Topic: Ford Focus ZX5 and Poor Gas Mileage

[healthymusician]

Thanks Ovr50

It is slightly used, only 3500 miles as of today.  What do you think, give it a few months?

[blue_oval_fan]

Healthymusician,the dealer allowed the car to go off the lot without PDI-ing it first?
What makes you think the alignment is out? Is there a sign of tire wear?

I'd definitely go back and have a serious talk with the sales person,if not the sales manager. The car should have been in A-1 shape prior to you taking possession.

[healthymusician]

Hi Blue oval fan,

What does PDI mean?  It seems like the car is straying right, and the steering wheel strays left.  Sorry I am a novice at all of this.

[barrie1]

Pre Delivery Inspection is the meaning of PDI. The dealer should have had these items dealt with before you picked the car up. The engine might not have the rings totally seated yet so the milage will probably only get better with more milage on it.

[Roadrunner]

A 2004 with 3500 miles on it sounds like it may have been a demo. Perhaps driven into acurb sometime. Regardless, it's under warranty (such as that is) and the dealer should correct Any problems with the vehicle.

[Roadrunner]

Barrie,
Seals not set after 3500 miles? Hmmmmm. Must have been babied up to now.

I would think the exhaust might be smokin' a little if the rings aren't seated properly.

[healthymusician]

hmmm... I will see if they will look at it at the dealer when they take off the racing stripes.  The first owner had it for 2 months and drove it 3500 miles.  Apparently it wasn't fast enough for him (he tried with the racing stripes) so he traded it in for an ST.

thanks for your replies

[barrie1]

I was actually referring to the piston rings Roadr as some engines take longer then others to have them seat in correctly.

[blizzard35]

I own a 2003 Focus ZX5 premium with the standard transmission.  I have 48,000 kms on it now and have had no major problems what so ever.  As far as the tire pressure debate, ALL of the experts will say that you should defer to the vehicle manufacturers tire pressure rating, NOT the rating on the tire itself.  Most late model cars have advanced suspension systems, both front and rear and the tires are part of that system.  Remember, the only part of your vehicle that touches the ground are the tires.  I check my tire pressure every Sunday morning, just to make sure all are inflated the same.  I get on average 440 kms in town, and close to 600 kms on the highway.  not bad considering I don't drive like a "little old lady!"

[mr914]

I just bought a 2002 ZX 5 a few weeks ago.  I just finished my first opportunities to test the fuel economy.

Living here in Montreal, fuel economy is really poor in the city.  To give a baseline for economy, I will mention what my 1995 Honda del Sol Si got in various conditions.

When I lived in Phoenix, Arizona, the del Sol got 27-28 mpg US in the city.  The best I ever got was 35 mpg on the highway at 110 km/h with the cruise control on all day.  The worst was around Montreal where I got 24-25 mpg US.  Ouch!

My first tank that I recorded on the Focus was a bad 22 mpg.  This was followed up with 20.5 mpg just this week.  This weekend I drove to Toronto.  It took about 2 tank fulls.  The best fuel economy I got was this morning on the way home, 33 mpg (110 km/h, cruise control, little passing).  Yesterday when I let my lead-foot wife drive we got a reasonable 31 mpg.

All in all, it's what I expected.  The engine is .4 L larger than my del Sol...and the car has to be 400 lbs heavier.  Despite the del Sol having a drag coefficient similar to that of a brick (trust me), I did expect similar bad aerodynamics with the Focus.  I was not totally disappointed.

Hatchbacks are less efficient because of the way the air flows off the rear of the vehicle.  That's life.

These numbers don't sound far off of what I hear from others, so I would have to say there is nothing wrong with your car.