Are tires the bottle neck component for our cars?

[BronxBomber]

im not scared that the mods themselves will damage the car but I am concerned with the car just breaking due to it being a relatively new platform. My previous car was a 1997 Miata and I modded the shit out of it but then again the car was 20 years old and didn't cost me $22,000.

Really I hope that you are correct in saying I shouldn't worry about the car breaking, because then I'd save a lot of money, but I'm not sure what I want to do yet.

I know you're on the fence, but what I would suggest is twofold. First Google Fiesta St reliability and see what you get. Check world wide as there are more sold in Europe alone than in North America. Secondly, start a thread titled "at what mileage did you start modding your FiST". I'm sure you'll see the vast majority of us started within 1,000 miles or so of ownership. The guys that purchased when the FiST first came out may be different since not much was available then. I purchased my AP3 within a month and haven't looked back. There are plenty of us who aren't even on the stock turbo anymore with no problems. There is a forum member who's name escapes me, but he's got like 170k miles on his fist and still going. Bottom line is I understand your trepidation, but in my opinion, if you're the type of person who likes to mod they're car, I wouldn't stop from doing so because this car has shown to be pretty robust and largely problem free. Just my .02

 

[BronxBomber]

Boy do I miss SCC mag. Our friend Dave who wrote that article is a big wig at Mazda NA now[/QUOTE

Sport Compact Car, Modified & Turbo were my favorite car mags. Super Street was to childish to me, with the models and car shows. The others were more technical and had great mod reviews like "power pages" tray helped you decide which mods made power and which didn't. Were great mags.

 

[slidemx5]

Boy do I miss SCC mag. Our friend Dave who wrote that article is a big wig at Mazda NA now[/QUOTE

Sport Compact Car, Modified & Turbo were my favorite car mags. Super Street was to childish to me, with the models and car shows. The others were more technical and had great mod reviews like "power pages" tray helped you decide which mods made power and which didn't. Were great mags.

Me too! Got a letter published once in there, made my month

 

[M-Sport fan]

Actually yes the MOUNTUNE retains warranty. Follow this link and anything with a blue check is warranty friendly. https://performanceparts.ford.com/search/Fiesta

Are you SURE that is not implying that Mountune/Ford Performance has a warranty available for the PART ITSELF (IC in this case), and not that this part, once installed (even by an ASE tech/Ford dealer) does not effect the factory power train warranty?

Maybe I am reading it incorrectly?

Since this is part of the MR230 kit, and that does NOT keep the factory warranty from being voided for anything deemed to have been caused by that kit, is it ONLY the tune itself responsible for the no power train warranty coverage?

 

[M-Sport fan]

Boy do I miss SCC mag. Our friend Dave who wrote that article is a big wig at Mazda NA now[/QUOTE

Sport Compact Car, Modified & Turbo were my favorite car mags. Super Street was to childish to me, with the models and car shows. The others were more technical and had great mod reviews like "power pages" tray helped you decide which mods made power and which didn't. Were great mags.

Is/was the consensus that D-Sport was also in the 'childish/ricerish' catagory as well because of the I.C.E./audio articles, fluff stuff, and VERY HOT models (Natasha Yi; OMG!! [drool]), or were they given a 'pass' due to some actual, useful tech?

 

[CanadianGuy]

Are you SURE that is not implying that Mountune/Ford Performance has a warranty available for the PART ITSELF (IC in this caes), and not that this part, once installed (even by an ASE tech/Ford dealer) does not effect the factory power train warranty?

Maybe I am reading it incorrectly?

Since this is part of the M230 kit, and that does NOT keep the factory warranty from being voided for anything deemed to have been caused by that kit, is it ONLY the tune itself responsible for the no power train warranty coverage?

I was researching greatly when I got my car, even called up Ford racing as they were just starting to offer MOUNTUNE parts. At the time the mr230 did not exist. Yes its tune and the Dp are those that are not warranty friendly most everything else is.

 

[Zormecteon]

The "raison d'etre" for these cars isn't drag racing, it's the go-kart like handling. Every car is a compromise and changing too much to achieve a purpose for which it was not intended will upset the purpose for which is was made. .. That said, there's nothing wrong with wanting to go faster! ... but putting on "racing slicks" is bound to reduce the handling capability...

My 2? take it for what it's worth

 

[M-Sport fan]

The "raison d'etre" for these cars isn't drag racing, it's the go-kart like handling. Every car is a compromise and changing too much to achieve a purpose for which it was not intended will upset the purpose for which is was made. .. That said, there's nothing wrong with wanting to go faster! ... but putting on "racing slicks" is bound to reduce the handling capability...

My 2? take it for what it's worth

AGREED, and mine will NEVER see a drag strip as long as I own it, no matter how much power it has eventually, or how huge a turbo kit.

But, I would be a hypocrite if I criticized anyone else about wanting great 1/4 mile time slips, and thereby doing something with their car for which it was NOT optimally/originally designed to do), since I took a car which is generally regarded as foremost and ONLY a straight line, drag race, "non-handling" car (sadly even by most of it's owners), and transformed it into all but a road racer, which could KILL most imports in their 'own' "twisties", to their utter shock and dismay!

 

[Based]

Yeah that's why I am weary of what size wheels and tires I put on the car.

 

[AzNightmare]

Yeah that's why I am weary of what size wheels and tires I put on the car.

IMO, I think the oem (205) tire width is fine until you're upgrading turbo. It also depends whether you're talking about wet or dry roads. I'm using Sport Comp2 tires and when it's wet, they can slip in the lower gears if I mash on the throttle, but when it's dry, it's fine for me. And you can always upgrade to stickier tires if needed.

You have to remember wider tires also adds weight at the worst area of the car, so there's a balance. Only get as much grip as you really need.

 

[Waterfan]

im not scared that the mods themselves will damage the car but I am concerned with the car just breaking due to it being a relatively new platform.

I don't understand how Fiesta ST can be considered "relatively new platform". The 2017 STs are already available, making this the 5th model year of the current generation. The current Fiesta platform (6th gen) dates back to 2008 (MY2014 "7th gen" is just a facelift) and literally millions have been sold globally. The 1.6 ecoboost (various power levels) has been in use since MY2010 and in such models as: Ford Focus, Fusion, Escape, and Volvo S60, S80, V60, V40, etc. (hundreds of thousands sold most likely, I did not look these up)

I think the only truly "new" part is the transmission. I believe it is based on the Gertrag B6 which is generally viewed as a reliable/performance-oriented brand/design. (there have been some few owners with premature transmission/clutch issues, unfortunately)

(sources: various wiki and sales figures pages)

TL;DR - Fiesta ST is not new, assume all the major bugs have long since been squashed (and happy modding)

 

[Zerodameaon]

Where are you finding 2017s? Galpin doesn't even have them and they are one of the largest Ford dealers in the world. I am not arguing that its a new platform, but for the US there are only 3 model years of it so US shops might be a bit behind.

 

[M-Sport fan]

Where are you finding 2017s?

+1

When I questioned the sales manager of my dealer about whether or not they would allow me to put my deposit towards an 'ordered for stock' '17, IF they actually started arriving BEFORE my ordered '16 shows up (and I like the options, or complete lack thereof), he told me that the '17s, especially the STs, will not be on their lot until at least the early spring, if not later, and that Ford is currently not allowing them to order one for stock, nor for a customer??

So he said I might as well wait for the order, even if it takes until Thanksgiving to show up!
(Unless he was lying through his teeth to get me to wait for, and contentedly take, my ordered '16 FiST?)

 

[Zerodameaon]

+1

When I questioned the sales manager of my dealer about whether or not they would allow me to put my deposit towards an 'ordered for stock' '17, IF they actually started arriving BEFORE my ordered '16 shows up (and I like the options, or complete lack thereof), he told me that the '17s, especially the STs, will not be on their lot until at least the early spring, if not later, and that Ford is currently not allowing them to order one for stock, nor for a customer??

So he said I might as well wait for the order, even if it takes until Thanksgiving to show up!
(Unless he was lying through his teeth to get me to wait for, and contentedly take, my ordered '16 FiST?)

They are not on any of the Ford websites, US, German or UK. Though I'm not sure why they would delay the ST till next year for the 17s, they didn't take that long for previous years.