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Old 05-19-2008, 08:56 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Ford Focus aerodynamics question

I'm looking at (eventually) getting a 2005-2007 Ford Focus to replace my Escort. I want either a ZX5 (4 door hatchback) or a wagon. According to Edmunds.com both cars carry the same fuel economy ratings, but I tend to doubt this. In my eyes the ZX5 with it's sloping roofline is much more aerodynamic than the wagon with it's squared off rear. Am I correct in thinking the ZX5 would be likely to see higher highway fuel economy? Personally I like the look and added space of the wagon more but I do a lot of highway driving so highway fuel economy is important. For reference:




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Old 05-19-2008, 09:08 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Formula413 -

I would do a check on the curb weights. If they are the same, then the wagon is probably fine after you remove the roof rack. I think that the rear slope on the ZX5 is such that it would need kamm-back anyway, just like the wagon. I think that a "good slope" for a hatchback would need to be more like a Honda CRX/Insight.

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Old 05-19-2008, 09:33 PM   #3 (permalink)
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They can't possibly weigh the same either. I'd buy one with a manual transmission, if possible.
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Old 05-19-2008, 09:58 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arminius View Post
They can't possibly weigh the same either. I'd buy one with a manual transmission, if possible.
Yup, you're right :

CanadianDriver's New Car Buyer's Guide 2006: - Ford Focus
http://www.canadiandriver.com/overvi...ford/focus.php
Code:
Curb weight ZX3      1189 kg (2621 lbs)
Curb weight ZX4, ZX5 1223 kg (2696 lbs)
Curb weight ZXW      1257 kg (2771 lbs) => 2771/2696 = 1.0278 => 2.78% heavier.
...
Cargo capacity ZX3, ZX5	 510 litres (18.0 cu. ft.)
Cargo capacity ZX4	 419 litres (14.8 cu. ft.)
Cargo capacity ZXW	1008 litres (35.6 cu. ft.)
Fuel consumption 2.0
	City:  9.0 L/100 km (31 mpg Imperial)
 	Hwy:   6.4 L/100 km (44 mpg Imperial)
Fuel consumption 2.3
	City: 10.6 L/100 km (27 mpg Imperial)
 	Hwy:   6.9 L/100 km (41 mpg Imperial)
The wagon will cost you 75 extra lbs, which makes it 2.78% heavier than the ZX5. The benefit is that it will also give you almost 18 more cubic feet of cargo space. Sooooooo, it depends on how you use your car.

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Old 05-20-2008, 12:16 AM   #5 (permalink)
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From what I've read, both the wagon and 5-door have a Cd of 0.32. One article noted that the wagon actually has a slightly lower drag coefficient, actually.

I would take the manual as mentioned, but all things being equal, the convenience of the wagon would trump the extra weight. It all depends on your needs -- the wagon is a rare find...

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Old 05-20-2008, 04:53 PM   #6 (permalink)
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For reasons unknown to me Ford decided to kill both hatchbacks (ZX3 & ZX5) and the wagon and add a coupe to the Focus lineup. How's that for practicality? If the CD is the same I might decide to live with the extra 75 pounds and get the wagon. My Escort wagon sure came in handy when I moved. The tough part for me though is that I would really prefer an auto, but I'd have to give up 3 mpg highway to get it.
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Old 05-20-2008, 07:23 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Are you really set on another Ford? There are other very good hatchbacks out there. Ones that get better mileage too.
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Old 05-20-2008, 07:47 PM   #8 (permalink)
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I have a good buddy with an 07 Focus 3 door hatch, very well put together vehicle, not any extra parts, I'm generally impressed, fun/ stiff chassis as well.
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Old 05-20-2008, 08:56 PM   #9 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dremd View Post
I have a good buddy with an 07 Focus 3 door hatch, very well put together vehicle, not any extra parts, I'm generally impressed, fun/ stiff chassis as well.
I'll agree that the new 04+ Focus series (US) is a good value. On the other hand, I've rented several and found some issues with initial quality, A/C mold issues, and the steering / front suspension being loose or vibrating.

Otherwise, it handles well, gets good FE, and is reasonably priced. My good friend bought a 2000 ZTS Sedan new, and has a mixed response with it. The first model year brought MANY recalls and hard-to-diagnose gremlins. Subsequent models improved quality. He still has it at 100K miles+ (dedicated Ford guy). I drove the 5-speed model that same year and was really impressed with it. I already had a '99 Civic Si at the time, which (IMHO) was the best combination of sport (160 hp from 1.6L), utility (fold-down seats), and efficiency when not driven hard (at that time, rarely ). It was super-reliable until I traded it at 40K miles...silly me.

As Daox suggested, look at all the options. You seem to have a strong feeling to Ford because of a friend. I implore you to examine all the options, do some research, and be yourself -- choose the vehicle that you want.

My 2-pence...

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Old 05-20-2008, 09:36 PM   #10 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dremd View Post
I have a good buddy with an 07 Focus 3 door hatch, very well put together vehicle, not any extra parts, I'm generally impressed, fun/ stiff chassis as well.
That is the main selling point for me, I love "spirited" cornering and the Focus excels at this. Great steering feedback, very minimal understeer and body roll, handles more like a sports car than an econobox. I was actually set on the Mazda 3 for a long time but it's substantially lower mileage has moved me away from it. To me the Focus is the next best thing. I may try some other cars too but I can't really picture any of the other compacts out there being much better in ways that matter most to me. I could aim for even better fuel economy but I like the idea of having a little bit of pickup for freeway merging and such, and the Focus has around 130 hp depending on model year, which seems like a reasonable compromise between power and fuel economy.

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