The Ford Fiesta ST- The Details at Last

So I've had the Fiesta ST for just about a year and it's been nothing short of a blast.  For me it's the perfect compromise of practical commuter car and street loving speed with tremendous response and handling. It feels and performs like a much more expensive car than it is.  And it looks good too.  Probably not for everyone but I really like the design.  My daily commute is never boring. 

The coolest thing about it is how much power and kick it has.  Today's small engines that come with turbochargers are *not* yesterday's C-H-E-A-P, four cylinder economy cars.  Remember those?  And how they felt like they were powered by a hamster running on a wheel inside the engine compartment.  I owned a few cars like that, and don't miss any of them.   

What is turbocharging anyway?  Turbochargers basically compress air before it is pumped into the combustion chamber to provide more power.  They have been around for years but turbo chargers have advanced in the last decade to allow and cram more air into the fixed volume of their cylinders, allowing the car's engine to burn more fuel, producing extra power and low end torque responsiveness.  The newer turbochargers also provide better gas mileage and produce less pollution. Ford calls this its EcoBoost line of products.  

Its small yet powerful engine

The Fiesta ST has a 1.6L Turbo 4 cylinder that puts out 197 HP and 202 lbs-ft of torque, with a top speed of 140 mph, and goes from 0-60 in about 7 seconds, with front wheel drive.  It's available with a 6 speed manual transmission only, and goes into overboost at mid-range power between gears 3 and 6, between 2500 and 4000 rpm.  I don't race it commuting to and from work, and notice I'm getting about 29-30 mpg.  It weighs only about 2700 lbs, which adds to its performance. 

For me a big appeal of any car is how it feels.  This one has a sporty and quick but not rock hard suspension supported by a rear torsion beam and fairly tight springs.  It feels good.  It also has very responsive brakes.

I push it when I can get out on the more open roads.  Last winter I drove out to the Blue Ridge mountains for a weekend getaway and it loved the sharp curves and corners on those back mountain roads, handling them so tightly.   Then last week I had a meeting to attend in Charlottesville, Virginia and I drove the ST there and back, about 2 hours each way mainly on back roads with big rolling hills.  And a beautiful fall day to boot.  What fun passing cars at don't ask-don't tell mph-- let's just say I was lucky I didn't get a ticket.

A funny instance happened in Charlottesville when I pulled up to the office I was headed to and there was my car's twin in bright blue.  These cars are so rare I had to snap a quick pic.  The blue was my second color choice if I had not gotten black.  But I like the black better and am glad I went with that.

It is rare to see the Fiesta ST on the road, much less 2 of them

I like ST's interior too and this adds to the way it feels.  I opted for the Recaro front sport seat option and am so glad I did. They run about an extra $2000.00, but are so worth it  They're a tight, cosy, deep fit that makes you feel secure and not like you're going to slide around in them.  Of course the Recaros are optional and I urge those interested to test them out before buying: the Fiesta has a pretty tiny cabin and if you're a larger or tall person you're not going to enjoy that combined with such snug, narrow sport seats.  I love it, but this combination fits me well because I'm a small person.

It's back seat is small, but fine for short trips if one has passengers.  Again, more for the petite than particularly tall or big people.  The back seats fold down too if you're carrying a lot of stuff, so there is a practical side to the interior design as well.  

Not everyone who has reviewed the Fiesta ST likes the interior or the in-dash entertainment/navigation system.  I'm content with the latter and the voice recognition is pretty accurate.  It's also very quiet inside and there is more than adequate insulation from road noise; something I wouldn't have expected from a car at this price point. 

The ST draws a narrower and younger crowd than the Porsche 911 did:  the twenty-something guy set.  I've had several young men come up to me when I'm parked or finishing the shopping or whatever I'm doing, asking if this is my car.  I'm almost old enough to be their Mom.  On my way home from Charlottesville I stopped to fill the ST up with gas and a guy who looked about 19 asked me if that was my car and commented on how awesome it looked.  Of course, given the modest price of it, and because it comes only in a 6 speed stick, the Fiesta ST is definitely aimed at a younger, and likely male, market.  But its always fun to buck the demographics. 

So overall the ST gets an A+ in my book.  Value, fun, practicality, and sharp looks.  They start around $22,000.00 and go up from there depending on the options you choose.  Ford has outdone themselves with this one!