Got rid of Cav. NEW CAR inside!

[Davan]

So I finally got rid of the Cavalier, after almost three years of complaining about it. It was a fun car, but the quality was just seriously lacking. The lease was up... time to get something new.

So anyways... A shopping I went. For the longest time I had my heart set on a C230 Coupe... unfortunately, this whole purchase was kinda last minute, and I didn't have enough saved up for a downpayment to make the benz affordable. My cap was about 30 grand.

I said to myself, "what's the best handling car for thirty G's?"

I'll probably get some flames cuz it's not an import, but regardless, here's what I came up with:

http://www.teamimpulse.ca/posts/newcar/badge.jpg

http://www.teamimpulse.ca/posts/newcar/front.jpg

http://www.teamimpulse.ca/posts/newcar/guages.jpg

http://www.teamimpulse.ca/posts/newcar/interior.jpg

http://www.teamimpulse.ca/posts/newcar/shift.jpg

http://www.teamimpulse.ca/posts/newcar/wheel.jpg

http://www.teamimpulse.ca/posts/newcar/engine.jpg

http://www.teamimpulse.ca/posts/newcar/exterior.jpg


For those that know me, you'll know my family has had a long track record with Ford. So it was a natural choice. Between my father and myself, we've had 9 Ford's since 1994.

I'm still kinda in awe and shock over the whole thing. Ford did me a huge favour. I returned the cav to GM (end of lease thingy), and Ford is paying the extra charges on it for me. I went well over my allowance on kilometres, plus there is some minor damage, and the usual wear and tear. I'm estimating it will be about $2500 in charges ($1300 for the kilometres alone). So Ford is basically taking a bit of a loss to get me back into their vehicles.

I haven't had a lot of time to drive the car yet, and the weather certainly isn't suitable for ripping it up. But as soon as I get a chance I'll write up a bit on what I think.

:thumbsup:

p.s. sorry for rambling. i'm just pretty elated right now. :)

**edit - added a couple more pics

[Idratherbsidewayz]

Congratulations on the purchase. I really like the focus svt's, i think they look great, never test driven one though, good luck with the car...

[04blackMAX]

nice man, as much as i dont like domestics, those SVT's always catch my eye, good lookin car man

[RiCE-DaDDy]

id get one if it wasnt for my innate bias towards imports that i was born with haha

[/////AMG]

Originally posted by Firefly/wRims
Congratulations on the purchase. I really like the focus svt's, i think they look great, never test driven one though, good luck with the car...


:werd: It looks like a great Focus, you shouldn't get flamed, its your choice, your car.

[illeagle]

the SVT focus is a wicked car, even better with a supercharger

[aftermarket]

Nice choice Davan, looks real good, my wife bought one last year, a real treat to drive. Hope you enjoy it.

[hjr]

its not a bad car at all. every once in a while ford makes a good vehicle for the North american market. Luckily, you've got it. they make shit loads of hot cars for the euro market though.

[Davan]

Thanks for all the positive comments everyone!

I really don't know why I'm at home on the computer. I should be out driving! :D

[5gluder]

Congrats Davan, nice choice. The car handles great, ask Fast95pony, he's always auto-xing his.

[Davan]

Originally posted by 5gluder
Congrats Davan, nice choice. The car handles great, ask Fast95pony, he's always auto-xing his.

I fully plan on tearing the hell outta mine at solo2 as well. ;) Should be nicely broken in by spring.

[rc2002]

From the Car and Driver sport compact magazine (last year's) I think this car ended up in fourth place (or maybe third). At any rate it beat out the civic siR and has a smaller ticket price too. The only other two cars ahead of this was the SRT4 and Mazdaspeed protege which both have ticket prices near $30000.

Good Choice.

[GTS Jeff]

oooh damn good choice! quite an upgrade from a cavy. what other cars did u consider?

[Khyron]

I've driven a rental focus wagon - I was quite pleased with it (even compared 1-1 with the Jetta). You should be quite happy with the SVT - good choice!

Have you found your trunk release yet? :D

Khyron

[4wheeldrift]

Originally posted by Davan


I fully plan on tearing the hell outta mine at solo2 as well. ;) Should be nicely broken in by spring. I had a ton of fun flogging the shit out of fast95pony's back at a solo 2 in september. Fun little machines :D Get ready to shift tons ;)

[speedracer]

Congratulations Davan! :)
(The cav would have been just as fun on the AutoX course)

[finboy]

excellent upgrade :)

[T5_X]

congrads on the purchase :thumbsup:

I was considering one of these or the SVT contour, but both were too small for me as a daily driver.

[NickGT]

very nice man, very nice! :bigpimp:

[CRXguy]

Good stuff Davan. Bring it to Chinook sometime. :thumbsup:

[pinoyhero]

Congrtas. Im' not a huge fan of domestics, but SVT foc's are sweet.

[Davan]

Thanks again guys. :)

I'll try to make it out this wednesday to a meet. Depending on conditions... the Z-rated rubber on it is really horrible on the slushy-snowy streets right now.

I can't wait for this racing season... Gotta spend some time learning to drive this thing though! :)

[Superesc]

Congrats on the purchase Davan! Should bring it out to Chinnook!! :)

[Ekliptix]

Nice car

[fast95pony]

Hi Davan , nice car ! If you have any questions about the car, let me know. Here's a few tips : Stock tires are crap in the snow .
16" rims are difficult to find that fit over the front brakes, but I think the stock Focii rims will fit. I have 205-50-17's Blizzaks , but they are expensive . Getting 16 rims and tires will be cheaper.
If you can spring for winter tires, do it !

A few common problems : The exhaust heat shields are thin.They come loose and rattle , or sometimes fall off. Ford will just tighten the clamps.No fix yet.
When the engine is cold, the engine may rev high and when driving may stutter or surge until warm. Ford just issued a re-flash of the PCM It's TSB# 03-19-11 and is called YRF0 .
A sticker on the passenger will tell you if it's been done. I just had mine re-flashed . It fixed the problem and also the engine feels stronger thoughout the revs.

There is a local SVT club in Calgary. www.svtoa.ca and
another good site is www.focaljet.com

Apart from the car's decent performance , it's a very practical car.With the back seats folded,you can fit a ton of stuff back there..

I love driving mine as much as my Mustang. Last Sunday I went lapping at Race City in the Focus and had a ball. I was reaching 180 kms/hr at 7000 rpm in fourth gear at the end of the long straight.

So , congrats on you purchase ,and I look forward to seeing around. Definately try Solo 2 . It's a blast !!

Alan

[l/l/rX]

holy cow. never really looked at a SVT closely to see how nice it looks. but dayum pretty nice looking. inside- out. the dash set up is coool looking. and is this car european base design? i see that the reverse on this car are like the VW's/BMW's...and i guess any other euro car. '

also what are the specs on this car?

[fast95pony]

170 hp , 145 tq , getrag 6 speed , 17 rims , large 4 wheel disc brakes (can't remember exact sizes ) with ABS , leather seats.

Three options are : sunroof , 290 watt Audiophile sound system ,
and a Winter Package (Traction Contol, heated seats ).


The 2002 models were the 3 door only , the 2003 come in 3 and 5 door hatchback .

There were 4788 built in 2002 , approx 500 are in Canada.

I'm not sure of the 2003 numbers.

Here's a few more (not so very good) pics...

http://www.yyc95gts.stangnet.com/photo4.html

http://www.yyc95gts.stangnet.com/photo6.html

[Toms-Celica]

Very nice Davan!

[max_boost]

Congrats!
You deserve it :)

[Fluidic]

Congrats Davan. When you installing the supercharger? lol

Peter

[403Gemini]

good choice in vehicle :)

[buh_buh]

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I wanna see it!

[link785]

Originally posted by max_boost
Congrats!
You deserve it :)

Just curious, why does he deserve it?

[Davan]

Originally posted by link785


Just curious, why does he deserve it?

Cuz i've been tortured driving the Cavalier for almost three years now. :banghead: :D

Thanks for all the info Fast95. I definetly need to do some tire shopping. I got stuck in the West Hills Canadian Tire parking lot last night.

[three.eighteen.]

nice car! i love the way those look

ooh it has a german reverse, are all fords like that?

[max_boost]

I think anytime someone has worked hard for their cars deserve it!

[Davetronz]

Good work Davan, no more stinky Cavalier! (literally)... :D

[92 Teg-B18A]

Congrats on the purchase!

[missblondie]

very cool car.. like the rest I am not a huge domestic fan but that looks great:thumbsup:

[Mikko]

the weather certainly isn't suitable for ripping it up.
Why noooot? Lower limits - but they can be learned too.


the dash set up is coool looking. and is this car european base design?
Designed and engineered by Ford Europe in Germany (where they have their base). By mainly Germans, I would assume, but might well be other people working on it. The cars that come from there are very different from what Ford North America normally spits out.

Here is a nice review of the car, comparing it a bit to Civic Type R:
http://autozine.kyul.net/html/Ford_Europe2.htm#Focus%20ST170

[roopi]

nice choice, to bad it's not a lincoln! close i guess. :D

[Davan]

As close as I'm going to get for now, Roop. ;)

[cocoabrova]

Congrats on the purchase Davan, hopefully I'll see you at Solo2 next year;)