- The 2002 Ford SVT Focus shown here has a current bid of $5500 on the Bring a Trailer auction website.
- The car shows just over 18,000 miles on the odometer.
- Bidding ends Thursday, February 10.
Here we have a car on Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos) that is at the far opposite end of the attainability spectrum from our last Find of the Day, a 1987 Porsche 959. Whereas that ultra-rare Porsche supercar has crested $1.8 million and rising, bids for this equally red Ford hot hatch sits at just $5500 at this writing.
We’ll grant that, once you get past the exterior hue, the two cars don’t have a whole lot in common, but that’s not to say this Focus is without its merits. Ford’s SVT (Special Vehicle Team) in-house tuner shop has turned out some worthy enthusiast machines. The original Focus was lauded for its chassis tuning, and the SVT version further benefited from enhanced springs, shocks, anti-roll bars, and bushings. It also boasted four-wheel disc brakes with ABS. Output of its Zetec 2.0-liter four was increased to 170 horsepower thanks to a unique intake, exhaust header, forged connecting rods, cast aluminum pistons, a variable intake system, and a higher compression ratio. The engine is paired here with a six-speed manual transmission.
This example has just over 18,000 miles and was sold new in the state of Washington. It remained with its original owner until last year when it reportedly was donated. The receiving charity sent the car to auction, where the seller purchased it. An entry on the Carfax report indicates water damage, but the seller said he believes that was a clerical error. (You can read the discussion of it in the comments on Bring a Trailer’s bidding page.)
In a period C/D comparison test, a 2002 SVT Focus beat a Honda Civic Si and a Volkswagen GTI. In that test, we said of the Focus: “It is simply in a handling class all by itself.” Unfortunately, whereas Volkswagen and Honda have stayed with their sport compacts, Ford let the flame die out on the SVT Focus. That could make this lesser-known hot hatch a relative bargain and a find for enthusiasts in the know.
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Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
