[A1_Fares]

Hi there everyone! I am new here and as of now, I drive a 2001 Ford Focus ZX3. I am planning to get a 2015 Fiesta ST soon and I just had a few questions that the dealership will not answer for me.

First off, are the Recaros a necessary upgrade? I am a fairly thin guy. 6 feet and 140lbs so I should fit but is it something that you just can't go without? because that 2k that I save by not getting them could go into performance mods or insurance premiums!

While we're on the topic of insurance, how much could I expect to pay per 6 months for full coverage in CA. Clean driving history and it will be under the name of someone who's been driving for over 20 years now.

Enough about insurance, how comfortable are these things? There's only so much I can get out of a ten-minute test drive. I know that the suspension is performance tuned and therefore stiffer, and the short wheelbase will not be my friend on bumps but am I gonna be able to drive for 2 hours at a time without discomfort and the need to use the restroom every 15 minutes? Lol

Lastly, are there good performance upgrade for California residents who have to follow CARB emission standards? Intakes, intercoolers, piping, headers, etc.



Thank you for your time and I hope to return here with my ST soon!!

 

[Zormecteon]

I replaced my 2000 ZX3 with a 2014 ST. I had put Koni Shocks in the ZX so the ride was about the same as the ST.

No options are necessary, including the Recaros, but I would hate to have done without them. The only option on the the one I ordered.

Insurance was more with the new car, D'oh, but then again I was only carrying liability on the ZX.

Comfort? depends upon your tolerance and what you're used to. The Healey is stiff too. I drove the ST to the Octane Academy, about a 2500 mile round trip, and was never uncomfortable.

The mountune upgrades have CARB certification, an easy bump from 197 to 213 hp and about a 15% bump in torque.

 

[A1_Fares]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm so that's an upvote on the Recaros. That could contribute to comfort. I like the ride in the ZX3, completely stock, but my 2014 Jeep Patriot is pretty stiff and that's about as much as I can handle in terms of comfort.

About the insurance, I know it's expensive with the new car lol but is it waaay more expensive because it's a little sporty turbo hatch or not that bad? I know for sure that a 2010 Mazdaspeed3 has a higher premium than a brand new Focus hatch.

 

[Firesail]

I went from a 2011 SES Fiesta to a 2014 FiST. My premiums dropped $4 per month.YMMV

 

[Pathros Aquino]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm so that's an upvote on the Recaros. That could contribute to comfort. I like the ride in the ZX3, completely stock, but my 2014 Jeep Patriot is pretty stiff and that's about as much as I can handle in terms of comfort.

About the insurance, I know it's expensive with the new car lol but is it waaay more expensive because it's a little sporty turbo hatch or not that bad? I know for sure that a 2010 Mazdaspeed3 has a higher premium than a brand new Focus hatch.

Im paying $518 for 6 months full coverage with Progressive

 

[Ca5p3r]

im paying $368.48. Full coverage with USAA every 6 months, that includes minimum on my dodge neon. This is for a 24 yr old male in ND with a fender bender from 7-8 yrs ago.

as far as the recaros go, just realize that they dont break in until... What has been the consensus... 2000 miles? I did not get the recaros because I didnt care for paying $2000 more and having navigation, although Id probably be interested in have both now after 10 months and 16,000 miles of ownership. If the recaros are the same/similar to the Focus ST, then Id be iffy on how it feels in regards to my armpits area. Seems kind of odd, but Iv never used any sort of "sporty seat" before the FiST.

as far as long drive, I don't really tell the difference in comfort between the fiesta and my neon over a 30 hour trip. In regards to the suspension... I cant really say. The FiST has softer suspension than the KSport asphalt rally suspension that I put on my neon.

 

[A1_Fares]

I went from a 2011 SES Fiesta to a 2014 FiST. My premiums dropped $4 per month.YMMV

Dropped?! Nice! I recently moved and my insurance went uo about $10 a month for three cars. Different city I guess?

Im paying $518 for 6 months full coverage with Progressive

For one car? I've got something around 1300 for the ZX3, 09 Camry, and a 14 Patriot.

im paying $368.48. Full coverage with USAA every 6 months, that includes minimum on my dodge neon. This is for a 24 yr old male in ND with a fender bender from 7-8 yrs ago.

as far as the recaros go, just realize that they dont break in until... What has been the consensus... 2000 miles? I did not get the recaros because I didnt care for paying $2000 more and having navigation, although Id probably be interested in have both now after 10 months and 16,000 miles of ownership. If the recaros are the same/similar to the Focus ST, then Id be iffy on how it feels in regards to my armpits area. Seems kind of odd, but Iv never used any sort of "sporty seat" before the FiST.

as far as long drive, I don't really tell the difference in comfort between the fiesta and my neon over a 30 hour trip. In regards to the suspension... I cant really say. The FiST has softer suspension than the KSport asphalt rally suspension that I put on my neon.

That comes out to something around 55 a month which is really really good. I'm paying 30 full coverage for my Focus with roadside included with GEICO. No "at fault" accidents or anything.

Those Recaros are pretty tight. The Focus ones seemed fine the one time I sat I'm them but the stock FiST seats are pretty small as is so I can only imagine how tight the Recaros will be. The one I'm looking at does come with Nav and Satellite radio which I don't mind because I'm a musician and having just a few CDs or the horrid sounding FM stations pisses me off a bit. Haha

But good to hear about the slightly soft suspension. I know this car is tuned for the track but it's gonna be a DD so needs to be comfortable.




One other big question for everyone, are you guys putting 91(or 93 in some places) or will 87 or 89 be safe? They say you can out 87 in these but I'm just not sure because of the turbo aspect.

 

[BRGT350]

I also came from the Focus world with a 2000 ZX3 and then SVT Focus. As for the seat option, the Recaro's were the only option I got with my ST. I loved the SVT Focus EAP seats and wanted something similiar. In my opinion, the seats are a must have. When going between my 2011 Fiesta (which has the same seats as the standard ST) and the Fiesta ST with Recaro's on long trips, my knees would hurt and I would be fatigued from driving more than 5 hours with the 2011 Fiesta. No problems like that with the Recaro seats since the side bolsters hold me in better and I don't need constant muscle strength to hold my legs. As for the Focus ST vs Fiesta ST seats, they are the same except for the mounting. I asked around with a few contacts at Ford, and the everyone came back with the bolstering is the same, but the mounting isnt. Also, the seats do break in over time and conform to your body.

I run 93 octane because that is what mine is tuned to run. When I had a stock Fiesta ST, I still ran 93 octane since it is easy to find in Michigan. Shell, Mobil, and BP carry 93 as Premium. I did need to run 91 octane ethanol free when I was in northern Michigan and the car ran great, but this was with the stock ST and not my tuned one.

If you get a chance, www.youtube.com/brgt350 has a ton of content on the ST. There are mutliple reviews from both a stock 2014 Fiesta ST and 2015 modified Fiesta ST. I had a prototype Fiesta ST for 6 months prior to buying my 2015.

 

[Zormecteon]

The "book" says you can run 87 octane, but also says that the 197 hp only develops on 91. If you have the MP215 kit, you should ONLY then run 91/93 as per the warranty provisions, (and Randy's recommendation)

 

[Pathros Aquino]

Dropped?! Nice! I recently moved and my insurance went uo about $10 a month for three cars. Different city I guess?



For one car? I've got something around 1300 for the ZX3, 09 Camry, and a 14 Patriot.



That comes out to something around 55 a month which is really really good. I'm paying 30 full coverage for my Focus with roadside included with GEICO. No "at fault" accidents or anything.

Those Recaros are pretty tight. The Focus ones seemed fine the one time I sat I'm them but the stock FiST seats are pretty small as is so I can only imagine how tight the Recaros will be. The one I'm looking at does come with Nav and Satellite radio which I don't mind because I'm a musician and having just a few CDs or the horrid sounding FM stations pisses me off a bit. Haha

But good to hear about the slightly soft suspension. I know this car is tuned for the track but it's gonna be a DD so needs to be comfortable.




One other big question for everyone, are you guys putting 91(or 93 in some places) or will 87 or 89 be safe? They say you can out 87 in these but I'm just not sure because of the turbo aspect.

No it's for 2 new cars. 2014 Elantra and 2015 ST with 2 accidents on record.lol

 

[Ca5p3r]

I also came from the Focus world with a 2000 ZX3 and then SVT Focus. As for the seat option, the Recaro's were the only option I got with my ST. I loved the SVT Focus EAP seats and wanted something similiar. In my opinion, the seats are a must have. When going between my 2011 Fiesta (which has the same seats as the standard ST) and the Fiesta ST with Recaro's on long trips, my knees would hurt and I would be fatigued from driving more than 5 hours with the 2011 Fiesta. No problems like that with the Recaro seats since the side bolsters hold me in better and I don't need constant muscle strength to hold my legs. As for the Focus ST vs Fiesta ST seats, they are the same except for the mounting. I asked around with a few contacts at Ford, and the everyone came back with the bolstering is the same, but the mounting isnt. Also, the seats do break in over time and conform to your body.

I run 93 octane because that is what mine is tuned to run. When I had a stock Fiesta ST, I still ran 93 octane since it is easy to find in Michigan. Shell, Mobil, and BP carry 93 as Premium. I did need to run 91 octane ethanol free when I was in northern Michigan and the car ran great, but this was with the stock ST and not my tuned one.

If you get a chance, www.youtube.com/brgt350 has a ton of content on the ST. There are mutliple reviews from both a stock 2014 Fiesta ST and 2015 modified Fiesta ST. I had a prototype Fiesta ST for 6 months prior to buying my 2015.

so then to convert to recaros... You just need the mounting brackets for the front seats? Could the mounting hardware between stock seats and recaros be swappable?

 

[BRGT350]

Not sure, I haven't ever looked into it. The reason for asking about the Focus ST vs Fiesta ST Recaro seats was to see if potential buyers could sit in the Focus ST to see how the seats felt and be able to decide on getting them on the Fiesta. This was before the car was released. At the time (summer 2013) there wasn't anyone asking about swapping, everyone wanted to know about ordering. The problem with adding the Focus ST Recaro seats is that there isn't anything matching for the rear. Fiesta has orange or grey seats and the Focus has black leather, yellow, or blue.