Pleasant surprises and tips from my first days with a Fiesta ST

"Battery Tender Unnecessary" (carac) 04/22/2014 at 20:22 • Filed to: None

22

61

I've only had the Fiesta for four days and 400 miles, most of which consisted of a silly grin etched on my face. I knew it would be a great drive from the press it's been getting, but there were still a few fun surprises.

And just for clarity. These are things that surprised me, not necessarily things that would surprise everyone.

Gas Mileage - I expected a direct-injected 1.6-liter four-cylinder to be decently frugal with gas, but not this good. Interstate cruising returns well over 40mpg and even with a few spirited detours down twisty country roads the car gave me an average of 36mpg over the first few hundred miles. Quite the improvement over a RRS V8 making 17mpg highway.

Liberal Application of Paint Protection Film - Nearly every surface directly impacted by road debris from the tires is covered with a clear protection film from the factory. Even along the rim of the wheel arch. Nice of them.

Hill Hold Assist - Not absolutely necessary but a nice surprise the first time I stopped on a hill.

Keyless entry and start are standard on the ST - Something that is still optional on Mercedes, BMW, etc despite being cheaper to implement (a button is cheaper than a key-based ignition assembly).

In addition to bluetooth audio, it has USB ports, a line-in, and a SDcard slot - Why can't this just be standard across all cars?

THE WHEELS ARE EASY TO CLEAN!!!!-

Cleaning BBS Basketweaves and Style-65 M5 rims makes you truly appreciate the simple pleasure of being able to reach in and clean a wheel from end to end with a mit. The relative thinness also means easy access to the entire inner surface.

The shifter is light, short, and smooth - One of the best feeling manuals I've ever driven.

Tips

The Recaros are the only "necessary" option - Make sure that box is ticked and you're good.

You have to pull up on the collar of the stick to unlock reverse

It's a little early to tell definitively, but the Fiesta is shaping up to be one of the most fun cars I've ever owned. A ridiculous bargain with accessible performance at speeds that won't get you in trouble. I've bought cars three times it's price that weren't half as fun. Anyone that enjoys driving owes it to themselves to at least try one out.

But beware, you might not be able to shake the "I need this in my life" feeling. I couldn't.

Damn this thing is fun.

AndersSim - V10'ING > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 20:25

1

I'm jelly... Congratulations man!

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 20:27

0

I think its a sweet car looks wise and you need to keep doing updates on it!

jkm7680 > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 20:27

0

Glad to hear that you are liking it! Great little car that.

I remember on Saabs from the early 2000's that you'd have to pull the boot up to put it in reverse.

Don't you have to have the protection film removed every few years? I've got a buddy with paint protection film, and he tells me that it needs to be removed every 5 years or so.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > jkm7680 04/22/2014 at 20:29

2

Depends on the brand, the quality of the application, and where it is on the car. The 3M Clearbra on my other car is guaranteed not to discolor, peel, etc for 10 years by the shop that put it on.

Nibby > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 20:29

1

Holy shit for the money... that's a lotta luxury features.

SUCK ON THAT BMW AND MB

Takuro Spirit > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 20:30

0

I wish I could justify a car payment right now.... damn.

jkm7680 > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 20:32

1

Yeah, I'm guessing that the factory film is probably very high quality and will last for a good amount of time. I've thought of film in the past, I've also got a white car. It probably is too late though, as it's seen 90,000 miles and 6 years of use.

I'd say the St is probably the best car that you can get for that price though, really like the looks of it.

CRider > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 20:49

5

It looks like a nice little runaround while the SLS is in the impound lot. Damn you 112 in a 35!

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 20:52

1

I hate these. I really hope they aren't ever made standard on everything. To each their own though.

Jayhawk Jake > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 20:55

5

No, I'm not feeling buyers remorse. Nor am I jealous in any way. Nope. Not in the least

I really need to drive one of these, but I know if I do I'm just going to want one. Should I have waited an extra few months to get one instead of the Sonic? Probably...

Oh well, too late now.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 20:59

1

Welcome to the club ;)

Jayhawk Jake > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 21:01

1

A bunch of cars do this now. Mine does, Hyundai's do but the collar is connected to a tongue on the front

Interestingly (well, to me anyways) the C4 Corvette does it too

I actually prefer it this way to the shove in and over method on cars like the Miata. Takes less effort and popping it back into first is quick (at least when reverse is up and to the left)

Alex B > CRider 04/22/2014 at 21:26

0

When did this happen?

Alex B > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 21:26

0

Do you plan to keep the ST after the i8 is delivered?

catkam623 misses his 944 > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 21:36

0

How many cars do you have now?

Svend > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 21:40

0

I like the lit door sills with the ST flanked either side by four arrows.

Coty > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 22:04

1

Pretty much every Ford vehicle is set up this way.

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 22:07

1

Very nice car. I wish Ford would expand their market a bit and offer the ST line with an automatic transmission. I know, heresy in these parts, but for us older drivers with bad knees, a stick shift just isn't in the cards anymore. At least for a daily driver. At least those Recaro's are optional. I find them to be too confining and difficult to get out of. The standard seats are far more hospitable for my use.

M54B30 > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus 04/22/2014 at 22:30

0

you sound like my dad - he'd love a Focus ST (or SRT4 back then, fiesta ST) but he is too uninterested in manuals. He's had plenty over his life but now (55) with aching joints and lots of traffic jams (Germany...) he just isn't interested in a 3rd pedal.

M54B30 > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 22:32

0

I love these cars, but this display looks so cheap. It's an electronic screen, take 5 seconds and use a font that doesn't look like a 10 year old alarm clock.

NoahthePorscheGuy > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 22:34

0

This is going to piss you off so much when you need to change tires.

NoahthePorscheGuy > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 22:35

0

Load all your music onto a SD card, Sync only works 50% of the time with phones it appears.

NoahthePorscheGuy > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 22:35

1

Thanks for reminding me about the only part of my car that I regret.

M54B30 > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 22:36

0

I had a rental Opel Astra when my Focus ST (07) was in the shop and it had a button like the picture I've included shows. It looked and felt exactly like an auto shifter I had at the time and I had a nasty habit of pushing the button in and engaging reverse instead of first gear

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > M54B30 04/22/2014 at 22:39

0

Yep. I'm in my mid 40's, and the appeal of a stick is a lot lower than it used to be. I do about 20K miles a year, and very little of that is any type of a commute to work. Lots of stop & go, rural roadways and inner city streets. That puts a lot of stress on the old left knee.

Vicente Esteve > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 23:42

0

Congratulations on the ST! The more I see people buying them here in Oppo, the more I am needing to drive one. Too bad there is only 1 in my city and Ford dealerships would NEVER let a 17 year old test drive one. But this urge is growing and growing very faST!!

Garrett Davis > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 04/22/2014 at 23:51

0

I didn't like the idea of them either until I bought my Focus ST. Now I wouldn't want to go back. Strange how those things change, huh?

Garrett Davis > Vicente Esteve 04/22/2014 at 23:52

0

You should try it. This is a fairly common teen car. Hell, I test drove a Mustang GT when I was 18 after the salesmen talked me into it. I wasn't even there looking at cars, I was in to get a part for the Ford 8.8 rear axle my buddy and I were swapping into his Jeep.

Garrett Davis > M54B30 04/22/2014 at 23:53

0

The Focus at least has a pretty sharp LCD there. It's forgivable on the Fiesta, I'd say, given the price.

Garrett Davis > NoahthePorscheGuy 04/22/2014 at 23:54

0

Mine's been working fine reading music from my phone. Starts playing where I left off as soon as I start it up.

Garrett Davis > Coty 04/22/2014 at 23:55

0

Nuh uh.

;)

michael bleggi > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/22/2014 at 23:59

0

i bought these in an Focust ST. i hate them, so uncomfortable for more than 50miles trips.... the base leather seats are sufficiently bolstered IMO and much better...

Vicente Esteve > Garrett Davis 04/23/2014 at 00:02

1

Thats very cool, I might give it a try later on. The want is STrong.

Garrett Davis > Vicente Esteve 04/23/2014 at 00:20

0

In the end, what's the worst thing they can say? No? It would be stupid for them to.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Garrett Davis 04/23/2014 at 00:21

0

I've used my roommates prius one extensively and am not a fan. I'm not saying I can't be converted by one that works well, but its certainly a hill to climb.

Vicente Esteve > Garrett Davis 04/23/2014 at 00:22

1

Good point, but haha honestly I doubt they have one in the lot. I have to check and see.

Garrett Davis > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 04/23/2014 at 00:24

0

I guess the experience is pretty different when you're starting something up with some power rather than a puny electric motor. It's a whole different feeling.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Garrett Davis 04/23/2014 at 00:28

0

yeah I think the fact that you can't tell if the thing is on or off is a big issue. It's still one of those things that would really suck if it broke though, and I'm sure it's harder to replace than a traditional ignition. I dunno, I still prefer crank windows so I might just be a lost cause.

Garrett Davis > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 04/23/2014 at 00:45

0

Actually I think it would be much cheaper and much easier to replace. It's also one less problem area as far as thieves are concerned. If you think about it, all the ignition is doing is completing a circuit to give power to the starter. A simple switch is much cheaper, less complicated, and easier to diagnose than a complicated and expensive ignition cylinder.

Also, at least in cars where you can hear/feel the engine, it's just as clear if the ignition is on as with a traditional key set up.

This is all very new to me, and I seriously hated the idea before this car, but it has all started to make sense to me since owning the car.

Buick Mackane > NoahthePorscheGuy 04/23/2014 at 03:58

0

What is that supposed to be?

Buick Mackane > AndersSim - V10'ING 04/23/2014 at 04:00

0

Who is that and what movie?

edjr5041 > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/23/2014 at 07:12

0

4k miles later and I'm still enjoying the hell out of this thing. I would recommend an Accessport tuner, really wakes the car up. Lately I've been running their economy tune to get better mileage on my daily freeway drives to work. But when you switch it to one of the performance maps, hold on...

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > michael bleggi 04/23/2014 at 07:25

0

I have to agree. I have wide shoulders and the recaros in the STs are just too narrow to be comfortable for me. I got mine without and have not regretted it. I do wish Ford didn't force bundle the heated seats and mirrors with the recaros though :P. I miss heated mirrors.

William Byrd > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/23/2014 at 07:43

0

Congrats, that's a great little car. I just had a dealer find me a white Focus ST, waiting on some numbers to see if it's a go. Only option I told him I had to have....Recaros.

I have a new 2.0L Fusion, love a lot of the items you mentioned which it has as well.

Coty > Garrett Davis 04/23/2014 at 07:46

1

You obviously haven't looked very hard inside one of those.

NoahthePorscheGuy > Buick Mackane 04/23/2014 at 09:22

0

For jack point access.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Garrett Davis 04/23/2014 at 09:43

0

Yeah I was more thinking about the electronic sensor that gauges the proximity of the key to the vehicle going bad. I hear you on the switch though. I do think that hearing the engine would make it better.

Garrett Davis > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 04/23/2014 at 12:08

0

Ah, yeah, that's very true. That will be an absolute bitch to troubleshoot down the line. I hadn't thought of that.

Garrett Davis > Coty 04/23/2014 at 12:08

0

You caught me there.

thunder1979 > Buick Mackane 04/25/2014 at 08:29

0

Russell Crowe as Javert in Les Miserables.

fiestast1 > catkam623 misses his 944 04/25/2014 at 09:38

0

woot another ox fist welcome to club

TheBaron2112 > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/26/2014 at 23:54

0

Congratulations!

I had no idea the protection film was there! I really like that they did that. Plus, I have to disagree on the Recaros. I test drove a Focus with the Recaros and sat in a Fiesta with them... I didn't like them. They were well bolstered, but they didn't feel like they'd be comfortable on long journeys of more than an hour or two.

Which, I've already done several 2 and 3 hour journeys, plus a trip to Florida. And the non-Recaro seats feel great to me.

UH60_Pilot > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/27/2014 at 02:53

0

One thing I don't like about the Fiesta is the lack of HIDs as an option. How are the factory halogen headlights?

HIDs are optional on the Focus ST. Did you consider that car as well?

Battery Tender Unnecessary > UH60_Pilot 04/27/2014 at 09:40

0

The lack of HID was a little disappointing but the halogens work fine, better than most. Some aftermarket companies are making HID kits but I need to so some research. I HATE badly tuned/calibrated projectors. If it doesn't look and work like a factory unit would I won't bother.

Ricepuddin a shitty superhero > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/27/2014 at 11:41

0

Beautiful car congratulations! I test drove one when I got rid of the Focus ST. Hope you have better luck with the sync system then i did

osbor > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/27/2014 at 14:37

0

if the ecoboost mustang has this exact transmission, i dont think i'll be able to resist buying it

Collin > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/27/2014 at 15:19

0

I just drove a regular Fiesta the other day, and even with an auto, it was surprisingly fun to drive. It really made me want to get my hands on an ST.

intheDeedtheGlory > Jayhawk Jake 04/27/2014 at 18:52

0

The only thing that bugs me about the Sonic (other than it being a GM product) is the headlight, I hate how the clear plastic is only on the actual circular light housing. Fun little car to drive though.

Jayhawk Jake > intheDeedtheGlory 04/27/2014 at 18:54

0

That seems to be most people's favorite design feature.

intheDeedtheGlory > Jayhawk Jake 04/27/2014 at 18:56

0

I would like it if they offered the rest of the headlight housing in the body color, that would be cool.

Daddio > Battery Tender Unnecessary 04/28/2014 at 08:05

0

good for you, man. Sounds like ford hit a home run