"itsjustaduststorm" (itsjustaduststorm)
04/15/2016 at 20:54 • Filed to: None | 3 | 25 |
I’ve been carless for nine weeks, and it’s driving me up the god damn wall. Early on I had considered buying another cheap car to replace my fallen MK1 Focus, then I considered getting a few year old hot hatch/mild performance car. Struck that off the list too, when I realized that buying new will just save me a lot of headaches. That said!
In the end I’ve narrowed it down to the Fiesta ST and the Focus ST. I’ve driven both previously (had each for a week in 2014, thanks work!) and thoroughly enjoyed both though each had a few big flaws. The FiST’s torsion beam turned me off in NYC driving and I’m not a small guy (6'1, 215), while the FoST just had too much power on an open diff and some weird pedals. But I only lived with them for a little while.
So I figure there’s gotta be some Opponauts out there who’ve been living with these cars for a while, and I’d like to know what you guys think about the cars after owning them for a bit.
Driving habits: I don’t drive to work these days, but when I do drive it’s mostly urban/suburban mix. I do love taking longer trips to mountain roads and used to take 2-400 mile trips to see friends, so I’d like my next car to not
completely
beat me up on the highway.
Background: I plan to live with whatever I buy for the next 4-6 years, so it needs to be an all-rounder. Otherwise I’d probablyj ust pick up an FR-S or Ecoboost Mustang.
PanchoVilleneuve ST
> itsjustaduststorm
04/15/2016 at 20:58 | 2 |
The thing that most consistently impresses me about my Focus is how easily it settles down. The Fiesta doesn’t really do that.
Jayhawk Jake
> itsjustaduststorm
04/15/2016 at 21:05 | 0 |
In what way is an ecoboost not an all rounder? You can't really take people in the backseat, but the trunk is pretty damn capacious
Levitas
> itsjustaduststorm
04/15/2016 at 21:11 | 0 |
I actually had a FoST courtesy of ford for a weekend when I went and test drove the FiST for the first time. Coming from a base MINI, the FoST seemed insanely powerful; it had no problem cruising at 90+ and could really shock you from the get go.
The thing about that FiST that sold me was how the very first time I put my foot down, my jaw dropped, I literally giggled like a school girl, in the middle of traffic, and I couldn’t even care less. I was driving this weird looking bright orange hatchback-kinda thing with bright orange seats that whistled at all the wrong people, but it didn’t matter. Every corner, every stoplight made me smile that entire test drive.
And now I’ve done over 12000 miles in the last 10 months. I smiled this afternoon when I got off work and sat down and drove off. I smiled when I put it in sport mode and peeled around a round-a-bout. And I chuckled pretty hard when I forgot I was in sport and accelerated hard while turning and smoked a tire.
On the more realistic side of things: the steering wheel in the FiST is weird, if you put your hands at 3-9 and hook your thumbs, the leather really digs in. Especially if driving for long periods of time with a crosswind. I really wish the FiST had the dash software of the FoST. I wish the trunk was a tad bigger, like the FoST. I really, really wish the FiST had projector headlights and not plain halogens.
If you do recaros, like mine, the bolsters are very aggressive. I drove 4 hours to Detroit (~300 miles) and it wasn’t really bad, but I was ready to be out and moving. The suspension is pretty rough and some potholes and bumps can literally give you a headache. The wheels get coated in brake dust quicker than Clarkson can offend someone.
itsjustaduststorm
> Jayhawk Jake
04/15/2016 at 21:12 | 1 |
I loved the Ecoboost. But it doesn’t carry people in a pinch, nor would it fit my bike. Plus I’d want the Premium with the Performance Pack because those Recaros are the best seats I’ve been in this side of a McLaren.
That’s also considerably more expensive than the ST twins. And dailying a large RWD car in NYC is...well I’ll be kind and say it’s difficult.
Kailand09
> itsjustaduststorm
04/15/2016 at 21:15 | 2 |
FoST driver for a while now. Pedal placement is kinda shit, but I heel-toe on the daily (well, ball-side foot). It isn’t optimal, but whatever. I may be working on a fix for that this summer though, as just lifting the pedal doesn’t seem like a good fix to me.
Past that, I’ve driven 8 hours in a day in the car and I thought it was just fine. I drive 20 minutes commute to work, and most of the time it is used simply as an A->B (well, I take a->b a bit faster than most!). Often I carry 3 other 6' dudes in the car to lunch. On a longer trip not probably comfy for them, but any normal around town it is no problem at all. I fit 4 18" wheels+tires in the back without issue. I moved with the car, and it fit so much of my shit I was surprised.
OK that’s enough of “living” in a car, the good stuff is what matters.
This car handles. It handles very, very well. Sure, the FiST is supposed to handle better, and I’ve driven one with extra power, and it still didn’t feel like enough to me. To be honest, the FoST could use a bit more power itself, but for a DD it works great.
I’ve gone on spirited twisty drives with buddies who have sports cars far above the class of the ST, and I keep up no problem at all. In every aspect of non-track driving, the car shines. If you want a practical car that is affordable and gives you that feeling, the ST gives you that visceral understanding that you and your machine are working together to attack the road. I’ve driven the competition, the ST wins, and it wins big in my opinion.
So there’s that.
Brian Silvestro
> itsjustaduststorm
04/15/2016 at 21:25 | 0 |
Damn I hate giving opinions on cars I own, whenever people do it they’re so biased... but
The Fiesta is smaller so you’ll have an easier time parking it in the city, and it’s just a great city car in general. The faster you go, the smoother it gets, so my suggestion for driving comfortably on highways is go 120. All the time.
Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> itsjustaduststorm
04/15/2016 at 21:51 | 0 |
I drive a 2015 FoST, so closest to the 2016 FoST you’d be considering. The suspension is firmer and its kind of jarring on crappy roads (which is most roads). It’s also comically easy to speed without noticing when you find a smooth spot (or, realistically, any time you don’t use cruise control) because it’s pretty powerful as cars this size go. It’ll definitely do some smooth highway cruising without much fatigue, but remember that the recaros are very polarizing, so check with any other potential passengers before pulling the trigger.
Once you get used to it, it is extremely confidence-inspiring. I couldn’t fathom how the FiST could actually stick better or corner harder without losing traction, it’d be flat crazy to drive. I often wish I didn’t have leather seats because it’s slippery and you’ll throw your front seat passengers around even if you don’t plan to.
My biggest complaints are the poor pedal placement and vague clutch.
In your situation, I’m not sure what I’d choose. Tight city streets, traffic, etc, would be exceptionally frustrating in both these cars.
Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
> itsjustaduststorm
04/15/2016 at 21:55 | 0 |
If you live in a major city with parking concerns, Fiesta.
If you live in the mountains and don’t need to carry larger items, Fiesta.
If you frequently use the car for longer highway trips, Focus.
itsjustaduststorm
> Levitas
04/15/2016 at 22:38 | 0 |
I did prefer the way the FiST made power — very peaky, like 2000s turbos (I learned in an Evo). And it always seemed to have the perfect amount to destroy highway traffic on the BQE.
It bugs the crap out of me that you can’t get HIDs at all, even on ST3 Fiestas.
itsjustaduststorm
> PanchoVilleneuve ST
04/15/2016 at 22:40 | 0 |
That’s what I noticed most about the FoST. I could go be an idiot in the mountains for an hour, then turn onto a main road and chill out in 6th gear like nothing ever happened. The FiST always felt ready to go, even when I just wanted to go home.
MPA
> itsjustaduststorm
04/15/2016 at 22:52 | 0 |
I have a Stage 2 FiST and love it a lot. Just did a back road drive today, and it was awesome - my favorite car that I’ve driven that route.
Pierce Motorsports sells a Torsion Beam brace that works great - I just installed it the other day (as part of their Street kit, which comes with their 2 pt lower front brace and a strut brace - it installs in about 30 minutes using ramps
http://www.piercemotorsport.com/2014-2016-fies…
It’s not as fast as a FoST of course, but it’s not that bad even in stock form, and crazy nimble as you know.
If the one you drove back in ‘14 had the Recaros, try the regular seats. I’m short, so the Recaros fit me like a glove, and were amazing today on my drive.
Jayhawk Jake
> itsjustaduststorm
04/15/2016 at 23:32 | 0 |
Recaros are a wholly separate option. You can get a base with them.
itsjustaduststorm
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
04/16/2016 at 10:38 | 0 |
I actually really liked the ride of the FoST, but then my idea of bad was super stiff coils and slammed 90s Hondas.
The good thing about this dilemma is that I don’t have recurring passengers to worry about. No GF = money for boost!
D: I made myself sad.
itsjustaduststorm
> MPA
04/16/2016 at 10:41 | 0 |
Anyone who says a FiST isn’t quick is wrong, or DDs something with 400+HP (which is entirely unnecessary almost anywhere, but esepcially here in NYC).
Correct me if I’m wrong, but wouldn’t that torsion beam kit only exacerbate the issues I have with the FiST’s ride?
itsjustaduststorm
> Brian Silvestro
04/16/2016 at 10:41 | 0 |
For some reason, I feel NYPD may not like that.
Brian Silvestro
> itsjustaduststorm
04/16/2016 at 11:16 | 0 |
In my experience nyc driving is usually very lawless
Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> itsjustaduststorm
04/16/2016 at 13:56 | 0 |
What year did you drive? Like I said, they stiffened it up considerably. It probably isn't as bad as a slammed stancebro car, though.
MPA
> itsjustaduststorm
04/16/2016 at 16:46 | 0 |
It depends on what your issue is. According to Pierce here’s what iot does:
~Improved stability at higher speeds in both straightline and corners over uneven surfaces!
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
~Reduces rear toe change over bumps/curbing/helps with rear bump steer!
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
~Improved balance helping both turn in and mid corner grip!
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
~Helps reduce dreaded FWD understeer!!!
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
~Will enhance both spirited Daily Drivers, Track and Race cars alike!
itsjustaduststorm
> MPA
04/16/2016 at 17:01 | 0 |
The big issue was the rear end hopping over bumps. Our highways have some quick grade changes (differing road materials) and the ass end of the Fiesta nearly went airborne at 60MPH.
itsjustaduststorm
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
04/16/2016 at 17:07 | 0 |
It was a 2014. It seemed totally fine, though my DD at the time was an 03 ZX3.
itsjustaduststorm
> Jayhawk Jake
04/16/2016 at 17:10 | 0 |
And I just checked my insurance...yeah, it’d be about $200 a month for an Ecoboost. Nope.
Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> itsjustaduststorm
04/16/2016 at 21:20 | 0 |
The 2015+ FoSTs have distinctly firmer springs and ride lower (Ford’s Team RS retuned the suspension for the 2015+ FoST). When I first posted pictures of my 2015 on a FoST forum, people that owned 2013-2014s asked me what springs I had on it, because it appeared lowered...
itsjustaduststorm
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
04/16/2016 at 21:35 | 0 |
Ah, I really will have to drive one of the updated ones before I make the decisions then. Although I’d also heard the ‘15-16s are slowers than the ‘13-14s...
Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> itsjustaduststorm
04/16/2016 at 21:44 | 0 |
Supposedly, although I don’t know how that could be. The drivetrains are identical. The only theory I have is that they did the testing on a set of the optional no-season tires (new for 2015+ cars) vs. the stock summers.
itsjustaduststorm
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
04/17/2016 at 14:47 | 0 |
That is plausible. There’s enough wheelspin as it is with the Eagle F1s.