The "Let's keep Dearborn from taking the goodness out of the FoE Fiesta" Thread!

[golf strom]

Originally Posted by Mark Kleis

This guy seriously cracks me up. I don't know what makes me laugh more, the fact that 9 out of 10 of your posts about the Fiesta are negative, or that the other 1 out of 10 involve numbers picked from the sky.... (99%? Really? lol.... ok...?)

Glad you find my posts so entertaining!


My "opinion" ( an educated one at that since I have had the fortune of driving other European Fords, including the previous generation of Fiesta) of the european spec Fiesta is that it is probably the best b class car you can buy for the money anywhere in the world right now, even in standard trim.

My "expectations" of what the US spec car will be is based mostly on what Ford itself has reported about the car. Unfortunately Ford has decided to make certain changes to specific components, that from my experience, will be less than satisfying for ownership experience. Does my opinion represent the majority of potential customers, maybe not, but I do think that my opinions do come mighty close to those of many others that will consider this car in the USA.

I really hope I am wrong, and the final product is amazing as the euro spec unit is, but I am a realist so you'll understand if I don't hold my breath.

As for the seating issue..... I can't give you hard numbers, but large (tall and wide, maybe heavy?) Europeans are buying the car in droves with the seats as they are. I have yet to find any other negative comments about the seats except for you. If you can point me to those that have issues with them, please do.

Mark,

In any case I am really eager to read your article about the interview you've had with Sam De La Garza!!!!!! TIA for your work!!!!!!


Now back to the show.

[Scott06GT]

Originally Posted by Mark Kleis

This guy seriously cracks me up. I don't know what makes me laugh more, the fact that 9 out of 10 of your posts about the Fiesta are negative, or that the other 1 out of 10 involve numbers picked from the sky.... (99%? Really? lol.... ok...?)

Yeah I have to agree...way too judgmental when we don't even have the finished product in front of us.

His comparisons are comical...its almost like comparing a Pinto to an Escort to a Focus to the Fiesta..none of the same people people worked on the same car generation to generation, and comparing what Ford did 10 years ago with the Focus to what they are doing with the Fiesta is just as stupid!

[BRGT350]

Ford is a whole new company today than it was years ago, so that gives me faith that the Fiesta won't be botched.

[GhiaFan]

Just read a very brief review from a Canadian auto critic for the Globa&Mail, Ford Canada purchased "one" Fiesta from a dealership in Holland and had an event at Ford Oakville featuring the Model T and the Fiesta.

Once again there are some sketchy (throw some more gas on the fire) remarks about the 2011 being redone,
from the article "A Ford source has been quoted as saying the car will be built down to a “price point” for North America, while Euro editions get things such as multi-function displays, tilt/telescope steering wheels, Ford's cap-less fuel filler and keyless entry with push-button start.While styling should remain essentially the same, it has been reported the interior is being redone, and possibly not in a good way. "

Here are his few words on his short test drive "The car I drove was the very neat-looking little four-door hatchback painted in a youthful bright limey green. Its snug, but not cramped, interior is very zoomy-looking too, yet functional and there's good cargo room under the hatch.

It's 1.6-litre engine and five-speed gearbox gave it a zippy feel, with handling and braking to match. It should do well here if they don't dumb it down too much."

Source Driving Fords, a century apart - The Globe and Mail

Here are 3 other Canadian Fiesta test drive remarks from the same drive event held at Ford Oakville, Ontario

http://bit.ly/FZ5d


http://bit.ly/10xgn4

http://bit.ly/mIz3p

[Mark Kleis]

The "source" reminds me of the "a source" crediting in a women's gossip magazine, in other words, it's BS.

Ditching the capless fuel cap? That should be the red flag this guy is making this up... Ford is SAVING money switching to that and they are going to put it on every car.

[azulejost]

Yes, judging by the options and features available on the current Focus vs. those displayed in the "Design Your Own" fiestamovement.com site, I believe Capless fuel-filler, Sync, Premium Audio, and Ambient lighting are a given for the Fiesta. Push button start may find its way to the premium trims.

The options on the right side: 17" wheels, styling kit, exhaust system, turbo kit, performance suspension--those are the ones that are in doubt as are the projector beam headlights with leveling. I'm struggling to come up with what other features may not be included--convex section in the mirror, rear fog light/standing park light.

Obviously the quality of the materials, seats, and wheels/suspension may change as well. It would be hard for me to imagine that the interior layout and material quality would change, though who am I to know these things?

I have a feeling we may see some of these new "design wheels" like those from the new Fusion show up on the lower models. Basically steel wheels with plastic hubcaps but the wheel is designed to not be visible behind the hubcap. It's cheaper than alloy, and looks just as good from a distance. It doesn't, however, weight less like alloy and alloys look better up close.

The big question mark is the front and rear bumper design which has to change for regulations, and I'll leave it at that given our new positive approach to the development process.

[PowerShift]

Based on the photos so far there are two ways that Ford MIGHT cheapen the Fiesta for the US.
1 is using wheels from the current Focus. I see that in almost every spy photo.
2 is removing the in-dash screen and buttons and replacing it with a simple slide-out stereo. Like this: XceedSpeed - View Single Post - ford fiesta
This is the only time I've ever seen this interior treatment. Even the Fiesta van in Europe has the screen and buttons. This was photographed in the US so that means it must be under consideration.

Now, I'm not all that attracted to the big screen in the dash but this is a rather crude way to get rid of it. I hope they dump this idea.

[Mark Kleis]

Originally Posted by PowerShift

Based on the photos so far there are two ways that Ford MIGHT cheapen the Fiesta for the US.
1 is using wheels from the current Focus. I see that in almost every spy photo.
2 is removing the in-dash screen and buttons and replacing it with a simple slide-out stereo. Like this: XceedSpeed - View Single Post - ford fiesta
This is the only time I've ever seen this interior treatment. Even the Fiesta van in Europe has the screen and buttons. This was photographed in the US so that means it must be under consideration.

Now, I'm not all that attracted to the big screen in the dash but this is a rather crude way to get rid of it. I hope they dump this idea.

I work for an online automotive news media site... let me reassure you, using wheels from existing vehicles on test mules is common practice across the industry, and definitely for Ford. It's meant to throw people off- just like the camo and the wrong radio.

The dash is NOT being changed, nor the radio replaced with a boring one. Trust me.

Also, I posted this in another thread, but I spoke with someone that has physically had his/her (protecting identity ) hands on actual Fiestas in the US with options above and beyond what Europe has.... stuff that you would dream of. Good, positive changes are coming. That's all I can say

[BRGT350]

Back from Ford, and I can tell you that very little is being changed. I personally met the engineer working on the Fiesta suspension, and the changes he is making is to keep the handling the same as the EU models. The US cars are getting a little bit heavier up front due to some revised crash structure, and the suspension changes are to keep the car the same as the EU car. Anyone who has taken a HS physics class will know that adding a little weight a far distance from the cg makes a big difference, so the springs are being adjusted accordingly.

After seeing about a million Mondeo's, I think I see the direction of the upper grille, and I am going to be ok with that. It matches what I have been told, and the Verve concept. The other thing about my trip yesterday is that whenever I went to a place that I could not take my camera, I saw only EU cars. Kuga's, Mondeo's, Foci, and Fiesta's. I thought I was in Europe, and that is a good thing.

I have no info on the dash or anything else on the car, but I do know that some of the pictures and my review of the interior was in the design studio as the US team is working on the car.

I was also able to meet some very important people yesterday, and I can tell you that good things are coming and motorsports is a huge part of the new Ford. Meetings are going on about the global small car performance market.

[Mark Kleis]

Originally Posted by BRGT350

Back from Ford, and I can tell you that very little is being changed. I personally met the engineer working on the Fiesta suspension, and the changes he is making is to keep the handling the same as the EU models. The US cars are getting a little bit heavier up front due to some revised crash structure, and the suspension changes are to keep the car the same as the EU car. Anyone who has taken a HS physics class will know that adding a little weight a far distance from the cg makes a big difference, so the springs are being adjusted accordingly.

After seeing about a million Mondeo's, I think I see the direction of the upper grille, and I am going to be ok with that. It matches what I have been told, and the Verve concept. The other thing about my trip yesterday is that whenever I went to a place that I could not take my camera, I saw only EU cars. Kuga's, Mondeo's, Foci, and Fiesta's. I thought I was in Europe, and that is a good thing.

I have no info on the dash or anything else on the car, but I do know that some of the pictures and my review of the interior was in the design studio as the US team is working on the car.

I was also able to meet some very important people yesterday, and I can tell you that good things are coming and motorsports is a huge part of the new Ford. Meetings are going on about the global small car performance market.

Gee wiz, all that worrying for nothing?

I too had some unofficial discussions recently, and I feel better about Ford's products than I EVER have before by a mile.