Driving experience with Ford Focus 2013 Trend hatchback

Lzdterry on 06/11/2019 - 09:44

My friend is selling her Ford Focus 2013 as she is moving overseas due to work.
I am considering buying it and had several test drives.

It's an auto car.
During my drive, I felt when I step on petrol paddle to start moving, the car jumps a bit.
It feels as if the transmission gear is not working properly from 1 to 2.
But once the speed is up, I don't feel any unusual changing speed.
So the jump only happens when you are trying to start the car from speed 0 to 20.

My friend says it is a universal problem for Ford Focus 2013 and will not cause any problem.

I am just wondering if what she said is true ?

I have been driving a Toyota Corolla, and have never experienced such thing.

Apologies in advance that I have very limited knowledge about cars so my description might be inaccurate in terms of terminology…

Automotive

Comments

  • ESEMCE on 06/11/2019 - 09:52
    +12

    2013 had the Powershit transmission didn't it?
    AVOID!

    • zdterry on 06/11/2019 - 09:56
      +1

      I just googled "Powershit" and "Powershift" comes up. Apparently it is a universal problem. Thanks for the info! Pointed me to the right direction.

      • ESEMCE on 06/11/2019 - 10:00
        +1

        Yeah, I feel sorry for your friend…

  • JimmyF on 06/11/2019 - 09:57
    +3

    As above, if it says "Powershit transmission" anywhere, run for the hills!

  • angelkulit025 on 06/11/2019 - 10:14

    I own one and had it "successfully" fixed by Ford. Yep, had the issues before when shifting from 1 to 2 that it shudders a bit. My advice, look for a new car unless your mate will give it to you for free. Care to share how much is it up for sale?

    • zdterry on 06/11/2019 - 10:51

      $8K , it is at a little bit over 50,000 km

      • brad1-8tsi on 06/11/2019 - 11:47
        +3

        They are dreaming. Even the village idiot wouldn't buy at that price.

        https://www.redbook.com.au/cars/results?q=%28And.YearRange.range%282013..2013%29..Service.Redbook..RecordType.Car..CountryCode.AU..%28C.Make.Ford..Model.Focus.%29.Transmission.Automatic.%29&evnt=refinement

    • [Deactivated] on 06/11/2019 - 10:53

      The Focus a family member had would fail to shift between R, N, 1 and 2 seemingly randomly.

  • pegaxs on 06/11/2019 - 10:23
    +2

    LOL @ Auto… yeah… no it wasn't. :D

    when I step on petrol paddle

    The what now?

    • ESEMCE on 06/11/2019 - 10:47

      Precisely what it is (at least in a petrol engine)

    • HighAndDry on 06/11/2019 - 11:02

      Hahaha I think that might be a too literal translation from another language for the accelerator pedal.

      • pegaxs on 06/11/2019 - 21:18

        I am totally using this at work now…

        “So, what happens when you push down on the petrol paddle?”

    • Speckled Jim on 07/11/2019 - 08:27

      That's a paddlin'

  • websterp on 06/11/2019 - 10:39
    +4

    My friend says it is a universal problem for Ford Focus 2013 and will not cause any problem.

    How is a problem not a problem?

    • zdterry on 06/11/2019 - 10:53

      What she meant is that you can still drive the car except for that little unpleasantness.

      • websterp on 06/11/2019 - 11:01
        +5

        Jokes aside DO NOT buy this car. As many have already said, just google focus and powershift as keywords and you would know why. Your friend was right with one thing, it was a universal problem, a problem Ford refused to acknowledge for many years until they were forced to accept it due to ACCC(in Australia) action and had to pay a large penalty at the settlement. This is a real issue so stay away from cars with the powershift box or forget about resale value.

        • zdterry on 06/11/2019 - 11:18

          Thank you. That is a fair wrap up of the story behind powershift. I wonder why consumers bought this car in the first place. I mean you can test drive and the issue is very easily identified, no ?

          • angelkulit025 on 06/11/2019 - 11:21
            +1

            @zdterry: symptoms would occur immediately and car dealers get away with the usual response of the car uses the new technology 'Powershift" so its still learning your driving behaviour and patterns. That bullshit excuse..

            • zdterry on 06/11/2019 - 11:26

              @angelkulit025: How creative!…I do learn a lot today.

              • websterp on 06/11/2019 - 11:41
                +1

                @zdterry: There is one more thing: If you took the car back to a dealership and try to explain the issues with the gearbox they would usually tell you that the problem is with the way you drive and not the car/gearbox. That is how they managed to get away with this issue for so long.

      • brad1-8tsi on 06/11/2019 - 11:48
        +1

        What she meant is that you can still drive the car except for that little unpleasantness.

        How does she know this? Is she a mechanic?

  • Stewardo on 06/11/2019 - 10:39
    +1

    Had these as company cars at one point, I remember one car had 3 transmissions replaced under warranty. Avoid this car. Made in Southern Africa

  • [Deactivated] on 06/11/2019 - 10:51
    +1

    This was the worst car any family member has ever owned.

    They sold it at 80% depreciation after 3 years or so.

  • zdterry on 06/11/2019 - 10:54

    Thank you all. Based on your feedback, I will pretty much avoid all Ford from now on lol!!

    • websterp on 06/11/2019 - 11:04
      +2

      Not all ford, just the cars with the powershift box. People haven't stopped buying all Toyota cars just because the current gen Hilux/Prado are having serious DPF issues(and a class action).

      • pegaxs on 06/11/2019 - 12:02

        Yeah, don’t lump all of Ford into one basket. The rest of the Focus range is quite good. I would happily buy one again after owning one years ago, but just not with the powers hit transmission.

      • Gareth on 06/11/2019 - 15:05
        +2

        To be more clear, this problem is the 'dry' dual clutch transmission offered on the Fiesta, Focus and EcoSport models. Technically it's a Getrag model 6DCT250 - also used by Renault and Smart. It is common for these cars to be experience inconsistent/rough gear changes. Some fail. Any failure of a Dual Clutch Transmission is going to be expensive.

        The PowerShift box on the Mondeo's (and Diesel Focus's) is a completely different (and much more robust) wet dual clutch transmission (6DCT450). This transmission is also used by Volvo and Dodge.

        However, given that, Ford's ACCC settlement ($10m) was all about customer service issues. ie. It wasn't about the PowerShifts themselves, but that they were denying the issues and leaving their customers high and dry.

        Dual Clutch tranmissions were originally prominently used with the VW group (where they call them 'DSG'), but are now used throughout the industry because of their fuel saving abilities versus a traditional automatic transmission. But they're complex beasts - meaning any repair costs (important outside of warranty) are likely going to be high. (eg reports of a Mondeo 6DCT450 replacement costing $9k)

        • zdterry on 07/11/2019 - 08:38

          When ford paid the $10m to ACCC, did ACCC pass on the penalty to customers?
          If not, the final winner is ACCC ?

    • brad1-8tsi on 06/11/2019 - 12:27
      +1

      A Focus with a manual transmission would be a fun car.

      Falcons are quite good for what they are.

  • zdterry on 06/11/2019 - 10:56
    +5

    And to add on to that, I now appreciate a lot how good a Toyota Corolla is….

  • skinner on 06/11/2019 - 11:45

    We have one of these as our second car. The transmission is definitely rubbish in lower gears. I prefer manuals so usually use the "sport mode" which gets rid of the clunkiness.

    Other than the transmission it's a fairly decent car. We plan on just running it into the ground so resale isn't an issue anyway.

    If your friend is going overseas she's going to have to get rid of it so you might be able to smash down the price. If you do buy it at least you will should have transmission failures covered for life!

    • ESEMCE on 06/11/2019 - 12:10

      Have ytou seen the price on a Powershit transmission replacement?
      I was quoted $4k just to replace some sensors and the clutch pack! (leaving the existing mechatronics package in place).
      Called around for other quotes but no-one else was able to do the work without buying a special toolkit from Ford for $1500.

  • yoonibear on 06/11/2019 - 12:27
    +2

    Don't buy it - your corolla will more than likely outlast that focus

  • gazza the great on 07/11/2019 - 19:25
    +1

    My daughter had the same Focus. After 3 transmission replacements ( under warranty) that was enough. Traded it in for a cerato , couldn't believe how much better the Kia was. She got sweet FA for the Ford though. A lesson learn't.

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