I like the 2002 Ford Focus
- Thread starter GearheadTool
- Start date
- Status
Originally Posted By: surfstar
Its ChevyGearHeadToolBoy!!!
Its ChevyGearHeadToolBoy!!!
I also recommend avoiding the SPI engine, just for the valve seat dropping issue. Other than that, the car should be just fine.
I own a 1995 Ford Escort LX that I bought new. And yes I know all about this valve seat problem.
I own a 1995 Ford Escort LX that I bought new. And yes I know all about this valve seat problem.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
I also recommend avoiding the SPI engine, just for the valve seat dropping issue. Other than that, the car should be just fine.
I own a 1995 Ford Escort LX that I bought new. And yes I know all about this valve seat problem.
OMG! My 1995 Ford Escort LX "collapsed a lifter!" Makes me wonder if I ever bought a 1995 Ford Escort LX again, if that would happen again. 31.5MPG in that car, with an auto.. good car..
As for a dropped valve.. I have a pic of when that happened once, somewhere. And either "we know what it looks like," or you would like to see how the cylinder looked when we pulled the head off...
I also recommend avoiding the SPI engine, just for the valve seat dropping issue. Other than that, the car should be just fine.
I own a 1995 Ford Escort LX that I bought new. And yes I know all about this valve seat problem.
OMG! My 1995 Ford Escort LX "collapsed a lifter!" Makes me wonder if I ever bought a 1995 Ford Escort LX again, if that would happen again. 31.5MPG in that car, with an auto.. good car..
As for a dropped valve.. I have a pic of when that happened once, somewhere. And either "we know what it looks like," or you would like to see how the cylinder looked when we pulled the head off...
Originally Posted By: css9450
Why has the Crown Victoria not been mentioned yet?
Been in the back of too many of those to like them, even if they are a fine car.
It starts with those distinctive headlights....
Why has the Crown Victoria not been mentioned yet?
Been in the back of too many of those to like them, even if they are a fine car.
It starts with those distinctive headlights....
We had an early year focus sedan (ztx?) with zetec engine. Very pleasantly surprised with how it handled and rode. A real pleasure to drive on twisty back roads. If you find one that has been well maintained it's worth a look.
Originally Posted By: Miller88
The transmission in them is a Mazda, which explains why it actually can reach 100k. Ford built some pretty crummy front drive autos.
You just have to take care of them with fluid changes every 30k. Then they were decent.
The transmission in them is a Mazda, which explains why it actually can reach 100k. Ford built some pretty crummy front drive autos.
You just have to take care of them with fluid changes every 30k. Then they were decent.
Oh yes, do get a manual transmission. I was only looking at automatics because not all my family drive sticks and it is not going to be my personal vehicle.
Not bad cars regardless of engine. You may 200k+ on a SPI with no issues. Although I'd spend $400 and replace the head and you'll have a fine long lasting machine. Zetec's also have their fair share of problems although mostly easy fixes. No harshness with our 02 with the SPI and 107k. Rides, drives and handles similar to a few upscale vehicles I've driven. Transmission still shifts smooth and the steering is tight.
I can't say it's been trouble free though. Mostly small fixes but a bear to figure out. The temp sensor was causing it to not start once. It's cutting out now when it's warming up that I can't figure out. It did set 1/2 of it's life some times going months without being driven probably didn't help any. If I ever get that figured out going to replace the head and drive it till it rust in pieces. I'd buy a Zetec in a heartbeat if I had to.
I can't say it's been trouble free though. Mostly small fixes but a bear to figure out. The temp sensor was causing it to not start once. It's cutting out now when it's warming up that I can't figure out. It did set 1/2 of it's life some times going months without being driven probably didn't help any. If I ever get that figured out going to replace the head and drive it till it rust in pieces. I'd buy a Zetec in a heartbeat if I had to.
Originally Posted By: GearheadTool
Sounds like "Zetec" started in 2003 and 2002 was the last year of "the other one"...
I was in a 2002 and I liked how peppy/sporty it was. Reminded me of a Jetta. By the way, how are those? (99-06)
I've yet to hear a good thing about Jettas as they age. Get something inexpensive to repair.
Sounds like "Zetec" started in 2003 and 2002 was the last year of "the other one"...
I was in a 2002 and I liked how peppy/sporty it was. Reminded me of a Jetta. By the way, how are those? (99-06)
I've yet to hear a good thing about Jettas as they age. Get something inexpensive to repair.
Originally Posted By: Miller88
AVOID the SPI engine. You never did the T-Belt on the Volvo, my fear is you'd run an SPI engine focus until it dropped a valve and killed itself.
Get the Zetec. I was proven wrong in that it is not a ford CD4E automatic transmission. It seems the most common problem with them is they eat solenoids. Keep good fluid in the A/T and it shold last a bit.
Other than the occasional A/T issue and the SPI engine, they're pretty reliable little cars!
Not all SPI engines were bad. I had a 97 Escort with 256,000 kms that had many harsh starts and an overall hard life on the Canadian prairies, yet never skipped a beat. i used to run it on M1 Full Synthetic and change the oil once a year or every 20,000kms and the engine was spotless. Never had the dreaded "valve seat" issue
The great thing about the SPI motor is it's SO easy to do a timing belt on! there's only once cam and the engine is non interference so once I got the old belt off, I was able to spin that crank as many times as I wanted, and no damage would occur!
We also had the 5 speed stick and I swapped the car's transmission over to Full Synthetic. Help shifts when it was -30C!
The car was a modern day Volvo with it's simplicity and reliability, but better! Mine was fully loaded and not a single power operated device failed on it, in all the years of hard driving we did with it. Even the power windows, locks, mirrors, A/C (was colder than many Cadillac DTS's and STS's we rented.) also never failed.
We ultimatly got rid of it b/c it was just so_damn boring to drive! LOL
AVOID the SPI engine. You never did the T-Belt on the Volvo, my fear is you'd run an SPI engine focus until it dropped a valve and killed itself.
Get the Zetec. I was proven wrong in that it is not a ford CD4E automatic transmission. It seems the most common problem with them is they eat solenoids. Keep good fluid in the A/T and it shold last a bit.
Other than the occasional A/T issue and the SPI engine, they're pretty reliable little cars!
Not all SPI engines were bad. I had a 97 Escort with 256,000 kms that had many harsh starts and an overall hard life on the Canadian prairies, yet never skipped a beat. i used to run it on M1 Full Synthetic and change the oil once a year or every 20,000kms and the engine was spotless. Never had the dreaded "valve seat" issue
The great thing about the SPI motor is it's SO easy to do a timing belt on! there's only once cam and the engine is non interference so once I got the old belt off, I was able to spin that crank as many times as I wanted, and no damage would occur!
We also had the 5 speed stick and I swapped the car's transmission over to Full Synthetic. Help shifts when it was -30C!
The car was a modern day Volvo with it's simplicity and reliability, but better! Mine was fully loaded and not a single power operated device failed on it, in all the years of hard driving we did with it. Even the power windows, locks, mirrors, A/C (was colder than many Cadillac DTS's and STS's we rented.) also never failed.
We ultimatly got rid of it b/c it was just so_damn boring to drive! LOL
Nope, as I said already, the Zetec was the upscale engine available from Job 1 on the Focus as it was already in production for the Contour/Mystique, the "new" Cougar and even the Escape/Tribute platforms.
Originally Posted By: GearheadTool
Sounds like "Zetec" started in 2003 and 2002 was the last year of "the other one"...
I was in a 2002 and I liked how peppy/sporty it was. Reminded me of a Jetta. By the way, how are those? (99-06)
Originally Posted By: GearheadTool
Sounds like "Zetec" started in 2003 and 2002 was the last year of "the other one"...
I was in a 2002 and I liked how peppy/sporty it was. Reminded me of a Jetta. By the way, how are those? (99-06)
Originally Posted By: javacontour
Nope, as I said already, the Zetec was the upscale engine available from Job 1 on the Focus as it was already in production for the Contour/Mystique, the "new" Cougar and even the Escape/Tribute platforms.
Originally Posted By: GearheadTool
Sounds like "Zetec" started in 2003 and 2002 was the last year of "the other one"...
I was in a 2002 and I liked how peppy/sporty it was. Reminded me of a Jetta. By the way, how are those? (99-06)
Sooo.. if I am hearing you right, you could get a Zetec OR an "SPI" engine on ANY Focus??
WHich one sais 5W-20 right on the oil cap?
And wasn't there a time when the Zetec didn't SAY Zetec on the VC? It has been some time since this 02 FoFo.
What ebgines were available mated to an auto trans on an 02 FoFo, probably a Focus LX?
I know they had noisy fuel injectors but that shouldnt be worrysome...
Nope, as I said already, the Zetec was the upscale engine available from Job 1 on the Focus as it was already in production for the Contour/Mystique, the "new" Cougar and even the Escape/Tribute platforms.
Originally Posted By: GearheadTool
Sounds like "Zetec" started in 2003 and 2002 was the last year of "the other one"...
I was in a 2002 and I liked how peppy/sporty it was. Reminded me of a Jetta. By the way, how are those? (99-06)
Sooo.. if I am hearing you right, you could get a Zetec OR an "SPI" engine on ANY Focus??
WHich one sais 5W-20 right on the oil cap?
And wasn't there a time when the Zetec didn't SAY Zetec on the VC? It has been some time since this 02 FoFo.
What ebgines were available mated to an auto trans on an 02 FoFo, probably a Focus LX?
I know they had noisy fuel injectors but that shouldnt be worrysome...
IIRC, the First Gen Focus ran for 8 model years in the US 2000-2007. For the first five years, you could get the 2.0L SPI or the 2.0L Zetec depending on the trim level.
I believe some states with more stringent emissions requirements were offered the 2.3L low emissions Duratec branded engine.
There was also the 170HP 2.0L Zetec for the SVT badged Focus.
The LX probably had the SPI engine. I don't know if the Zetec was an option, or if you had to move to a higher trim level to get the Zetec.
The SVT was only available with a six-speed manual trans-axle.
I believe some states with more stringent emissions requirements were offered the 2.3L low emissions Duratec branded engine.
There was also the 170HP 2.0L Zetec for the SVT badged Focus.
The LX probably had the SPI engine. I don't know if the Zetec was an option, or if you had to move to a higher trim level to get the Zetec.
The SVT was only available with a six-speed manual trans-axle.
Originally Posted By: GearheadTool
Originally Posted By: javacontour
Nope, as I said already, the Zetec was the upscale engine available from Job 1 on the Focus as it was already in production for the Contour/Mystique, the "new" Cougar and even the Escape/Tribute platforms.
Originally Posted By: GearheadTool
Sounds like "Zetec" started in 2003 and 2002 was the last year of "the other one"...
I was in a 2002 and I liked how peppy/sporty it was. Reminded me of a Jetta. By the way, how are those? (99-06)
Sooo.. if I am hearing you right, you could get a Zetec OR an "SPI" engine on ANY Focus??
WHich one sais 5W-20 right on the oil cap?
And wasn't there a time when the Zetec didn't SAY Zetec on the VC? It has been some time since this 02 FoFo.
What ebgines were available mated to an auto trans on an 02 FoFo, probably a Focus LX?
I know they had noisy fuel injectors but that shouldnt be worrysome...
You could get the base model LX with SPI and auto trans.
Originally Posted By: javacontour
Nope, as I said already, the Zetec was the upscale engine available from Job 1 on the Focus as it was already in production for the Contour/Mystique, the "new" Cougar and even the Escape/Tribute platforms.
Originally Posted By: GearheadTool
Sounds like "Zetec" started in 2003 and 2002 was the last year of "the other one"...
I was in a 2002 and I liked how peppy/sporty it was. Reminded me of a Jetta. By the way, how are those? (99-06)
Sooo.. if I am hearing you right, you could get a Zetec OR an "SPI" engine on ANY Focus??
WHich one sais 5W-20 right on the oil cap?
And wasn't there a time when the Zetec didn't SAY Zetec on the VC? It has been some time since this 02 FoFo.
What ebgines were available mated to an auto trans on an 02 FoFo, probably a Focus LX?
I know they had noisy fuel injectors but that shouldnt be worrysome...
You could get the base model LX with SPI and auto trans.
Daughter bought a new 2000 Focus base model right out of college. Outside of getting the oil changed every 3000 miles (I was a good Bitog teacher), car has been totally neglected. It's a 2-door 4 or 5 speed manual,probably that SPI motor, no air-conditioning, no power features. Lost a clutch at about 80,000 mi., and a few other minor issues, but is still driven daily. She's in Oregon on the coast and flies home for holidays, etc., so I haven't seen the car in over 5 years, and don't know that I want to! Think it has about 125,000 mi. on it now.
- Status
Similar threads
