Hi, Guest
The SPI seems to get a decent amount of gas mileage, especially when compared with the ZTS sedan. The LX has black body mouldings, and I believe the cassette deck standard instead of the CD deck. Knowing you, the stock deck would be gone in a week :D Otherwise, steel wheels and the 8V SPI were the order of the day, not that there's anything wrong with that. The factory stocker Goodyear Integrity tires have suprisingly good "stick", and the new set of Integrity tires I just put on are remarkably surefooted in the snow. Braking is pretty good in the Focuses, and handling, well... bend it around the 11 to 17 onramp at 65 KM/H plus... wait for the grin :D
If you do indeed want good gas mileage, get the SPI, drop in a K+N panel filter, and enjoy the savings. A tank of gas lasts me at least 2 weeks around town on an easy foot. Stomp on it and mileage degrades some, same as any car.
Never had any quirks with the engine, really.
Might have told you this when we got back this summer, but I averaged 42 MPG over 5500KMs on our vacation to the East coast at the end of July. That includes 2 blasts through the Applaichan Mountains (out and back again). The stickshift should do marginally better on the highway, and a tad worse in the city compared to the auto/SPI combo.
As for modding, Steeda.ca carries the 60mm throttle body for the SPI, all 4-door exhausts fit both engines, and there are underdrive pulley sets, etc as well. Once you add on the 60mm TB, any ZETEC stock and aftermarket intake fits the SPI. I recall you saying you weren't doing many performance mods, tho. Either way, it's all good.
Personally, I'd say go with that chrome-moly STB Steeda has... I'm picking one up after Christmas. Lots of guys say that the braided brake lines upgrade is worth it as well.
Any other questions that you need an immediate answer on, you know I'm on all day during the week :)
Email me some pics at work!
If you do indeed want good gas mileage, get the SPI, drop in a K+N panel filter, and enjoy the savings. A tank of gas lasts me at least 2 weeks around town on an easy foot. Stomp on it and mileage degrades some, same as any car.
Never had any quirks with the engine, really.
Might have told you this when we got back this summer, but I averaged 42 MPG over 5500KMs on our vacation to the East coast at the end of July. That includes 2 blasts through the Applaichan Mountains (out and back again). The stickshift should do marginally better on the highway, and a tad worse in the city compared to the auto/SPI combo.
As for modding, Steeda.ca carries the 60mm throttle body for the SPI, all 4-door exhausts fit both engines, and there are underdrive pulley sets, etc as well. Once you add on the 60mm TB, any ZETEC stock and aftermarket intake fits the SPI. I recall you saying you weren't doing many performance mods, tho. Either way, it's all good.
Personally, I'd say go with that chrome-moly STB Steeda has... I'm picking one up after Christmas. Lots of guys say that the braided brake lines upgrade is worth it as well.
Any other questions that you need an immediate answer on, you know I'm on all day during the week :)
Email me some pics at work!
Daily driver 1: 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport "S"
33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.
Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT
COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.
33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.
Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT
COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.