I just wanted to run some by everyone and see what they thought................i am going to be coming across about 10k and i was thinking to either

Option 1: Trading in my ZX3 and getting a svt and paying most of it off with the 10k
Option 2: Trading in my ZX3 and getting a 2.3 PZEV
Option 3: Trading in my ZX3 and getting a SRT-4
or
Option 4: Saving the money and modding my ZX3 (although its an auto and i dont know if it would be worth it)

what do all of you think? opinions and other options are welcome

please keep to one topic.

choose option 4, with the way gas prices are, last thing i would wanna do is keep buying premium if i didn't have too. save the money for something else.

personally I would trade in your zx3, get a new 2.3L zx3 with a manual trans and mod that thing. you could make it really fast and you would still have some money left over. If I were you I wouldn't trade in your car though because you could get a lot more from private seller, as long as everything runs and looks relatively well. That's what I would do, what you want is up to you.

well the only thing is that i cant for some reason get the dealerships around here to get a 2.3............i live in tn i guess i wont be able to get and if i were to special order it they would want me to pay for almost all of it without driving the damn thing so i dont know................................i guess i will have to hope and get a used one around here from another state

another state or buy the ST w/ the 2.3l if ya want.

yeah i dont know if i like the new body style....................do you know what all states offer it

from what i thought the ST is available in all states.

oh im sorry i didnt explain myself....................i meant what state is the PZEV availabe if u know ...................and isnt the st a new model for 05???

yea, its the 05 model, the older pzev's were only available in the green states. New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, California, Maine.

so there is probably no way of getting a 04 PZEV here in tn

Originally posted by Kicknzx3
yea, its the 05 model, the older pzev's were only available in the green states. New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, California, Maine.

...and states that border green states.

2.3L is standard in 2004 ZX3 Premium according to Fords website.

It only shows it as a restricted option on the Standard and Comfort packages.

I am not sure if they were standard all year or if the Premium only got it mid-year.

I would go look at some Premium cars and see if Ford did a delete option for a $115.00 credit or if they still have the 2.3L in TN.

Barring that have the dealer do a transfer from a state that has the 2.3L and fly-up and drive it back. If you do a week-end to week-end round trip ticket and toss the extra ticket it will only cost around $200.00 if you buy the ticket a few days in advance.

does anyone know the difference between the 2.3 in the 2004's and the 2.3 in the ST's? because i think the hp is different.

i cant for some reason get the dealerships around here to get a 2.3............i live in tn i guess i wont be able to get and if i were to special order it they would want me to pay for almost all of it without driving the damn thing so i dont know................................i guess i will have to hope and get a used one around here from another state


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BS... the 2.3 PZEV is availible in all states for 2004. They can do dealer trades to get the car you want. OR you can get the 2005 ST with the 2.3 (which is not PZEV rated) and it has 150 hp. That is if you can stomach the new styling. You don't have to pay for it all to get it before you drive it. They can do a dealer trade and then do the financing. It is a matter of making the dealer believe you will buy it if you like it. If they want to make a sale they will do that for you. Besides the ugliness of the 2005, it has some great features that might make you want one. 4 wheel disk brakes, traction control, abs all standard.

Originally posted by Zarelli6
does anyone know the difference between the 2.3 in the 2004's and the 2.3 in the ST's? because i think the hp is different.

I do not believe the ST engine is PZEV rated.

Result.... less restrictive exhaust and ECM calibration. Gain...6 bhp.

What really @#$% me off is meantime Mazda gets 148 bhp / 160 bhp variable valve timing PZEV versions of the 2.0L/2.3L. A very sophisticated set-up with three different intake lobes for low/mid/high range versus Hondas two. Meanwhile we get stuck with 130 bhp / 145 bhp 2.0L/2.3L PZEV and 151 bhp Non-PZEV because Ford thinks we are to cheap to pay $150-300 a engine for variable valve timing.

get an SRT-4....turbocharged for cheap...thats ur best thing....or....to turbo the Focus to the nuts...and build up the auto...that is def ur best bet

thanks everyone.................i just came from the dealership near where i live and they told me that i would have to make some kind of downpayment i think somewhere in the neighborhood of 20-25% of the total price............ARE THEY OUTTA OF THERE DAMN MIND..............do they actually think that im gonna to pay to test drive it...................because basically that is what im doing............i ended all negotiations with them for the time being...............does anyone have any suggestions.............they sat there and said even if they could get it in it would be more than a svt

come now everyone what do yall think

Get the SRT-4

Originally posted by Zarelli6
does anyone know the difference between the 2.3 in the 2004's and the 2.3 in the ST's? because i think the hp is different.

I've read it over and over and again but I think that the 04 PZEV is rated at 145 and the 2.3 ST is rated at 151.

And to the dude that started this, I'd say OPTION 4.

but really would it be worth it to mod my auto

i was just looking on the internet at the ford website.......................in the 04 models does the 2.3 only come in the sedan or the hatch as well because i can only find it in the sedan around here

id say keep ur car and build the auto. and then throw in a turbo.

option 4 man....save the cash for somethin better

Originally posted by rfinger
i was just looking on the internet at the ford website.......................in the 04 models does the 2.3 only come in the sedan or the hatch as well because i can only find it in the sedan around here

You must have missed my original post.

According to the Ford Website the 2.3L is STANDARD in ALL 2004 ZX3 PREMIUM cars regardless of state. Call around until you find a dealer with a ZX3 Premium 5spd. Go see if Ford deleted the 2.3L for a $115 credit or if it is still in the car.

michigan has the 2.3L and it is pimp, i would call around up here andfind one on the lot and drive it, and then possibly buy it

Not sure where in TN you are, but, I just did a dealer search using a Nashville zip code, and the first dealer I looked at had an 04 ZX3 Premium with the 2.3l and manual tranny in Infra-Red. Here's the vin 3FAFP31ZX4R108125 that shows up in their inventory.

thanks riprock i will look into that

btw what is the nashville zip code

try 37213.

I say skip the SRT-4, with gas prices going like they are, even a turbo 4 is going to suck. Especially if you commute at all.

I like the 2.3 duratec or new ST option. You get a more powerful focus, keep the cheaper fuel option and the cars are real N/A power makers.

thanks focal im just having a hell of a time finding one now

I agree with the few before me.........option 4.

3 out of your 4 options includes dumping your current car. Looks like you have it in your head to get rid of it. But modding an automatic isn't that bad. You can still have fun with an auto.

i think i could but....................here is the thing i found a 03 svt for 12000 and i dont think its that bad of a deal maybe im wrong...............as for modding my car now i would love to i just dont want to end putting a new tranny into it cuz if im gonna mod it im gonna have a turbo

the main thing im worried about with my car and modding it is that it already has 51,000 miles on it i dont know if it would hold up with a lot of mods either

well look at it this way, if you kept your car in good shape (treating it like a baby) you should be fine at 51k miles to mod it, if you were beating it like a ___ (ok no more analogies but you get my point). Basically if you were good to your car modding it at 51k miles would be no problem.

And as someone said b4, you seem really set on trading in the '01, so mind as well just trade it in since you seem to have your hearts set on a new one :P

I am also in the same boat as you are. The main diff. is that I do not have an extra 10K to spend.

What is so great about getting a ZX3 with 2.3L engine? I am in Cali so I see A LOT of those being posted for sale for about $8000-10,000.

get a newer one but insead of paying most of it off, do some mods.

i would get a new ST focus

i think im decided i found a srt4 around here for 16k and its only got 12k miles on it...........i know how much most of u guys depise those cars but look i have a auto now and if i wanted to get a 2.3 around here i would have to order it new and that would cost 16,595 before taxes and well it still wouldnt be able to touch the srt4.......................hey one question i thought of with my car like it is auto and all do you all think that its possible to run with a srt4 with enough, the only reason im asking is that the srt4 is kinda fugly