One of the MOST RELIABLE Cars on EARTH! And It's a FORD?!

[@shanemonsees4798]

I have a 2005 Ford Focus with a 2.0L duratec and the mtx trans. It has over 400k miles on it. I have had to replace an alternator, the clutch (because the slave cylinder blew), front bearings and axles, and the fuel pump. Still runs and drives perfectly and gets better than 30mpg all year round.

[@mig21m13]

You forgot to mention that 2 engine replaced.....

[@shanemonsees4798]

@ ehhhh…. No? Still the original engine and transmission. I have done basic maintenance as well on it as well if that is what you are trying to say I didn’t.

[@A.LeeMorrisJr]

I'd gladly go for a manual trans if I could get 1. They're almost bulletproof & usually easy to repair if something does go wrong.

[@igorpotocnik7231]

@@A.LeeMorrisJr Here in Europe we used to drive mostly manuals, but lately women took the right to choose cars and as lazy (and tech ignorant) as they are they choose automatics or EVs, so not a bright future ahead of us.

[@dannybryant6873]

@@igorpotocnik7231 . I like the hybrids. Electric car goodness without the electric car drawbacks.

[@snowcrest7863]

I’ve got a 2012 manual transmission. It has performed flawlessly.

[@SamMiller-x4f]

I now own my 2nd Ford Focus. I am grateful for it every time I get into!

[@slickmet]

Just did the cylinder head on ny 2015 ST focus, I would take it to track days the first 3 years of owning it. It was a little beast. It took 97k miles for the head to fail. Got a new cylinder head downpipe and also threw in a new turbo. That's a lot of work, but it feels like the car is new. It's not a bad car tbh. After 10 years, I love it.

[@DavidOlsen-e3n]

Thanks for your input on that. Call the focus. I never knew that it’s nice to hear when people have good luck with cars. You always hear when they have bad luck but it’s nice to hear when somebody talks about how good a car is. Thanks for your input and have a nice new year.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

You too! Thanks. Make sure to get the MANUAL focus with the 2.0L ENGINE and NO other ones! Have a good one!

[@drblaze3850]

Have a 4cyl manual 2011 Ford Escape with the 2.5 Duratec. Thing has been bulletproof. Just make sure you undercoat if you live in rustland.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Sounds like an awesome car you've got! a manual escape. Should last you a very long time

[@owenconnolly3041]

Fluid Film or Wool Wax, Sheep Hairs oil !! It has been a very good undercoating on my Acura 1999 3.2Tl Still very little rust !!

[@DetroitMicroSound]

@@drblaze3850 The engine and tranny are aluminum tho. I'm in Pontiac Michigan, and this past summer I used phosphoric acid on all the bare steel stuff on the underside of my 17 Fiesta. that adds a phosphorus coating all over, which is a rust preventative coating, that removes any surface rust, and turns bare steel a blue/black color, just like with firearms.

[@DetroitMicroSound]

@@drblaze3850The engine and tranny are aluminum tho. I'm in Pontiac Michigan, and this past summer I used phosphoric acid on all the bare steel stuff on the underside of my 17 Fiesta. that adds a phosphorus coating all over, which is a rust preventative coating, that removes any surface rust, and turns bare steel a blue/black color, just like with firearms.

[@AlbertTimmons]

I still drive my 2002 4.0l Ford Ranger. I bought it new in 2002 and starting in 2008 , I got my first Focus to make trips with because of high gas prices and the Focus gets almost twice the gas mileage as my Ranger does . My Ranger has 175,000 Miles on it and I really haven't done anything too major on it as far as repairs go . I had to replace a rear axle bearing and a timing chain because of bad timing chain guides , but I know a good mechanic and he is great . Other mechanics told him that they wouldn't touch that engine . Probably because they didn't have the skills to work on it . I can still drive it at 85 to 90 m.p.h. when traffic is clear enough . It's been a great little truck . I now have a 2018 Focus to help with gas mileage . The key with any vehicle is maintenance and early detection of problems . Don't ignore bad noises or other signs of problems . Regularly inspect and service things before something tears up your vehicle and makes it undrivable or too expensive to fix . Find a good honest mechanic that doesn't tell you that you need to replace everything under the hood every time you have a minor problem . Good luck with that one . Happy New Year everyone . 🎉

[@ogalief]

Interesting, never would have thought. Ford and GM simultaneously make some of the most reliable and least reliable cars on the road. The nice thing is that you can get a used car with Toyota reliability for much cheaper than a Toyota

[@yourworstfear]

im 310,000 in a mazda suv keep it serviced on time still running great no oil usage at all.

[@4bangerlove]

Ive had several cars over the years. Chevy, Toyota, Honda, Dodge and they all seem reliable to me. But I also take very good care of my cars and only ever get rid of them due to 1. I do not like it 2. They rust away or 3. An accident

[@stanionman8178]

Yes the key is not only good design by the manufacturer but also good servicing preverbally within the service intervals, personally I always change the engine oil at 6k or less, even though the manufacturer recommends 12k !

[@solariss452]

I've got the 2013 Focus, diesel, 6 speed manual gearbox, that I've had since new. It has now done 84,000 miles. I've fixed the water leaks at the top of the tailgate and also the water leaks on the air vents behind the rear bumper. The fuel filter needed replacing after breaking up and the horn failed. The air conditioning oddly leaked it's gas at 2 years, but has been fine since. The fuse box under the bonnet had some internal connection issues that were difficult to diagnose but were so easy to fix. The fuses had a weird sort of white corrosion dust on them that was wiped off and that resolved the mystery engine management light problems. The timing belt was replaced at 10 years and just in time, as the belt was found to be shedding lots of black dust and was 50% worn away. Now my clutch master cylinder has failed and it's such a difficult task to replace that no-one is keen to tackle it. Other than that, I've had Fords for many years now. I've never had a 'breakdown' whereas with my GM and Volvo cars, I did.

[@DetroitMicroSound]

The 1.6 Duratec was designed by Yamaha, and Ford.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Wow, thats awesome! I didn't know that

[@DetroitMicroSound]

@BigBensCarsAndCycles Yup! I found it very interesting, personally. It makes me wonder what kind of similarities it has to say a 1995 FZR1000 bike engine, if any, apart from being a straight 4. I would bet that Yamaha and Ford drew from things learned designing the FZ engine family. When the Sigma was originally designed, Yamaha was at the top of the sport bike food chain, and it was really smart of Ford to bring Yamaha's huge engine expertise into the design room, for use in small lightweight cars you want to have pretty good torque, just naturally aspirated..

[@vasjaxx7863]

Designed by Yamaha and Ford was 1.6 Zetec, Duratec is byMazda and Ford...

[@bongodave13]

Ford and Mazda did this engine.

[@johnwalsh6927]

I have a 2012 focus 1.6 diesel ecotech with 232000 miles on the clock . Its like a sewing machine, change the oil regularly and keep on top of the minor issues I Love it No will or wish to change it.

[@powershop1903]

Ford Ranger is the longest lasting vehicle. Basically a Mazda and mine lasted 15 years.

[@mrofnocnon]

The reason being in every case here the Mazda influence.

[@andrewtamkin2511]

had a 2015 Focus, Had 3 transmissions.(auto clutch) Ac problems and electrical gremlins. Motor was solid. liked the car but its was a total pain.

[@pfsantos007]

Yeah the automatics ruined this generation.

[@STho205]

Yes it is the components that will kill this car. The electronic and sync integrated system will quirk out after a decade in humid climates. The DCT will never be fixed...just replaced every 30k It is rare to find a manual Focus or Fiesta in North America. I have a 5sp and no real problems in 190k...except O2 sensors getting dirty. A car should last as many years as thousands it cost new. A Focus should last 18 to 23 years based on cost. A bare bones S model might.

[@stanionman8178]

The auto transmission on these cars were a disaster !

[@garytorresani8846]

Sorry. I had a couple of Ford Fiesta, the last one was a 2016 stick. It was a mess. Stated breaking down at 60,000 miles. By the third breakdown at 69,000, I got rid of it and got a Honda Fit now over 97,000 miles with no problems.

[@baffledbyit]

Great video, I like how you remain respectful in the comments when someone gets irritating. That takes some self-control that I lack sometimes. I bought the 2018 Focus new without knowing about the transmission problem, big mistake. It's funny how it never came up when I was purchasing it. I traded it at 10,000 miles after the transmission needed repair. The worst part was never knowing how bad the next shift would be made me a nervous wreck. I could never buy another Ford again.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

@@baffledbyit I can understand that. Ford's got a lot of junk, but there are diamonds in the rough

[@baffledbyit]

@@BigBensCarsAndCycles True, But so many lumps of coal.

[@mrgreen3874]

have to agree, original owner of 2012 SE 5 sp manual. 213k miles on it, no engine issues at all. Original clutch and still pulls like brand new. Replaced the electronic steering rack ($95 from a Salvage yard in Oakland Ca and a great youtube video on how to replace from "ALL THINGS JIM"). Replaced water pump at 185k, Valve cover/solenoid gasket at 195k. Wshld Washer cap. Both front(struts) rear shocks. Brakes all around(super easy, disk all around). Routine fluid changes, spark plugs. Only irritating thing just started is that clicking/knocking noise when turning heater dial off. Think its plastic gears that are wearing out or loose and click for about 20 seconds before they shut off or close. Haven't looked into it yet, but guessing the parts are cheap, just time consuming.

[@madmatt2024]

The biggest issue with these cars if they don't have the horrible powershift transmission is rust. I've only seen one recently that wasn't a total rot box. If you can find a Mazda 3 of similar vintage, they have a similar 2.0L, the same 2.5L as the Fusion, and the Skyactive 2.0L which is also a great engine. It's just as reliable, at least a little bit less likely to rust, AND the automatic transmissions are actually decent. They also have less electrical issues than the Focus.

[@A.LeeMorrisJr]

I don't know about today, but used to be Ford engines & drivetrains with regular maintenance would go the distance with little or no trouble. Worst experiences were chronic body cancer in rust belt states.

[@chowtime2]

I always appreciate good tips. I've got myself a 12 Honda Civic with 280grand on it. I hope it gets me to half a million and she feels like she can. Yet everything still works! You can call me a cheap was but just before I got this Civic I had a 94 Nissan Quest with 300,000 on it. Nice to see a Ford that can be as competitive.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

@@chowtime2 awesome, those civics are great. I used to own a 2011

[@stanionman8178]

I had a 2004 Focus 1.8 diesel, brilliant car, was remapped by previous owner, had 150bhp on tap, went like a rocket, very reliable, just a new clutch in 8 years of enjoyable driving ! But I don't think the newer versions are so reliable by all accounts !

[@Daytripper58]

2015 Hatchback with the automatic. 90,000 miles and zero problems.

[@Cfchild1]

2012 Focus SEL has been my daily for 5 years now. Automatic trans TCM was replaced under warranty in '23, but it sat at the dealership for 2 months waiting for new available replacement. Actually been a great car w/the exception of the wonky automatic, although it has been much better with the replacement TCM. Engine has great power for a NA 2.0 liter, consumes very little oil between changes. Ford made a fatal mistake in using the powershit automatic for the majority of the North American models just because a majority of people don't know how or want to drive manual transmission vehicles anymore. It I had the means and resources, I would definitely perform the manual swap as you outlined in your video series.

[@lincmerc1581]

Manual transmission, windows, door locks and seats.

[@hoost3056]

I have one in a hybrid, and 160k plus. Synthetic oil since 1800 miles. Never uses oil, gets great mpg and is quiet.

[@billybop17]

I have had the ford focus and other different cars. In my opinion the 2003 and up Saturn Ions are like the best cars out there.....only issue is the security system

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Nice, I had a pontiac sunfire before, same engine right? It ran like a champ

[@bokexd3173]

in that case what would a golf 4 1.9 tdi bosch pump be

[@AliasFilter]

Hey. My 2009 2.0 Duratec / manual Focus has been absolutely abused for 175k miles and only needed motor mounts and valve cover gasket. It has never seen a garage and been very neglected. Im gonna keep it and just change oil just to see how long it goes

[@ВладимирЛымар-д6е]

Hi. Happy New year. I'm Ukrainian, and l am a big fan of European Ford. I have a one Escort Mk lll XR 3 04/1983 , and one 3dors FF 2.0 /MTX 75 11/2009 . 2cars --2♥️♥️

[@Juanpr03]

When you scan, doesn't it throw any errors?

[@bipedaltoolmaker]

2016 with a manual transmission here. 110,000 miles and it's all original except tires. Not. One. Single. Issue. 40+ mpg on the open highway at 70-80 mph. Good handling, adequate power, I love my car.

Iv got a 2003 polo 1.4. It’s never ever let me down 👍

[@michaelgraham2347]

I've seen an oil filter fell off a mazda with the same engine on the highway and it shutdown and was hard start after we put back oil and filter but it ran perfect after that I was suprised.

[@conservativeteacher1987]

You are absolutely correct. We're owners of a 2013 Focus with 5-speed manual. Only problem we have had over the last 187k miles has been a bad tie rod and a purge valve for the fuel system. Amazingly this car still easily gets 40m.p.g on the highway. I'd buy another in a heartbeat. Such a shame they don't still make/offer this car.

[@sonofsteve566]

purchased a 2017 on auction beautiful little car...but the #1 piston tried to escape! dugg a hole in the block and tried to jump out...after tearing it all apart my guess was it through a lot of water or flood and hydro locked. Not sure, but point is any mechanical machine can fail.

[@vario2664]

A celebrated case on KZbin is a 2nd generation 4 cylinder Tacoma with 1.65 million miles on it.

[@owenconnolly3041]

Yeah but I don't think the new Turbo engines will last that long ! Hopefully I'm wrong !!

[@vario2664]

@@owenconnolly3041 That Tacoma was no turbo.

[@mrgreen3874]

1.65 million is redonculous!!!! Awesome. on the flip side, my parents are original owner of a 1994 Lexus LS400, 5yr anniversary model. Has 41k original miles(they only drive it to church on Sundays now). Mint condition. Runs great, everything still works. Had to replace the tires only because original tires were old and developing cracks in rubber.

[@vario2664]

@@mrgreen3874 The LS400 could be the most amazing car ever made.

[@johnjohnson9135]

Sure it is ....but there is no POWER at all if you need a truck for what truck is intended , if you commute only, then you can buy any car since it will last with regular maintenance anyway... cheers

[@garytredwell5649]

I'm on my fifth Focus. The DPS6 transmission killed that car (and the entire car line for Ford, except Mustang). I live in a horrible rusty place called Nova Scotia, undercoat can't keep up here. I'm currently driving 2016 SE sedan with 3 cyl/1.0L eco and 6 spd manual. I worry about the engine...had a 1.6L Fusion go boom, so I'm leery. Great car with a manual and they really handle well!

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

You're not the only one to have rust issues in prone areas of the world. I wasn't aware they had rust problems. I know now. And yea sorry the 1.0 ecoboost isn't great. If you guys have the recall up there on the oil pump belt tensioner I'd get that done. The weak point is the wet timing belts on those

[@garytredwell5649]

@BigBensCarsAndCycles thanks for the tip on that recall! I'll call dealership or check that out.

[@thevacdude]

Don't forget the 2.3L Duratec out of the first gen Focus. Also a reliable engine, made by Mazda, same engine as the Mazda 3/6.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Duratecs are great engines!

[@dannybryant6873]

My 2013s seem reliable. But they are still low mileage. Prius 3 with the solar roof package and V6 performance package Mustang. No turbos. No direct injection. No sleazy mechanical CVTs. No start/stop system. No timing belts (regular or Wet).

[@Juanpr03]

hello. When converting to manual, does the slope brake still work?

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Hill start assist? Yes, it does. Once you've finished all the programming.

[@DavidOlsen-e3n]

Sorry my words didn’t come out right before but thanks again for this video. It was very informative and I hope to see more bye for now.

[@Roland8]

Hi Ben. I have an automatic 2014 ford focus titanium hatchback. At 70,000 miles the controls module had to be replaced. This was during Covid and at that time the ford dealership wasn’t open yet. I took it to a different transmission shop and they told me the clutch was also going bad but said it might still be under warranty. So I waited a few weeks and ford opened back up and I was able to take it in. They said the clutch was fine . Well I started having problems again and I took it back in within the year and now the clutch was bad and not under warranty anymore and I had to pay $3000 to get it fixed. I think they did that on purpose. I’m at 140,000 miles now and I’m experiencing issues I believe is the transmission again. When I accelerate there is this grinding noise that happens in 1st gear. Then it stops in 2nd and 3rd and comes back in 4th and stays. Sorry for the story but I’m wondering if maybe you might know if it’s my clutch again or not.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Hi, can you record the noise in a short video and post it on my discord? I'll take a listen. Could be an output shaft bearing

[@essequamvideri]

is that the same engine from the mazda protege?

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Yup!

[@jasperthomas8048]

Reliability is one thing. What is the driving experience like? How comfortable is the cabin? I have not been in a Ford car in years.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

I've owned several focuses, they ride great. After owning a fiesta for a while, and going back to a focus, it felt like i was gliding on a cloud lol. So it depends on what you currently drive. But, all in all, good. They handle well around corners too

[@ceezauto213]

900k miles is crazy. What do you think about the 1.6l engines used in fiestas from 2011-2019 ? I own 2 of them 🙂

[@matija342]

They are great engines

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Take care of them and don't let them overheat, they should last you a long time!

[@Justin_LaNoue]

I swear if these came with the 6F35 auto instead of the DPS6, even with some issues with the 6F35, it would've been such an amazing overall generation of vehicle.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

They did pair this engine with a 6f35 in the EcoSport

[@grabasandwich]

The 6f35 in my 17 transit connect has a nasty torque converter shudder. Been meaning to try flushing it, just haven't gotten around to it... And money's tight 😢

[@samuesoeilyoriy6581]

actually engine was deloped by yamaha in japan thats the only reason why its good . europe never made a good engine like japan

[@timbur2711]

the Mazda L engine? I believe it was a ford and Mazda collab but not sure about Volvo or Yamaha

[@gk5891]

Mazda was the lead on this engine family. The first of these (Mazda) Focus Engines was the 2003 2.3 Duratec PZEV for the CA emissions states. If I was forced to buy a Gasoline Direct Injection Engine it would be the Mazda 2.5 normally aspirated engine as it has been reliable and still has a conventional automatic instead of CVT. A friend's CX30 routinely knocks down 40 mpg on his work commute which is petty impressive for an AWD SUV (Crossover really).

[@scottmasa7774]

the taurus sho had the yamaha engine.

[@liambyrne591]

I am German and I am very angry you do not want to get us Germans angry

[@williamtownsend4978]

Stop making crappy cars!

[@blu3mang0s]

My mtx-75 had to be replaced. It did not fail internally but something went wrong with the shift tower and I lost the ability to shift. Could not find a replacement shift tower so the entire unit had to be replaced. Not sure how common this issue is but it happened at 125k and was a massive headache.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Oh wow, okay! I had to replace a shift tower once on a B6 (different manual, its paired with a different focus engine) but not on the mtx. Too bad!

[@stevestone4346]

My 2001 MK1 1600 zetec is the best car I’ve ever owned. Trouble is, how do I replace it?

[@bongodave13]

I have that engine in my EcoSport. Glad to know it's reliable. I intend to keep the car for a long time.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Change the fluid in the auto transmission every 30k miles, thats the weak point. The fluid wears out fast and causes wear to the pump

[@micahwest5347]

Interesting. See so few of them on the road.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

@micahwest5347 most of the ones out there have that dual clutch automatic which is not reliable

[@micahwest5347]

@ that makes sense. I vaguely remember looking at a used one a while back. If I remember correctly the transmissions had some reported problems. Possibly manifest in the reverse gear going bad first?

[@BMan100]

Well, just need to keep up with maintenance and take care of the usual wear and tear items. Though of course the Direct injection Carbon Build up is a thing at times depending on the driving conditions if you don't open that sucker up at times.. DEM DARR EYETALIAN TUNE UPZ

[@salvor1]

compare a picture of the front of a ford in line 6 from the 60s and a newer 6.7. Talk about a bizarre nightmare. Somebody has gone off the deep end. Things were simple, reliable, cheap to operate. Now they are complicated, can't stay running and horribly expensive and impossible to fix.

[@chuckgladfelter]

Laughs in 4.3 Chevy with 4L Slippy tranny. For real, though, I've heard nothing but good about those and a lot of bad about the automatic tranny.

[@jeffli480]

I've noticed that in general, any car that has a manual transmission seems to be more reliable than the automatics. Why is this the case?

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Hey, manuals are more simply built inside. They don't have rubber piston seals or as many moving parts.

[@rizkyabraham7132]

My 2012 focus SE vibrates during high speed, wheel and tires balanced and aligned. could this be a struts/suspension issue?

[@michaelgraham2347]

Vibration could be motor mount or bad axle cv joint, had a camry vibrate on me real bad and it was the axle

[@rizkyabraham7132]

I replaced the motor mounts already with OEM, so not that, it only happens on high speed though.

[@michaelgraham2347]

@rizkyabraham7132 only this left is the axles

[@michaelgraham2347]

@rizkyabraham7132 I've seen brake caliper or bad brake hose binding up and cause the car to shake so jack up the car and turn all 4 wheels by hand making sure it's not binding

[@mikekosar6135]

Sure can be

[@RustyShackle-v9u]

08 fusion 2.3 excellent aswell 190k miles besides a starter water pump spark plugs and a valve cover gasket still gets 30mpg and runs like it did new. The fnr5 is oem aswell fluid and filter changed every 60k.

[@FullFaithRepair]

I personally like a bigger car and I hate riding in my focuse for that reason but It is crazy reliable, 50 miles per imperial gallon and it really doesn't matter how you drive it. I do oil changes every 3200 miles. Biggest complaint is, for some reason, I go through a lot of wheel bearings

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Hmm are you using oem wheel bearings? is it the front ones failing and you're using the same mechanic over and over? Could be poor quality bearings or improper install if the fronts

[@FullFaithRepair]

@BigBensCarsAndCycles yes its front, first one was at ford dealer after they did trans work on extended warranty, that one lasted about 5000k, next 2 I changed with aftermarket and they lasted about 10k each, last one I changed was oem and is still good with about 30 k on it.

[@RickyRooster81]

Love all your videos brother. I have a 14 5 speed and love working on it. Your videos are truly helpful. Any chance you are familiar with foracan? Just curious since I have to update mileage on a new gauge cluster and looking for any advice on FORScan. I am using a friends laptop tmrw to sign up for it.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

@RickyRooster81 awesome, glad you like the videos. I'm fairly familiar with using it. I haven't increased an odometer but I can try to help more in my discord group.

[@RickyRooster81]

@ joined. Is it a paid thing ? I’ve never used it

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

@@RickyRooster81 Nah discord is free

[@eggy1962]

I had a 2013 focus……ford cannot keep rain water out of the car a huge problem in Wales uk where it rains a lot…..see many focus of this era with door seals hanging off..got rid of mine because of it being wet and with judder from the dsg gearbox.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

@eggy1962 yeah it's got some build quality issues and you'll want to avoid the dual clutch

[@eggy1962]

@@BigBensCarsAndCycles seem to be better when fitted by other manufacturers like VW Volvo....as they utilise hydraulics where ford went cheap using motors for the clutch actuation

[@asabradford3410]

Do you think the reliability factor changes on the direct injected VCT version of this engine?

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

@asabradford3410 they've been fine. Only seldom I hear of a high pressure pump failing on a later model (17/18) and it's not catastrophic

[@wcvp]

It would be cool if you put together a manual swap kit, but shipping would probably be a nightmare

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

yeah freight shipping would be a lot, unless I do everything minus the transmission!

[@WhittyPics]

Just don't buy the double clutch transmission. The thing about those transmissions is Ford KNEW they had issues with them but released them anyway saying they would fix them in the field.

[@SteveWilliams-r1x]

What’s your opinion of the 2.5 duratec? Thanks 2014 Fushion

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

That is also an extremely reliable engine. The 2.0 and 2.5 duratec are great.

[@tshadow6]

Do those engines have timing belts or chains?

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

@@tshadow6 chains. And ive never seen one wear out, or heard of it

[@jamesdavis8425]

Is the 1.6 petrol as good? I dont think 2.0 petrol was popular here in UK

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

@jamesdavis8425 the 1.6 gas engine isn't too bad. They don't last as long. Casting issues in the head causing coolant consumption. That's primarily an issue with ecoboost 1.6s but it happened on my fiesta 1.6 n/a

[@FishingWithWilso]

Casting issue? How do you mean​@@BigBensCarsAndCycles

[@RedMango55]

Am guessing most cars with manual transmissions are quite reliable.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Yeah, i guess the difference here is this is a great engine too

[@pedrofernandez8729]

What year did they start that DCT?

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

2012 on the focus, in the us

[@pedrofernandez8729]

@@BigBensCarsAndCycles My friend bought a cheap 2008 Focus cause the owner was told the engine was shot. All it needed was motor mounts. Had it for 2 yrs and sold it for the same amount.

[@siegyriesenweber757]

Had problems with dash cluster. Had to resolder the main connector on back of instrument cluster. Took more time to remove/ reinstall than actual time to fix. Oh well, it is a Ford

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Yeah it doesn't have the best build quality. But for some reason the engine and manual transmission is outstanding

[@joesmith9483]

@@BigBensCarsAndCycles better than a similar aged Corolla?

[@JerseyBoy-p5w]

Bought a 2012 new. It’s a shame the only problem I’ve had is the automatic transmission. I have to thank Ford as they have taken care of it each time for free.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

I've got a manual swap series, and might make another series swapping in a regular automatic that doesn't fail so much

[@gregbuie8277]

I have this same engine that is ecoboost in my 2013 taurus 185,000 miles no engine trouble transmission just rebuilt good car and gas mileage had honda civic gas mileage just as good.

[@DBuendiaP]

Thanks, many thanks, extraordinario punto de visión, gracias por mostrarlo.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

de nada!

[@stefanemanuelsson2201]

What about piston rings, does it have the sturdy ones or the ones that are prone to fail, the flimsy "modern" type? Just want to know if it will start consuming a lot of oil in case oil changes has not been at perfect intervals as for some other brands around that era. Edit: not available in Sweden, never sold here with that engine. But 2.0 Mazdas were though

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Never seen oil consumption issues on a focus 2.0L duratec

[@lundsweden]

F.O.R.D= Found On Roadside Dead, Found On Rubbish Dump, nah I had a 2002 Focus 3 door until 2018 (made in Germany) great car!

[@EventHorizon222]

Is the ST hatchback with manual just as reliable?

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

@EventHorizon222 hi, no unfortunately not. They're not terrible though. They tend to fail more when abused and modded a lot with tunes

[@EventHorizon222]

@BigBensCarsAndCycles ok I figured. Makes sense! I am just looking for a reliable city car but I also like the sporty ST. I'll stick to the base with manual 🤙🏻

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

@@EventHorizon222 I love driving the STs. Haven't owned one yet because of the cost. But, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one. I've seen a handful of the engines blow at the dealer. Many times they had been modded. And I've seen synchronizer damage on a handful too. Nothing so widespread that it deters me from one

[@leoderosia9279]

Great car if u can find someone to replace clutch components at some point

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Yeah, on the DPS6 dual clutch I've got tons of videos to DIY that for under a grand. Its a simple transmission!

[@salvor1]

your chuckle makes me sick. I have a transit 3.2 diesel. It started to run bad. Those have a customer service program that is supposed to stop the engine air filter from getting wet. It was expired and never got done because the van was from Texas where things don't get wet, so we surprisingly had to pay for it (dealer told us it was going to be free). The van continued to run bad. A total of three techs looked at it (the last one was a ford master tech) and told us we needed a turbo ($3k). I looked at it after barely ever looking under the hood and found the charge air cooler packed solid with air filter fibers shredded by the turbo (the turbo worked fine it just had damage on it from the filter and won't last long). The dealers will not even refund for a misdiagnosis. My Kid had an F150 work truck home today, a v6 turbo 3.5. The tranny felt like it was slipping and low and behold, no dipstick and we have no way to refill it from the really dum fill port if it was low. I was livid. I also have a year 2000 E350 van. 250,000 miles, nothing wrong and nothing ever has been wrong with it. What happened Ford?? and your dealers duck also. The older I get the older I want my cars to be. I thought there was only one decent MFGer left and now there are none.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

I'm the same way. The older I get, the older I want my cars to be. I've got a 22 year old F150 with a pushrod v6 and manual. And my focus, while only 12 years old, is one of fords few reliable modern cars left. I'll avoid the sickening chuckles next time! Thanks for watching.

[@igorpotocnik7231]

@@BigBensCarsAndCycles I have to say it's all right you consider our suggestions about video content, but don't let anybody dictate how you present the content, chuckles included.

[@DavidCornelius-n4b]

The Ford escape seems reliable but holy scrap they are kinda hard to do simple repairs like changing turn signal bulbs..and heaven help if your heater motor goes out..had to take half the dash out. Don't know if the reliable Focus is same way.?

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

@DavidCornelius-n4b hey, yeah the blower motor is also difficult on the focus. But doesn't go bad that much. For the most part everything's easy

[@Andek74]

Is that 2.0 Duratec 145 HP?

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

yes, 2.0 duratec

[@pfsantos007]

Have an '09 (previous generation) with the same MTX75 transmission. I know the mechanicals of the '08-11 were basically similar from the previous gen '01-07. This is what happens when you don't reinvent the wheel. Too bad they put that terrible auto trans in the '12 and on.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

@pfsantos007 the previous gen are excellent because it's port injection. Though, I haven't seen any issues in person with carbon on the newer ones

[@pfsantos007]

@@BigBensCarsAndCycles Is this gen also port injection along with DI? Because some modern engines are, and it helps to prevent carbon buildup.

[@BUTTER_BOLT]

306k on my 2013 hatch 👍

[@tjw8t1]

Fords throughout the 2000's were pretty good, they ruined their reputation when they started putting turbos on everything and designing flaws into the powertrains.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Agreed. Like wet belts for example. This car is one of the last remaining good ones these days

[@PeterHernandez-lg2eh]

Manual swap sounds like a big job for a retired diyer like myself 72 years old

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

If you've got a warm garage and an engine crane its not as bad as it sounds, though i get it!

[@ExpanderKingzzz2]

What Do You Think About 2V 5.4 And 4.6 2V? Thanks

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

@ExpanderKingzzz2 I think the 4.6 2v is one of the better engines ever built. The 5.4 2v had some head gasket issues back in the day, otherwise solid

[@ExpanderKingzzz2]

@BigBensCarsAndCyclesOk But Plan On Buying Ford E150 2007 Explorer Limited SE With 5.4 2V Did Ford Fix Any Issues In The Run 2003-2014 Like Spark Plug Blow Outs? Thanks

[@jaurequi25]

Had a z-tec 2.0 2001 ford focus extremely reliable and could say as good as toyota if not better.

[@DavidGarcia-v6y]

A few months ago I had to reluctantly sell my 2014 Ford Focus with a manual transmission. It had 164k miles and it was the most reliable car I ever had. Not once did a check engine light come on l. Problem? It got struck by lightning and messed up the electronics.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Wow.. thats some terrible luck!

[@RQFumbles]

I NEED to manual swap my 2012 Focus. The engine is solid. The DSP6 is garbage.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

@@RQFumbles I know a playlist for you to check out 😁

[@dankett5953]

Is that petrol or diesel ?

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

@dankett5953 this one is petrol. I'm unfamiliar with the diesels.

[@dankett5953]

@BigBensCarsAndCycles Thanks, that's impressive miles all the same 👍

[@taunus1979]

I bought one in 2021 with 100k on it and another in 2022 with 128k on it, one for myself and one for my wife. Both were 2013 model 5-speed manuals, and they’ve been fantastic, reliable cars that are easy to work on. Over time, the only repairs I needed were replacing the purge valve, O2 sensor, clutch, rear shock absorbers, and two sway bar links. That’s all I had to do, even though one of them was my delivery car. The driving experience is sporty yet comfortable, and the 160 hp engine provides plenty of power for quick overtakes. The solid, heavy doors give a strong sense of the car's sturdy and safe structure. I sold one as its mileage got higher, and am now on the lookout for yet another manual Focus. I always buy them cheap and sell them cheap, with virtually no depreciation. It’s easily the best car purchase I’ve ever made.

[@easydrive3662]

Seriously no way, the mk1 first generation ford focus is by far the most reliable of the focus models! Here in the uk we have the honda jazz which id say is probably one of the most reliable cars on the road

[@FishingWithWilso]

Are the 1.6L TI-VCT as reliable?

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Hey, no the 1.6 has occasional coolant consumption issues. Though if non turbo, and well cared for, they can have a long life

[@JohnMurphy-dw6ml]

What about carbon buildup on the intake valve?

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Its not a real problem I've seen on these

[@pedrofernandez8729]

The automatic has "issues"? That may be the understatement of the year.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Yeah, the auto dct has issues. and the 1.0 ecoboost has issues. Get a 2.0 n/a 5 speed and youre set

[@Honestandtruth007]

I Wish what you Said here is True for American cars .👍 Japanese and Korean learn from American in Technology startup and They make very Reliable. Why Consumer Reports Never mention this FORD Focus about Reliability 🥺🤔

[@IronMike-f8i]

Because people do not want to be a slave to a manual transmission. Car..they want automatic

[@HelicopterDad-u5b]

The ultimate commuter car!

[@ramsn1971]

I had a 2002 Ford Focus manual which was a POS! At 3000 miles it leaked when it rained, and the dealer said it was not covered in the warranty. I took it to a dealer because it had misfiring issues, and the shifter broke; so that dealer asked me to tow it to another dealer. I had to pay for the broken shifter which a mechanic broke. The quality was horrible and it had tons of problems. The service was horrible! I will never buy a ford again.

[@StickNclutch]

Only Ford focus you'll see me driving is the RS with the blue paint and loud pipe.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Nice choice!

[@janetthomas6934]

What about 2017? My engine quit!! Being replaced!

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

@@janetthomas6934 is it the 1.0L Ecoboost by any chance? Those have reliability issues. But the 6f15 auto transmissions are great on that setup

[@kennielsen3896]

My last job ended in 2020 when I moved to Spain to do a US/Spain Program where I assisted the English teacher at an elementary school. After a couple months, I knew I couldn't go back to my high pay high, hour/stress job. Have the 2016, 981 Porsche black edition with 26,000 miles. I drive 500 miles a year. I don't need it. This sounds like the car I should replace it with.

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Hi, definitely get the 5-speed manual! And you'll be set Avoid the 1.0L ecoboost like the plague! Only get the 2.0L non-turbo

[@igorpotocnik7231]

I walk 3000+ miles a year, you don't need a one tank a year car.

[@kennielsen3896]

@@igorpotocnik7231 Yep. Could easily take a train and Uber on the rare occasions needed. I used to walk between 6-14 miles a day. I should do the math. Congrats on your walking.

[@igorpotocnik7231]

@@kennielsen3896 Thanks, Ken. I got rid of my car when I drove less than 1300 miles a year three years in a row, it was pointless to keep it, plus I walked and drove bicycle more than a car. 10 years without a car and guess why I had to buy it again. Three years ago I had no convid certificate (naturally I didn't take a jab) and couldn't drive with bus anymore so I was forced to buy a car or say goodbye to my job... You're atypical American - 6-14 miles a day walking is a lot, was that in USA or Spain? Did you walk El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail by any chance? It's very popular here in Europe (and worldwide).

[@kennielsen3896]

@@igorpotocnik7231 Yes, a bit atypical. I walked most when I was self-employed and contract changed to pay not by hour, but by "event", so I changed the way I operated and cut hours in 1/2. LOL Currently about to list my home for sale and planning to move back to Spain. Hopefully car free. Haven't done a Camino, but ? Took lots of jabs. Done more way riskier stuff, so that was nothing. Got it anyway in Spain! It wasn't as bad as an average cold.

[@JohnMurphy-dw6ml]

Is this 2 L engine a GDI engine?

[@BigBensCarsAndCycles]

Yes. 2012+ pre 2012 were port injection

[@PeterHernandez-lg2eh]

Thanks good to know.

[@MrCROBosanceros]

The most reliable vehicles are 2003 - 2008, Toyota Corolla, Matrix, and Celica.

[@rayperry7315]

Agreed, although l presently own a 2016 Corolla with 196,000 miles and it has been absolutely bulletproof .

[@dgray3484]

Agree- had a 2007 corolla (rock solid no issues) have 2006 Matrix with 179K running great and son has 2006 corolla with 313K (no issues)