Considering a 2012 Ford Focus Titanium (US Version)

Scougar · 21 Apr 2015 at 02:25

EDIT/UPDATE: To stop everyone looking at this and commenting on the original "I'm looking" topic, basically the transmission has broken on it, and it's looking like it will cost be about $4900 to get the transmission replaced. I have only had the car a few months so this is quite shocking. Trying to figure out my options at this point. The car has been great upto now, right up until the past two days.

I'm going to be looking at the Ford Focus Titanium 2012 sedan most likely, and test drive it (2litre 160bhp not exactly a fast car). The appeal is the good fuel economy and good set of features, and it's 'OK' for the money.

I've read horror stories of the dual clutch and semi-manual transmission. Is this something I should really be worried about?

Spec me another car in the same price bracket that still has some some style and features to it please, if you think this car is awful.

(I was previously looking at 2007 to 2008 Infiniti FX35's, but if I'm realistic the fuel economy sucks in them... and they are hard to find at low prices with low milage. Apart from that they freaking rock! lol.

[TW]Fox · 21 Apr 2015 at 07:30

I am not sure what you expect from this thread given almost nobody here knows about that car or even in which ways it differs from the UK version. We don't get a twin clutch Focus and we'll have no idea what sort of alternatives there are in your market.

You would surely be far better off asking on a US forum?

Howard · 21 Apr 2015 at 08:45

[TW]Fox;27940026 said:
We don't get a twin clutch Focus

We do, they offer it with the Powershift box. I'm not sure if the Americans get the superior wet-clutch variant like we do though, and as you said the engine lineup (and no doubt other bits) is quite different.

radderfire · 21 Apr 2015 at 09:39

Buy something Japanese or something from the Volkswagen Group instead.

Scougar · 21 Apr 2015 at 15:23

[TW]Fox;27940026 said:
I am not sure what you expect from this thread given almost nobody here knows about that car or even in which ways it differs from the UK version. We don't get a twin clutch Focus and we'll have no idea what sort of alternatives there are in your market.

You would surely be far better off asking on a US forum?

I thought that some of the tech might be shared and it is more of a European style Focus from what I've heard. I've also heard of the trans issues, which might be common to the UK.

I'm not into Fords and I much prefer the advice given on here with people I have seen on here giving sensible advice over time, compared to a fresh forum with people I don't have any experience with.

http://www.graniterun.com/VehicleDetails/used-2012-Ford-Focus-4dr_Sdn_Titanium-Media-PA/2497470363

This particular car has 17k miles, and seemed like a reasonable price with a reasonable spec. (They have two other Focus's but they are only SE, although I do prefer the hatch back variant).

acemastr · 21 Apr 2015 at 15:42

A friend has one, paid about the same amount, she has taken it back 5 times for shuddering when pulling away from lights and changing gear, searching it looks like a common problem. She still hasn't got it fixed as Ford keep 'fixing' it and giving it back.

Personally you might as well look at a Camry or Corolla, both as mundane as the Focus (relative to the forum's usual recommendations) but are far more likely to last you. Maybe even look at a Civic, should be reliable and kitted with enough to keep you happy.

Scougar · 21 Apr 2015 at 15:47

acemastr said:
A friend has one, paid about the same amount, she has taken it back 5 times for shuddering when pulling away from lights and changing gear, searching it looks like a common problem. She still hasn't got it fixed as Ford keep 'fixing' it and giving it back.

Personally you might as well look at a Camry or Corolla, both as mundane as the Focus (relative to the forum's usual recommendations) but are far more likely to last you. Maybe even look at a Civic, should be reliable and kitted with enough to keep you happy.

Father-in-law is a master tech at Toyota.... but I just find the Camry/Corolla real bland and much more expensive for a comparable spec :-(

As you say.. the potential transmission issues are my main concern.. as it could get pricey if it goes wrong. Apart from that it seems reasonable.

I don't get why these car's have to be so mundane in looks lol.

George Hincapie · 21 Apr 2015 at 19:23

Scougar said:
but if I'm realistic the fuel economy sucks in them...

How expensive is fuel in the US? It's cheaper than the UK I believe, but not sure how much.

acemastr · 21 Apr 2015 at 19:32

$2.39 around here

xs2man · 21 Apr 2015 at 19:57

That'll be for a gallon though...

sovietspybob · 21 Apr 2015 at 20:13

Wow so only about 42p a liter, screw fuel economy and get a V8

Scougar · 21 Apr 2015 at 21:21

US gallon is 3.8 litres. US Gallon is $2.65 (regular). Per week I spend about 25 to 30 dollars on fuel with a V6, doing somewhere between 150 to 200 miles a week.

Was unable to go test drive today as got side tracked with code sign off.

iaind · 21 Apr 2015 at 21:49

20 quid a week to do 200 miles in an v6. Why is fuel economy even if you double your fuel economy you'll be saving £10 a week. If that's a significant amount for you then maybe motoring isn't for you let alone spending thousands on a new one.

OllyM · 21 Apr 2015 at 23:45

acemastr said:
A friend has one, paid about the same amount, she has taken it back 5 times for shuddering when pulling away from lights and changing gear, searching it looks like a common problem. She still hasn't got it fixed as Ford keep 'fixing' it and giving it back.

I have a rental Focus at the moment and it does this. Tempted to try and swap it for something else as it's annoying.

Scougar · 22 Apr 2015 at 02:37

iaind said:
20 quid a week to do 200 miles in an v6. Why is fuel economy even if you double your fuel economy you'll be saving £10 a week. If that's a significant amount for you then maybe motoring isn't for you let alone spending thousands on a new one.

To the kind gent suggesting that motoring might not be for me, I shouldn't have to justify the need for a car or my intentions. However, 10 is a completely paltry sum to me and it's about at least attempting to be sensible for something which I drive over 200 miles a week, the difference between an Infiniti FX35 (SUV 18/19mpg avg) and a Ford Focus (33 mpg avg?)is substantial over the year. Heck, my raise this year paid for my fuel bill twice over.

OllyM> Thanks for the input. I will ask for an extended drive with it. It only has 17k miles on it, which combined with the price makes it relatively attractive.

iaind · 22 Apr 2015 at 07:32

I'm confused about the point you're making. You seem to be suggesting that the money is insignificant but you still want something with decent fuel economy. Weird.

Scougar · 22 Apr 2015 at 13:35

iaind said:
I'm confused about the point you're making. You seem to be suggesting that the money is insignificant but you still want something with decent fuel economy. Weird.

And you are suggesting that I shouldn't be motoring if I suggest I'm concerned by fuel costs. Rich people still buy prius's/hybrids even though they have the mean's to buy V12's.... (p.s. I'm not rich, but the point stands). So no.. it's not weird, you just have a different opinion on priorities

I am saying that the 'sensible' option is to get something economical as it is for a commute, and the end result is 40 to 50 dollars a month I wouldn't 'have' to pay out that could go towards something else. I have no real issue getting something with less MPG, but is that really the sensible option for what is essentially a commuter vehicle, and occasional other uses?

Blackhawk47 · 22 Apr 2015 at 14:01

iaind said:
I'm confused about the point you're making. You seem to be suggesting that the money is insignificant but you still want something with decent fuel economy. Weird.

You do know that not everyone wants a gas guzzling V8 for driving to/from work and doing errands. Don't get me wrong, if I lived in the US then I could probably justify having something with a V8 because fuel is so cheap compared to UK (around half isn't it?). Though that £10 quid a week saved on fuel could be used for a meal out every month or used towards taking kids to the cinema or something.

People have different wants/needs, but I don't think anyone on this forum has good knowledge of the US used car market, except maybe those who live there.

iaind · 22 Apr 2015 at 14:12

And where exactly did I say he should get a gas guzzler?

The point is, at such little money it's not worth overthinking. He should get a car he likes, that performs as he wants and meets his needs in other ways. If that happens to be decent on fuel then fair enough. If not then it's no big deal. The Infiniti he was looking at looks like a MUCH nicer car than the Focus - but he wants to look at the lower end car to save a couple of quid on fuel.

It's like settling on a bungalow when you really wanted a 3 bed semi, because the heating bills were £3 a week cheaper.

Blackhawk47 · 22 Apr 2015 at 14:21

iaind said:
And where exactly did I say he should get a gas guzzler?

The point is, at such little money it's not worth overthinking. He should get a car he likes, that performs as he wants and meets his needs in other ways. If that happens to be decent on fuel then fair enough. If not then it's no big deal. The Infiniti he was looking at looks like a MUCH nicer car than the Focus - but he wants to look at the lower end car to save a couple of quid on fuel.

It's like settling on a bungalow when you really wanted a 3 bed semi, because the heating bills were £3 a week cheaper.

The Infiniti would be much older/higher miles and not in budget. A quick search shows a Infiniti FX35 (2006 model) with 100k+ miles for nearly $15k. Now that seems bonkers to me, like I said...the US used car market is weird.