LAZ, right?
From a Focus to a FiST
4
Hey!
I'm an immigrant from Focaljet and other Focus enthusiast forums (RedComet on most of those), so I'm not entirely foreign to the Ford sport compact scene. Went from a 2012 Focus SE Sport (With Steeda & FSWERKS gear on it) to a 2014 Tuxedo Black (w. matte black striping) Fiesta ST. No Recaros, no nav, no sunroof, either. Didn't need any of those, so I figured I'd save some money. Now I'm proudly in the ecoboost camp. I'm a big fan of late 80s/90s Japanese sportscars, and Euro-styled hatches. The latter means I was sold dead-to-rights when I heard the FIesta ST was coming to the US. Hoping to get set-up with a COBB AccessPort and some other goodies once time/money allow me to focus on that. Got big plans for this little thing.
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I'm an immigrant from Focaljet and other Focus enthusiast forums (RedComet on most of those), so I'm not entirely foreign to the Ford sport compact scene. Went from a 2012 Focus SE Sport (With Steeda & FSWERKS gear on it) to a 2014 Tuxedo Black (w. matte black striping) Fiesta ST. No Recaros, no nav, no sunroof, either. Didn't need any of those, so I figured I'd save some money. Now I'm proudly in the ecoboost camp. I'm a big fan of late 80s/90s Japanese sportscars, and Euro-styled hatches. The latter means I was sold dead-to-rights when I heard the FIesta ST was coming to the US. Hoping to get set-up with a COBB AccessPort and some other goodies once time/money allow me to focus on that. Got big plans for this little thing.
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I'm starting to consider my options for an exhaust, knowing that I will [more than likely] get an aftermarket catless DP first. I'm probably going to go with the Milltek decat DP or, if Cobb ever gets to it, theirs. ATP Turbo's 3'' catless DP is also a consideration. In any case, what will I mate it to? I've got two options that I'm considering:
1. Is the Milltek non-resonated catback. It's a 2.75'' system, it sounds decent. It's a bit pricey at almost $700 for the catback when you factor in shipping from a US distributor.
2. A custom option. I'm thinking either 2.75'' or full 3'' (I'm not sure 3'' is merited with the tiny BorgWarner K03 turbo. Look at all the A4 Ts and stuff with it, few run a 3-inch exhaust. What I have in mind is a mostly straight pipe with a Blitz Performance Nur Spec universal 80mm muffler at the end of it, and possibly a different aftermarket resonator in the stock location should that prove too loud.
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I know to some here, a JDM-style exhaust might sound like blasphemy (on what is essentially a UK+German car), but this is no eBay special, as those familiar with Blitz will inform. I can source the muffler for about $350, and factoring in labor and pipe costs I'll probably come in at about the same price as the Milltek after shipping. The primary advantage I see in this system is I have a fair idea of why the blitz muffler sounds like with FI 4-cylinder engines, it's a high quality piece, and it would stand apart from other STs. There's a local performance shop I trust to do the work that's experienced with class-winning racecar fabrication so I'm not over-concerned that a custom job wouldn't net me as much power as one of the branded exhausts.
My last car had an FSWERKS race catback on it, which I loved, but I'm not so in love with the FSWERKS piece for the FiST, having heard it in person. The Focus sounded massive with that exhaust, but being a 1.6L turbo means that the sound is going to be quieter, and thinner.
At least I've got plenty of time to think.
1. Is the Milltek non-resonated catback. It's a 2.75'' system, it sounds decent. It's a bit pricey at almost $700 for the catback when you factor in shipping from a US distributor.
2. A custom option. I'm thinking either 2.75'' or full 3'' (I'm not sure 3'' is merited with the tiny BorgWarner K03 turbo. Look at all the A4 Ts and stuff with it, few run a 3-inch exhaust. What I have in mind is a mostly straight pipe with a Blitz Performance Nur Spec universal 80mm muffler at the end of it, and possibly a different aftermarket resonator in the stock location should that prove too loud.
I know to some here, a JDM-style exhaust might sound like blasphemy (on what is essentially a UK+German car), but this is no eBay special, as those familiar with Blitz will inform. I can source the muffler for about $350, and factoring in labor and pipe costs I'll probably come in at about the same price as the Milltek after shipping. The primary advantage I see in this system is I have a fair idea of why the blitz muffler sounds like with FI 4-cylinder engines, it's a high quality piece, and it would stand apart from other STs. There's a local performance shop I trust to do the work that's experienced with class-winning racecar fabrication so I'm not over-concerned that a custom job wouldn't net me as much power as one of the branded exhausts.
My last car had an FSWERKS race catback on it, which I loved, but I'm not so in love with the FSWERKS piece for the FiST, having heard it in person. The Focus sounded massive with that exhaust, but being a 1.6L turbo means that the sound is going to be quieter, and thinner.
At least I've got plenty of time to think.
Unfortunately, I have some bad news to share. On my way home from grocery shopping before going out to celebrate my birthday yesterday (which is actually tomorrow, but work tomorrow), this happened:
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As a friend of mine said later that night, the pictures don't tell the real story. The front bumper is cracked up at the impact area, the wheel is rashed up, and there are cracks along the headlight panel (headlamp assembly is fine) and right front quarter gap. The horn is kaput, as well, which is kind of odd. Not sure if it's the horn itself or if the entire assembly is jacked up. I'm furious, as I've had the FiST for less than three months. Airbags didn't deploy, and no one was hurt, but still.
So, what happened you ask? For one, I wasn't behind the wheel, my fiancee was (as I still haven't replaced my glasses, which I need in order to feel comfortable driving unless it's a total emergency). I was in the passenger seat. Coming home on the main drag of our town, about 2-3 blocks from our house, there is a gas station. This woman in a Chevy Equinox CUV turned left and cut out in front of us without warning. If the brakes on the FiST weren't as good as they are, this could have been much worse. The other driver's excuse was that 'someone else was let out before, so I thought it was safe'. She left her front plate in the middle of the road (lol). She, despite being in her mid 60s, claimed 'never to have been in an accident'. Which I find hard to believe considering she didn't even look before pulling out and striking us almost immediately. The only conceivable excuse she might have is that she had the sun in her eyes, but that would make it incumbent on her to be even more careful. She wasn't. There were plenty of witnesses, and she was issued a citation by local LEOs on the spot.
A nice little birthday present for me, I guess. Now I guess my only recourse to make sure the new bumper is correctly paint matched to Tuxedo Black Metallic is to go to Ford (I bet there'll be a nice long wait on a Fiesta ST bumper, too!) and hope that her insurance doesn't put up a fight paying for everything, hopefully including a new wheel, as the rim looks fairly sharp and I'm afraid of it puncturing the sidewall and causing a blowout. Suspension seems intact though, which is a relief.
Needless to say, my weekend is ruined.
As a friend of mine said later that night, the pictures don't tell the real story. The front bumper is cracked up at the impact area, the wheel is rashed up, and there are cracks along the headlight panel (headlamp assembly is fine) and right front quarter gap. The horn is kaput, as well, which is kind of odd. Not sure if it's the horn itself or if the entire assembly is jacked up. I'm furious, as I've had the FiST for less than three months. Airbags didn't deploy, and no one was hurt, but still.
So, what happened you ask? For one, I wasn't behind the wheel, my fiancee was (as I still haven't replaced my glasses, which I need in order to feel comfortable driving unless it's a total emergency). I was in the passenger seat. Coming home on the main drag of our town, about 2-3 blocks from our house, there is a gas station. This woman in a Chevy Equinox CUV turned left and cut out in front of us without warning. If the brakes on the FiST weren't as good as they are, this could have been much worse. The other driver's excuse was that 'someone else was let out before, so I thought it was safe'. She left her front plate in the middle of the road (lol). She, despite being in her mid 60s, claimed 'never to have been in an accident'. Which I find hard to believe considering she didn't even look before pulling out and striking us almost immediately. The only conceivable excuse she might have is that she had the sun in her eyes, but that would make it incumbent on her to be even more careful. She wasn't. There were plenty of witnesses, and she was issued a citation by local LEOs on the spot.
A nice little birthday present for me, I guess. Now I guess my only recourse to make sure the new bumper is correctly paint matched to Tuxedo Black Metallic is to go to Ford (I bet there'll be a nice long wait on a Fiesta ST bumper, too!) and hope that her insurance doesn't put up a fight paying for everything, hopefully including a new wheel, as the rim looks fairly sharp and I'm afraid of it puncturing the sidewall and causing a blowout. Suspension seems intact though, which is a relief.
Needless to say, my weekend is ruined.
Yeah, I will. I'm going to be very insistent about getting it all OEM with warranty. I'm simply not going to settle for any less. This wasn't our fault, and I don't see why we should have to pay the price, so to speak, for someone elses' inattention and idiocy damaging our brand new stuff--and possibly hurting us in the process.Sorry to hear it. Make sure that you talk with the claims adjuster to be sure that you get all new Ford parts and get a warranty on the repairs.
What a downer!
How do you have them mounted? Stock location? I'm letting the shop just install them to the stock brackets and later going to go to my friend's place, take the front end off, and fab up a metal piece to mount them behind the grill, for the menace. Were they easy to wire?Have patience and all will be returned to normal before you know it.
BTW: I have those Hella horns in mine and love them. Much louder than stock.
I want to do the same, but it'll wait until I'm at my friend's garage. Want them to be visible through the grille for more volume, but also love the look of Hellas sitting behind a black grille. They should be here in time for me to drop them off along with the car.
Loading up a revision to my tune, and then getting out on the road later to collect some data before I have to take the FiST in for work on Wednesday. I'll share the details of what I've been up to once done.
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Loading up a revision to my tune, and then getting out on the road later to collect some data before I have to take the FiST in for work on Wednesday. I'll share the details of what I've been up to once done.
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