Well, enjoy having owned your last Mustang!
People ALWAYS say "Well, when things get better, I'll get another", but they NEVER do - something else ALWAYS gets in the way.
I'm glad you accomplished what you wantd to do relatively easily. But I sometimes wonder about what prompts these choices - yes, reducing debt is a good thing, but having 'fun' is important as well.
If you're CONSTANTLY trying to pay down debt, reduce your costs, save money where you can..well, how/when do you unwind and enjoy life? A Mustang GT sounds like a good way to do that! LOL!
Just saying that when you work hard, you deserve to 'reward' yourself for it...or else you're just working to amass wealth...
Sold Mustang GT...got a Focus!!
- Thread starter andrewg
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Originally Posted By: andrewg
Originally Posted By: rationull
BTW congrats on the car! Please tell me it doesn't have the fake fender vents!!
I really don't think the fender 'vents' are that bad looking at all. Many cars have fake vents and scoops. The side of the Focus could use a little disruption to break up the plain flatness of it and I think the vents were an attempt to do that. From what I've read on various websites this car is similar in platform to the earlier model but much improved in terms of handling, interior/exterior, and even some mechanicals. I know the older engine had some serious issues of some plastic piece breaking of and entering the engine causing huge damage. This new version is supposed to be much improved, reliable, and shares much in common with the quality (my opinion) of the Mazda.
Originally Posted By: andrewg
I really don't think the fender 'vents' are that bad looking at all. Many cars have fake vents and scoops. The side of the Focus could use a little disruption to break up the plain flatness of it and I think the vents were an attempt to do that. From what I've read on various websites this car is similar in platform to the earlier model but much improved in terms of handling, interior/exterior, and even some mechanicals. I know the older engine had some serious issues of some plastic piece breaking of and entering the engine causing huge damage. This new version is supposed to be much improved, reliable, and shares much in common with the quality (my opinion) of the Mazda.
Originally Posted By: tig1
Originally Posted By: andrewg
I really don't think the fender 'vents' are that bad looking at all. Many cars have fake vents and scoops. The side of the Focus could use a little disruption to break up the plain flatness of it and I think the vents were an attempt to do that. From what I've read on various websites this car is similar in platform to the earlier model but much improved in terms of handling, interior/exterior, and even some mechanicals. I know the older engine had some serious issues of some plastic piece breaking of and entering the engine causing huge damage. This new version is supposed to be much improved, reliable, and shares much in common with the quality (my opinion) of the Mazda.
tig1,
Here is the info about the Duratech 20. I got it from Wikipedia and can't vouch 100% for the accuracy but I have no reason to discount it.
Beginning in 2004, Ford dropped the old 4-cylinder Zetec engines in favor of Mazda's MZR design. Thus, 2005 and present Duratec 4-cylinder engines are Mazdas. This includes the 2.0 L Duratec 20 the 2.3 L Duratec 23 and the all new 2.5 L Duratec 25. The engine is currently built by Ford in Chihuahua, Mexico; Dearborn, Michigan; Valencia, Spain; Laguna, Philippines; and Nanjing, China.
[edit] Duratec 20
The 993 is a 2.0 L (122 CID; 1999 cc) version built in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico. Bore is 87.5 mm (3.44 in) and stroke is 83.1 mm (3.27 in).
It is used in the US/Argentinian Focus and the Brazilian Ford EcoSport. (European Fiesta ST, Ford Focus and Focus C-Max, Mondeo, S-Max, Transit and Galaxy use Duratec HE engines). On the 2007 Focus, output is 136 hp (101 kW) at 6000 rpm with 136 ft·lbf (184 N·m) of torque at 4250 rpm. The 2007 Focus sold in the US states of CA, NY, MA, VT and ME comes with the required PZEV emissions 20E version which produces 130 hp (97 kW) at 6000 rpm with 129 ft·lbf (175 N·m) of torque at 4000 rpm. The PZEV is available as an option in border states. The compression ratio for both versions is 10:1. On the 2008 Focus, output is 140 hp (100 kW) at 6000 rpm with 136 ft·lbf (184 N·m) of torque at 4250 rpm. The 2008 Focus sold in the US states of CA, NY, MA, VT and ME comes with the required PZEV emissions 20E version which produces 132 hp (98 kW) at 6000 rpm with 133 ft·lbf (180 N·m) of torque at 4250 rpm[1]. The PZEV is available as an option in border states. The compression ratio for both versions is 10:1. It has an aluminum engine block and aluminum DOHC cylinder heads. The cylinders are lined with cast iron. It uses SFI fuel injection, has 4 valves per cylinder and features fracture-split forged powder metal connecting rods, a one-piece cast crankshaft, and a cast aluminum or reinforced plastic intake manifold. It does not have variable valve timing. The power output is less than the Mazda version which does have VVT.
The plastic intake manifold on early versions has a major fault due to poor quality materials. The manifold has swirlplates mounted on a square shaft at the aperture where it mounts to the cylinder head. Early 4 cylinder Duratec engines can be ruined when the swirlplates break off and enter a cylinder [2]. Most cases are of single swirlplates but also the shaft can wear and break. Early signs of this fault are evidenced by a ticking noise emanating from the front of the engine. This can occur as early as 25K miles, with failure typically occurring after about 90K miles.
Good choice! It's certainly a car I regret not taking a look at when I bought my Fit. Not exactly what I was looking for but the local dealers have REALLY been discounting them as of late. I don't think the vents look THAT bad. Better than all the fake Buick vents you see around! 
Originally Posted By: tig1
andrewg, thinks a lot for that info. I iust hope Ford corrected that problem by 07.
Gerald
I test drove a new Foci a few months ago and its a very nice car. Decent handling, revvy motor and good manual gearbox. I'm a little disappointed they dropped the Focus hatch though. I'm glad there are a ton of them out there. A stripped one with crank windows might be my next vehicle..
Originally Posted By: zoomzoomlx
I test drove a new Foci a few months ago and its a very nice car. Decent handling, revvy motor and good manual gearbox. I'm a little disappointed they dropped the Focus hatch though. I'm glad there are a ton of them out there. A stripped one with crank windows might be my next vehicle..
Yeah, Ford really does have some decent, reliable cars for the money. The old 'Pinto' days are long gone.
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