Oh gosh.. where to start???!?

[Jay2TheRescue]

I don't know. It is possible, Ford owns Volvo.

[itjstagame]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

... (Like I need a 4th car!)

-Jay

Ha! Who doesn't!

Pinky about the wagon, he meant a Focus ZX3 or ZX5 wagon or hatchback thing. My friend has a ZX3 3 door, 5 speed and I bet it didn't drop that many MPG compared to the sedan.

[rgathright]

Welcome to the forums! Hope to hear more about this from you!

[Mr Pinkies ZX5]

Originally Posted by itjstagame

Ha! Who doesn't!

Pinky about the wagon, he meant a Focus ZX3 or ZX5 wagon or hatchback thing. My friend has a ZX3 3 door, 5 speed and I bet it didn't drop that many MPG compared to the sedan.

ZX3, ZX5, and a wagon are three seperate cars. They are a lot of same and some differences. For example, ZX3 and ZX5 are pretty much the same- just going from a two door to a foor door, both being a hatchback. The wagon is a little bigger, well, longer by at least a foot and the brake lights and whatever are different from the ZX3 and ZX5. I like the look of the ZX3 and ZX5 better than the wagon- more sporty and they handle curves and everything better.

Bottom line of importance is weight. Wagon is heavier because its bigger/longer and for the pure fact that it was an automatic (never seen a manual trans on a wagon) which again adds weight. More weight = less MPG Biggest difference, as far as, getting better MPG was manual VS automatic.

I say.. since I had to suck it up and learn how to drive manual, so should everyone else and we can all save gas.. and maybe.. just maybe.. gas prices would go down and (I know, I'm dreaming, just let me dream for a minute... sometimes dreaming is priceless) yeah.. ok.. damn.. back to reality.. ok, truth is, to get a minimum of ten more miles to the gallon, wouldn't you learn how to drive a manual too??!?!??!?? I think back to all the gas I probably could have saved.. all the money... and all the "what if"'s... win some... loose some... I guess?

[Mr Pinkies ZX5]

Who did kill the electric car??

[Jay2TheRescue]

Hmmm, maybe that wasn't a speedbump I drove over this morning...

Maybe, just maybe I killed it.

[GasSavers_SD26]

Originally Posted by Mr Pinkies ZX5

Sounds neat! I like rare cars.

Q: Aren't Focus's on a Volvo chassis?

The Ford Five-Hundred, which is now the new Taurus, and the Freestyle, which is now the Taurus X, are Volvo chassis.

The Focus is a Ford of Europe design.

And I believe that the ZTW can have the suspension upgraded with the SVT shocks and struts for a little better chassis set up. We did that on our ZTS, used the SVT dampers.

[Mr Pinkies ZX5]

Originally Posted by SD26

The Ford Five-Hundred, which is now the new Taurus, and the Freestyle, which is now the Taurus X, are Volvo chassis.

The Focus is a Ford of Europe design.

And I believe that the ZTW can have the suspension upgraded with the SVT shocks and struts for a little better chassis set up. We did that on our ZTS, used the SVT dampers.

well, partly true. the wagon can use the fronts, but not the backs. the back struts and etc are different from all the other focus's

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by Mr Pinkies ZX5

More weight = less MPG Biggest difference, as far as, getting better MPG was manual VS automatic.

This is a common misconception. It can be true under certain conditions, but when you've got the same engine (tuned the same) with the same gear ratios and tire size (in other words, pretty much the same car), 15% weight loss will probably not cause a measurable change in FE.

Making a car lighter helps if you can then sacrifice power to save fuel (taller gears, smaller engine, tune for more efficiency) and still have consumers buy it (because it can still accelerate decently).

[Mr Pinkies ZX5]

I agree! I was, however, pointing more fingers at manual trans VS an automatic.