My 2000 Focus SE with the Zetech engine gives a disappointing average 20 miles per gallon in the city. The dealer says if the engine light isn't coming on, there's no problem. What's been the experience of others?

You know efficiency is going to vary from car to car, even with the wonders of the assembly line. I have never had a problem with gas mileage, I consistently get between 26 and 33+ mpg. And I drive pretty hard. Just a thought...what kind of gas do you use? I usually put Texaco 89 octane in mine. I know that doesn't have much to do with it unless you're using the really really cheap stuff. I'm sorry to hear about all the people who keep getting bad gas mileage.

I have a 2001 ZX3 with zetec and I don't get good gas mileage either. I am conservative in driving. This is an automatic and I am seeing 19- 21 mpg city and like 28 or 29 mpg highway. Very disappointing. Otherwise, I love this car.

I've kept track of my mileage since I bought the car. I have been averaging 31.5 MPG with 35.6 as a high and 29.4 as a low. I have a 2001 with manual transmission and drive mixed highway/city. I don't have AC so that saves alot since the compressor is also used for the defogger in the winter.

Hey folks, we have our second ZX3, a 2002, the first was a 2000. The best mileage we had in the 2000 car was 35 and worst was 25. In 24,000 miles we averaged 27mpg. Haven't fully broken in the new ZX3 yet but we'll keep ya posted if its different.

Half and half. We do a lot of traveling and my wife uses the car daily in town to transport clients>

With My Zx3, there is no rhyme or reason to what I will get in gas mileage...its just an outright pig in the city...mostly 19 mpg...but it has been as low as 15...but on the road I usually get 34 or 35 if I keep it around 70 mph...31-32 mpg if I drive it about 75 mph. I commute about 40 miles a day...so I average 29 usually...but I must agree with most of you...city mpg is way below par for any 4 cyl. engine...my 88' Pontiac Bonneville gets 22 mpg in the city..so as you can imagine...I was pissed for a while..but now I am just happy that the ZX3 has been very reliable and not falling apart.

I have a 2002 ZX5 which I've had since 3/24 and am getting 25 mpg consistently. Am also disappointed as the sticker claims 25-34. My car has the 2.0L Zetec engine and is a 5-speed. Am wondering if I drive without the traction control on if it might be better. Most of my driving is local with "long" trips being 60 miles round trip to downtown Seattle. This car is heavier with the 2 extra doors, but still this size vehicle in 2002 should get much better mileage. I had a '96 Kia Sephia before that, even never having been tuned up, got 28-29 mpg and got around 32 mpg when new. It was also peppier off the start (of course, turns out it was a death trap according to crash tests...)

Just give it a little time...the first 8 months that I had the car...I rarely got over 22-23 mpg in mixed driving 30% city and 70% highway...Friday when I filled up...it yielded 33 mpg...I drive it semi-hard in the city and set the cruise on 72 mph on the highway. The only mods that I have is a K & N air Filter and Borla Carbon Fiber Exhaust tip...After sampling an FlowMaster Muffler and a Borla Muffler, I went back to the Original Muffler with a 5.0 Mustang Borla Tip. Sporty sounding but not obnoxious....I must be getting old :)

Why would time help the mileage? This last tank got just under 20 mpg. Do you think it might be the traction control or something wrong with the wheel bearings, causing drag? Does the air filter improve mileage? I do only about 1/4 of my driving on the highway, but don't drive the car hard in any case. Maybe should try driving a tank with the traction control off. Northender2001 Everett, WA

By time...I meant...mileage and the giving the engine time to loosen up a bit...As for the traction Control...I really don't know...I didn't get that feature...my experience with traction control is that it retards the engine and transaxle too much in foul weather... but that is my experience with other vehicles that I have owned. So try it a week without it on, and see it there is a difference. A friend of mine borrowed my car for two weeks and he averaged 26 mph in a mix of 2/3 city and 1/3 expressway driving. A big difference from when I was driving the same route with the same car and only getting about 22-23 mpg, when it was newer....

how much do u get?