Here’s how Ford lost its Focus on affordable small cars

[@Henry_Jones]

I miss having bodystyle choices.

[@aaronbryan5095]

Current gen Corolla, Civic and Mazda 3: "Are we a joke to you?”

[@tikalthewhimsicott2736]

​@@aaronbryan5095none of them have coupes anymore Edit: Station Wagons too

[@G0ZERIAN]

As you get up in age, this statement also applies to relationships. Hey, sometimes you get what you get.

[@baronvonjo1929]

Automakers gave options and customers didn't like most of the options. Just how it goes

[@cloed0ll]

Same tbh

[@donaldwilson2620]

If it weren't for the problematic Power Shift dual clutch transmission, the last generation Focus(2012-18) would've been a great competitor for the compact car class. The car handled well and looked stylish. Plus, the high performance ST and RS models were a blast to drive, and best of all, it was available only with the manual transmission.

[@GMfwdSpence]

Exactly. They were brilliant cars ruined but that transmission.

[@colino72]

Yes, if it wasn’t for a terrible piece of fundamental engineering and a morally bankrupt response to it, it would have been fine. I won’t even set foot in a Ford dealership. On looks, the first version was good. It’s become more dull and generic with each model update.

[@MLHunt]

One wonders how that DCT made it to production. They had to know how bad it was. I'd like to know the story of how it shipped.

[@jameshastey3058]

As I said above, if Ford had told buyers from the beginning that the transmission would require regular clutch servicing (just like you have to do with a manual transmission) and manufactured sufficient spare clutch packs then there wouldn't have been an issue. Instead Ford acted as if the transmission wouldn't need major servicing on a regular basis.

[@GMfwdSpence]

@@jameshastey3058 Servicing isn't the problem though. It's literally how they programmed the shift strategies in the transmission. You can service it all you want and it could still fail.

[@KenCarTechMeow]

7:54 Small correction, the MK2 Focus ST and RS in europe had the Volvo T5 "RNC" *FIVE* cylinder engines, like the S40, V50, and C30 did.

[@armchairgeneralissimo]

S60 and V70 were the most common models with the T5, also in the Ford Focus ST the engine was detuned a little with 220 bhp where as the Volvos with the T5 had 250 bhp.

[@KenCarTechMeow]

@@armchairgeneralissimo P3 yep. I was comparing Volvo P1/ Ford C1 since they're the same platform.

[@tomhoward4905]

Other correction, mk2 Escort is shown alongside the first gen US escort instead of mk3

[@Pdraver333]

In 2002 I bought a Focus ZX5 and kept it for 14 years and 138,000 miles. Most trouble-free car I've ever owned. I think the only design flaw on the Zetec engine was a plastic thermostat housing that would eventually crack internally and leak. At least it was easy to replace, and a new one (with thermostat installed) only cost about $35 from Amazon.

[@Wargasm54]

Yup. Just sold mine with 135k trouble free miles. Excellent little car. I kinda regret parting with it. And I’m saying that as a guy with 3 European luxury sport cars . It was a hideous bright yellow, but it ran quick and never left me on the side of the road. I genuinely miss the “flying banana “. 😢

[@Mattisttam]

The dual clutch transmissions and batteries lost focus once they left the dealership

[@anthonybha4510]

Awesome comment

[@dohc1067]

Even though it was a financial decision on Ford's part, they should have never left Mazda and allowed them to really develop their small car program. Then again considering Ford's history with foreign name plates, Mazda probably would never came as far either. That dual clutch 😅problem didn't help either.

[@engineer_alv]

Ford already used Mazda designed engines. They could've used their transmissions and be fine

[@garbonzobean1]

Thank God Ford left Mazda. Mazda is so much better off without them.

[@vapsa56]

I have have always thought the decision that Ford and the other automakers made in discontinuing small cars and car in general as a disaster in the making. We can see that poor decision making come to fruition with rows of unsold 60 to 100k dollar trucks sitting at the lots. I have never been a large vehicle person. I have always loved cats of the Focus size. But I am in the minority in this thinking. I know and acknowledge this. But it makes purchasing a new car a nightmare for me. Hopefully I will be in on the ground floor when the new Toyota MR2 comes out in 2025-26 time frame.

[@nowiecoche]

One can only hope that car companies reap what they sowed when they over produced humongous vehicles that are too big even for American roads. I love and own small cars and it will be a struggle if I ever have to buy a new car in the future if the big truck/suv trend continues.

[@redboyjan]

I ain't buying again before I retire, they aren't worth the huge prices now for cars

[@davidp2888]

The European versions of this car were really exciting.

[@jaspal666]

I’d had a rental Focus in 2003, automatic. That car was terrible. A year later tried the SVT… loved it so much I bought one. What a difference. 10 years later bought a 2014 ST. Both cars were a blast.

[@theflyingW64]

I had a 2014 ST also, awesome car and very fun to drive. It’s a shame we never got the fourth gen.

[@giancarlolugo9586]

I'm a hardcore Honda/Acura DC5 chassis fan but I will always have a soft spot for the Focus SVT and the Focus RS MK1.

[@christopherkraft1327]

I had an 08 Focus SE that was a great & economical car!!! I put 50,000 miles on it the first year I had it!! I enjoyed driving it for several years!!! 👍👍🙂

[@stevedunch581]

You should have elaborated on the standard model stick shift. I have one and it was a great alternative to the ones that have the crappy automatic transmissions. Mine is a 2015

[@colinschmitz8297]

Without needing to watch the video, I can summarize it with a three letters: DCT. The final generation in the USA destroyed it's reputation with these. It was truly a shame as it was otherwise a fine car and more appealing than the prior generations, if they would have just stopped using the Powershift DCT and used a normal automatic as soon as the problems were discovered it's reputation would have been left intact.

[@bbgamikec]

Amen to that

[@thejmcGarage]

Still would have canceled tjo

[@Low760]

Same issue in Australia.

[@unclejoe6811]

Yup the dct was an abject failure

[@scottbrown7415]

Definitely. There was something wrong with the decision making processes that was willfully blind to the problems and still went forward. The problem is still there and present’s itself with costly delays, stop ships and recalls.

[@kclefthanded427]

The steering was so good that even the Ford GT got it

[@-DC-]

The 98 Euro Ford Focus was an absolutely wonderful machine to drive, Maybe never bettered.

[@chrishart8548]

Even the wagon version handles amazingly.

[@matthunter4826]

Can you do one on the Pontiac Vibe/Toyota Matrix?

[@lukerinderknecht2982]

Yesss

[@sebastiend.5335]

I had a diesel 1.6tdci stationwagon in the Netherlands a few years ago. 2011 model. Best gas mileage I've ever had on a car. It's wasn't particulary fast but with the wide wheels it was great to drive.

[@thevacdude]

We have a 2004 ZX3 with the 2.3 liter Duratec, and it's been solid, at 107,000 miles and almost 20 years later.

[@nidla6391]

the mk1 focus is a legendary car. love it

[@aigoru8718]

First Focus was a sweet, sweet car. Very comfy and pretty well built. One of the nicest cars I've owned.

[@mustsilm]

I think the first gen Focus styling has aged really well.

[@zbillster]

Right before car prices went insane, I bought a used 2018 Focus ST because I wanted a manual transmission before they went extinct ... and the Civic Si was just too hideous. I'm hoping it will last. I do wish they sold the ST wagon stateside.

[@thystaff742]

All I can say is you better baby it.

[@joedavies980]

We had a mk1 ST in Europe as well. Sounds like it was pretty much the same as the SVT in the states, had the same engine and even the same seats.

[@EddietheHouserocker]

I currently own a 2007 SES with 247000 miles and counting! Engine mounts are it's main weak point but other than that it's been an extremely reliable car! Too bad current cars wont likely last as long given the shift towards disposable everything

[@richmellow3315]

Had to warranty out new motor mounts before, the aluminum hadn't even oxidized before the rubber bushing fell apart.

[@BMoney8600]

I didn’t drive a Focus, I had an 08’ Ford Fusion SE and it infuriates me that Ford stopped making the Focus and Fusion since they were both good cars in their own right.

[@lundsweden]

I had a 2 door MK1, everything about it felt right, from the steering wheel, which was so communicative and perfectly weighted, brake pedal, which had great feel. The handling was excellent and I loved that car and owned it for 11 years. The only negatives were it was a bit slow with the 2.0l engine and auto, and the auto trans leaked around the seal to the engine, which was a pain.

[@EnthusiastCarHangar]

I bought a new Focus in 2012 and it was a great car. Nothing special for sure but great for someone just wanting a small sedan.

[@budweiserbundy1525]

Thank you for another video Mr. MOC!

[@kclefthanded427]

When you try to add high technology on a cheap car (in this case the 6-speed DCT Powershift), you're just asking for trouble. Ford and Getrag knew about it but went ahead anyway

[@CRAPO2011]

I hear it was because they cheaped out with the lubrication system, shoulda been a wet clutch

[@scottbrown7415]

The Escort offered leather seat upholstery across the line from 1997 until nearly the end. The high end versions were never promoted . but they were available if buyer's read the catalog.

[@richmellow3315]

They still have them in China.

[@Cheezwizzz]

Did anyone else want to take a tire iron to that puppet?

[@johnnymason2460]

I was thinking more about using a chainsaw.

[@NFSBeast2365]

I miss the Ford Focus 😢

[@wolfeadventures]

The ZX3 we’re great budget cars before the pandemic. I bought a super clean hundred thousand miles ZX3 for $3000 . Ran like a top missed that car.

[@thystaff742]

Why you sell it?

[@wolfeadventures]

@@thystaff742gave it to family member who ruined it sadly.

[@threeer02]

They just gave the buying customer what they wanted. While some of us love small cars, the vast majority of American car buyers have “voted” with their dollars. And by and large, they want SUV and CUV

[@stevenmaginnis1965]

If I need a new car and all I can get is an SUV or a crossover, I'll move to Manhattan and take the subway! 😡

[@ak2112]

That 2012 Focus was legit great. The chassis dynamics were so far ahead of anything in the class... shame about that horrendous automatic.

[@95blahblahhaha]

The only body style choices we have nowadays are 2 rows or 3 rows......

[@josephtafur]

I own a Ford Focus It has it's flaws But it gets me where i need to go and that's all i need.

[@alvd8511]

Once Ford discontinued Focus, it lost an entry level vehicle for those who just wanted a basic transportation. Nowadays, there is a big push to electrification and even a small electric car from GM is over $35K. Everyone is promising a sub $30K electric car but I am yet to see one…

[@blue387]

Thank you for posting this, I had asked for a Ford Focus video some time ago

[@MichaelOKeefe2009]

It became the new SABADO GIGANTE car after their partnership with Honda expired in the early 2000s.

[@edword7195]

you got electric windows power locks and CD players in an escort, the escort RS turbo could also do 0 to 60 in 7.8 seconds in the mid 80s. You could also get leather seats in some versions. The focus had multi link rear suspension and drove much more nicely , it was also safer in a crash looked far better and was more upscale inside. What Ford became known for with the Focus was good handling it took VW years to catch up fiestas and focus are considered better handlers than the competition.

[@Dredderick]

Cool. I'm getting a like new 2005 Focus next week, actually. This video is quite timely.

[@TwoDollarGararge]

there good simple cheap cars

[@thecianinator]

I was in the target age range in 2011, and I never saw Doug.

[@servicerifle16]

Same but 2011 was also the time I stopped watching cable television.

[@thecianinator]

@@servicerifle16 haha actually same, but 2013. I remember it like it was yesterday. I watched one episode of Kroll show, and it so perfectly deconstructed television that I never wanted to watch TV again.

[@rogue13131313]

Had a 2007 Focus Hatchback... It was a great car!

[@wranglercody8422]

A buddy of mine had a 4 door first gen focus. He got it for $700 and we absolutely trashed it, bombing around the desert and hooning it till the front right ball joint gave out and we abandoned it in the middle of the Arizona desert.

[@dingusbingus8554]

Thanks for covering the ZX4 ST. Nobody seems to know about it. I have both a ZX4 ST and an SVT EAP

[@moldyrefrigerator]

Nobody seems to care about it*

[@Rio356]

euro focus st was 5 cylinder.

[@Noah_E]

A buddy bought a new Mercury Tracer shortly after graduating HS. The QC on it was so poor that the emblem on the trunk was upside down. That was his first and last "American" vehicle.

[@arnepianocanada]

Side character lines ('scooping' arcs over the wheels) of the first Ford Focus almost exactly mimic those on one of the early trial designs for Lincoln Mark IV. It's true!

[@EthanB]

Goodness that commercial at the beginning was so cringe

[@timknight68]

Drove a ford focus wagon in 2003/4. Loved it.

[@rcajavus8141]

1:30 Language! We are in a Ford Focus! :D

[@stevesscrap9091]

Just to point out, the SVT was more comparable to the European ST170 having the same engine and gearbox. The RS was a special low production model

[@gregg7761]

Please do a video on the Ford Ranchero

[@Lzrdman91]

I had one from 2015, everything was good, but that transmission was a nightmare.

[@dannyhassler9008]

Owned 2. A 2010 that was a good vehicle and a 2015 that was crap. Dumped the 2015 after second warranty fix on the dry shift transmission. Both fixes came in with less than 10k mileage.

[@mattg8369]

Another great video, although with that said, that puppet is the single most annoying thing I've seen lately.

[@Tool0GT92]

We had a 2012 focus hatchback 5 speed for 70k miles overall an awesome car

[@Kenny_Lex]

You should do a video about the Lexus SC and all the other 90’s models such as the LS and ES

[@elgmac73]

I own a 2010 Focus, I've beaten it to death and it's still going

[@chrisp679]

Two people to pick for spokespeople and they pick a puppet and Barry Kripke.

[@snoproblem]

So it is him!

[@r5LgxTbQ]

I wish they didn't discontinue the C-Max aka "Tall Focus"

[@GDFSTi257]

I convinced a good friend to buy a new 2014 Focus as his second car. Such a sharp car, at an incredibly affordable price. It ended up developing the shuddering, and Ford just kept updating the software. It got hit and replaced with a Wolfsburg-trim Golf. Ended up being the far superior car.

[@broeheemed32]

....until the electrical nightmare begins......

[@franzchong5889]

@@broeheemed32 arm/leg/fix/name the German brand stories are common with any Golf/Focus/A Class Mercedes.

[@kitsune_yoshi]

what the svt with the 170hp is more like the focus st170 here in europe. but i like the focus

[@PapaVanTwee5]

The puppet was Doug, the Focus Spokespuppet. His friend was John, who is John Ross Bowie. I thought I recognized him , and while he's been in a lot of movies and shows, you may remember him a Kripke, from The Big Bang Theory.

[@gabrielkiev4290]

I have a genuine question: are cars like the Focus and Golf considered "small cars" in europe too, or is that a US-only thing? Where I live (Brazil) they where at the mid-size hatchback segment, and below then there is the sub-compact and compact segments

[@Steve-gc5nt]

Mid size in Europe too.

[@primitiveassembly199]

i had a 2012 focus with that interior, it looked like a nice prius

[@Rickscorpio4]

...The worst car I ever rented was the last generation Focus. The transmission felt like it was about to shake itself to pieces at low speed and car was new. I was afraid the rental company would accuse me of damaging their car after I returned it!!!!

[@visotoo3129]

I've had four foci and loved 'em all

[@walterg902]

When are you gonna do a video on the Mitsubishi/dodge/Plymouth pick up trucks & SUV's? The Plymouth arrow,dodge D50 & Mitsubishi mighty max pickups & the dodge Rader & Mitsubishi montero?

[@CGAT147]

The euro or world focus was an absolute smash in mark 1 .. I had a Ghia hatchback and at the time was a step us to anything else on the market… great car

[@danielsiminski5878]

I have a 2016 FOCUS hatchback...I love this car! Love driving it! Love how it looks....NEVER been happier!

[@prodiggy88]

Great video! Keep it up :)

[@anthony_rivera4735]

Please do a video about the Ford Explorer Sport Trac.

[@shept.7736]

I’m lucky to have a 5 speed 2014 focus, it’s really fuel efficient, reliable, and fun to drive!

[@BradLancaster86]

ahh the end of ford, as a car company.

[@howebrad4601]

By the end the focus had grown so large it really wasn't a small car anymore.

[@bk_goatkim679]

That ad in the beginning ito good 😂😂😂😂😂

[@standroid2406]

The "How" is common knowledge, I'm more interested in the "Why," as in why we didn't get the Mk.II Focus. was it cost? was it sales volume?

[@davidgaboda1440]

I think there should be a video on the zx2 which was shadowed by the focus when it came out.

[@crabhab]

The 2005-2011 focus used a duratec motor that replaced both the dohc Zetec and sohc SPI motor

[@karoltakisobie6638]

Where I am in Ontario I see a lot more of mk1 and 2 Focuses still on road than later marks. I wonder why.

[@brianmoore6306]

I have a 2014 Focus that I bought on Jan. 1, 2015. It has that AWFUL automatic transmission that slips and jerks the car. Shame on Ford for this transmission. They had to know it was horrible! It's never caused any danger...just bothersome.

[@josephtafur]

Yeah especially when you make a turn

[@alexybodom]

How is that all comercials for cars in US are soooo lame in Europe most of the car comercials are very interesting and in many cases funny its like the US manufactures didin`t spend more that 10 minutest thinking over it???

[@baronvonjo1929]

Lots of the European commercials are way too sexual tho. Like damn it is hilarious though. But could never be shown here.

[@charlesmoss8119]

The move to soft roaders in Europe has surely caused a loss in space utilisation as well - cars with really big footprints but still small inside.

[@toddstewart1052]

How much will it cost to do a video on the chevy astro?

[@MyOldCar]

How much you willing to pay?😁

[@BELCAN57]

I had two Focus Wagons. They were excellent vehicles.

[@andyk6796]

Those puppet ads are the worst. Makes me want to hate the car.

[@rgx420s]

I should have bought an SVT Focus when I had the chance.

[@MrJayrock620]

I used to sell these new from 2008-10. It struck me as odd that they only ever offered a non hatch couple for 1 year only in 2008

[@wesleyclark947]

Can you do a video on the Nissan sx cars?

[@justinborysenko3885]

Possible episodes: Oldsmobile star-fire, Honda prelude, Mazda 6, Mazda RX 7

[@MyOldCar]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpOWaJJmZdR_fq8

[@dafff08]

the focus mk1 was a solid car, which could almost rival a japanese manufacturer. the european mk2 was still a decent quality product, however, first signs started to appear on serious cost cutting. the interior insulation was pretty lacky, which meant that these things were quite noisy on the highway, and the ac was also pretty under powered.

[@themidnighttavern6784]

I've heard that the DCT isn't really unreliable in terms of parts breaking necessarily. But it's unreliable in terms of offering an unpredictable driving experience. Like the transmission isn't blowing up, but it acts strange and is frustrating to live with. So people pay to fix an issue that has less to do with parts failing, and more to do with the transmission having odd driving characteristics backed into it. Am I correct in this assumption? Like you could drive a focus with the DCT 300k but the transmission would annoy the piss out of you even if you didn't have to repair it. Kinda how Nissan transmissions drive like they're broken when they aren't.

[@c-jhughes2481]

Its a ground issue for 2011 model, but they also have a faulty TCM that they were never able to fix after releasing 11 revisions.

[@Jay-wy5rv]

Please do the Ford flex next!

[@pfwww12]

Meanwhile it's a billion Ford Focuses on American Streets in every year model. Ford is reliable. Their cars aren't expensive or as hard to fix like most makers

[@josephtafur]

Yep

[@ferretman6790]

“Well duel on the field of Honor” 😂

[@Stix_57]

I had a 2012 focus se and is was good for a few months, it had 60k miles and then the tranny started going at 70k miles soooo i traded it in for a scion and got like 6k for it. It overall was good and got great fuel economy and was good for the time but man the DCT sucked so much.

[@markwilliams2620]

I so wanted the first gen wagon. But finding them used was a joke. They were like Subarus. If I found one it had 100k+ and usually rust on the body sill in front of the rear wheels. Yes, I lived in Michigan, why do you ask. We had one at work I drove as often as I could and loved it.

[@quealonzo]

Most definitely should mention the Honda Civic Del Sol!