My Sonic Replacement

[13nick31]

I'm hoping this type of thread is allowed here. I still enjoy lurking this site and seeing new info/etc on the Sonic.

Just wanted to start off by saying that I love the Sonic (only in HB form haha) and it was a great vehicle and lots of fun while I owned it. It was a 2013 Sonic LT auto and Trifecta tuned. I still do miss my little Sonic.

Anyway, I had sold my Sonic in March 2015 and had picked up an '04 Corolla for the time being. So, a lot has happened since then and I was in the market for a new car. Was looking at the new Sonic's and was a little disappointed they got rid of the "motorcycle-inspired" instrument cluster. And the fact they got rid of the Sonic's trademark headlights. Still a great car though!

Somehow I ended up on Ford's website and saw their current incentives for the Ford Focus.

Fast forward to today. I'm now the proud owner of a 2016 Focus ST. The crazy thing was, my OTD price was within $1000 of my '13 Sonic LT auto Granted, I didn't get 'that' great of a price on my Sonic, I'm sure.

I still don't think I've seen a new Sonic on the road yet! Hoping to see them soon. Still see a good amount of the 1st gen Sonic's and they'll always have a place in my heart *cheesy smile*

 

[Papasonic]

The Focus ST is indeed a nice hatch. I optioned one up on their website; It was pushing $30K loaded! I'm scared to spec out the RS version.

I had to look: Here is a RS at a local dealership. $42K plus!

2016 Ford Focus - Search Inventory

 

[TheGreenDragon]

You sir, have good taste.

 

[RMinNJ]

Yeah my kid was try to talk me into ST (when I told him the mustang only had 2 doors and I needed more).

I wonder how the maintenance is on those... I was scared away from the Focus and Fiesta because I was looking for an automatic and their DCT transmission had horror stories. I would definitely go back to a manual now at this point in my life.. my kid makes a real good salesman....get it ..get it...you like manuals..look at the horsepower..look at the wing...

 

[Missouri Mule]

Yeah my kid was try to talk me into ST (when I told him the mustang only had 2 doors and I needed more).

I wonder how the maintenance is on those... I was scared away from the Focus and Fiesta because I was looking for an automatic and their DCT transmission had horror stories. I would definitely go back to a manual now at this point in my life.. my kid makes a real good salesman....get it ..get it...you like manuals..look at the horsepower..look at the wing...

I also have a 2016 Tucson with a 7 speed DCT. It is a more rewarding driving experience than a conventional automatic, providing it works properly. It is an automated manual transmission. Some have had software issues. Mine worked fine.

Having said that I understand the reticence of getting one. It is my understanding the Fiesta uses one but the Focus bit the bullet and put in a regular automatic.

I had previously owned a Fiesta and there is the trademark stumble at low speed. Evidently the super low gear (on the Tucson) largely eliminates the noticeable stumble.

I believe that race cars use these because it will shift faster than can be done by the driver.

 

[RMinNJ]

For those that have any thought of a automatic/aka DCT Ford Focus..these were posted last month on their forum;

". after reading nearly 400 pages of posts about this transmission, from "-B" pack clutches, to new TCM replacements, to Tom's tune, you'd think I would run screaming from the car, but I drove it, and loved the car's look, feel and performance, even if a little late to the torque range..."

"...i have the dct and wouldnt buy another, and mine works fine. if you want the reliability and no thoughts in the back of your head wondering when your trans could take a dump, get a stick or a diff car .."

So the manual stick is the way to go on the Focus.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Our other car is a 2013 Ford Focus Sedan, the SE model. Everyone says so much bad about the dual clutch autos. We got ours used. There were a few issues at first, but they replaced clutch packs etc, and it seems better now.

We've got about 53,000 miles on the Focus now, when I had it at the dealer a few months back, radio was wonky, covered under warranty. I talked to one of their service managers, and asked him about when to change the fluid in it, etc. He said 150K. He says inside the tranny, they are physically like a manual transmission. The difference is that it's shifted by a computer, not a human. That makes more sense.

My wife and I trade back and forth with the sonic and the focus. I work 50 miles from home, so 500 miles a week adds up fast. So we trade off to not tear up one car too quickly before the other.

On the focus, I've learned that if the transmission starts to slip on me, since it's basically a manual, I have learned to either punch the gas to force it to engage, or to let off of the gas completely to let the transmission disengage. So far that seems to help. Also, when you are driving, try to be smooth on the gas, not on gas, off gas. Since I do that, it seems to like me. Plus I average about 34.2 mpg in that car, according to the computer anyway.