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New here and in the market for a FiST, (almost) no idea what I’m doing but I’m excited!

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California
#1
Hi all, new here from the NorCal area and in the market for a FiST. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I’m considering one in the SoCal area but I’ve been told that someone local might be willing to help? Where would be the best place to ask?

Excited to be part of this community (hopefully with my own ST very soon)!
 


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CHAPEL HILL, NC, USA
#3
Here's a thread I started years ago which as it says lists mechanical changes and improvements through the years.
https://www.fiestastforum.com/threa...-improvements-to-fist-through-the-years.9186/

I would advise looking for a 2016 or newer to get the newer Sync 3 screen system, and also to get the newer cylinder head design which had a recall on some of the earlier models. If you find a good one, jump on it quickly, because there aren't that many good examples out there. The cars have generally been quite reliable and held up well. Good luck on your search.
 


OP
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Thread Starter #5
A lot of these cars are modded. That's not a bad thing in itself, but make sure that it's running properly.
For sure, the mods don’t put me off, but I’ve read that it depends on the types of mods people had upgraded. Such as skipping on a more expensive mod and going for a cheaper one in some cases, and/or maybe the installers weren’t the best.

Also the fact that fun cars like this, especially with mods, can get driven hard. I mean obviously that’s the point, but you never know how someone treated it.

But mods are not an automatic no-go for me. Appreciate the input though!
 


OP
B
Messages
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Location
California
Thread Starter #6
Here's a thread I started years ago which as it says lists mechanical changes and improvements through the years.
https://www.fiestastforum.com/threa...-improvements-to-fist-through-the-years.9186/

I would advise looking for a 2016 or newer to get the newer Sync 3 screen system, and also to get the newer cylinder head design which had a recall on some of the earlier models. If you find a good one, jump on it quickly, because there aren't that many good examples out there. The cars have generally been quite reliable and held up well. Good luck on your search.
Awesome! That’s super helpful! Thank you!

I’ve been window shopping both the FoRS and the FiST for a couple of years now and I do recall the cylinder heads being an issue on some models, it didn’t recall what years. So I appreciate that. Ideally looking for a 2018-2019 model but happy with anything 2016 or newer.

Thanks again!
 


SVTBob

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Arizona
#8
I was in your position in June. I knew very little about the FiST. But everything I’d read was great (One of 20 best enthusiast cars EVER, Road and Track, May/June 2024). Discovering this forum was a huge help. A goldmine of info and generous members willing to share their knowledge and experiences. Nervous about getting one that had been abused, decided I would get the newest stocker I could find with low miles, around 25k miles, as the basis for building a fairly modded car. Instead, I now own two, one nearly stock (an aftermarket exhaust and a Cobb intake; putting a stock exhaust on it tomorrow). The other with a pretty high degree of mods but clearly driven hard fairly often, but also well cared for with well thought out mods. Lessons learned: don’t let mods deter you, per se; pay much more attention to the overall condition, try to inspect it in person. Getting a well cared for car is more important than miles and that is usually fairly obvious on inspection and a test drive. However, also decide beforehand how you will mostly use it. If you’re not going to track it or do canyon runs regularly, don’t buy a highly modded car. But if you do want to race, hpde, autox, etc., buying an appropriately modded car can save you a lot of time, $ and effort. A stocker is well balanced and plenty entertaining and mods generally mean a lot more NVH and noise. Be willing to travel to get the right car (bought the stockish car in PA, enjoyed driving it home to AZ, glad I did that, very nice car). The engines in these cars are pretty robust, so don’t let low miles be a priority, although there are seemingly more out there than you think. I know 2 other guys who have bought cars with around 25k miles and I bought 2, since June. And there was one on the forum recently, for sale in GA, a 2019, I believe, original owner, obviously well cared for and not abused, with 21k, just weeks ago. I would give the ‘16-19’s priority. I would try to sit in both the Recaro and base seats as a first step; some find the Recaro’s too constrictive and the leather is hotter in warmer weather. So take your time, be honest with yourself as to how you will use it and you will find a very nice car at a reasonable price.
 


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