non-ST Fiestas? thoughts/rants

Hey guys:

Mother 98 injured her hip down in FL. I flew down to visit her. Flew into MCO rented a Ford Fiesta SE...drove to Ft Myers..I must say for an econo buzz box, it was kind of fun! Revvy little 1.6 liter, AT, but still - like driving a go-kart. I googled and saw a comment these are banned for SCCA due to roll over potential? 

Anybody have one (non-ST)..how are they to own? I read Ford is discontinuing them as of May 2019...so deals are likely to be had...maybe use the cashback at Tire rack?

and....This thing got 36.5 mpg with a lead foot.

Thoughts? 

Drive a slow car fast.  I rented one and drove from Birmingham to Albertville, AL and back.  Fun car just had to be careful jumping in as a big guy.  

Dont know if the later ones got a different transmission but the dual clutch versions were absolutely garbage. Great thing about the non-ST variants is that they were used in B spec racing and there are a TON of parts for them suspension and brake wise. Its a very capable platform.

I own an ST and would love to get an SFE with the 3 cylinder and a manual transmission. Swap the rear disc brakes from an ST, Ford Racing coilovers and some 15x7's and 205's would be a hoot on track. Dont really need much more power than that as the ST already overwhelms its tires stock let alone a basic tune. The lower HP of the 1.6 or 1.3 would ensure you put the power down all the time while still keeping the chassis/suspension setup.

Stay as far away as physically possible from any fiesta (or focus for that matter) with the auto transmission. When working right they're actually pretty nice, but they don't work right very often or for very long. I own a ST and had a SE as a rental a while ago. At highway speeds basically any movement of the steering wheel felt like the car was going to fall over yet it somehow didn't really ride any better than my ST (it was a rental but a relatively new one so it shouldn't have been substantially worn out yet). The base seats are not as nice as even the base ST seats, turns out the lumbar adjustment is critical in getting a comfortable seating position at least for me. Other than that it was a decent car, if I needed a $5k DD a used fiesta would probably be near the top of the list (with manual transmission, of course).

The issue at autocross is the height, easily remedied by swapping on an ST-spec suspension. ST owners often sell OEM shocks and coils when they go to a coil-over or other setup. You can also do Yellow Koni's and lowering springs like Swifts. You would be in STH, but even the ST isn't going to be competitive there, so just go have fun. 

pinchvalve said:

You would be in STH, but even the ST isn't going to be competitive there, so just go have fun. 

STS actually for the non-STs. Still isn't going to be a winner, but  closer than in STH.

My fiesta just doesnt quite cut the mustard for me.  I was hoping it would be like a new version of our older Focus ZX3. It isnt.  It's like driving a secretary's commuter.  The Fuel tank is small too. I do get almost 40MPG on summer fuel on a straight highway trip though.  The seat doesnt fit me, it doesnt support my leg while driving and I have to hold it up the whole time.  Raising the seat makes it worse as it just seems to pitch the car forward.

I have modified the airbox (pretty much cut out everything not facing the transmission/engine.

I installed a cheap stainless exhaust ( this helped the most, no more power, but at least sound)

I installed the Ford Handeling pack, its a stock Euro sport suspension.  It didnt lower the car enough no help with turn in any.

I had early Focus SVT wheels with 205/45/17s  The suspension doesnt seem to like the 17's. Bumps were crashy, and the rotational mass hurt a bit.  I went to a 205/50/16 and that seems alot better matched to the car.  Winter mode is on 195/60/15's and it kinda feels like a rally car.

I'm seriously debating getting the H&R super sport springs and fabbing up a rear beam stiffiner.  I dont want the full tail heavy a rear sway bar will give me.

Hawk HPS pads helped the brakes alot as well

From last summer

cfvw - nice looking car! thanks guys, for the opinions.