A good rule of thumb is that for every one or two who hate the transmission, there are 10 or 12 you don't. You are on a forum where people gush over the Focus, and some people discuss their hatred of them. I have never driven your model year, but, remember that this is a first model year, so you may have some of the problems that other have faced (MFT DCT) but eventually Ford WILL get them all fixed. Have fun with your new Focus!

 

A good rule of thumb is that for every one or two who hate the transmission, there are 10 or 12 you don't. You are on a forum where people gush over the Focus, and some stupid souls discuss their hatred of them. I have never driven your model year, but, remember that this is a first model year, so you may have some of the problems that other have faced (MFT DCT) but eventually Ford WILL get them all fixed. Have fun with your new Focus!

Wow, that's harsh. Especially from someone who's never even driven the DCT.

 

I don't care for them myself. But then I'm not like the general pubic either. For the most part people seem to like them. Non-car people that is.

 

I'm not like the general pubic either.

 

I have one. And coming from an experienced driver (Manual, Auto, 10+ spd trucks.) I don't mind them at all. They have their moments. But look at it from the big picture. 1. It's a new model year. 2. It is a Manual transmission set up like an auto. So I'm used to the manual like behavior. All in all it doesn't seem to have as many bad things as people complain about. I've NEVER had a single problem with mine. And after they did the re-flash to the PCM, it just got even better.

 

I rented one for a week and put 700 miles of my regular driving into it. (65% city 35% highway now)
I did get a couple hard shifts when I was doing shenanigans like flooring it for the giggles but it felt just like somebody driving a manual and it is normal to me.

Most of the complainers have probably grown accustomed to the traditional auto with the torque converter where everything is supposed to be smooth and if it jerks there is something wrong.
Overall though it is super smooth and only gave me a hard shit probably only 3 times. This was a new car with 55 on the odo when I picked it up

 

I wasn't impressed with the little thumb button to "manually" shift which is a hinderance during agressive driving. I'm betting most drivers will never use this. I don't regret buying the manual as I like a more engaging drive but I also rarely have any stop and go traffic to deal with where the manual might be a little tiring.

 

I use my select shift constantly on the sportbike roads around my city. I use "S" when going to town (still curvy, hilly roads), and the only time I use "D" is when I'm on the open road.

I am probably a minority constant user of select-shift, but that is solely because of the roads around here. "D" shift points are not adequate for them. Quite the contrary. Frustrating, actually.

The complaint I do have on select-shift is the ridiculous amount of time from a press to the actual shift. This thing should bang shifts the instant it is pressed, because that is when they are needed. You have to anticipate actual shifts, and hit the toggle early. YMMV

 

I'm just a bit worried now after reading all the bad reviews for the automatic transmission, is this as big of a problem as a lot of people are complaining about?

NO. Unless you should get some sort of manufactures defect. There have been a few bad ones, which will happen with any car. And when it happens with a Focus it will be all over these forums. I have one and it is fine. There were some early issues with the software, but most have been resolved. The biggest problem is most people weren't ready for the dual clutch computer automated 6 speed manual transmission. It is not your usual hydromatic auto. I would not let the negative stuff here keep me up at night. You will be fine.

 

I agree with AZfocus2012. No, their really are no serious problems with the car what so ever!

 

I've been driving manual for 8 years and automatic for the last 4, I was mainly concerned with the reviews from people saying how the car shakes and whatnot. Of course I didn't see this in the short test drive I took. Sounded like a badly designed auto from the reviews so jsut wanted to get some opinion.

 

No it's not badly designed. The software perhaps originally did not anticipate all driving conditions or at least all drivers' habits and would shudder and other things for some. But the periodic software updates seem to have progressively improved the performance and the latest big one is drawing raves from probably 80% of those who have gotten it so far.

The number of those who have reported actual hardware failures on this forum can probably be counted on one hand.

 

Just wondering why did ford go with that transmission?

Why not just use a regular proven auto transmission, not some dual clutch whatever it is.

Whats the benefit of it?

Focus isnt a sports car.

 

They claim it's much more efficient (~10%) since there are no hydraulic losses like in a conventional auto. Seems like a bogus claim though since the Focus's fuel economy is about average for the compact class, most of which has a conventional auto.

 

Haven't had a problem with mine.

 

Ive been driving mine since February. They relased a memory flash for the transmission computer, it works much better now. I think people just complain too much. Theres nothing wrong with it.

 

Dont buy a 2012 get a 2013 they will be out soon.They will be much improved.[welcome]

 

I would venture to say that the 2013's would not be any different than a 2012 with all the updates applied. I don't think any mechanical changes have been made, just package option changes and it should have all the updates. Second year versions are usually better than early first year versions, just because you get to avoid all the growing pains a lot of us have endured, but a late 2012 versions shouldn't be inferior to 2013's.

 

I love my dct and the way it handles and shifts. It's a bit noisy at times but that is to be expected at times and if the radio is on you don't hear it. It actually sounds a lot like the t45 in my mustang, just quieter. The only thing I wish I could do is map out the shift points and force downshifts around corners.

 

What needs to be remembered is that Ford is taking care of issues. My own DCT needed a clutch replacement, but since then, and after this latest update, my car is an absolute joy to drive. Utopia.

Remember many of us had our issues fixed, and also remember, we who have/had legitimate DCT problems, are but a very small minority of total Focus owners; very small.

 

This may be a stupid question, but since this is a called a Dual Clutch Transmission, does one have to change the clutch like in a Manual?

 

The transmission is quoted by Ford to have a predicted service life of at least 150,000 miles before needing to be serviced. However as clutches do wear out over time with usage your mileage may vary depending on your driving habits, conditions, and many other factors besides.

The computer should keep clutch slip to a minimum, particularly with the latest programming, but if you're in heavy stop and go traffic or constantly peeling away from a set of traffic lights like its the start of the Indy 500 you may wear out at least the 1,3,5 clutch first, if not both of them faster than expected.

 

If they wear-out or fail, yes. Just like a manual transmission.

 

I liked my DCT before the TSB was done. Now that the TSB is completed, I love it. Smooth, fast, crisp shifting with no torque converter lag like you feel in most 4 cylinder engines. The hill climb/braking button works well in mountain driving. Find the thread where someone recorded a DCT shifting with a Borla exhaust... now that is sweet. Enjoy your new Focus!

 

Have almost 5k miles on my automatic 2012 Titanium. Here in flat KS I leave it in D almost all the time. Throw it in S and drop a gear if needing to pass. Drove up and down Pike's Peak recently and was very happy with how it performed manually. Used 2-3 mostly for the up and down trips.

Prior to the upgrade I did notice that a few time when starting from a stop it was like someone let the clutch out to fast and the car would lurch. As someone that has owned manuals and understood the car had a manual shifted by PC I did not think anything of it. Had I not been Joe Consumer used to slushy autos and not a car guy I would have been alarmed and headed to the dealership to have it looked at. Since the upgrade it has not lurched.

I autocrossed my car on the factory tires and have similar wear to the picture now. I got my Flaken Azenis tires on a second set of wheels in time for the second event. I am very happy with how the Select-Shift works and typically just put the car in S1 and go. It will up-shift when it hits redline. If I know I will be scrubbing a lot of speed in a corner I will reach down and drop a gear, but most of the time the car does a pretty good job of putting it in the gear I want.

When I went to the dealer I wanted a Titanium with a manual. After talking to the dealer and looking online myself I figured out those are very rare creatures. I took an auto for a test drive and was very happy with it. Several autocrosses, a road trip to the mountains and lots of around town driving later if I had to replace my car I would not hesitate to get another Select-Shift auto.

As for the sports potential, I think it would surprise most people how well the car handles. I test drove a Scion TC and Mazda3 before buying the Focus and I like the handling of the Ford the best (personal taste factored in obviously). I have been doing very well in autocross with it and have gotten a lot of comments on how impressive the car is for a non-sports car. Granted it is not in the same class as the WRX or Mazdaspeed3, but that is what the ST is being made for.

 

I have been doing very well in autocross with it and have gotten a lot of comments on how impressive the car is for a non-sports car. Granted it is not in the same class as the WRX or Mazdaspeed3, but that is what the ST is being made for.

I agree it is not in the same class as the WRX or Speed3, but why is it a non-sports car. To me, any car that when pushed to the edge of it's performance envelope is smooth, predictable, confidence inspiring, and as you stated impressive, is a sports car. What is missing? Is it the too many doors thing or what. Just curious.

 

I was not wanting to add to the hijacking of the thread, but since it seems to late for that....

I consider the Focus ST a sport compact. While I am very happy with my Titanium I can't see putting it in the same class as the ST. Not to say it is less of a car, just that the ST gives up MPG, ride quality, noise and cost in favor of more performance.

No doors don't matter. The WRX is sport by any measure. HP is not a requirement for me. The Miata is a sports car and it does not excel in the HP. For me it is the intended purpose and what was given up in the pursuit of performance.

Beating a Corvette in a sporty compact is much more fun than beating one in a sport compact anyway.

 

What about defining it by lb/hp? Like, anything less than say 13?

 

I Love the dct, smoothest shifts I've ever seen, perfect gas mileage, Wah Wah it jolts in first, it's a "standard" what do you want.

 

New to the forums, only two weeks and 1500km's into my 2012 Focus SE 5-door (SE Sport Pkg, Sport Interior Trend Pkg). First, I have to say I love it, and the "hard" shift at low speeds didn't seem to bother me at first, until it lurched hard coming into my driveway (hard incline) and I came within inches of hitting my wife's car. Ironically, this happened today and when I entered my house, I found the recall letter from Ford concerning flashing the transmission control module. From what I have read in this thread so far, looks like I will enjoy the fix.

Also, I have yet to really push the car, as it is still 'breaking in', but the rental 2012 I had last fall for a week, I drove to the breaking edge, and while it may not officially be a sports car, it definitely handles better than the Civic I had previously, and accelerates a hell of a lot better. It is not quite true sports, but it is a lot more than just 'Sporty'

 

I like it though, I wish the shifts were firmer and faster.

The Talon shifts much faster and harder.

 

They are very bad. More like a prototype that needd more thought.[mecry]

 

Maybe you got a bad unit, but it seems more likely that you are not compatible with an automated manual transmission. Perhaps you would be happier in a Corolla, Civic, or if you wanted a near relative of the Focus the Mazda 3 as they all have torque converter backed planetary automatic transmissions.

Personally I don't prefer the lossy torque converter in this size/ class of automobile (The C-segment aka compact). You might even like the 2.0L Dart, but not the 1.4L as the multi-air turbo automatic is another DCT, possibly another Getrag unit.

The DCT has been perfectly responsive for me, but I'm aware that my car was built with the latest programming, but even the older programming on the 4/11 built rental I had back in November likely had the original programming and I never noticed anything terrible about it, it was unobtrusive and was mimicking a mixture of a regular automatic and a manual, but it was the best of both worlds, not the worst as you seem to have experienced. 17k miles on a rental car and the transmission shifted perfectly and it even got really good mileage (>35.x mpg even though I'd gone faster than 75-80 for at least 50 + of the 180 miles in the day I had the car.

 

I had the FSA 12B37 done to my transmission. My car isnt the same since then and runs like a charm, smooth like butter, it's more peppy, shift point are spot on...what more can I say. I'm sure I even have this little stupid grin while I drive.

Make your own opinion, OP, and test drive one. Forums are good but it only represent a very small % of Focus owners. I know my dealer is working extra hard to make me happy about my purchase...and, well, they are actually doing a very good job.

 

Gawdammit Allyy, they are fixing issues! Didn't you get the memo? [poke]

 

Not for him they aren't. I've tried to tell him repeatedly up here that he has a bad unit. Either his dealer stinks or he's crazy. I have absolutely no way to know which, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt. I just wish he would quit making general statements about the DCT like "They are very bad". That's just not true. He should say "my DCT" and some others. I think its far more a Quality Control issue and NOT a defective design.

 

Get my recall done on the 25th, not that I notice it much anyways.(didn't know about the recall, I booked in for a service, had to call back after I got the mail the same day) Going on a road trip a few days after [headbang]