2003 Ford Focus SVT

I bought a Ford Focus ZX3 back in the Spring of 2002. I drove it for 65k miles without any problems. I have a 65 mile round trip commute to work everyday and wanted something practical with good gas mileage. Focus was definitely the answer. This car is fun to drive and very reliable - I had no problems with my ZX3.

Enter stage left Focus SVT which wasn't introduced until after I bought my ZX3 premium in 2002. I took my ZX3 to the Ford dealer for oil changes & spotted my first SVT during my first or second oil change visit. WOW! I was really impressed by the styling and the subtle performance cues. The racing seats were sweet, and the audiophile stereo, performance tuned engine and suspension were appealing although I didn't take it for a test drive at the time. I would've lost out big time financially since I had just bought my ZX3 a few months earlier. I resigned myself to drooling over it at subsequent oil changes.

3 years later, I give in and trade my 2002 ZX3 premium in for a black 2003 SVT 3 door. YEE HA! Don't get me wrong, I realize this is a low end sports car, but BOOOYAH! This car is outstanding. What a hoot to drive. I quickly became a Focus enthusiast back in 2002. Now in 2005 I'm a Focus SVT fanatic!

Performance

Great for the price. 170hp (no standard superchargers or turbo, but plenty of aftermarket toys if you want a boost), 6 speed manual transmission. The six speed adds an element of racing excitement and also gives the driver an opportunity to keep the revs high. Although I find I can skip gears at times (normally 4th into 6th). I'm not a racer by any measure, but IMO the SVT is a bit slow off the line since it's considered a performance car. But once you get going things pick up quick!

Handling

Outstanding. This is probably the best feature of this car. Winding roads were never so inviting. The SVT handles curves & turns with vigor! It's almost like driving a big go cart - very responsive. The handling of this car inspires confidence.

This car can stop on a dime. Compared to the ZX3 premium, the SVT increases the size of the front discs, also introduces rear disc brakes in place of drums. Tremendous difference compared to the ZX3 premium.

Racing seats come standard with a Focus SVT. These are a combination of leather with colored cloth inserts (red or blue). These are very stylish IMO, and are a bit on the firm side which I guess is the norm for a performance type vehicle. Both the driver and passenger front seats have manual adjustment lumbar support. The driver seat also has a power height adjustment.

The rear seats also follow the leather/cloth insert style, as do the door panels and side panels in the back. The back seat also has head rests which add to the sporty look. I've never sat in the back, but have carried both children and grown-ups back there. It's not the roomiest accommodations, but really is bigger than it looks.

Appearance

The exterior of the Focus isn't for everyone. It definitely has a unique look. It's what drew me to the car back in 2002 - I love it. The subtle performance cues of the SVT are just that - sporty but not overdone. The interior, IMO, is sleek. Again, a bit different from what you're use to. I love the SVT gauges and leather racing seats with colored cloth inserts - gorgeous!.

Controls/Features/Options

SVT's come standard with cruise control, power locks, power windows, power side view mirrors and power driver's seat (up/down only). My SVT also has a/c (I think an option, not positive), the winter package (heated seats, heated side view mirrors, engine block heater, traction control) and also the Audiophile stereo package (290 watt stereo with 8" sub-woofer and 6 CD in-dash CD changer). The audiophile pkg also introduces an extra 'stem' on the steering wheel that may be used to control stereo volume and change radio stations/CD tracks.

I find that ALL of the controls for these items are well placed and simple to use. As the Focus SVT is really an entry level performance vehicle, there's not a lot of fancy buttons you need to figure out, and EVERYTHING is well within reach and logically laid out.

The heater and a/c are both very efficient, and will heat or cool the vehicle in a relatively short period of time. The audiophile stero pkg is outstanding, and the sub-woofer that comes with it provides excellent bass that may be controlled via the stereo. A nice controllable feature on the stereo makes it sensitive to road noise so when you slow to a stop light/stop sign the volume decreases, then when you speed back up, the volume increases effectively keeping the same volume throughout.

Of mention is the fact that SVT Focus, unlike regular Focus', do NOT have a keyhole on the passenger side door, nor a keyhole on the hatch. The key fob may be used to open either of these, there is also a handy hatch release next to the drivers instrument cluster.

Practicality

The SVT gives up a bit of gas mileage for the extra performance. My ZX3 Premium averaged 32 mpg, so far my SVT has averaged 27. I guess it depends how hard you drive it - I was actually a bit surprised by the good mileage on the SVT, but then again, I don't race everywhere I go. I'm sure if I punched it all the time the mpg avg would drop substantially.

The SVT has the fold down rear seats just like the ZX3 and you'd be surprised how much stuff you can get back there. Simply amazing! I've carried several 8ft landscape timbers in my ZX3 premium with the seats down, or a dozen or so BIG bags of landscape mulch, or several suitcases. You'd be surprised how much space there is.

Conclusion

Overall, Ford has me sold on the Focus. The SVT Focus adds a huge WOW factor to an already great car. I actually look forward to driving to work each day (just the drive!). Crank up the stereo and GO! If anything, I'd like more power, but for the price this is an amazing car.