LW Focus - any info?

**Professor Farnsworth** · 03-08-2011, 03:02 PM

Dad is looking to buy one of these, he saw one at a dealer today and is interested in it. We know the tech specs etc but does anyone have any links to any issues with them, things along those lines? I know it's very early in the piece but i see virtually no info on them here so far.

Chilliman · 03-08-2011, 06:24 PM

Have a look at some of the US Forums like Focaljet or Focusfanatics. They've had the new Focus in North America for a couple of months now.

**Professor Farnsworth** · 03-08-2011, 06:28 PM

cheers will do

Russ · 03-08-2011, 11:15 PM

There's this one from Focus Fanatics US -

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/s...d.php?t=260219

**Professor Farnsworth** · 04-08-2011, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ

There's this one from Focus Fanatics US -

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/s...d.php?t=260219

wow, now i know what the Ford US translation for Ford AU's "They all do that" line is.

Russ · 04-08-2011, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

wow, now i know what the Ford US translation for Ford AU's "They all do that" line is.

See, it's not only in America after all

Martyvan · 04-08-2011, 01:01 PM

Interesting, that what appears to be a customer service person on those forums, is responding, and offering to help...... Might be a token attempt, but, at the same time, I would be pretty happy getting those responses!

entheos · 04-08-2011, 03:51 PM

What kind of info would you like to know?

I can email you a brochure if you'd like, or give you specs and tech info.

I'm driving one as a demo at the moment and the only issue I've has is one of the vacuum hoses popped off and gave me an engine light....fixed in about 5 minutes once up on the hoist, and the auto shifter didn't line up...a quick adjustment on the box fixed that.

Feel free to ask any questions you have and I'll answer them to the best of my ability.

**Professor Farnsworth** · 04-08-2011, 03:56 PM

thanks entheos - my dad has the brochure i believe, i was just looking for feedback on any problems people have had with them so far, and your post helped answer that so cheers

Smoke Pursuit · 04-08-2011, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martyvan

Interesting, that what appears to be a customer service person on those forums, is responding, and offering to help...... Might be a token attempt, but, at the same time, I would be pretty happy getting those responses!

Yes it would be nice wouldn't it just...

entheos · 04-08-2011, 04:56 PM

well seeing as they are only 4 days old officially, I doubt you'll find any major issues which have reared their heads just yet...They seem to be built a lot better than the LV and earlier models. One drive and he'll be hooked...

Russ · 04-08-2011, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by entheos

well seeing as they are only 4 days old officially, I doubt you'll find any major issues which have reared their heads just yet...They seem to be built a lot better than the LV and earlier models. One drive and he'll be hooked...

That's why it's a good option to look on O/S forums for discussions on issues they may be experiencing as they always get the new models first

DeKa · 07-08-2011, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ

There's this one from Focus Fanatics US -

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/s...d.php?t=260219

You have to remember most Americans are probably only used to driving 'slush box' automatics, many of which don't lock the torque convertor until top gear. A dual clutch automatic usually feels 'ok' to a manual driver who is used to feeling the clutch take up and release, and knows what it feels like when you are coasting in gear at low revs with the clutch not disengaged.

**Professor Farnsworth** · 07-08-2011, 07:32 PM

i drove a WT Fiesta today with the DSG box, which i believe is the same as the one in the Focus, smoothest automatic ever! The dual clutch setup makes a ZF feel very antiquated.

Russ · 09-08-2011, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

i drove a WT Fiesta today with the DSG box, which i believe is the same as the one in the Focus, smoothest automatic ever! The dual clutch setup makes a ZF feel very antiquated.

Without opening a can of worms, technically speaking they are a clutchless manual transmission, but I tend to agree that as they do all the gear changing themselves I too consider it to be an automatic, although much more refined, and with faster, more precise gear changes than an automatic box.

rand0mn00b · 09-08-2011, 11:01 PM

don't forget more fuel efficient!

barra240t · 11-08-2011, 06:01 PM

I'm in love with our demo Sport turbo diesel. I've driven it a few times now and always hop out smiling, I took it for a drive at night and the interior looks really nice all lit up. Very impressive!

**Professor Farnsworth** · 11-08-2011, 06:14 PM

dad picked up a Sport petrol manual in the end

Squirrell · 18-08-2011, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barra240t

I'm in love with our demo Sport turbo diesel. I've driven it a few times now and always hop out smiling, I took it for a drive at night and the interior looks really nice all lit up. Very impressive!

Im Loving mine only got 40 kms on it at the moment.

vhcbm · 18-08-2011, 11:44 PM

Looks great!

dannyhilton · 19-08-2011, 08:30 PM

Geez that white is SEXY! The cars looks take a while to grow on you, but in the right colour it looks sensational. A grown up Fiesta.

Squirrell · 19-08-2011, 10:15 PM

I looked at all the colours and that was the one that stood out to me. First white car I have ever owned.

paulgo · 21-08-2011, 09:50 AM

Ahhh.....very sexy and gorgeous!!!!!
Tinted protectors? Do dealers sell them?

Squirrell · 21-08-2011, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulgo

Ahhh.....very sexy and gorgeous!!!!!
Tinted protectors? Do dealers sell them?

Yep;
Full set of Weather Shields $90
Rear Mud Flaps $50
Front Mud Flaps $50
Bonnet Protector $90
Trade price + GST $28
Total price = $308

Fitted my self and saved $186-00

Window Tinting this week $250

paulgo · 22-08-2011, 08:36 PM

Thanx mate...

rxj · 22-08-2011, 10:50 PM

Hi,

Test drove a Titanium petrol model on Saturday. A very quiet car but found it to be a bit sluggish during initial acceleration from traffic lights and when climbing hills.

Has anyone else experienced this? I found that I had to continue putting the transmission into sports mode to get any decent revs and acceleration.

Maybe I'm expecting too much from a 2.0 Litre engine, but saying this I find my Mazda 323 Astina which is automatic seems to have more power.

The dealer suggested that the car is still quite tight and will improve once it reaches over 1000kms. Is this true?

I'm looking at purchasing a "Frozen White" Titanium with the Sports Pack as my weekday car.

Cheers,

rxj.

paulgo · 23-08-2011, 09:55 AM

rxj - the engines are pretested so what you see and feel on the roadtest is what you get. Yes, the engine will loosen up but it's not a quick process after 1000kms. After 5000kms you may notice slight difference.
Would recommend to testdrive another car to see if there is variation of the same model.
White colour is good choice, the coolest in summer, the safest on the road when it comes to visibility, and easy to maitain

cheers

Martyvan · 23-08-2011, 11:44 AM

its not the engine which would make it feel sluggish, very likely it is the powershift learning your driving style.... they also try to hang onto higher gears where possible to improve fuel consumption, but, when test driving you need to squeeze the throttle a bit further than you would in a conventional auto to make it change down.....

DeKa · 23-08-2011, 12:42 PM

Also, being Powershift, you won't have the "slip" of the torque convertor which leads to rapidly increasing revs, without a great deal of road speed increase, in comparison to a manual or a Powershift. I think you'll find it was probably really accelerating briskly for a 2L, it just didn't feel like it if you're used to older torque convertor autos.

**DFB FGXR6** · 23-08-2011, 02:24 PM

I remember reading a review that commented / complained on how the powershift gearbox was programed to shift up early to conserve fuel.