[burton227]

Alright so first off happy fourth of july everyone! So I was browsing through some of those deals they post in the paper for the fourth of july weekend and came across a ford dealership that had an ad for the fiesta st for $18.5 and it really peaked my interest for being so cheap so i called them up and apparently they have 6 of them sitting around spread out at both of their locations for that price.

Now heres my conundrum, I just bought a fiesta se about two months ago its an oxford white 5 speed hatchback and I came to that from a 2010 v6 camaro and I thought I wouldn't mind the lack of power but I really cant stand how little power this has. I feel like I'm going to get squashed like a bug whenever I merge onto the freeway and the lack of a 6th gear gets old fairly quickly. So I looked on how much my car would be worth if I traded it in and it would be worth about 13.5k with their promotions they have going on. And having only paid 14k out the door I would only be losing 500 bucks.

So my question to you all is should I go trade it in for a FiST and finance the 6 grand or so or should I just stick it out with this? I'm a college student and would be able to afford the monthly payments of financing the 6 grand but I'm just wondering if you all think its worth it? All opinions would be appreciated I'm just super torn now if I want to do it.

 

[marc89gti]

If your going to do it, do it now. If you wait too long your current car will depreciate really fast. If you can afford it I would go for it, you won't regret it and if you can't stand the lack of power in the SE then your really going regret not trading it in in a year or so when its only worth under $10k. If your only talking about losing $500 that's nothing usually when you drive it off the lot you take a bit hit and plus the ST will hold its value much better than the SE.

GO FOR IT

 

[LuvfiestaST]

I traded in my fiesta SE 2012 for the st... For me it was so worth it... The SE and st are like night and day..

 

[iLiptiKal]

Easiest $500 ever lost in my opinion. I don't think you'll find one member here that will tell you to keep your SE for that deal. I agree 100% with the lack of power and need of a 6th gear on the highway. Even the Focus SE I drove before I got my FiST felt like it needed a 6th gear for comfortable highway cruising speeds.

If you can afford the extra 6 grand and the extra insurance and premium fuel then go for it.

*disclaimer, Ford does say you can run 87 octane in the ST supplement guide, however it makes full power on 91, or higher where available.

 

[bryramos]

I think it's a right move. I had an SE too but was already paid off already. I felt the same that it lacked power merging into the freeway especially if it's uphill. The ST is a completely different beast. It's a great time to buy now too with all the incentives. And heck it looks like you can afford the purchase so go for it!

 

[Zormecteon]

You have to remember you're talking to the Choir when you ask advice from the members and users of this Forum. If we weren't addicts, we wouldn't be her at all, so the advice is tainted...

That said,.. how can you, as a college student, afford to be buying a new car AT ALL? If you are taking on student debt to pay for a car, .. long term BAD MOVE. If you have a full time job, how do you have time to go to college? ...

My 2

 

[djdennehy]

BUY ONE NOW

 

[burton227]

Hahaha loving all the input guys. I think what I will end up doing is going to test drive one either today or tomorrow to see if its worth financing the 6 grand.
I am going to college on academic and other various scholerships and I have a part time job. I paid for my fiesta se with money I saved up from about the time i was 16 I'm now 21. Anyone know the insurance jump from the se to the ST? Because thats also another factor, I don't want to end up paying an extra grand for insurance. My 2010 camaro was only 800 a year and the fiesta brought it down to 700, will it be somewhere around the camaro range?

 

[9]

ST is classed a a trim level so insurance should stay the same, at least on my insurance and several others.

 

[AT-ST]

I considered getting a base Fiesta instead of the ST, just to save some extra coin after coming from a much more powerful v8 rwd muscle car/sports coupe.... Funny enough my GF voted in favor of the ST because she knew how much I wanted it, and that with me being a car guy, deep down I'd regret settling for the econobox and didn't want to see me go through that. She figured I'd be too bitter about it. And I think she was right. The ST was already a compromise being cheaper/less powerful/ better on gas/cheaper to insure etc.. (Lucky for me, it was not a compromise as far as FUN to drive.)

I went through 2 new vehicle purchases while in college/univ. Much more pricey. (I had the funds) but if I could turn back time and advise my younger self, I would suggest to not have sunk my finances into depreciating assets with gas/insurance expenses....and waited until later to get a new vehicle. (If only I held out long enough for the FiST).

But if you've already dived into a new vehicle, it's pointless to advise you not to since you can't very well turn back time and life is too short for regrets... With that said, do look into insurance costs with your provider to make sure it doesn't change (my insurance would be the same for a regular fiesta or the ST) Doesn't change based on trims. It was the same for my previous vehicle.

Also consider fuel consumption differences. In my personal opinion I'm saving so much on gas, the difference in savings between an SE and an ST is negligible.

If in the big picture the difference really is only 500 bucks? You have to ask yourself which scenario you would regret more.. spending the 500, or not spending the 500. I don't think 500 bucks is going to damage your future very much in the long term. A few extra weeks of eating noodles like every other college student.

Lifes short, and you're young (only once!). If you hadn't already picked up a new car, Id have advised you to not get a new car at all.
But knowing that you have and it's only 500 bucks difference for infinitely more enjoyment. I personally am leaning towards voting for the ST.

- I will add this though. Consider how long you intend to keep your vehicle? Is this a long term investment or something you may tire of and get rid of again soon? What does that do for you financially?

Just test-drive, make sure you got the bug. And then do all the math and make sure the difference in cost/expenses isn't going to do you any harm.
If you can live with the numbers, then hey !

On the bright side, the FUN in the ST will likely make you forget about the 500 bucks you hit the pedal.

P.S - never seek out advice into buying a car and spending all your money..... on a forum full of nutters that already took the leap. You are going to get a lot of people in favor of said car purchase. We can't very well tell you it's the wrong choice when we're all busy convincing ourselves we made the right call picking up the ST too!

I vote ST.

Good luck!

 

[AT-ST]

P.S again - just to play devils advocate... The ST is the first vehicle purchase I didn't regret making afterwards.

 

[iLiptiKal]

Anyone know the insurance jump from the se to the ST? Because thats also another factor, I don't want to end up paying an extra grand for insurance. My 2010 camaro was only 800 a year and the fiesta brought it down to 700, will it be somewhere around the camaro range?

Just call your provider and get a quote from them, they should be able to tell you fairly quickly. For me it was a difference of around $100 per year.

 

[Ronbo]

As a college student the money would be far better spent by starting or investing in a retirement fund. Your future retirement-aged self will thank you.

That said, and back to the OP's question, if all you're going to lose is about $500 then it's well worth doing. When the numbers start changing at the dealership be prepared to walk.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[OrangeFist]

My gut response is go for it if the numbers are what they say. The difference between the SE and ST is night and day. Double check your insurance rates too. I had a Titanium for 8 months and loved it but when merging or changing lanes on a freeway I felt I was going to get mowed down even though I left plenty of room.

On the other hand, a very long time ago I had a chance to buy a brand new '79 Trans Am, orange, screaming chicken, crushed velour hobnail cloth. It was the hottest thing at the time. Everything except the tilt wheel. If I had bought it, I would not have my house. (yes, I'm an old guy)