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2012 Ford Focus

1316 messages,  Last post on Feb 25, 2013 at 4:53 AM

You are in the Ford Focus Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Focus, Ford, Car Buying, Future Vehicle, Coupe, Hatchback, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 128 of 132

#1270 of 1316 Re: Consumer Reports gives Focus thumbs down [pod] by creakid1

Jan 04, 2013 (11:32 am)

Replying to: pod (Jan 04, 2013 10:04 am)
OK, so dual clutch does have a problem, even the pioneer VW/Audi got nailed by "unexpected (therefore dangerous) neutral" syndrome due to overheating from heavy traffic & hot weather.
 
So, bottom line -- the VW Tiguan & other VW's w/ the 5-cyl got away with a Toyota slushbox, just like how the previous Focus was equipped w/ Mazda's slushbox.
 
At least my Golf 5-cyl 6-sp slushbox, when using manual mode, can leap off the line even more abruptly than its 5-sp manual version, not to mention the smaller-displacement turbo-lag GTI

#1271 of 1316 Re: Consumer Reports gives Focus thumbs down [pod] by kam327

Jan 04, 2013 (11:31 am)

Replying to: pod (Jan 04, 2013 10:04 am)
One very excellent review (IMO) was in Automobile Magazine which compared 5 cars (Dart, Focus, Maxda 3i, honda civic and hyundai elantra). I thought their treatment of the focus was fair and measured. It placed fourth of 5 but was judged the best drivers car. The criticism of the focus seem fair enough, not over the top.
 
Careful though. Just a year earlier that same Focus placed first against several of the same cars. Kind of puts Automobile's objectivity and consistency into question.
 
They point out that the Focus was easily the most expensive car in the comparo. That is one true fact about Ford, the price of all models has crept up between 1-2K over the past 2-3 years.
 
In the July '11 comparo I referenced above the Focus had the lowest as tested price of the 6 cars tested.
 
The Focus does seem to be a little more expensive than some of the competition, though it's hard to do an apples to apples comparison these days. And in my case I got such a huge discount (~%20) on my Focus that hands down I got way more value than I would've gotten with any other car in the segment. Of course I'm sure my experience violates Ford's pricing strategy..

#1272 of 1316 Re: Consumer Reports gives Focus thumbs down [kam327] by pod

Jan 04, 2013 (3:30 pm)

Replying to: kam327 (Jan 04, 2013 11:31 am)
That is why I called the automobile magazine comparo fair with respect to the Focus. They praise many of its qualities but feel that the competition has improved and that some issues have been identified since july 2011 which is a long time ago. The Mazda skyactiv 3i won. It and the Dart Rallye(second place) were not around in 2011 and the third place Civic has been cosmetically freshened. They did not disrespect the Focus in fact chose it as the best drivers car by some distance. With respect to all facets (including price, interior, trim levels, etc.), however, they feel that the Focus has been engaged by some fine competition since 7/2011 and has lost the lead. I find that a reasonable conclusion, certainly not inconsistent given the significant time span between the reports.
I would choose the Focus even among the current five (and always wonder whether the Mazda would have been a slightly better choice) but I am a Ford guy. The Improved Focus was new and revolutionary in 2011 but that was then. The competition has caught up for sure and it is a race again.

#1273 of 1316 Re: Consumer Reports gives Focus thumbs down [akirby] by gogogodzilla

Jan 04, 2013 (4:48 pm)

Replying to: akirby (Jan 04, 2013 8:56 am)
Ford doesn't use a CVT in the Focus. They use an automated dual-clutch gearbox.

#1274 of 1316 Re: Consumer Reports gives Focus thumbs down [gogogodzilla] by akirby

Jan 04, 2013 (8:36 pm)

Replying to: gogogodzilla (Jan 04, 2013 4:48 pm)
I know that. I was comparing the way consumers react to the different feel of the DCT in the Focus to how they react to CVTs in other vehicles. In both cases they're working as designed but they feel different than a regular torque converter automatic.

#1275 of 1316 8500 mile update by hackattack5

Jan 09, 2013 (7:03 pm)

I drive my Focus like a typical old man (easy starts/stops and nothing over 70mph) now I have noticed that when I do have to get on it (floor it) to get out of the way or pull out into traffic that my transmission goes back to the fussy shifting where it’s not sure which way to shift and the clutch shudder. Fortunately for me I have only had to get on a few times since owning it. It will take a week of driving it normal (for me) and then it will shift just as smooth as a baby’s rear end. I am just sayin

#1276 of 1316 Re: 8500 mile update [hackattack5] by kam327

Jan 10, 2013 (6:00 am)

Replying to: hackattack5 (Jan 09, 2013 7:03 pm)
I drive my Focus like a typical old man (easy starts/stops and nothing over 70mph)
 
I believe driving the Focus's DCT like an old man is detrimental to it in the long run. It wants to be driven aggressively for optimal performance. The couple times I have had a shudder and sloppy shifting develop over the past 11k miles, I've taken it out to a country road, done 5 full throttle 0-60 accelerations in a row and then driven real aggressively for a while, and the shudder goes away for good.

#1277 of 1316 Re: 8500 mile update [kam327] by ivan_99

Jan 10, 2013 (8:04 am)

Replying to: kam327 (Jan 10, 2013 6:00 am)
I think in the olden days it was referred to as the "Italian tune-up"
 
Yes officer...I needed to clear the carbs...

#1278 of 1316 Re: 8500 mile update [ivan_99] by akirby

Jan 10, 2013 (1:19 pm)

Replying to: ivan_99 (Jan 10, 2013 8:04 am)
An unnamed family member claims that the local police and highway patrol used to do that with an older lady who had an older jaguar that was always breaking down in the street because she only drove it to the store and back at low speed. They offered to take it out on the interstate and "blow it out" for her every once in awhile. It's good to be da king.......

#1279 of 1316 Re: 8500 mile update [kam327] by hackattack5

Jan 10, 2013 (5:31 pm)

Replying to: kam327 (Jan 10, 2013 6:00 am)
Kam327: Maybe that is what I am missing. I always wonder if I ever really broke in the clutches on this thing by driving it easy. The only time I do what you said (blow the carbon out) is when an unsuspecting BMW or Lexus pulls next to me at a red light and thinks they are going to blow by me to get on the highway. I have not got beat yet but we are talking 300 yards before the on ramp and I know when they see the Focus with the old man (49) sitting next to them they probably figure they can send out one more text message before taking off but I don't care.

Messages Page 128 of 132

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