List your 5 favorite and 5 least favorite things about your fist

[Stkid93]

You know what I love,

Every problem listed here for the most part are small problems and some of them aren’t even the cars fault such as bad dealers and service. If you asked this same question on a Subaru forum everyone would be saying

-ringlands
-motors blow up
-rebuilt motor and it blew up again after 10k miles
-weak motor
-have to spent 15 grand to make the motor reliable

but over here.. it’s small shit like water in the hatch, small paint stuff, etc. aside from the cooling thing was was mostly fixed after the first couple model years and can be completely fixed with a radiator swap. Nothing like having to completely rebuild your motor with the top of the line internals just to get it to run

 

[New_Daily]

So far, every post is by someone in the US/Canada (and one Aussie) on the Mk7…

Mk8 has:
1. LSD option
2. Adjustable dampers
3. Upgraded interior
4. Arguably better exhaust/induction note

Not a huge fan of the Ford Escape styling, but seems to improve on lots of deficiencies we’ve landed on with the previous gen.

Any Mk8 people want to weigh in?

Yeah interesting point. Since the Fiesta and Focus are dying worldwide now, will the MK 8 Fiesta join the list of cars that would be awesome to import here?! Like the Cosworth’s (Sierra and Escort) and the MK 1 Focus RS?

 

[Capri to ST]

Yeah interesting point. Since the Fiesta and Focus are dying worldwide now, will the MK 8 Fiesta join the list of cars that would be awesome to import here?! Like the Cosworth’s (Sierra and Escort) and the MK 1 Focus RS?

Taking the glass half full approach, I will remember to be glad that we got the Fiesta ST that we did here in the US.For a long time, Ford made great cars in other parts of the world that we didn't get. I remember the first time I went to Europe seeing a bunch of them and being amazed and jealous. Then for a while Ford adopted this One Ford philosophy where they would sell the same cars around the world. We benefited from that all too brief policy by getting this great car.

 

[FiestaSTdude]

So far, every post is by someone in the US/Canada (and one Aussie) on the Mk7…

Mk8 has:
1. LSD option
2. Adjustable dampers
3. Upgraded interior
4. Arguably better exhaust/induction note

Not a huge fan of the Ford Escape styling, but seems to improve on lots of deficiencies we’ve landed on with the previous gen.

Any Mk8 people want to weigh in?

Why Ford? Why couldn’t you sell it here? 😢
I know there’s probably lots of reasons why they wouldn’t make money selling the mk8 in the states and I probably couldn’t afford one anyway but it seems like a worthy successor to the mk7 and it’s probably the last hot hatch Ford ever makes.

 

[rallytaff]

Out of curiosity, what does the UK version weigh in at?

 

[tri-pedaler]

Out of curiosity, what does the UK version weigh in at?

2663 lbs for curb weight, so about 50 lbs less (though I'm not sure what spec this weight is for)

 

[tri-pedaler]

Also, Mk8 didn't fix the tire size issue we complain about: 205/45 R17 or 205/40 R18. And if you think 17s ride hard, imagine this car on 18s...

 

[rallytaff]

2663 lbs for curb weight, so about 50 lbs less (though I'm not sure what spec this weight is for)

Probably because it's a 3 door not a 5.

 

[M-Sport fan]

Taking the glass half full approach, I will remember to be glad that we got the Fiesta ST that we did here in the US.For a long time, Ford made great cars in other parts of the world that we didn't get. I remember the first time I went to Europe seeing a bunch of them and being amazed and jealous. Then for a while Ford adopted this One Ford philosophy where they would sell the same cars around the world. We benefited from that all two brief policy by getting this great car.

^^^THIS, exactly!!

This car (except for the Focus) is the very FIRST time that Ford allowed us to have the very car which is the basis of their World Rally Team ride, and the first time they gave us a real performance hot hatch (with all due apologies to all of the SVT Focus fans out there ), the same as the rest of the world got, sans the 2 door option.

HOW could I NOT buy one?!?!

 

[tri-pedaler]

Probably because it's a 3 door not a 5.

That’s what thought at first, but the spec page was for the 5 door: https://www.auto-data.net/en/ford-fiesta-viii-mk8-5-door-st-1.5-ecoboost-200hp-33099

 

[tri-pedaler]

Probably because it's a 3 door not a 5.

Alright, this page has 2833 lbs, which is more reasonable considering the weight of the interior upgrades: https://www.ultimatespecs.com/car-specs/Ford/113517/Ford-Fiesta-8-ST.html

 

[Dpro]

from what I have read about the MK8 while it is nice because of its options a lot of the FiST fans in the UK seem to prefer the MK7.5 styling and handling wise. There is something a little nervous , fun and urgent about the MK7.5 that edges out the MK8 in reviews the caveat being the MK8 better interior but boring looks . The MK7.5 just had better looks and enthusiast tend agree about that.
The MK8 came with the LSD option but gained an almost a 100lbs in curb weight over the U.S. MK7.5 which weighed more than the UK MK7.5 .
In effect down the road the MK8 will be considered a very good car but the glory car will be the MK7.5 in a lot of ways the Mk7.5 is the pinnacle car even without that glorious 3 pot that sounds like half a Porsche flat six. Its crisper handling it looks more unique.

 

[tri-pedaler]

Forgot to include this in my original post and hasn’t been mentioned yet - the low final drive and close gearing. Cars like the Mini are so much less fun because of the high final drive.

Basically: shift happens 🙃

 

[PBST]

First I'll say I love these cars,
my likes are 100x better than my dislikes are bad,
but there are some dislikes for sure.


Likes:
1) Decent Stock Power, friendly, easy to use power from 2k RPM's right up past 5, it can be buzzy, as long as you don't lug it too much, it's ready to go whenever you need it
2) Ride & Handling, It took a little to get used to the lift-oversteer (especially with snow tires on it), but the cars are amazingly predictable, and superb for a jazzed up economy car.
3) Transmission: 6 speed and clutch are butter smooth, even with the stock shifter, throws are decently short, though a little firmer would be nice.
It's so smooth with so little engine reciprocating weight that it's easy to accidentally "money shift" so watch for that.
4) Outside Size, fits in small parking spots, you can turn around anywhere, I can still do other work in the garage when the Fiesta's in there
5) Inside Size, I'm 6' 240lbs, and comfortable in it for 2+ hours a day, or more. Everything inside is close by and easy to reach, seat works perfectly on the last click.
Plus) I'll just say I like the fact that no one wants to take my little car when we go out in more than groups of 2, = I usually don't have to drive & I don't mind that lol.

Dislikes:
1) Terrible visibility, out the back window. I went from an 04' Focus 4 door sedan (great visibility) to the FIST. The Fiesta is like trying to back up a coffin with a little window at the end compared to that.
2) Ecoboost Coolant issue: no problems, no coolant loss for 116K miles 6.5 years, then cylinder 1 decided it wants to eat enough coolant to hydrolock whenever it reaches operating temperature.
3) Horrible heat/AC: AC lagged out at low RPM's since day one, but I learned to live with that,
it's the heat that makes me crazy, I like warm air in the winter, but it likes to blow either ice cubes, or molten lava,
almost never just normal warm air, no matter what temp I set it at.
I start around 65 degrees, and go up or down from there depending on how hot or cold the air gets. Anytime the air coming out is nice and warm it's just waiting to go red hot, or ice cold in another minute or two (and this is on FIST#1 that has no blend door issues)
4) Gearing: The car is pretty happy at 80mph, but much past that I really would like a taller final ratio.
We also have an Escape with the same 1.6L engine (in a 900 lb heavier vehicle), and it turns 1000 RPM less at the same highway speeds.
I understand why the FIST is geared so much lower, they don't want you lugging the FIST in 6th (the auto in the Escape will drop a gear or two if you try to lug the engine),
but wow I'd like to spin less RPMs on those long road trips when the cruising speed creeps up a bit.
5) Blend Doors, FIST #1 never made a blend door sound in 6.5 years/116k miles, FIST #2 (7 years/52K miles) plays a symphony of clicks and grinds on 2 of the 3 doors for you when starting and shutting it off.
(I have the parts, just haven't gotten around to swap them)

 

[NotGnu]

5 favorite and 5 least favorite?
5 favorite:
1) It brings a smile to my face every time I drive it.
2) It makes the woosh whoosh sound et al.
3) It corners on rails. And the Recaro leather heated seats keep me planted during this triple the recommended corner sign speed recommendation.
4) First car that I did not want to immediately try to supe up/add more hp to. Granted, the first owner did a lot of this.
5) First fwd car that I can drift.


5 least favorite:
1) I can't stop driving it. I look for reasons to drive. I am basically uber w/o charging for it. 12.5 gallon tank?
2) woosh woosh noise and the cat back exhaust noise. I can manage to drive it quiet around cops. So, it not too obnoxious.
3) I had it up to 140 mph and it scared the be jesus out of me.
4) I am probably going to lose my license in this thing.
5) non leather wrapped steering wheel and lack of sunroof.

 

[Snrub]

It's rawer than other modernish cars and it transmits the sensations of driving and speed. It's fun.

It's a fun and practical car. I regularly haul all sorts of things with it. We did renovations on our cottage; construction materials, landscape materials, furniture, tools, junk, other. Yesterday I picked up a 13' kayak from an hour away. I have the rear seats removed and it's like a mini-minivan.

Small wheels/tires make sense for the car's mission of fun.

Minor issues would be FWD, no LSD, the shocks seem a little over damped. Lower build quality; cheaper interior, other materials/parts like the rear brake calipers. I think minor modifications address some other issues; pedal spacing, longer throw shifter, rmm (albeit aftermarket solution makes the car significantly less refined in cold weather), heavy wheels.