I've Been Loving This

Posted by jett8806@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 13 comments

About a month ago I found this 2004 Focus SVT. It needed a lot of work to get it running, and I've loved every minute of it. So far I've replaced a rear hub, the rear brakes, a valve cover gasket, cleaned it up a lot (it was disgusting) as well as some mother minor maintenance stuff. The motorounts were completely dead.

I still need to get the suspension in order, which probably means coilovers since a lot of the stock parts are obsolete, new exhaust, and some minor body work.

I ways wanted to get a car that needed some work as a hobby, and this has been amazing. I even drive it more than my '24 Hyundai Kona that is a million times better in a lot of ways.

So my question is: how do I get rid of the remaining stupid plastidip on the wheels? I got most it it off, but the rest is really stubborn.

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SirCrimsonKing@reddit

Ahhh you are making me miss mine. I had a 2003 SVT in red, with the EAP package that came with different wheels, hid lights, and recaro leather seats 😭

On the plastidip, I believe I've used mineral spirits on a microfiber to scrub away stubborn leftovers.

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rambleon84@reddit

I loved those recaros!

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SirCrimsonKing@reddit

Saaaame 😔 I wish I had kept some of my cars! I've only owned 4 cars in the last 22 years. 93 Trans Am ($6200 with 60k miles), 03 EAP SVT ($7K with 50k miles), 2011 Mustang GT (wouldn't keep that one, previous owner hid a bunch of issues and lied his ass off, I took a big loss a couple years later), and now 2012 TL SHAWD.

Inflation is a bitch.. I hardly put miles on those first 2 cars, both were in great condition, sold them super cheap. It would cost me WAY more NOW to buy the same cars with a lot more years and miles on them.

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rambleon84@reddit

https://www.dipyourcar.com/products/dip-dissolver?

usually problems removing dip is because they didnt use enough of it in the first place.

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IronSlanginRed@reddit

Honestly those cars are super easy to work on and parts are dirt cheap. Awesome first cars.

Coilovers are pretty harsh on those though because they're so light. Maybe try some kyb shocks first.

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jett8806@reddit (OP)

I haven't been able to find anything online that isn't ridiculously expensive as far as suspension. I only paid $2k for the car I don't want to spend tons on that.

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IronSlanginRed@reddit

Raceland makes some ok coilovers for about $500 if I'm remembering right. That or some stock svt ones should be affordable.

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Ok_Dog_4059@reddit

It is funny that my wife had a 2000 focus brand new and now they are being restored. I used to wonder what random cars would become the ones people worked on keeping around from my younger days like we did with 60s and 70s cars while I was younger.

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jett8806@reddit (OP)

I think that's funny too. I was actually looking for a Mazda Protege 5 but when I saw this for sale I got it.

I guess it's just the cars that were considered special back in the late 90s and early 2000s that catch my eye, and probably other people my age that were youngish then. I was 19 when this car came out and there was no way I would've been able to get it then. So I got one now.

Kinda like I love buying old Gameboys and other "vintage" stuff that I wanted when it came out.

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AngryScottish@reddit

Ever knew someone who had a car, but due to that person's personality, you hate the car with a passion for no legitimate reason?

The Ford Focus SVT is that for me. Knew this guy who swore it was better than a R35. Still, great hot hatch and should be fun

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