[Focusnewb]

I doesn't make any sense for either of you to point out one or two examples to say that in general X is more reliable than Y. Y will last longer than X etc. Every car I have ever owned has gone 100k miles and beyond but that doesn't mean they were good cars. I'm not going to tell you that a 1980 Chevy X-body is a good car (135k). I'm not gonna tell you a 1994 Hyundai is a good car (118k). I'm not going to tell you a 78 Chevette is a good car (104k) because my experience was not the norm for these piles of rolling crap that I have owned.

The SPI has shortcoming, particularly in power. It makes up for some of that with ruggedness....in general. You can do enough to it to make it fun, but of course it is more expensive than modifying a Honda because EVERYBODY modifies their Honda and parts are cheap because EVERYBODY makes Honda parts.....supply and demand.

You won't find cheap bolt on power for the SPI. The guys making power with these engines did it themselves, and God bless them.

 

[nstiesi]

You know, I see two disturbing trends in this thread......

1. Once again, the growing anti-american, pro-japanese STEREOTYPE is rearing its ugly head. This is why american companies are getting pounded. Just because Japaneses cars run forever, do not make American cars automatically crappy, as most seem to believe these days. My uncle had 150k on a '95 Taurus.....but you don't see me telling you that Fords are the end all of longevity, and Hondas are crap, so don't spin it the other way. Cars are complicated machines, and things will go wrong. End of story. This is getting almost as bad a racism.......all people of this race are this way, etc. Its a very similar and dangerous attitude.

2. Some poeple out there who complain about how weak the SPI's are must have had some fantastic salesmen....they obviously tricked you into thinking you are buying a corvette. Yes, the SPI is low power, but it is supposed to be. It was dropped into a light car with an affordable price tag. I got my car for $9800 (new), and I'm very thankful that I found a car I like, can afford, and will last me a long time. I never expected my SPI to be a track monster, and I couldn't afford a car for more than $10k (being all of 20 years old and in college), and because of what the focus offered I found a brand new reliable car in my price range. If you want a faster car, buy a faster car, don't complain. I will spend some bucks, make it a little more fun with bolt ons, get my hands dirty, have that great DIY feeling, and that is that.

Just my 2 cents, rant over now, happy focus modding to all!

Nick

 

[im_focused_man]

hey the spi is a great engine i think its very relible and i got an extra 50 hp just by adding nitrous on a stock engine for about 1000 bucks and ive ran about 10 bottles through it and now i got 120 000 kms on it in 2 years so lets see a civic or toyodor last that long with nitrous in it i dont think it would and our engine is high on torque compared to the jap crap out there so itll launch at the light alot quicker just add some bolt ons and youll beat them and hey the was free ill take it if you dont want it lol good luck with the focus and ohh yeah chicks dig the focus too lol

 

[lildisco]

Why are you Stuck on HP? It's Torque that gets you where you're going!

My fiance drove a 94 Toyota Corolla DX for over 5 years. Good Semi-Reliable car. 4 speed ATX, that was going strong, but it had over 130,000 miles on it. The Positive Battery Cable would carode regardless of how much anti-corrossion material you'd put on it. The car would squeal for about 10 minutes after it would first start up. It would squeal whenever you put the A/C on. Changed the belts and it didn't fix the problem and to replace A/C Condensor was ungodly expensive. The Rear Struts when out and it was a $400 repair bill. That thing would get 40MPG on the highway and around 30MPG in the city.

Mash the gas, you wouldn't go anywhere. We test drove a new 2006 Toyota Corrolla S and same thing. It'd start to semi-push you back in the seat around REDLINE then you'd have to shift. No power off the line, it would fall flat on it's face.

An SPI, yes it has less power than a Zetec, but can holds up stronger. There's an SPI guy on here that built his own Turbo Kit for his SPI and is pushing:
212whp 262tq and with stock 1-7/8" Exhaust. He also made a Turbo Kit for $250. It's all in where you look.

Here's his thread:

Clicky Clicky

 

[Focusnewb]

I had a similar experience with my sister's Protege5, 20 more crank HP but it didn't get up and go like my unmodified SPI, even though it was rated at 135 ft lbs compared to our 122. You had to rev it to get it to move. It did go 130mph though.....don't tell my sister.....

Thanks for the support lildisco [thumb]

 

[lildisco]

Thanks for the support lildisco [thumb]

no prob [thumb]

 

[focusin]

2. Don't even talk to me about an escort. The first car my parents owned in the US was a used escort GT back around 1995 or someshit and after 2-3 years, the car couldn't drive past 50 mph without the engine making violent eruption sounds in the or shutting down. My mom was the one who mostly drove the car, she does not have a heavy foot and she is meticulously in giving it regular maintenence at the dealerships.

I was a litle tired last night when I was reading that post, those problems seem to all relate to the Transmission not the engine. The not going past 50 was likly the gears or valve body, and the violent jerks again the valve body. Also I think any motor would shut down if the tranny would not go to a lower gear when needed.

Just had to point that out.
Jon

 

[edisfres]

Why are you Stuck on HP? It's Torque that gets you where you're going!

My fiance drove a 94 Toyota Corolla DX for over 5 years. Good Semi-Reliable car. 4 speed ATX, that was going strong, but it had over 130,000 miles on it. The Positive Battery Cable would carode regardless of how much anti-corrossion material you'd put on it. The car would squeal for about 10 minutes after it would first start up. It would squeal whenever you put the A/C on. Changed the belts and it didn't fix the problem and to replace A/C Condensor was ungodly expensive. The Rear Struts when out and it was a $400 repair bill. That thing would get 40MPG on the highway and around 30MPG in the city.

Mash the gas, you wouldn't go anywhere. We test drove a new 2006 Toyota Corrolla S and same thing. It'd start to semi-push you back in the seat around REDLINE then you'd have to shift. No power off the line, it would fall flat on it's face.

An SPI, yes it has less power than a Zetec, but can holds up stronger. There's an SPI guy on here that built his own Turbo Kit for his SPI and is pushing:
212whp 262tq and with stock 1-7/8" Exhaust. He also made a Turbo Kit for $250. It's all in where you look.

Here's his thread:

Clicky Clicky

Is he actually selling that turbo kit?? lol...that's crazy shit

 

[focusin]

LOL Dude thats the same link I gave you.

He does not sell it but he will basicly tell you where/ what to buy.

 

[tin_maddog]

I'm not going to finish reading this pile of poo of a thread.

Yes, modifying and getting anywhere on the SPI is expensive.

If you don't like:

1. Quit bitching
2. Get out
3. Enjoy your new Saturn

 

[lildisco]

crusty returns...........

 

[tin_maddog]

...returned to your mom.

[confused]

 

[lildisco]

god i missed the witty humor.......welcome back beeeeeeeeeeeeoch [thumb]

 

[Klondike]

k i need to say a few things
1. Ford cars and trucks are really reiable if you take care of them, my friend had a 1997 ford ranger with what, huh, 400k miles on it! no joke almost 1/2 million miles!! honda wouldnt do that i know so
2. spi may be slow but its very relaible, and through and through itll last for over 250k if you take care of it
3. i love my focus, and i will mod it cuz its a hot sexy car that everyone likes, when i first got it everyones like OMG, you bought a chick car, now everyones like chris your cars so hot, and they even wanna help me mod it. so with a lil work you can change the mind of lotsa ppl with a lil spi
4.if you caer for your car they will run until the shell falls off, and honda ricers(had to say that hehe) dont care for their cars as much cuz they boost and all the punishment so after 100k they cars start to fall apart...some may last long but generally they get rid of em by 100k cuz they know it aint gonna last much longer
5. I LOVE MY FOCUS WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YAY FOCUS!!!! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

 

[Focusnewb]

...... I LOVE MY FOCUS WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YAY FOCUS!!!! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Did you eat paint chips as a child ? []

 

[Klondike]

i dont think i did, i ate wallpapaer tho, hehe tore it off the wall and ate it, so may have had paint chips in it? WEEEEEEEEEEE focus! hahah im just trying to pump ppl up cmon now!!!!