[NOS2Go4Me]

It's not actually designed for performance, it's designed for comfort with the "feel" of performance. The car weighs well in excess of 3000 lbs., so it's a tad hard to consider that a "sporty" car with a "performance" transmission off the factory floor. I've driven many Grand Prixs, S/C and not. They "feel" quick, but they're no quicker than a Honda Accord or anything else of that ilk. They post big crank numbers, but they're sapped by the drivetrain as are all autos, as well as LOADS of creature comforts. Power windows, seats, mirrors, heated seats, etc etc all add weight as you can imagine.

Actually, the auto in a Focus isn't that bad. It's easily adjusted by either a SCT tune, or with a custom device that fits anywhere in the cockpit and tunes shifts with a dial.

I never said a stock Focus auto tranny was fast, but it's improved quite easily for cheap and I'm willing to wager it shifts faster than your "performance mode". Perhaps you should alter your shift firmness in your ECU as well :)

As for the race, I know I'm slow. You're only challenging me because you know that 220HP or so beats ~115HP any day of the week. If I ever get up to 150-160 BHP, we'll give it a go :) I get groceries in mine, too... but I bet I'm a tad quicker through the twisties :D

For an easy-on-gas car that handles well enough on 2-lanes, the Focus has just about everything else beat.

EDIT - once again I'm the "4-door Defender", and I'm done.