[Sil3nt611]

I finally got a chance to do a back to back test to gather my own personal opinion between the two. Being I've always been a Fiesta fan I am a bit biased. But the drive between the two it seems the power difference was marginal at best. The Focus does feel bigger, but bigger is not always better and I didn't care for it. The Focus was a fully loaded ST3 and the Fiesta only had the moonroof and grey wheels. So the options were quite a bit different. I have previously driven a Focus SE 5 speed so I had an idea of the feel of the Focus without the power.

The two things the Focus had that I still want to see on the Fiesta is the factory subwoofer and factory projector headlights. I tested out the stereo on the Focus and with a little EQ tweaking I could easily get it sounding just like I want it with the sub adding the extra bass that the Fiesta doesn't quite give. Projectors just make the headlight output so much better. I didn't test this today, it's just a known fact.

Being that the tested Fiesta didn't have Recaros but the Focus did I got to get up out of the Recaros into regular seats and feel the immediate difference. This is assuming the Recaros are pretty similar between the two cars since it's been awhile since I've been in a Fiesta's Recaros. But the standard seats sit a bit higher and are pretty hard, flat, and not real snug. Once I got driving I really wasn't too concerned about it since the test drive wasn't real long anyway, but I'd much rather have the Recaros.

So in my personal opinion, the reason for getting a Focus over a Fiesta for the higher powered engine doesn't hold a lot of merit to me because for power to weight the power output of the Focus was better by a bit, but off the line I got so much torque steer that I had to let off the gas to keep control. I didn't touch any of the traction control settings. I didn't feel any torque steer in the Fiesta starting from the same place so I was able to hold the power. It comes down to what options, size, or styling you want. Size and styling win me over to the Fiesta.

One of the salesmen tried to get me to change my mind about waiting until I have a good down payment to buy. What are you guy's opinion on down payment amounts? The optioned Fiesta I want would cost shy of $25K MSRP before taxes. My plan was about a year of saving from now or $10K down payment, whichever comes first (at this point I'm at $3300 and all I really am saving for now is the car). I'd get a loan from my credit union for the rest. I still want to talk to my credit union soon to get more info on loans and what it would take to be approved. As much as I'd like to wait to get enough for the full price, I've been wanting a Fiesta since 2010 and I'm kinda tired of waiting now that I've finally graduated college and have a decent paying job. I'd be selling my ZX2 private party to get the most out of it to go directly back into the loan once it's sold.

 

[Zormecteon]

The general rule for financial stability is that you need to put down at least 20%. That way you are never underwater on the loan, i.e. owing more on the car than you can sell it for. ... anything beyond that is to lower your payments, or reduce the term of the loan.

Driving them back to back (on the track) you can definetly feel the difference in power, but you can also feel the difference in "turn in" or agility.

 

[Sil3nt611]

20% is approx $5k. Definitely no way I'd get any less than that for a down payment. I'd prefer more and shouldn't have any problem getting more. Tax return will likely go into the savings as well.

Yeah, everyone that has been able to drive the Focus on the track says it's not as agile on the track. I did take a good turn on a highway exit in the Focus and it wasn't a slouch, but I have driven the Fiesta on a track and it's just amazing and I'm not any kind of professional driver.

One thing I didn't notice but the salesman did is the lack of an "oh crap" handle on the passenger side of the Fiesta. The speedometer also manages to hide itself really well behind the wheel on the Focus which is not real good.

 

[Zormecteon]

Oh, don't get me wrong about the ability of the FoST to corner. It's right up there. (although I recall reading at introduction that the turning circle is 40'. HUGE! ) It's the initial movement into a corner or transitioning from one direction to the other where the FiST really shines.

 

[InsTwin]

I'm in a pretty similar situation to where you are. I'm a few years removed from college, been working at a good job for a bit over a year, and decided I wanted a new car. Originally I was looking at the Focus ST, but after some more consideration, went with the Fiesta ST. Before I got serious about purchasing, I wanted to figure out exactly what I could spend. After filling out about 8 text boxes online and requesting a $22,000 loan from my Credit Union, I was approved within an hour.

After doing a ton of web shopping, I got a quote from a dealership ~250 miles away at $23,900 OTD for a fully loaded (Nav, Moonroof, Recaros, Wheels) Tuxedo Black Fiesta ST (MSRP $25,700). I shopped this quote around dealerships a bit more local and ended up finding one willing to beat that price by another $400. I combined a $1,500 down payment with the $22k loan to get the fully loaded ST OTD for $23,500 (TTD included).

I'd say shop around, pit the dealerships against each other, and don't be afraid to simply tell them that what they are offering isn't going to work for you. It also helps if you have a purchase date in mind, make sure to tell them your serious and looking to purchase in the next two weeks. They might also try and 'beat' the financing you have set up with your Credit Union, but if yours is at all like mine, it will only be by a few hundredths of a percentage point, and the peace of mind of working with a Credit Union made the difference to me.

Anyways, you can get a sweet deal, and you don't really need to put a huge down payment down as long as you can be aggressive with your payments in the short term. But really, the best thing to do is to be comfortable with your price and purchased vehicle!

 

[stealth fighter]

Try to find a used one with those options or the depreciation will kill you! I've seen ST's with recaros sell for as little as 17 and change with low miles. You may have to travel to get it done though. I just noticed you are in TX, which is where I am and there is nothing around here with the right options for a good price.

 

[Sil3nt611]

I understand depreciation is pretty high on new cars, but buying a used car is a used car and I've seen enough things on the internet (here included) of what kind of hack job things people do tho their cars that I don't want on my car. I want a clean slate. I can't imagine anyone that bought a Fiesta ST went real light on it. I want this to be my first brand new never been used car. That and I want specific options, gotta have molten orange, in dash nav, Recaros (either color), grey wheels would be nice but if I'm factory ordering the car more than likely not, and no moonroof (for no leaks down the road). I just priced that out on the Ford site to $24,405 for orange, recaros, and nav. The closest I've ever came to finding one like that is a fully loaded orange one with grey wheels and moonroof as well. I suppose I could roll with that if I can get a good price on it. But lately I haven't seen any around with Recaros on the dealer lots. They actually had 2 FiSTs and neither had Recaros. I'd rather not have a car driven from somewhere else far away either, I don't want to buy a brand new car with 600 miles on it and paint chips on the hood from highway driving... With as long as I'm waiting already, a factory ordered car would be best, what's another 3 months on what will be 5 years?

I have been to several dealerships and tested out salesmen as well. I had one that I guess didn't want to waste his time winning over a future potential customer so he handed me off to a porter to do a test drive. My personal best choice is the dealership in West, TX, though now that's nearly a 2 hour drive since I moved 4 months ago. I don't quite know how it works on winning over a good price if you're ordering a specific car from the factory though, if it is at all even negotiable. How does that work?

 

[stealth fighter]

You can get a CPO... Or if its a Ford dealer they can certify it for you... Don't throw away 5k to have an untouched car... After shopping around the cars with less than 50 hard test drive or less than 100 dealer trade miles are few and far in between

I bought a base tuxedo black today... But only because I didn't want to drive to Pennsylvania from Texas for a loaded car with recaros... If the same car was local it would have been any easy choice... But only because I totaled my car and ran out of rental days... If I still had a daily driver I would hold out for a used one

 

[Sil3nt611]

Got on autotrader to see what there was in used cars in orange with recaros within a reasonable distance. I actually found some fully loaded ones at a good price with under 500 miles (why the frick anyone would buy a new car and put less than 500 miles on it to sell it just blows my mind), BUT at 1000+ miles away I don't want to take a road trip to get a car... When the time comes if a fully loaded orange one shows up within 500 miles with less than 1k miles on it then I'd probably consider it. Not something with much more than 1k miles though. I'd more than likely order the car I want and work on a deal that way. I wouldn't mind a car sitting on the lot, but finding a new car with the options I want just chilling on a nearby lot is gonna be just as difficult to find as a good used car. I have every plan of keeping this car for the next 10 years or more, at full price for a new one I will be getting my moneys worth out of it I think even with depreciation. A car is not an investment no matter how you buy it though. It will even lose value whether or not you drive it anywhere. I'd rather just get a new car no one else has had the chance to screw up so I can keep a reliable car for the next 10 years or more.

Orange with recaros and nav is the minimum options I want which is why used or lot cars are just gonna be so difficult to find. I say nav because I want an in dash navigation (especially since it already comes with a screen for it anyway), I'm sick of my garmin unit falling off the windshield all the time and I don't want any extra accessories hanging from the windshield or dash.

 

[InsTwin]

You might want to talk with one of your local dealers, they often can find cars that aren't listed online and have them transferred for you.

 

[stealth fighter]

Got on autotrader to see what there was in used cars in orange with recaros within a reasonable distance. I actually found some fully loaded ones at a good price with under 500 miles (why the frick anyone would buy a new car and put less than 500 miles on it to sell it just blows my mind), BUT at 1000+ miles away I don't want to take a road trip to get a car... When the time comes if a fully loaded orange one shows up within 500 miles with less than 1k miles on it then I'd probably consider it. Not something with much more than 1k miles though. I'd more than likely order the car I want and work on a deal that way. I wouldn't mind a car sitting on the lot, but finding a new car with the options I want just chilling on a nearby lot is gonna be just as difficult to find as a good used car. I have every plan of keeping this car for the next 10 years or more, at full price for a new one I will be getting my moneys worth out of it I think even with depreciation. A car is not an investment no matter how you buy it though. It will even lose value whether or not you drive it anywhere. I'd rather just get a new car no one else has had the chance to screw up so I can keep a reliable car for the next 10 years or more.

Orange with recaros and nav is the minimum options I want which is why used or lot cars are just gonna be so difficult to find. I say nav because I want an in dash navigation (especially since it already comes with a screen for it anyway), I'm sick of my garmin unit falling off the windshield all the time and I don't want any extra accessories hanging from the windshield or dash.

Honesty, the deals that are out there are worth the drive... I just couldn't wait and we are at the time of year where summer tires become a factor if you are buying from a cold climate and would have to drive through snow... BTW if you are referring to the loaded car in pa, it was a ford demo car

 

[Sil3nt611]

One I saw was in NC, the other one I forget. Honestly I wouldn't touch a used car from the North East (rust belt). I don't want to start out with a car that's already started rusting. My current car is almost 12 years old and it's been in Texas it's whole life, I have zero issues unbolting things and I love it.

I'll have to see what I find when I have the down payment I want. Maybe I'll feel a little different when I get closer to buying.