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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 131 of 133

#1294 of 1316 Re: Consumer Reports gives Focus thumbs down [kam327] by gimmestdtranny

Jan 27, 2013 (11:00 am)

Replying to: kam327 (Jan 04, 2013 8:37 am)
A manufacturer has to take responsibility for the sales and reputation of their vehicles and their decision to bundle them with tech that is so advanced, it is prone to glitches and far from perfected. We are the guinea pigs that provide the road (read $) to pursuing that perfection (or even just basic as-promised function).
 
IF Ford wants to get the attention and hoopla from choosing to offer the (so-called) perks of MyTouch, then they also have to own it (it; as in.. its reputation) if it does not perform properly in the hands of those who sprung the extra bucks to get it.
 
The same can be said for DCT. It is Ford's responsibility (as is any mfr) to ensure a purchaser is INFORMED of potential operational differences over what they might have been accustomed to in the past.
 
I know you are a Ford guy and indicate a lot of fairness in your posts, but I still say let 'em (Ford) reap what they sow..
If they want the attention from new and improved and are rolling out new product as fast as Steve Jobs was, then they also have to endure a bit of bad press when they find they didn't actually get right, and when you have the number of issues (recalls etc) for some serious issues, as they are stacking up lately, then maybe it's a good lesson to them that a little slower and surer wins the race. The older I get, like anyone else, the more vehicles we have owned over the years, and I for one am getting damn tired of being their unpaid tester of premature product releases. We are their guinea pigs essentially. And ironically...not only are we not paid to do this...we pay them!!

#1295 of 1316 Re: Consumer Reports gives Focus thumbs down [akirby] by gimmestdtranny

Jan 27, 2013 (11:05 am)

Replying to: akirby (Jan 04, 2013 8:56 am)
Was not the reason they use the DCT in it, for the fuel mileage? From what I've been reading, they sorta failed..and that was even using the (more efficient) dry clutch as opposed to the wet in EU.
 
And apparently, according to build dates and issues still being reported, can we still attribute all these issues to driver difference learning curves of the DCT? I think your 95% number is a little optimistic.

#1296 of 1316 Re: Consumer Reports gives Focus thumbs down [pod] by gimmestdtranny

Jan 27, 2013 (11:06 am)

Replying to: pod (Jan 04, 2013 10:04 am)
Good post.

#1297 of 1316 Re: Consumer Reports gives Focus thumbs down [creakid1] by gimmestdtranny

Jan 27, 2013 (11:11 am)

Replying to: creakid1 (Jan 04, 2013 11:32 am)
The VW 6 sp auto Techtronic is a Toyota trans?
 
I liked it when I drove one with the 2.5 a year ago. But it is an expensive tranny/car to own maintenance-wise. It seemed to be a magnetic fiend for needing to go back to the dealer for the requisite maintenance schedule dealer stamps. And gosh, they aren't cheap. I really liked the car and still haven't replaced or added to the fleet yet, but that maintenance schedule really put me off..
Well...I shouldn't say put me off yet, but has caused me some reservations.

#1298 of 1316 dry clutch dust by gimmestdtranny

Jan 27, 2013 (11:15 am)

One thing I'm curious about is, where does the dust go from the dry clutch wear? Perhaps the clutch paks are vented to the outside..i.e. Not actually an internal trans component? If so, then it would at least make them more affordably $erviceable than having to go inside. I think VW's in EU are on the inside, and replaced as a unit when troublesome. Weren't they like 5 grand or something just for electronic clutch pak assembly..not counting the gear assembly of the actual trans?
 
And does the Focus and Fiesta use the same DCT or are they different but identical design? i.e. Is the Fiesta DCT also dry clutch?

#1299 of 1316 Re: Consumer Reports gives Focus thumbs down [gimmestdtranny] by backy

Jan 27, 2013 (11:23 am)

Replying to: gimmestdtranny (Jan 27, 2013 11:11 am)
I thought the 6AT Tiptronic in the Rabbit/Golf is an Aisin unit. Aisin is part owned by Toyota and supplies trannies to Toyota, but is not Toyota.

#1300 of 1316 Re: Consumer Reports gives Focus thumbs down [gimmestdtranny] by bpizzuti

Jan 27, 2013 (11:39 am)

Replying to: gimmestdtranny (Jan 27, 2013 11:05 am)
Was not the reason they use the DCT in it, for the fuel mileage? From what I've been reading, they sorta failed..and that was even using the (more efficient) dry clutch as opposed to the wet in EU.
 
They don't seem to be working out all that well in general, possibly because they're being sold as automatic variants, which they aren't. If they were sold as quasi-manual transmissions, which they are, the low-speed roughness might be a little more expected and acceptable. And if they'd program the things to shift faster. And not upshift in manual mode.
 
Dodge's DCT isn't all that well accepted either, nor is the one Hyundai is using in the Veloster.

#1301 of 1316 Re: Consumer Reports gives Focus thumbs down [gimmestdtranny] by creakid1

Jan 27, 2013 (12:03 pm)

Replying to: gimmestdtranny (Jan 27, 2013 11:11 am)
The VW 6 sp auto Techtronic is a Toyota trans?
  
I liked it when I drove one with the 2.5 a year ago. But it is an expensive tranny/car to own maintenance-wise. It seemed to be a magnetic fiend for needing to go back to the dealer for the requisite maintenance schedule dealer stamps. And gosh, they aren't cheap. I really liked the car and still haven't replaced or added to the fleet yet, but that maintenance schedule really put me off..
Well...I shouldn't say put me off yet, but has caused me some reservations.
 
VW 2.5 5-cyl non-turbo (& even the GTI 4-cyl turbo engine in the Tiguan) uses the Aisin Japanese 6-sp auto tranny. Of course, the programming was requested by VW & not Toyota. Despite being a slush box, the lock-up mode is often. & when this big-displacement 5-cyl kicks off in manual mode through the low 1st gear off the line, it leaps forward way ahead of the traffic every time the light turns green & all I needed to do is using the "manual mode" for the first second, then shift back into "auto mode" for rest of the low-rpm torquy acceleration! So I did not regret for not having the 5-sp manual, which has an annoying long-reach clutch travel!
 
Only we lucky North Americans get to have this naturally aspirated version of the semi-"Lamborghini Gallardo 10-cyl engine", which uses timing chain (which saves timing-belt related $ for the owner).
 
Further more, unlike the DSG double-clutcher, this auto tranny requires zero factory maintenance!
 
The only thing costly, if at all, is the consumption of regular (& not premium) fuel in city driving.
 
We are talking about a low-price car that provides near limo-like cushy ride w/o a numb steering!
 
FYI, the wagon version (Golf in Canada; Jetta in U.S.) imported from Mexico is based on the "costier to build" Mk5, so therefore even more reliable. & I like the wagon's rear-seat comfort way better!

#1302 of 1316 Re: Consumer Reports gives Focus thumbs down [gimmestdtranny] by kam327

Jan 28, 2013 (7:33 am)

Replying to: gimmestdtranny (Jan 27, 2013 11:05 am)
Was not the reason they use the DCT in it, for the fuel mileage? From what I've been reading, they sorta failed..and that was even using the (more efficient) dry clutch as opposed to the wet in EU.
 
It does seem to be working for fuel mileage. Consider the Focus has over 10hp more than the Corolla, Elantra, Civic, etc. and that it gets to 60mph a second quicker or so than them (from several sources), but still gets within 1-2 mpg average of those slower cars.

#1303 of 1316 Re: 2013 SEL Hatch [gogogodzilla] by renegade8

Feb 06, 2013 (3:47 pm)

Replying to: gogogodzilla (Jan 23, 2013 4:57 pm)
Just bought a used 2012 Ford Focus with about 34k on it. In short, love this car! I heard all the horror stories about the trans prior to buying it. The truth is that it has a different "feel" to it. Does not feel like a traditional automatic, but also does not feel like a manual. I have owned many of each type. This is a hybrid transmission and it has its own feel. Just because it feels different does not mean it is defective. I noticed a slight shudder when I first accelerated during the test drive, which many would equate with a "missing" transmission and therefore a problem. That is not the case with Powershift, it is just the way it works.
 
You will always hear anecdotal stories from every type of car owner on the planet about whatever particular horror story they are having. The same is true with the Focus. I have read about stalling, missing gears..., but so far I have had none of that. I may eat my words if mine craps out or I get a recall notice from Ford at some point, but right now loving it.

Messages Page 131 of 133

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