It was a very difficult decision. I have been and continue to be a proponent of the Fiesta platform. It's an amazing car, and the best small car Ford has produced in decades.
This little car is flipping amazing. I've taken it to Willow Springs' Horse Thief Mile, a Go Kart track in Perris, and numerous canyon and mountain roads in between. I was able to upgrade the suspension, exhaust, and intake for the most I can get performance and handling-wise. It's been to numerous shows. I don't normally like to brag, but I'd like to think I've had a significant part in evangelizing and building the Fiesta scene in Southern California since 2010.
Not long ago, I came to a realization. The naturally-aspirated Fiesta platform is simply not enough for me, and all of the performance shops have simply ignored it and its potential. Even if a part fits, they refuse to market the part for it. Everybody wants to develop for the ST, with a big middle finger to the rest of us. That's what offends me most.
I did everything I could. I upgraded the suspension. The intake. The exhaust. I imported parts from Europe that they refuse to sell in the US. I extolled the car's virtues to everyone. In return, I got dismissed by companies when I proved that the parts worked, and they should market to the rest of the Fiesta line.
In the end, I simply reached the zenith of what I could do for performance, but I wanted more. And since the Fiesta and Focus ST were not an option (Without droning into a long story, a military injury has left me with nerve damage in my right leg and I can't safely manipulate three pedals anymore), I had to look elsewhere.
So, I looked into options. In the hot hatch category with two pedals, there are really only two options. I looked at the VW Golf GTI and Golf R. Great cars, even with their problems. But I found the Golf to be aesthetically boring. I also love technology and expect to use my car as a daily driver as well. Even though Audi has a fantastic MMI system, VW has a horribly outdated system. Next, I looked at the 2015+ Mini John Cooper Works. It had everything I was looking for ... at $40k.
Yesterday I did it. I went to Galpin Ford in LA and put $1000 down to order a 2016 Ecoboost Premium A/T. Here's my order list:
2016 EcoBoost Premium Automatic
- Exterior: Guard Interior: Dark Saddle
- 401A Package
- Performance Package
- Reverse Sensing System
- Adaptive Cruise package
- Voice-Activated Navigation
I went back and forth on the GT versus the EcoBoost. In the end, the lack of the PP on the GT Automatic was my deciding factor.
Through my Grandfather, I'm eligible for Z plan so the $7000 +/- savings for the Mustang compared to the Mini.
And here I am.
I've got plans to start on the car already. I like the look of the 'euro spec' tail lights and will probably look at a way to retrofit the rear foglight assembly as well. Getting a Cobb AP is also #1 on the list of things to get. I'm looking forward to tweaking the car and getting the most I can from it.
In the meantime, here's my fond look back on the past half-decade of Fiesta fun. I've recently begun parting the car back to stock condition, so no more fun until the Mustang shows up.
IMG_0354 by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
IMG_0417 by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
TARDIS @ Apex Time Attack by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
TARDIS @ Apex Time Attack by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
TARDIS @ Apex Time Attack by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
Tour d'Orange 2015 by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
Diode Dynamics LED Fog Lights by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
XS Horse Thief Mile 030814-346-X3 by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
IMG 3480 by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
Polishing Domina by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
2011 All Hands Car Show by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
FSC West 2011 by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
Snowy Fiesta by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
Domina at Corvina Beach Campground by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
Salton City: The resort that never was. by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
My new 2011 Ford Fiesta SES by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
Finally, the day my Fiesta journey started:
My New Car by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
This little car is flipping amazing. I've taken it to Willow Springs' Horse Thief Mile, a Go Kart track in Perris, and numerous canyon and mountain roads in between. I was able to upgrade the suspension, exhaust, and intake for the most I can get performance and handling-wise. It's been to numerous shows. I don't normally like to brag, but I'd like to think I've had a significant part in evangelizing and building the Fiesta scene in Southern California since 2010.
Not long ago, I came to a realization. The naturally-aspirated Fiesta platform is simply not enough for me, and all of the performance shops have simply ignored it and its potential. Even if a part fits, they refuse to market the part for it. Everybody wants to develop for the ST, with a big middle finger to the rest of us. That's what offends me most.
I did everything I could. I upgraded the suspension. The intake. The exhaust. I imported parts from Europe that they refuse to sell in the US. I extolled the car's virtues to everyone. In return, I got dismissed by companies when I proved that the parts worked, and they should market to the rest of the Fiesta line.
In the end, I simply reached the zenith of what I could do for performance, but I wanted more. And since the Fiesta and Focus ST were not an option (Without droning into a long story, a military injury has left me with nerve damage in my right leg and I can't safely manipulate three pedals anymore), I had to look elsewhere.
So, I looked into options. In the hot hatch category with two pedals, there are really only two options. I looked at the VW Golf GTI and Golf R. Great cars, even with their problems. But I found the Golf to be aesthetically boring. I also love technology and expect to use my car as a daily driver as well. Even though Audi has a fantastic MMI system, VW has a horribly outdated system. Next, I looked at the 2015+ Mini John Cooper Works. It had everything I was looking for ... at $40k.
Yesterday I did it. I went to Galpin Ford in LA and put $1000 down to order a 2016 Ecoboost Premium A/T. Here's my order list:
2016 EcoBoost Premium Automatic
- Exterior: Guard Interior: Dark Saddle
- 401A Package
- Performance Package
- Reverse Sensing System
- Adaptive Cruise package
- Voice-Activated Navigation
I went back and forth on the GT versus the EcoBoost. In the end, the lack of the PP on the GT Automatic was my deciding factor.
Through my Grandfather, I'm eligible for Z plan so the $7000 +/- savings for the Mustang compared to the Mini.
And here I am.
I've got plans to start on the car already. I like the look of the 'euro spec' tail lights and will probably look at a way to retrofit the rear foglight assembly as well. Getting a Cobb AP is also #1 on the list of things to get. I'm looking forward to tweaking the car and getting the most I can from it.
In the meantime, here's my fond look back on the past half-decade of Fiesta fun. I've recently begun parting the car back to stock condition, so no more fun until the Mustang shows up.
IMG_0354 by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
IMG_0417 by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
TARDIS @ Apex Time Attack by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
TARDIS @ Apex Time Attack by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
TARDIS @ Apex Time Attack by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
Tour d'Orange 2015 by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
Diode Dynamics LED Fog Lights by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
XS Horse Thief Mile 030814-346-X3 by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
IMG 3480 by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
Polishing Domina by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
2011 All Hands Car Show by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
FSC West 2011 by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
Snowy Fiesta by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
Domina at Corvina Beach Campground by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
Salton City: The resort that never was. by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
My new 2011 Ford Fiesta SES by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
Finally, the day my Fiesta journey started:
My New Car by Aaron Slater, on Flickr
and Thanks for all you have done with and for Us ![[driving]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_driving.gif "Driving [driving]"){kind=icon}
![[twothumb]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_twothumbs.gif "Two Thumbs [twothumb]"){kind=icon}
