| Author | Message | ||
     Dwardo |
Seem to be a lot of Focus buyers on this forum so I'll solicit some input: I just bought a 2012 Focus SE to replace my 2002 ZX5, which has 280,000 miles and still going. There is a lot to like about it and some stuff I don't like, but a couple of things seem abnormal to me and I'd like to know if other Focus users have the same issues. First and most annoying, it has a really noticeable engine vibration at right about 2000 rpm. It is definitely engine speed related and not affected by load. Right where you drive a lot, you feel a distinct high frequency buzz through the steering wheel or anywhere else. Also, the exhaust noise is surprisingly loud and an increase in noise coincides with the onset of the vibration. Normal? Also, there is a lot of tire and suspension noise. It has the Continental tires. On a smooth road it is very pleasant and quiet but we don't have smooth roads here in Baltimore. Taking a sharp bump on one wheel (particularly the right front) generates a loud "plonk" noise that sounds like tire noise but is very loud. I find the car rides a little harder than I would like but I can get used to that. It's a little cramped but if I can remove the dead foot pedal to the left of the clutch that will improve things immensely. I do have to say that the overall running, handling, and braking are superb although the steering is so sensitive that it's a little twitchy at high speed. The gas mileage is incredible even though it's not broken in. How do you other Focus buyers like your cars? Thanks. | ||
| Mnrider |
Set the tire pressures to what it says on the drivers door. Maybe too much tire pressure. | ||
| Dwardo |
Thanks, but that's the first thing I tried. It calls for 35 psi and all tires checked exactly correct. | ||
| Reindog |
Do you have the 18" or 17" wheels? I have the sporty 18" and it is a little noisy and you can feel the road, but that is what sport tires are for. My wife won't let me drive the Focus because she loves it too much. | ||
| Dwardo |
No, I have the garden variety 16", which is what I wanted. The 2002 has the 50-series tires and they are stupid expensive for being so small, so I steered away from the sporty suspension. The tires are pretty large, actually. I am sure they are optimized for rolling resistance and all that good stuff. | ||
| Strokizator |
The only complaint I've read about is that the turning radius isn't great for a small car. My next car will likely be a Focus or the Mazda 3 with the skyactive engine. I'm waiting to see if there will be a diesel. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Change the tyres, my wifes Focus C-Max was noisy as hell, I thought it had a knackered wheel bearing. Nope, Continental tyres! Got Uniroyals on at the moment as they were on special last time I changed em, very happy. Many people had the same problem over here, & I spent hours trolling fora to find out why it was so noisy. I know it makes no sense, I didn't believe it when I was told either, but I swear it's true, Continental tyres & Focus just aren't a good match. | ||
| Teeps |
I don't have a focus but will offer this for trouble shooting the 2k vibration. Look for a hard touch point to the body of cables, hoses, pipes, A/C lines or the exhaust system. And yes, tires can make a huge difference in road noise. | ||
| Reindog |
Try BHO tyres. They turn on a dime, noisy as hell, and drives you towards a cliff at full speed. I tried them but I'm going with the Romney's: responsive, economical, and even tunes your engine with use. | ||
| Crusty |
Yeah; but they cost a fortune; and they flip flop when pressed hard. | ||
| Reindog |
Hey, Crusty! | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
2012 Focus SE Sedan here. 13,000 miles on it already. Do you have the 6 speed dual clutch automatic or the manual? I have heard that the automatic has a little shudder in it at certain RPMS. Our 5-spd has proven to be glass smooth. It really likes to rev. Keep it in the meat of the powerband and it's got surprising grunt for a 2 - liter. The exhaust is a little loud, but I am going to chalk this up to the whole Ford one-world-car philosophy. The Europeans like their cars a little more "visceral" for lack of a better term. This is also evident in the suspension tuning which is not of the under-damped luxo-barge variety. Hence the great handling and the slightly stiff ride. Chassis is rigid as hell. Yeas there is a "plonk" I've noticed. It is more audible than felt. I hear it, but I can't feel anything physical associated with it. All the suspension and steering bits have zero play. It's got to be something light, as mentioned earlier, like a cable or a hose, or a dangly plastic bit somewhere. I have the steel wheels (16" I think) and the tires are a bit noisy, but that's what you get for all-season tires configured for fuel economy. The electric steering is a little responsive. You get used to that. All in all it was a great price, and is proving to be a great car (not perfect but that's rare anyway) that is filling its role as a commuter (wife takes it 70 miles per day) admirably. Let me know if you find anything out about the "plonk". | ||
| Dwardo |
I've got the 5-speed. I borrowed one with the automatic and it was just horrible. I guess if you don't pay attention to what your car is doing it would be OK but it's just downright weird. I will look for vibration sources, as you said. It has to go back to the dealer because one of the backup lights is missing its bulb (!) but I would like to get some input first. Thanks. | ||
| Crackhead |
"It has the Continental tires." That is your problem right there. When they wear out or are tired of the noise and crappy ride switch to Michelins. I think the Primacy MXM4 would work nicely. (Not the MXV4) Tire rack did a nice test comparing Bridgestone Turanza Serenity, Continental ContiProContact, Goodyear Assurance Comfortred Touring, and Michelin Primacy MXM4. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.js p?ttid=138 | ||
| Court |
I just, on Friday, traded my 2012 Focus Titanium for a 2013 Escape Titanium. I had 29,800 miles on the Focus in 12 months and was, generally, very pleased. The 18" wheels and tires look great, handle spectacularly but are about $1,048 to replace. The turning radius leaves something to be desired, I notice that the larger Escape has a tighter turning radius. If turning radius is your metric, go with a Mercedes-Benz E350 . . it was do a u-trun on a two lane residential street. The DCT transmission is . . . well. . . "a work in progress". It's not bad but does some interesting things. If Ford can evolve it to PDK level it'll be awesome. I didn't need the "manual" function so I didn't have any of the problems some of the younger, presumably more aggressive, drivers on the Focus forum reported. I did notice that I could confuse it and sometimes it behaved oddly. There is also a current issue, not debilitating, with the "clunk" in the steering. Ford has a TSB out that addresses it. I've driven 3,200 miles . . at the wheels 52 of the last 72 hours . . and one thing I already miss is the fuel economy of the Focus. I'd buy another (still have one here) in a heartbeat . . none of the problems were show stoppers. Ford, like Buell did, suffers from having some really inept dealers. The good thing is that the factory is so engaged, through social media, that anytime I griped I had an e-mail from Michigan within minutes. The MFT (My Ford Touch) is still . . (thanks to software . . being "evolved. But, it's light years ahead of both the Mercedes COMAND and the Porsche PCM system. It's really good. I've not had any of the problems reported in the OP but I'd be camped at the dealers. Aggressive, polite, persistent and assertive is the only route with this stuff. By the way . . . if you haven't driven the new 2.0L Eco-Boost . this 2013 Escape is a rocket ship with something on the order of 100 more HP than the Focus. Unrelated - I took the "long way" home . . . and will post photos but WOW . . . I found places in Ohio and Indiana I never knew existed. | ||
| F22raptor |
2k buzz is caused by a secondary, not primary, imbalance. Ride a Katana 600..This is why I ride twins. The crankshaft weights can cancel the piston-rod weight primary imbalance, but not the secondary one when the crank is 45 degrees or half-way between BDC and TDC. The only solution is balance-shafts spinning at twice the crank speed. Expense and power-loss is why ford did not do this...Who can name the 6 of so common engine configurations with perfect primary as will as secondary balance?? Anyone...anyone....Bueller.......... | ||
| Strokizator |
I'll take a stab at it straight 6 90* V8 60* V12 | ||
| Sifo |
90* V twin Radial! |
