SVT Focus

[SVT666]

$295 for shocks, springs AND a sway bar? That's a damn good deal

Yeah it is.  If I buy them separately, just the shocks and struts are $380.

[SVT666]

Cool!  Do you have experience with that brand wheel?

No, but I've never heard anything bad about them.  They weigh about 1.2 lbs apiece lighter than the stock wheels.

Next year I want to get new wheels for the Miata for the summer tires, but the only good brand I know of at tire rack is BBS and they cost a ton of money.

ASA, American Racing, Focal, Borbet, Enkei, Kazera, Moda, Motegi, MSW, O.Z., Sparco, TRMotorsport, Verde, and Zinik all make very good wheels at a much lower cost than BBS and they're all available for the Miata on Tire Rack.

[Raza]

[SVT666]

I just had the springs, struts, shocks, and rear sway bar replaced with stock OEM SVT parts.  The difference inr ide quality and handling was enormous.  The old stuff was definitely shot.  I also got new wheels.  Here are the before and after pics.  I didn't have time to wash my car this morning after everything was done.

Before:








After:

[CALL_911]

That looks great.

Someone owns a bright orange SVT Focus at school, it looks hawt.

[CJ]

Definitely prefer the old wheels.

[SVT666]

I also installed a solid rear engine mount to tighten up the shifting.  There's more vibrations felt now, but it's not too bad.  The shifting is even better now (which is hard to believe) and the throttle response is instantaneous.  Best $105 I've ever spent.

[SVT666]

Definitely prefer the old wheels.

What I like about the new ones is that they look like they could have come stock on the car.  They're not "blingy" or overdone.  They're tasteful and look really sharp.  They also weigh 2 lbs per wheel less than the stock wheels.  They also pushed the wheels out just a tad since the offset isn't the same as stock.

[Cookie Monster]

I don't like the offset on your new wheels. Makes it look wierd to me. Otherwise I like them.

[MX793]

Well I like the new wheels.  The stock SVT wheels never really struck me as being all that great looking on the Focus.  That car really needs something with more than 5 spokes.

[SVT_Power]

Anything wrong with the stock wheels? If you can give me a good dealio, I want them 

[SVT666]

The winter tires are going on them.  Sorry.

[r0tor]

Nice wheels!

[the Teuton]

I'll give it my seal of approval. Nice car.

[giant_mtb]

I like it.

[SVT666]

I don't like the offset on your new wheels. Makes it look wierd to me. Otherwise I like them.

Don't forget that in the "before" picture the camber on the front tires is totally out of whack because the struts were shot and the springs were drooping.  When I first bought the car the tires were pushed out almost as far as the aftermarket wheels.  There is only a 6 mm (1/4") difference in offset.

[SVT666]

Well....this is a sad day.  Don't worry, nothing wrong with the car, but....my wife put the kybosh on the turbo kit I was looking at. 

[68_427]

Well....this is a sad day.  Don't worry, nothing wrong with the car, but....my wife put the kybosh on the turbo kit I was looking at. 

Stay NA man.

[SVT666]

Stay NA man.

I don't have a choice now.  I was going to go with a 6 psi kit that would have given me about 250-260 hp.  Oh well, new seats and maybe a paint job instead.

[the Teuton]

Well....this is a sad day.  Don't worry, nothing wrong with the car, but....my wife put the kybosh on the turbo kit I was looking at. 

Did you question how she could possibly be the mother of your children after such a wretched strike to your conscience?

[Madman]

What the woman doesn't know won't hurt her.  (or you)   

[The Pirate]

Man, I love your car.  They make me nervous though.  Anecdotal (and from the interwebs), but I simply read way too many stories of lunched motors.  Undoubtedly due to stretching the timing belt interval, but I take a lot of comfort in knowing my car is a non-interference design.

Looks absolutely fantastic though.  I really need to drive one.

[280Z Turbo]

I just put the SVT suspension on my car too. It corners flat, but still sits high for some reason.

[SVT666]

What the woman doesn't know won't hurt her.  (or you)   

When she notices $3000 missing, she will know.

[Cookie Monster]

When she notices $3000 missing, she will know.

Start a terb0w fund in your pillowcase?

[SVT666]

Man, I love your car.  They make me nervous though.  Anecdotal (and from the interwebs), but I simply read way too many stories of lunched motors.  Undoubtedly due to stretching the timing belt interval, but I take a lot of comfort in knowing my car is a non-interference design.

Looks absolutely fantastic though.  I really need to drive one.

Yes, it's a timing belt issue.  Ford recommends 120,000 miles, but anyone who is on the Focus boards always gets it done between 80-100K because too many people had had the timing belt break between 100-120K.  I just had mine done last weekend at 87,000 miles.  My car runs perfectly.

Next on the list:

1. Strut Tower Brace / Rear Stress Bar
2. European grille (no marker lights)
3. New passenger side headlight assembly
4. New Fog lights
5. New leather for driver's seat
6. Paint job

[SVT666]

I just put the SVT suspension on my car too. It corners flat, but still sits high for some reason.

Give it a few months and it will settle in.

[sportyaccordy]

Well....this is a sad day.  Don't worry, nothing wrong with the car, but....my wife put the kybosh on the turbo kit I was looking at. 

That sucks man. But if she is value oriented, you can maybe make a case for the better $/HP from a turbo kit than from an N/A build. That is how I would win my girl over. $3K is a lot though. Maybe go piece by piece. A manifold here, a turbo there, an oil feed line there.... this is how the Teamsters greased the gov't

[280Z Turbo]

That sucks man. But if she is value oriented, you can maybe make a case for the better $/HP from a turbo kit than from an N/A build. That is how I would win my girl over. $3K is a lot though. Maybe go piece by piece. A manifold here, a turbo there, an oil feed line there.... this is how the Teamsters greased the gov't

Yeah and look at what happened to Jimmy Hoffa.

[2o6]

Man, I love your car.  They make me nervous though.  Anecdotal (and from the interwebs), but I simply read way too many stories of lunched motors.  Undoubtedly due to stretching the timing belt interval, but I take a lot of comfort in knowing my car is a non-interference design.

Looks absolutely fantastic though.  I really need to drive one.

Interesting fact:

Zetec in the SVT is an interference design, but the regular 2.0L SPI and Zetec cars are non-interference.