05-09 gt's as a daily?

Rambro

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2006
Messages
1,597
Location
Illinois
Been driving my 03 focus for a long time now. It's a decent car but its just not me. Been looking at the 3 valves as a new replacement daily. Im looking at cars in the 5~7 range so they have high miles, but theres alot of nice ones out there for cheap. So are these pretty decent cars? Not looking to mod it besides mabye mufflers and lowering it. Prefer a stick but I don't know much about the autos in those cars.
 

Rambro

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2006
Messages
1,597
Location
Illinois
Automatic any good? It will stay mostly stock but I'd like to get a handheld from mabye Brenspeed and do a 93 tune. Auto might be really fun with a tune and 4.10's.
 
Last edited:

Kevinbonds

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2018
Messages
358
Location
Florida
Automatic any good? It will stay mostly stock but I'd like to get a handheld from mabye Brenspeed and do a 93 tune. Auto might be really fun with a tune and 4.10's.

You will be happy with an auto, and will give you great service as a dd. The 4.6 mod motor can handle hundreds of thousands of miles, they are on countless NYC crown Vic taxis and they run them hard.
 

SHOdown220

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2006
Messages
1,978
Location
North Carolina
They are pretty solid cars. I would suggest finding a manual if you can. If you go automatic change the gears out and tune it. Actually even with a manual you should tune it. Makes the throttle response way better and just more enjoyable to drive overall plus you pick up a little power
 

Voltwings

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2013
Messages
2,739
Location
Houston
In my opinion the final drive is still too long even with a manual, so I'd change gears regardless.
 

SHOdown220

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2006
Messages
1,978
Location
North Carolina
In my opinion the final drive is still too long even with a manual, so I'd change gears regardless.

Fair point. I think the earlier cars 05-06 manual trans were like 3.55s and the later cars 3.31. Then all automatics were 3.31s. That's off the top of my head its been a long time since I owned my 06. Even the 3.55s were on the long side for me, but I'm used to driving 6 speed small cars like my FoST so that is way different to me.
 

kevinatfms

Ex-Ford/Kia/Hyundai Tech
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2006
Messages
4,978
Location
Maryland
I daily drove my track rat 2005 GT for years. It was modded beyond recognition and still wasnt bad. MPG wasnt great after the heads/cams but it still drove excellent in traffic and never overheated. NVH did increase significantly through poly bushings and rod ends so id stick with rubber bushings everywhere you can.

Make sure if you get an 05-06 to swap the spark plugs right away and throw a good amount of anti-sieze on the barrels. This prevents them breaking off at a later date due to the two piece design. The later 07+ cars had a different design and didnt have much of a problem.

For suspension stuff, GT500 parts are cheap and work wonders on a GT model. Rear control arms, front control arms are two that are easily swapped and the rubber bushings still keep them compliant for daily use without the NVH of polyurethane.

GT500 wheels are cheap as take offs and look amazing on the 05-09 cars.

And if you can, find take off non-brembo brakes from the 2010+ cars. They are 13" rotors and caliper brackets which fit the early cars quite well and improve the pedal effort quite a bit. Brembos is the next step but are not needed for day to day. Usually you can find them dead cheap from guys upgrading to Brembos.
 

Rambro

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2006
Messages
1,597
Location
Illinois
And Power by the Hour is doing that Coyote swap harness for 05-09. Plug and play.. Just saying
I told the lady springs, toon, tint, and possibly gears. She's fine with me throwing wads of cash at the cobra so im just going to keep this car mild as possible. A coyote swap would be very nice though if something ever happened to the 4.6. Cheap f150 yote swap would be awesome.
 

BlackHrtStang

METAL!
Established Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2008
Messages
329
Location
San Antonio
The thing I hated most about mine was the drive by wire. I could hoon my new edge gt at will and knew exactly what to expect with the cable throttle and 4r70. But with the 3v and the 5r tranny it was unpredictable and rarely ever did what I wanted it to as far as like a quick fun power slide out of a corner or something. That was my biggest frustration out of it. Had springs\konis, reman cardone brembo swap for cheap, sways and 285 summer rubber square and to me had quite impressive handling for a solid axle car. Waaaay more balanced than the new edge.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using the svtperformance.com mobile app
 

Recon

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2016
Messages
3,463
Location
In the 427R
I’ve been happy with both of my 3V’s and have plans for a 3rd in spring. They are durable for the most part, all depends on how you act in them. I currently service several that are in the mustang club that I’m apart of. Most have pretty mild mods, nothing crazy, and they do just fine. Both of my cars are lower miles, with one being boosted (Roush) and I’m pleased with them. Biggest things are the spark plugs in the 05 - mid 07 (or mid 08, it’s been a while) are pretty brittle, later cars have a better plug but interestingly have a higher torque spec on installing them. Cam phasers aren’t the greatest but I’ve yet to experience a malfunction in the 3V Mustangs, factory cams with routine and proper maintenance you’ll be fine. My biggest repair on either of my cars have been the Pinion seal in the rear end. They do have a 2 piece driveshaft that’s seems to a common replacement to a one piece. I’ve played with the suspension on my Roush with some mild improvements; and about an inch drop around the car, don’t hear any rubbing with a 10in wide wheel up front. If you get a manual short throw is a must (duh). I quite like the cars and from others I’ve talked with they do make good daily’s.


Pick your poison.
 

SVTXTC

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2014
Messages
953
Location
Cincinnati
I would keep the focus and keep saving. By the time your done you’ll have 7-9k in it after the described mods. That’s a lot of money towards something else.
 

kevinatfms

Ex-Ford/Kia/Hyundai Tech
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2006
Messages
4,978
Location
Maryland
One question, is the 2003 Focus you drive now a 5 speed and Zetec 2.0L?

If so, id keep it and throw some fun parts at it. They are an extremely fun combo with a few handling focused modifications. Think of it as a Focus SVT without the garbage VCT engine and a little less power.

FSWerks and Steeda still make a catalog of parts to beef up the 2000-2004 Focus platform.
 

Rambro

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2006
Messages
1,597
Location
Illinois
I would keep the focus and keep saving. By the time your done you’ll have 7-9k in it after the described mods. That’s a lot of money towards something else.
The focus isn't a bad daily at all. Mine is at 185k, prior salvage title, exhaust is starting to rust. I'd rather drive something I like as opposed to pumping money into the focus to keep it on the road. But you are right, I really don't need to, or plan on modding it. Just lower it, tint, and keep it clean.
 

Rambro

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2006
Messages
1,597
Location
Illinois
One question, is the 2003 Focus you drive now a 5 speed and Zetec 2.0L?

If so, id keep it and throw some fun parts at it. They are an extremely fun combo with a few handling focused modifications. Think of it as a Focus SVT without the garbage VCT engine and a little less power.

FSWerks and Steeda still make a catalog of parts to beef up the 2000-2004 Focus platform.
Mine's an auto. Focus is kinda crusty these days. She bought for dirt cheap with 125k and now it sits at 185k. Its totally driveable but will eventually need the motor mounts replaced, trans is showing signs of slippage, and the muffler is looking rough. I'm sure an svt focus is neat and all but I like the idea of getting into an s197 car.
 
Last edited:

Rambro

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2006
Messages
1,597
Location
Illinois
Going to look at an 05 mineral grey, premium, manual today. It's at a used car dealer. Asking 6500 with 125k miles and looks clean in the ad. If all checks out about how much should I pay for a car like this? Prices are all over the place on these things.
 

SHOdown220

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2006
Messages
1,978
Location
North Carolina
The thing I hated most about mine was the drive by wire. I could hoon my new edge gt at will and knew exactly what to expect with the cable throttle and 4r70. But with the 3v and the 5r tranny it was unpredictable and rarely ever did what I wanted it to as far as like a quick fun power slide out of a corner or something. That was my biggest frustration out of it. Had springs\konis, reman cardone brembo swap for cheap, sways and 285 summer rubber square and to me had quite impressive handling for a solid axle car. Waaaay more balanced than the new edge.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using the svtperformance.com mobile app

That was my biggest complaint but a tune made it 100x better. I found I could more easily slide it around doing a uturn or off a side street just general goofing off. I could also leave the traction control on and instead of shutting it down at the first sign of tire slippage it allowed the car to get pretty far out there before stepping in and assisting rather than the stock setup killing the power
 

SVTXTC

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2014
Messages
953
Location
Cincinnati
Going to look at an 05 mineral grey, premium, manual today. It's at a used car dealer. Asking 6500 with 125k miles and looks clean in the ad. If all checks out about how much should I pay for a car like this? Prices are all over the place on these things.

Dealer should own that car between $3000-$4500. Bad time of year to be purchasing one of these because if that dealer holds on to it for another 60 days he will get all the money during tax refund time.
 

Users who are viewing this thread



Top