2000 Ford Focus Zetec 2.0 ESP from UK and Ireland - Comments

I have bought a 2.0 focus esp about feb time as my first car lovely car but had few problems I have had to put a new clutch brake servo and exhaust system on also timing kit car has a small leak in the gearbox but other than that it's the best car I have ever driven firm and fast I want to do upgrades but spent a good £1400 on it all ready and will have to wait a few months. doe's anyone know good upgrades that this car will take well and arnt to pricy.

Why all the fuss about a chipped focus beating a VTS or Pug 106 GTi? Everyone knows chipping a N/A engine does not add the 10-15 BHP the company's all state!!

I used to own a 106 GTi and now moved onto the Focus ST, and to say the 2.0 Focus beats the Pug hands down on sprints and top speed is beegars belief!

If I could run 2 cars I would jump at the chance of owning the Pug again, as it was a blast to drive and put many so-called bigger engine cars to shame, not only the 0-60 sprint, but around a fast challenging B-Road, it was just terrific.

The 2.0 Focus is slower to 60 and might be able to catch the Pug on a long blast, but the minute you hit the twisty stuff the pug would leave the Focus.

Please don't say I lowered mine, and got 18 inch alloys, so mine can handle better than the pug, as if you lowered the Pug it would just get even better, but maybe some how lose it character.

Overall they are both good cars with the Pug being slightly better in my opinion.

I've a 2000 model 2.0i 16v Zetec 3dr. The best mods you can do to it is fit an aftermarket air filter and get the ECU re-mapped for better power, not to mention better MPG.

I had a full S/S exhaust system with only a backbox on, sure it sounded great ant first, but it drank fuel like it was going out of fashion, and passengers complained about the cabin noise even on short hauls, never mind long hauls.. so off came the S/S system and went back to a standard system. Result - one happy driver and passengers, I could hear my music again and the the MPG went up from 26mpg up to 32mpg when doing short haul stuff.

The straight through S/S exhaust just made the car drink fuel, so is not advised unless you own shares in Shell or BP.

"and to say the 2.0 Focus beats the Pug hands down on sprints and top speed is beegars belief"

Blufin remaps/chips make a big difference. I used to own a 2.0 esp with a blufin and it was fatsre than the 106 gti I raced a few during ownership and won each time. I've now got astra vxr with blufin and again big difference, turbo helping obviously, it now does 0-100 in 13 seconds. compared to 15-16 standard.

Remapping a turbo engine is a completely different kettle of fish to remapping a naturally aspirated one. If you get a genuine 10% increase from a non-turbo engine with a simple remap, you've done well. There simply isn't the potential to unlock, unless you start messing around with cams, valve timing and head porting.

Manufacturers set up engines a bit conservatively, but not that conservatively.

I said the turbo helps. Watch this video of a blufin on a Zetec S http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gsKEVi9qfsg

Only one mod on an Astra Turbo, and it reduces your 0-100 sprint by 2-3 seconds! Don't THINK SO!!! An extra 20-30 bhp (this is being generous) doesn't give you that good times!

All this fuss about chipping a Focus to beat a 106 or VTS, is rubbish.

Both are poor cars, and I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole (only to smash them with it that is!)

"Only one mod on an Astra Turbo, and it reduces your 0-100 sprint by 2-3 seconds! Don't THINK SO!!! An extra 20-30 bhp (this is being generous) doesn't give you that good times"

No mate you're not being genourous at all you actually get an extra 43bhp check the superchips website, rolling road print out to prove. superchips develop a remap for each car compatible with blufins then when they've got as much power as they can put it into the little computer and send it out to you. I haven't tested my vxr but I've got a friend with a golf gti and when they put that on the rollin road it was exactly what they said it was. on a final not 280bhp is enough for 0-100 in 13 and it would be quicker if you could floor the throttle from standing like an evo or scooby.

Hi, I've owned an MG ZS180 and believe me that thing could shift! 0-60 6.8 seconds 140mph+, have recently sold it and bought a Focus 2.0 esp, very impressive it is too!

I wasn't expecting a whole lot performance wise, but it goes along quite nicely, nowhere near the MG, but not bad! The handling is a hoot, nicely involving, again not a patch on the MG, but it was never designed to be a B-road blaster, although it is very capable.

It can hold it's own against similar power/weight cars and is surprisingly nippy... does need to be thrashed to make serious progress though! This maybe because I've been spoiled, after all MG 2.5 V6, 180bhp, 180lb/ft.

The Focus is better than most would believe, just don't expect too much, 0-60 9secs-ish driver and conditions dependent, 130mph absolute top, no more, remember speedometers over read!! And some decent, fun handling when the road gets twisty, if 205 GTi lift off over steer is your thing then give one a try, you'll be more than happy with the angles you can provoke courtesy of the "control blade" rear suspension set-up!

Was your ZS 180 modified? Otherwise you won't have been hitting 0-60 in 6.8 seconds, even official figures are half a second higher than that. The focus has a chassis which is on par with the ZS180 also, maybe not on the standard setup in a basic 2.0 but in the top models it goes around bends pretty well.

2 litre Focus are rubbish, did a timed 0-60... 11 seconds!! The car's too heavy for the engine, its boring to drive and says nothing about the person driving it... go down any road and you're going to pass at least 10 of them!?!

Some people on here are talking like their Focus is some kind of sports car "I've chipped mine", "I've lowered mine", "mine will eat a VTR". Let me tell you... you can do what ever you want to this car and it will still be slow... they're a cheap family car and that's it, you want something fast then get yourself an Astra Turbo.. I did and trust me, unless you've got yourself a RS Focus, you've got no chance.

I've got a 2.0 Focus esp. I'm looking at replacing the standard air filter. Whats the best induction kit or replacement element in air box, and do you get much induction roar from the kit?

Better cars for the money, and on insurance, would be a Yaris T-Sport or a Citroen C2 VTS. Focuses are heavy and are like cornering an elephant.

My 2.0 Zetec esp is slightly modded, stage 1.5 fast road cams, Pipercross venom induction, Powerflow SS exhaust, and a full remap done by Ford Motorsport. On the rollers it has 161.7 Bhp and 154 ft/lb torque. Pulls 0-60 in 8.5 and top end is roughly 135, although she probably had a bit more to give. My Focus keeps with ST170s to 60 and spanks them from 60-100. A VTR is like a toy by comparison. My brother has a Clio 182, and he was shocked with how hard he had to drive to get away from me.

Does a 2000 Ford Focus hatchback have ABS?