[fubar]

Hello everyone, I'm looking at purchasing a fiesta ST. It would be used as a commuter car and weekend toy. I drive 90 miles a day and it's mainly highway. What is 6th gear like at highway speeds? I used to own a focus svt and highway cruising sucked due to the short 6th gear. Is the ST loud or average? How is the ride? I expect it to be stiff but hoping it's also tolerable
Thanks for any help

 

[kvetcha]

I'd probably take the Focus as a cruiser and commuter car. The Fiesta buzzes along in 6th at a good clip, but it's spinning around 2900rpm at 70mph.

 

[fubar]

How does it hit 36mpg on the highway if it's running such high rpm's?

 

[kvetcha]

Probably because it's tested at 55-60mph.

 

[Autonomous]

I got 32 mpg on a 350 mile round trip, 80% highway, while breaking my car in. This was with dropping down to 55 and going up to 85 varying rpms, exiting here and there and hopping back up on the freeway, stopping for soda etc. Staying out of boost after breaking in the car, I am sure the declared 35mpg is possible.

I would however consider if you will be happy with the tight suspension on frequent long distance commutes. Depends on your road conditions as well as your back. I do 45 miles a day, smiling the whole way, and I expect that to continue.

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[kvetcha]

I did a 3.5 hour (each way) drive to Roanoke at between 70-80mph and got 28.5mpg going there and around 33mpg coming back. I think if you stick to around 65 and the ground is level you could probably hit the ratings.

 

[reddog99]

I commute 90 miles a day, too, and live in the mountains east of San Diego. Even with the mountain climbing, I'm averaging about 35 mpg on a tank. Oddly, it seems that my mileage just recently bumped up about 1-2 mpg. I don't know why as I'm driving the same and just passed the 5,000 mile mark.

The ride is acceptable (but stiff). If you've ever spent any time on a street motorcycle, the ride won't bother you at all, it's similar. The car is pretty quiet, and the Symposer only makes itself heard when you put your foot into it. Engine rpm doesn't really seem to contribute to overall noise level at freeway speeds. You're more likely to hear the tires.

 

[MLKN]

I commute in Northern Cali. 500 miles on the car, 80 mile commute with some heavy traffic. 25 mpg currently. It does run a bit high in the rpms at 70. Honestly, 5th and 6th almost feel the same. Manual is a bit annoying in stop and go traffic.

Love the car though.

 

[wash]

Some people like a big luxury car soft ride, Fiesta ST does not give you that. If you are driving over a rough surface the ride can be bouncy. If you're going over expansion joints that are spaced exactly wrong, the car can pitch up and down.

Most of the time, probably 95%, the crummy roads around here just make the ride feel firm with very little body roll.

I've gone on a few fairly long road trips and when you're driving 500 miles with only one pit stop, it is more demanding than a car that drives like a sofa.

For me, I accept the trade off because you can drive it fast with very little drama. Go the same speed in a "comfortable car" and you're on the edge with tires squealing and lots of roll.

 

[D1JL]

I like the stiffer suspension of the Fiesta and with the 40 series tires I can feel the Botts Dots better.
It helps keep me awake.

Sent with my retro keyboard and mouse.

Dave

 

[WScottCross]

Oddly, it seems that my mileage just recently bumped up about 1-2 mpg. I don't know why as I'm driving the same and just passed 5,000 miles.

I'm seeing exactly the same thing. The temps haven't been any warmer overall, and my driving hasn't changed. The past couple of tanks have been from the same station, but my experience in the past was that the source didn't really matter as much as they would have you believe. I always use 93 octane.

To the OP, I commute 120 miles a day round trip and I don't mind the ride with this car. The suspension is firm, no denying that, but not jarring. I love the handling.

 

[Bavarian]

Hello everyone, I'm looking at purchasing a fiesta ST. It would be used as a commuter car and weekend toy. I drive 90 miles a day and it's mainly highway. What is 6th gear like at highway speeds? I used to own a focus svt and highway cruising sucked due to the short 6th gear. Is the ST loud or average? How is the ride? I expect it to be stiff but hoping it's also tolerable
Thanks for any help

you are talking about doing exactly what I am doing right now. I average 585 miles per week. Boston traffic prevents me from averaging over 30mpg but I am right on the doorstep at 29mpg

I have no issue with the stiffness. The fist is not as loud as the old svtf.



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[Smokin]

I lowered the tire pressure from 39 rec to 33 and the ride and dartiness eased considerably.
My commute is 11 miles 1-way with about 9 on a freeway. Avg 25 mpg and 29 mph shifting around 3500-4000.
BTW I get into 6th right at 60 and if it's open, cruise at 65.

 

[Jeff]

Having had both cars, the gearing is nearly the same at cruising speed.

The focus ST will never get the advertised mileage at 70mph, the fiesta will.

Focus is more comfortable and quieter
Fiesta is not unbearably loud unless you are on the OE RE050A on grooved concrete... then bring your earplugs

 

[Devon]

I lowered the tire pressure from 39 rec to 33 and the ride and dartiness eased considerably.
My commute is 11 miles 1-way with about 9 on a freeway. Avg 25 mpg and 29 mph shifting around 3500-4000.
BTW I get into 6th right at 60 and if it's open, cruise at 65.

Better keep an eye out for uneven tire wear - your outer edges are going to wear faster with that big a pressure drop. And your mileage will take a significant hit - IIRC it's typically 1 mpg for every 2 psi below recommended pressure.

 

[Smokin]

Better keep an eye out for uneven tire wear - your outer edges are going to wear faster with that big a pressure drop. And your mileage will take a significant hit - IIRC it's typically 1 mpg for every 2 psi below recommended pressure.

Bet you it won't. My bet is that at 39 psi the middles will wear out. And that's from years of experience with low profile wide tires.....

 

[Devon]

Why on earth would a manufacturer specify a pressure that is going to make a tire unsafe after a while due to uneven wear? They'd just be opening themselves up to huge lawsuits.

 

[reddog99]

Why on earth would a manufacturer specify a pressure that is going to make a tire unsafe after a while due to uneven wear? They'd just be opening themselves up to huge lawsuits.

Number one: the manufacturer does not specify an unsafe tire pressure.
Number two: the uneven wear that's being referred to is from running pressures outside the range specified by the manufacturer.
Number three: the safety issue is not due to uneven wear, it's from excess heat generated by running pressures less than specified.

Hope that clears that up.

 

[WScottCross]

Number two: the uneven wear that's being referred to is from running pressures outside the range specified by the manufacturer.

The statement was in answer to Smokin's reply that the middles would wear out at 39 PSI. I also disagree with that assessment. I ran the original tires on my Escape at 40 PSI for 94,000 miles and they were the most evenly worn tires I ever had on a vehicle. 40 PSI was considerably higher than Ford recommended 32, but still within the max sidewall pressure. They weren't down to the wear indicators and I could easily have gotten another 15,000 miles out of them. I only replaced them for better winter traction with deeper tread blocks. The recommended number is a blend of comfort, traction, wear and gas milage. I was willing to give up a bit on comfort to get better wear and gas milage.

 

[Smokin]

And I ran 255/70x17's Generals at 35 psi for 70,000 miles on my '07 F-150 that weighed close to 6000 pounds.
With a 1.6l turbo bunny, gas mileage is the least of my concerns
My wife's '10 Fusion had 80,000 miles on the Michelin's 225/50x17s and were never over 35 psi cold. Neither had abnormal wear issues.
Oh yeah, and the GTI with 225/40x18s..same. Only raised the psi to 36 in the winter for pothole protection.