Fiesta ST First Drive

"mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/" (mxxxxxm24) 06/25/2019 at 18:30 • Filed to: Fiesta, Ford, Fiesta ST, Car Buying, Review

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A new 2019 Fiesta ST. I wanted to like it. In some ways I did.

In other ways I didn’t. The main issue for me was the transmission. I realized I’m spoiled having been driving the Miata 5 speed around for the last 5 years. It felt very loose and undefined. It felt a bit like rowing with a broken plunger. This I’m sure you will tell me, could be alleviated with a short shift kit, but I just can’t see how much it could really be improved to feel direct and sporty. Please tell me otherwise Oppo as this was my main deal breaker.

Second issue was also in line with the shifter and was on the placement of arm rest. How am I supposed to shift with my elbow constantly hitting the arm rest Ford? Now I was able to help with that by opening the lid, but that issue brings me to my next: The seating position. With the standard ST seats lowered all the way I felt too high up. So I would need to Replace with a lower seat, but then the arm rest would be even more in the way even with the lid up! So then I would need a higher shifter to alleviate that.

Now these gripes so far are in part because I am 6' 4" and have trouble fitting in smaller cars that aren’t designed with ergonomics in mind. I expected some fitment issues, but didn’t expect a more awkward seating position than a stock Miata. The foot well was a little had to maneuver with my seat in a good position for the steering wheel. There was no heel towing for me, but to be fair I only can “heel toe” with the ball of my foot on the brake and the posterior side for rev matching in most cars, being that I have long legs. I also felt the clutch was a bit heavier than necessary for a 1.6l turbo and the release point as I have heard is a bit vague. Maybe they were expecting idiocy from their customer base, which makes sense and brings me to my next topic.

The turbo. It was pretty awesome. It made me smile every time. I could just hear it kick in and it made me want more of it. There was not any noticeable lag. Power felt linear. It was still a very subtle boost and in terms of power, didn’t really feel any quicker than my modified Miata (1.8l non-turbo). There was noticeable torque steer coming out of corners, but I don’t really see that as a bad thing as some do. However the steering felt twitchy and that coupled with torque steer made it a little odd coming from rear wheel drive. I’m sure I could get used to it given more time.

The suspension felt very sorted out. Flat cornering and comfortable ride whether going at it on back roads or the highway. Shifting economically and cruising along: it felt like any newer comfortable grocery getter. I could see this being a pretty solid road trip car with the excellent fuel economy and comfortable ride. In addition it had pretty solid interior storage and adequate (being lenient here) rear passenger seating. I couldn’t get the seats to lay flat though.

All in all the FiST seemed like it would be a solid sporty daily with a few modifications, but I really wasn’t looking to buy a car I would have to modify immediately. I guess I have more to think about and to be honest after driving that and a 2017 WRX (which felt better in every way because it was more inline with my driving style), I have more appreciation for my miata. That or maybe I just don’t like change.

Chuckles > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 11:16

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Are you in the US? Because we didn't get that 2 door here, only the 4 door hatch.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 11:22

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They’re small, fast, fun, and affordable. Get one

nerd_racing > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 11:23

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Sadly, no 3 door here in the states.  I’d have bought one if we got them here. 

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 11:26

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The Recaro seats might as well be used as torture devices. They are not comfortable unless you’re a twig of a human being.

I personally feel the base model Golf is a better vehicle as I prefer the control layout and interior styling over the FiST. But the Golf is not as much fun to drive unless you get the GTI.

There are a couple of people around here who own one and would be better able to respond.

412GTI > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 11:27

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Probably the newest, nicest example you can find in a color you like. I don’t believe there was many trim changes between the years (in US/CA) 

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Chuckles 06/19/2019 at 11:29

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US I only want the 4 door anyways lol.  Just threw up the first pic I saw

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 06/19/2019 at 11:30

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Noted lol

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 11:41

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Get the recaros. (not an option in Canada, ie, you had to have them ).

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 12:16

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I need to change the picture lol

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 06/19/2019 at 12:18

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I’m thin.  I fit in a Spargo sprint... we shall see about the recaros. Do they sit lower than the normal seats?

CB > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 12:21

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Me and COFL might be your go to guys for this.

Fuel economy: solid. When not driven like a hooligan, I can get 7l/100km.

Recaros are comfortable, but I am a stick. My 300 pound buddy said they were okay.

Build quality is lacking, but it’s a Ford, so you knew that.

Overall, it's a fun car, but it's definitely a compromise owning one. I don't think they really changed much over the years, but I can't say for sure. Mine's a 2015.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 12:53

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I did not think they sat appreciably lower than the normal seats. I recall still wanting for a lower seating position, though that might just have been that everything being built now sits too high for my taste. I’m 6' with about equal torso/leg ratio. I always want to sit lower since it feels like everything out there makes you sit on the damn roof to drive anymore.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 06/19/2019 at 12:56

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How much lower you think they sit than the  normal seats?

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 13:00

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Not too much, but having never actually sat in the normal ones, hard to tell.

OmerCarrothers333 > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 13:09

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I thought the clutch pedal suuuuuucked when I drove one. It’s a little “agricultural” for me.

LedRobster > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 13:29

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The Recaros have a break in period. Th ey’re pretty stiff to start, but break in after a month or so. I’m 6'2", medium build and they’re comfy for me.

If you’re not looking to do a bunch of mods, i’d simply suggest:

Ceramic brake pads (factories are crazy dusty)

Short shift adapter, most bang for you buck

If your area has crappy roads, consider dropping to 16" wheels.

I’ve daily’ed one since new (2016) let me know if you have any more questions .

SpencerForman7 > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 14:25

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Honestl y, the recaro s feel higher than the regular seats to me. I bought my car with regular seats and later swapped in recaro s out of a wrecked car. I ran both seats all the way down, but had to adjust my steering wheel up to reach my optimum position. It might be all in my head, but I feel it. Having run both seats in my car, I do believe the recaros are superior, and I’m a pretty chunky guy at 5'9" 200lbs.

SpencerForman7 > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 14:31

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If you're in the US, cars 2016 and later came with the Ford Sync 3 which means apple car play and Android auto, whereas previous model years came with the relatively crappy Microsoft sync or whatever it's called. If it's not a big price jump for you, it's a nice quality of life thing, if you're not interested in it, don't sweat it. There were also multiple colors that were only offered in certain years, so you can keep that in mind when shopping around too. I know when I was shopping for my car Recaros equipped cars would regularly be at a 1.5-2k premium, and being unwilling to pay that I bought a car with base seats and was able to swap recaros out of a wrecked car for $300 in seats, but $200 to get them shipped. Whether the hassle and time involved is worth your cash up front is of course your decision, but the recaros are the way to go. If they bother you at all in the begining, give them about a month to confirm to the new shape and they break in very nicely. 

FISTs13 > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 15:02

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My 2 cents.

Recaros are definitely the move. They are very narrow at first but they do wear in. My passenger seat is noticeably tighter than the driver.

As for colors, I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. That was my toughest decision . I ultimately settled for Kona Blue/Orange Recaros, because I have no taste :). The Lime Green seems to the most rare, IDK about desirable.

Stickier tires are not absolutely necessary but mostly anything is better than the stock tires. I upgraded to Falken RT 615k+ and I really have to try to get the car to understeer, so much fun.

If I had to pick a weakness, it would be the ride quality. Its stiff. Real stiff. (Tires didn’t help this lol). But its a really fun and nimble car, so I don’t complain too much. Also 4 full grown adults in the car...I would not say everyone is comfortable.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > CB 06/19/2019 at 15:22

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I was wait for you to chime in! I’m thin too and tall, so hoping the recaros are lower than the normal seats.

In what ways is it a compromise? Is it too  small inside? Storage area good for road trips?  Reliability?

DoomsdayMelody > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 15:33

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6’5” owner of a Fiesta ST, I fit inside with no issues. The focus kills my knees but the fiesta is fine, oddly enough. I came from a 2016 Fusion and can honestly say that while the cabin is certainly more intimate than I had been used to, it never feels claustrophobic to me.

Storage area is decent for day trips, if you want to road trip, it’s a 2 person max car because you need a bit of space for other luggage. Cargo area as is can hold about 2 of those roller suitcases, although if you fold the rear seats down it can haul a surprising amount.

Reliability it hasn’t given me one issue, I mean the hard plastics on the interior don’t have excellent QC, but if you can deal with the odd intermittent rattle, you’ll be fine (for example: today I discovered my seat was making a creaking noise, moved all the adjustments through their full range of motion and then went back to how I had and it’s quiet again)

The normal seats aren’t bad, but I find them somewhat uncomfortable over time. Thin padding and a bony ass mean I can feel the hard support structures under the bolstering after an hour or so. Trying to find a set of lightly used recaros to swap in, as I’m hoping they’ll have a bit more padding on the seats.

DoomsdayMelody > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 15:41

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There were only 2 exclusive colors iirc, green envy and molten orange. Now I may be biased but you’d be dead to me if you got any other color besides molten orange.

danbfree > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 15:56

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Actually, they sit  higher than the standard seats.

danbfree > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 16:01

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The ‘17+ have better balanced suspension with the dampers not quite as overly stiff and fatter front sway and rear beam to help make up for it in the corners, definitely better as a daily over the first 3 years. Also, since they aren’t so overly dampened, they take to just lowering springs better than having to also do dampers or  going coilovers. '18+ have rear camera also, might be able to get a new one at$4k+ off MSRP really easily.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 06/19/2019 at 16:20

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Agreed I’m 6’ 4”.  Needed a racing seat for my Miata

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 06/19/2019 at 16:22

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Fair enough lol

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > LedRobster 06/19/2019 at 16:26

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That’s really helpful. Noted. I hate dusty brake pads. I will think of anymore questions I have!

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > SpencerForman7 06/19/2019 at 16:30

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Good to know. I have an  iPhone so 2016 and later it is! And damn I would just get a new racing seat and mount it if the recaros are that much of a premium

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > SpencerForman7 06/19/2019 at 16:31

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Thanks for your input! Want to get as low as I can

CB > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 16:41

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It’s a compromise in that it feels fast, but it realistically isn’t for a performance car. It’s roomy, yeah, but that’s when you put the seats down, otherwise the trunk space is pretty small (granted, I’ve fit a Queen size bed frame in it). It’s good on roadtrips, but you can feel a little cramped after a while. The Sony sound system is pretty good, but nothing stellar. In all, it’s a car that doesn’t really feel like it excels in anything.

To answer your road trip question, you probably won’t be roadtripping with four people with the trunk space how it is. Otherwise, it’s pretty good.

The Recaros are good. I don’t have a sunroof and I’m about six foot, and I can easily sit inside and wear a helmet without bumping my head.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 17:00

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I went all the way down to 15" wheels on mine . H uge selection of tires in 205/50-15, and reduction in unsprung weight is almost worth it beyond the improvement in ride quality on crappy roads.

Yuppers > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 17:03

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If you want a new 2019 in the U.S. they can still be found on dealer lots. There are some good incentives on them now, so its the last chance to get a new one and there are low apr loan deals now. To me at how low priced they are new ($21k and change out the door?) , it doesn’t make sense to buy a later model used one.

I was seriously considering one this month. I liked th e fiesta st a lot. I was down to a GTI, Fi esta ST, or BRZ/86/FRS. I ended up going with a ’16 GTI Autobahn all loaded up and with 26k miles for $21,700 (new it was over $36k). Ultimately I liked the nicer interior in the GTI. It was a tough choice though.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > DoomsdayMelody 06/19/2019 at 17:14

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Really you fit better than the focus st?! I’m 6’ 4” so I was worried about fitting

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 17:19

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If straightline speed is what you crave, there are better choices than the FieSTa. If you want to carve up twisty mountain roads giggling like a school girl while getting 30+ MPG and being able to use the “compact car only” parking spaces, while folding the rear seats flat and shoving a surprising amount of crap back there, them maybe a FieSTa is for you. It’s a surprisingly good road trip car, with a good stereo, comfortable for two people (the rear seats are pretty short on leg room), relatively quiet, and fast enough to pass anywhere, anytime. The firm (my wife called it “ass-bashing”) ride at low speed can be a little harsh on rough city streets or gravel roads, but it smooths out at high speed and eats up expansion joints without complaint. If you drive like a responsible adult you can easily get 36+ MPG, and even if you flog the piss out of it all the time you won’t get much worse than ~24. General reliability seems very good (mine was) with the exception of annoying (but non critical) Sync things, a tendency for the rear brake caliper sliders to seize if exposed to New England winter roads, and the notorious input shaft bearing. As far as I know its a failure of the transmission design, compounded by Ford speccing a lower oil fill level. Minis that use the same Getrag transmission are also experiencing ISB failures, but at a slower rate... apparently Mini puts more trans fluid in their version (which uses the same layout and gearset, but a slightly different case), which maybe keeps the bearing better lubricated. At over 60K miles listen for the whine of a failed/failing ISB and or check if the transmission was already replaced under warranty. I personally wouldn’t buy an out of warranty one that hadn’t already had the transmission replaced. (unless you’re OK with replacing the transmission yourself, or attempting to replace just the bearing (which requires pulling the transmission and splitting the case, and is by all accounts a total PITA, even if the bearing hasn’t already shed metal shards into the rest of the box). It’s a hella fun car on twisty roads, and it makes commuting entertaining without a huge fuel penalty, and it’s got that something... that “spark” that is just always willing you to do fun/stupid/illegal things in it. I really enjoyed 70K miles with mine, but I would have been much less happy if Ford hadn’t agreed to replace the transmission despite being out of warranty. I personally couldn’t stand the Recaros when I test drove, so got one without. The base seats are fine. Sunroof is nice, and the impact on headroom is relatively small. The various special colors are all cool, but the tri-coats (like Molten Orange) are VERY expensive to repair if you have a fender bender, or hit a rabbit at 80 mph...

Jesse > SpencerForman7 06/19/2019 at 17:22

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They are significantly higher than crappy base model seats that’s for sure but I’m 6'4 250 and  fit perfectly in my FiST which is also for sale btw to the OP.... Call me 602 993 4000 ask for jesse

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > DoomsdayMelody 06/19/2019 at 17:23

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Haha if I can find one I will!

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > danbfree 06/19/2019 at 17:24

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Damn I keep hearing that

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 17:31

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I had one for two years. Transmissions are a weak point, as are the cooling systems, t he blend door in the dash will fail, t he interior will fall apart, and the rear motor mount is bad from the factory, but I *almost* miss mine. The Recaros are fantastic, you just have to let them form to you. The handling is amazing if you leave the engine alone.

But, I feel like everyone who buys one grows out of them quite quickly.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 17:32

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The Focus’s dash is wide and awkward, protruding into the leg area.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > danbfree 06/19/2019 at 18:36

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‘17+ ideally got it. Thanks for your knowledge! I actually found a new one for under   19k.  Want to test drive one soon as I can

CB > FISTs13 06/19/2019 at 19:03

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Green Envy? Probably rare. Desirable? Most people tend to hate on it.

CB > DoomsdayMelody 06/19/2019 at 19:06

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Funny enough, I frequently parked beside a molten orange one when I first bought mine.

Once again, never realized how rare this colour was.

thebiggestskeet > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 19:09

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I love my FiST so much! I have a 16' with light mods, borla exhaust etc... Gearing up for a big turbo in the foreseeable future. It’s one of the few cars that feels faster than listed. A stock fiesta St will last forever,   as well a modded ones which can take 350+ FWHP on stock internals! Depending on your current life status (mine is single/25/male) I have more than enough space in the thing to live a comfortable life. I love my jellybean.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > CB 06/19/2019 at 19:15

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Damn a queen size bed frame?! Thats legit. I just moved one into my gf’s new place and know that is impressive. I’m looking for it to be an all around fun daily. I am keeping my miata as a fun project car , but want something that will just work and I won’t be working on it or worry about rust or something or other. I know the fists keep their value and I had heard they were going to discontinue them after this year? 

CB > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 19:25

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It was box packaging, but it fit perfectly. Rust, I'm not sure about, but be warned that the rear fender liners are fabric and tear relatively easily.

xmrrushx > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 20:36

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I just picked a 19 up for 18.4 a month ago. It’s a great daily. I’m a bit heavier and the Recaros were a deal breaker. If you get the cloth seats and change your mind. Usually you can find a set for 400... Well below the MSRP. Also the Fiesta ST community is one of the least toxic communities I’ve ever delt with. I love Magnetic. However I think all the colors look great. Took this pic yesterday.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 06/19/2019 at 20:36

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1 7" is stock on the st right? I am used to 15" on my miata and yeah tires are easy to find and not too expensive would definitely consider downsizing in the future.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Yuppers 06/19/2019 at 20:38

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Am strongly considering the 2019 and I had heard it was being discontinued after this year so yeah now is the time to jump on it if I’m going to!

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 20:42

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wow, that’ s a screaming deal.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 06/19/2019 at 20:46

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That does sound like what I’m looking for. I’m sure the ride will be vastly more comfortable than my miata lol.  The transmission issues with the isb... Is that an issue on all years? or did they address that in newer models?

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 20:48

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Not sure, I know it was a true of all the earlier ones (and the Minis that used the same gearbox). They may be speccing a higher fluid fill now, like Mini... or gone to a different fluid, or gotten Getrag to do something about the bearing... I have n’t heard anything about newer ones going bad yet.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 06/19/2019 at 20:52

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Transmissions and cooling are weak points for all years?? In what way did you grow out of it?

I’m looking for a fun practical car I don’t have to do much of anything aside from basic maintenance. Pricing on these is low enough even on new for me to consider. My miata is my project car.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 06/19/2019 at 20:53

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good to know!

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > thebiggestskeet 06/19/2019 at 20:54

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Awesome to hear! No cooling or transmission issues?

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > CB 06/19/2019 at 20:57

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Looks spacious enough to me! Wait though... f abric on the outside of the car?!

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > xmrrushx 06/19/2019 at 21:00

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Dope pic! And that’s about the deal I’m look ing at.  I have never bought a car from a dealer. Any advice? Do they service the car for free for a certain amount of time? Though I am weary of trusting other people to work on my car...

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 06/19/2019 at 21:01

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Yeah it’s why I’m really considering it even though I wasn’t looking at new cars really

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 06/19/2019 at 21:02

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I will see if they use the same transmission. Man I wish I could have test drove on today. Have to wait for my next off day.

conrader > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 21:04

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I miss my 2014 that I sold last May...the only thing I would’ve liked was a slightly softer suspension and CarPlay (which came out in 16 or so). I would consider buying a newer one at some point when I’m in the market again. I sold it for a Focus RS (which I hated, but thats not the point) and felt the FiST was more fun and a much better value. I had 0 issues in 4 years and 27,000 miles and it held up quite nicely. I have a 2018 Jaguar F-Type now and the seats are showing wear after 2500 miles so...

CB > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 21:07

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Yep.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 21:13

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Yes, supposedly they fixed the input shaft in the 2016 and up, but my 2016's was on it’s way out. The cooling system is fine for commuting(AC can get a little warm still in the summer), but if you push it during the summer, it can get warm. The radiator is barely adequate, but Ford takes care of that by having a thermostat open too late(a recall fixed this on the early years, but they ignored it on later cars.) The intercooler also gets heat soaked idling in the summer, it’s insanely inadequate. Those are a fairly cheap fix though. The thermostat requires removing everything from the grill to the engine. The rear motor mount also allows the engine to smack the firewall.

But my biggest issue is that eventually it’s slowness got to me, along with the other inadequacies, so I started messing with it. I tuned it and added an intercooler, and it was a blast, but that just exposed the real fatal flaw: the open diff. At that point I traded it in on a GTI, and absolutely adored it. Unfortunately I developed a small leak, and took it to the Fyre Festival of dealers, and they essentially totaled the car from bad repairs.

Now I have RWD, and never plan on going back. Unless you actually need 4 doors, live a little. I thought I needed them, but I really didn’t.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 21:14

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If I haven't scared you enough, get a 2016 and up, they have the much improved SYNC 3. 

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 21:17

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yeah, it’s worth a test drive. 

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > conrader 06/19/2019 at 21:23

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I actually had a friend who traded his FiST for an RS, then traded back for a FiST. I found the RS to be... not great.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > conrader 06/19/2019 at 22:10

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That speaks volumes coming from a jag!

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > CB 06/19/2019 at 22:13

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Hmm that’s really  weird... is there an aftermarket replacement maybe?

TheDutchTexan > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 22:30

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Never owned on personally, but if the build quality is the same as the Focus you need to beware. It’ll fall apart quickly. My wife has a 2012 Focus Titanium and it is a rattle trap. Now, I have reviewed a FiST back in 2016 and I really enjoyed driving it. Plenty of go, and I feel it is more of a drivers car than the Focus ST .

Shameless self promotion:

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 06/19/2019 at 22:41

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Do you feel most of those issues were because of modding? Or are they just inherent? That seems insane that the motor mounts are that bad!

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 06/19/2019 at 22:42

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Lol I’m not easily scared

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 06/19/2019 at 22:42

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I will!

Paduse > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/19/2019 at 22:55

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I had a 17, traded it in on a 19 . Loved it enough to reset the clock. Both were base models, only difference ( I’ve noticed) is back up camera and a (snazy ST ) load screen for Infotainment system. In my time with the first one, I found one deficiency... stock rims and tires. They are not suited to central Ohio driving, by which I mean snow and potholes (lost three tires in 30k miles). Corrected this with a set of 16" rims... took a little wieght off, put a little more rubber between me and the road, and still handles like a dream. Can’t emphasize enough how fun (and practical) this car is as a daily driver. Stock power is more than adequate, interior is comfortable, enough space for groceries, love the stereo (especially Android auto) , economy car gas mileage... but the driving experience is what makes it. It feels so sharp and precise... agile... and it’s always begging to go-go-go. It ain’t the fastest, it ain’t the flashiest ... but it is something special.  Warning, this car will ruin your chances of enjoying anything else remotely close to the price range.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > TheDutchTexan 06/19/2019 at 22:58

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Lol I’ll watch it when I get a chance!

Paduse > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 06/19/2019 at 23:05

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Yep, had the blend door issue on my 17... also,  the metal cup holder trim flaked (my 2 warranty claims).

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Paduse 06/19/2019 at 23:09

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Nice glad to hear your great experience!  I’m looking at a ‘19 soon. How much are light wheels running for them?

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/20/2019 at 06:28

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Inherent, the cooling system just wasn’t designed with hot weather in mind.

Also, the purge valve in the fuel system goes bad. Ford acknowledged it in the Focus, but not the Fiesta. 

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 06/20/2019 at 08:30

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Damn hopefully they fixed some of these issues with the ‘19 model. Looks like I still have research to do. To be honest I was looking at the last gen wrx’s and then 1. Got irritated that they get snatched up immediately here and 2. Realized they aren’t all that practical and I could have a new fiesta st  for close to the same price. 

FISTs13 > CB 06/20/2019 at 08:46

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N o hate here, I’m a fan :)

LedRobster > CB 06/20/2019 at 09:25

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I sometimes wish I’d gone with green instead of  Magnetic, just to be different. The green looks great with the stripes.

conrader > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/20/2019 at 13:00

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Don’t get me wrong, the Jag is unbelievable and I’m nuts over it BUT I would love to have kept it and had a small fun car that I could run around in too...

conrader > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 06/20/2019 at 13:03

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Totally agree, it was not what I expected at all but I convinced myself it was the second coming (I liked it when I drove it but I didn’t go real hard on it since it wasn’t remotely broken in). And very quickly I didn’t like it and on top of that it was in the shop 9 times for various things (clutch pedal sticking to the floor randomly, rear speaker volume nonexistent, and a few other things I’ve forgotten) so I didn’t even really have a fun period with it although I did launch control a few times before I got rid of it lmao.

Pshpn > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/20/2019 at 15:19

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2017 here with all the bells and whistles. Traded my full size truck in for it and haven’t looked back! Fun, practical and affordable. There are a few things that will probably go wrong but it will be covered by warranty. My blend door actuator went out at 13k miles, known issue. Front CV axles are being replaced right now do to clunk noise during low speed gear changes. Ford put out a SSM on it. Another fairly common issue from what I’ve read. If you get anything newer than a 17 you shouldn’t experience those issues though. Id scoop one up while you can.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Pshpn 06/20/2019 at 19:54

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Those are issues they have fixed on the ‘18 and ‘19?

Brian > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/21/2019 at 12:03

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It’s a great little car! My girlfriend got a 2017 and I honestly can’t think of a better car to compliment my FRS and Miata in terms of similar, but different fun. The fiesta ST feels a lot quicker than it looks on paper and is a lot more fun than some faster cars I’ve owned in the past ( WRX and Audi S4). It’s extremely fun on back roads and it actually moves along quite nicely on the highway. The sound it makes in the cabin is fantastic! I’m not sure why some people don’t like it because it is real engine noise and it does provide you with good feedback. As far as differences go I know the later models have a telescoping steering wheel which was a huge selling point for me because of my long legs. I also like the infotainment system in the newer ones. We were dead set on getting the recaro seats until I sat in them. I’m 6'0" 165 with a 31 " waist and long legs, but my lats rested on top of the bolsters preventing my back from actually touching the seat. I think the fit of the recaros has more to do with torso length and muscular build of your upper body; skinny guys that hit the gym might have more issues with them than a heavier guy rocking the dad bod. The stock seats aren’t too bad though. I wish they were more like the FRS seats , but I still have no issues with them. The biggest issue I found with the Fiesta ST was the gas pedal placement. I got tired of doing ankle yoga every time I drove and got a pedal spacer which made everything perfect for a guy that’s used to using modern heel-toe technique in an NB Miata.  I don't think my girlfriend would have learned heel-toe if I hadn't done the pedal upgrade which brings me to the best part of this car; it's equally fun for a beginner as it is for someone with lots of driving experience.  If you want to convert your crossover/econobox driving friend (or significant other) into a proper manual driving enthusiast, the Fiesta ST is the best tool for the job!

Brian > Yuppers 06/21/2019 at 12:18

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We we're looking at the same cars and went with the ST over the GTI just because it was so much more fun and engaging at the limit.  I could see going with the GTI if we put people in the back seats on the regular, but that only happens on a rare occasions. 

Brian > xmrrushx 06/21/2019 at 13:23

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I just realized you were standing on a tall building during a lightning storm to get this lol!  

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Brian 06/21/2019 at 17:31

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That’s good feedback!  Was there a particular pedal extender you got that was solid?  I have one on my Miata and was actually thinking I might end up needing one on the st as well.

Brian > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/23/2019 at 12:14

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I got the garage line spacer because it has some side to side adjustment. The brake engagement point on our car is pretty high and stiff so it works perfectly. I could see maybe wanting 10mm less for a hard braking track day if your brake pedal grabbs on the lower side. The side adjustment at about halfway is pretty comfortable and easy enough for her to   heel-toe through Philly traffic in heels (IDK how she does it) every morning.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Brian 06/23/2019 at 17:33

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Nice looks solid.  Also it sounds like you found a pretty cool girl, that’s impressive haha!

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/25/2019 at 18:47

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A shift plate is cheap and vastly improved the throw and feel. Shifter bushings also help a lot, and those are cheap and fairly easy to do. 

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 06/25/2019 at 18:52

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Interesting so that would make it a gated shifter, that’s pretty cool the one  I found was just under $200 and seemed to be paired with a short throw as well.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 06/25/2019 at 18:55

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I know the aluminum bushing on my Miata made a huge difference.  I’ll have to look into bushings on the st

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/25/2019 at 19:10

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No, no the gated shifter plate is not the same one. It’s also horrible for the synchro.

The shift plate from FS Werks works great, and it goes on where the cable mounts to the shifter on the trans. It’s a quick short shifter. It’s like a 25% reduction in throw. Another part of the throw is the rear motor mount. 

gettingoldercarguy > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/25/2019 at 19:11

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At 6'4" 210 lbs the recaro seats were great for me.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 06/25/2019 at 19:44

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Ok I was wondering about that.  Makes more sense. Good to know

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/25/2019 at 19:55

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I drove a FiST and had some of the same opinions. I absolutely could not stand the placement of the drivers side (left) armrest nor the pedal area size. My feet simply did not fit on the pedals correctly. At first I thought it was my hiking boots just being bulky but then when I got home I drove my Miata with the same boots and had zero issues. The armrest issue was worse though. I felt like with the seat pushed back to where I needed at my height, the armrest ended too soon and my elbow would hit the area between the front and rear doors. If this car had two doors and no back seat, I think I would appreciate it a lot more. It is asinine to have a backseat as it makes the trunk as small as my Miata as well. I only didnt have a baggage issue because we had for two of us, only one carryon bag and two backpacks.

Anyways, I think I agree with everything else completely as well. When comparing it to my Miata and STi, it felt much more like the Miata in every metric. Except the interior just sucked due to the aforementioned issues. I enjoyed the Recaro seats which was the only redeeming factor. 

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/25/2019 at 20:20

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Also, before doing anything with the exhaust, change the motor mount. It adds a bit of sound.

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 06/25/2019 at 20:21

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Yeah I remember you driving a rental . Most of my issues were solely because of the manual transmission. Someone once said the FiSTs are saving the manual transmission and I see the opposite. It just might kill it! What would someone want to deal with those issues. It was a car designed for automatic transmission, but with that chassis and turbo it might be worth modifying to solve these shortcomings.

You bring up another  good modification: remove the rear seats completely.  Give yourself that extra bit of space which the seats waste!

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 06/25/2019 at 20:23

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Really? How does that affect the sound? I figured if anything it would just add a bit of harshness depending on stiffness.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/25/2019 at 20:34

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The problem with removing the rear seats is that it doesnt solve the armrest issue. The issue is that the car was designed to have a rear seat and door at all. So it’s fundamental design flaw that does not leave enough room to comfortably sit in the drivers seat, even without backseat passengers. I surprisingly dont have this problem in the STi and I think its just a packaging thing since the car is slightly larger. And the problem definitely doesnt occur in the Miata because two seater. I’m curious if the European 2-door variant alleviates the issue.

And while I found the clutch to be excessively heavy, I didnt really have a problem with the shifter. It was a little vague compared to the Miata (especially with the miata roadster short throw setup that I have). But it’s pretty comparable to the STi. Basically it wasn’t special but it was also not bad. Infinitely better than the manual Spark I rented but that isn’t saying much haha. Not being able to fit my feet was a bigger problem with shifting though as hitting clutch release as well as rev matching was near impossible to finesse when my feet get caught on shit. 

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 06/25/2019 at 20:51

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It sounds a lot more aggressive, there is more mechanical sound. It does add harshness, but pretty much only at idle when the AC is on. I got the cPe mount, and loved it. I would avoid the Cobb one. In fact, I would avoid anything Cobb that isn’t an Accessport.