Ford Fiesta 1.0L EcoBoost w/ST handling upgrades

"David Talmage" (davidtalmage) 09/19/2016 at 12:15 • Filed to: None

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How crazy is it to put the Ford Fiesta ST handling package into a Fiesta SE with the 1.0L EcoBoost engine?

I’m in the market for a new car and I’m thinking about doing that. It would give me a slow car that I can drive faster.

According to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , the parts will cost $729.95 in upgrades before taxes:

Fiesta ST handling pack ($299.95)

Ford Fiesta ST front strut tower brace: $215

Ford Fiesta ST mountune lower chassis brace: $215

I should be able to bolt on the front strut tower brace myself, right? I don’t know if I can install the lower chassis brace. Neither one requires drilling.

A Fiesta with the 1.0L engine and a moonroof retails for about $17K. A similarly equipped Fiesta ST is about $21K. That gives me about $4K to play with.

What says Oppositelock?

wafflesnfalafel > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 12:21

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Hmmm... wonder what the turbo 3cyl would sound like straight piped past the cat? That could really be a nifty little rig.

Svend > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 12:23

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Ford Europe have already come up with an ST-ish 1.0EcoBoost. It’s called the Ford Fiesta ST-Line.

jimz > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 12:24

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no crazier than putting it on a regular 1.6 Fiesta. less crazy, even, given the torquier nature of the 1.0EB.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 12:32

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Sounds like a great plan. Don’t know why Ford doesn’t offer the option here.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 12:34

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sounds like fun. I'd do it.

Batman the Horse > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 12:37

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An angry 3cyl with straight pipes and a handling package is so intensely Jalop. 

Future next gen S2000 owner > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 12:44

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This isn’t a bad idea at all, just don’t forget, if you want the whole psuedo ST package, ST brakes and upgraded tires are a must.

Busslayer > wafflesnfalafel 09/19/2016 at 12:48

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Chris Harris drove a 1.0eb Formula Ford with basically no exhaust to speak of and it sounds pretty cool. Kinja is messing with me so I can't paste the Youtube link.

Busslayer > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 12:51

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I think I start with the suspension bits and hold off on the braces. I'm not sold on the braces making a huge, seat-of-the-pants difference in feel. Apply that to wheels/tires, a brake upgrade, or a tune first.

diplodicus > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 12:53

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Why not just get a slightly used ST?

wafflesnfalafel > Busslayer 09/19/2016 at 12:54

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Ooo! I had not seen that - very nice!

Textured Soy Protein > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 12:56

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Given the not-super-huge price jump up to the ST and all the other little things you get by going up to it, I’d say it’s worth the price to just get the ST. It’s not like the ST is that fast that you’re going to get yourself into trouble testing its limits.

Svend > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 12:57

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Ye’, go for it fella.

jimz > wafflesnfalafel 09/19/2016 at 13:11

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maybe it’s just lack of familiarity, but 3-cylinder engines just sound weird. The 1.0EB Fiesta and 1.0 Ka I drove sounded similar (obviously,) but without the exhaust note they just sounded unhappy about their jobs.

Flyboy is FAA certified insane > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 13:20

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There’s a white Fiesta ecoboost on copart with hail damage for a current bid of $0. No other damage and it only has 16k miles.

Buy that for whatever it sells for and but the ST parts on it to have the best handling golf ball in the world.

http://www.copart.com/us/Lot/3213411…

Although you seem to have forgotten the nessesary brake upgrade. Most of these are drum brakes in the back.

Justin Hughes > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 13:31

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Will this be strictly a street car, or do you plan to do autocross, track days, etc. as well? For a strictly street car, I’d skip the braces (at least for starters) and just get the handling pack, or an equivalent aftermarket suspension kit. Get some larger diameter and lighter wheels with good grippy tires as well. Don’t worry about the rear drum brakes. You won’t overheat those in street driving.

Beyond that, after you drive it a while you’ll see what areas are still lacking and upgrade them. Maybe you’ll want a short shifter, or ST seats. As others have said, maybe open up the exhaust a little bit for more 3-cylinder rumble. There’s no 1.0 EcoBoost off-the-shelf tune available in the US, but you might be able to finagle something from across the pond...

DocWalt > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 13:52

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My dad has the handling pack on his ‘11 SE and it’s a VERY worthwhile upgrade. Huge improvement in suspension performance for the price.

David Talmage > Justin Hughes 09/19/2016 at 14:05

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It will be a street car. I don’t autocross or race on a track. I’ll DD it.

David Talmage > Batman the Horse 09/19/2016 at 14:05

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My thought exactly!

David Talmage > diplodicus 09/19/2016 at 14:09

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The idea of a sporty car with a tiny engine amuses me.

Justin Hughes > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 14:12

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Great - then tires and suspension should be all you need!

Phatboyphil > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 15:02

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My personal suggestion, first look at tires. I put BF Goodrich comp 2s on my old Civic and not only did it give it more grip, but also greatly improved steering feel. They are also rated very well in the rain, altough I’d imagine their pitiful in snow (never seen more than a flurry myself). For actual suspension I wouldn’t do springs since it’s a DD you don’t autoX. I’d look at roll bars and dampers. Bigger rear bar will promote oversteer and bigger front will actually help steering feel, coming from a non performance bar that’s on there. I say look at shocks because for street use I think springs will be a bit much. One of the fun things about slow car fast is the soft suspension makes it easy to control, however stiffer shocks will give it a more sporty and connected feel. I’d look into Koni reds/STR.S for that, might be cheaper.

Anyway goodluck!

diplodicus > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 15:55

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The ST has a relatively tiny engine, but I get what you mean.

If only they sold the 3 door in the US

Vicente Esteve > David Talmage 09/19/2016 at 21:44

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Uh, Fiesta ST and load it with cement?

torque > wafflesnfalafel 09/20/2016 at 03:34

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16:35 of smile on my face. Love this Chris Harris review. I’d like to imagine Ford could make these street legal even in the US via some sort of “you help build it” kit car arrangement

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > David Talmage 09/21/2016 at 01:04

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Only $300? What all does that include?

David Talmage > jdrgoat - Ponticrack? 09/21/2016 at 09:17

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front struts, front springs, rear shocks and rear springs

Details here: 2011-2016 FIESTA HANDLING PACK