The actual final drive ratio isn't that different between the manual and the powershift (3.82:1 for the mtx-75 in 5th gear, 3.85:1 for the DPS6 in 6th gear), but the actual top gear ratio in the mtx-75 is significantly shorter at 0.815 vs 0.702 for the powershift, which at 70 mph with the 16" wheels and steady state operation would be around 374 fewer rpm, and the less work that the engine is doing at those speeds the better it is for longevity and fuel economy. Technically in 3rd, 4th and reverse the DPS6 has a shorter final drive than the manual due to the effect of the two seperate output shafts splined to the final drive in those gears.

So far I have around 318 or so miles on an April 23 build with what I believe to be the latest programming and so far I haven't really had any of the reported issues. I thought I felt an anomaly once at low speed, but I was on the brake at the time with the windows down and hasn't occured since as far as I can tell.

If you're light on the throttle it tends to shift a bit soon, (between 1500-2000, similarly to what I used to shift my old five speed Prizm at when I wasn't looking for power but just trying to efficiently move around town), medium throttle seems to shift between 2500-4000 rpm, and if you put your foot down it will shift right before the red line, I've only maybe experienced that once or twice so far, but it is still new.

I personally haven't had issues while driving any of the older builds before myself, but I was a passenger in my brother's car when it was still fairly new and that one seemed to exhibit some of the release shudder issues when slowing to between 0-5 mph and then rolling for a little while, but from what I've also heard from him is that it seems to have smoothed itself out, so its pretty incredible what computer controls and sophisticated hardware can accomplish compared to the slushboxes of the past.

 

Here's what I decided. I drove a Focus sedan with a manual 5 speed on several test drives. Then I borrowed an SE Sport hatch for the weekend with the 203A package which gives you the 'shiftability' with the auto. I drove it for around 200 miles that weekend, and both my wife and I decided that we couldn't live with the 'shuddering' that occurred virtually every time we started off from a start. I realize that there's nothing actually wrong with the car or trans, but it just made the car seem 'cheap' ... and it also hunted really obnoxiously for gears in certain situations. You always have the option to shift the gears yourself with the buttons, but when you do that watch your fuel mileage plummet.

I reset the trip meter and drove on the highway for about 20 miles and got the MPG's up to about 41, then I got on side roads, and within 3 miles it was down to 32. Even though the manual gets 2 less MPG's technically, I hve no doubt I'll be in the 35-36 range since most of my driving is rural and highway. I wouldn't worry about 2 MPG between the two transmissions ... get the manual, enjoy the car FAR more, and with prudent driving you'll be real close to the auto's MPG's. I'm VERY conscious of MPG's and how to maximize them, as I also own a Prius, and regularly average 49-50 MPG in all around driving. I got the manual Focus for a little fun, and it REALLY makes the car come alive as compared to standard driving with the DCT in 'D' mode.

I'd get the manual.


REV

 

Despite some quirks early on, now that I have 3,800 miles on it and it's smoothed out quite a bit I'd buy the powershift again.

 

I have had no problems with mine, early build (May 2011), no TSB's applied, and 23K miles! I would absolutely buy it again!

 

I have about 6600 miles on my SEL, 800 of them are my miles (demo car). They did the update befor ei bought the car and i havent had many probelms. Occasionally it cant figure out what gear it should be in. The only times i noticed an issue is leaving my parking lot at my condo i have to go uphill and around a right turn and it wants to shift into 2nd in the middle of the turn causing some bucking. If I take the turn a little faster it isnt an issue. Same thing if I come to a complete stop befor turning.

The other time was during a funeral precession the day after I bought the car. we were going about 15-20 MPH up a winding hill to the cemetary and it kept wanting to shift between 2-4th depending on the speed. I just put in in S and kept it in 2nd gear and it was fine.

I would buy it again.

 

Regarding the DCT; you definately hear the bad and undoubtedly those posting are having issues. I have a Nov '11 build and have experienced some of the jerkiness at low speed. At 2,500 miles I heard some grinding between 2-3 gear; lasted about a week randomly. Today at 4,000 miles the transmission is very responsive and smooth the majority of the time. Any issues I'm seeing is limited to sluggishness, i.e. when coming off a road way onto an on ramp - when I get on the throttle there is a hesitation before it grabs the right gear and off we go. I have not had the reflash yet; will at my 5,000 mile service and from what I've read I'm hopeful that will cure the sluggishness. Keep in mind, these cars like to be driven - from what I can tell, those who are 'easy' on the car experience more issues. That's not to say I abuse mine by any means, but I don't baby it either.

So, long answer to your question - yes, I would buy a DCT again.

 

5 speed manual tranny here. I drive 20% city, 80% highway (75mph). 30 mile commute to work daily. I've got about 8500 miles on the car and I am getting between 35-38 mpg regularly.

 

i would buy it again from a problem perspective, but I probably would get a 5MT from a fun perspective.

 

I'm pretty new to the DCT with only about 750Kms on the odo but I'm very impressed with it.

I like how it has driving traits from both an auto and a manual. It is a manual at heart so it does behave like a manual for the most part. It does not feel like an auto as it is using friction clutches and if you are easy on it the car will try and pull the highest gear possible that the motor can lug to give you the stellar mileage. I've heard folks say is upshifts to fast or surges when backing up. Get in a manual car and up shift as quick as the motor will allow and try reversing real slow. It is a manual with the computer operating the gear selection and clutch engagement so if you want an auto transmission and do not like the direct power coupling of a manual, this one is not for you. If you want an amazing piece of technology that makes a manual trans fun and easy to drive in all conditions from heavy traffic to letting it fly in sport mode, this one is for you.

 

I would definitely buy the DCT again. Stutters once in a while with low acceleration from a stop, much like a manual would. I've got nearly 11k and my average mileage since new is around 35 last i checked.

 

2700 miles on ours and I think the DCT is great. Never experienced any issues with it.

 

I would buy another Focus today, with the DCT. As stated above, you only hear the bad things, never the good things. Mine is an early build, June 2011. When I first got the car, I found the way that the car shited to be a bit different, like a 17 year old after figuring out how and when to shift a manual transmission, not as smooth as it could be, but, it still shifted. I had the TSB done, and it has been smoother, with no issues. Hell, I even like the rollback we have on an incline. Just make sure the transmission has had the software updated. So, yes, buy one.

 

I'm very unhappy with mine. I had a Fiesta before I got the Focus and after they applied an update it was a pretty awesome transmission. Unfortunately I haven't had the same experience with the Power Shift in my Focus. It damn near stalls in reverse, its very confused when shifting sometimes, and if I hit the gas then have to get on the brake right away it flips out and acts like it wants to stall, then when the natural instinct to take my foot off the brake kicks in it comes alive and jolts the car forward. I'm very very unhappy with this transmission. So much so I'm about ready to get into a long drawn out battle with Ford.

 

If you've ever driven a manual transmission vehicle you'll easily get used to it. Think of it as a manual transmission that shifts for you, and you'll get used it it much faster. I like it over a regular automatic transmission and it gets way better gas mileage.

A few quirks you have to get used to, like rolling backwards on a hill. The transmission will give you a couple of seconds after taking your foot off the brake to hit the accelerator, after that it'll roll backwards.

The one thing I don't like about the sport mode is that it still will shift itself. For instance, if you put it in sport, and accelerate mine still will shift around 4-5k whether or not I manually press the shift. So a true 'sport' mode it is not. For that reason I really don't use the sport mode much at all.

Spliner

 

I owned a DCT SE sport and traded it in for a DCT Ti. So to answer your question, yes I would(did) buy it again

 

I really like the DCT I got and have had virtually no problems. I would not have been happy about the extra 374 rpm at cruise speed (noise and MPG wise) on the 5 speed. If a 6-speed manual was offered, I would probably have gotten it but that is only available on the Focus ST (out this fall).

The only quirk I get is in very slow crawl traffic jam situations but I'm not in those very often. I also now know in those rare situations to not constantly go from brake to gas like a drum solo because that is what initiates a 'thumpy' shift. I also have observed some thumpy shifts at times on just about every auto trans I have ever had so it's not an issue for me.

I have not gotten any of the updates but will get the new "TSB 12B37" soon since several have given positive reviews after having gotten that update...

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=286870&page=8

 

If you can get along with the 5 speed, get it. The mere fact there continues to be a very active thread here about the DCT suggests there are issues, despite ongoing software updates. This is a new technology for Ford and it hasn't gone all that well. The truly troubling part is not that things don't work right, it's that no one seems to be able to make them work right.

Granted, many people here seem satisfied with their DCT, but I wouldn't buy one until they have been in production for a few more years. Still not sure if I'll keep the one I have. Too bad, because it's a terrific car otherwise.

 

I know you're mostly interested in feedback on the DCT trans, but...

I would definitely choose the manual transmission again. It's one of the sweetest-shifting 5 speed manuals I've ever driven. Ford has really improved the refinement of the shift in this trans--there is a night and day difference between how my '01 MTX75 shifts vs. my '12 MTX75.

When it comes down to it, does 1mpg difference between the MXT75 and the DCT matter? Not to me.

 

I've also got an SE with sport package and DTC. I just clicked 1000 miles, and I have no issues. I would buy another one.

 

We would absolutely buy another DCT equipeed car. Although it took a week or two to get used to how it works (compared to a standard slush box) we have had no problems at all with ours.

 

I would buy it again. There is a learning curve. The first time it rolled back on me when I let off the brake I thought something was wrong. The more miles you put on it, the smoother it gets.

I think one does have to be prepared for issues that gradually surface over time. Some have reported, including me, that a shudder developed after a few hundred miles of smooth operation in the beginning. But I tried to solve it myself and it's pretty much gone away now at 3,800 miles. So you have to be mentally prepared that even if your first week with the car is bliss something may still come up that you have to deal with. But with all that have reported no problems or that their problem was fixed with the update, chances are you will be ok in the long run.

 

I would buy it again. There is a learning curve. The first time it rolled back on me when I let off the brake I thought something was wrong. The more miles you put on it, the smoother it gets.

 

with a manual, I got 35.8 mpg on my highway road trip cruising at 75 mp with the air on. If I can I will always drive a manual, so there you go.

 

I love the DCT in mine.

People have complimented how smooth it is (VAG owners at that) and how comparable it is to their DCTs.

I'd call that improvement.

 

Mine is the manual and I drive the wife's DCT once in a while. I've always been a manual guy and this one is nice. But... the wife's DCT is nice enough it makes me think twice. I'd buy either one again.

 

DCTs take some time to get used to.

No torque converters, having an actual clutch. Sure you aren't pressing it but it still works like a manual.

Leaps and bounds better then the automated SMGs of before and certainly one of the better DCTs on the market today.

 

Leaps and bounds better then the automated SMGs of before and certainly one of the better DCTs on the market today.

If the current DCT is as good as it gets ... I'll pass and stick with the proven manual. That shuddering EVERY SINGLE TIME you start out is incredibly annoying. I drove one last weekend for 200 miles and both my wife AND I decided we wanted nothing to do with a transmission that felt like that. I have no doubt that it's a reliable trans, and that that is just a characteristic of it, but it's a characteristic I wouldn't want to live with.

REV