ATTN dealers: a DCT is NOT a manual

"SirRaoulDuke" (sirraoulduke)
07/11/2016 at 23:47 • Filed to: None

I am in the market for a lightly used pre-owned auto. The daily driver 2004 Mazda3s is to the point I need to put a couple grand of work into it, and frankly I would rather get something else and give it to my daughter as a first car. And that’s great, she should learn to drive a manual and even if she burns up the clutch it would be worth about the same as a trade in either way.

I am now 45 years old, and performance is not as important as it used to be for me. My daughter will be going away for college in a year, and something comfortable with good MPG for visits just makes more sense. I don’t want a huge payment after six years without one, and I really don’t have the money to just drop straight cash on a car, so I am looking at the usual suspects: some offerings from Hyundai and Kia (I have found some great local deals on 2015 Sonatas and Optimas, and this weekend I drove an Elantra on a long highway trip and managed 44 MPG, holy cow), the Ford Fusion, the new Mazda3, and the Ford Focus.

So about the Ford Focus: As you all know, the DCT in the Focus has been the recipient of consumer complaints out the wazoo, and while the majority of those complaints are due to dumbasses not understanding how a DCT works there are actual design flaws that can lead to leaking seals and bombed clutches. I really like the looks, handling, and steering feel of the Focus, but taking a chance on that DCT blowing up in my face out of warranty is just not worth the risk. And shit, if I am going to buy a Focus I am going to enjoy that handling while rowing my own anyway.

So I plugged in Focus, manual, to all the usual car-buying sites and the local dealer sites. Wow, there’s a lot of manual Ford Focuses around here, I thought.

No. There is exactly one that is not of the ST variety.

Without fail, three-fourths of local dealers list the DCT as a manual. As a gearhead, I can appreciate that. Fuck yeah, DCT, like an auto but really like a manual. Or something like that. But that isn’t what I am looking for; I want an honest-to-God three pedal Focus with a damn handle to put my car in my control and my fears at rest. A DCT is NOT going to do that for me.

Why in the hell do these dealers do this? Are they stupid? Possibly. These are not Porsche dealers that would put PD-FUCKING-K in an ad. Do they not understand cars? Very likely, the usual car sales manager is in charge of selling payments, not cars. Are they making this a pain in the ass for me? Absolutely, you bastards.

Has anyone else had this exact experience with online car shopping? DCT’s listed as manuals? I know half the listings fuck up the options on a car, but this is a little more important that if the car has lighted vanity mirrors. Assholes.

DISCUSSION (16)

Clown Shoe Pilot > SirRaoulDuke
07/11/2016 at 23:51

Double Clutch. It’s TWICE as manual as the kind of cars you’re thinking of.

dogisbadob > SirRaoulDuke
07/11/2016 at 23:54

Well, it is, technically. It’s like two manual transmissions with two automated clutches. even the magazines call them manual transmissions. Kind of similar to the old 7-speed Doug Nash shit in the early C4 Vettes.

The DCT is NOT a suitable replacement for a regular automatic transmission in regular daily driving (you understand, but Ford doesn’t, apparently). Ford should just recall all of them and just replace them with regular automatic transmissions! Fun fact: in Europe, the Fiesta is available with a 4-speed (non-DCT) automatic.

Honda made a new DCT that includes a torque converter. I think it’s on the TLX and RLX. Probably the first good DCT.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > SirRaoulDuke
07/11/2016 at 23:55

There are a shockingly large number of cars listed as manuals that are simply torque converter automatics with paddle shifters. It’s extraordinarily frustrating.

CRider > SirRaoulDuke
07/12/2016 at 00:00

Just get an ST.

E90M3 > SirRaoulDuke
07/12/2016 at 00:10

It’s a pain in the ass, when I was looking for my e90 the first thing I’d do is click on the ad and scroll down until I saw a picture of the interior cause every one was listed as a manual. I want the third pedal damn it! Carmax actually usually got it right and lists the DCTs as auto.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP
07/12/2016 at 00:11

Needs to be a “# of pedals” option on CL.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > SirRaoulDuke
07/12/2016 at 00:27

I’ve had the same problem and have contacted the dealers to politely point out their error. They really don’t seem to give a damn, and still call me (on a Google voice number, thankfully), asking if I’m still interested in the car. Fuck no - no third pedal equals no interest - get it through your thick skulls already. It’s not like most (if any) cars have a choice of between a conventional automatic and a DCT - it’s either one or the other, and neither of them is a manual even if you can change gears yourself.

Just go for the Mazda - you’ve got a better chance of finding an honest to god manual in one of those than pretty much any other brand, even if you have to hunt for it. My Mazda5 has the 6MT and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I like the idea of a DCT, but the additional maintenance costs associated with it, at least in the VW I was looking at, made me even more happy to have a nice, simple conventional manual gearbox.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
07/12/2016 at 00:35

Then people would mistake a floor-mounted parking brake as a third pedal :/

SirRaoulDuke > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing.
07/12/2016 at 01:21

That’s the issue, a manual. If I am going to go with Mazda again, it has to be a stick just because their cars are more fun to drive. It would be a waste to get one with an auto, just because. Well there is exactly ONE Mazda3 with a stick here locally, and it is white so that is a no-go. And anyway, I hate the small tach on those, I think Mazda really made a mistake with that on a car obviously targeted to enthusiasts.

SirRaoulDuke > dogisbadob
07/12/2016 at 01:30

Those of us who understand that kind of technical stuff are a rare breed. These dealers are just dumb and really are shooting themselves in the foot; I wonder how many people who want a slushbox just don’t click on these ads?

SirRaoulDuke > CRider
07/12/2016 at 01:35

Out of my budget. I am going $15k tops. There is a Fiesta ST locally with 14k miles for $16.5k, I am waiting for the dealer to call back on it so I can offer a firm $15k since CarGuru has it sitting there for 80 days, but really it is a little smaller than I like now that I am an old fart...but yeah I would hoon that for sure.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > SirRaoulDuke
07/12/2016 at 02:31

A nice used Abarth? You know you want it. It’s the most fun for the least money you can get.

Kinja'd!!!

SirRaoulDuke > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast.
07/12/2016 at 02:41

Would hoon, just too small for my old ass.

Dru > SirRaoulDuke
07/12/2016 at 08:55

I think there was an article about this a while ago. A lot of the time, the dealer just plugs in the VIN and manual pops up as the standard, and they would have to manually, haha pun, change it to automatic to reflect the accurate equipment, and lots of times they are just too lazy. I also think some people feel that somehow an automatic with paddles is BOTH. Those people are wrong.

Chuckles > SirRaoulDuke
07/12/2016 at 08:55

I think the issue is this: most people want automatic cars, so on a website that has two transmission choices, it becomes “automatic” or “not automatic.” Sadly we are in the minority, and someone who wants a slushbox is going to be unhappy if they have to shift at all.

WiscoProud > SirRaoulDuke
07/12/2016 at 11:57

Yup, drives me nuts. I’ve been passively looking at 996s for a while and the see the tiptronic listed as manual on occasion. At least a higher percentage of 911s came with manuals, so its less frustrating, but I hear ya