than the 1.8T with much better handling and a MUCH MUCH MUCH better shifter/clutch. I've driven several VWs and I can honestly say that they leave you rather disconnected from the car when it comes to shifting.

Have you found another problem with the Focus? Its easy to play ignorant when you don't know much about the car in the first place.

yeah, the focus was only tested with winter tires while the other cars had super-duper-high performance race tires.

please. a STOCK tiburon has better suspension than the "SVT" focus. a STOCK se-r is faster than the "SVT" focus, has better suspension, AND has a better shifter.

admit is. ford sold out and slapped the SVT badge on a POS to amuse fanboys like you.

 

[Rent]

Originally posted by: TuffGuy

Originally posted by: Radeon
SCC and all other magazines which you net racers like to read recieved preliminary test mules with the winter package on them. I.E. massive traction control under 20mph. They even said that they would get better times if they could have defeated/disabled the traction control. Motor Trend popped a 15.7 out of it I belive. They're not the best drivers in the world either.

Its just a slip slower than the 1.8T with much better handling and a MUCH MUCH MUCH better shifter/clutch. I've driven several VWs and I can honestly say that they leave you rather disconnected from the car when it comes to shifting.

Have you found another problem with the Focus? Its easy to play ignorant when you don't know much about the car in the first place.

yeah, the focus was only tested with winter tires while the other cars had super-duper-high performance race tires.

please. a STOCK tiburon has better suspension than the "SVT" focus. a STOCK se-r is faster than the "SVT" focus, has better suspension, AND has a better shifter.

admit is. ford sold out and slapped the SVT badge on a POS to amuse fanboys like you.

Bwahhahhahaha... Having test driven both the new Tibby and now the Focus, its very clear that the Focus not only out performs the Tibby in nearly every catagory, and its already been good enough to get rave reviews from several sites, magazines, and other car enthusist.

And perhaps if you cared to read, you'd notice that I said nothing about winter tires - I refered to the traction control system AKA winter package. It won't let the car spin its wheels for more than a second under 20mph. Its nearly impossible to get a decent launch out of a car when TCS takes over. Of course, you know that, don't you?

Even my friend, who owns a 200SX SE-R, was impressed by the car and all he did was ride in the back seat. I'll leave it at that since you don't really know what you're talking about TuffGuy

 

[TuffGuy]

Originally posted by: Radeon
Bwahhahhahaha... Having test driven both the new Tibby and now the Focus, its very clear that the Focus not only out performs the Tibby in nearly every catagory, and its already been good enough to get rave reviews from several sites, magazines, and other car enthusist.

And perhaps if you cared to read, you'd notice that I said nothing about winter tires - I refered to the traction control system AKA winter package. It won't let the car spin its wheels for more than a second under 20mph. Its nearly impossible to get a decent launch out of a car when TCS takes over. Of course, you know that, don't you?

Even my friend, who owns a 200SX SE-R, was impressed by the car and all he did was ride in the back seat. I'll leave it at that since you don't really know what you're talking about TuffGuy

sorry, i meant to say SPEC-V. how do you KNOW that they were tested with the "winter package"? sorry, i'm not as cool as you. i refer to traction control as "traction control."

like i said. the focus is NOT worthy of the svt badge. that's the only problem i have with it. it doesn't live up to SVT expectations.