Hi guys,

I am very interested in the new ford focus. But all the talk about the transmission grinding itself up has got me worried. How do you guys feel the new focus will last long term? Should I wait until next years model? How much would a new clutch cost?

I really like the luxury appeal of the car and how it looks.

Thank you,

I only have 350 miles on my 2013, so obviously I can't comment on reliability yet. I will say the transmission is interesting. You definitely have to change your expectations some from a regular automatic. It definitely feels like a manual. If you were in the passenger seat and closed your eyes, you would think the driver was working a manual transmission - complete with a few studders at very low power and some engine braking at times when you get off the gas (at least in sport mode). Having said that, I don't find it unpleasant or bothersome, just different from what we have become used to over the last 30 years.

that all happened when mine was new it takes a while for the clutches to break in. but right now I have 3k miles on mine and it isn't much different from a regular automatic. As for reliability only time well tell I don't think anyone really has a ton of miles on a mk3 yet.

no ones having issues with the 5 spds

Hi guys,

I am very interested in the new ford focus. But all the talk about the transmission grinding itself up has got me worried. How do you guys feel the new focus will last long term? Should I wait until next years model? How much would a new clutch cost?

I really like the luxury appeal of the car and how it looks.

Thank you,


We have two with about 2000 miles each. They are driving well and we are not concerned about reliability. They definitely improve with break-in and mileage. Terrific design, quality and dynamics. And good value.

I had my 2013 Titanium for a month now. 2200 miles later I am pleased. No issues other than a slightly buggy MFT. But that'll eventually get fixed. The new TSB is out to fix it. So I shall give that a try. But really I get hit by MFT going stupid like once every 1-2 weeks so not bad

Will have had mine for two weeks on Sunday. almost 500 miles in and must say that I have had no issues. The only issues is trying to use voice commands when trying to call someone. The auto transmission takes some getting use to, but I am getting accustomed to it. I have been busy working long hours and 6 days a week so I am awaiting a break so I can get more familiar with all the buttons and layout.

The thing to remember is typically happy customers don't post as much as dissatisfied customers.

I've got 27,000 miles on my 2012 SE, and can't think of any problems I've had--certainly nothing that falls into the "reliability" category. It's been a pleasure to own and drive so far. One caveat--mine is a 5-speed so I don't know about the auto transmission. But really, why would you NOT buy the manual anyway?

36 mile commute in all stop and go traffic - Manual is no fun.

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I have a 33 mile commute (66 miles total each day), sometimes in stop-and-go traffic, and still wouldn't consider an automatic. I've had some long, crappy commutes over the last 20 years--did all of them in sticks--and have never thought twice about what type of transmission to buy.

But I do hear that a lot, so I guess it matters to a bunch of people.

Yeah, to me it gets old in going in and out of first every two seconds. I prefer to listen to my audio books and go to my zoned out happy place.

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Love me some audiobooks/podcasts...

I had my 2013 Titanium for a month now. 2200 miles later I am pleased. No issues other than a slightly buggy MFT. But that'll eventually get fixed. The new TSB is out to fix it. So I shall give that a try.

There is no fix and never will be, just a continual exchange of bugs for other bugs. I know I sound bitter, but sadly it's the truth.

36 mile commute in all stop and go traffic - Manual is no fun.

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Yesterday I spend 35 minutes in a rush hour traffic and I did not miss having an automatic , I find stop n go traffic less missable with manual , but that's my preference

Both options are manual...it's just that one is automated.

I wouldn't trade my automated manual for anything.

I have the 5 speed manual. No issues with mine at all after 3000km

I drive in stop and go traffic with the 5MT. An automatic is not missed. I dig rowing through the gears.

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I drive in stop and go traffic with the 5MT. An automatic is not missed. I dig rowing through the gears.

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Same here. 56Km every day.

Sent from your mom's house.

You either like a manual transmission or you don't. What some consider to be a sporty transmission is thought to the " cheap" version of a car by others. The automatic 6 speed in the focus is the future of transmissions, but I didn't like how it felt so I got mine in a 5 speed. Some people like green peas and others urge at the taste. The green peas are the same but the reactions differ. Who is wrong? No one.

I love manuals but I wasn't going to pay more to order one.

I love manuals but I wasn't going to pay more to order one.

Pay more? For a manual? Really? Weird

I love manuals but I wasn't going to pay more to order one.

I guess you mean that they were willing to deal more on in stock units, since all things being equal the 5 speed is $1250 cheaper than the "automatic".


I had planned on the auto until I took a demo out for a whole Saturday and realized it was different enough than a regular auto that I would never get used to it. At age 48, I fear new ways of doing things. Although, I pay for radio ( Sirius ), which is something that was just plain ridiculous not that long ago.

When ordering my 5 speed, I suddenly realized I had more money to play with and opted for the sport package (800) and winter package (350) and still came in for a hundred bucks less.

I couldn't find any dealers with 5 speeds in stock, and I bought my 2012 when the 2013s were starting to come in so I got a pretty good deal.

Personally I've had no issues with the new mk3 focus and with the new updates to the dct tranny its getting better

no ones having issues with the 5 spds

And there it is.
[hihi]

And there it is.
[hihi]

5 speed high 5!

Sent from your mom's house.

I assume the automatics will eventually be sorted out, but it is not a certainty. Chrysler never bothered to perfect their minivan transmissions.

A friend of mine is the transmission guy at a Chev dealership and he says they have a number of transmissions that are too small for their jobs. The trend for up to 8 speed, 10 speed transmissions means smaller, more fragile parts shoved in the same size cases. No effort is made by GM that he can see to improve reliability.

Bottom line, the life expectancy of newer transmissions may never be as good as old style autos. When they do fail, it can be 2 days labour and 2 to 5 thousand to repair. Saturn bought back Vues to crush rather than spend more to fix their transmissions than the truck was worth.

A manual seems a somewhat safer bet if you keep a car for a long time.

How does the dct compare against a cvt for efficiency and reliability?

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I know that the Mitsubishi built auto/cvt trans in the Compass, Patriot and Caliber had a lot of trouble. I worked at a Chrysler dealership a couple of years ago. They just took them out and replaced the whole unit. No dealer service was even possible. The replacements also gave trouble later as well.


Nissan seems committed to them across the board. I don't know how they hold up.

no ones having issues with the 5 spds

That's patently false, as I know of at least one or two cases where there were bad syncros within 1600 miles on first gear of a 2012 Focus with the MTX-75, that's some german build quality right there. This report came from someone who practically only drove manuals and was good at it, the tech doubted them until they tried to drive the car into the shop and with the clutch fully depressed it made a horrible grinding noise. They had to rebuild it under warranty. So don't tell me the 5 speed is 100% immune to manufacturing flaws/ failures. If its built by man it can and will be screwed up at some point.

That's patently false, as I know of at least one or two cases where there were bad syncros within 1600 miles on first gear of a 2012 Focus with the MTX-75, that's some german build quality right there. This report came from someone who practically only drove manuals and was good at it, the tech doubted them until they tried to drive the car into the shop and with the clutch fully depressed it made a horrible grinding noise. They had to rebuild it under warranty. So don't tell me the 5 speed is 100% immune to manufacturing flaws/ failures. If its built by man it can and will be screwed up at some point.

I don't think that anyone is claiming that the 5speed is perfect.
But one or two bad ones in your experience don't compare to the multiple complaints about the auto.
Relax..[confused]

Hey how ur doin. Please remember that this is a standard tranny. instead of depressing the clutch it uses servos to do it for you, don't think of it as an automatic cause it isn't its is a standard trans that automaticly clutches for the driver!!

Hi guys,

I am very interested in the new ford focus. But all the talk about the transmission grinding itself up has got me worried. How do you guys feel the new focus will last long term? Should I wait until next years model? How much would a new clutch cost?

I really like the luxury appeal of the car and how it looks.

Thank you,

I have a 2012 SEL w/DCT, and I have 0 issues. I opted out of getting one with MFT, so as to limit potential problems. The transmission is as smooth as a baby's bottom, and I forsee no reliability issues.

I've put 30,000 miles on my 2012 SE, and have had 0 problems with it thus far. It is a manual without MFT, so I dodged any of the problems people have had with those two items.

Hey there congrats on your new ride. The bigest problem I have had with my 2013 SE select shift is I can't stay out of it.This has to be the most fun to drive car I have ever owned. With a little practice using the select shift you can take off the line and shift as good as any standard going. Just don't fall in to the trap as thinking this is an auto as so many have and it has caused a lot of confussion along with complaints. This is a manual transmission with dual clutches drive it like you stole it and you won't be sorry!

I got a 2013 Titanium model and love the feel of the DCT. I've only got 450 miles on it but so far it's running great.

I have 1500 miles on my ST and I find that the 6 speed manual is very smooth. You do go through the gears quickly if you shift according to the Ford recommendations. In 6th by the time your doing 55. With that said it shifts very nice and smooth the clutch is easy to depress.

I am approaching 2k miles on my '13 ti. The DCT does continue to improve as it wears in a bit. I like the way the shift points change depending on how much throttle I am giving. If I hammer the throttle then the shift points are higher. The car knows what I have in mind. The only time the DCT can be unpleasant is in bumper-to-bumper at under 5 mph. It is not as smooth as a traditional torque converter auto would be.

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Just under 5000km. Still all good on my end. Only issue I have is around -30/-40 the touch screen isn't super responsive.

Sent from your mom's house.

I have had my 13 SE hatch for 1 month and 1 day now with 2650 miles. No issues and no problems. I freakin love this car.
BTW the trans is the DCT/auto