[D1JL]

I have been invited to participate in a customer satisfaction research.
This is to be a hands on event with Ford Engineers to discuss good as well as bad points of the Fiesta ST.
I will doing this on 3/15/14.

Has anyone else received this invite?


Dave

 

[CarefreeAZ]

I have been invited to participate in a customer satisfaction research.
This is to be a hands on event with Ford Engineers to discuss good as well as bad points of the Fiesta ST.
I will doing this on 3/15/14. Has anyone else received this invite?
Dave

It will be interesting to hear what you learn (if disclosure is permitted, that is). In any event, you appear to be well-qualified (from my reading your posts, etc.) to give the engineers some good info. PM me if you want some info or to chat by phone.

 

[BlueBomber]

No, is this the engineers that usually call people to the Taco Bell bldg in Irvine on same mornings as CnC? Would REALLY love to talk to them about the car.

 

[D1JL]

No, is this the engineers that usually call people to the Taco Bell bldg in Irvine on same mornings as CnC? Would REALLY love to talk to them about the car.

Yes, that is the place.
Yes, I plan to talk to them about the same thing you are thinking of.


Dave

 

[BlueBomber]

How do I get an invite? Maybe i'll just show up. Lol. When is it?

-loose boost clamps
-rear motor mount/harshness when shifting at WOT. Shifting 1-2 hard the motor has to be hitting the firewall
-lack of a boost gauge is annoying
-lack of projector headlights is annoying when they are available in europe- should have been an option along with led tails
-spare tire thing is difficult to reassemble
-6th gear could be longer for more efficient hwy cruising at 70-75mph by lowering engine rpm
-realtime traffic does not work- even when the freeway overhead signs are on to tell you the 605 is jammed the nav did nothing and this was the main reason i got the nav option.
-when playing from a usb source navigation will interrupt radio but not resume song when instruction is over
-sync system despite now sending and receiving texts still says "text messaging not supported on this device" out loud before proceedind to read my text anyway.

So what are your gripes?

 

[BlueBomber]

Also recaros lack adjustable headrests yet the standard seats have them

 

[D1JL]

I am sure they want to hear some good things too.


Dave

 

[wash]

One time I did a focus group with BMW, maybe around 1997?

I told them they need to have their motorcycle guys design their engines. Everyone else in the group was saying build SUVs.

They wound up letting their motorcycle guys design the Z3 body and building a ton of boring SUVs.

I think the hottest things they had at the time were I6 M3 and the V8 540. It was quite a while before they did the V8 M3, turbochargers and 135.

I would tell Ford to make TPMS reset a MFT menu item instead of the automotive hokey-pokey, say yes to the Fiesta RS, bring the three door, make sure the door arm rests have a pocket to grab and tell them that a nice warrantied power upgrade bigger than the MP215 is a good idea because its awesome to embarrass Scion FRS drivers.

 

[BlueBomber]

I have tons of great things to say about the car, lol. I don't shut up about how bloody great the thing is. It's a fantastic car, but like anything there are always a few minor nitpicks

I wouldn't be doing my job to make the car better if I didn't address the places where the car does needs minor refining. The motor mount is a genuine concern since it is NVH as much as performance.

I've convinced two other people to buy FiSTs so I think I say plenty positive

You know I'm one of this car's biggest supporters and I don't want to see it go away.

But consider, older folks are buying the FiST so some upmarket things like projectors that are even standard on Dodges, Hyundais, Mazdas and Kias is a little irksome when that's a feature you really want. I really wanted an HID package and can't have one until we get some projectors over here- which I am actually working on making happen professionally. A p n p HID kit in the stock housing would be a messy glarecausing cluster f, not to mention look dumb, so I can't do that. It's not like the molds don't exist or any real extra engineering would need to be done, yknow? It's not something theyd have to retool to produce. LED tails would be nice but are not as important to me as HID projectors. If it had been an option, I would've paid the extra grand or whatever for em.

 

[D1JL]

I have already done a survey that addresses a number of issues.
This was done so that the engineers would be prepared to answer the questions.
Many of the things you mentioned ARE on my list (and more).

BTW the projector headlamps used on the Euro spec Fiestas are NOT HID, just regular bulbs.
This is true of most projectors today.
The Euro projectors also have "Follow the Road Technology" that won't work on the US cars without replacing the BCM and adding wiring and sensors.
But this too is on my list.


Dave

 

[reddog99]

I got an invite, and I'd love to attend, but taking a day off work ($$$$) to drive all the way to Irvine for only $150 remuneration is a bit much to expect. I got an invite for my 2011 also but couldn't go.

 

[D1JL]

More voices are always better but I am sure we all have the same concerns/complaints.
I am compiling a list that I will be sure to bring with me.


Dave

 

[BlueBomber]

So I have a new one. My friend Wesley Gee was driving the Ox White FiST he picked up and something happened with some sort of connector on the accelerator pedal - we are waiting on the details but long story short - unintended acceleration/throttle. he clutched out and dealt with it but he said a harness or sensor was loose. will be providing photos once its light out

 

[D1JL]

I am sure there always be some isolated incidents however I will add it to the the list.



Dave

 

[reddog99]

More voices are always better but I am sure we all have the same concerns/complaints.
I am compiling a list that I will be sure to bring with me.
Dave

Add to the list, the inability of the GPS to register below sea level. I was out to the Salton Sea a few weeks ago, and where the GPS should have read -170 ft., it was reading 0000.

 

[BlueBomber]

this is the connection that popped off, it's up on the engine very close to the engine cover. no idea what this is, it looks like it might even be a vac line or something rather than a harness.

same connection, my engine bay shown

same connection, my engine bay shown

 

[maelkoth]

thanks for doing this…i didn't receive an invite...

maybe you can ask them about:

- what is the white plastic key that some fiesta owners found in their glovebox?
- lack of "oh shit" handles
- it'd be nice to have an upper console storage area for sunglasses/passkey cards
- leather wrapped parking brake
- side mirrors that fold inwards instead of having to fold them facing outwards

 

[kvetcha]

- side mirrors that fold inwards instead of having to fold them facing outwards

That explains why mine barely fold in at all.

 

[RodMoe]

this is the connection that popped off, it's up on the engine very close to the engine cover. no idea what this is, it looks like it might even be a vac line or something rather than a harness.

same connection, my engine bay shown

same connection, my engine bay shown

Isnt that one of your PCV hoses? if you follow it back it should wind around and the other end be fitted to the cam cover on the passenger ish side...
Cam Cover

PCV hose set up

Intake Manifold front view

 

[Firesail]

thanks for doing this…i didn't receive an invite...

maybe you can ask them about:

- lack of "oh shit" handles

I think that they can't put "oh shit " handles because of the side curtain airbags right above the windows. I would love them too, as would my wife.