Something I noticed reading reviews of the Fiesta ST

"PanchoVilleneuve ST" (PanchoVilleneuve)
04/14/2014 at 05:48 • Filed to: Fiesta ST

I'm excited as shit about getting one of these within the next few months, so I've been soaking up every review I can find, and I've noticed something both interesting and amusing. In reviews from American publications, many of the comments are wishing we got the 3-door version over here. In European reviews, a whole ton of the comments are to the effect of "I'd be at the dealership right now if they would bring the 5-door version over from the States."

I know a lot of it on the American 3-door lust end comes from the whole "we can't get it here, so we want it bad" thing that goes along with most cars not sold in the US, but it really does seem like for the first time possibly ever, we really do get the more desirable of all the international versions, and it's with a hot hatch, no less. Now, I know everybody is going to be like RARGH RARGH BUT THE 3-DOOR IS PRETTIER AND LIGHTER RARGH RARGH, but the whole point of a hot hatch is to have the most practical car possible to go with a whole bunch of scoot, and having those two extra doors adds a whole lot of function to a car that is much faster than it has any business being.

Also, I CAN'T DECIDE BETWEEN OXFORD WHITE AND PERFORMANCE BLUE #firstworldcarnerdproblems

DISCUSSION (24)

jkm7680 > PanchoVilleneuve ST
04/14/2014 at 06:00

Performance Blue! White is a bitch to maintain. Especially if you don't have a garage.

duurtlang > PanchoVilleneuve ST
04/14/2014 at 06:09

The grass is always greener on the other side. I just read an article about the US market Nissan Versa on a Dutch website and there were people who envied cars like that (very cheap but not tiny) and others that liked roads filled with large trucks 'with automatics'. I cringed.

KirkyV > PanchoVilleneuve ST
04/14/2014 at 06:11

I'm British, and I'd have the three door - I've always valued my car's looks over my passengers' dignity, and drive a three-door hatch already - but it'd certainly be nice to have both available. Do you guys get the Mountune pack? I'd heard they were planning to start offering it there.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > duurtlang
04/14/2014 at 06:56

I have always heard a lot of American pickup envy coming from Europe, but amongst people who work construction/landscaping/other types of jobs where a bigass truck that can haul an assload of crap would be a great too to have instead of enthusiasts.

Alex87f > PanchoVilleneuve ST
04/14/2014 at 06:57

I would actually much rather have the 3-door version we get on our side of the pond. I'm guessing the reason for what you're mentioning is that comment sections are always packed with the kind of people that go " I would totally buy it if [insert justification]".

Also, performance blue. No brainer. I consider white a fashion and expect it to go out of style at some point (hopefully sooner than later). However, I love a nice shade of blue, and there aren't that many cars available with one, so I really wouldn't hesitate. The only one that would make me hesitate is molten orange.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > KirkyV
04/14/2014 at 06:59

We don't get it as a dealer-installed and warrantied option like you do over there, but Mountune does sell their full Fiesta/Focus ST parts catalog over here through a couple retailers. I'm highly consdering bringing mine up to ST215 spec (which is just an airbox and chip reflash) if Ford doesn't hurry up and offer fully warranty-friendly SVT/Ford Racing parts that do the same thing.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > jkm7680
04/14/2014 at 07:11

I do have a garage, and I always thought white was the color that took the least work to stay looking nice?

The reasons why I'm hesitant with Performance Blue are A: I'm not sure I want two blue cars in a row (which is stupid but still) and B: Blue cars in New England spend the spring being an odd shade of green instead of blue thanks to the huge amounts of yellow pollen that readily sticks to cars in massive quantities.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > Alex87f
04/14/2014 at 07:13

I've dealt with both 3-door and 5-door hatches, and even though the back seats in the Fiesta are only really good for small children and cat carriers, the two extra doors help out a hell of a lot when loading large objects into the back with the seats folded flat.

shop-teacher > PanchoVilleneuve ST
04/14/2014 at 07:33

Those are both valid concerns about the color. I regret buying my current vehicle in silver, like my last one was, and I'm really bored of it now. But if you get white, you better stock up on bug and tar remover.

Alex87f > PanchoVilleneuve ST
04/14/2014 at 07:42

I can understand that, I just don't really need 5 doors and would rather put the extra cost in nice options like a sunroof or cruise control.

The backseat's size probably depends on where you're located. From a European standpoint I expect them to be perfectly usable, but if you're an american used to slightly larger cars they probably seem quite cramped!

duurtlang > PanchoVilleneuve ST
04/14/2014 at 07:52

I don't personally know people with jobs like that, so I wouldn't know. I do see the occasional bigass American truck though, usually at construction/infrastructure work sites so it's not like they're not available. They're just not used as commuters, you hardly ever see them on the road. Bigass American SUVs and even crossovers are totally absent though. The biggest non-luxury SUV/crossovers you see are of the Ford Kuga (Escape) variety, and they're absolutely butchered in the market by similarly sized wagons like the Focus.

This is from a Dutch perspective, but I imagine it's at least somewhat similar in other parts of Europe.

Brian Silvestro > PanchoVilleneuve ST
04/14/2014 at 07:53

You literally have the exact same problems as me...can't decide between those two colors in a few months..

And I like the look of the 5-door much better.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > Alex87f
04/14/2014 at 07:56

I'm a bit spoiled as far as back seats in small cars go by my current car, which, for a car as small as it is, has ton of room in back.

Kinja'd!!!

It's like having a sofa back there.

nafsucof > PanchoVilleneuve ST
04/14/2014 at 08:05

performance blue!!!

WhiskeyGolf > PanchoVilleneuve ST
04/14/2014 at 09:07

I can't decide between 3 and 5 doors on another hot hatch: Mk7 GTI. I've had a 3 door Golf for almost 4 years now and have had people in the backseat maybe 5 times so I think I'm going to continue with the 3 door.

AhsuBH > PanchoVilleneuve ST
04/14/2014 at 10:12

Tuxedo Black, because 10 minutes of /drool before it gets dirty again.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > WhiskeyGolf
04/14/2014 at 10:43

Just being able to have rear-seat access when loading big things/just tossing stuff in the car makes the 5 worth it.

edjr5041 > PanchoVilleneuve ST
04/14/2014 at 10:44

I actually like my five-door, practical, fun, and goes like stink, especially after a tune. Took it up some twisty mountain roads this weekend, handles like you wouldn't believe. But to answer your other question, Oxford white b/c I see too many performance blues.

Dusty Ventures > duurtlang
04/14/2014 at 11:05

When I interviewed Aussie Will Orders I asked him what American car he'd take back with him if he could. Without hesitation he said heavy duty diesel pickup.

Frank Grimes > PanchoVilleneuve ST
04/14/2014 at 13:16

I am single man with not many friends so no need to ruin my TRACK DAY BRO! with two extra doors.

jkm7680 > PanchoVilleneuve ST
04/14/2014 at 16:04

Yeah, I don't have a garage.

Everything from Bugs, to road tar will mess up the finish

dmcspeedy > Alex87f
04/14/2014 at 16:57

Agree on the white - it was big for a few years in the mid 80s, then spent about 25 years totally out of fashion. There's a horrible trend currently of people buying basic C-Classes and 3-series in white with black wheels. That has to die.

Alex87f > dmcspeedy
04/14/2014 at 17:29

Agreed. I especially hate it on newer Benz's like this

Kinja'd!!!

I really dislike those. Not that they're ugly, but this look-at-me combination of black wheels and candy white with dual exhausts on a car that has the same 109hp diesel as the mailman's Renault Kangoo just saddens me.

How can people spend 30+ k€ on a car that has AMG badges and a 1.5 Renault diesel engine?

Coty > PanchoVilleneuve ST
07/09/2014 at 10:16

Oxford.