[contourious]

Hello, I'm new to the forums, so I still have a lot of reading to do. However, below is a screenshot of Ford's website. It looks like the 2015 ST comes with a rear view camera, whereas the 2014 did not. Can anyone with a 2015 confirm? I'm trying to figure out the differences between the '14 and '15 models. I've heard mixed statements, some people are saying that the two years are identical (excluding paint), though others are saying that sensors on the head were revised, softer bushings, etc.). I was wondering if there's a definitive list somewhere of the changes.

 

[Applejack]

I have a '15. No rear view camera. Those bitches LIE!

 

[marc89gti]

I have a 2014 FiST and there was a typo about the rear camera being available on Ford.com website and 2014 FiST brochure as well when I bought my car.

On thing you have to remember is the FiST is based off of the Fiesta SE trim level plus the Fiesta ST additions, 1.6L Ecoboost 197hp, suspension, 17" wheels, optional USA Recaro seats etc. So since the FiST is base off of the Fiesta SE, the backup camera is not available in the SE trim and only available in the Titanium trim.

 

[eRic]

typo.

 

[marc89gti]

typo.

Should clarify further, I saw that typo when I bought my FiST in Oct. 2013

 

[Sil3nt611]

There are no major differences. If there are any minor differences they are negligible. No rear view camera on the '14 and '15. Maybe on the '16 model. I think by 2016 it's a mandatory thing on all cars. I don't really want one because they put those stupid sensors on the bumper cover and they don't look that great...

 

[XR650R]

Back in my day, you'd just turn your head...

(Old man voice)

 

[LuvfiestaST]

Same here (young man's voice )

Back in my day, you'd just turn your head...

(Old man voice)

 

[marc89gti]

Same here (young man's voice )

While I agree with you on the turning your head thing, I find in these new cars rear visibility is not very good they way they are designed as the rear window is fairly small.

 

[XR650R]

It's going to be on all new cars very soon. I'm of 2 minds on this.

I don't want it because I'm a good driver and it's one more system that adds weight and complexity to a car, and it can go wrong and cost a fortune to fix/replace.

OTOH, if it keeps some distracted, not-really-looking crap driver from backing over a bike, a dog, or even a kid, the benefits outweigh the cost.

 

[Sil3nt611]

I wouldn't care whether or not it came on the car if they would hide the camera and sensors better than they do. But as they have it now, I'd rather be without it and do it the old fashioned way.

 

[BRGT350]

I have a 2015 ST and spend 6 months with a 2014 ST prior to owning the 2015 and there is no rear view camera and minimal differences between the cars. The 2015 has softer bushings, but I can tell zero difference between them when driving. I have had others drive my 2015 that have driven the 2014 and they can't tell either. Perhaps on a racetrack with a professional driver, they could tell the difference. The 2014 ST uses the same bushings as the European ST.

 

[contourious]

I have a 2015 ST and spend 6 months with a 2014 ST prior to owning the 2015 and there is no rear view camera and minimal differences between the cars. The 2015 has softer bushings, but I can tell zero difference between them when driving. I have had others drive my 2015 that have driven the 2014 and they can't tell either. Perhaps on a racetrack with a professional driver, they could tell the difference. The 2014 ST uses the same bushings as the European ST.

Thank you! I am looking into a 2015, as it's hard to locate a 2014 at this point. I was hesitant when I heard about the softer components of the 2015. I watched a ModBargains video awhile ago about how the rear motor mount of the 2014 ST cause a great deal of engine movement/wheel hop. Making the 2015 even softer seems like a step in the wrong direction! Here is the link to the video I was referring to. Do you agree with the video? I'm personally not looking to mod the car within the first year or so of ownership, but I also don't want a "scary amount of engine movement under load."

 

[Cesso]

I don't believe the bushings being discussed include the rear motor mount. In any case, it should be replaced on any Fiesta ST. Shifting into and out of second gear is quite a chore to do with any kind of finesse with the amount of movement the stock mount allows.

 

[BRGT350]

the bushings that are rumored to be changed are the front control arm and rear twist beam, not the motor mount. As for the RMM, the modification does make shifting much smoother and reduces the wheel hop, the stock motor mount isn't nearly as bad as everyone says. I drove a prototype 2014 ST for 20,000 miles and almost all of those miles were very hard. The car was pushed at the track, autocrossed until the tires gave up, driven off road, and generally hooned harder than I would ever do to my own car. Never once did the car give any problems. I doubt the claims that the engine hits the firewall. There is a sound that isn't pleseant when shifting very hard, but I think it is more to do with wheel hop. There is a good deal of clearance between the motor and firewall and the bushing movement couldn't possible be more than .25-.38". The bushing core material can only compress so far and that isn't enough to cause an impact between the engine and the chassis. I did install the Cobb RMM on my personal ST because I like the way it improves shifting, reduces wheel hop, and reduces the fore-aft motion of the engine under shifting and load (which is why it helps shifting).


Cobb Fiesta ST Rear Motor Mount by Bryan Redeker BRGT350, on Flickr
You can see here that the bushing material in the stock RMM can't compress very far before it locks out. The Cobb RMM has much less movement due to the bushing material.

 

[timboslice]

the bushings that are rumored to be changed are the front control arm and rear twist beam, not the motor mount. As for the RMM, the modification does make shifting much smoother and reduces the wheel hop, the stock motor mount isn't nearly as bad as everyone says. I drove a prototype 2014 ST for 20,000 miles and almost all of those miles were very hard. The car was pushed at the track, autocrossed until the tires gave up, driven off road, and generally hooned harder than I would ever do to my own car. Never once did the car give any problems. I doubt the claims that the engine hits the firewall. There is a sound that isn't pleseant when shifting very hard, but I think it is more to do with wheel hop. There is a good deal of clearance between the motor and firewall and the bushing movement couldn't possible be more than .25-.38". The bushing core material can only compress so far and that isn't enough to cause an impact between the engine and the chassis. I did install the Cobb RMM on my personal ST because I like the way it improves shifting, reduces wheel hop, and reduces the fore-aft motion of the engine under shifting and load (which is why it helps shifting).


Cobb Fiesta ST Rear Motor Mount by Bryan Redeker BRGT350, on Flickr
You can see here that the bushing material in the stock RMM can't compress very far before it locks out. The Cobb RMM has much less movement due to the bushing material.

Same here. Traction off the line is a big improvement with the Cobb mount. The "OMG my engine is hitting the firewall" observation is a bit of sensationalist criticism of the stock unit but the upgraded mount is quite effective.

 

[BRGT350]

The very early Focus ST's actually did have a problem with the engine moving too much and it was hitting some AC lines. That changed to the engine hitting the firewall on the internet and then the Fiesta ST caught the same issue. I don't buy into the engine ever hitting the firewall on the Fiesta. Is there a noise under hard acceleration? Yep. I have had a similar noise on just about every FWD car I have owned and launched hard. The RMM does surely make a difference, which is why I have put one on every FWD car I have owned since 2000.

 

[timboslice]

The very early Focus ST's actually did have a problem with the engine moving too much and it was hitting some AC lines. That changed to the engine hitting the firewall on the internet and then the Fiesta ST caught the same issue. I don't buy into the engine ever hitting the firewall on the Fiesta. Is there a noise under hard acceleration? Yep. I have had a similar noise on just about every FWD car I have owned and launched hard. The RMM does surely make a difference, which is why I have put one on every FWD car I have owned since 2000.

I believe that there was actually a tsb for the FoST mounts:
http://www.focusst.org/forum/focus-...nder-moderate-hard-accel-1-2-upshift-etc.html

True. The internet definitely "adopted" the issue for the FiST.

 

[contourious]

Thank you guys! Very helpful! Hopefully the slight changes to the bushings won't make a noticeable difference between the two years (softer front control arm and rear twist beam as BRGT350 states). I finally got to sit in a Fiesta ST this past weekend, but unfortunately the dealer was way too busy, so I postponed a test drive. I did, however, get to sit in it for a good 45 minutes. I'll make a separate thread about my findings. So all in all, hopefully the 2015 will handle just as amazing as the 2014 model . I don't plan on tracking it, but I would like to occasionally push the car. That's why we like the ST model :woot:.

 

[BRGT350]

After 20,000 miles in a 2014 and 5,800 miles in the 2015, I can't tell the difference in the bushings.