So I've now introduced myself and my baby. I figure now it's time to give a bit of a 'running commentary' on how things are progressing. I've no intentions of going as mental as some owners have (but then I also didn't plan on modding at all) but the finished product will be just as I want it...
The story starts with a great offer from Ford Australia on 2013-build cars, including the Fiesta ST amazingly. My plan to grab a fourth consecutive blue Euro Ford was hatched. However, that hit a proverbial wall quite quickly, with none available across the country. I opened up the search to red and black cars. That still proved difficult, but I stumbled upon one at a dealership one Saturday afternoon and had a look, as it was just sitting at the back of the lot, with another dealer sticker on the rear window...
On seeing that car I decided that I could definitely live with having a red Ford. Trouble is, it wasn't showing on Ford's system as available. I spoke to a friend who knows the dealer principal three days later. He said it didn't have a buyer. Haaaaaaang on... it did now!![[like]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_like.gif "Like [like]")
So... after a phone call, I arranged to head to the dealer at lunchtime Tuesday 14 January, and had a test drive.
Barely more than 48 hours later, that same car wore my plates...
The first week saw plenty of driving done; I covered about 200km in the first night, and used any excuse to go for a blast...
... to the point that the first 1,000km disappeared under the tyres after just on a week. I snapped this the morning of 25 January.
The following day, my baby had its first clean after quite a few wet summer days. Just over 12 hours later, it would see its first track action, at Queensland Raceway. Given I was still in the official 'running in' phase, I alternated between gentle and fairly enthusiastic laps.
For much of the next six weeks, however, it could be found in the Brisbane Airport carpark, as work travels (mostly over weekends, dammit!) became the running theme...
The story starts with a great offer from Ford Australia on 2013-build cars, including the Fiesta ST amazingly. My plan to grab a fourth consecutive blue Euro Ford was hatched. However, that hit a proverbial wall quite quickly, with none available across the country. I opened up the search to red and black cars. That still proved difficult, but I stumbled upon one at a dealership one Saturday afternoon and had a look, as it was just sitting at the back of the lot, with another dealer sticker on the rear window...
On seeing that car I decided that I could definitely live with having a red Ford. Trouble is, it wasn't showing on Ford's system as available. I spoke to a friend who knows the dealer principal three days later. He said it didn't have a buyer. Haaaaaaang on... it did now!
So... after a phone call, I arranged to head to the dealer at lunchtime Tuesday 14 January, and had a test drive.
Barely more than 48 hours later, that same car wore my plates...
The first week saw plenty of driving done; I covered about 200km in the first night, and used any excuse to go for a blast...
... to the point that the first 1,000km disappeared under the tyres after just on a week. I snapped this the morning of 25 January.
The following day, my baby had its first clean after quite a few wet summer days. Just over 12 hours later, it would see its first track action, at Queensland Raceway. Given I was still in the official 'running in' phase, I alternated between gentle and fairly enthusiastic laps.
For much of the next six weeks, however, it could be found in the Brisbane Airport carpark, as work travels (mostly over weekends, dammit!) became the running theme...
![[tongue]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_tongue.gif "Tongue [tongue]"){kind=icon}
![[giggle]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_giggle.gif "Giggle [giggle]"){kind=icon}
![[hihi]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_hihi.gif "Hi Hi [hihi]"){kind=icon}
![[cool]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_cool.gif "Cool [cool]"){kind=icon}
![[twothumb]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_twothumbs.gif "Two Thumbs [twothumb]"){kind=icon}
