How do you justify the FiST?

"LJ909" (lj909)
01/25/2017 at 17:47 • Filed to: None

For months I’ve been trying to bring myself to buy one, but with me wanting to actually use it as a daily driver that also happens to be fun to drive, I haven’t pulled the trigger yet.

I’ve been racking my brain in how to justify buying it. I have a 6 year so I don’t really need to worry about strollers or anything like that. I looked at FoST’s because they are bigger of course and while nice, people have said the FiST drives better because its smaller. And it really is. In my comparisons it is smaller in every measurable way than my Sonic and that tells me its tiny.

So how do you justify it? Is it really good enough to overlook the interior room, or do you go smart and get something bigger like the FoST?

DISCUSSION (23)

PlasteredClover > LJ909
01/25/2017 at 17:58

Alternatively, used wrx’s provide similar levels of fun, theyre faster, and have more interior room. And if you have to have the hatch you can one generation older.

Blind Willie Tyresmoke Namington IV > LJ909
01/25/2017 at 18:06

Well I’ve read around that the fost is only less fun than the fist but in a comparison with the previous gen golf EVO said that the Focus was more fun. So it’s a case of: how often would you go out just for a drive and how often would you need your car to actually be practical?

And I mean, the FoST still has a talented chassis that you can play with although it will possibly be a little harder to play with the balance.

Also, how wide are the roads where you would drive it hard as that could be a factor as well?

shop-teacher > LJ909
01/25/2017 at 18:09

Put everybody who would be riding in the FiST in it, and take it for a long test drive. See if you’re all comfortable? If so, buy it. If not, FoST. Job done!

Scouting For Zen > LJ909
01/25/2017 at 18:19

I’ll let Automobile do the talking:

Nothing > LJ909
01/25/2017 at 18:24

I’m not sure about interior volume, but I know that even in my FoST, my son (who was 5 at the time), I couldn’t have the driver’s seat all of the way back without him easily kicking/resting his feet on the seatback. I have to imagine it’s worse in the FiST.

That said, it was easily resolved with him sitting behind the passenger seat. My wife is only 5'2". so he fit fine behind her.

I liked my FoST, not enough to keep it of course, but if I went down that road again and knew I’d have someone in the backseat, even a little person, I’d still get the FoST over the FiST. I’d be willing to bet I’d make the same choice even with an empty back seat. Just personal preference for me.

LJ909 > PlasteredClover
01/25/2017 at 18:28

True, but used WRX’s hold their value and in most cases are overpriced and have been driven and beaten to shit.

LJ909 > Blind Willie Tyresmoke Namington IV
01/25/2017 at 18:31

Well here in SoCal we have pretty good driving roads in the hills. But I usually go out for drives just to drive on my days off and weekends so it would be pretty often.

LJ909 > Scouting For Zen
01/25/2017 at 18:31

Thanks for this.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > LJ909
01/25/2017 at 18:35

It’s an old Honda Civic Si,but with more power and it’s new.

LJ909 > Nothing
01/25/2017 at 18:41

Its the same thing in my Sonic. My girlfriend has to move the seat up a bit for our sons legs to be conformable. But the FiSt is tiny. I dont think its roomy enough for me to be uncomfortable while driving though.

96Formula6spd > LJ909
01/25/2017 at 19:15

Its not a bad car but it was built for a price. But its an ok car. Buddy has one and for him it is nice. Granted it is up for sale. He misses having a pickup truck so the FiST is going away. Here is my opinion on it.

The car handles ok. Nothing fancy and the factory tires SUCK. I find they run out of steam around 80mph. After that its a dog. Another buddy got bored in Florida. Top speed was 132mph on a 3 mile stretch of road. Granted that is no important.

I find in autox land they are ok. They really need a diff and it shows. Shifter is nice. Brake and clutch as super light. Gas pedal is drive by wire so it sucks. Ride sucks. I know its stiff but man its harsh. Especially on the factory 17s. Buddy runs 15s on his and it helps but still not that great. 5th gear is useless. Its so short that just skip it and go 4th to 6th. These cars are pretty close to the older 00-07 focus body. We have had them parked next to each other and even some of the engine mounts look close together. Rear suspension is different but the front is very close. That being said the older zx3 focus has more space in the back seat and it way more fun to drive.

Compared to the FoST its not to much smaller. The focus has a bigger back seat so depends on how much space you use. The FiST is very close in space. Depends how much you want a back seat and how much you want. Granted in that price range a new WRX would be following me home. The Fiesta St is fun but it would have been a car that on a test drive I would have walked away from. I have been trying to get to drive a focus but nobody I know has one.

That being said buddy is getting rid of his 2015 ST. Its the orange color with Recaros and no sunroof. Listed for 17k. only has 27k miles on it. That is if you are close to South Carolina (Looks like your in Florida by the dealer picture above). Even comes with a set of focus 15s with tires and the factory 17s.

LJ909 > 96Formula6spd
01/25/2017 at 19:36

Thanks for this. Yea I had read the ride is harsh, but if its not as harsh as an FR-S that’s fine, I’ve test driven an FR-S and it was brutal. I actually felt tired after the drive.

What attracted me to the FiST though is the handling which I’ve read can be go kart like. I thought hat was impressive for a hatch. You made a good comparison though with the FiST and the first gen Focus. Kind of makes me wish that we had gotten the 3 door FiSt here. But the big thing that’s holding me back against it is the back seat space which from my comparisons is very tight. That’s a knock against it for me.

Your buddies price is good, but I’m in Southern California and there are way more for a better price here. The one from the picture is a 14' with 41 thousand miles on it for $14,829, another one nearby in that funky green color is the same year with 25 thousand miles on it for $15,847. There are lots more its just bringing myself to buy one.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > LJ909
01/25/2017 at 19:51

I’ve driven mine with 4 grown men in it, and I suffered none. I’m 6' tall and 250+. Also, the stock tires are great for about 10k miles, and last about 15k, provided they are the Potenzas. It’s fun, especially if your commute is low speed, 2nd gear pulls are addicting, that’s where it makes the most sense.

That said, if you are stuck on having a fun hatch, it’s the one... But I wouldn’t buy another one. I’ve already out grown what it can do.

96Formula6spd > LJ909
01/25/2017 at 19:54

I have friends with the twins. Lets just say in my opinion a stock twin is like a lexus compared to the FiST. The Fiesta has a horrible ride. I am 6'4" and riding in the back seat is doable. But over bumps my head hits the roof. Wait its always on the roof. I can stand it for around town trips. Would not want to go a couple hours in it. My buddies zx3 has way more room in that back seat including the head room.

Will say build quality on the FiST is ok. Have friends with one in the 40k range and its starting to get dash rattles. He is going to ditch it for a C5 z06 in the next few months. Again its a car I would not buy. The one that is selling his had an issue with it after the honeymoon faze was over. His GF has a regular Fiesta. We both said there is something wrong with it and we could never put our finger on it. Well he said this. After driving the regular fiesta for a few days the ST does not feel special. A regular fiesta is 95% as much fun to drive. The girl friends car is even an automatic. No harsh ride and the same interior if you get the regular seats. SES and ST share the same seats. Recaros are not. However the Recaros are worth it.

If my budget was in the 16k range and wanting something fun. Its not the FiST. Its not the FoST. I am not sure what I would buy. I think a FRS/BRZ could be fun. They start around 17k at least in the area. Even a WRX would be more fun. I rode back from nationals in a 2010 and kinda enjoyed it. At least they ride nice.

Whats your budget and requirements.

Speed > Scouting For Zen
01/25/2017 at 20:06

I stopped wanting one. I stopped stopping and want one again.

LJ909 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
01/25/2017 at 20:15

“That said, if you are stuck on having a fun hatch, it’s the one... But I wouldn’t buy another one. I’ve already out grown what it can do.”

See this what you said is what other owners have said that have had FiST’s: they either thought highly of the car but got rid of it because they outgrew it, or they just got tired of the car. And its usually in about a year or 2. I dont want to get tired of it that quick. Are you tired of it as far as the limits of the performance? Its good to know you got 4 adults in it. I just need room for myself, my 5'4 girlfriend and my 6 year old.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > LJ909
01/25/2017 at 20:22

Not really even that, it’s limits are quite high in the corners. Which is my problem, I don’t go to the mountains enough to enjoy what it’s built for. Most of the roads near me aren’t very technical, and a faster pony car would be more fun. If I lived near the canyons/mountains and could go there every weekend, I don’t think I’d ever want another car.

LJ909 > 96Formula6spd
01/25/2017 at 20:30

Yea Like I said to the other guy, I’ve known people to have gotten tired of the FiST quickly. I don’t want that. FR-S/BRZ twins are too small for my needs. But I’m staying in the 13-17 grand range. I’m even considering a Mustang Convertible. I looked at the Veloster Turbo but it was forgettable. Currently though its just been between the FiST or the FoST

LJ909 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
01/25/2017 at 20:34

See I’m a weekend driver and like to drive on great roads so I think I would get my money’s worth. You probably should have ventured out to other areas sometimes.

96Formula6spd > LJ909
01/25/2017 at 20:50

I think if I could find it a 2011+ 5.0 mustang would be on my ticket. Still get decent mpg. Plus america v8 noises ever single morning is a nice bonus. I miss that a ton. Car is still around but down. I have a 385 Lt1 Firebird. That would be fun. I miss a good rumble. Granted in your budget and range. Maybe go for the FoST. My vote is the muscle car.

LJ909 > 96Formula6spd
01/25/2017 at 20:56

I’ve found 2 2011 GT’s. Ones for 13 grand but it has 139 thousand miles on it and the other one is 15 grand and I think its a California Special. They are tempting but I don’t know how the last gen Mustang holds up reliability wise. I’m also looking at a 2015 Convertible but its the 3.7. Still 300 horses though.

Shab > LJ909
01/25/2017 at 21:06

I checked a FiST out while shopping for a car. I was really surprised by how tiny it was, especially as I am 6'1. Headroom was fine, but the width was terrible and my elbows were rubbing with a passenger.

Ended up buying a 9th gen Civic Si. Auto reviewers are not a fan of it as it lacks hp compared to the FoST and GTI, but it has enough space, pretty comfortable, a great gearbox, IMO a good engine, and is in the same(used) price bracket.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > LJ909
01/25/2017 at 21:06

I do occasionally, but I can’t every weekend.