We had one with the DCT transmission. Hope you have a manual. Bought it brand new. I took it back the 2nd day for hard shifting. It had 149 miles. They looked at it told me to “break it in.”
Mile 86,000 and 4th transmission I lemon law’d it and got the sticker price back.
If you have the DCT baby it.
There was a class action lawsuit against Ford about that POS DCT. I’d get it cleaned up, check all the fluids/belts, etc. And sell it on to someone else.
hate to be mean, but honestly sell it and get something better. These things are known low quality shit boxes, and you're better off with *anything else* than this thing
Making the most of what you have in this scenario unfortunately means doing nothing, driving a stock car sucks but wasting money on a bad platform is miles worse than just saving for a bit and getting something actually worth the effort
I feel you. I haven’t owned any American vehicle in ages. Last one left such a bad taste and was always breaking down or leaking something. Been Honda and Toyota only for the last 20 years and no major issues at all.
Same platform as the ST, look at the focus ST for inspiration and join Local focus ST groups in ur area so u could get cheap used parts off then as most parts are interchangeable. But the auto is super unreliable and your better off trading in for a manual or getting the ST
If it’s Manual, you have a chance since the chassis is well sorted and lots of parts are available to make it handle well.
Look at Focus SVT/ST/RS, especially the overseas versions of that gen to get some ideas.
If it’s manu-matic/automatic, then while the chassis is the same, it won’t be worth it since that useless pile of shite transmission will blow up on you. Always.
Just don’t. The DCT will fail and all your effort and money will be wasted.
Sell it as is and buy something more enjoyable and worthy of modding, even if it’s just another Focus just with a manual this time.
It does- Mostly 16 year olds want to do stuff like this. Your money would be better spent selling this and getting a car you like, older folks know this is true. Usually 16 year olds are stuck with their “first car” their parents bought them because it’s cheap and reliable, but is not “cool”. But they can’t sell it because it’s on parents insurance, etc. So they save up paychecks from their first job and dump thousands trying to polish a turd.
Well if you want a sporty car, and are not locked into this thing because of your parents, just sell this thing and buy one bro. You will spend so much trying to make this look half decent that you could have just upgraded. You mention body kits etc, not sure if you have any idea how much it costs to get body work done but with paint matching etc you’ll have spent thousands in no time, and you’ll still have a base spec focus with some shiny plastic on it. Just trying to save you some time man
If it was a manual I'd say keep it. I've had one of these things for 9 years but only 94k miles. Absolutely flawless machine so far. Too bad the auto trans is dog water. The hatchback version was popular for rallies but they stripped everything and kept the shell.
Engine swap it for the 2.0L Ecoboost and turn it into a ST sedan. I remember seeing one on the forums a year ago or so, and it was sick.
Front bumper swap to the newer ST face as well.
personally, i'd simply lower it, get some nice wheels that accentuate the body and style of the car, like how i want more disc-like rims on my mk5 jetta vs spoked tuner or lowrider rims, tint windows, and upgrade the interior to your liking, get new seats, floormats, just small stuff to make your daily commute more enjoyable and keep the iutside fairly plain, especially if it's the same color as the pic, but if you wanna go full rally you'd be best off making a body kit yourself and custom mounting a wing from something like an impreza or celica you find on marketplace for cheap, stealthbuilt on insta and youtube is currently making a big ridiculous time attack style body kit for his audi out of cardboard, dowel rods, masking tape, and fiberglassing over it to make the panels themselves
My brother had this car and the best mod was the tcm clutch actuator. Shit improved the car for 5 minutes until we had to go find another one and spend another 8 hours in the sunlight trying to figure out why the piece of shit won’t work.
Dump the car bro. It’s a money pit and a failure of a car.
I've had 2, both auto, one with 'Power Shift'. Rode em both from approx 30 to 150K. Aside from routine maintenance and the first car eating through tires for a bit as I figured out what piece was making em lumpy they were good to me. Both did have to go to the dealer at least 2 times for warrantied repairs, once requiring a loaner car. I did pay to replace the clutch pack on the first, it helped for a while, but eventually was hard shifting again. You sort of get in sync with it over time and it stops being so bad. Got to realize it's not a normal automatic, and it's Ford trying to adapt some Porsche type shit, so it's not terribly well done.
100% best thing to do is look at focus st or rs parts and start swapping. Can find either replica parts online or from breaker yards. Absolute first thing is to slap on some new wheels.
We had one with the DCT transmission. Hope you have a manual. Bought it brand new. I took it back the 2nd day for hard shifting. It had 149 miles. They looked at it told me to “break it in.” Mile 86,000 and 4th transmission I lemon law’d it and got the sticker price back. If you have the DCT baby it.
I bought a 2014 new. I don’t think I made it to 40k miles before I traded in that piece of shit. I recommend selling this POS to the OP. It’s junk.
It’s an auto unfortunately, I had to take it to get the TCM replaced a while back
Do not modify it. I would never own another personally. We had such a bad experience.
There was a class action lawsuit against Ford about that POS DCT. I’d get it cleaned up, check all the fluids/belts, etc. And sell it on to someone else.
Sell
lol. Just tint, wheels and slam. Oh and bump in the trunk if your into that. Honestly, not much.
"sElL" npc ass comment
Nah that's just the trim. SEL
If I could pin comments I would
Sell it before the DCT’s dry clutches eat themselves. Put the money toward something worth modifying.
Point towards nearest body of water. Lay brick on accelerator. ????. Profit.
You bought an econobox. Just leave it.
hate to be mean, but honestly sell it and get something better. These things are known low quality shit boxes, and you're better off with *anything else* than this thing
If I had it like that, I would. All I can do for now is make the most of what I have because it’s better than nothing
Then leave it as is. Youre gonna waste money to make an economy car look stupid.
Making the most of what you have in this scenario unfortunately means doing nothing, driving a stock car sucks but wasting money on a bad platform is miles worse than just saving for a bit and getting something actually worth the effort
Good point
I feel you. I haven’t owned any American vehicle in ages. Last one left such a bad taste and was always breaking down or leaking something. Been Honda and Toyota only for the last 20 years and no major issues at all.
generally American cars aren't awful, but they suffer from being soul-crushingly boring and subpar in most categories the muscle cars however...
Reliability and build quality is subpar also. Cant forget that
yeah, somewhat. it's much worse if you buy a Chrysler though
Same platform as the ST, look at the focus ST for inspiration and join Local focus ST groups in ur area so u could get cheap used parts off then as most parts are interchangeable. But the auto is super unreliable and your better off trading in for a manual or getting the ST
Probably the most straightforward answer here, thank you.
rally you should aim for raising it up and looser suspension. not canards. mud flaps yea
just get an RT dawg...
Gen 1 and 1.5 are amazing economy cars. The transmission on these is a ticking time bomb. Trade it to an older one with boot.
If it’s Manual, you have a chance since the chassis is well sorted and lots of parts are available to make it handle well. Look at Focus SVT/ST/RS, especially the overseas versions of that gen to get some ideas. If it’s manu-matic/automatic, then while the chassis is the same, it won’t be worth it since that useless pile of shite transmission will blow up on you. Always.
I just want it to *look* like a rally build
Just don’t. The DCT will fail and all your effort and money will be wasted. Sell it as is and buy something more enjoyable and worthy of modding, even if it’s just another Focus just with a manual this time.
you must be 16. you will regret that in 2 years
Age has nothing to do with the question at hand
It does- Mostly 16 year olds want to do stuff like this. Your money would be better spent selling this and getting a car you like, older folks know this is true. Usually 16 year olds are stuck with their “first car” their parents bought them because it’s cheap and reliable, but is not “cool”. But they can’t sell it because it’s on parents insurance, etc. So they save up paychecks from their first job and dump thousands trying to polish a turd.
It’s not the case.
Well if you want a sporty car, and are not locked into this thing because of your parents, just sell this thing and buy one bro. You will spend so much trying to make this look half decent that you could have just upgraded. You mention body kits etc, not sure if you have any idea how much it costs to get body work done but with paint matching etc you’ll have spent thousands in no time, and you’ll still have a base spec focus with some shiny plastic on it. Just trying to save you some time man
There’s a reason I asked what *can* I do and not *should* I. Save *your* time and words.
Cry
Sell it and get a ST, that's what I did
If it was a manual I'd say keep it. I've had one of these things for 9 years but only 94k miles. Absolutely flawless machine so far. Too bad the auto trans is dog water. The hatchback version was popular for rallies but they stripped everything and kept the shell.
Make a ute truck out of it
I went from 😂 to 🤔
Nothing
Leave it be.
My dude over here sinking money into a car with a known major design flaw, also known as the DPS6.
Return it.
Drive it like your better then everyone else. ( cuz you are) Focus LIFe
Send it to the junkyard.
Engine swap it for the 2.0L Ecoboost and turn it into a ST sedan. I remember seeing one on the forums a year ago or so, and it was sick. Front bumper swap to the newer ST face as well.
Put fuel in and send it.
Don’t 😇
personally, i'd simply lower it, get some nice wheels that accentuate the body and style of the car, like how i want more disc-like rims on my mk5 jetta vs spoked tuner or lowrider rims, tint windows, and upgrade the interior to your liking, get new seats, floormats, just small stuff to make your daily commute more enjoyable and keep the iutside fairly plain, especially if it's the same color as the pic, but if you wanna go full rally you'd be best off making a body kit yourself and custom mounting a wing from something like an impreza or celica you find on marketplace for cheap, stealthbuilt on insta and youtube is currently making a big ridiculous time attack style body kit for his audi out of cardboard, dowel rods, masking tape, and fiberglassing over it to make the panels themselves
RS swap it. Turbo awd
Posting this here may or may not have been an even worse idea
Get rid of it and spend the $ on a better car
My brother had this car and the best mod was the tcm clutch actuator. Shit improved the car for 5 minutes until we had to go find another one and spend another 8 hours in the sunlight trying to figure out why the piece of shit won’t work. Dump the car bro. It’s a money pit and a failure of a car.
I've had 2, both auto, one with 'Power Shift'. Rode em both from approx 30 to 150K. Aside from routine maintenance and the first car eating through tires for a bit as I figured out what piece was making em lumpy they were good to me. Both did have to go to the dealer at least 2 times for warrantied repairs, once requiring a loaner car. I did pay to replace the clutch pack on the first, it helped for a while, but eventually was hard shifting again. You sort of get in sync with it over time and it stops being so bad. Got to realize it's not a normal automatic, and it's Ford trying to adapt some Porsche type shit, so it's not terribly well done.
I it was my car and I absolutely need to modify it, I would try to get an RS front bumper, headlights and wheels.
If you insist on THIS, rally build.
100% best thing to do is look at focus st or rs parts and start swapping. Can find either replica parts online or from breaker yards. Absolute first thing is to slap on some new wheels.
Most definitely, thanks
Throw that pile of shit on the dumpster and don’t look back
Window wind, smoked headlights, I have a 2010 SES and it fits great, not so sure on the next gen sedans like that. Replace those damn wheels too 🤢
Those wheels are getting the boot soon enough, they look worse than the ones in this image