Suggestions

Started by SVT666, June 20, 2015, 12:41:07 AM

Gotta-Qik-C7

Quote from: Madman on June 22, 2015, 05:59:56 AM

No manufacturer support?  :confused:

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the small block Chevy engine the most "supported" engine (by both the manufacturer and the aftermarket) the world has ever seen?  And isn't the current Chevy SS essentially an updated Pontiac G8 since both are based on the Holden Commodore?  Seems to me any GM dealer between here and Mars should be able to service a G8 GT for at least the next few decades.  Or am I missing something?   :huh:
Like I said before I've never had a problem with anything I needed for mine! Even when I needed a replacement rear spoiler.
2014 C7 Vert, 2002 Silverado, 2005 Road Glide

SVT666

Quote from: Gotta-Qik-G8 on June 22, 2015, 10:11:08 AM
Like I said before I've never had a problem with anything I needed for mine! Even when I needed a replacement rear spoiler.
Okay.  It might be an unfounded concern, but it could become a very real concern in the next couple years.

Madman

Quote from: SVT666 on June 22, 2015, 09:56:10 AM
Since when does "dealer support" mean the engine? There are many things on a car that might need fixing like bodywork, electronics, interior stuff, and any number of things that were unique to this car. It was only produced for North America for 18 months.  There are only 38,000 of them in North America and therefore will not have the manufacturer support that something like the Charger has. I have experience owning a low volume car in the SVT Focus.  For instance, if I ever needed a new engine I would have been SOL.  Ford didn't make anything for it anymore and the aftermarket was pretty small.


Interesting.

I'm surprised a domestic manufacturer like Ford and GM either can't or won't provide support for any of their cars, even a low-volume one.  It was my understanding a manufacturer is legally obligated to provide parts support for at least ten years after the end of production.  Has that recently changed?

I ran two Peugeots for several years after Peugeot bailed out of North America, so I know it can be frustrating to have to rely on specialist garages and having to occasionally wait for parts to be shipped in.  To Peugeot's credit, they did provide parts support and even issued recalls through their small parts and service network throughout the 1990s.  But, as the ten-year cutoff approached, the number of authorised Peugeot service points dwindled and, unless you happened to live near one of the few remaining specialists, parts could be difficult to obtain.

The difference is Peugeot was always a small niche brand in America whereas GM and Ford combined make up nearly half the market.  I find it difficult to believe a Chevy dealer can't get parts for a G8.  And although the ten year cutoff may be up for the Focus SVT (last sold in 2004), that car is hardly a unicorn.  After all, in this internet age, you can find just about ANYTHING!
Current cars: 2015 Ford Escape SE, 2011 MINI Cooper

Formerly owned cars: 2010 Mazda 5 Sport, 2008 Audi A4 2.0T S-Line Sedan, 2003 Volkswagen Passat GL 1.8T wagon, 1998 Ford Escort SE sedan, 2001 Cadillac Catera, 2000 Volkswagen Golf GLS 2.0 5-Door, 1997 Honda Odyssey LX, 1991 Volvo 240 sedan, 1990 Volvo 740 Turbo sedan, 1987 Volvo 240 DL sedan, 1990 Peugeot 405 DL Sportswagon, 1985 Peugeot 505 Turbo sedan, 1985 Merkur XR4Ti, 1983 Renault R9 Alliance DL sedan, 1979 Chevrolet Caprice Classic wagon, 1975 Volkswagen Transporter, 1980 Fiat X-1/9 Bertone, 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit C 3-Door hatch, 1976 Ford Pinto V6 coupe, 1952 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe sedan

"The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom." ~ Isaac Asimov

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses." - Johannes Kepler

"One of the most cowardly things ordinary people do is to shut their eyes to facts." - C.S. Lewis

SVT666

Quote from: Madman on June 22, 2015, 11:46:34 AM
And although the ten year cutoff may be up for the Focus SVT (last sold in 2004), that car is hardly a unicorn. 
There were only 14,000 SVT Focuses built over 3 years.  Only 1400 in Canada.

Soup DeVille

Quote from: Madman on June 22, 2015, 11:46:34 AM

Interesting.

I'm surprised a domestic manufacturer like Ford and GM either can't or won't provide support for any of their cars, even a low-volume one.  It was my understanding a manufacturer is legally obligated to provide parts support for at least ten years after the end of production.  Has that recently changed?

I ran two Peugeots for several years after Peugeot bailed out of North America, so I know it can be frustrating to have to rely on specialist garages and having to occasionally wait for parts to be shipped in.  To Peugeot's credit, they did provide parts support and even issued recalls through their small parts and service network throughout the 1990s.  But, as the ten-year cutoff approached, the number of authorised Peugeot service points dwindled and, unless you happened to live near one of the few remaining specialists, parts could be difficult to obtain.

The difference is Peugeot was always a small niche brand in America whereas GM and Ford combined make up nearly half the market.  I find it difficult to believe a Chevy dealer can't get parts for a G8.  And although the ten year cutoff may be up for the Focus SVT (last sold in 2004), that car is hardly a unicorn.  After all, in this internet age, you can find just about ANYTHING!

No, you're correct. But having parts on hand isn't required, sometimes it means you have to wait for parts to be made, or delivered. Of course nothing on a G8 would approach "hard to get" on the level of your French cars, or Rupert's old Porsche, or John's E-Type...
Maybe we need to start off small. I mean, they don't let you fuck the glumpers at Glumpees without a level 4 FuckPass, do they?

1975 Honda CB750, 1986 Rebel Rascal (sailing dinghy), 2015 Mini Cooper, 2020 Winnebago 31H (E450), 2021 Toyota 4Runner, 2022 Lincoln Aviator

Soup DeVille

Quote from: SVT666 on June 22, 2015, 12:16:49 PM
There were only 14,000 SVT Focuses built over 3 years.  Only 1400 in Canada.

Having recently helped finding parts for restoring a vehicle of which only 1400 were made fifty years ago, and none of them ever available to the civilian market, and most of them are probably sitting in a rice paddy somewhere in Vietnam even today, I have to say "hard to find" is a matter of perspective.
Maybe we need to start off small. I mean, they don't let you fuck the glumpers at Glumpees without a level 4 FuckPass, do they?

1975 Honda CB750, 1986 Rebel Rascal (sailing dinghy), 2015 Mini Cooper, 2020 Winnebago 31H (E450), 2021 Toyota 4Runner, 2022 Lincoln Aviator

MX793

Quote from: SVT666 on June 22, 2015, 12:16:49 PM
There were only 14,000 SVT Focuses built over 3 years.  Only 1400 in Canada.

Does that include European ST170s?
Needs more Jiggawatts

2016 Ford Mustang GTPP / 2011 Toyota Rav4 Base AWD / 2014 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 ABS
1992 Nissan 240SX Fastback / 2004 Mazda Mazda3s / 2011 Ford Mustang V6 Premium / 2007 Suzuki GSF1250SA Bandit / 2006 VW Jetta 2.5

Cookie Monster

If the engine blows on an SVT Focus, the proper course of action is a V8 + RWD swap anyways, so not having replacement parts is a moot point.
RWD > FWD
President of the "I survived the Volvo S80 Thread" Club
2007 Mazda MX-5 | 1999 Honda Nighthawk 750 | 1989 Volvo 240 | 1991 Toyota 4Runner | 2006 Honda CBR600F4i | 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 | 1999 Honda CBR600F4 | 2009 Yamaha WR250X | 1985 Mazda RX-7 | 2000 Yamaha YZ426F | 2006 Yamaha FZ1 | 2002 Honda CBR954RR | 1996 Subaru Outback | 2018 Subaru Crosstrek | 1986 Toyota MR2
Quote from: 68_427 on November 27, 2016, 07:43:14 AM
Or order from fortune auto and when lyft rider asks why your car feels bumpy you can show them the dyno curve
1 3 5
├┼┤
2 4 R

SVT666

Quote from: Soup DeVille on June 23, 2015, 03:10:56 AM
Having recently helped finding parts for restoring a vehicle of which only 1400 were made fifty years ago, and none of them ever available to the civilian market, and most of them are probably sitting in a rice paddy somewhere in Vietnam even today, I have to say "hard to find" is a matter of perspective.
I sold my SVT Focus 3 years ago and even then, you could not get a new engine for it from Ford.  You might not think this is a big deal, but it was an interference engine that was prone to breaking timing belts.  Everyone that owned one was so paranoid about it we would get new timing belts every 50,000 miles instead of the 100,000 Ford recommended.  When I was in a small wreck with it (3 months after I got it in 2008 (5 years after it was made), the body shop had to source the bumper from a wreck and the HID headlights from the aftermarket because Ford didn't make them anymore.  The SVT Focus is about the worst manufacturer supported car I have ever seen.

SVT666

Quote from: thecarnut on June 23, 2015, 10:50:23 AM
If the engine blows on an SVT Focus, the proper course of action is a V8 + RWD swap anyways, so not having replacement parts is a moot point.
True enough.

SVT666

Quote from: MX793 on June 23, 2015, 10:41:28 AM
Does that include European ST170s?
No, I don't know how many ST170's were made.

MexicoCityM3

Quote from: thecarnut on June 23, 2015, 10:50:23 AM
If the engine blows on an SVT Focus, the proper course of action is a V8 + RWD swap anyways, so not having replacement parts is a moot point. junkyard.
Founder, BMW Car Club de México
http://bmwclub.org.mx
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MX793

Quote from: SVT666 on June 23, 2015, 11:55:46 AM
I sold my SVT Focus 3 years ago and even then, you could not get a new engine for it from Ford.  You might not think this is a big deal, but it was an interference engine that was prone to breaking timing belts.  Everyone that owned one was so paranoid about it we would get new timing belts every 50,000 miles instead of the 100,000 Ford recommended.  When I was in a small wreck with it (3 months after I got it in 2008 (5 years after it was made), the body shop had to source the bumper from a wreck and the HID headlights from the aftermarket because Ford didn't make them anymore.  The SVT Focus is about the worst manufacturer supported car I have ever seen.

I wonder if parts were more available in Europe.  Obviously not everything was the same, but I would think headlights and bumpers would be the same.

Also, if you lose a timing belt on an interference motor, you rarely need to replace the entire engine.  Valves, pistons, and maybe the head depending on how bad it looks.  Sometimes you can just refurbish the original head.
Needs more Jiggawatts

2016 Ford Mustang GTPP / 2011 Toyota Rav4 Base AWD / 2014 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 ABS
1992 Nissan 240SX Fastback / 2004 Mazda Mazda3s / 2011 Ford Mustang V6 Premium / 2007 Suzuki GSF1250SA Bandit / 2006 VW Jetta 2.5

Cookie Monster

Quote from: MexicoCityM3 on June 23, 2015, 12:15:57 PM


Dude those RWD V8 Foci are sweet. Nothing is cooler than seeing an FWD hatchback light up its rear tires with a V8. If you keep it pretty stock looking (even for an SVT) it's a fantastic sleeper.
RWD > FWD
President of the "I survived the Volvo S80 Thread" Club
2007 Mazda MX-5 | 1999 Honda Nighthawk 750 | 1989 Volvo 240 | 1991 Toyota 4Runner | 2006 Honda CBR600F4i | 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 | 1999 Honda CBR600F4 | 2009 Yamaha WR250X | 1985 Mazda RX-7 | 2000 Yamaha YZ426F | 2006 Yamaha FZ1 | 2002 Honda CBR954RR | 1996 Subaru Outback | 2018 Subaru Crosstrek | 1986 Toyota MR2
Quote from: 68_427 on November 27, 2016, 07:43:14 AM
Or order from fortune auto and when lyft rider asks why your car feels bumpy you can show them the dyno curve
1 3 5
├┼┤
2 4 R

Madman

Quote from: MX793 on June 23, 2015, 12:47:38 PM
I wonder if parts were more available in Europe.  Obviously not everything was the same, but I would think headlights and bumpers would be the same.



Nope.......

Euro Focus ST170.




North American Focus SVT.




The bumpers were very different.  And the Euro headlights had the front turn signals incorporated in the main headlight housing.  NA models had separate turn signals in the grille, similar to other NA Focus models.

These guys can probably get you the Euro bumpers, lights and other stuff you need to convert your SVT to look like a Euro ST170.

http://www.batinc.net/main.htm
Current cars: 2015 Ford Escape SE, 2011 MINI Cooper

Formerly owned cars: 2010 Mazda 5 Sport, 2008 Audi A4 2.0T S-Line Sedan, 2003 Volkswagen Passat GL 1.8T wagon, 1998 Ford Escort SE sedan, 2001 Cadillac Catera, 2000 Volkswagen Golf GLS 2.0 5-Door, 1997 Honda Odyssey LX, 1991 Volvo 240 sedan, 1990 Volvo 740 Turbo sedan, 1987 Volvo 240 DL sedan, 1990 Peugeot 405 DL Sportswagon, 1985 Peugeot 505 Turbo sedan, 1985 Merkur XR4Ti, 1983 Renault R9 Alliance DL sedan, 1979 Chevrolet Caprice Classic wagon, 1975 Volkswagen Transporter, 1980 Fiat X-1/9 Bertone, 1979 Volkswagen Rabbit C 3-Door hatch, 1976 Ford Pinto V6 coupe, 1952 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe sedan

"The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom." ~ Isaac Asimov

"I much prefer the sharpest criticism of a single intelligent man to the thoughtless approval of the masses." - Johannes Kepler

"One of the most cowardly things ordinary people do is to shut their eyes to facts." - C.S. Lewis

SVT666

Quote from: MX793 on June 23, 2015, 12:47:38 PM
I wonder if parts were more available in Europe.  Obviously not everything was the same, but I would think headlights and bumpers would be the same.
Bumpers and headlights were different because of regulations.


SVT666


Cookie Monster

Quote from: SVT666 on June 23, 2015, 01:30:58 PM
Ummmm, no.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6c02XQwk3c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKhKZdE6bvo

The best video of all....(watch the Focus disappear)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yzpc_Km41PE

He just wants them to end up in junkyards so they don't come and rape his BMWs. :devil:
RWD > FWD
President of the "I survived the Volvo S80 Thread" Club
2007 Mazda MX-5 | 1999 Honda Nighthawk 750 | 1989 Volvo 240 | 1991 Toyota 4Runner | 2006 Honda CBR600F4i | 2015 Yamaha FJ-09 | 1999 Honda CBR600F4 | 2009 Yamaha WR250X | 1985 Mazda RX-7 | 2000 Yamaha YZ426F | 2006 Yamaha FZ1 | 2002 Honda CBR954RR | 1996 Subaru Outback | 2018 Subaru Crosstrek | 1986 Toyota MR2
Quote from: 68_427 on November 27, 2016, 07:43:14 AM
Or order from fortune auto and when lyft rider asks why your car feels bumpy you can show them the dyno curve
1 3 5
├┼┤
2 4 R

Soup DeVille

Quote from: SVT666 on June 23, 2015, 11:55:46 AM
I sold my SVT Focus 3 years ago and even then, you could not get a new engine for it from Ford.  You might not think this is a big deal, but it was an interference engine that was prone to breaking timing belts.  Everyone that owned one was so paranoid about it we would get new timing belts every 50,000 miles instead of the 100,000 Ford recommended.  When I was in a small wreck with it (3 months after I got it in 2008 (5 years after it was made), the body shop had to source the bumper from a wreck and the HID headlights from the aftermarket because Ford didn't make them anymore.  The SVT Focus is about the worst manufacturer supported car I have ever seen.

Engine couldn't be rebuilt, or be done by someone other than Ford?
Maybe we need to start off small. I mean, they don't let you fuck the glumpers at Glumpees without a level 4 FuckPass, do they?

1975 Honda CB750, 1986 Rebel Rascal (sailing dinghy), 2015 Mini Cooper, 2020 Winnebago 31H (E450), 2021 Toyota 4Runner, 2022 Lincoln Aviator

280Z Turbo

Ford doesn't make headlights. They have to buy them from a supplier. Maybe the volume wasn't high enough to justify running service parts.