Anyone have any experience with this car. There is one near me that is a five door going for a pretty low price. The extra doors would be very nice, and I remember when it came out many magazines only had great things to say about it.

Two things: anyone know of any issues with these cars, and/or had (as above mentioned) any experience with the car.

The other thing is does anyone know of a site that predicts future resale; as in say a year. I'm not sold on it replacing the Mini, but at the right price the added space and doors could interest me, and hte money I'd walk away with would also be nice, BUT if i sold the car in say a year money is relative if the resale ends up tanking.

I know right now they are cheap, but anyone think within a year the value will still hold (to note this isn't uncommon many volvo's have this phenomena of tnaking but then holding their low value for many years) or think resale will just get significantly lower in a year.

 

The SVT will hold a higher resale than a standard Focus, but mileage and condition will be the major factors. Keep it nice, don't mod the heck out of it, don't put 20k miles on it in a year and you will probably get back close to what you paid. They are fun to drive, but not up to MINI standards.

 

When I was considering swapping out the MINI, I looked into the SVT and heard mostly good things. Getrag tranny, just like the S (and now the Cooper, too).

 

I believe some even had an available LSD from the factory. But remember, dealers and garages don't call them a Fuc*us for nothing...

 

But wasn't the SVT a European-built model? I don't think they came out of the same place as the other Focii?

 

the st170 was mostly the same as the svt, but american svt's were built in mexico to my knowledge. also no LSD, a little bit of a downer, but i've lived without one on the Cooper S.

but pulled up the carfax and check this out:

10/14/2004 10,484 Service Facility Vehicle serviced
Suspension system serviced
Engine serviced
Electrical system serviced

i mean i know that many of those items are checked at service, but doesn't carfax usually just put vehicle serviced. Should i be worried that service is a little more in-depth on that one? either than that the carfax is clean and has nothing else abnormal

 

Really? I have been mis-informed. Either that or I don't remember correctly.

 

I had a Focus rental in Hawaii last year, not a SVT, just a regular 4-door. That car was the worst car Ive ever driven. Felt like tin foil on wheels. The SVT may have more power than the base model, but I bet it still fels like the doors are going to fall off when you drive it.