Exactly the same model same colour, bro!

How long it took you to get the car after signing loan agreement?

Do update on the drive when the mileage gets past 1,000km, whether the low-speed drive is still as smooth as conventional auto boxes. Similarly there is no juddering in my Focus unlike some complaints here on the shuddering, though I did experience it earlier around 500km+/-. After about 1,500km, it performs like a conventional automatic transmission when shifting between 1st and 2nd gear, but with superb acceleration with the added power.

A bit surprised you don't experience with any shuddering even though the car is still new. Anyway, do enjoy the vehicle. THe handling is certainly excellent. I was on the highways last weekend and with the rainy season, the car is very stable even when I was doing 110km/h in heavy rain.

Try using S mode in traffic jam... you'll find it's pretty efficient..

I just test drove it today. I was under the impression that the downshift happens instantaneously, but in fact it is quite a smooth transition that happens only when the car has slowed down enough to sensibly shift in to the gear which makes a whole lot more sense. So one can actually think of S-Mode as manual on the way up, and D on the way down.

I can also confirm that there is no jerking/grinding of the sort that's been going around the forums especially concerning the early American models. Looks like the latest TSBs have been effective in addressing the problem, which is very reassuring. This implies that it is purely a software issue, not a hardware issue. Having said that, I did experience some ever so slight vibrations on the downshift from 3 to 2 and again from 2 to 1, which is understandable given that it really is a manual at heart. Sure, it's no DSG, but definitely something I can live with nonetheless, especially when taking in to account the difference in price. The drawbacks are very minimal when put up against the DSG.

One unexpected "glitch" I did experience was the vibration during idle. It took me a while to realize that that was due to the idle revs not being tuned high enough. Again, just like the initial software programming, this was no doubt meant as a fuel saving measure and easily rectifiable (albeit at the expense of greater fuel consumption)

For me at least, it now all comes down to fuel consumption. Is any one getting figures in the mid to high teens at all? Less than 10 seems quite appalling.

am on 50/50 city highway and ardy hit 13500 and mileage has been 7.8l/100km

Yes, the vehicle is pretty restless at low speeds.

Hi all,
I'm facing the same problem -grinding sound and jerking whenever on the slope crossing the hump since the day one.
Complaint to SDAC Jalan Ipoh, update the software on May 13, the grinding and jerking was reduced.
Most surprise me when went for 20k mileage service. i have a very smooth drive - no grinding and jerking for 2 weeks and the problem back again, but for me, it is still tolerable.

Since then, I test with different petrol station and notice some differences
1. Petron - jerking and grinding is always there and the sound is loud.
2. Caltex - slight grinding, still within my torelance. But recently the grinding and jerking went worse and horrible. Suspect "contamination" on oil tank on the same Caltex station that has went for renovation and stop operation for 3 weeks.
3. BHP - switch to BHP TTDI last week, the grinding is minor, jerking is gone. Still under evalaution. hopefully it is the right petrol for my FoFo.

My car mileage now is around 26000km.

I guess it is only grinding sound at slopes. The jerks only happen at low speeds especially at bumps.

Yes, I agree if one is used to the smooth transmission of Japanese makes, or with low tolerance toward the jerkiness in the transmission at low speeds, then the Ford Focus is not a very good choice. The jerk is inherent in the vehicle, and the only way to control it is to be very careful with the pedal when at the bumps or at low speeds. But sometimes, the car will still jerk even if you are very careful with the footwork. Just something that we have to live with in the Powershift transmission.

The Focus drives fine in both highways and crawling traffic. I think the main issue is with DRIVER's EXPECTATIONS or TOLERANCE. Some people will be able to live with the minor jerks, some might not.

The new upcoming Mazda3 looks promising but the interior may look a bit bland for some. The steering wheel of the Mazda looks a bit cheap, and I read the price will be above RM130k which is quite a bit overpriced if compared to the Focus.

OK I'm coming at this from a Fofi, since both uses powershift I thought I'd share and see if this alleviates some of your sufferings.

When coming to a bump on a uphill slope, depending on the situation I employ one of this two techniques:

a) Release the throttle some distance before the bump and let the car reduce speed without using the brakes. This takes some estimation so that the car coast to right up to the bump at the appropriate speed (you normal road bump speed), then apply throttle to cross the bump and continue on. The key here is NO BRAKES.

or

b) If you have to use the brakes to reduce speed before the bump, release the brakes before the bump and ensure enough speed that the car can roll over the bump on it's own momentum (no throttle). Once you have cleared the bump, make sure your speed is slow enough that it is well within the 1st gear, the only throttle and go.

I used to live at the top of a small hill so this two techniques have worked well most of the time.

I've booked myself a new Ford Focus. Eagerly waiting for new vehicle to be delivered.
However I'm iin a dilemma about the motor insurance.

My current vehicle carries a NCD is 30% and the next entitlement would be 38.33%. However the next effective date for 38.33% will fall on the 13th March 2014.

Do I get 38.33% now if I buy the new motor insurance or do I have to pay full premium now and only transfer the NCD on the 13th March 2014.

Would be great if someone can enlighten me.

Thanks.

Has anyone experienced the responsiveness of the active city stop?
I notice that when the car is at a slope, it's measurement of the distance between the car in front and my fofo at the back is not as accurate.
My car is below 1k milage and I have experienced auto stop twice and it both occurred while my car is at a slope.

In my daily route, I have to go through a few slopes, but never experience this active city stop, how it works and what do you feel inside the car? Suddenly break by itself?
when it's jam, how close you usually stick your car to the front? So far I didn't had this problem before, wondering if my active city stop working or not, lol.

Both times that I experienced were on uphill slope.
Weird.
I figured the active city stop does work fine.
Maybe while on slopes, it doesn't measure accurately.
Can the active city stop be disabled?
Does anyone do so?