Just wondering.. Going from 0-10mph theres like a lurch forward and the transmission feels awful. Same thing when breaking from 10-0. Is this normal on a Focus? I'm just renting it for a week. Haven't been in a modern Ford, but this car is absolute crap.
In reply to Coldsnap:
Welcome to the much-maligned Ford Powershift DCT. Lots of people hate it.
There have been a ton of reflashes and they extended the warranty to 100k I think.
pointofdeparture wrote: In reply to Coldsnap: Welcome to the much-maligned Ford Powershift DCT. Lots of people hate it.
Ah, ok. I need to google this.
Yeah, I rented one a few years back and hated how they took a good technology, and promptly decided to ruin it. I heard about these reflashes since then, that were supposed to make it better. So when I had my veritable pick of the litter at the rental counter earlier this week, I decided to see just how effective they were. Long story short, I guess it might be somewhat improved, but still not very good...And definitely nowhere near the benchmark set by VW's DSG. So far, I think it does that <10mph freakout the worst when being 'too gentile' with the throttle at low speeds. Apparently it's not quite sure what it's supposed to do with the clutches and shifting when maintaining just above a crawl or in stop and go.
They tried to make a dual clutch behave like a normal fluid automatic.....if you just run it a bit more sporty, you'll never have an issue.
From what I hear the new Focus Autos are crap. I'll keep my manual.
N Sperlo wrote: From what I hear the new Focus Autos are crap. I'll keep my manual.
Agreed. My wifes 2014 is a manual and we are very happy we went through the hassle to track it down.
My dad has a 2005 focus, transmission works great. We went to Buffalo, Noo Yawk and rented a brand new focus. Wow that transmission had the weirdest feel. I don't think it was slipping but it just didn't feel right. The car had under 15k miles on it but I didn't like how the trans shifted. When you go for max mpg something goes squishy.
I don't understand why Ford would put a DCT in a Focus. In my mind the only reason for a DCT would be for performance not everyday use. I don't think most people buying a Focus with an automatic care about quick shifts. I've driven a number of DCT's ( no PDK) and they feel sluggish at normal takeoff speeds. I've driven regular automatics and they feel much better on takeoff and in sport mode they shift as quick or nearly as quick as the dual clutch trans. For a non-manual dd I'd just as soon have a regular automatic.
I feel like rental ones are worse than "regular" focuses as well. I've driven brand new and one owner cars that felt acceptable. Rentals feel like garbage. Not sure if it's the trans computer trying to "learn" too many different drivers styles or what.
I have noticed a lot of rentals feel slightly different from "regular" cars in that way, but none as bad as the Focus. The Verano I rented for 4 weeks was pretty bad in the first week (800 miles), but got better after.
bigev007 wrote: I feel like rental ones are worse than "regular" focuses as well. I've driven brand new and one owner cars that felt acceptable. Rentals feel like garbage. Not sure if it's the trans computer trying to "learn" too many different drivers styles or what. I have noticed a lot of rentals feel slightly different from "regular" cars in that way, but none as bad as the Focus. The Verano I rented for 4 weeks was pretty bad in the first week (800 miles), but got better after.
My rental Focus was beyond bad. A completely miserable experience.
Wow, so much hate and over reaction. The past 3 times I've travelled this year, I intentionally rented the Focus. Is the lurch/shutter/whatever-you-call-it there? Yeah, I noticed it. But it didn't ruin the who experience. Overall, I found them to be very nice cars for their class, with that one annoying trait.
Klayfish wrote: Wow, so much hate and over reaction. The past 3 times I've travelled this year, I intentionally rented the Focus. Is the lurch/shutter/whatever-you-call-it there? Yeah, I noticed it. But it didn't ruin the who experience. Overall, I found them to be very nice cars for their class, with that one annoying trait.
When the one annoying trait almost gets you killed...........it's a bit of a problem. Left turning in front of oncoming traffic at a light and it sputters and lurches and jerks and farts. Ya it's more than one annoying trait. Having said that, it was a rental car and it might have actually really had another problem so I will give it that. The rest of the car was basically good. And it was good on the freeway at speed. I tried to turn it back in but the rental company said they all do that and wouldn't take it. We researched it online and there are web sites devoted to just how bad it is so it's not just me. I am sure the manual would cure all ills but I will never rent a Focus again.
JimS wrote: I don't understand why Ford would put a DCT in a Focus.
It's more efficient. No pumps to turn all the time. Other that, a good planetary set vs. a normal gear set- they are pretty even. And the converter- those are loss kings.
A DCT should be cheaper, too- since it does not have the mechanical computer system in it.
But the drawbacks of how it drives should have offset all of that. IMHO.
alfadriver wrote:JimS wrote: I don't understand why Ford would put a DCT in a Focus.It's more efficient. No pumps to turn all the time. Other that, a good planetary set vs. a normal gear set- they are pretty even. And the converter- those are loss kings. A DCT should be cheaper, too- since it does not have the mechanical computer system in it. But the drawbacks of how it drives should have offset all of that. IMHO.
CAFE.
Feedyurhed wrote:Klayfish wrote: Wow, so much hate and over reaction. The past 3 times I've travelled this year, I intentionally rented the Focus. Is the lurch/shutter/whatever-you-call-it there? Yeah, I noticed it. But it didn't ruin the who experience. Overall, I found them to be very nice cars for their class, with that one annoying trait.When the one annoying trait almost gets you killed...........it's a bit of a problem. Left turning in front of oncoming traffic at a light and it sputters and lurches and jerks and farts. Ya it's more than one annoying trait. Having said that, it was a rental car and it might have actually really had another problem so I will give it that. The rest of the car was basically good. And it was good on the freeway at speed. I tried to turn it back in but the rental company said they all do that and wouldn't take it. We researched it online and there are web sites devoted to just how bad it is so it's not just me. I am sure the manual would cure all ills but I will never rent a Focus again.
Yea, glad I checked here because I was about to go to the car rental place and tell them the transmission is about to go in this Focus.
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