Automotive Reviews
Posts tagged Ford
2003 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 SuperCrew
Jul 21st
How’s this for a Christmas present? Ford knew it was onto something cool when it first combined its legendary F-Series with the iconic Harley-Davidson brand in 1999. Now in its third year, the Harley-Davidson edition F-150 continues as the king of cruisin’ factory custom pickups.
The idea is pretty simple; take an F-150 SuperCrew and slap a bunch of Harley decals on it. Ford’s done much more than that to distinguish the Harley F-150, though. Both Ford and Harley-Davidson are celebrating their 100th anniversaries this year, so for 2003 their joint venture becomes even more distinctive, with two color options, special badging and 20″ wheels. Backing that up is a supercharged V8 engine, and a lowered suspension. It’s instantly recognizable as something special.
The addition of the optional silver-black two-tone paint transforms the Harley F-150. In all black it’s merely menacing, but the two-tone has a high “cutline” which emphasizes the truck’s size. It also calls attention to the chrome-bar grille and foglamps and distinguishes the Harley from lesser pickups. The effect is impressive. Massive 20″ chrome wheels put the power to the street and there are big Harley badges on the wheels and flanks.
The interior is familiar, and yet different. It’s basically an F-Series, with its full instrumentation, comfortable seats and plasticky dash, but the two-tone leather and Harley logo-emblazoned bucket seats are definitely not run-of-the-mill. The Harley F-150 features four captain’s chairs with large consoles front and rear. The instrument panel has a cool “spun metal” finish. An in-dash CD changer is also included, and sharp eyes will notice that the Harley-Davidson F-150 sports more chrome inside than its lesser brethren. The leather-swaddled yet truckish interior is reminiscent of the recently departed Lincoln Blackwood.
Unlike the ill-fated Blackwood though, the Harley F-150 isn’t just a pretty face. To add even more oomph to this special-edition truck, Ford dropped in a supercharged 5.4 liter V8 engine. If the snazzy paint job and Harley badges don’t get your heart racing, 340 horsepower certainly will. When you put your foot in it, the Harley F-150 reacts much like the SVT Lightning whose concept it shares. A giggle-inducing explosion of power from the blower rockets this truck up to speed with an authority normally reserved for sports cars. A four-speed automatic transmission and a quick 3.73:1 rear end are standard, as is a limited-slip differential.
The ride is smoother and less tippy than a standard F-series. The Harley F-150 quickly puts paid to any accusations of being too fancy to work, though. The suspension is lowered an inch but that doesn’t prevent the Harley F-150 from towing up to 4500 pounds. It gives up just over a ton of towing capacity to the standard pickups, thanks in part to the low-profile Goodyear Eagle tires that are wrapped around those giant wheels, but that’s the cost of having a showpiece instead of a boring old workhorse. Ford would of course like to see these limited production trucks on the road with Harleys trailered behind, and the truck is certainly up to that task. Trailer wiring is standard equipment. So are anti-lock brakes, to help the truck stop as well as it goes.
A special truck deserves special equipment, too. Ford will outfit your Harley-Davidson F-150 with a headliner-mounted memo system called TravelNote, a power rear window, heated seats, a moonroof and more if you check the right option boxes.
Want one? Better get on the phone to Santa Claus quickly. Only 12,000 Harley-Davidson F-150 SuperCrews are on the menu for 2003, and when they’re gone, they’re gone. Previous versions reportedly sold out like hot concert tickets, despite a starting price of $37,295.
Specifications:
All specs are for the 2003 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 SuperCrew, which we tested.
Length: 225.9 in.
Width: 79.1 in.
Height: 73.9 in. (regular F-150)
Wheelbase: 138.5 in.
Towing capacity: 4500 lb.
GVWR: 6700 lb.
Base price: $37,295
Engine: 5.4 liter supercharged OHV V8
Drivetrain: four-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Horsepower: 340 @ 4500
Torque: 425 @ 3250
2003 Ford SVT Focus
Jul 21st
The Ford Motor Company has always been a relatively conservative brand. Ford rarely gets too caught up in the fad of the moment, preferring instead to stick to mainstream vehicles, for mainstream folks. And even when the Blue Oval brand does jump onto the bandwagon, it usually hedges its bets somewhat. The most radical-looking new car from Ford, the unabashedly retro Thunderbird, is a very conventional beast under the skin, developed as it is from existing products. For the most part, the marketing folks at Ford just don’t go for fads.
That’s why the SVT Focus is something of a surprise. The last time sporty hatchbacks were all the rage, in the early 1980s, Ford all but ignored the niche, offering slightly tarted-up economy cars like the Escort GT and EXP. Creating legends just wasn’t part of the plan, and the seminal “hot hatches” came from less reserved minds at Volkswagen and Dodge. Now hot-rod economy cars are popular again, and this time, Ford has put a more decisive foot into the water. The already fun-to-drive Focus has been reworked by the rubber-burning, tire-squealing minds at Ford’s Special Vehicle Team, who are best known for 300-horsepower Mustangs and fire-breathing pickup trucks. So…is the SVT Focus committed enough to compete with the new breed of radical hot hatches?
Looks can be deceiving, so don’t dismiss it with just a glance. The Focus hatchback’s shape is definitely distinctive. SVT has improved the looks somewhat with 17″ wheels, some subtle body cladding and unique grille inserts. You can get an SVT Focus with high-intensity discharge headlamps too. Look closely; the headlight surrounds are darker, giving the SVT Focus a distinct frown. The fact remains that the Focus is a tall car, though, and no amount of cladding or big wheels can disguise the vast expanse of sheet metal between the rear wheel well and roof. Some days we like it, others it looks like a really big Skittle.
On the inside, it’s a different story. With more sporting seats and a fat three-spoke wheel, the SVT Focus offers a wonderful driving environment. The chairs are tall, comfortable, and supportive for hard driving. Pedal covers are intended to make race track-friendly heel-toe downshifts easier. Aluminum accents dot the cabin liberally. Cooler yet, the seats can be accented to match red, blue or black exteriors. SVT has also ditched the Focus’ annoying armrest, which blocks the driver’s elbow while shifting. Unfortunately, with the armrest went just about all of the enclosed storage in the cabin, so if you’re going to carry something, it’s going to be in sight. A 60-watt sound system with a CD player is standard with the Focus. The optional Audiophile system adds 230 watts, a CD changer and a subwoofer to that. The 8″ sub thumps nicely, but takes up a chunk of cargo space. It’s all a matter of priorities. Neat fingertip radio controls are included with both systems, the better to keep your hands on the wheel.
Ungainly looks aside, the SVT sticks to the road with absolutely phenomenal tenacity. Stiffer springs are used at both ends, of course, and larger stabilizer bars add to the Focus’ already good handling. The power steering’s boost has been adjusted as well, for better driver feel. The SVT Focus will hang on well past the “oh-no-it’s-going-to-spin” point, without understeer or oversteer. SVT has also beefed up the brakes, with standard four-wheel discs and ABS.
For all the nice trim, though, there’s something missing. Perhaps it’s the car’s personality. The SVT Focus is wonderful fun to drive, but the car itself doesn’t beg to be driven. The hardware is there, but where’s the personality? In of itself, that’s not a significant flaw, but with quirky, friendly cars like the Mini Cooper to contend with, the “X” factor might be a vitally important one.
Under the hood, there’s a massaged version of the Focus’ 2.0 liter four-cylinder. The SVT Focus has stronger connecting rods and lightweight pistons, a special dual-stage intake manifold and variable cam timing, all for a 40-horsepower boost, to 170. The engine has a pleasant, burbling exhaust note. For all that, the SVT Focus’ power feels merely adequate, even when funneled through the standard six-speed manual transmission. It hasn’t got the visceral punch of the over-200-hp Subaru WRX. Given the kind of power we’ve come to expect from SVT, it’s a bit of a letdown. It’s in the running with the 163-hp Mini Cooper and the 192-hp Mercedes C230 Sport, but you won’t get anyone to cry uncle while racing over the lunch table. Then again, you don’t have to slow down as much for corners, either.
Front and side airbags are standard on the SVT Focus.
The best thing about the little sports cars is that they’re not that expensive, of course. The SVT Focus starts at $17,995. It’s pricier than the average economy car, but offers a great deal more bang for the buck than a full-on sports car–and you can get a load of groceries in the trunk. For 2003, the SVT Focus will also be available as a five-door model.
Specifications:
All specs are for the 2003 Ford SVT Focus, which we tested.
Length: 168.1 in.
Width: 66.9 in.
Height: 56.3 in.
Wheelbase: 103.0 in.
Curb weight: 2750 lb.
Cargo space: 18.6 cu.ft.
Base price: $17,995
Price as tested: $18,670
Engine: 2.0 liter four-cylinder
Drivetrain: six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Horsepower: 170 @ 7000
Torque: 145 @ 5500
Fuel capacity: 13.2 gal.
Fuel economy: 21/25
2002 Ford Focus ZX5
Jul 21st
When Ford’s Focus debuted in 1999, it was an instant hit in Europe and in the United States, where it replaced the familiar but terminally low-rent Escort. The Focus brought world-class driving dynamics and unique looks to the traditionally bland subcompact segment, and it paid off.
One thing that mystified critics at the time, however, was Ford’s decision to offer the Focus only in hatchback, four-door, and station wagon models. A versatile five-door hatchback was offered in Europe only. For some reason the top brass at Ford felt that Americans wouldn’t be interested in bridging the gap between sedan and station wagon. For 2002 Ford has rectified this mysterious oversight, and the Focus ZX5 is now available.
At a glance, it looks just like its three-door sibling. The second set of doors adds no length to the ZX5, and doesn’t hurt the silhouette either. If you’re a fan of the Focus’ egg-shaped look, this is a good thing-and if you’re not, you’ve probably already stopped reading. The Focus ZX5 features distinctive triangular pillar-mounted taillights and large, triangular headlights up front. The rounded body has a tall roof, for easy entrance and exit. Fog lamps and 16″ six-spoke alloy wheels are standard equipment. A sunroof is available, and that cool antenna mounted at the front edge of the roof is standard.
The ZX5 doesn’t leave the factory in a stripped-down model, like the cheapest ZX3 hatchback does. In addition to the Focus’ comfortable, high-roofed interior, the five-door features air conditioning, an in-dash CD player, power windows, and cruise control as standard equipment. Although the ZX5 is the same size as the ZX3 coupe, rear-seat room is adequate for four adults, and there’s adequate headroom for six-footers as well. You can get three adults in the back, if they’re good friends. The rear seats fold flat for carrying large cargo, opening up 42.5 cubic feet of space. The asymmetrical dashboard has large, easy-to-use controls for radio and climate control. Two gripes-the steering wheel lacks a comfortable resting position for hands on long trips, and the folding armrest is still in the way of the driver’s elbow on manual transmission-equipped cars. Although build quality is good and the car feels solid on the road, our test car had a couple of notable trim glitches, including an ugly wad of soundproofing material sticking out of the dash just at the base of the windshield. It’s a great little car, but look yours over thoroughly before buying.
The number-one reason for considering the Focus is, of course, its fantastic driving dynamics. Driving a Focus feels as hip as skateboarding to work, but without the attendant cuts and scrapes. The 130-horsepower 2.0 liter Zetec engine is the only one available in the ZX5, but it gets the car going in a cheerful hurry. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and a smooth four-speed automatic is optional. The five-speed feels very European, with a lockout for reverse and smooth, longish throws. The automatic can be a bit harsh under hard acceleration, but it makes the most of the ZX5′s 130 horses and never feels strained or overworked.
A responsive suspension is key to driving enjoyment, and the Focus ZX5 has that as well. It’s fully independent, of course, with MacPherson struts up front and “control blade” trailing arms in the back in lieu of the crude beam axle that many inexpensive cars get stuck with. The Focus’ handling entertains shamelessly. The little car never feels unsteady or uncertain. Anti-lock brakes are optional.
Our test car was a Focus ZX5 with the optional automatic trnamsmission. The autobox was the only option on the car, which also featured air conditioning, cruise control, the in-dash CD changer, fog lamps and power windows. It stickered for $16,975. A similarly equipped Volkswagen Golf adds about $2000 to the bottom line.
Thanks to its growing popularity with compact car modifiers, a whole raft of styling accessories are available for the Focus ZX5. Dual round projector headlamps, carbon-fiber dash inserts, and chrome-tipped exhaust pipes are just the beginning. It all adds up to a stylish and versatile car that’s priced just right for first-time buyers. Better yet, the Focus’ outstanding road manners make it a worthwhile consideration for experienced drivers as well.
Specifications:
All specs are for the 2002 Ford Focus ZX5, which we tested.
Length: 168.1 in.
Width: 66.9 in.
Height: 56.3 in.
Wheelbase: 103.0 in.
Curb weight: 2600 lb.
Cargo space: 18.6 cu.ft. (seat up)/ 42.54 cu.ft. (seat folded)
Price as tested: $16,975
Engine: 2.0 liter DOHC inline four-cylinder
Drivetrain: four-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Horsepower: 130 @ 5300
Torque: 135 @ 4500
Fuel capacity: 13.2 gal.
Est. mileage: 26/32