I brought home my brand new 01 black 5-speed ZX3 last weekend and have driven 1000 miles in mixed highway and city driving but have noticed my gas mileage really sucks. How long does it take for the mileage to improve? I have also noticed on the rubbing strips that run down the side of the car there is some white residue that I cannot seem to remove by washing alone, any ideas how I can get rid of it and what it is? Overall I am in love with the car and am amazed at how quiet and comfortable the car is. I have seen a few black ZX3's here in Vancouver Canada and find fellow ZX3 owners offer my fellow drivers a thumbs up when we pull up at the lights.<br>Look forward to a response re that residue.<br><br>Have fun!

If you use the a/c a lot then it makes the gas mileage suffer. Use your windows as much as possible. Also consider geting a few inexpensive mods to help boost gas mileage.

Any suggestions regarding mods? Any idea about the white residue on my external plastic?<br><br>Thanks :)

Well, I just put the Iceman Cool Air intake system in mine and also a set of Motorsport spark plug wires. my next move will probably be the underdrive crank pully kit. Then when I get more money, an exhaust system.

Hey, this might fix your white residue problem. Meguiers car care makes a product that takes the white residue off of plastic trim. I have the same problem and regular washing doesn't get it off but that Meguiers stuff will. Just go to there website and check it out. I think it's meguiers.com or something.<br><br>Lataaaaaaaa

I get residue like that from wax. The dealer probably washed and waxed the car for you. Try either dish detergent, liquid like Dawn. Afterwards, get some silicon spray from any auto store, spray it on a cloth then wipe down the black plastic and rubber peices.

Hey<br><br>How much did you pay for your Iceman?<br><br>You can reply to my email<br>Go to my web page www.geocities.com/zx32002/<br><br>later

I SORTED THE RESIDUE, SHE LOOKS GREAT!!<br><br>Thanks for all your help!

what sort of fuel mileage did you get. The Focus is not as good a performer as other cars in it's class. It's only rated 25-33 and that's under ideal conditions at ideal speeds... that 33mpg on the highway is probably @ 55mph, a speed I rarely drive at on the open highway.<br><br>I get on average about 22mpg, but I'm driving the automatic and I drive it very hard, shifting myself in the higher rpms, exceeding the 65mph speed limit on the open highway, etc... So I expect to get poor mpg...<br><br>As to the residue, as someone else mentioned, it's probably dried wax. Get a good cleaner.<br><br>Ray<br>webmaster@...<br><a href=http://www.myFordFocus.com target=new>http://www.myFordFocus.com</a><br>Win Performance Products from Ford Racing @ myFordFocus.com

It was getting about 15mpg around town when I first got it and I never revved her up above 3000rpm but the mileage is creeping up a bit now. It has over 1000miles on it now but according to the handbook I shouldnt pay much attention to mpg until at least 2000-3000miles so I am not overly concerned right now. I got the residue off, thanks. Im just loving this car the more I drive it. So glad I didnt go for a duller-than-hell Golf!

As for the whole spot thing, when I drove my car off the showroom floor it also had the same spots. It must be the wax Ford uses, Armor All trim cleaner worked perfectly though. As for gas milege, mine isn't too great either, but being a teen I'm not too easy on the car!<br><br>Brandon

Hi!!<br> We have a little over 15,000 miles on our ZX3 and the mileage has steadily improved. The best we got was highway driving on a trip to Utah from Oregon and it was 35, the lowest we got after 5,000 miles was 24. I drive 70 on the highway, sometimes a little faster but the mileage did improve significantly as the mileage increased. I also noticed the engine revved easier as the mileage increased. Have fun with it.