ok dudes, you all know my car, my all stock 5speed p5...... ok so the kid down the street that annoys the hell outta me, thinkin his car is badass.... whippin shitters at the end of my driveway, leavin tred marks and all..... so i want at him, i wanna woop him bad....

so my question is what do i need to work on to eat his car..... he is runnin a 2001-2 Focus ZX3 with nothin under the hood done, but he has a mag-flow exhaust and some stupid blacked out lenses..... and hes haulin around a 10inch sub....

so, i need tips on my shifting to beat him.....

1st.... the launch... where should i launch from? 3000rpm 4000rpm?
2nd.... riding it up.... where should i shift at? 6000rpm?
3rd what else? tell me you guys? i wanna be as informed as possible to beat this guy.... now im confident i can now, but i want a good edge against him...

not that i dont know my car, its just i want your opinions


oh, lol, and im not gonna indorse street racing here, knowing all the bad things, but thisll be safe where we do it...

I would drop the clutch at around 3500 rpm or possibly even a little lower. I am new to the P5 but I do know that they tend to have hellish one wheel spin due to the lack of LSD (with the stock tires). I just take each gear all the way to 6500 rpm. The P5 will hit 60 in second just before the engine slams off the Rev Limiter which I believe is closer to 7000 rpm (dealership said about 6800 or so). Driving this hard would not be the best on a regular basis but for feeding the occasional foe tail lights it would help.

Practice, try maybe revving it to about 4,000 rpms and letting go right away slightly, and then dropping it all the way if you know what I mean.

If you're just going to drop the clutch, just rev it to about 3300 rpms.....

First, if that guy can shift worth a damn he will probably kick your butt no matter how good you drive. The focus is a much quicker car (less weight and all dat jazz). If I remember correctly Autoweek had it pinned at just around 8 seconds 0-60. Everytime I saw a 0-60 score for a Protege it was up closer to 9 or above it. But if you are going to race him (and pray he screws up a shift or two) then I would drop the clutch around 3k, modulate the accelerator to try and control the wheel spin, and shift around 6100RPM or so. Might want to practice launching a couple of times in an empty parking lot or something just to get good at it. For damn sure don't let the vehicle hit the rev limiter. That'll ruin a good run pretty fast.

get a ram air intake....it will improve the throutle responce greatly!!!!

Shift points were discussed before - 6000 to 6100 rpm's.

well I think the guys here have pretty much covered it.....launch between 2800 and 3000....will do you just fine....shift every gear at about 6000......

and you said this would be safe.....so you are taking this match to a track right? if so....get a set of drag tires?....do a good burnout? increase your traction for the launch? ..... let the electric eyes tell the final story.

:{D

thanks guys.....

oh and i do think i have a good good chance with him, even though he is a pretty decent shifter, but my friends say that ride with him, that im still better....... but he is haulin around a good 300-400lbs in that trunk too with his subs....

so i dunno

nope we cant do track, but we have about 3 miles of closed off, all new asphalt street that no one will interfere with for this race, it will be very safe, and i will have all my buddies watchin out for us... so itll be all good.... its not like i street race all the time, hell this'd only be the second time

Go and whoop that focus's ass.

5Speedp5 :headshot: Guy in ZX3

Wanna beat a focus? See sig... ;)

lol hell yeah! can i have one :D actually i may buy a rex this summer, depending.... im currently undecided on what i want

Originally posted by 5SpeedP5
but he is haulin around a good 300-400lbs in that trunk too with his subs....

so i dunno


hes hauling 300 or 400 pounds of subwoofers?????? jesus, thats some heavy shit. what does he have????? and there is no chance he will take them out for the race?

Originally posted by pentium006



hes hauling 300 or 400 pounds of subwoofers?????? jesus, thats some heavy shit. what does he have????? and there is no chance he will take them out for the race?

Hehehe, no, it's more like 150 pounds man. I had to carry these HUGE theatre speakers once at my work, and damn, those things weigh about 200 pounds, and are about twice the size of a trunk.

Originally posted by Paolo
:eek:
I think the Focus will still be lighter and faster, and will be a tough challenge for the P5. The focus will probaly win, unless he doesn't know how to shift properly.

Your just saying that cause you have a ZX3

well ill have to agree... this will be a good challenge, a fair race too.... very similar cars and stats..... i cant wait to see what happens.... but i must win... if needed i may just go buy that zex kit, but i dont wanna phuck my engine like linuxninja.....

Oh yeah dude, why don't you get an intake, and also take out your backseats, and spare tire

sounds like a good idea
loose some weight, and better breathing, that and i may get a new borla cat back if i can :D

but remember, if you get the borla, he'll know that something's up, with just an intake, and your back covered, you could tell him that the car's stock... hehe

And go on a diet, lose those extra few pounds hehe

okay if you want to beat this guy launch like everybody says if you launch at anything over 4000 all you will do is a nice burn out for about 10 feet shift quick . I took this guy in a zx3 and a 4dr but then I got a cold air intake and short shifter and PRO1 catback with street legal slicks 1/2 tread 1/2 slick also run your front air pressure at 35 psi :bat:

lol yeah, i think i dont weigh much now.... 129-131lbs..... not to shabby for a 16 yearold....lol


anyway

Yeah it should be a close race.
I owned two ZX3's and now I got P5, they are very similiar at the start (both are rather slow considering their great handling)
But Focus can be unpredictible because it's unconsistant HP numbers, for a stock 5-speed ZX3 it can be between around 100-110 hp at wheels!!! You just don't know what you are going to get, I think Pro5 HP number's are more consistant.
If he got one of those lower power ZX3 you may get him but if he's lucky and his ZX3 get's all possible power you will have hard time winning.
This can be one of the factors in your race with that ZX3.
I still like ZX3/ZX5's as much as I like my Pro5, cool cars.
Good luck.

thats a very nice bit of info to have, thanks P5er!!!!

Originally posted by P5er
Yeah it should be a close race.
I owned two ZX3's and now I got P5, they are very similiar at the start (both are rather slow considering their great handling)
But Focus can be unpredictible because it's unconsistant HP numbers, for a stock 5-speed ZX3 it can be between around 100-110 hp at wheels!!! You just don't know what you are going to get, I think Pro5 HP number's are more consistant.
If he got one of those lower power ZX3 you may get him but if he's lucky and his ZX3 get's all possible power you will have hard time winning.
This can be one of the factors in your race with that ZX3.
I still like ZX3/ZX5's as much as I like my Pro5, cool cars.
Good luck.

question is will you enjoy your focus after 5 years then your protege


FORD = Found On Road Dead :D

OK, ZX3/ZX5 are just more modern designs than Protege, in many ways Ford Europe designed near perfect car (safety, performance, roominess, price) unfortunately we in N.America can only buy ZX3/ZX5 versions build and cut down to rather low American Standards. Anyway, even after a cut downs vs. european originals ZX3/ZX5 are still the most modern car in it's class. Also very important, Mexican assembly plant that builds ZX3/ZX5 had to switch from old, simple and crapy Escort into modern, complex and innovative Focus. It was a too much to handle for Ford N.America and Mexican assembly plant.
One of my ZX3's and a some other were a complete Lemons and F.O.R.D.'s
It's sad how badly Ford messed-up such a great car.
Good news is that Ford learned on this and other mistakes and after firing J.Nasser it is deifintelly changing the direction.
Ford will rule soon!

JUST PUT A STICKER ON YOUR CAR ON THE BACK THE SAYS

"A FORD FOCUS IS LIKE A TAMPON, EVERY PUSSY NEEDS ONE!"
that my own creation but you have permission to use it!

lol i really like that! i may just have to actually get a sticker made of that
lol

its goin down in my sig just like you too:D

Want to know how to beat a focus?


Buy a focus!

Seriously, they're pretty damn quick to begin with, and throw on just an underdrive pulley and they fly off the line. It doesn't take much to make em go. The P5 needs some work to make it haul, and there's not too much out there right now.


And just a side note to everyone else:

Please try to be considerate of the few women on the board. I've heard that saying before (the one referring to feminine hygiene products and female body parts), and it's pretty damn rude and offensive. I'll ignore it from now on, but I just thought I would point it out, and ask that everyone be a little bit more considerate. Thank you.

Originally posted by pro5girlie
And just a side note to everyone else:

Please try to be considerate of the few women on the board. I've heard that saying before (the one referring to feminine hygiene products and female body parts), and it's pretty damn rude and offensive. I'll ignore it from now on, but I just thought I would point it out, and ask that everyone be a little bit more considerate. Thank you. not to mention the fact that it was f'n retarded (my own opinion, but you have permission to not care about it). but i've got to agree with her. lets keep the content semi-clean here people. be considerate.

originally posted by pro5girlie
I just thought I would point it out, and ask that everyone be a little bit more considerate. Thank you

Word.

Originally posted by 5SpeedP5
well ill have to agree... this will be a good challenge, a fair race too.... very similar cars and stats..... i cant wait to see what happens.... but i must win... if needed i may just go buy that zex kit, but i dont wanna phuck my engine like linuxninja.....

Your engine gets phucked when you hook it up wrong! I does work when you do it right!!!!

lol yeah i bet, so hows that FSZE doing dude? im thinking about getting one sorta if they get the ECU for it too

I used to own a Trans-am and was tired of misogynist rednecks. I had hoped I wouldn't find them and their comments here.
I almost bought a Focus. 3 things stopped me.
1. I hate the black mirrors and door handles.
2. The ZX3/ZX5 are built in Mexico/Too many recalls.
3. I like my Protege5 better.

hey what up with that my wife has a ford focus and that little thing got some power but ! thing is that there is a turbo & a super charger for it and there are still making it for the PR5

Before I got my MP3, I owned a Focus. I also had the fortune of driving a supercharged (Jackson Racing) ZX3. It was not as fast as it should have been. I did not even kick in until 4500 RPM, and when it did it left you expecting more. Don't get me wrong, I mean Mustangs were laughable, but it should have been designed better.

Originally posted by P5er
OK, ZX3/ZX5 are just more modern designs than Protege, in many ways Ford Europe designed near perfect car (safety, performance, roominess, price)...


:rofl:

Focus and near perfect, right. I guess the focus SVT version is the best car ever made.

lol i gotta agree with jesse on this one....

you are silly :D

oh and an update on that focus, its getting a body kit on soon..... more drag, so it shal be slower too..... so its a win win for me

and i got them damned snow tires off and am back to the dunlops she came with, so im good to go...

Originally posted by PseudoRealityX


If you'd like to explain how a JRSC doesnt kick on until 4500 rpm, id love to hear about it.

On THIS car it didn't kick in until 4500 RPM. I think this is what the flaw is in the sytem. A good SC should kick in around 2000-3000 RPM. I hard also that the turbines were designed too small?

Kind of off topic:D but have you raced him yet??

Isn't that the main benefit of a SC over a Turbo in the first place?

which is safer and easer on the engine SC or turbo?

Originally posted by PseudoRealityX


If you do not understand how a Roots blower works, do not try to BS please.

It is true that it could be tuned poorly, but trust me, the blower is creating boost at idle. Its a positive displacement blower, and will ALWAYS be working. They do not KICK ON, but rather are always on.

They are directly connected the engine though a belt or shaft, and therefore, increase speed in relation to the engine rpm.

No one here is trying to BS. I drove one for myself, and the power did not kick in until 4500 RPM. True it may always on, but this was my experience. The guy probably did not have it tuned right, but no reason to attack me. Curb the attitude.

I just took a look @ JR website. Seems their Roots Blower uses some sort of bypass valve that runs under vacuum until hard throttle input. Maybe thats what he was feeling?

Don

quick update to everyone.

Lately alot has happend to do with this focus. First off, the kid had blacked out lenses, and we all know how illegal those are to have on at night, but the kid drove around all the time with them, and a cop finally pulled him over and confinscated them.... funny stuff

secondly, he does have a slower focus..... haha...... my friend that works with him was talking to him about cars, and he informed him that he had gotten his focus dynoed, and it only dynoed at 95hp and 90ft/lbs of torque..... sad eh?

so racing him will be a sinch, my friend with his 2001 4 door Civic EX with a 1.7liter (120hp) and a 5speed wooped him with 2 people in the car.... so needless to say, this will be an easy ass race regardless

hey , this damn post went 4 pages, would you race the damn guy already and give us the results
Bruce

some of you are so biased and blind with your Pro's.
I got it and like it, had a ZX3 and liked it too, and it does not mean that I will take away positives from Civic or Sentra or Golf!
Just learn how to be objective, don't look at the tip of your nose cause you will not see what's going on around you!
In my post I meant that Focus is a much modern design than Protege. It's a fact and we have to live with it, and it's a shame that Ford N.A. messed up such a great car so badly with it's cheap assembly quality and poor parts suppliers selection and cheapened it vs. it's Euro original.

Originally posted by P5er
some of you are so biased and blind with your Pro's.
I got it and like it, had a ZX3 and liked it too, and it does not mean that I will take away positives from Civic or Sentra or Golf!
Just learn how to be objective, don't look at the tip of your nose cause you will not see what's going on around you!
In my post I meant that Focus is a much modern design than Protege. It's a fact and we have to live with it, and it's a shame that Ford N.A. messed up such a great car so badly with it's cheap assembly quality and poor parts suppliers selection and cheapened it vs. it's Euro original.

I agree, but you're being blind as well. I don't see anything that modern about the Focus except that it's ugly, but that's again my opinion. I would rather call it different because the 'modern design' makes it sound better then the 'old design'. I also find the Civic VERY similar to the Focus.
In any case, beauty's in the in eye of the beholder, and cars cannot be judged on the looks when talking to others because everybody's got a different taste.
Some Protege owners do fail to acknowledge other cars though. The Si is a great car, and I would've got it if it wasn't for the looks and the price.