Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 13:55:09 GMT
With the back seats folded the new Focus is bigger than the Mondeo estate according to the brochures, 1,653l v 1,605l seats folded. Quite how that works out in terms of actual floor length and space between the wheel arches I don't know.
The Mondeo takes it at 730l vs 608l to the window line, I expect that does not include the hybrid Mondeo which has quite a raised floor.
There's a new Mondeo due that should address the boot space otherwise, unless you tow something big and heavy, why a Mondeo estate ?
Part of me will be sad to see the RS go, I am very happy I had one while they lasted. The ST shouldn't be too much of a come down considering it's a development of the RS motor albeit in a lower state of tune.
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Post by Humph on May 22, 2020 13:59:36 GMT
More suited to a gentleman of advancing years anyway...😉
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 14:02:54 GMT
That's why I've gone automatic, left knee is getting worse with age. I persevered with a manual in the RS, it was a struggle, I clenched my teeth and suffered in silence. haha
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Post by Humph on May 22, 2020 14:13:21 GMT
That does seem to be a particularly English complaint. Must be genetic, probably caused by all that kneeling and begging forgiveness from the Scots...
😉
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 14:21:18 GMT
No, it was done on a football pitch when some tw@ went through my standing leg as I was about to kick the ball pushing my knee backwards tearing all the ligaments. He might have been Scottish, not being very good at football and very good at assault.  |
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Post by tyrednexited on May 22, 2020 14:22:09 GMT
The current two cars are both auto, and the first such we have had.
Whilst the X1 in desired configuration was auto-only, I suspect I would have specified it anyway. The Smart was bought pre-registered on a whim, and the best available were auto (and at 31% off at < three months old and 9 miles on the clock) so it was a given.
I think auto would now be one of the first things on the spec sheet for a new car.
The 'van is manual. I could have had an auto (though it was, in fact a "Comfortmatic" automated manual). I had heard mixed reviews of these (and the bad ones were from people I knew and trusted), so avoided the temptation. The second hire 'van we subsequently had in NZ was thus equipped, and it was the works of Beelzebub! I really couldn't have lived with it (4 weeks hire sorely tried my patience). Interestingly enough, this years Euro VId engined model is now equipped with a 9-speed ZF slush box - now that would have tempted me!
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Post by tyrednexited on May 22, 2020 14:34:46 GMT
No, it was done on a football pitch when some tw@ when through my standing leg as I was about to kick the ball pushing my knee backwards tearing all the ligaments. Almost ditto (and the left one). Someone sat on mine in a tangle after a tackle and forced the joint the wrong way. He might have been Scottish, not being very good at football and very good at assault. He didn't say "Stitch that, Jimmy" as he walked away......? |
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2020 14:48:20 GMT
I couldn't tell you what was being said, I've never known pain like it. Still remember it now some 30+ years later.
Those automated manuals are a bit of curate's egg for me.
My limited experience is of the single plate Citroën implementation in the Grand C4 Picasso of a decade or so ago. The first, without stop/start, was pretty good. You got the feel of the car and when it was about to change and backed off the gas as you would a normal manual when changing gear. The second car with stop/start was different, it would cut out on approach to a roundabout/junction when you didn't want it too and three point turns were a pain the backside with it cutting out between gear changes, I'm guessing the test drives didn't involve turning the car around in a street.
My new car will be a 7 speed which is only fitted to the ST, all other Focus autos appear to be 8 speed. Could be a good thing, could be bad. Time will tell.
I'm quite looking forward to it now the order has been placed. It's the second car I'll have ordered new without a test drive, the first being the RS. No complaints with that car and I expect the ST will be just as good to drive if a little down on power.
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Post by tyrednexited on May 22, 2020 15:06:14 GMT
Those automated manuals are a bit of curate's egg for me. The only egg connection with the one in the Ducato would have been if it had been prepared for a dog's breakfast. It was perfectly largely acceptable on the straight and flat (but who needs an auto for that) but completely at a loss on winding hill roads, just when you want it to work. It was permanently in almost, but not quite, the right gear (in other words, one above or one below what you would like). The apologists for its behaviour (people who'd bought one and need to justify it) always came out with "well, on hills, if you anticipate it you can always manually override it". Why the F would I want to do that, I've got an automatic that should sort that for me. (manual override was interesting; as in most auto boxes it had an "I think I know better" mode, whereby it would override your manual override. So heading uphill with a 3.5t vehicle towards a sharp bend, you'd manually shift down. Two seconds later "You don't want to do that!" and it would shift up. Two seconds later "Oh shit, you do want to do that" and it would shift down, but by now, all revs had gone, so a quick manual shift down a further gear, and a 50% chance you'd be back in the same process. Fiat provide a handy little "up" button, which is supposed to make it hang on to revs a bit longer on uphill stretches. All it does, in use, is make sure that you're even closer to the crux of the bend before it develops a mind of its own). The cars are fine - in fact the slush box on the X1 is excellent, manual (paddle) override only on steep downhills. The Smart is a DCT/DSG and is rather hesitant or abrupt under certain circumstances, but still very acceptable. |
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Avant
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Post by Avant on May 22, 2020 22:32:30 GMT
Weren't you tempted to keep the RS and let management have the new Focus?
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Rob
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Post by Rob on May 22, 2020 23:29:49 GMT
If I had to anticipate what the DSG in the Audi A3 and Skoda Superb I've had then I'd have avoided both DSGs. It seems the same dual clutch transmission and engine combination in different cars can have good or bad implementations. I did a few days of experiments in the A3 once when I had to do the same route multiple times a day for a few weeks. So I tested auto vs. manual overrides and coast function enabled or not. The best MPG I got was coasting off and manual control of the gears. It was repeatable too. But the difference was only a few MPG so why have an automated dual clutch gearbox and change gears? Apart from being easy with the paddles I didn't see the benefit. Next car will need a test drive for this sort of reason. Because I don't want to commit to a personal lease or buy a car I will try to stay in the company scheme. But because the BIK rates are now based on WLTC CO2 figures the tax payable on may cars will go through the roof. Humph will find the same. And I have an elevated car grade and yet many PHEVs are way above my grade even though others are not. The reason for wanting to be sure for the next car is it might be a PHEV. The model I'd go for has 19" wheels and the 'dynamic' suspension. If I got the R Design version on 18" rims but the sport suspension is not a good test of comfort. Likewise it does need to be a 1.5 Recharge model rather than a diesel!  And I will try the MB A250e too but I could only get an AMG Line so that gets the poverty spec digital displays which look naff in what otherwise is a great interior. So this:  vs.  |
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2020 5:11:03 GMT
Weren't you tempted to keep the RS and let management have the new Focus? Funnily enough I did try that but, you know, women of a certain age want Sitty Uppy Cars as they should be known. |
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WDB
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Post by WDB on May 23, 2020 8:05:24 GMT
Which of those Mercedes interiors is supposed to be the good one, Rob? 🤔
There’s supposed to be a swankier version of the displays in the i3 than ours has, but I’ve never seen it and never missed it.
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Post by Humph on May 23, 2020 8:57:56 GMT
Weren't you tempted to keep the RS and let management have the new Focus? Funnily enough I did try that but, you know, women of a certain age want Sitty Uppy Cars as they should be known. They do, and it's a bit like high heels, on women, in the right circumstances, they can look good, but no one can suggest that they don't lead to dynamic compromises. Men however, should of course avoid them at all costs. |
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Rob
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Post by Rob on May 23, 2020 15:48:17 GMT
>> Which of those Mercedes interiors is supposed to be the good one, Rob?
The first one has 10" wide screen displays for the virtual dials and the media display which sit flush with the glass. The two 7" displays have a lot of room around them being smaller and not widescreen but also they are recessed. You can't see the recess. If you go for an AMG Line Executive then you get the 10" media but still a 7" virtual cockpit for a single dial.... but they are both flush with the glass and not recessed.
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And I will try the MB A250e too but I could only get an AMG Line so that gets the poverty spec digital displays which look naff in what otherwise is a great interior.
