[BRGT350]

Here is a POV interior review showing the features of the 2014 Ford Fiesta ST.

 

[BRGT350]

Fiesta ST Hofma Park June 2013 053 by Bryan Redeker BRGT350, on Flickr


Fiesta ST Hofma Park June 2013 056 by Bryan Redeker BRGT350, on Flickr


Fiesta ST Hofma Park June 2013 061 by Bryan Redeker BRGT350, on Flickr


Fiesta ST Hofma Park June 2013 063 by Bryan Redeker BRGT350, on Flickr


Fiesta ST Hofma Park June 2013 064 by Bryan Redeker BRGT350, on Flickr


Fiesta ST Hofma Park June 2013 065 by Bryan Redeker BRGT350, on Flickr


Fiesta ST Hofma Park June 2013 068 by Bryan Redeker BRGT350, on Flickr


Fiesta ST Hofma Park June 2013 070 by Bryan Redeker BRGT350, on Flickr


Fiesta ST Hofma Park June 2013 074 by Bryan Redeker BRGT350, on Flickr


Fiesta ST Hofma Park June 2013 078 by Bryan Redeker BRGT350, on Flickr

 

[BRGT350]

My aplogies everyone for the poor video quality. I recorded it in 1080 using the GoPro Hero3 and uploaded it to YouTube from the camera, only to find the quality is crap. I tried about a dozen times last night to get the 1080 version to upload, and I got nothing but errors. I will try again and see if I can get a better copy out there for everyone.

RodMoe, I think I will hate armrests for the rest of my life. Perhaps in another life the armrests did horrible things to me and I can't forgive them. They haunt me in the night with their odd positioning and attack my elbows when I forget about them. I fear what they hoard inside their closed compartments. I will forever live with a burning hate for center armrests.

Wash, I don't think it is possible to run out of Overboost. You only have a few seconds in between shifts, so that would mean you need 20 seconds of WOT in 6th gear to run out of it. That would require an insane amount of straight track. A salt flat, banked oval (even then I doubt it), or maybe the straight at Road America. Actually, I would bet by the time you shift into 6th at Road America, you would be out of straight and getting into T1. I really don't see anyone running 20 seconds WOT in 6th gear in the car. However, speaking of easter eggs, I think there is one on the dash. If the lighting is just right, I can make out what looks to be a snowflake light. Just like a proper European car, it has a light to warn you that it is too cold for summer tires. I loved that light in the 2009 EU Fiesta I had a few years ago. It would change colors depending on temp.

 

[BRGT350]

RodMoe, yeah you really need to climb uphill at Road America, but you get to go back down from 3-5 I am pretty sure clowns and monsters live in the center armrest. Elbow eating monsters.

Wash, it could exist, but nobody has found it yet.

 

[BRGT350]

brian, it is a software update. The Focus ST and I am sure the Escape (they share stuff) have the update out for them. I think the Fiesta ST will ship with whatever was the latest version at the time of build. The dealer may update it upon delivery. I don't know if there is an update out for the Fiesta ST since there are none delivered to customers. I remember my 2011 Fiesta needed a Sync update right away since it was early production and an update came out after it was produced. The updates can be done at the dealer or at home.

Mikeygti, yes, from low angles the touch screen look very tall. Once in the car, it doesn't really look much higher than the 2011-13 Sync cars. I will do a similiar video from inside my 2011 Fiesta to help show the differences. The promotional pictures always showed the interior from a low angle, which made the screen look taller than it really is. If it is raining tonight and I can't go outside to play, I will make the video of my 2011 Fiesta interior for comparison.

 

[BRGT350]

Here is the review in 1080 HD. I have another one coming from inside my 2011 Fiesta so you can see some of the differences better.

There are 3 different center consoles for the Focus and I have only driven a Focus ST2 and ST3. I did not like the arm rest or cup holder position in either. I think it was the ST2 that is slightly better and has a better handbrake location. With my short arms, there just isn't a good way to place a center armrest that will work for me. I have the seat very low to lower the CG, which puts the armrest even higher.

Wash, as you will see in the next video, the silver is different between the 2011-13 cars and the new ST. There is more black on the ST than my 2011 and the silver on the ST is more of brighter silver instead of matte silver. The next video will help. I am just having trouble getting YouTube to accept it for some reason.

 

[BRGT350]

The mirror is the old school flip one, but remember that mine is not a 100% production car. I don't know if the Focus ST has one, but the standard car does. It usually comes down to cost, which then, I would just have it an option. A few hundred bucks more on an expensive purchase like a car isn't too much for a feature you want. If you could tap into the 12v source in the headliner for the done lights, then you could easily add the self dimming mirror.

Yeah, the MFT stuff is just an update, but not a revolutionary one. I need to get it done to our Escape since the current version of MFT sucks. I get a call from my wife once a week with something not working on it. Her Escape MFT seems far more buggy than the ST one, but both are out of date.

 

[BRGT350]

For those without a 2011-13 Fiesta to compare against, here is a POV review of my 2011 Fiesta for comparison

 

[BRGT350]

The Recaro's are scalopped to give about the same leg room as the non-Recaro cars.

 

[BRGT350]

Remember it is seats, heated seats, and heated side mirrors.

 

[BRGT350]

Thank you sir. But I live in central Florida. So for me, it is just high bolstered seats.

yes, but proper seats are part of having a performance car. Just the same as having performance tires, the seats are an important part of the package. The only connection between you and the car come from the seat, steering wheel, and pedals. The seat is the biggest factor in being able to read what the car is doing under you.

Something I noticed with the Recaro seats on my 8-state, 5-day non-stop driving adventure, is that I was less tired and had way less aches in my legs and back. I took my 2011 Fiesta on a 6-hour road trip this spring, and as usual, my right knee and lower back was sore when we got to our destination. The reason for my knee is that there isn't enough side bolstering to keep it from falling towards the center of the car. I am contstantly keeping pressure on my knee to hold it in place. With the Recaro seats, the bolsters held my leg in place, which kept pressure off of my knee. I have autocrossed, been on a few different road courses, drive the car daily, and took it on a long road trip. The seats were great in all of those conditions. If anything, I could have used the seats to be more narrow and a harness to really help hold me in when on the track.

Yes, the cost is expensive, but well worth it. The entire Recaro package costs less than the driver's seat in my Mustang, so I would say it is a good deal. Plus, it is more comfortable.

 

[BRGT350]

Yes, they do have Recaros.

The ETA has been updated to the 12th.


Dave

September 12th? I am sure you are getting very excited!

 

[BRGT350]

Haha, yeah, waiting sucks. I waited 6 months for my ZX3, 6 months for my Fiesta, and 13 years for Ford to bring a proper European hot hatch to the US market.

I am not looking forward to returning my ST and then trying to figure out when I can buy one. I had a buyer setup for my 2011 Fiesta for next spring, but that fell through.

 

[BRGT350]

Me thinks somewhere in a past life BRGT350 was a Recaro salesman .. LOL just kidding as He sold me even before He had first hand experience with the seats... I'm glad I listened as once you get the car im sure its a pain and just as costly to add a good recaro seat package to the car )not that I buy a car for resale it might help hold its value though maybe not 2k worth) for my the heat is a plus too cuz we only get a Florida type summer one of two weeks at most a year the rest is moderate to flippen COLD lol

Ha, I do really like my seats! I grew up with Recaro seats, had them in my Mustang (until I replaced one with a RaceTech Kevlar racing seat), had them in my SVT Focus, and will have them again in my ST. It is amazing how much a good sets of seats will change the way you drive and enjoy your car. Plus, they look sexy too. The ST produces enough lateral grip that you will want something vastly more supportive than the regular Fiesta seats. I would also bet that the Recaro seats from the dealership (if you wanted them later) would be vastly more expensive than the option package price. I would almost bet one seat costs the same as the entire package.

TapTapPull is correct, the heated seats each have their own button and the mirrors are connected to the defrost button.

Another nice thing about the heated seats is that if you pick up some tacos (I say tacos since I buy them all the time and have done this) and they are nice and warm. Oh, you need to run errands, but don't want cold tacos. Simply turn on the passenger side seat warmer, place bag-o-tacos on seat, and they will be warm when you get home.