blazerdude20 Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/2013-dodge-dart-rallye-vs-2012-ford-focus-se-comparison-test Both the Dart Rallye and the Focus SE start below $20,000, and our examples pushed into the low 20s. Each pumps out 160 peak horsepower, carries 13 cubic feet of cargo, circles the skidpad at 0.86 g, and negotiates our slalom at 42.2 mph. Generally speaking, these two are a perfect match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moosetang Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Panel gaps and build quality are worrying, but nice to see Focus still on top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKII Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 The Dart seems to be a good entry in this segment, but that old fashion looking interior sure looks like the best before date has long expired compared to the Focus interior for my tastes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mettech Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 "...The Focus is not without its faults. For example, our own Mike Austin had to finish the assembly of our test car by clipping the rear interior door panels into place. The body-panel gaps around the decklid make us sad..." How can this make it past QC? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerM Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Maybe it's the different textures, or color contrasts, but when I look at the Focus interior it's a chiseled look. (in a good way) When I look at the Dart's interior, it looks over-inflated, like one of those cars modified to look fat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullynd Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 I don't like the font they used for the Dart - there was one in front of me the other day and it looked like it read Dort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dante hicks Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 "...The Focus is not without its faults. For example, our own Mike Austin had to finish the assembly of our test car by clipping the rear interior door panels into place. The body-panel gaps around the decklid make us sad..." How can this make it past QC? There was a fastener missing in the bumper assembly of mine. It made an annoying squeak at high speeds and took the dealer forever to figure out where the noise was coming from. The diagnosis of the problem was complicated by the fact that the taillight assembly above it was loose (though, as it turns out, making no noise). It's all fixed, and a beautiful car, but some of these niggling qc issues are worrisome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edstock Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 I don't like the font they used for the Dart - there was one in front of me the other day and it looked like it read Dort. Dort's not good. But that's just my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbyd Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Bravo to Car & Driver for their fair review. I will bet anyone that once those incompetent idiots at CONSUMERS REPORTS do their review we will all see the cheap Dart winning over the Focus without a doubt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aneekr Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 (edited) "...The Focus is not without its faults. For example, our own Mike Austin had to finish the assembly of our test car by clipping the rear interior door panels into place. The body-panel gaps around the decklid make us sad..." How can this make it past QC? I don't know mettech, but the QC issues mentioned certainly aren't limited to C&D's particular Focus. The gentleman in the picture below (not affiliated with C&D) was similarly dismayed that he could stick his pinky though the panel gap between the decklid and bumper with the trunk closed (vehicle was a new 2012 Focus SEL sedan). Hopefully, improving fit and finish is hopefully a high priority at Ford because consumers and dealerships alike will not and should not find this stuff acceptable in a new car. And based on the article, it appears the Dodge Dart Chrysler delivered to C&D for evaluation was free of such flaws. Edited August 25, 2012 by aneekr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 GM and Dodge need to stop using those awful rental car grey plastic interiors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKII Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 I don't know mettech, but the QC issues mentioned certainly aren't limited to C&D's particular Focus. The gentleman in the picture below (not affiliated with C&D) was similarly dismayed that he could stick his pinky though the panel gap between the decklid and bumper with the trunk closed (vehicle was a new 2012 Focus SEL sedan). Hopefully, improving fit and finish is hopefully a high priority at Ford because consumers and dealerships alike will not and should not find this stuff acceptable in a new car. And based on the article, it appears the Dodge Dart Chrysler delivered to C&D for evaluation was free of such flaws. Wow that is brutal. Missed by QC and dealer prep lads is not good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoonerLS Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 GM and Dodge need to stop using those awful rental car grey plastic interiors. Hey, now, Dodge has long been an innovator in the Rental Car Chic school of design. GM is just continuing a tradition of crappy interiors that goes back at least 25 years... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Biker says they turned off the lasers in the body shop to speed the production line. Plastic tabs that are not locked into place also smacks of a production line that's being ran too fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twmalonehunter Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 I must be lucky, my Focus fit and finish is excellent. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Biker says they turned off the lasers in the body shop to speed the production line. Plastic tabs that are not locked into place also smacks of a production line that's being ran too fast. Bingo. Quantity over quality. Thats the new management mantra. Mettech can try to blame the hourly workers all he wants, but in the end, we have to do what we are told. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron W. Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 (edited) Bingo. Quantity over quality. Thats the new management mantra. Are the line workers still allowed to point out problems and if so are changes made ? Edited August 25, 2012 by Ron W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svtenthusiast Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Remember the commercials where they rolled the ball bearing down the crack between the hood and fender to demonstrate precision body fitment. 20 years later and still have to prove themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Bravo to Car & Driver for their fair review. I will bet anyone that once those incompetent idiots at CONSUMERS REPORTS do their review we will all see the cheap Dart winning over the Focus without a doubt! If they get a review unit like C&D did, they most likely would. CR is concerned more about quality then who is faster 0-60. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2005Explorer Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 (edited) You to admit the domestics have came a long ways on compact cars if you think back to cars like the Pinto and Vega. Focus, Dart and Cruze are all good compacts compared to what the domestics offered many years ago. Biker says they turned off the lasers in the body shop to speed the production line. Plastic tabs that are not locked into place also smacks of a production line that's being ran too fast. It's possible that they have removed some of the more minor quality checks to improve speed, but why do you never see this sort of stuff coming out of the Fusion factory? It seems like they are operating at full capacity and then some as well. A person could blame new design, however it's not really that new anymore to have really messed up panel gaps and/or parts that haven't been fully attached. I'll be interested to see if the new Fusion has the same sort of fit and finish problems. I bet it doesn't. I haven't heard many issues with the new Escape either so it sort of makes you wonder if the Focus plant has the same quality standards as the others do. I know if I was test driving a new vehicle and the rear door panel wasn't attached properly it would make me wonder what else was wrong with the car. The dealer should go over the vehicle, but still isn't there a final quality check done to these vehicles before they are shipped? Edited August 25, 2012 by 2005Explorer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerM Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Remember the commercials where they rolled the ball bearing down the crack between the hood and fender to demonstrate precision body fitment. 20 years later and still have to prove themselves. I thought that was Lexus. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 If they get a review unit like C&D did, they most likely would. CR is concerned more about quality then who is faster 0-60. Of course, what I mentioned doesn't necessarily apply to the C&D Focus, which is probably a preproduction or pilot plant model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmm55 Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 The Focus was a 2012 SE w/Sport Appearance Package. That package has changed somewhat too. Perhaps the gaps can be attributed to first year growing pains. There certainly seemed to be a few. I've looked at few and haven't seen any glaring problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YT90SC Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Remember the commercials where they rolled the ball bearing down the crack between the hood and fender to demonstrate precision body fitment. 20 years later and still have to prove themselves. Wasnt that a Nissan commercial for the Altima? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YT90SC Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 wait.. yep: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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