No 3-Door a "deal breaker"?

I actually had a mandate from the wife when I went car shopping that I had to get a 5 door, as we have a ZX3 and an Accord Coupe right now, and it's a PITA when taking friends places, plus we plan on having kids within the next couple of years.

So, for me, the 3 door was never an option.

While it would have been nice to have the option for the 3 door, I still would have gone with the 5 just for the ease of use for the backseat.

Allow me to be the first to vote yes (confusingly worded question there Ron).

I do want it to be abundently clear, I'm very, very excited that Ford is finally giving us hot hatches but I'm also crushed that they no longer give us a three door.

BTW- Way to rub salt in the wound with the three door ST at the top of the page

I wanted a 3 door, but after awhile I figured a 5 door would be more useful.

Not a deal breaker but I'm very disappointed.

What I'm trying to figure out is who needs a Fiesta sedan? It actually has less cargo room than the 3 and 5 door hatches unless you have a full size spare like the ST.

If they are going to make two versions they should be the three and five door hatches and a three door ST "van" would have been awesome (no rear seat, no side windows behind the doors).

No problem with a 5 door here.

I actually prefer 5-Doors. Guess I'm weird.

wash said:

What I'm trying to figure out is who needs a Fiesta sedan? It actually has less cargo room than the 3 and 5 door hatches unless you have a full size spare like the ST.

Click to expand...

Apparently they sell better in the US. My local dealer inventory has one 2014 hatch out of two dealers and seven 2014 cars. I don't know why they'd order more sedans unless they tend to sell better. As far as the storage space the hatch has a taller storage space, but technically the sedan has a bigger trunk (because the car is longer). You can store more in it without having to put down the rear seats. I don't really see why people like them better myself, but then there's a lot of things others like that I don't and vice versa. That's why there's variety. At least the ST is a hatch. And 5 door vs 3 door, I think 5 door would be my first choice now anyway.

Nope, cargo volume of the 3 and 5 door hatch with the rear seat up is larger than the sedan trunk volume.

I don't really care if the sedans sell better, nobody needs it because it doesn't do anything better than the 5 door hatch. Its an afterthought from the marketing department and robbed us of the three door hatch.

"One World Ford" is supposed to mean world cars, not oddball specials in every market.

Unfortunately we are never going to get a 3 door unless Ford shortens the wheel base.
It is part of the new safety standards about roll over protection.
I read this someplace but I can't remember where.

Like they say, memory is the second thing to go.


Dave

D1JL said:

Unfortunately we are never going to get a 3 door unless Ford shortens the wheel base.
It is part of the new safety standards about roll over protection.
I read this someplace but I can't remember where.

Like they say, memory is the second thing to go.


Dave

Click to expand...

The 3 door and 5 door Focus along with the sedan and wagon all sat on the identical wheelbase, How is a 5 door stronger in a rollover than a 3 door?

NO reason at all they couldn't give us a 3 door for North America. Other than simple short sightedness that is.

These are NEW US standards.
It has to do with the wheel base and the size of the door opening.
Now the body has to be stiffened to act as a roll bar.
This is why shorter wheel base cars , like, Mini, Fiat, Smart, can have two/three doors and longer ones cannot.


Dave

Still makes no sense, the three door has a B-pillar just like the four door and a three door body is stiffer than a four door due to the lack of a rear door opening that allows flex.

Not calling you out Dave but I'd like to see these "standards" and the reasoning behind them.

What makes you think there was any reasoning behind it?
Just more bureaucrats trying to control our lives.
I still can't find that article but as I look, what I read sounds like it is more about side impact safety.


Dave

My 2005 Duratec Turbo Focus is a 3 door. Our 2013 Focus ST is obviously a 5 door. The 3 door is caged and has no back seat, but I prefer a 5 door. Kids, ya know...

I'm also extremely disappointed that Ford won't offer a 3 DR here but I still want a Fiesta ST bad. It comes closest to everything I want in a car including small and agile, good handling, good looks, power and good MPG to boot. I actually use the rear doors for groceries, rarely for passengers but without the extra doors I would just use the trunk.

My GTI is longer and wider and is a 2-door...oh and will be traded for a Fiesta ST "5-door"!!!

wash said:

What I'm trying to figure out is who needs a Fiesta sedan? It actually has less cargo room than the 3 and 5 door hatches unless you have a full size spare like the ST.

Click to expand...

I have a 5 door Fiesta hatchback currently, but my husband has a 4 door Fiesta sedan. I can tell you from experience that the trunk space in the sedan does seem bigger. Measurement-wise the hatchback wins because of the height, but in real world use the sedan is pretty nice for hauling things. The hatchback is much better looking and superior in every other way.

I think a 5 door is nice, and for me it's preferred for practical reasons, but I'm surprised Ford didn't 3 door the FiST. I guess they wanted it to feel less niche and more daily driver.

Audrey said:

I have a 5 door Fiesta hatchback currently, but my husband has a 4 door Fiesta sedan. I can tell you from experience that the trunk space in the sedan does seem bigger. Measurement-wise the hatchback wins because of the height, but in real world use the sedan is pretty nice for hauling things. The hatchback is much better looking and superior in every other way.

I think a 5 door is nice, and for me it's preferred for practical reasons, but I'm surprised Ford didn't 3 door the FiST. I guess they wanted it to feel less niche and more daily driver.

Click to expand...

Ford has not made any estimates on how many Fiesta ST's they might sell. I think they are crossing their fingers and hoping the 5 DR will be a hit here. With the 3 DR I think it was way more than crossing their fingers. More like "Anyone remember the Edsel?".