Out of Focus

[ajfinoak]

Before I got my GT I was looking at the Prius, Mazda 3, and Impreza. While I mostly really like the GT (aside from the unexpected crappy gas mileage) I took a look at some other forums recently for the other cars I was considering back then. If you have any issues with your GT take a look on MK3 Focus - Focus Fanatics for their latest model. You will go out and kiss your car! (Don't do it if it is below freezing out!)

[1Bigball]

All the GT owner

[GeeTee]

Heard a lot of good things about the Focus when we were car shopping. Compared very favorably with the Mazda3 in terms of fit and finish and features, though the Mazda (as expected) was the better handling car. But my wife doesn't drive stick and since this was going to be her car we needed an automatic. EVERY Focus review I read panned the automatic, with some reviewers actually stating that it would be a mistake to buy an automatic-equipped Focus. Despite a number of software upgrades and other modifications the thing seems to be cursed with vague shifting that occurs on a random basis, allowing the engine to rev well past normal shifting points.

Couldn't be happier with the Elantra GT.

[MEC-777]

I looked very closely at the focus and at one point, thought it would be the car for me. Then I did some more research and decided against it.

The 2012+ ford focus automatic is not a traditional automatic with torque converter and clutch packs. It's a dual dry clutch 6 speed automated manual. This, at first, appealed to the automotive technological geek in me (and still does), but the more customer reviews I read and watched, the more I realized, ford has taken a sizable risk with this. There is a multitude of threads and complaints from customers about shifting issues, vibrations, noises and grinding during shifts with these transmissions. Ford issued an update on all focuses with this trans made before a certain build date. All produced after that date are supposedly "fixed", though there are still complaints and unsatisfied owners out there with newer production units.

Part of the issue, I believe, is that ford is not informing the customers adequately, nor do the customers understand correctly, that this is not the same as an typical automatic they are used to and should not expect the same type of operation/characteristics. Dual dry clutches can and are very difficult to program in such a manor that they will operate perfectly smooth in all conditions/situations. Slight variances in just a few components can have a significant effect on it's operation. Knowing this, I did like the car very much when I test drove it and loved the way the transmission felt... but I knew what to expect because I know what it was and how it operates.

All that being said, it's only in its second year production run and I don't believe they have fully ironed out this dual clutch transmission. When the warranty runs out, I did not want to have to shell out the cash to replace those clutches or the whole transmission.

Another reason I went with the Elantra. It's a 6 speed traditional automatic with torque converter, but it's a very well engineered, smooth and efficient auto trans. I knew with this setup, as long as you keep fluid in it and don't beat it to death everyday, it will last for hundreds of thousands of kms easy.

As a matter of fact, when reading through customer reviews on edmunds.com, I couldn't believe how many people said they first bought a 2012+ focus, experienced issues with it and decided to trade for the Elantra.

[jamina1]

Originally Posted by ajfinoak

Before I got my GT I was looking at the Prius, Mazda 3, and Impreza. While I mostly really like the GT (aside from the unexpected crappy gas mileage) I took a look at some other forums recently for the other cars I was considering back then. If you have any issues with your GT take a look on MK3 Focus - Focus Fanatics for their latest model. You will go out and kiss your car! (Don't do it if it is below freezing out!)

I'm growing to love my GT more every day - up to 2000 miles now and the gas mileage has improved markedly - though the computer still reports about 2mpg more than I actually receive, which is kinda upsetting, but at least its consistent.

[TurboLed]

Originally Posted by jamina1

though the computer still reports about 2mpg more than I actually receive, which is kinda upsetting, but at least its consistent.

I also noticed the computer is optimistic with the fuel consumption, even if I reset it together with the trip counter at each fill-up. But I wonder if it's because the trip counters are a bit overestimating the mileage as well?

[markjenn]

Originally Posted by TurboLed

But I wonder if it's because the trip counters are a bit overestimating the mileage as well?

Whether you hand compute the mileage from fuel receipts and the trip counter or rely on the trip computer, both are using the same odometer data, so I doubt that's the reason. Fuel mileage computers mostly seem to be a bit optimistic - I think the mfgs fudge them a bit so drivers will be happier with the number they see. Very few ever hand-compute mileage to verify.

Computing fuel flows for the injector duration data is not absolutely precise either. A few of us have checked the odometer calibration and found it reads a little low, slightly under reporting miles driven.

- Mark

[Winkle]

Originally Posted by TurboLed

I also noticed the computer is optimistic with the fuel consumption, even if I reset it together with the trip counter at each fill-up. But I wonder if it's because the trip counters are a bit overestimating the mileage as well?

The fuel economy meter automatically resets anyway after each fill up.

[talkingrat]

Originally Posted by Winkle

The fuel economy meter automatically resets anyway after each fill up.

Only if you leave the user setting that way. If you want to control what it averages, you can set it to manual reset.

[Glasshouse]

Just rented a Focus in the UK.
Boy does it pull with a diesel engine. It just flies away from the lights.
If they had that here I might have been tempted.
Mind you if they had it then Hyundai might have brought their diesel in as well and that would have fixed the "crappy" milage issue!