I saw a SVT Focus today just blow past me in the snow while I was struggling in my 2000 Lightning after just filling up at $3.80 a gallon for 93Octane. So I came home and looked them up found this forum mentioned on SVTP and see they can be had for 3k-6k Mileage doesnt scare me plug these are getting 35mpg? Hows the performance? Straight Line? Corners? Are they all manuals?

I also have a 2001 Mustang GT with a SOHC 5.4 that gets about 15mpg and the Lightning gets 14.8 and is currently my DD.

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL628/2684232/23071345/397781427.jpg
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h336/jhallway/photo3-3.jpg
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h336/jhallway/photo11.jpg
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h336/jhallway/photo1-2.jpg
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h336/jhallway/DSC02707.jpg

hey welcome to the forum.All the svt focus's come with a 6 spd manuel,in my opinion they shine more in the handling department.The suspension is pretty good stock.I've had mine 2004 svt focus for almost two years now and love it. hope this helps in some way

No way will you get 35mpg - best I've done is 30 (all highway), but I'm usually between 20 and 22.

BTW, you'll also have to fill it with premium...

I've gotten 32mpg on a highway trip, and around 23 on a normal tank. I came from a Mustang and despite buying premium fuel and the "low" mpg SVTFs have, it's much easier on the bank account. I'm sure you'd feel the same if you get one.

if i dive all highway in the 75-77 range I'll hit 28-29 mpgs. The 6th gear isnt really considered an overdrive (the 5th gear in a regular focus has lower rpms @ same speeds). A mix of 50/50 driving will yield somewhere in the 22-24 mpg range for me. Mostly city and the car will get below 20 with a bunch of stop and go (Im in miami)

These cars are better performers in the handling department. 1-2-3 are taller gears designed for auto-x and road courses. Theyre fun to drive, and for a FWD, you can get the back to rotate!

Test drive one and see. But plunking down 3-6K on one of these to double your gas mileage doesnt make economic sense to me (unless you sell the lightning or mustang to offset cost). Itd take a while to recoup the costs

I'll trade u my svtf for one of your cars hah

Nice rides.

Yes they are all Manual. 6-speed Getrag Tranny ... same one in the Mini Cooper.

The 2004 Model came along with Euro Packages: Heat Seats / Euro Wheels / Recaro Seats.

They aren't very quick in a straight line: Avg about 15-16s Quarter Miles
But are great in handling. Many people use these cars in SCCA Solo (or AutoX for short) runs

Stock Power was rated at 170HP / 145TQ at the crank.
On an Avg: that was 145HP / 130TQ to the wheels.

As stated, MPG is on average between 25-30 mpg with an 11 gallon tank. That takes Premium Gas. Anything less than 91 Octane, makes the SVT Focus run poorly.

When it comes to modding, most of the aftermarket performance pieces are really for better drivability, not for gaining a whole lot. The SVT team did a great job of getting quite a bit out of that year Focus that aftermarket parts don't add too much more. Maybe another 10-20HP if that. But you can tweak somethings to make it more fun.

Good luck on figuring if you are going to jump in one. And definitely dig your current rides now.

-Ray-

Nice rides.


The 2004 Model came along with Euro Packages: Heat Seats / Euro Wheels / Recaro Seats.

-Ray-

That would be 2003 for the EAP 3 door.

35 MPG, I wish! I recently checked my mileage as it seemed I was filling up too often. I got 23 MPG and that's with a good mix of city/highway driving. While I love the handling, looks, gearbox, seats (EAP Recaros), etc., I've been dealing with a list of problems lately (drivers seat heater broken, thermostat housing coolant leaking, rust on hatch due to body color strip above license plate shaking slightly as I drive) and I've only got 63,500 miles on her! Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I have my SVT Focus, but I don't know if I would get it again today knowing what I do now. Well, actually I probably would, since I have this disease where I actually enjoy working on my cars.

That would be 2003 for the EAP 3 door.

Ah, thanks for the correction. Well, EAP 03-04.

-Ray-

Nice rides.



As stated, MPG is on average between 25-30 mpg with an 11 gallon tank. That takes Premium Gas. Anything less than 91 Octane, makes the SVT Focus run poorly.


-Ray-

I'm thinking they have a 13 gallon tank[cheers]

13.2 gallon tank it think, the low fuel light probably comes on at -11 gallons.

I saw a SVT Focus today just blow past me in the snow...

funny what some crackers will do for fun...

The SVT is still front wheel drive, after all.
you could have some fun in other stuff- any used Subaru's back there? Audi's? Original Bugs?
Heck, nobody could keep up with my '67 Beetle with walnut-shell-studded snows back in the day... even with 87 screaming horsepower! How do YOU spell 'oversteer drifts'?

With a full set of dedicated snows, though, an SVT would be a hoot, even at 20 MPG!!!

-TooHi

funny what some crackers will do for fun...

The SVT is still front wheel drive, after all.
you could have some fun in other stuff- any used Subaru's back there? Audi's? Original Bugs?
With a full set of dedicated snows, though, an SVT would be a hoot, even at 20 MPG!!!

-TooHi

Yea if I get an SVTF it would be the DD for Novemeber Through April and just went I felt like saving gas or tearing up some corners..

Im also looking at Audi TTs 1 Generation AWD, 3 Series BMW Sport Wagons late 90s' early 2000s, 97-2000 Porsche Boxsters with some Snow Tires, and yea old Subarus are a last resort..

I want something that can handle the snow, get 25+mpg and be fun when its not that bad out too.. Not just some winter beater like an old GM.. which ive owned already

I want something that can handle the snow, get 25+mpg and be fun when its not that bad out too.. Not just some winter beater like an old GM.. which ive owned already

Well, based on most of the previous posts, I guess my car is an outlier as I consistently get 30-33 mpg. Out of habit, I check the mileage on every tank of gas using the trip odometer.

And yes, this car's strength is in the twisties, not in a straight line.

The svtf is a blast to own. Owned mine for 6+ years and still enjoy driving it. The svtf is awesome on the track. The audi TT is a sweet ride but that car looks like it might be heavy on the maintenance.

I bought my '03 EAP SVT late summer and have already put about 8,000 miles on it. I bought it as my '05 Expedition fuel bills for the first 7 months of 2011 were $6K+ (avg 14-16 MPG w/ 2wd & 3.73's) and it finally seemed to make sense to get an economy car but wanted something fun. One could argue the smaller fuel bill is offset by another insurance payment, extra set of tires, maintenance, etc., and you would be right. But now I only drive the Expedition when I have too because this SVT is so dang fun! If not running perfect it's 22 MPG. I've finally fixed the faults and put on a 67mm TB, drop-in K&N with Tom's tune and that's it. I can now squeeze 27 MPG combined hwy / city where it was 22-24 before. I'd bet I could get 30-32 on a road trip if I kept the RPM's low, like sustained 65 MPH but I can hardly restrain myself for a full tank!
I am going to take this to the drag strip one day soon. I find high 15's / low 16's hard to believe. I'm thinking faster. The TC will be the hard part.

i would love to have a lightning!!!!!! id trade mine in a heart beat!!! i love those trucks

I've had my SVTF for a year now and I love it even more than when I got it. Even though I've been struggling with really terrible mileage - 15mpg at best in mostly city driving - I still would rather drive that than my Volvo. It's hard to say if I like it more than the 350z I had a few years back, but it's so nimble and planted, and the rear end is so light you can have a lot of fun at low speeds. I don't think I've ever driven it faster than 70mph ans that's been on the highway. The power is sufficient at best, but it's the chassis and suspension where the car shines.

^^ 15mpg!?!?!

Maybe you need a tuneup or something. I drive her hard, but I've never done worse than 17 (okay, maybe 16 ONCE!).

I love my svt. Mines boosted with a Jackson racing supercharger. If you get an svt and have the means, get a supercharger or turbo for sure! These cars are fun in the twisties for sure but without some sort of FI your cars are pretty slow in a straight line. As for power, I dyno'd it recently before I had some work done and the mysterious boost leaks fixed, and it put down 217.88HP with a bad tune too! With the engine work done and a tune, 250 HP to the wheels shouldn't be out of the question. As for the amount of boost, I thought I was running 12 but I have a boost gauge and a friend watching the gauge today when I floored it, was bouncing off the rev limiter and almost hitting 15lbs. It's a Beast of a car for sure. Gas mileage isn't even too bad either, I usually get between 22-24 per tank with the usual mix of highway and city driving. All highway, cruise set at 65 I get between 28-32, all with the current setup.

If your even slightly considering it, go drive one. If you can, find a boosted one to drive, even if you want to get a stock one, drive a boosted so you know what you COULD later do with it!

As for the Audi, I have actually driven a Quattro TT before with the 225HP engine and manual gearbox. They're fun but honestly, comparing it to the svt is like apples and oranges simply because the FWD vs AWD. That alone makes a big difference in the way it handles, maintenance (big issues on audi's), and mpg's.

Drive them both and do some soul searching and let us know what you decide. By the way, welcome to focus fanatics [ffrules]

^^ 15mpg!?!?!

Maybe you need a tuneup or something. I drive her hard, but I've never done worse than 17 (okay, maybe 16 ONCE!).

Yeah, I need to take it in. I replaced the O2 sensor since it had thrown a code (I forget which, it was a while ago) but at the time I looked it up and it seemed like it was as simple as that, but it's still bad.

I saw a SVT Focus today just blow past me in the snow while I was struggling in my 2000 Lightning after just filling up at $3.80 a gallon for 93Octane. So I came home and looked them up found this forum mentioned on SVTP and see they can be had for 3k-6k Mileage doesnt scare me plug these are getting 35mpg? Hows the performance? Straight Line? Corners? Are they all manuals?

I also have a 2001 Mustang GT with a SOHC 5.4 that gets about 15mpg and the Lightning gets 14.8 and is currently my DD.

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL628/2684232/23071345/397781427.jpg
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h336/jhallway/photo3-3.jpg
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h336/jhallway/photo11.jpg
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h336/jhallway/photo1-2.jpg
http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h336/jhallway/DSC02707.jpg
You really have 2 nice rides, I love my 2002 svt good luck