Yes, that is what they say, and I think it is quite valid if one values handling and driving dynamics over safe and somewhat mundane Japanese. I haven't driven many Japanese vehicles but I have to agree that the ones I had driven can't really hold a candle to the Focus. It is surely a joy to be behind the wheels of the Focus.

If one loves the control and sharp steering feel and handling of the Focus, I agree it would be difficult to go back to Japanese makes. I can only imagine that happening with a priority change, such as the need of larger space for occupants at the back seat. That is where the Accord, Camry or Teana come into the picture. Of course, larger sedans with good handling such as the Mondeo or those from the likes of Audi/BMW/Mercedes Benz are available, but at a premium. People may be willing to settle for the cheaper Japanese (over a smaller cheaper continental such as the Focus) if comfort and space are priorities.

So the Mazda 3 still cannot match up to the Focus? Hah, guess so. Perhaps the new Mazda 3 may close the gap slightly, but still the Focus offers much (continental) quality and value at a rather down-to-earth price if compared to the Japanese equivalents in the same price bracket.

Hope that I dun offend anyone or to start a flame war - just sharing my tots. For example like me, i am driving a older version / one generation before the current one of the suzuki swifts sport manual (ZC31S) and i had a lot of fun with this little guy. When i say handling and driving pleasure (for me, might be different to everyone) and i am not talking about comfort to begin with:

- Better steering feedback - hence feel more confident in bends and turns. For Focus, steering feedback is there but a bit vague and is more on the light side.
- Cornering fun - Swift Sport has a little understeer. Throttle off, and the car will tail out abit and will be back on track.
- High revving NA with redline at 7K rpm. It might be noisy but that is what high rev engine's nature like Honda's B16A/B/C, K20A (CTR)
- with stiffer chassis and suspension with higher spring rate, stiffer damper and bigger diameter front ARB, hence less body roll. Its harder than normal swift. Heck its slightly harder than Focus Sport suspension too. Good on flat road with corners/highways but not on bumpy road like in Cyberjaya where i work
- best of all its a manual (but my missus complains she can't drive a manual )

The Ford Focus is considered an upgrade for me from B-segment to a C.

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On a side note, my loan for FoFo has been approved!

Ya man.. i am taking the route from Equine to Cyber.. not exactly bumpy... more like wavy ... haha.. ups and downs and dips

I am in the market for new car and Focus S+ attracted me but at the same time I kinda like the interior of Civic 2.0.

Which one do you guys actually prefer? Focus is slightly faster than Civic? How about FC? Do they have navigation and reverse camera? Can connect to Android devices without issue?

I notice from the thread here that some owners are experiencing judder with the transmission at >10,000km mileage. Is the judder more serious than when the vehicle is at 2,000km to say 5,000km mileage? Reason I asked this question is the juddering in my vehicle has reduced considerably to the point that it can be considered a non-issue. The mileage is currently at 2,300km.

For those who experience judder in the transmission, is the vehicle in D or S? I notice that the vehicle judder or rather jerk is more prominent in S than in D. In D the changes in gear under normal acceleration are quite smooth. Only in hard acceleration the shudder/jerk is stronger.

I recently had a bit of time shifting between D and S on the highways. With Sports mode, I find instant power delivery in mid-speed acceleration is terrific. However, the time taken to reach higher speeds appear to be longer than in D. In normal Drive(D), the accceleration to top speed seems to be more effortless. The needle on the speedometer just keeps going and going when the pedal is depressed whereas in Sports mode the acceleration from mid to top speed appears to be more restrained.

In summary, in my limited experience, I think Sports mode is only useful in low to mid-speed acceleration, and if one wants to reach a higher speed of say 170km/h or 180km/h it is more appropriate to leave the vehicle in D. Sports mode is useful when there is need to overtake a vehicle at speeds of say 70km/h or 80km/h.

Forgot to mention. Personally I feel the +/- manual shifting buttons on the gear lever of the Ford Focus are not very useful or practical, and I understand some criticism on the design of it vs. paddle shifters on the steering wheel. If the controls are paddle shifters on the steering wheel, it would be much more convenient and fun, more practical.

The way I see it, only shifting between S and D are useful. The +/- controls on the gear knob are not very useful, to me. Others may feel differently.

Thanks for the reply. Much appreciated.

Yes, in S mode, it seems like the transmission is locked at certain gears, depending on the speed. I didn't particularly pay attention but when I switched to S mode, the display is showing S4 or S5, can't remember. it's locked at that gear, and even when the pedal is depressed, the transmission won't upshift to a higher gear and the rpms continue to shoot up(without a gear upshift). I did press the + button on the gear lever and only at that instance the transmission upshifts to S6(presumably 6th gear which is the highest gear).

The vehicle does achieve a higher speed when the + button is pressed and the transmission upshifts from 5th gear to 6th(highest gear). After that, I notice the acceleration seems to be more controlled or restrained, as if the vehicle is not very eager to reach higher speed. Perhaps there is a speed limit for S6 in Sports mode? Not too sure. When I noticed the acceleration in S6 (Sports mode) seems to have reached a plateau, in other words the speeds getting stagnant at around 160km/h and not going up much,  I switched from S to D and felt that the acceleration at that point was more effortless as the speed gets higher and higher.

Haven't got much opportunity to reconfirm on my observations as a lot of clear road on the highways is required.

As for teh judder, good to hear it's not an issue. Similarly I don't feel any serious issue with the judder anymore as the mileage is above 2,000km. When it was below 1,000km, the seriousnesss in the judder/jerks in low speeds shifting between 1st and 2nd gear does worry me a bit. But now, not anymore. I am little surprised some owners are still complaining on this judder when the vehicle is above 10,000km.

ok software upgraded, shuddering lesser but still there. So whats next?

Hello All,

I received my car on Wednesday and have driven it for almost 300KM. I don't have the low speed juddering at 1st-2nd gear... it felt almost like a normal auto-box unlike the show room car which i test drove with my wife. Put in to D, and it will start to creep forward slowly just like any conventional auto box. FYI, i drive daily in Seri Kembangan jams in the morning and after work.

Loving my Ford Focus to bits.. Cheers!

No problem bro. Haven't seen your car at Century Square lately - you still around here?

Hi All,

An update. Low speed juddering still not present, but just this morning in a jam - i experience that the car is sometime in-decisive when changing gear. It constantly tries switch between gears 1 and 2, otherwise its all good. Will update again once it passes 500km.

Spot on - 8 to 5 for me bro !

Same floor as well bro

Haha, didn't know it was catching people's attention - sent to Meguairs in Sunway (Shineway) for claying & waxing on the weekends.

I was contemplating of getting the Midnight Blue as well, but went for Silver because it's a lazy man's colour - dust isn't obvious and has the "sentiasa bersinar" look

We should probably kena one TT at Rims over the week !

Haha, not the same place - anyhow, let's not spam the board - just added you on FB.

This car requires alot of upkeep alright - especially driving to Cyber; the dust, stones and heavy rain can really make the car look like a rally car at the day's end.

Anyhow, to all those staying around Sunway / Subang - do drop by Shineway near Sunway University, the level of detailing is good & the boss is a nice chap & very meticulous fellow - who also owned a Focus Mk2 before.

Any Focus owners here with mileage 8,000km and above who experience serious jerks, grinding sound and vibration as Craving? Just to be sure that the issues are not only affecting one(1) unit but the rest as well.

Another 1,000km before your car is scheduled for the 10,000km service? Anyway hope the grinding sound can be eliminated once it's in for service.

So your car does not have jerks since 2,000km. That is good to hear. It's only the grinding sound.

Okay so I guess the jerks at low gears/speeds do not affect all Focus models and only certain vehicles. As for the grinding sound, looks like this is consistent for most if not all Focus models starting from 9,000km.

Okay. So the grinding sound patterns is not the same with different Focus models.

Let's be more specific. The grinding sound only happens at low gear or low speed acceleration.

In my vehicle, there is no grinding sound from new to now, about 3,000km on the mileage. Only once I hear it when going uphill. On levelled roads, the grinding sound at low speeds is *very soft*, so I assume there is no grinding sound.

From Craving's post, the grinding sound in his vehicle only comes up at 9,000km.

Is the grinding sound in your vehicle loud enough to the point of annoying? If it is, then I suppose the SC is obligated to rectify it.