Ford Fiesta Thread: MK8 ST with 200 BHP 3cyl EcoBoost

[magicalgin]

Guys pictures don't do it justice. I see alot of them everyday here in Holland, and they're actually really nice to look at. And don't forget the 2010 Fiesta S2000 IRC

I can't remember the boys on Top Gear ever saying anything good about an Opel/Vauxhall. And I have no idea what that Holdaru Legacy is all about. The Cruze actually looks cool though.

*cough* Congratulations! Vauxhall is the only manufacturer with only pretty cars *cough*

 

[homeforsummer]

Guys pictures don't do it justice. I see alot of them everyday here in Holland, and they're actually really nice to look at.

Seeing them on the road doesn't do them any justice either. You apparently haven't noticed that I live in the UK. They're everywhere. I still don't like them and soon they'll become ubiquitous and dull as well as not very nice to look at...

That S2000 version doesn't look too bad, but then you'd be hard pushed to find a rally car that doesn't. Even the Opel Corsa looked good as a rally car...

And remember the Ford Fiesta RS Concept from a few years back?

Better looking car IMO.

 

[YSSMAN]

In reference to the Fiesta's looks, it is by far and away the best-looking car in its class here in America. You've got the rather nasty Versa and the poorly updated Fit, the Kia Rio and Soul, and the rather unholy Chevy Aveo5. Its really not like anything we've seen here in the States before, a small car that actually had money spent on it during development.

 

[YSSMAN]

Pricing is Now Available from Autoblog

Surprisingly, Ford decided to slip out U.S. pricing for its hotly anticipated 2011 Fiesta with no fanfare at all. No major announcements at the LA Auto Show, no wordy press releases... nothing. But, if you head on over to Ford's official page for the new Fiesta, you'll see that it starts at $13,320 (plus a $675 destination charge).

Even better, the full Build and Price section is available, meaning you can see each and every individual option and its price. We went ahead and spent some time perusing the options list, and we see that the low base price is for the base S model, which comes exclusively in sedan form. The least expensive hatchback model is $15,120 (about $800 more than a comparably-equipped sedan).

Step up to a hatchback with Ford's new six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and you're looking at $16,190, and the uprated SES hatchback starts at $17,120 ($18,190 with the auto).

One obvious omission that we noted was the complete lack of a real-life GPS navigation system. True, the latest SYNC system includes turn-by-turn voice navigation commands, but that certainly isn't the same as the screen-based navigation systems offered by some sub-$20k competitors like the Honda Fit, Suzuki SX4 and soon the Nissan Versa. Moving along, we note that the excellent and highly attractive leather interior comes at a cost of $715 and is available in Black, Cashmere or Plum tones. Note, though, that the leather interior is only available on the SEL (sedan) and SES (hatchback) trim levels. Still, several competitors don't offer cowhide insides at all.

Those looking to customize their rides a bit further can opt for five different graphics packages, though we'd just leave those options unchecked on our own Fiesta. For what it's worth, we did price out a competing Honda Fit and found it's pretty tough to option these two cars at similar levels. For instance, the Honda is available with a true screen-based navigation system (oddly only with the automatic transmission) but not with a leather interior. Consider too that the Fit is only available as a hatchback while the Fiesta can also be had in sedan form. In any case, the two cars are within spitting distance of one another when loaded to the gills with all available options.

Finally, Ford is offering a special deal to those willing to reserve their newly-priced Fiesta online by throwing in a free Sync system with turn-by-turn navigation, premium sound and a "VIP customer experience," whatever that means.

Seems pretty competitive in the segment, but it kinda sucks that the hatch is going to cost that much more. Compared to the Focus, they actually sit in the same price range, which much mean that the next gen replacement will be going up-market here, which will be nice as well. I look forward to fiddling with the configurator.

 

[JCE]

Give me the base model with a stick.

 

[Jim Prower]

I played around with the SES and SEL. I like the Sedan, (actually, I really do, it's proportions remind me of the little silver car outside,) but the "euro" spoiler on the SES 5-door kinda gets at me...

The absolute BEST part is that I can get that little sedan with a Stick. When was the last time a car in this class in the US had four doors, a trunk, and a manual transmission? I know you can't get that on the Yaris! and DEFINITELY not on the top trim level!

EDIT: Playing around with the other trim levels, I think the 4-door I want most is an S with the 17" accessory wheels. I'm tempted to get the SE with sport appearance package for the rear spoiler, but $15,945 isn't bad. Besides, I get the blacked out grille, so I'm a cool kid. ;3

It also happens to be less than a Focus S Sedan with NO options or accessories. Way to go, Ford!

On the hatch...SE with the Euro Spoiler and 17" wheels. Thought about the Sport Appearance package, but since we're replacing the wheels anyway, I felt I could skip the LED lights. Still, it's $18,040. If I can't get more performance out of it from the factory than my S sedan, it's not worth it for me.

In conclusion...Damn. I think the 4-door Fiesta may be an attractive prospect for a new car. now...to find a job that'll let me pay $289/mo...

EDIT2: Okay, you can now, apparently, get the Yaris 4-door with a stick. and, short of the wheels and tires, you can get a host of TRD accessories that'll make it pretty nippy, all for just over 16K out the door. But it's still a Yaris.

Damnit, Now I need to check Nissan, Kia, Hyundai, Chevy, and Honda. Be right back.

EDIT3:

Nissan:
Model: Versa 1.8S
Why: reasonable engine, Manual tranny availability
Options: None
wheels: steel
Price: $13,820

Verdict: Well, maybe there's the Nismo catalog to fill some of that price out and get something resembling a fun car...

Kia:
Model: Rio SX
Why: As close as this gets to "sporty," has 5MT
Options: 16" wheels, ABS (!)
Wheels: Optional 16"s
Price: $15,920

Verdict: If this car drives anywhere close to as well as the Fiesta would, it may be a consideration. But I doubt that.

Hyundai:
Model: Accent GLS
Why: Only version of the sedan. has 5MT.
Options: None, though I'd like it if they put the Premium package, as I want ABS.
Wheels: 14" steelies
Price: $13,865

Verdict: In the running for "most Unlikely."

Chevrolet:
Model: Aveo 1LT
Why: Can still get the 15" alloys, 5MT
Options: 15" alloy wheels, rear spoiler
Wheels: 15" alloys
Price: $15,495, 'cept they wanna give me a discount, so it's $13,995

Verdict: If the car were worth it, it'd be a serious consideration, but it's not, so it's not.

Honda
Model: Fit
Why: Sport's a bit pricy, 5MT, they don't make a 4-door model
Options: Accessory Alloy wheels,
Wheels: 16" Alloys
Price: $16,670

Verdict: More a competitor for the Fiesta hatch than 4-door, but close. Very close.

 

[Omnis]

Do yourself a favor and stay away from the Accent.

 

[SagarisGTB]

In reference to the Fiesta's looks, it is by far and away the best-looking car in its class here in America. You've got the rather nasty Versa and the poorly updated Fit, the Kia Rio and Soul, and the rather unholy Chevy Aveo5. Its really not like anything we've seen here in the States before, a small car that actually had money spent on it during development.

In your opinion. The Fit is a very nice looking little car, and I like it more than the styling of the Fiesta.

And the Fit is also a very good car, the Fiesta will compete with it. Its not on any higher level.

 

[homeforsummer]

And the Fit is also a very good car, the Fiesta will compete with it. Its not on any higher level.

That's not what every single magazine I've read so far have said. The Fiesta is on a higher level than virtually every small hatchback available.

 

[YSSMAN]

It doesn't help that Honda actually made the Fit/Jazz worse with this generational update. Bigger isn't always better, and they've lost a lot of what made the car so cool to begin with.


Inside Line had their own comparison, and came to the same conclusion.

 

[Tornado]

It doesn't help that Honda actually made the Fit/Jazz worse with this generational update. Bigger isn't always better, and they've lost a lot of what made the car so cool to begin with.

To be fair, at least they didn't do what Toyota did to the xB.

 

[homeforsummer]

Inside Line had their own comparison, and came to the same conclusion.

That review doesn't surprise me at all. Fit: More practical. Fiesta: Better in every single other aspect. I'm still not a fan of the styling but I don't recall reading a single test that the standard model hasn't won yet. I've only seen the tuned Mountune version losing to things like the Clio RS, and even then, I expect when Ford pulls out a proper performance Fiesta of their own that even the Clio might face some stiff competition.

 

[Philly]

Three blink tap turn signals are big news?

It's fitting that Ford's first European offering to swim over this way will bring with it another feature that The Continent can take credit for: tap-for-three-blinks turn signal operation. It will appear on the Fiesta this summer, and then migrate to other vehicles in the 2011 line-up, starting with the Super Duty series.

The three-blink feature is not as polarizing as the placement of paddle shifters, but people are known to have their opinions. This writer likes it, preferring a mistaken tap to someone flashing their turn signal eternally. You can read Ford's release after the jump, and sound off on the new convenience – or not – in the comments.

[Source: Ford]

My GTI has this and I think it's one of the best ideas in the world. It makes freeway driving seem so much smoother. But since this is news-worthy, I'm guessing this little software programming gimmick isn't as common on new cars as it should be.

Sure, it's just a tiny little thing, but it just makes the car seem so much better. And little gimmicks like these make the car so much more awesome than it really could be.

 

[Omnis]

I oh-so-love the three-blink tap. I simulate it in the hyundai by holding down the stalk, but not far enough for it to click into place.

 

[Jim Prower]

Same with the Nova. It has that little "Merge" sector before it clicks into place.

Does this mean that when you pull the stalk back, it'll actually flash the lights instead of just turning them on?

 

[Philly]

Hopefully they come up with something clever for the brights. Pulling toward you flashes the brights in the GTI and pushing away locks them on. Even the wipers have a tap thing that makes them go once. Those one tap features are pretty slick, no matter how small and insignificant they seem compared to the rest of the car.

 

[Omnis]

Same with the Nova. It has that little "Merge" sector before it clicks into place.

Does this mean that when you pull the stalk back, it'll actually flash the lights instead of just turning them on?

If you pull the stalk back, the hi-beams come on.

All you have to do is tap the stalk up or down (put it in the "merge sector" as you called it), and once it blinks, it will automatically blink two additional times without you having to keep holding the stalk. This way you can tap, and then put your hand back on the wheel instead of turning the wheel with your thumb hooked around the spoke and your index finger pointing forward on the stalk.

 

[Jim Prower]

I know, but I mean flash the high beams electronically instead of repeatedly pulling the stalk back. I know about the turn signal thing.

 

[Omnis]

I know, but I mean flash the high beams electronically instead of repeatedly pulling the stalk back. I know about the turn signal thing.

Why the heck would you want that? That would be an attempt to fix a problem that doesn't exist. Like global warming.

 

[Jim Prower]

Meh, I thought there were cars that did that, that's all.

 

[Eric.]

I didn't realize that having to hold the turn signal stalk down for 1-2 seconds was a bother for anyone to change lanes, either...

 

[Rotary Junkie]

There are... And I drive one every day.

Edit: Aimed at Prower on last page.

 

[Keef]

I didn't realize that having to hold the turn signal stalk down for 1-2 seconds was a bother for anyone to change lanes, either...

It isn't a bother...for those of us who actually do it. Most people think one blink is enough to firmly suggest to me that they want to change lanes, but I strongly disagree. Furthermore many of those people don't actually hold it down long enough for the first blink to end.

When there are cars around me I always signal before I change lanes, change with the blinker still on, and don't let go of it until I'm established in my lane. By established I mean actually in the middle, not kinda-sorta straddling the line, but not really, like so many other retards do. And no, it doesn't take me ages to complete my process like that old lady driving the Buick.

At least now people driving Fiestas won't be able to annoy me quite as much. But watch them all refuse to use the signal on purpose, just to **** with me. They're getting an air horn to the face, you can count on that.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

It isn't a bother...for those of us who actually do it. Most people think one blink is enough to firmly suggest to me that they want to change lanes, but I strongly disagree. Furthermore many of those people don't actually hold it down long enough for the first blink to end.

I'm one of those people who sometimes uses one blink, but only when I know for sure I'm 100% clear and moving slightly quicker than the other person.

 

[Keef]

I'm one of those people who sometimes uses one blink, but only when I know for sure I'm 100% clear and moving slightly quicker than the other person.

You should know that I carry a loaded air horn with me at all times. And it's not registered, either.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Yeah but if I saw your RX-7 I'd have no choice but to stay behind and try to figure out who the hell thinks they're Ryosuke until I remember it's you

 

[Moglet]

That 3 blink signal thing has been around over here for years. My 500 has it too, as do most new Fiats IIRC.

No number of gadgets could distract me from the hideous interior and exterior of the Fiesta though. Plus everyone has one already.

EDIT: My interior comments are based upon sitting in a few at the Motor Show. They're horrible, the dash looks cheap and flimsy and it's too cluttered and angular everywhere. They've tried too hard to be 'cool'. A lot of people agreed with me too, they were sitting inside and then just going "Oh......" and getting back out again

 

[Sniffs]

since when do people bother to signal a pass? i get guys blast past me at eighty-90 mph when I'm actually doing the speed limit. they don't care.

 

[Joey D]

Wow, three blinks when you tap it, impressive.

No wait a minute, my car does that and it isn't impressive at all. It is pretty handy though and I use it all the time on the freeway.

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, outside of the Cooper and the Rabbit (now Golf, again), there aren't any cars I can think of that have that feature. It just one of those things that "make sense" and then you wonder why it isn't standard on everything else...