This is topic Girlfriend just bought a Focus, mods? in forum General Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by fordfiveoh (Member # 13107) on :
 
So this past weekend my girlfriend bought a '13 focus se (not a hatchback) and I've gotta say I'm impressed with all that little cars got. It's only 140hp but that small car is zippy and it's suspension handles like my maximum motorsports set up on my 87 foxbody!

Now my question is where to start on how I can make it a little cooler, in a way she'll like it too of course.. haha

I was lookin into getting some tint and a CAI but I don't see any that pass smog and they're pricey too, even just for a steeda air filter + heat shield for $300 bucks???? Meh.

So are there any aftermarket focus parts sites that are a little more reasonable for a metal tube and filter? Maybe I'm just being cheap for something that's not exactly "mine" but I would wanna make this little thing a bit more fun to drive, kinda like my stang.

Any help is appreciated, just wanna hear some feedback from some other focus owners, thanks!
 
Posted by iceman302 (Member # 7180) on :
 
I would just swap out the stock filter for a K&N. I think it's conical just like in the ST. An open element CAI will probably be really noisy for not getting much more (if any) horsepower.

You could try focusfanatics.com for some more ideas.

[ 2014-09-09, 05:33 AM: Message edited by: iceman302 ]
 
Posted by fordfiveoh (Member # 13107) on :
 
Okay thanks! I like the idea of the k&n filter, the car is so quiet as is I'm sure any noise would drive the girlfriend crazy (she's not a fan of my off-road exhaust and dumps).

I'm gonna look for a k&n filter and maybe add a sub into the mix. Gonna try and make this a sleeper that can beat any Prius on the road to date! Ahaha
 
Posted by 135.0 (Member # 4992) on :
 
LS1 bruh
 
Posted by SF Coupe (Member # 1810) on :
 
You should have sold her on the ST. Imagine her car with 250hp and 270tq. The ST is a fun car to drive. I'm not sure you'll gain much with mods, I know on my old Focus n/a four banger there wasn't much to be gained with mods. A tune might give you a few hp and some better low end power. Unleashed tuning is very well respected with the ST crowd, he might have something for the SE.
 
Posted by TEXAS (Member # 11875) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by fordfiveoh:
Okay thanks! I like the idea of the k&n filter, the car is so quiet as is I'm sure any noise would drive the girlfriend crazy (she's not a fan of my off-road exhaust and dumps).

I'm gonna look for a k&n filter and maybe add a sub into the mix. Gonna try and make this a sleeper that can beat any Prius on the road to date! Ahaha
Beating Prius' (plural) in a Focus is so freakin' cool.
 
Posted by fordfiveoh (Member # 13107) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by TEXAS:
quote:
Originally posted by fordfiveoh:
Okay thanks! I like the idea of the k&n filter, the car is so quiet as is I'm sure any noise would drive the girlfriend crazy (she's not a fan of my off-road exhaust and dumps).

I'm gonna look for a k&n filter and maybe add a sub into the mix. Gonna try and make this a sleeper that can beat any Prius on the road to date! Ahaha
Beating Prius' (plural) in a Focus is so freakin' cool.
Ahaha I still gotta see what it can beat, haven't had much time behind the wheel yet [Big Grin]
 
Posted by Boss 327 (Member # 9143) on :
 
One question, why?
 
Posted by fordfiveoh (Member # 13107) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by SF Coupe:
You should have sold her on the ST. Imagine her car with 250hp and 270tq. The ST is a fun car to drive. I'm not sure you'll gain much with mods, I know on my old Focus n/a four banger there wasn't much to be gained with mods. A tune might give you a few hp and some better low end power. Unleashed tuning is very well respected with the ST crowd, he might have something for the SE.
I wanted to get the turbo version but the only one on the lot in our price range was the SE, but it felt good and had a decent amount of power as it sat so we went for it. Figured a few bolt ons would get it goin a lil faster off the line but I'm not too concerned with going all out on it, just wanted somethin a lil cooler than stock when I get time to drive it.

But thanks for all the info guys! And no, no LS swaps for me. [Wink]
 
Posted by fordfiveoh (Member # 13107) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Boss 327:
One question, why?
Why what? It's no more than just a daily for my girlfriend and somethin I can mess with on the weekends.
 
Posted by iceman302 (Member # 7180) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by SF Coupe:
You should have sold her on the ST. Imagine her car with 250hp and 270tq. The ST is a fun car to drive. I'm not sure you'll gain much with mods, I know on my old Focus n/a four banger there wasn't much to be gained with mods. A tune might give you a few hp and some better low end power. Unleashed tuning is very well respected with the ST crowd, he might have something for the SE.
Yes... roughly double the power and even more torque. I love mine... but the manual tranny in the ST might've been a turnoff for her. Mine makes roughly 275 hp and around 320 ft/lbs with basically just a tune. It handles unbelievably too.

[ 2014-09-09, 10:17 PM: Message edited by: iceman302 ]
 
Posted by fordfiveoh (Member # 13107) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by iceman302:
quote:
Originally posted by SF Coupe:
You should have sold her on the ST. Imagine her car with 250hp and 270tq. The ST is a fun car to drive. I'm not sure you'll gain much with mods, I know on my old Focus n/a four banger there wasn't much to be gained with mods. A tune might give you a few hp and some better low end power. Unleashed tuning is very well respected with the ST crowd, he might have something for the SE.
Yes... roughly double the power and even more torque. I love mine... but the manual tranny in the ST might've been a turnoff for her. Mine makes roughly 275 hp and around 320 ft/lbs with basically just a tune. It handles unbelievably too.
Yeah if it was up to me, we would've waited to get the ST and a 5speed at that, but I had to let her pick her car. I just wanna make the best of it and take it a little above stock, ya know? I'm thinking just a new filter, lowering springs, tint, and a tune and it should stick out among the rest. Thanks for the helpful feedback man!
 
Posted by iceman302 (Member # 7180) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by fordfiveoh:
quote:
Originally posted by iceman302:
quote:
Originally posted by SF Coupe:
You should have sold her on the ST. Imagine her car with 250hp and 270tq. The ST is a fun car to drive. I'm not sure you'll gain much with mods, I know on my old Focus n/a four banger there wasn't much to be gained with mods. A tune might give you a few hp and some better low end power. Unleashed tuning is very well respected with the ST crowd, he might have something for the SE.
Yes... roughly double the power and even more torque. I love mine... but the manual tranny in the ST might've been a turnoff for her. Mine makes roughly 275 hp and around 320 ft/lbs with basically just a tune. It handles unbelievably too.
Yeah if it was up to me, we would've waited to get the ST and a 5speed at that, but I had to let her pick her car. I just wanna make the best of it and take it a little above stock, ya know? I'm thinking just a new filter, lowering springs, tint, and a tune and it should stick out among the rest. Thanks for the helpful feedback man!
No sweat. Steeda makes nice stuff for the Focus too. I wouldn't spend the money on a tune... really not worth it for a small displacement n/a engine.

[ 2014-09-10, 09:39 AM: Message edited by: iceman302 ]
 
Posted by Boss 327 (Member # 9143) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by fordfiveoh:
quote:
Originally posted by Boss 327:
One question, why?
Why what? It's no more than just a daily for my girlfriend and somethin I can mess with on the weekends.
I just don't see the logic in spending money modifying a shitbox econo car.
 
Posted by fordfiveoh (Member # 13107) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by iceman302:
quote:
Originally posted by fordfiveoh:
quote:
Originally posted by iceman302:
quote:
Originally posted by SF Coupe:
You should have sold her on the ST. Imagine her car with 250hp and 270tq. The ST is a fun car to drive. I'm not sure you'll gain much with mods, I know on my old Focus n/a four banger there wasn't much to be gained with mods. A tune might give you a few hp and some better low end power. Unleashed tuning is very well respected with the ST crowd, he might have something for the SE.
Yes... roughly double the power and even more torque. I love mine... but the manual tranny in the ST might've been a turnoff for her. Mine makes roughly 275 hp and around 320 ft/lbs with basically just a tune. It handles unbelievably too.
Yeah if it was up to me, we would've waited to get the ST and a 5speed at that, but I had to let her pick her car. I just wanna make the best of it and take it a little above stock, ya know? I'm thinking just a new filter, lowering springs, tint, and a tune and it should stick out among the rest. Thanks for the helpful feedback man!
No sweat. Steeda makes nice stuff for the Focus too. I wouldn't spend the money on a tune... really not worth it for a small displacement n/a engine.
Right on man, I appreciate the help! I'll be definitely gettin some eibach springs too, they make the car look a lot better from what I've seen on a couple forum posts.
 
Posted by Z06-FTMFW (Member # 3164) on :
 
are we seriously talking about modifying a Focus? [Confused]
Its a Focus, drive it and save your money!!!
 
Posted by iceman302 (Member # 7180) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Z06-FTMFW:
are we seriously talking about modifying a Focus? [Confused]
Its a Focus, drive it and save your money!!!
We are. My ST will shame plenty of V8 muscle cars and performance vehicles. It really has nothing more than a basic tune. If I didn't put so many miles on it, I would mod it more than I have already.

And if you think that's stupid, check out the Fiesta ST that runs mid 12's with (basically) bolt ons.

http://www.ecoboostperformanceforum.com/index.php?topic=2936.0

[ 2014-09-10, 12:29 PM: Message edited by: iceman302 ]
 
Posted by fordfiveoh (Member # 13107) on :
 
This is still caFORDS right?
 
Posted by Boss 327 (Member # 9143) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Z06-FTMFW:
are we seriously talking about modifying a Focus? [Confused]
Its a Focus, drive it and save your money!!!
Don't get me wrong, Ford's new 2.0 ecoboost is a nice engine, I've had my hands on one, but trying to mod a base model focus or any econo car like that is just silly.

Ive heard rumors ford might come out with the focus rs to the states and there might be a cosworth edition. [patriot]

[ 2014-09-10, 09:25 PM: Message edited by: Boss 327 ]
 
Posted by iceman302 (Member # 7180) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Boss 327:
quote:
Originally posted by Z06-FTMFW:
are we seriously talking about modifying a Focus? [Confused]
Its a Focus, drive it and save your money!!!
Don't get me wrong, Ford's new 2.0 ecoboost is a nice engine, I've had my hands on one, but trying to mod a base model focus or any econo car like that is just silly.

Ive heard rumors ford might come out with the focus rs to the states and there might be a cosworth edition. [patriot]
Yep... the rumor mill says the RS will have the 2.3L EcoBoost out of the '15 Mustang with about 330 hp. That might even run 12's stock on some sticky tires. If they bring it here (and they supposedly are), I'll probably sell the ST and get one.

[ 2014-09-10, 09:58 PM: Message edited by: iceman302 ]
 
Posted by fordfiveoh (Member # 13107) on :
 
I'm already interested in getting me an RS as soon as they do come to the states, no doubt!
 
Posted by losbadgts (Member # 4394) on :
 
The reality of it is that its an n/a 4 banger. There not much u could do to it, unless it gets an aftermarket turbo or supercharged. I been around a lot of commuter that are n/a and all u could do is a air filter and maybe some exhaust and even then no really extra power to money ratio. Its best to invest on some suspension and wheels and some good brake pads.
 
Posted by fordfiveoh (Member # 13107) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by losbadgts:
The reality of it is that its an n/a 4 banger. There not much u could do to it, unless it gets an aftermarket turbo or supercharged. I been around a lot of commuter that are n/a and all u could do is a air filter and maybe some exhaust and even then no really extra power to money ratio. Its best to invest on some suspension and wheels and some good brake pads.
I'm not lookin for this thing to be a sleeper and beat v8s or anything, just something fun to mess with.

And I agree, I just really only wanna do a filter and springs, not much past that.
 
Posted by iceman302 (Member # 7180) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by fordfiveoh:
quote:
Originally posted by losbadgts:
The reality of it is that its an n/a 4 banger. There not much u could do to it, unless it gets an aftermarket turbo or supercharged. I been around a lot of commuter that are n/a and all u could do is a air filter and maybe some exhaust and even then no really extra power to money ratio. Its best to invest on some suspension and wheels and some good brake pads.
I'm not lookin for this thing to be a sleeper and beat v8s or anything, just something fun to mess with.

And I agree, I just really only wanna do a filter and springs, not much past that.
I recommend a 200 shot of nitrous.
[burnout]
 




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