New Focus air-con and dual-clutch transmission

[Muttley098]

I'm looking to upgrade from my 2006 Focus LX to a new Focus. This weekend I tested a demo Focus Ambiente auto and to compare performance I also tried a 2.0 (used Titanium) for comparison - have concluded on the 2.0 and will be going for Trend spec.

I was very impressed with the way the new Focus drove. I also tested a Mazda 3 on the same day, but it wasn't anywhere near as involving to drive as the Focus.

However, I do have a couple of reservations with the Focus, especially as this car will be on a 3 or 4 yr lease and expensive to exit if it doesn't work out in a couple of areas...

The main concern is with the air-con, in both Focus models that I tested it seemed weak, and I've read various forum posts commenting on poor air-con in the new Focus. It was a sunny winter day in Sydney, the cars had been in the sun on the forecourt and they were pretty warm inside, although outside ambient shaded temp would have been about 20. In the Ambiente we put the fan up to 3, directed through face-level vents, but there was almost no airflow coming out of the vents, and had to check the vents were open and aircon was actually switched on, and the car barely cooled during the 15 minutes we were in it. Didn't think to put it on recirculation (which the salesman advised when I commented about it) - but it's winter and shouldn't need to do that. The climate control in the Titanium didn't show much enthusiasm either when temp set to 19 and the fan speed was turned up.

My cars are parked on the driveway, on north side of house in full sun, and my current Focus (with tint) gets very hot inside on summer mornings before using it, but although its aircon isn't the best it does get it cool enough after a few minutes. I'm concerned at how the new one would cope. Decent tint will help keep it cooler (didn't notice if the demo had tint or not). I'm hoping the Thai-built models get a better system due to the hotter, more humid Asia climate, which is why I'm considering waiting until the first batch arrive at dealers so I can go and check the air-con performance in one of those.

Was my experience with the aircon normal for the new model? Is there a technique to getting the temperature down? Have other members found this to be a weakness?

My second concern is potential for trouble with the dual-clutch transmission that Ford or its dealers can't/won't fix. Read a lot about problems with 2011 and early 2012 build cars. The two I tested seemed to be working well. Will not go for a manual box, the car will be mostly used in heavy Sydney commuting traffic, and I have problems with foot/ankle pain.

Are recently-built models or those with the software updates working smoothly and reliably?

Thanks!