I have just bought a Fiesta ST.

"TheBaron2112" (TheBaron2112)
09/14/2013 at 22:40 • Filed to: None

This car rocks. It rocks in every way.

Before you ask, no, I did not get the Recaro seats. The cloth seats are almost perfect and the Recaros were, in my mind, juvenile. Especially in two-tone guise.

But my lord. Everything about this thing is amazing.

DISCUSSION (34)

YSI-what can brown do for you > TheBaron2112
09/14/2013 at 22:43

I approve. Any plans for it?

TheBaron2112 > YSI-what can brown do for you
09/14/2013 at 22:44

Other than drive it every day? Not really.

Now my dilemma is what to do with my Porsche 944... It's RWD and 5 speed. But that means it has 1 less gear than the Fiesta AND 50 less hp. I'm afraid it will be neglected.

Tom McParland > TheBaron2112
09/14/2013 at 22:44

Congrats those are fun little buggers.

TheBaron2112 > Tom McParland
09/14/2013 at 22:45

AND... AND... I drove it from the dealer, to downtown, then through traffic, then home... And it averaged (so says the computer) 29.something mpg. AND I even had fun with it!

My 4 door Focus sedan didn't get that!

YSI-what can brown do for you > TheBaron2112
09/14/2013 at 22:46

I say go crazy with the 944. It isn't your daily, so make it as mad as a Mexican's dog!

TheBaron2112 > YSI-what can brown do for you
09/14/2013 at 22:48

High clearance shocks, rally tires, light bar.

Rally 944.

This very well may happen.

D > TheBaron2112
09/14/2013 at 22:49

You could sell it to Aaron (a guy here looking for a 944).

YSI-what can brown do for you > TheBaron2112
09/14/2013 at 22:49

There you go, no need to sell it! It is all up to you though.

Collin > TheBaron2112
09/14/2013 at 22:51

So you would say that it is the opposite of a Ford Siesta?

TheBaron2112 > D
09/14/2013 at 22:54

Haha, the thought crossed my mind. He actually wants a 4-gauge dash. Mine has 3. And only 2 work.

TheBaron2112 > Collin
09/14/2013 at 22:54

Bravo on the pun, sir. And yes. It keeps you awake.

Jayhawk Jake > TheBaron2112
09/14/2013 at 22:57

How's the interior feel? I went with the sonic largely because the interior feels much more useable than the Fiesta, but I still love the ST. I hope to drive one soon

IDDaVo - Now has a Toy Yoda > TheBaron2112
09/14/2013 at 23:01

What made you pick the fiesta over the focus? Just curious.

TheBaron2112 > Jayhawk Jake
09/14/2013 at 23:03

Storage space is a bit lacking, I'd say. But I didn't have much with the Focus either, really. Seats are great, interior materials are far and away of a better quality (IMO, feel-wise) than the Sonic's. 12V outlet is in the right place. Climate stuff is intuitive and easy to reach. There are voice commands that you can use. My Ford Touch isn't actually that bad, really. And a big map on the dash is useful.

Also, 7 different ambient lighting colors. Because reasons.

And the gauge cluster is much better looking than the Sonic's :P

TheBaron2112 > IDDaVo - Now has a Toy Yoda
09/14/2013 at 23:05

On the face of it, price.

But after driving them basically back to back, the hatch space difference is negligible. Rear visibility is better in the Fiesta, ride is better in the Fiesta, MPG is better in the Fiesta, steering communication is better in the Fiesta, clutch feedback is better in the Fiesta, and the climate control/radio is better laid out in the Fiesta.

I was very surprised that all of these things were better.

IDDaVo - Now has a Toy Yoda > TheBaron2112
09/14/2013 at 23:13

That's quite impressive considering it's about $3,500 cheaper.

ddavidn > TheBaron2112
09/14/2013 at 23:18

I am extremely jealous! Congrats!

TheBaron2112 > IDDaVo - Now has a Toy Yoda
09/14/2013 at 23:23

Yeah. I really don't get it.

Frank Grimes > TheBaron2112
09/14/2013 at 23:27

congrats. I don't want to offend but I am just so pissed they dont bring the 3 door here. I just have some prejudice against 5 door hot hatches.

TheBaron2112 > Frank Grimes
09/14/2013 at 23:28

I specifically wanted 4 doors for passenger considerations. I hate dealing with 2 door/4 seat cars. I looked at a Fiat 500 and it was laughable from a practicality standpoint.

But the 3-door Fiesta is a looker.

Satish Kondapavulur > TheBaron2112
09/14/2013 at 23:34

Congrats! That car is so much fun. Even I prefer over the Focus, price no object.

Frank Grimes > TheBaron2112
09/14/2013 at 23:39

I guess I am just used to it. Also I am a bachelor no kids.

TheBaron2112 > Frank Grimes
09/14/2013 at 23:41

Hey, so am I. I just ferry people from work around from time to time, so it's more practical.

Frank Grimes > TheBaron2112
09/14/2013 at 23:53

I guess I just want a race car and people can squeeze past the front seats.

Jayhawk Jake > TheBaron2112
09/15/2013 at 00:05

I still strongly disagree on the gauge cluster ;)

I think the storage space is the deal breaker on the fiesta for me, sadly. Flat floor in the sonic is extremely useful to me, and the Fiesta just doesnt come close.

I'd like to see some interior pictures. Which color did you get?

TheBaron2112 > Jayhawk Jake
09/15/2013 at 00:11

I got the silver just like in my post up there. It's a nice color for the car, and just understated enough. I'm hoping I can be boring looking enough to cops in something that isn't bright-ass green.

Interior pics will come tomorrow I'd guess.

And yeah, the storage is lower than in the Sonic. But when it comes down to it, the gauges, power, price, and quality outweighed the negatives of the lack of storage.

I am totally going to use every bit of its 200 hp. When will I ever use all 48 cubic feet of storage space in a Sonic? I don't know that I'll ever use all 26 in the ST.

Scott Keelan > TheBaron2112
09/15/2013 at 00:28

Congrats on the purchase. Any idea if the Mountune kit is backed by the factory warranty here in the US like it is in the UK? Is the Mountune kit even available to US cars?

Jayhawk Jake > TheBaron2112
09/15/2013 at 02:02

Different strokes for different folks. I would love the power of the Fiesta, but I'll be tuning the Sonoc fairly soon qnd that should bump it to about 165hp/175ftlb.

I fly RC planes, while my current fleet isn't volumetric they are quite long, so having a flat floor is pretty much essential.

Agree to disagree on the gauges? I still love mine ;P

TheBaron2112 > Jayhawk Jake
09/15/2013 at 08:48

Definitely. I can see the appeal of the gauge but it just doesn't ring my bell. Glad you like it.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Scott Keelan
09/15/2013 at 09:28

I think I read that Mountune wascoming to the US soon. Not sure about factory warranty.

Try www.fiestafaction.com for info.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > TheBaron2112
09/15/2013 at 09:33

Kickass dude!

Any chance you live close to Dayton Ohio? I really want to drive one to see how it compares to my SVT Focus.

If I were buying, I too would probably skip the Recaros; I doubt my fat-ass will fit.

How is the pedal placement? Can you heel-toe easily? I have drive a Focus ST and the gas was too low to work the pedals well for me.

Giles007 > TheBaron2112
09/15/2013 at 12:26

Wow, if that is true (more responsive steering) I will definitely be looking at one. I currently have a Focus ST. The only thing that has me worried is the torsion beam suspension in the rear of the Fiesta. I can't wait to drive one now. Congrats!

TheBaron2112 > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
09/15/2013 at 13:44

I don't live near Dayton. I'm in Nashville actually. And I can guarantee you that torque steer in the Fiesta is much MUCH lower than your Focus.

And pedal placement is great. I suck at heel-toe, but you can easily give some brake pedal with the ball of your foot and then pivot over to the gas with relative ease. I tried it with the Focus ST and you're right. Pedal placement wasn't as optimal there.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > TheBaron2112
09/15/2013 at 14:41

I don't even notice any torque-steer in my SVT. There really isn't much torque, and I don't drive it hard enough in traffic to find it I guess. Maybe if I had the time to Auto-X more I might notice some.

Good to know that even with all that extra oomph, the FieSTa still behaves well enough when you poke the go-pedal. Though, people who drive sporty FWD cars and complain about torque-steer can just shut it and get stronger.

Also glad to hear that the pedal placement is close enough to work the footwell. The Focus ST is awful, and really a big let-down as it's how that car is meant to be driven. The fix is to add some washer/spacers under the gas pedal mount to move it forward from what I've read online.