One day in a rental Focus, quick thoughts

"Decay buys too many beaters" (decay) 01/12/2016 at 14:45 • Filed to: None

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So far I’ve been pretty impressed with my rental spec Focus, it handles well, has adequate power, and is comfortable enough for long drives without fatigue. I have found a few things that would bother me if I was an owner.

Drum brakes?

Huge interior panel gaps with visible painted surfaces (it’s a grey car, you can clearly see this through the gap) I can’t unsee it, do any of you guys with higher spec models have this?

Tedious traction control access

Excessive tire wear.

certified cool guy > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 15:04

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I love getting Fords for rental cars. They’re probably one of the only half-decent ones.

atrombs > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 15:04

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The traction control is the thing I dislike most about my focus. I was stuck in a street parking spot last winter, with the traction control on I couldn’t go anywhere and there was someone waiting for me to leave so they could get my spot. When someone is waiting on you to move, it feels like it takes forever to disable TC.

I also have Disc brakes all around.

dogisbadob > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 15:05

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I think all rental cars have this issue ;)

Decay buys too many beaters > certified cool guy 01/12/2016 at 15:09

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Yeah, gripes aside, I’d totally own one of these. First time I’ve ever been truly impressed with a rental.

Decay buys too many beaters > atrombs 01/12/2016 at 15:11

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Yeah, it surprises me how many manufacturers don’t seem to realize that disabling TC is something that the average person may have to do semi regularly in common winter driving conditions.

Decay buys too many beaters > dogisbadob 01/12/2016 at 15:12

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No, my Nissan Altima CVT did not have this issue >:(

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 15:14

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This.

I do it all the time in my Mercury Milan. It’s a nice easy TCS OFF button on the dash right near the hazard button.

TCS’s thought process - oh did you want to apply some more power to get out of that snow or slush? Tough shit. *Dammit* I got switched off again.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 15:20

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There’s a button for TC on STs, so I don’t have to go through menus or anything. :p

Decay buys too many beaters > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/12/2016 at 15:22

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What about ‘dat panel gap? Is that fixed on the ST?

jjhats > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 15:25

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mines a dedicated button under the stereo controls but I have an earlier ST

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 15:25

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Well...I never bothered to check for panel gap. :p

I know I’ve got some misalignment on the exterior, but many STs have the same issue so it’s been considered normal.

Decay buys too many beaters > jjhats 01/12/2016 at 15:26

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The ST has a real button, lower tier models bury it in a sub-menu apparently

Decay buys too many beaters > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/12/2016 at 15:32

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I mean it’s fine on darker colored cars, but it would bother the shit out of me if I had a brighter colored one paired with a dark interior.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 15:37

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I’ll take a look at mine for interior panel gaps later.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 15:40

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This seems to be a Ford issue. I know Logansteno’s parents have had some issues with their newer Fusion SE.

The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 15:55

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My SEL has the same issue around the doors. The pale blue/green paint sticks out against the beige and black interior, but the blue/green accents throughout the interior mean it’s not too jarring. To be fair, my sister’s ‘07 Accord and parent’s ‘05 Camry also show a lot of paint near the doors.

The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 16:00

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How did you like the trans? Mine received a software update last time I had it in for service and that helped a lot. It shifts far smoother and more confidently in Drive than it did previously, though Sport mode is a bit less snappy. Even with the new update, you can still tell it’s a dual clutch transmission rather than a torque converter.

BREADwagon > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 16:08

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The Focus ST has a ‘Sport’ button that quickly disables traction control. I left it on the first time I drove it in the snow (I had all season tires that sucked at the time, not the OEM Eagle F1 summers), and it literally bogged the car down until it stalled. I was at a small incline, the tires started to slip, the TCS light flashed, and it pulled throttle. I was literally floored and the car quit because it was cutting so much throttle.

So I quickly dabbed the sport button and slowly spun the wheels/burnt up my clutch until I got out of the situation.

The owner’s manual actually tells you don’t even think about driving the car under 40 deg F with the OEM tires, but if you do, turn off traction control in the snow.

Anyway, I need to check the front door panel gap on mine. There’s nearly ZERO wind noise, so I don’t think the ST is like that. Granted it’s an ST2, which felt ever so slightly tighter than my friends ST1. Both cars had the hatch door panel alignments laughably off, though....

I didn’t even know Focus was offered with drums!

I swear my front belt clip is different than the ugly one....I seriously think this is a super low cost ford FLEET vehicle. I think all the ones in the US were built at the same plant, but what’s the VIN? It’s the 11th digit...mine is “L” for the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan.

Decay buys too many beaters > The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) 01/12/2016 at 16:09

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That explains a lot! I actually thought the transmission felt a lot more connected than most automatics, I had no idea it was a dual clutch. I did notice that it feels a little jittery at slow speeds, especially noticeable at slow speeds uphill (like in parking garages).

Decay buys too many beaters > BREADwagon 01/12/2016 at 16:20

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Well, I wasn’t talking about exterior panel gaps, I was speaking of the interior gap in the doorjam that shows paint.

and I’m an “L” as well for digit 11

BREADwagon > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 16:27

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Yea, the gap for the front door between the interior trim and the interior door panel. I’ll check it.

BTW, the center stack is VASTLY different with SYNC. The climate controls and the radio on the SYNC (touchscreen) cars feels a lot better than the ones with that small screen, and it comes with auto-climate control etc.

The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 16:32

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Yeah, like most double clutch gearboxes, the Powershift is not good at low speeds. I tend to drive it like I would a stick where I work the clutch - I stop or I roll at a steady speed. This cuts down on bucking or clutch slippage. The car’s stability control system has a hill holder functionality, so if you come to a complete stop, it keeps the car from rolling backward on a hill. It’s a pretty useful feature.

I actually enjoy it far more than a torque converter automatic, especially after the reprogramming. ‘More connected’ is a good way to describe it. I forget just how direct and reactive the transmission is until I drive another car and am reminded how much a regular automatic slips driving around town.

I still would have bought a stick if Ford had offered a 6 speed instead of the short-geared 5 speed that comes with the 2.0L

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 16:44

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My biggest beef with a Focus rental car (about 5 years ago, maybe?) was that the transmission was like a 7- or 8-speed or something, and it shifted pretty rough, so there were all these slightly unpredictable little jerk events all the time in city driving.

Decay buys too many beaters > The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) 01/12/2016 at 16:48

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First time I’ve driven a dual clutch, no wonder it likes to spin the tires (well, tire) when I brake launch it!

Decay buys too many beaters > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username 01/12/2016 at 16:52

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I had no idea it was a dual clutch, but Steve still hasn’t wrecked the Powershift in his ‘12 Ford Focus informed me. I actually quite like the transmission, feels a lot more connected than most autos, but I definitely notice some jitters and hesitation at low speeds and in traffic.

The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!) > Decay buys too many beaters 01/12/2016 at 16:56

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When you mash the throttle those clutches tend to GRAB more than engage. I peel out regularly when I’m trying to make a quick left hard turn with oncoming traffic. Now that I replaced the original tires, there’s less squeal, but it’s still there.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Decay buys too many beaters 01/20/2016 at 00:01

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Oh by the way, I see the panel gaps every day now. THANKS! :p

Decay buys too many beaters > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/20/2016 at 00:20

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Happy to be of service!