MKII Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 (edited) Sales of vehicles with manual transmissions have hovered around 4 percent the past two years, down from a decade high of 8.5 percent in 2002. At least one car is bucking that trend: the 2012 Ford Focus. A growing number of customers are opting for a Focus with a manual transmission, and Ford Motor Co. says those sales are 50 percent higher than anticipated. They're expected to rise to as high as 10 percent of all Focus sales when the Titanium 5-speed, which began its roll out last month, is sold nationwide. From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120412/AUTO03/204120358#ixzz1ruMlnc2J Edited April 13, 2012 by MKII Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moosetang Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 It's a hot hatch, can't say I'm all that surprised Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goinbroke2 Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 Import drivers like manuals, this is proof of conquest sales. :yup: Regardless, GREAT! Love manuals and hate auto's...except for bracket racing hehehe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FPV GTHO Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 Unless theres simply some backlash coming from the DSG boxes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dante hicks Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 Unless theres simply some backlash coming from the DSG boxes If I wanted an automatic, but was scared of the DSG, I'd probably shop elsewhere. That said, I have no desire for an automatic. This is good news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerM Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 Is the Focus unit a Ford tranny, or did they use someone else's? I ask because the last domestic 5-spd I drove (a GM unit) was balky as hell. My Ranger is a 5-speed, but it's a Mazda 5-speed (or maybe Mitsubishi, I'm not sure which). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkisler Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 Unless theres simply some backlash coming from the DSG boxes This certainly has to be part of the explanation, and maybe the larger portion. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 This certainly has to be part of the explanation, and maybe the larger portion. But at the same time, I think you might have to look at the demographics too...i'd venture to guess that most people under the age of 30 don't know how to drive a stick since Automatics are found in 95% of cars since they started driving. I don't think most people know how to drive a stick these days.... Not to mention 10% of Focus sales are only what? 20K cars a year if it sells 200K units a year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Car Examiner Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 The article doesn't include what would really be the most interesting/useful data: how the Focus compares to other compact cars, not to the market in general. How does a 10 percent take rate compare to Civic, Mazda3, Cruze and so on? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keoni Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 Is the Focus unit a Ford tranny, or did they use someone else's? I ask because the last domestic 5-spd I drove (a GM unit) was balky as hell. My Ranger is a 5-speed, but it's a Mazda 5-speed (or maybe Mitsubishi, I'm not sure which). Good question. I have a manual 2012 Focus hatch... I think it is incredibly clunky. I previously owned a Mazda3 5 speed and felt that it was very smooth in the shifts. After driving this one, I just might get an auto next go around. Mostly because I want to get a Fusion 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twmalonehunter Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 Good question. I have a manual 2012 Focus hatch... I think it is incredibly clunky. I previously owned a Mazda3 5 speed and felt that it was very smooth in the shifts. After driving this one, I just might get an auto next go around. Mostly because I want to get a Fusion Huh, I don't find mine to be clunky at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker16 Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 Is the Focus unit a Ford tranny, or did they use someone else's? I ask because the last domestic 5-spd I drove (a GM unit) was balky as hell. My Ranger is a 5-speed, but it's a Mazda 5-speed (or maybe Mitsubishi, I'm not sure which). it is a ford transaxle, the same 5 spd used in the old contour SVT, I think it feels goo, low effort, positive fell. you need to Drive one, and make up your own mind. This certainly has to be part of the explanation, and maybe the larger portion. it has nothing to do with it, and everything to do with thebuyer perceptions about the way the car drives, it feels like a sport sedan, so purist want a manual. Not to mention 10% of Focus sales are only what? 20K cars a year if it sells 200K units a year? snatching defeat from victory again. attracting new buyers to the brand, is priceless, and should never be undervalued. Good question. I have a manual 2012 Focus hatch... I think it is incredibly clunky. I previously owned a Mazda3 5 speed and felt that it was very smooth in the shifts. After driving this one, I just might get an auto next go around. Mostly because I want to get a Fusion I don't think it's clunky, but the gears are spaced further apart than in the MZ3, on the other hand the shifter is closer to the driver in the focus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 attracting new buyers to the brand, is priceless, and should never be undervalued. True, but do you have any data that says manual buyers have a higher conquest rate than the auto? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTwannabe Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 But at the same time, I think you might have to look at the demographics too...i'd venture to guess that most people under the age of 30 don't know how to drive a stick since Automatics are found in 95% of cars since they started driving. I don't think most people know how to drive a stick these days.... Not to mention 10% of Focus sales are only what? 20K cars a year if it sells 200K units a year? I know 20 and 30-somethings that bought new manual transmission vehicles they didn't know how to drive. They learned. 10% manual take rate isn't bad since you can only get one in either a fully stripped or fully loaded Focus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aneekr Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 The article doesn't include what would really be the most interesting/useful data: how the Focus compares to other compact cars, not to the market in general. How does a 10 percent take rate compare to Civic, Mazda3, Cruze and so on? You can do a nationwide new car listings search of all four vehicles on AutoTrader, Cars.com, AOLAutos, etc., filter by transmission type, and then calculate the respective proportions of manual tranny equipped cars compared to the total. This is rather unscientific, but it should provide the comparative data you're seeking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 You can do a nationwide new car listings search of all four vehicles on AutoTrader, Cars.com, AOLAutos, etc., filter by transmission type, and then calculate the respective proportions of manual tranny equipped cars compared to the total. This is rather unscientific, but it should provide the comparative data you're seeking. That will just tell you what's available, not the rate at which they are selling. A manual may sit on the lot for 6 weeks and an auto for 3 days or vice versa. I agree with DC Car Examiner though, as that would be the telling number...how does it compare with others in it's class. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keoni Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 I don't think it's clunky, but the gears are spaced further apart than in the MZ3, on the other hand the shifter is closer to the driver in the focus. I guess the gears are the reason, I feel like I have to feather the clutch a lot. That or I need to stop releasing my foot so fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 I need to stop releasing my foot so fast. Clutching would be a lot easier if you held on to your foot and didn't release it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aneekr Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 That will just tell you what's available, not the rate at which they are selling. A manual may sit on the lot for 6 weeks and an auto for 3 days or vice versa. You raise a good point there, fordmantpw. Makes me wonder: is a sale, in the context of the Edmunds.com and Ford Motor Company data in the Detroit News article, recorded when the manufacturer invoices a vehicle to a dealership, or when the vehicle is registered and titled to a customer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 I guess the gears are the reason, I feel like I have to feather the clutch a lot. That or I need to stop releasing my foot so fast. Man saws off own foot Here is a link to a story that may help your "premature release" syndrome :shades: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTwannabe Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 Man saws off own foot Here is a link to a story that may help your "premature release" syndrome :shades: Premature release sounds... embarrassing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 You raise a good point there, fordmantpw. Makes me wonder: is a sale, in the context of the Edmunds.com and Ford Motor Company data in the Detroit News article, recorded when the manufacturer invoices a vehicle to a dealership, or when the vehicle is registered and titled to a customer? I think (but I may be wrong) that FMC counts it as a sale when it is invoiced to the dealer, but Edmunds and others look at actual registrations. Again, I'm not certain on that, but I think that is how it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkisler Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 it has nothing to do with it, and everything to do with thebuyer perceptions about the way the car drives, it feels like a sport sedan, so purist want a manual. Don't make a declarative statement unless you have data. I don't have data either. But I do know -- most unfortunately -- that there has been bad press and internet chat on the Getrag dual clutch which logically might lead some buyers to choose the manual over the auto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 I know 20 and 30-somethings that bought new manual transmission vehicles they didn't know how to drive. They learned. And thats what? .000001% of all car buyers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker16 Posted April 13, 2012 Share Posted April 13, 2012 True, but do you have any data that says manual buyers have a higher conquest rate than the auto? I think ford has mentioned that as the primary reason of offering the Manual in the titanium, Sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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