Early morning car scheming

"mhr555" (mhr555) 10/03/2020 at 06:37 • Filed to: None

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So I’m looking to replace my current 2018 WRX with a Ford product due to the fact that in a week I’ll be a direct Ford employee instead of a contractor. Of course, this has opened the flood gates on what to get next.

Bit of back story, I’m in my mid/late 40's and love cars. Grew up in an automotive family. Mom, Dad, sis, wife, FIL, BILs, etc. all work/worked in the automotive world.

Lo ve p retty much anything on the road. Hell, I can find something good the majority of vehicles out there. Love modifying cars (not so much these days but I still go down the aftermarket rabbit hole) Love racing of all kinds. I like to autocross and do the occasional track day. I’ve gone down the route of daily driver and project car and daily driver/autocross car and all things in between.

Before the WRX that I got because I tried to escape the supply chain/logistics automotive world , I had a Fiesta ST. B efore that was one of the first Focus ST off the assembly line (I probably walked by it in the plant since I worked there at the time ). Since hindsight doesn’t wear thick ass glasses like I do in real life, it’s obvious that I should have kept the Fiesta but who woulda thought I’d boomerang back into the automotive world getting a job with an OEM directly .

Now back to the “dilemma” at hand...what do I get to replace the WRX?

I’m all over the place with my next vehicl e. The current contenders are:

Fiesta ST - Most fun autocross vehicle since my JDM STi swapped ‘98 Outback Sport. Seeing posts from CarsOfFortLangley of his ST w/those aux lights makes me want to do something similar. Sure, it’s econo-boxy in terms of the door panels and touch points but I don’t mind that because its’ purpose wasn’t luxury. To me, it’s a known quantity and that’s why I go back to it. I’ve found a couple reasonably priced examples that would keep costs down and save for a new Bronco.

Focus RS - This ticks a lot of boxes for me since it’s a fun, fast turbo AWD daily driver. I’ve watched, read and heard (even from Ford Performance engineers ) about how horrible the damper tuning is on it. I test drove a beautiful example; 43k on ODO, 6k on new engine due to HG issue, never modded (couple BS , single owner Ford engineer who’s detail oriented (I’d probably say obsessive if I really knew him), no flaws at all...dare I say almost BAT worthy.

M y friend and I debated whether or not the RS would hold it’s value mid to long term). I think it will, he does not. Thoughts on that?

This car will NOT help me save for a new Bronco but would be a fun car to autocross and something unique.

Escape SE Sport Hybrid - Sorta out of left field huh??? When it came out, I “poo-poo’d” the styling as generic. The kind of generic you see from an advertisement with a car but they have to photoshop out the emblems. This car intrigues me because of the hybrid technology as well as the advanced driver assists like adaptive cruise and self parking feature. My wife said “NO Escape” but it’s interesting interesting.

Utility Police Interceptor - DON’T CALL IT AN EXPLORER...the cop splay idiots on FB will get super pissed and call you antifa. Ever since HS, I’ve thought it would be cool to own an ex-cop car. Maybe it’s the skate punk sub culture I grew up in. I like the idea of cop shocks, cop brakes and the extra room of an SUV. I also like the looks of it with a push bar, steel wheels and lug caps. My buddy said what about the “cop funk” or worse the “prisoner funk” that’s probably imbedded into the panels. Also, is it the right time to be a left leaning person driving around in a vehicle that looks like “the man”?

Thoughts ?

A Boy and His Longtail > mhr555 10/03/2020 at 08:49

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If you get the cop car, you should definitely paint it a color that cops don’t use. I freak out a bit every time I see one, even if I’m doing literally nothing wrong

mhr555 > A Boy and His Longtail 10/03/2020 at 08:56

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The one I’m looking at is silver so it’s not really common around here where they’re black or MSP blue. 

My bird IS the word > mhr555 10/03/2020 at 09:05

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Im all for buying the cheapest most economical car going and saving for something extremely stupid. I’m not personally liking the “Fun DD” method unless you are rolling in cash.

Fuckkinja > mhr555 10/03/2020 at 09:33

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The utility police intercepter can be equipped with the 3.5 EB and awd. It’s really fast. 

Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] > mhr555 10/03/2020 at 09:42

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Is the Mustang not in the running at all?

BrokenMostWeeks > mhr555 10/03/2020 at 10:31

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Former Fiesta ST owner here...

Loved the torque, loved the boooooost, loved the molten orange Recaros, loved the handling. Looking back on it, there’s a lot of times I wish I would’ve kept it.

Hated the endless interior rattles beginning at 2k miles. Hated the interstate ride quality (I can be fine with a stiff car, but in cruise mode, it got super tiring).

Focus RS is really cool, but if you want a bronco, the fiesta/bronco combo is pretty ideal. 

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > mhr555 10/03/2020 at 10:52

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Bullitt (original) . Terminator. Bubble or robocop SHO. Drive the Subaru until the new bronco is out, then get that sweet sweet employee discount.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > mhr555 10/03/2020 at 11:19

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Why no S550? They are a hoot to autox

mhr555 > Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] 10/03/2020 at 11:26

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S550 would be nice but b I need the ability to haul a hockey bag filed with smelly goalie gear and two crazy dogs (not in the hockey bag).

mhr555 > BrokenMostWeeks 10/03/2020 at 11:32

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The interstate ride quality was a reason I got rid of it. The job I was taking at the time involved a lot of driving.

My commute now is only 6 miles each way but some roads are pure Michigan shit. I’ll deal with it with either the ST or RS. 

I agree the Fiesta/Bronco combo would be nice. 

Jb boin > mhr555 10/03/2020 at 12:05

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They are not selling cars anymore (in the US) ... maybe an Ecosport?

Could you settle for a Ford GT?

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > mhr555 10/03/2020 at 12:33

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“ I’m looking to replace my current 2018 WRX with a Ford product”

I’ m so sorry. . . hehe.

I have quite a bit of experience with Fords and not one of them has been good. Get the Focus or Fiesta hot hatch and save for a brand new Bronco. That's my advice. 

Jim Spanfeller > mhr555 10/03/2020 at 13:22

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I recommend Ford Thunderbird on the basis that I have one and I love mine. Fourth-gen Th underbirds (1964-66) are still relatively cheap ( the best ones are no more than 20 k) , although prices are starting to go up. They’re also beautiful, luxurious (for the time), comfortable, and make fantastic cruisers. The FE engines are also pretty reliable, although fuel economy is... well... they get like 10-12 mpg under the best or circumstances. But they also sound fantastic, so there’s that. If autocrossing potential is a major priority for you, though, you may want to find something else as that’s far from this car’s comfort zone. They are fun for plenty of reasons, but handling is not one of them.

If you want something with more performance potential, how about a Foxbody Thunderbird from the 80s? They came with a lot of the same engines as the Mustang, and many performance parts for the Mustang will also fit the T-bird. Plus, they’re stylish and have more luxurious interiors than the Mustang so you can still commute in comfort.

mhr555 > mhr555 10/03/2020 at 15:07

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To expand on the interior rattles of the Fiesta. After living with the WRX for two years, I think the ST was better than this Subaru. The package tray rattle is so horrible on the WRX even after I put foam and butyl deadener all over it. 

mhr555 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/03/2020 at 15:14

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Funny, o ut of the two F150's, Focus ST and Fiesta ST I’ve purchased (both used and new), I’ve never had issues with the actual products . I’ve had more issues with the dealers to be honest .

I’m leaning towards one of these cars and push the Bronco scheme down the road a bit.

Now which one, Fiesta or Focus...    

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > mhr555 10/03/2020 at 15:35

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From leaky brand new F150s to Ford Exploders to a Fusion with an interior that is barely recognizable from the sheer extent of UV damage, I have never been in a Ford product that didn’t have glaring quality issues. Shame, since I really want to like the company. I’d still take a FiST or FoST in a heartbeat but I’d be prepared for fit and finish pain.

I definitely think a short term hot hatch with a Bronco on the horizon is a good plan. But you could keep your WRX until then. 

mhr555 > Jb boin 10/03/2020 at 18:50

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Sure, I could “settle” for a Ford GT but then the rumours around the plant on how much I’m making as a floor supervisor might start.

They might cut me some slack when they see me sleeping in it every night in the parking lot.

ST80MND > mhr555 10/04/2020 at 13:07

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My friend, I like the cut of your jib. 2 things if I may add my 2 cents.

1- (personal opinion) The Escape is, in my mind, a automotive abomination. Especially in 2wd trim. My mom has one and loves it. But that’s the newest car since her 88 ranger, so it could’ve been a 05 Kia Rio, and she would love it.

2- Interceptor. I understand the apprehension of the image given the age we are in. But I’ve always bought vehicles for Me. Not some complete strangers opinion. If it’s your thang, damn the rest! You are the one driving it, enjoying it, sitting in it and washing it, nobody else. If i had the money, 10/10 would get one. You know it’s been meticulously maintained, it’s fast, and it’s subtle but unique. Hubba   Hubba!

mhr555 > mhr555 10/06/2020 at 06:16

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Whelp...the final contenders were the Fiesta ST and Focus RS.

Found a clean title ST w/Recaros on Carvana and at one point I was leaning towards that because I’m selling my WRX to them and it’d make it more convenient but several things ultimately drew me towards the RS.

I found one with orange insert Recaros that would be cool looking but the c ar is black, I dislike black because unless it’s totally polished, they look like shite. I’m too lazy to keep it looking perfect. It had a sunroof, which seems very useless since it’s positioned behind the front seat passengers.

Got sorta sketched out with the Carvana extended warranty since it’s not factory as well as what seemed to be a fixed interest rate of 5% when my CU is in the mid-3's.

Oh well...they’ll be picking up my WRX on Thursday afternoon so I’m stoked about that.

Ultimately, I decided on the RS due to the meticulous records the seller has kept on it since new, the transferrable [b]factory[/b] warranty, the way it felt on the test drive (it felt like a brand new car), the uniqueness of it and what sealed it was my wife saying “I think you won’t be happy with another Fiesta, NO SUV and I think you need the pops and crackles. ” HAHAHA...gotta love an significant other that’s a car enthusiast.  

Deposit has been made and when the guy gets back from Mexico, I’ll finalize the deal.