I'm thinking of buying a 2010 Focus with a manual transmission. I do a lot of driving setting up road rallies and road tours and I feel a manual transmission will hold up much longer than an automatic. My present car (1994 Saturn) has about 450,000 miles on it. I like everything I see about the Focus and it has everything I need. Can anybody tell me why I shouldn't buy a Focus with a manual transmission? Thanks!

i dont think anyone can other that it can be inconvenient at times.
ill go ahead and get it out of the way, "why dont u wait to get the 2012 focus????" there! done!
what are u hoping to find out by people telling you not to buy a manual? just curious.

I just want to know if people have had any real mechanical issues with the manual transmissions. If there are any problems, I'd like to know about it upfront.

I've thought about the 2012 but kind of leery with the first year production on the new design. Do you know if Ford is using the same drivetrain as the previous models?

First the manual trans will not let you down, second wait until the new ones come out!

I just want to know if people have had any real mechanical issues with the manual transmissions. If there are any problems, I'd like to know about it upfront.

I've thought about the 2012 but kind of leery with the first year production on the new design. Do you know if Ford is using the same drivetrain as the previous models?

i havent really heard about any problems with the manual. they seem to be pretty durable. no, ford isnt using the same drivetrain.

Clutches last a long time on Ford 4 cylinder car engines too.

The Focus manual transmission is a joy to use! The clutch is extremely easy to modulate.

Wait for a 2012...

The Focus manual transmission is a joy to use! The clutch is extremely easy to modulate.

Yeah like burning threw first and second gears, then chirping 3rd.

I'll tell you why not to buy a 2010 Focus: the 2011 Focus.

^^x100 plus it ain't plastic.

I'll tell you why not to buy a 2010 Focus: the 2011 Focus.



Posted via FF Mobile Technically its 2012...if you go in and ask for a 2011 your going to get the current one. I think you should wait for the next focus. Yea I agree with first year problems but non of them will be serious. All the tech is used on other vehicals here and in europe, and the engine is still a 2.0l duratec with some new features and tuning...they rock solid engines. Actuall I do believe the manual trans in the 2012 is the same 5 spd on other foci. Id recommend the focus, whether you get the current one or the new one. But I think the new one is worth it over the current one...by ALOT. Ps, check out the new focus, specifically the new SE. Theres an available sport package which includes things like sport seats, leather wrapped wheel, bigger alloys, sportier suspension and rear disc brakes. I think thats right up your ally.

The other thing to consider in whether or not to wait for the 2012 model is cost. Dealers are offering 2011 Foci for $4500 off MSRP. The 2012 will sell near MSRP, just as current Fiestas are.

You came to the wrong place to be convinced not to buy a Focus. There should be some deals on the 2010/2011 models to get them off the lot.

Yep, pretty much what everyone else said. 2012 model. You'll be kicking yourself for not waiting. :-)

The other thing to consider in whether or not to wait for the 2012 model is cost. Dealers are offering 2011 Foci for $4500 off MSRP. The 2012 will sell near MSRP, just as current Fiestas are.

Doesn't the cars resale value drop when a new generation comes out though? Maybe that's why they offer the $4500 off.

My thought, get a 2012 (I know I said 2011..I is smart) but ask if the salesperson will give you the X plan. That's what we did last time.

Doesn't the cars resale value drop when a new generation comes out though? Maybe that's why they offer the $4500 off.

No, the value remains the same since it is still considered a new vehicle. Now as if anyone would buy once the next generations comes onto the lot...that's doubtful. But in order to avoid paying taxes on these vehicles dealerships generally mark them down significantly to make them move faster and appear more appealing to someone coming in looking for a low priced new car. While I agree with the OP on the not buying a new car for the first couple of years. It allows them to work out any bugs that may come along. If you find a good deal on a 2010 Focus with manual transmission...I say jump on it and save yourself the money in the long run. The current version has proven itself reliable and I wouldn't forsee any problems for a very long time.

Posted via FF Mobile It is true youll be able to get a better deal on a 2010 or a 2011 because they are going to try to move em out. But if you can afford msrp, I still feel like the 2012 is worth the wait and the extra cash. You are getting a much better car with muh better features and much much much better quality. The resale value on this focus should be higher then the previous generation also.

So glad my '10 is such a piece of crap.....even though I have no issues with it and enjoy driving it.

Never have I seen so much bad talk of the previous model as I hear on this site. It sounds like some of you are salesmen.

The op asked about a '10....It would do great for your use. The manual is fun to drive and appears to hold up better than an auto.

I say go for it. With the pending new model being a complete overhaul, you should be able to get a killer deal.

I drive a 2008 Coupe with a manual trans. I gotta say that it is a great car. Great gas mileage, reliable, looks good, and easy to upgrade if thats your game.

So glad my '10 is such a piece of crap.....even though I have no issues with it and enjoy driving it.

Never have I seen so much bad talk of the previous model as I hear on this site. It sounds like some of you are salesmen.

.

no shit! im not a fan of the new focus anyway.

So glad my '10 is such a piece of crap.....even though I have no issues with it and enjoy driving it.

Never have I seen so much bad talk of the previous model as I hear on this site. It sounds like some of you are salesmen.

The op asked about a '10....It would do great for your use. The manual is fun to drive and appears to hold up better than an auto.

...because new buyers have no idea that the Focus will be completely redesigned for the 1012 model year? If I was looking for a new car to buy (for a brand I know little about), I'd appreciate it if someone gave me a heads up too!! [slap]

I've had no issues with my 2010 SE 5-spd coupe.10,500 miles and counting. Excellent acceleration and gas mileage.

geo metro gets better mileage....... there's a reason why not to get one [rofl]

So glad my '10 is such a piece of crap.....even though I have no issues with it and enjoy driving it.

Never have I seen so much bad talk of the previous model as I hear on this site. It sounds like some of you are salesmen.

The op asked about a '10....It would do great for your use. The manual is fun to drive and appears to hold up better than an auto.




Posted via FF Mobile No one besides yourself said the 2010 was a pos. People only stated that the new focus is coming out and is better then the 2010 by a lot and all other previous generations.

The current models have the awesome duratech engine and the MTX75 tranny. That combo has been working very well in the Focus for about 7 years now. There isn't one thing I can think if that goes wrong with that engine/tranny combo regularly. You can find a great deal on a 10 right now, so if your wanting a new car the Focus is a great way to go.

Now as far as everyones comments on the '12. If you want/need a new car now, the '12 is a while off, so waiting may not be a option. You can always get the '10 get the feel for the Focus' wonderful drive train and suspension then decide if a '12 is something you want.

Yeah, I'd go look at pics of the new Focus, learn about it, see if you think you might like it. Then make your decision. Now, if you just have some money, and want a "new to you" vehicle, then look at some of the used Foci. As far as first year models go- I understand. I got my 05 before I realized that there was a new engine for that year. If you check Consumer Reports- the 05 actually has the lowest number of issues as compared with the other models up to the 08 re-designed body. [dunno]

What I'm saying is, take that stuff with a grain of salt. Sometimes it applies, sometimes not. If it had applied to my car, I'd have sold it before the warranty ran out.

Yeah, I'd go look at pics of the new Focus, learn about it, see if you think you might like it. Then make your decision. Now, if you just have some money, and want a "new to you" vehicle, then look at some of the used Foci. As far as first year models go- I understand. I got my 05 before I realized that there was a new engine for that year. If you check Consumer Reports- the 05 actually has the lowest number of issues as compared with the other models up to the 08 re-designed body. [dunno]

What I'm saying is, take that stuff with a grain of salt. Sometimes it applies, sometimes not. If it had applied to my car, I'd have sold it before the warranty ran out.



Posted via FF Mobile X2....also depends on how fast they rush the car out. And the 2012 focus is far from rushed. It debuted almost a year ago and has probably gotten the most R&D out of all of fords products for the past year. It cant have major problems bc then there would be a world problem.

Posted via FF Mobile X2....also depends on how fast they rush the car out. And the 2012 focus is far from rushed. It debuted almost a year ago and has probably gotten the most R&D out of all of fords products for the past year. It cant have major problems bc then there would be a world problem.

Would that that is the case, but it is not necessarily so.

I bought a Ford Contour in its first model year (1995). Although it was a world car and already had been previously released in Europe, the car was riddled with problems.

The user reviews for the Ford Fiesta at Edmunds.com have a very high proportion of folks saying that their automatic transmissions have had to be replaced.

Would that that is the case, but it is not necessarily so.

I bought a Ford Contour in its first model year (1995). Although it was a world car and already had been previously released in Europe, the car was riddled with problems.

The user reviews for the Ford Fiesta at Edmunds.com have a very high proportion of folks saying that their automatic transmissions have had to be replaced.



Posted via FF Mobile Yea i didnt say this happens all the time. But you also cant compare a 1995 ford to one now...their quality and standards are a bit higher. The focus is a pretty important car around the world for ford. And after I watched the documentary on CNBC the other night Im confident that there will be no major problems with the new focus. And which fiesta, the one in europe or the ones in the states? Only problem I hear of in the states, althought its not really a problem, is people are not used to the powershift trans and are complaining about them being rougher then their usual smooth but larthargic automatics. Even some dealers have no idea what the powershift trans is and how it normally operates and are servicing them.

....lots of new cars with direct injection engines and sub 2.0L Turbocharged engines that are way more powerful than setecs and duratecs. not to mention a new gen focus is coming

Posted via FF MobileOnly problem I hear of in the states, althought its not really a problem, is people are not used to the powershift trans and are complaining about them being rougher then their usual smooth but larthargic automatics. Even some dealers have no idea what the powershift trans is and how it normally operates and are servicing them.

Bingo. Consumers who drive automatics are used to the smoother configuration of the slushy torque converter. They don't realize that the PowerShift transmission is an automated manual. I hope to hell that Ford doesn't drop this transmission because of all the complaints!! I've been waiting for the longest time to get my hands on affordable dual clutch transmission car here in the US. All those whiners can keep the old and CVT automatics!

Because the 2012 will be here in 2-3 months and will be light years better. As such, you'll have more choice, and a 2010 will be substantially cheaper!

I love my 07 ZXW manual -- and of course at 130hp, it isn't going to light the world on fire.

But whenever I really want to enjoy my car, I drive it through the transmission. And that's when the 130hp, the control blade suspension, and the rest of the car really come together... and the car becomes a really fun car.

No way would I trade it for an automatic.

That said, the clutch has spring that makes an annoying "porch door" sound.

Get the car, and then love it.

Once modded they are difficult to sell,Espicially if alot of people around drive hondas.

. I hope to hell that Ford doesn't drop this transmission because of all the complaints!! I've been waiting for the longest time to get my hands on affordable dual clutch transmission car here in the US. All those whiners can keep the old and CVT automatics!

I agree, but consumers get what they want- or don't want. Just go check out any Ford oil pressure gauge after 1994. You no longer have a sender for the gauge- just a switch with a resistor soldered on the back of the gauge so that it will read dead center all the time. Why? Stupid people who take their car into the dealer when they are 1/2 qt low and their oil pressure drops lower than they think it should in the summer, with the AC on, at a stop light. I think that's also why we have faked temperature gauges in the Focus. The computer is programmed to tell us what we want to know.

Now what would be really nice is if Ford would just come out and tell people who were interested how to get their gauges to work properly. Like on the old Rangers, and other vehicles with faked OP gauges, we'd install a sender/switch in place of the switch, and solder a jumper over the resistor. We can't do that with the CHT in the Focus thanks to OBD2, and that's only going to get worse. I want to know how to get real gauges again- without being in a factory race car like a Boss.

the new 2012 is the better wait the only new machickel part that is different to what I have read is the turbo (but they have that same one on the Volvo and eruapian cars) and the ATX will be new
other then things like suspension changes (in the weight reduction ares) it should be very similar to the current model
o and 2012 appears to have 5 lug final

andthe 08-11 is more the ginny pig of the two with the fly by wire and things lie synk extra

What about a Pord Pocus? :P

Thanks for all the great information you guys! I really appreciate the help! I'll let you know what I end up buying.

2010/2011 Focus is a smart financial buy. I am thinking about getting rid of my wife's 2010 SE in favor of a 2011 SES due to the $4500 discount. More car + same payment = win. I know that I would rather have the 2012 model, but price-wise it won't be feasible.

Right now, Ford is offering $3000 off or 0% financing. This runs until Jan. 3, and if you are looking for a manual transmission, I would pull the trigger soon because they are few and far between.

paint job with a 5 year life is one reason, the car is not even payed and it looks like ...@£/!... sorry, i love my focus i put alot of time into it and no matter what you do thay all finish the same way

paint job with a 5 year life is one reason, the car is not even payed and it looks like ...@£/!... sorry, i love my focus i put alot of time into it and no matter what you do thay all finish the same way



Posted via FF Mobile Really? Because my car is 8 years old and my paint is still as nice as when I got it, besides some scrapes and nicks, but nothing that can be blamed on the manufacturer. Im sorry you have issues, but bad paint is not a major outcry amongst the focus community.

ya right paint is not a big out cry my ass try leaving your little fourme bubble world and wake up, i dont need the opinion of somebody who drives a green focus. the only reason your paint is not bad is because you are shy of your green car and you keep in a grage. thair is not a big out cry because the people have come to accept that the paint jop just sucks!
10,109 posts does not give me a reason to respect you, or trust what you say, thanks anyways