Episode 17

full
Published on:

15th Sep 2022

Ford SVT Focus Part-1 - The Affordable Hot Hatch Hero

00:00 - Intro - Ford Focus SVT - Part 1

The Focus SVT, available in the US from 2002-2004 -The Affordable Hot Hatch Hero from Ford

01:30 - What is SVT?

A quick breakdown of Ford's Special Vehicle Team (or SVT) and some of the notable Ford halo cars they have have developed over the years.

03:30 - What Makes The SVT Focus A Great Driving Enthusiast's Car?

SVT made across the board improvements to change the standard Focus into the SVT Focus. They bumped up the horsepower, improved the handling, added larger diameter wheels and low profile tires, increased the braking capacity , upgraded the transmission, performed interior and exterior tweaks that made the car look better while also providing drivers with a more connected experience behind the wheel. In short they made the Focus into a hot hatchback... a car with enough performance to be an outstanding driver's vehicle, combined with the practical nature of a hatchback design.

04:20 - SVT Focus Engine Upgrades

A wide range of upgrades bumped the engine horsepower of the standard Zetec 2.0-liter 4-cylinder found in the regular Focus from 130 to 170 horsepower in the SVT Focus

05:50 - SVT Focus Transmission Upgrade

SVT swapped out the standard 5-speed manual from the Focus and replaced it with a 6-speed Getrag manual transmission

06:10 - SVT Focus Suspension & Handling Upgrades

Stiffer springs, revalved shocks, stiffer bushings and thicker sway bars were combined with retuned rack & pinion steering to improve handling across the board.

06:58 - SVT Focus Braking Upgrades

The previous disc front/drum rear brake set up from the standard Focus was replaced with 4-wheel disc brakes (ventilated in front/solid discs rear) plus standard ABS for better braking on the SVT Focus.

07:25 - SVT Focus Wheel & Tire Upgrade

Standard 15-inch wheels from the Focus were upgraded to 17-inch 5-spoke wheels with 215/45 low-profile tires for better traction, braking and handling.

09:45 - SVT Focus Interior Upgrades

White-faced Instruments, including oil temperature & pressure gauges; leather-wrapped steering wheel; aluminum covered pedals; heavily bolstered bucket seats or optional heated Recaro front bucket seats available with the European Appearance Package on 2003 and 2004 models.

11:00 - SVT Focus Exterior Upgrades

The exterior got subtle upgrades, including a new bumper with inset fog lamps, a subtle air dam in front and smoked headlights. The revised rear end now had a diffuser look to it, plus a small ducktail spoiler on the hatch and a larger exhaust outlet. Sort of an understated European look.

12:05 - How Does The SVT Focus Compare to Similar Cars From Its Era?

Car and Driver Magazine tested the 2002 SVT Focus against the 1.8-liter Turbocharged VW GTI and the Honda Civic Si, and in spite of the VW being the quickest car in the test, Car and Driver said the SVT Focus still came out on top due to superior handling, writing "It is simply in a handling class all by itself."

  • https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison-test/a15138029/ford-svt-focus-vs-honda-civic-si-vw-gti-comparison-tests/

Autoweek magazine in a separate review, raved about the 2002 SVT Focus, leading off with this line: "If you test drive just one car this year, make it the Ford SVT Focus."

  • https://www.autoweek.com/news/a2109871/2002-ford-svt-focus-bargain-beauty-hot-hatch-one-best-cars-out-there-any-price/

Motorweek's Retro Review of the 2002 SVT Focus featured some excellent race track footage of the SVT Focus, plus they managed to pull off the quickest acceleration times with a 6.9-second 0-60 run.

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLNTI_hICqI

15:20 - Why You Might Want One

  • You love to drive – You especially enjoy a car that’s balanced, meaning it handles well, stops quickly and provides a lot of driver involvement behind the wheel.
  • You like a hatchback design - I do and hatchbacks remind me of a small wagon. They are lower to the ground, they handle better and can haul all your stuff.
  • You have people to haul... occasionally - the back seat has plenty of room for 2 people (3 in a pinch), and with the '03/'04 ZX5 model, you get two extra doors to help passengers access the rear seats.
  • Your budget is beer, but your tastes are champagne - You need a practical car that can slay a windy back road or an autocross course on the weekend, take you to work Monday-Friday, then pick up the groceries after work and do it all over again next week. 

17:15 - Why You Might Not Want One

  • You routinely carry more than 4-people.  This is not a big car. Yes, the ZX5 version is more practical and easier to get in and out of with its rear doors, but carrying more than four people is a stretch in either model, unless you’re talking little kids, then maybe three people will have enough space in the back
  • You can’t drive a manual transmission.  These cars came - as the car gods intended… with a manual transmission and a great one at that, being a German-made Getrag 6-speed.  You want an SVT Focus?  You better know how to drive a stick.
  • You have a big budget or an even bigger ego and want something new.  In case you missed it, this is a 20-year old car so it won’t be brand new.  If you want new, be prepared to pay the average new car price of nearly $50,000. You want to pay a small fraction of that, then check out the SVT Focus. 
  • You need a pick-up or 4-wheel drive.  This is a front-drive hatch.  It can haul some stuff or some people, but not at the same time. It’s not huge like so many vehicles today.  You want that, get out the checkbook and look elsewhere.

19:00 - Wrap Up

Be sure to join me next time for the second part of the 2-part SVT Focus review. In Part 2, I will go over how many were made, talk about options that were available, tell you what to look for when searching for one of these hot hatchbacks, and let you know where to find one and what you might expect to pay for a good, better, best version of the SVT Focus.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Better Than New

About the Podcast

Better Than New
Find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you'll love
The average new car sales price in the US is nearly $50,000, and the average used vehicle sales price is close to $30,000... I think that's insane! Well if you're like me and you don’t want to pay these crazy inflated car prices, I believe you should still be able to drive something fun. That’s the idea behind Better Than New – a podcast to help you find a cool used car, truck or SUV at a price you’ll love.

I’m Gary Crenshaw, host of Better Than New and a long time automotive enthusiast, and I want to inspire car buyers on a budget to think differently about what they can actually afford to drive. My goal is to introduce listeners to the broad array of interesting, fun-to-drive, enthusiast-friendly used cars, trucks and SUVs available at prices just about anyone can afford… vehicles from the 80s, 90s, 2000s and beyond that offer buyers a wide range of interesting choices. Each week we’ll explore a specific vehicle or vehicle category, tell you what to look for and what to avoid, and give you practical tips to help you find your next cool used car, truck or SUV and keep it on the road for years to come.

With a little work, the joy of owning a cool used car at price you’ll love is within reach and this podcast is here to help you find it.

So hop in, buckle up and let's go for a drive!

About your host

Profile picture for Gary Crenshaw

Gary Crenshaw

A lifelong lover of all things mechanical, Gary has spent the majority of his existence driving, dreaming about or wrenching on cars, motorcycles and even the occasional airplane.

It started with mini-bikes and go-karts as a kid, progressed to 2-stroke dirt bikes, followed by his first car… a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle. Then came the Yamaha era with several RD400s, RZ350s and a Canadian RD350LC (should have kept that!). A pilot’s license was next with some memorable hours flying a 1946 Aeronca Champ low and slow around the Pacific Northwest. While in college, his brother-in-law who sold high-end cars hired him to deliver BMW, Mercedes and Porsche vehicles to customers.

Those early experiences led to a lifetime of owning an eclectic mix of interesting used cars, including a ‘65 Mustang GT, a ’72 Datsun 510, a Porsche 914, a Celica Alltrac Turbo, a Mini Cooper S, a couple of Miata’s, two Audi S4 Avants, a Galant VR4, a Fiat 850 Spider, a 1983 Subaru 4x4 GL wagon and a first gen RX-7, along with dozens of daily driver cars and SUVs from Acura, Honda, Toyota and Mazda. And his favorite? Depends on when you ask, but that distinction likely goes to the Mazda RX-4 station wagon he learned to drive in. That fun-to-drive car combined Gary's passion for wagons, rotary engines and manual transmissions all in one.

So what about you? Which used car, truck or SUV would you love to own? Let’s find it together!