Just bought and drove back from AZ SVT #1678, anyone know this car

[paulg127]

I saw this car on autotrader in March. I was looking for a daily driver with 4 doors so my daughter and her friends can get in and out easily, since I have an 03 SVT with an ebay turbo on it, still don't trust that turbo after 2500 miles... It was what I was looking for and happened to be in CO for work, from there a $99 ticket got me to AZ.
I basically bought this car without seeing it, which is obviously a BAD thing to do, especially from a used car dealer.
They indicated there was a new clutch, tires and a book from the former owners. Since it had the number on the bumper (#1678), I figured it was an enthusiast that previously owned the car.
When I arrived in AZ and checked out the car for the 1st time, I was a bit disappointed. Photos can make a car look much better than it really is.
The car had a few dings, rear bumper was repainted on the driver side, headlights were cloudy (later full of water after going through the rain), radio volume knob was jittery, broken fog light, advertised at 81k miles but had 87k on the odo, vibration at idle, missing driver rear door step plate, all wiring covering crumbled away, rear pass window switch that worked on the test drive but not after I pulled off the lot and a bad application of pseudo carbon fiber(??) stickum all over the interior panels.
Upon the drive back 1950 miles from AZ to MI, I neglected to check the spare for air (none) or wheel locks (none). That is my fault for taking the car without a thorough checklist.
I suggest anyone buying a car go through a full checklist.
After I got the car back to MI, the first order of business was a timing telt change obviously. That is when I realized I had no wheel locks. When I searched the car, I also discovered a pipe of paraphanalia that I'm sure could have caused huge issues if I got a flat on the way back home and had the courtesy of a law enforcement officer stop to help, since I had no air in the spare or key for the wheel locks and would have been stranded on the hiway...Again, don't take a car, from an individual or dealer without thouroughly checking the car!!
After a new engine mount, front lower control arms, radio and headlights, it is looking and driving nicely!

Does anyone know anything about this red 2003 SVT ZX5 with # 1678 on the bumper?


I also have some interesting fuel economy data on the 1950 mile drive from AZ to MI:
Pxh to Alberq. NM 377mi 34.6 mpg
Alb NM to Arm Tx 653mi 28.7 mpg - 75 mph
Arm Tx to Stroud OK 956mi 38.5 mpg - 60 mph
Strd OK to Marsh MO 1200mi 28.9 mpg - 70-75 mph
Mrsh MO to Sprg IL 1474mi 31.8 mpg - 70 mph
Spg IL to Wlmgtn IL 1615mi 30.1 mpg - 72-76 mph
Wlmg IL to MI 1772mi 31.1 mpg
MI to Cntn MI 1940mi 30.7 mpg

Interesting the 28.7 mpg @ 75mph and the 38.5 mpg @ 60 mph.
Overall 32 mpg is not too shabby!!





New headlight:
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/p...pictureid=9477

Nex to my black turbo SVT:
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/p...pictureid=9475

[paulg127]

And pulling bolts out of an AZ car vs a MI car is unbelievable!! The salt and snow and crap weather in MI really makes it a challenge to wrench on anything under the car...