Topic: Day-by-Day Review: 2014 Ford Fiesta ST

[Autos_Editor]

Ford Fiesta ST is a frisky little car that is fun to drive.  But is it worth it?  Stay tuned!
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[SKYMTL]

These never go for SRP.  Before buying his Mazda 3, my brother was convinced one of these was his car-to-be.  The first problem was actually finding one and the next was price. 

While Ford has a list price of $30K, every single dealership with one on the lot (and there aren't many) wanted something in the neighborhood of $36K for it.  Even used ones with 10k-15k KMs on the odo are going for $25K to $28K. 

For that price I'd just grab the Focus ST.

[quadzilla]

I refuse to believe that that price is anything but a typo.  Ya, the car has a niche appeal, but you would literally have to be an idiot to pay that price even anything in the universe of that price.

So how much should it cost then?

[quadzilla]

I refuse to believe that that price is anything but a typo.  Ya, the car has a niche appeal, but you would literally have to be an idiot to pay that price even anything in the universe of that price.

So how much should it cost then?

Less than that price. 

I just can't believe that anyone would pay that much for that car.  Surely I'm not the only one?

What car gives you all this performance for less than the $25K this starts at?

[quadzilla]

Oh ya....That is crazy!

[Fobroader]

Drove a Focus ST a few weeks ago, if the TCS isn't as intrusive, the Fiesta would be a hoot.

[PJ]

I refuse to believe that that price is anything but a typo.  Ya, the car has a niche appeal, but you would literally have to be an idiot to pay that price even anything in the universe of that price.

So how much should it cost then?

Less than that price. 

I just can't believe that anyone would pay that much for that car.  Surely I'm not the only one?

What car gives you all this performance for less than the $25K this starts at?

I think he's talking about that one listed for 47K above.....

Guessing it was already fixed as I see a price as tested of $29.5k. 

[SaskSpecV]

Really looking forward to your driving impressions Wing.  Can you check out the turning radius - I assume it's not nearly as large as the Focus ST?  Pet peeve of mine, driving a small car which should be nimble but turns like a tugboat (SpecV taught me that lesson).

I'm a bit surprised by your issue with the pricing "after options" - do you think the options are overpriced, or that the car as whole is overpriced?  The options are only $2900 total - that's less than one "package" for most car makers!  Granted, I think paying $400 for the paint job and $500 for the different alloys is superfluous, but $2000 for the moonroof/nav system seems like a fair price.

But the base price of the car is $26550 (with freight & AC tax, non-negotiable).  Add in your Ontario tax (13%) and that is $30,000 even - for the base car.  So $33,000 for the  loaded car isn't really much of a stretch.

Of course this is Ford, which discounted the Focus ST by $2500 (cash purchase) immediately upon its release - so who knows how the Fiesta ST pricing will shake out.  But if dealers are charging insane markups, maybe Ford will hold the line on MSRP for a while??

[wing]

$33,000 buys A LOT more car that's the only issue.  Heck you could get a Z06 for half

I know not comparable but makes you think, it's a lot of money and although the options are well priced they bring the car a little over the top.

[faceless]

Wing, looking forward to reading your take on this little pocket rocket.

[jamesautos]

No doubt it's an amazing product but not if they are charging over mrsp for it.   This is at most a 26000 car with some options.  I rather have a Cooper S or toybaru if dealers are asking above mrsp.

tapatalk

[toolatecrew]

I priced up a Fiesta St with a Sunroof vs a 3 Door GTI (which comes with sunroof standard) Yes I picked a 3 door as its 1 the least expensive and 2. because its bigger didn't feel like it was unreasonable to compare .

31469 vs 33 323 or 1854 in the difference. If you ask me that's too close . One look inside both cars makes it apparent where that money goes.
BUT because of the finance rates the VW ends up being over 5K more over a 60 month term.

But hold on what if you lease...my mind has been blown.

36 months at 20Km a year?
Ford ST 528
VW GTI 412.25!!!!!!!

This is right from the build and price from each site.  Over $100 les a month for the GTI? Why on earth would anyone lease an ST? Ford needs to pile some pretty sweet $ on the hood

[dirtyjeffer]

But hold on what if you lease...my mind has been blown.

36 months at 20Km a year?
Ford ST 528
VW GTI 412.25!!!!!!!

This is right from the build and price from each site.  Over $100 les a month for the GTI? Why on earth would anyone lease an ST? Ford needs to pile some pretty sweet $ on the hood

that is because in 3 years, the GTI is likely still worth $25k...the Ford will be wallowing on the lot for $15,995.

[JohnnyMac]

Was so excited to see one of these on the lot of my local Ford SVT dealer on the weekend.  Had a chance to drop in last night to see what all the hype is about.  I asked the sales person for the keys and didn't even have to drive it to know that it would never work for me.  As some have pointed out in the past, the seats are very tight.  Now I'm a bit bigger of a guy at 6" 210 pounds but am a very fit and active person.  My suggestion is that if you can do more than a few chin ups or are a bit over weight, you won't fit in these seats.  That being said, if you're built like a horse jockey, you'll love these seats.  Oh well, guess I'll just have to stick with the WRX's and GTI's.  Asked the sales person if they had a Focus ST to see if I can fit in that and they didn't have any but he said that they are basically the same seats.  Not sure if that's true or not, I tend not to believe car salesman as they generally don't know squat about their own product.

[Boff]

3 bags of mulch? WOW! I fit EIGHT in the trunk of my Mustang last weekend (which reminds me...must update signature).

Something about this little car pushes my buttons, but I could never own one. I can fit in the seats (barely) but am then locked into position like I'm driving a formula car. On a long highway slog, I'd ache for some wiggle room. And the shifter is comically low to the floor, like a 70's Rabbit.

As for the price, it is pretty close to its main competitors while offering similar performance and more feature content. Cheapskates can purchase a Fiesta SE for under 20 G's...

[JohnnyMac]

I see that the seats remain a point of controversy with the ST.  They certainly do seem to be something of a hassle to get in and out of (more like on and off of).  Perhaps they should have been an optional feature.

And, yes, the Focus ST seats are essentially the same.

I know that the Focus ST also comes with Recaro seats but didn't know if they were the exact same.  Obviously Recaro makes many different models of seats and different sizes, I was just hoping that the ones in the Focus ST might be a bit larger.  I did sit in the Mustang with the Recaro's and fit just fine.  Also don't remember the same complaints about the seat tightness in the Focus ST in other reviews.

[wing]

I think the Focus seats are slightly wider

[Sir Osis of Liver]

[Fobroader]

 

[jyarkony]

the Fiesta ST seats are tight, but the Juke Nismo RS seats are harder to get into - they have a tailbone crushing side bolster that I always forget to compensate for and it always catches me on the way in. and my wife, at 5', has a hard time clearing it because she's so short.