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Ford Focus: MPG-Real World Numbers

177 messages,  Last post on Mar 11, 2013 at 8:18 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Focus, Ford Focus SVT, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)

Messages Page 14 of 19

#126 of 177 Re: C'mon now [johnplisap] by revss

Aug 01, 2012 (7:43 am)

Replying to: johnplisap (Aug 01, 2012 7:34 am)
I'm with you John.
 
I purchased this car based on the published EPA numbers and figured I'd get close to them but not entirely miss them. I do most of my driving in the city and I get between 20-21. When I do highway I may get about 27. I've tracked my mileage since April and I'm averaging about 21 MPG with 2400 miles on the car. I love this car I do but the mileage currently sucks. Once it reaches 3K I'm turning it over to the dealer to have them really look at it.

#127 of 177 Re: C'mon now [johnplisap] by revss

Aug 01, 2012 (8:03 am)

Replying to: johnplisap (Aug 01, 2012 7:34 am)
John,
 
which model Focus do you have? I have the Titanium.

#128 of 177 Re: C'mon now [revss] by johnplisap

Aug 01, 2012 (10:32 am)

Replying to: revss (Aug 01, 2012 8:03 am)
I have the SE. The thing that gets me is that everybody keps telling me at Ford or the dealer that , "mileage may vary, the car needs broken in , and driving habits...... (means you suck at driving.) I just want a car that is going to get more than 240 miles on a 12 gallon fill up. 300 would be great. that would 25 mpg combined. i could live with that.

#129 of 177 Re: C'mon now [johnplisap] by revss

Aug 01, 2012 (10:43 am)

Replying to: johnplisap (Aug 01, 2012 10:32 am)
Thats EXACTLY how I feel. The break in period, as stated in the manual, is 1000. I've been told by my dealer its at least 7,500 which is my first service. My friend who purchased a 2010 AWD four cylinder Subaru Outback gets better gas mileage than I do! I should at least be getting 300 MPG out of a tank of gas. I'm getting the same MPG as my 2007 Honda Odysee which is about right for that vehicle. Not this one!

#130 of 177 Ohhhhh..... that went badly by johnplisap

Aug 01, 2012 (7:17 pm)

So I went to the dealership and talked to the sales manager. I knew it was a bad idea because he doesn't have the power to really do anything. I let the salesman talk me into meeting him. First thing he does is roll his eyes, smirks and says the car needs broken in. Then he says we can get it into service next week. Gee thanks.
I leave pissed. As I am about to leave he stops me and tries to talk to me. He says I am computing it wrong and I am getting a combined 22 mpg (first of all i am not wrong, second even if he is right, [he isn't, btw] big whoop on 22 mpg combined.) He tells me that I am not understanding the point. I told him that I am very intelligent and that he is treating me like a schmuck. He says very angrily, "there is just no talking to you!!!!!" I said, "You're an asshole, hows that?" and left.
So I was almost out of gas and being very stupid decide to run to empty to get a real gas mileage reading. I ran out of gas at 249 miles from the last fill up. Btw that includes 80 miles of straight highway at 60-65 mph driving. So I have exact numbers but I am being unreasonable because I refuse to wait for the car to break in. A mechanic at the dealership actually said it would take up to 9000 miles to get the car broken in.
He said it was a learning transmission and that I needed to understand that. (the sales manager not the mechanic said that. )
Anyway this is my last post on the subject until I get 3000 miles on the car. Either that or trade it in before that. I will let you guys know.
Honestly I hope I am wrong and the car gets 30 mpg combined. in this case my wallet saving gas money trumps my ego on being right!!!!!! But in the meantime, Ford owes me some gas money!!!!!

#131 of 177 Re: Ohhhhh..... that went badly [johnplisap] by revss

Aug 01, 2012 (7:50 pm)

Replying to: johnplisap (Aug 01, 2012 7:17 pm)
Hey there,
 
I;d actually like to stay in contact with you as I am having the EXACT same issue. Just not sure how to go about doing this. This forum doesn't seem to allow for private messages??
 
Ron.

#132 of 177 Re: Ohhhhh..... that went badly [revss] by johnplisap

Aug 01, 2012 (7:58 pm)

Replying to: revss (Aug 01, 2012 7:50 pm)
Ron, I just joined a Ford Focus forum that has private messaging. Here is the thread that I started:
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=294273
 
Maybe you could join and post in that thread.
Btw, everybody I don't want to hate my Focus. I am just concerned especially after talking to a lot of other Focus owners who are in the same boat as me (not just here)

#133 of 177 How to contact other members by pf_flyer HOST

Aug 02, 2012 (4:07 am)

All you have to do to allow other registered Edmunds forums members (and ONLY registered members) to contact you directly is to click on the Forums Preferences link that you'll find in a box at the top right of any forums page that you're on. Then change your E-mail Setting to "public". That way, any registered forums user can click on your username and contact you via email.

#134 of 177 Re: How to contact other members [pf_flyer] by revss

Aug 02, 2012 (6:06 am)

Replying to: pf_flyer (Aug 02, 2012 4:07 am)
Yeah I understand. It would just be nice to have a private message feature that leverages a built in messaging system instead of broadcasting your email out even to registered users.

#135 of 177 End game by johnplisap

Aug 08, 2012 (2:34 am)

Three things happened on Thursday that made me change direction. First I googled "real world gas mileage," The first result was a Consumer Report's " 'real world' gas mileage test results."
The Focus SE finished 12th in it's class. The City mileage? 18 mpg!!!!! To be fair the highway mileage was outstanding at 43. But most of my driving is city. Not only city but the worst driving conditions you can imagine: Lots of traffic, a TON of stoplights insane hills, tunnels inside of mountains that produce long lines of just waiting and terrible merge points that tie up and/or slow down traffic.
As far as the car "breaking in", I am a firm believer that the very most improvement on mileage after the car is broken in is 20%. Not enough to satisfy because the only reason I bought the car was to save on gas.
The second thing was that the car (once again) sputtered and hesitated going up a steep hill. Despite its 160 horses, the car just doesn't have the oomph needed for my driving. It was "funny" to see the avg mpg on the computer go down several miles as I was going up the hill.
I just don't like the transmission.
Third was pulling on to the main street from my neighborhood. There is a sharp bend on the main road right where we need to pull out. So you need to make sure it is clear as best you can and then press on the gas and go. Hesitated again, and a car was coming around the bend very fast. Not a comfortable situation.
So, I said screw it. I drove to the Toyota dealer and traded it in for a Corolla. It had the best combination of price and "real world" city mpg that I could get. I lost some on the Focus but with the finance rate I got, The payment was only a little higher. I did put a thousand down, though. That sucked because I put 1500 down on the Focus. The dealer offered a lifetime powertrain warranty though.
To be fair, I have a 2007 Focus that I beat pretty good and it gets very good mileage and has more than suffecient power. It has 60k miles on it. I use it for work (mostly my head cook uses it,tbh) This 2012 is nowhere near that car. Second, I just don't think this was the right car for me and my driving conditions. If I was on a flat land with less stop and go I am sure I would have done better.
After 5 full days I am happy with the Corolla. I will post my ending mileage on the first full tank when it gets to zero. According to the computer I am on pace for 340 miles on a 13.2 gallon tank. This is the same city driving I did with the Focus (without the straight 80 highway miles.) My guess is going to be about 310-320 when it is said and done. So that means 60- 70 miles more on a .8 gallon bigger tank. It has suffecient power for the little engine it has and I can drive without worrying about having to "baby" it or put in 93 Octane gas.
This is my first Toyota. I hope it lives up to my expectations. So far so good but we will see.

Messages Page 14 of 19

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