New Ford Focus Auto Tranny?

brianl703 · Nov 5, 2006

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No need to check unless there are signs of leakage (I have never seen one leak).

It also doesn't have a vacuum modulator to develop a pinhole leak and suck transmission fluid into the intake manifold.

Really, any leak big enough to cause you to have to add fluid WILL show up. It's not like an engine where it can consume oil with no sign of leakage.

cousincletus · Nov 5, 2006

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The ION is no different...

I've heard of people getting > 35 MPG on the highway with the Cobalt/ION, but you better drive gently. Around town, expect 22-ish if its mainly short trip driving.

^^^ That's not true. I have an '06 Cobalt 2 door that gets 31.5 mpg consistently mixed driving. So basically it gets the EPA highway mileage in stop and go traffic along with about 50% interstate miles for me. I set the cruise at 68 mph on the interstate. Haven't taken it on a trip yet, but the computer says it is getting 37-38 mpg interstate only driving with cruise at 68 mpg. For me the Cobalt is getting way above the EPA estimates.

sifan · Nov 5, 2006

The Toyota Yaris's engine (similar to my Echo's engine) has a drain plug and a dipstick for ATF. It is very easy to maintain and very reliable.

Tosh · Nov 5, 2006

Why not a Honda Fit? Seems a very tidy and useful package (and the car journalists LOVE driving it).

06RANGER · Nov 5, 2006

Around New Orleans you can't get a Yaris Hatchback or a Honda Fit even if you're willing to pay MSRP.

The Critic · Nov 6, 2006

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The Toyota Yaris's engine (similar to my Echo's engine) has a drain plug and a dipstick for ATF. It is very easy to maintain and very reliable.

Yaris now uses Toyota WS ATF, and no longer has the a dipstick. Not sure about the drain plug though.

Diesel_Clatter · Nov 6, 2006

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Why not a Honda Fit? Seems a very tidy and useful package (and the car journalists LOVE driving it).

I contacted a dealer and they said I might be able to get a base Fit with manual transmission in February!

BTW...Bought a 2007 Ion 2 Manual with A/C and the safety package stuff today.

There was no Yaris manual HB available to drive. It sold Saturday.

Contacted some Ford dealers about base Focus S sedans with A/C but they turned me off with their utter chumpyness so I didn't bother to visit the lot.

Tosh · Nov 6, 2006

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I contacted a dealer and they said I might be able to get a base Fit with manual transmission in February!

Test drive an automatic in the meanwhile. It would be a pity for you to not at least drive one before you decide. It might be the spritual successor to your Rabbit. What's your hurry? You don't want to put an extra salty winter on it, do you? My Swedish grampappy always said 'buy new car in spring.'

Diesel_Clatter · Nov 6, 2006

Quote:

Quote:

I contacted a dealer and they said I might be able to get a base Fit with manual transmission in February!

Click to expand...

Test drive an automatic in the meanwhile. It would be a pity for you to not at least drive one before you decide. It might be the spritual successor to your Rabbit. What's your hurry? You don't want to put an extra salty winter on it, do you? My Swedish grampappy always said 'buy new car in spring.'

I might have been able to spend some time resurrecting my old Escort and coaxing it through another winter...

If I was ready to become a single man.

My wife had apparently started to consider the old Escort to be a rival for my time and attention.

The Critic · Nov 6, 2006

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^^^ That's not true. I have an '06 Cobalt 2 door that gets 31.5 mpg consistently mixed driving. So basically it gets the EPA highway mileage in stop and go traffic along with about 50% interstate miles for me. I set the cruise at 68 mph on the interstate. Haven't taken it on a trip yet, but the computer says it is getting 37-38 mpg interstate only driving with cruise at 68 mpg.

Duh.

Hate to burst your bubble, but you're going to get much better fuel economy with 50% stop-n-go traffic and interstate driving than with pure city driving. We do 1-2 mi trips around here and the Ecotec, when we had it, hit low 20s, barely. I'm sure it would've gotten much better if it was put through the same commute yours does...

The Critic · Nov 6, 2006

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BTW...Bought a 2007 Ion 2 Manual with A/C and the safety package stuff today.

Congrats! May I ask how much you paid?

06RANGER · Nov 6, 2006

Same with my 05 Corolla w/auto tranny.
Hwy mpg was 39.5, city commute dropped to 22-23 mpg.

cousincletus · Nov 6, 2006

Quote:

Quote:

^^^ That's not true. I have an '06 Cobalt 2 door that gets 31.5 mpg consistently mixed driving. So basically it gets the EPA highway mileage in stop and go traffic along with about 50% interstate miles for me. I set the cruise at 68 mph on the interstate. Haven't taken it on a trip yet, but the computer says it is getting 37-38 mpg interstate only driving with cruise at 68 mpg.

Click to expand...

Duh.

Hate to burst your bubble, but you're going to get much better fuel economy with 50% stop-n-go traffic and interstate driving than with pure city driving. We do 1-2 mi trips around here and the Ecotec, when we had it, hit low 20s, barely. I'm sure it would've gotten much better if it was put through the same commute yours does...

^^^What you posted is misleading. Look at www.fueleconomy.gov and you'll see no one else is even getting close to the bad fuel economy you posted except for the supercharged models. 1-2 mile trips nothing is going to get good mileage...Duh.

The Critic · Nov 6, 2006

Quote:

3
15.7

PA

100%

0%

09/19/2005
4
24.2

MA

70%

30%

05/22/2006

Cobalt

Quote:

2
16.0

MI

100%

0%

03/28/2006

4
21.5

MN

70%

30%

07/16/2006

ION.

Both 4-speed Auto.

Sure, 1-2 mi trips will deliver the worst fuel efficiency possible, however, my point is that the Cobalt still delivers lesser fuel economy compared to other engines under the same type of service. I just need to pick-up a 07 Civic one of these days and report back to you with figures.

brianl703 · Nov 6, 2006

Why don't you just walk if you're only going 1-2 miles? (I would expect that bad weather is a rarity there). I don't like driving short distances like that UNLESS the engine is already warm from a previous drive. Otherwise..I feel bad for the engine

JHZR2 · Nov 7, 2006

I call ________ on those ion/cobalt figures. My mother often goes weeks on a tank of gas, doing her 5 block commutes (with all sorts of books, papers, computer, etc., and then uses the car to go to the supermarket and other petty errands around town.

In her 97 Plymouth breeze (an obviosly heavier car), with a 2.0L SOHC engine, making 132 hp, she has not gotten less than 21 MPG, and we log and calculate every tank on every car we have had, since new.

These people who get 15.7 or 16 MPG with ecotec equipped GM economy cars must be playing boy racer around town or doing something else wrong/unresponsible. Yes, you don't get as good fuel economy around town or in traffic... No, it isnt that hard to still get decent economy, and certainly within the EPA range, even for more severe driving.

JMH

brianl703 · Nov 7, 2006

They use the gas pedal like an on-off switch. Ditto for the brake pedal.

LARKBILL · Nov 8, 2006

You are dead on the money. We did a 1400 mile driving trip around northern CA a couple years ago. I thought St. Louis and Nashville drivers were bad, but those folks take the cake. Everyone left home 1/2 hour late and they're trying to make it up on the road. Out in the country was much better, then the ones with Nevada plates were the impatient ones.

JHZR2 · Nov 9, 2006

People in Delaware all drive like that... its so annoying and so unsafe.

NJ is a relief... others may call us bad drivers, but at least im used to that style.

JMH

New Ford Focus Auto Tranny?

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