High Performance 2012 Ford Focus ST

[kam327]

Originally Posted by vanace

6th gear shouldn't be a factor for much. Just hiway acdeleration in 6th... so what. If I want to accelerate I will downshift. For autocross type stuff you will never see 6th gear. But it will give the rags something to complain about. They never like Ford anyways.

You're assuming the vast majority of ST buyers will only be using it on the track? This car is supposed to be performance for the masses, an everyday driver, etc. Automobile in the Sept issue said "Our only reservation [about the transmission] concerns the excessively tall top gear - it undoubtedly helps to save fuel but forces the driver to downshift frequently to keep up the momentum at freeway speeds." That's going to be mighty annoying to anyone using it primarily as a commuter car and secondarily as a weekend racer.

This is the main reason they were able to eek out an extra mpg over the lighter and less powerful GTI. But I bet it gets mentioned almost every time there's a ST / GTI comparo...