The 2.3 is awesome with some light mods.
I'm putting down 154whp right now with Marcy Motorsport intake, cam tuning, bs delete, and a Borla, and Marcy's been working on the tuning on my car with the sct equipment. We're looking to get darn close to 160whp with improving the tuning. Next on the list is cams and valvesprings, that will be good for close to another 20hp.

ps, that comes to ~185bhp for me right now

The big thing in the difference in feel is the torque that the 2.3 makes.

but, the svt is a nice package and good looking car. If you never plan to mod it, then the svt might be a good choice.

 

thanks aero. The 2.3L is pretty tough. Like i said, I have one, problem is what's behind it. (auto) [V]

have you driven an SVT and compared it to your car?

More input please. I need to know if getting screwed in upside down payments is worth it (and getting yelled at by the boss = mrs [confused] )

 

honestly, no.
neither the svt or a manual 2.3 is worth it.
stick with the auto.

save your pennies and get a built tranny from lentec

getting finances screwed by something like that just isn't worth it.

 

Like I have mentioned in other posts, deciding between the SVT and my saleen was the hardest vehicle decision I have ever made. My car has the intake/exhaust, but it is a 5 speed instead of the svt 6spd. Minus some saleen mods (ie NOS), the Svt's motor is tuned to perfection. The SVT is just plain nasty. In all honesty comparing the SVT to a regular 5 speed Focus, with intake/exhaust cant really be done. So my answer to your question would be, no a regular manual 2.3 can't drive like the 2.0 svt.

PS. Please, no war. (Saleen vs SVT)

 

i love my auto 2.3 yeah you dont see as big of gains as you would with a manual, but i'm still close to hanging with an svt. I'm faster off the line, (could be the other driver but i still have more torque) and I'm pretty close in whp after my mods. I also plan on getting cams and some tuning and eventually a lentech. I can't wait to see what I could do then.

 

If you can afford it i would trade up to the ST. I like the overall look of it lowered. You are only moving up in the chain of cars. You will still have the 4 door for the kids, and the trunk space and stuff.