I keep hearing this statement, "the SVTF isn't a 1/4 mile car". But why is that??

Is it weight? gearing? power? aftermarket support? what?

[???:)] [?|]

mostly the getrag tranny from what i understand

170hp and 145tq. Not exactly stellar. But I didn't buy mine for track purposes, so its no biggie for me.

More like purpose. The car is meant for spirited driving. It is somewhat underpowered, but the purpose was for fun driving - for which it is more than capable. The car was not designed to be a straight line car. It has more of a European feel to it.

You can add power enhancements to it, like any other car, but the best I have heard of is low 13's (maybe high 12's). While that's nothing to turn your nose up at, (especially for 4 cylinders) it's not fantastic. After you've spent nearly 25 - 30k (including the price of the car) on the car, you can run as fast as stock Cobras - and they have a long way to go in terms of performance enhancements. I should think a V8 would be more appropriate for 1/4 mile stuff - or perhaps the SRT-4.

As far as I'm concerned, 1/4 mile times are mostly irrelevant. I'm much more interested in truly driving the car.

I understand that but the question is still there.

For example, the fastest Focus runs a 11.8 with 500+ hp, a similar RSX can run in the 10s.

Supercharged Foci can hardly break the 13's when other cars with the same power run a lot faster.

So, what's hindering the SVTF?

The gearing probably has a lot to do with it. Perhaps lack of LSD? Too much time spent spinning one front tire?

I dunno. I didn't buy this car thinking I could turn it into a quarter-mile monster. Like Crux said, that would be money better spent on a car that would excel at 1/4 mile racing in the first place.

the gearing man.........although we have a six speed in the getrag it aint exactly made for straight line performance

Originally posted by DarkSVT
I keep hearing this statement, "the SVTF isn't a 1/4 mile car". But why is that??
Is it weight? gearing? power? aftermarket support? what?[???:)] [?|]
Yes to all of the above, though gearing is probably the largest culprit.
It's primary purpose, reason for existence, where it's most happy, and shines above all others in it's class:
1) Spirited driving on twisty back-roads.
2) Chasing cones around an AutoCross course.
3) Ripping it up on a road course, and besting vehicles costing at least twice as much.

And, it does all that with authority, and exceptional gas mileage (considering the performance) to boot.

Originally posted by DarkSVT
I keep hearing this statement, "the SVTF isn't a 1/4 mile car". But why is that??

Is it weight? gearing? power? aftermarket support? what?

[???:)] [?|]

becouse the focus is a rally car ..
and by definition is not a 1/4 mile car...

the 1/4 mile car from ford would be the mustang...

if you put a goos suspension and bolt ons to a focus you can give a run for the money to MANY cars costing twice as much....

Why isn't it a qurater mile car?

1) Four cylinder
2) Front drive
3) tall gears
4) porky curb weight
oh yeah... and
5) four cylinder
6) front drive

If the SVTF was set up properly to be a 1/4 mile car, you would stage at 5000 rpm, hard drop the clutch and you would have enough tire on the car that the tires would NOT spin. By the time the clutch had fully engaged, the car would have launched and never dropped below the 5 grand mark. Rev out to 7200 and pull second gear. The gearing would be such that the revs would only drop to 6000 or so and each gear would keep the engine spinning near the power peak. Through the traps at 7200 in either 5th or 6th at maybe 105 (you would need to experiment as to weather the additional gear change was costing you more time than the additional gearing).

If set up like that, I'd wager that the car would be a high 13 with the stock motor which DOES run good for a N/A 2 litre. On the street, the car above would be a pain in the butt. I like mine the way it is!

all it needs is some shorter gears. the car isnt all that heavy. It has enough power to run low 15's stock.....how is that different then starting with an rsx or a gti or an integra? All have similar power and run similar times on the quarter stock for stock.

its def. the gearing.....needs a peppier final drive.. or final drives i guess you should say. the getrag is a pretty serious transmission compared to most


pull the rear seats and the deck...and get some lighter wheels and youre already on your way. the svt wheels are [:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)] pigs.

Originally posted by DarkSVT
I understand that but the question is still there.

For example, the fastest Focus runs a 11.8 with 500+ hp, a similar RSX can run in the 10s.

Supercharged Foci can hardly break the 13's when other cars with the same power run a lot faster.

So, what's hindering the SVTF?

Actually the fastest focus is running 11.3 with 447 hp to the wheels. ;)
But just because the focus "can" run 11's does that mean it's a drag car? No.

The reason it is not a drag car is simple. 2.0 Liters NA
A honda civic is not a drag car, the focus is not a drag car, the SRT-4 in all it's might is not really a drag car, though it does well at it.

First FWD is not the typical drivetrain setup you would choose for a drag car.
2nd 2.0 liters is not enough displacement for a drag car.

Keep things in perspective. How much money does it take for this focus to be able to compete in a straight line with the likes of mustang GT's, corvettes, camaro's, firebirds etc... all the big displacment guys. Those are heavy tank-like vehicles (not including the vette) which all are built for the guys who just love to go fast in a straight line, but they take more work to hit the corners well. Where our cars take more work to go straight quickly.

Our cars are built around a fun nimble ride. The torque monsters are built around laying down rubber and going fast until they have to turn. Just look at the stregths of these cars and you reliaze where their niche is. Of course anything can change with enough money.. but it's not what this car is "about" per say.

yep our svtf's are not for straight line drags... it's more like others say a autocross/backwoods twistys car... the gearings are great for entering corners and downshifting hard exsiting corners... i got bored of dragging with fwd, that's why i got my focus for a more realistic autotrack feeling for the twisties!![:D]

ditto on the 1/4 mi drawbacks, but it's a great road/rally car. Especially when coupled with alittle more power.

I would put the SVTF as one good street racing machine. Six speed and a good top speed. A good suspension and a nice engine and tranny setup can make the SVTF one of the best street racing machines out there. Just like the regular Focus do the same to it and you also get one of the best street machines out there. The Focus is what I like to call a Street Racing or Sport Compact entuthiast car.

But that's just my opinion anyway. Sure it's also fun to take it to the quarter mile every once and a while. I take mine when I wanna know how good it's running or if the mods are working. Of course you can find all that out in a street race but the track is also fun to drive.

I dont mean a 1/4 mile car as a full-on racecar, I'm comparing to the bunch of Hondas/Acuras that with a few bolt-ons can run faster than the SVTF.

Hondas have the same problems: FWD, they have less power (stock) than the SVT, engines are smaller (the K20 is the only similar), so the only thing left is the weight and gearing.

Also, don't compare the SVTF to Mustangs or Corvettes, compare it to the other cars in the sport compact market.

thats straight line stuff is not true if you want to make ur focus a drag car you got to have the money any car in sport compact can become what ever you want

What about using a smaller front tire to lower the gear ratio?

What is the smallest wheel that will fit on the SVTF? A 16? 15?

16" is it.
Unless you're willing to shell out the dough for something custom made.

So no 15" wheel will fit??

nope, 11.8 inch rotor + caliper= disaster with a 15 inch wheel. considering 15 inches is the diameter on the outside and they concave in in the center. i know the 16's from the top of the line zx3 will work though because i have my snow tires on them.

Originally posted by SVTkonig
nope, 11.8 inch rotor + caliper= disaster with a 15 inch wheel. considering 15 inches is the diameter on the outside and they concave in in the center. i know the 16's from the top of the line zx3 will work though because i have my snow tires on them.

AFIRM GOOD BUDDY, I GOT THE NEW FIVE SPOKE ONES WITH WINTER TIRES. WORKS WONDERS IN SNOW, Unfortunatly i got this wheel/tire package after i slid and rearened some guy with a big ass trailer hitch. 2 months later i got my car back. For all of you out there who drive trucks: take off your huge ass trailer hitch that sticks out like 4 feet, my headers didn't enjoy the contact with your 2 inch ball. LOL. everythime i see one now i cringe.

I don't understand why anyone would want to make an SVT-F a drag car, that takes most of the fun out of owning one. If you want a cheap drag car, get an AWD DSM, or an old fox body Mustang.

Why is the svtf not a 1/4 mile car.......Lets start with the painfully obviouse, ITS A FREAKING 4 BANGER. Front drive painfully slow and ,OH its not forced induction. you want 1/4 mile car, then get the mustang cobra 04, or wait for the 06 cobra. Being an svt owner you get first dibbs on the incoming 06 's. Come see thru my eyes my svtf brothers and sisters. The car is a 20,000 dollar or so. The neon is 23 or so ,the mustang gt is 25 or so ,and the cobra starts at 32 or so coupe. or 40 convertable. coupe is faster because of weight. I bought mine because it's an extremly affordable car. at least for me. It is not and never will be fast, however it is quick. And think, it has as much displacment as a 2 litre of coke, thats the major thing.

the reason our cars do not do as good compared to other imports is simply because of first gear.Our first gear is super tall. Its hits almost 40. In an rsx or gsr first only hits 25. That enables them to get better sixty foot times. The first 60 ft of the quarter mile are everything. Our first gear is super tall because thats what you would want on a roadcourse or auto cross. Just my .02

well there is a 500horse street focus in nc he cant be beat

^^^are you talking about tom??

TORQUE my friend it's what makes the car leave. Our little SVTs don't have a whole lot of torque. The gearing doesn't help either. It's got nothing to do because it's a 4 banger or a 2.0L.

Just convert the Focus into an RS8 and you'll be competing with the bigger boys than the vette's.... heheheh http://motortrend.com/roadtests/coupe/112_0408_mismatched_wp/