I think you will be sorely disappointed with a Focus, especially that era. They are cheap, chincy, buzzy, vibratey (?) turds. Maybe the SVT ones are good, but only for the motor. I know plenty of Ford techs who say they are the biggest pieces of crap, and Ford guys are usually extremely loyal in my experience. They just feel very disposable. Just my .02 though, YMMV. 
Also, I am about to have a 2000 Suzuki Esteem for sale with the dohc 1.8 and a 5 speed if you're interested. Yes, I have an Esteem but I hate Focuses. That should tell you how bad they are.
Might not be worth driving to VA for though.
In reply to griffin729:
Did you see this one too?
sethmeister4 wrote: I think you will be sorely disappointed with a Focus, especially that era. They are cheap, chincy, buzzy, vibratey (?) turds. Maybe the SVT ones are good, but only for the motor. I know plenty of Ford techs who say they are the biggest pieces of crap, and Ford guys are usually extremely loyal in my experience. They just feel very disposable. Just my .02 though, YMMV.
Sorely disappointed is a good way to put it. My brother-in-law replaced his '98 Escort (that he'd had since '99) with an '03 Focus 5-door last year. What an absolute abomination. It's caused me to use words I never knew I knew. It has the one-two punch of being failure-prone and difficult to work on. And they are rotboxes (If that's a concern for where you live)
No on the Focus. My SVT is loud, rattley, and race car like for a car that is no where near modified.
In reply to petegossett:
contour SVTs are a great option, and those motors are very boost friendly if you feel like insane power down the road and can source a gearbox that can handle it.
In reply to petegossett:
No, I did not see that SVT Contour. That could be worth the drive to Chambana to look at even with the auto and rebuild title. Also, what are you wanting for the Accent?
I think that is a typo, all svt contours should be manuals.
Looking at the photos again, I believe you are correct, sir. That does indeed look like a manual.
The best part about the Contour is that if you blow the motor or it gets worn out, you can raid a Taurus for more power.
I've always wanted to play with an SVT Contour. Such an underrated performance sedan.
In reply to griffin729:
Here's the f/s thread. I'll throw in a set of 16" wheels to...I think they're Rota or SSR(I have to dig up that f/s thread).
https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/200x-classifieds/petes-fleet-reduction-sale-1/104758/page1/
Nice little seven hour road trip today. Neither of the guys selling the ZX2 and the SVT Contour were answering calls or texts today. Looks like the car gods have deemed I'll be buying Pete's Accent. Now, if only the insurance check would get here. Though, if any of you want to buy the car that hit me, front end damaged GTI for the low sum of $3800.
In reply to griffin729:
Knowing the craziness of this place, someone will buy that GTi and your Subaru and build some frankenstein monster from both of them! 
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