Impulse buy: 2015 Fiesta ST
#1
I've been growing tired of driving the truck, as expected. Now that the dust has began to settle from buying a truck, trailer, and building the E36, I have been daydreaming of buying something fun to drive every day again.

I decided that I'm too old to spend all of my money on broken cars and not have a safety net for when things go south, so I knew in my heart that paying cash for something cheap wasn't going to work. Where does that leave me? Save up for another year or so where i could buy something and not cripple my bank account, or be an idiot and finance something with very little down.


I'm sure it's obvious what I did. I'm not going to lie and say this particular car wasn't an impulse decision. I wasn't considering STs this time around, but I realized how cheap they were this morning. I found one locally for a good price and jumped on it.

What did i get? A 2015 Fiesta ST in some kind of blue color. 71,000 miles and seemingly good condition. Clean carfax with some decent maintenance and no recalls.

No, i didn't spring for the wheel and tire protection.

It'll be a great DD, dog hauler, people mover, pace car, autocrosser, fun haver.

[Image: 8d3dc7b89682396cb68fad3ce8961e5a.jpg]

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
  Reply
#2
This guy.
'76 911S | '14 328xi | '17 GTI | In memoriam: '08 848, '85 944

"Here, at last, is the cure for texting while driving. The millions of deaths which occur every year due to the iPhone’s ability to stream the Kim K/Ray-J video in 4G could all be avoided, every last one of them, if the government issued everyone a Seventies 911 and made sure they always left the house five minutes later than they’d wanted to. It would help if it could be made to rain as well. Full attention on the road. Guaranteed." -Jack Baruth
  Reply
#3
Congrats! Can't wait to see it!
2013 Honda Fit, 1991 Mazda Miata, Princess Blanca, Mystery, 1993 Volvo 940 - sold, 2003 Mazda Protoge5 - carmax'd, 1996 BMW 328is - sold, 1996 Honda Accord - sold
  Reply
#4
I like that color. Don't listen to The Smoking Tire podcast or you'll get bad ideas of how to make this more fun.
2019 Accord Sport 2.0 A/T
2012 Civic Si - Sold
  Reply
#5
I impulse bought a second pack of gum the other week. That was enough risk for me in 2020
  Reply
#6
I think this is considered the best of the ST's, right? Love the blue, too. Congrats dude.
2008 4Runner
1974 CB360
2015 FJ09
  Reply
#7
No e46 M, ya chicken? Always had you pegged as a Ford fanboi anyway.

Dig the blurple and the decision to not drive a truck every god damn day.
2001 M5
2016 M3
2014 Grand Cherokee

Been had: 1984 318i | 2003 S2000 | 1990 330is | 2005 STi | 2005 M3
  Reply
#8
i can definitely relate to the wanting to drive something exciting and more fun on a daily basis. i think few cars actually do that with reasonable reliability at that price point. a lot of online reviewers seem to really enjoy this thing, so i'm happy for you. i hope this treats you well.
'19 Golf R

Intro
J Ray's Top Ten

Previous: '99 BMW Z3 2.8L | 2019 Honda Ridgeline2010 VW GTI | 2008 CBR 600RR | 2005 Nissan Titan SE King | 2003 Honda CBR 600RR | 1998 Integra RS | 1998 Suzuki GS500e | 1999 Honda Civic Si | 1986 VW GTI 8v
  Reply
#9
I'm still pissed at the Ford dealerships around here for not working me on one of these things but the Fit has been pretty good especially considering it was half the price (with none of the fun). Was even willing to buy one of those shitty automatic "ST" models but no dice. "MSRP is the best we can do for these cars that have been sitting on our lot for a full year"
  Reply
#10
one of the best cheap factory hatches ever. hope it treats you well for a long time. i see a few around locally and they still catch my eye.
2010 Civic Si
2019 4Runner TRD Off-Road
--------------------------
Past:  03 Xterra SE 4x4  |  05 Impreza 2.5RS  |  99.5 A4 Quattro 1.8T  |  01 Accord EX  |  90 Maxima GXE  |  96 Explorer XLT
  Reply
#11
These are significantly better cars than the FoST or FoRS in my opinion.

Given you seem to be following my (misguided) footsteps, I can't wait to see what color 1-series you buy in 11 months! Wink
Now:
'16 Ram 1500 | '97 BMW M3 | Some Press Loan

Then:
87 BMW 325e | 91 BMW 535i | 96 BMW 328i | 95 BMW 325i | 95 Mazda Miata | 13 Focus ST | 09 BMW 128i | 00 Pontiac Firebird | 05 Yukon Denali | 96 BMW 328iC | 11 Ford F-150 | 06 BMW M3 | 10 Range Rover SC | '03 Ford Ranger | '18 Ford F-150 | '01 BMW X5 | '98 Volvo S70 T5M
  Reply
#12
So far, so good. It's been driven by at least 6 different people and each and every one of those people drove it much harder than I have or probably will. Sitting in the back seat when the turbo hits 21PSI is comical. The exhaust has no tone, just the sound of air wooshing through a pipe at that point. It sounds like a vacuum cleaner next to your ear. The intake lets out the best turbo noises and the occasional turbo flutter (the best sounding way for your car to be killing itself).

You may all get flashbacks to the GTI from this next sentence, but the car was sold to me with a bumper to bumper warranty for 3 months, so I'll be taking it in Monday to address a cracked door card, paint bubbling under the bottom of the hatch, and a potentially sticking caliper. After that... it may be getting an accessport that I may have bought off someone on Facebook and may be getting scammed with. I don't want to add power, I just want a two-step and a "crackle and pop" tune so I can impress the middle schoolers down the street. Obviously this was not a good choice and I shouldn't have spent that money, so maybe I'll try to sell it for more than I paid (which was not that much).

The driving experience is vastly different than the GTI. It FEELS faster even though it's clearly not. The wild torque steer is novel for now, but you're much less isolated than the GTI was. I think the GTI was TOO good and the Fiesta is just raw enough to make it feel sportier. The lack of the magical Golf R LSD is apparent and kind of a bummer, but I imagine better tires will solve a lot of the "don't do more than 40% power with the wheel turned unless you want to turn your tires into dust" problem.

Ford Sync 3 is actually really nice. The screen looks great. The sound system is fine. No features from the GTI that the fiesta doesn't have are missed yet.
Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
  Reply
#13
(03-05-2020, 10:43 AM)Senor_Taylor Wrote: Ford Sync 3 is actually really nice. The screen looks great. The sound system is fine. No features from the GTI that the fiesta doesn't have are missed yet.

Just FYI, you have MyFord Touch, aka "Sync 2."
Now:
'16 Ram 1500 | '97 BMW M3 | Some Press Loan

Then:
87 BMW 325e | 91 BMW 535i | 96 BMW 328i | 95 BMW 325i | 95 Mazda Miata | 13 Focus ST | 09 BMW 128i | 00 Pontiac Firebird | 05 Yukon Denali | 96 BMW 328iC | 11 Ford F-150 | 06 BMW M3 | 10 Range Rover SC | '03 Ford Ranger | '18 Ford F-150 | '01 BMW X5 | '98 Volvo S70 T5M
  Reply
#14
(03-05-2020, 08:37 PM)Jake Wrote:
(03-05-2020, 10:43 AM)Senor_Taylor Wrote: Ford Sync 3 is actually really nice. The screen looks great. The sound system is fine. No features from the GTI that the fiesta doesn't have are missed yet.

Just FYI, you have MyFord Touch, aka "Sync 2."
You are correct. Learned that today. Only the 17+(?) Got Ford sync 3.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
  Reply
#15
(03-05-2020, 08:52 PM)Senor_Taylor Wrote:
(03-05-2020, 08:37 PM)Jake Wrote:
(03-05-2020, 10:43 AM)Senor_Taylor Wrote: Ford Sync 3 is actually really nice. The screen looks great. The sound system is fine. No features from the GTI that the fiesta doesn't have are missed yet.

Just FYI, you have MyFord Touch, aka "Sync 2."
You are correct. Learned that today. Only the 17+(?) Got Ford sync 3.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

I am a little disappointed in my Ford MySync 3 "Bang Olfuson" in the Raptor.  Windows down and sunroof back; volume has to be basically maxxed out at 75mph to even hear the lyrics and really doesn't have much oomph or clarity.  And I actually have decent ears, a lot of complaints about people legitimately maxxing their volume and complaining it's not loud enough.   My "bose" GMC Sierra from 2007 had a better sound system.
2020 Ford Raptor
2009 Z06
1986.5 Porsche 928S
  Reply
#16
(03-06-2020, 11:04 AM)D_Eclipse9916 Wrote:
(03-05-2020, 08:52 PM)Senor_Taylor Wrote:
(03-05-2020, 08:37 PM)Jake Wrote:
(03-05-2020, 10:43 AM)Senor_Taylor Wrote: Ford Sync 3 is actually really nice. The screen looks great. The sound system is fine. No features from the GTI that the fiesta doesn't have are missed yet.

Just FYI, you have MyFord Touch, aka "Sync 2."
You are correct. Learned that today. Only the 17+(?) Got Ford sync 3.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

I am a little disappointed in my Ford MySync 3 "Bang Olfuson" in the Raptor.  Windows down and sunroof back; volume has to be basically maxxed out at 75mph to even hear the lyrics and really doesn't have much oomph or clarity.  And I actually have decent ears, a lot of complaints about people legitimately maxxing their volume and complaining it's not loud enough.   My "bose" GMC Sierra from 2007 had a better sound system.
The sold old sync system in my truck with the Sony speakers works very well.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
Current:
2011 F150 Platinum | 1995 BMW 325i 1983 BMW 320i  The MMoped | 2008 BMW 128i
Past:
1996 Toyota Tacoma: | 1992 Mazda Miata | 2002 BMW 325i |
2003 Toyota Tacoma | 1995 Miata M Edition | 1997 Subaru Outback |
1992 Mazda Miata | 1990 BMW 325i  | 2007 Toyota 4Runner | 
1995 Ford Windstar 1987 BMW 325i | 1987 BMW 325 | 1990 BMW 325i Vert |
2018 VW GTI | 1990 Mazda Miata | 
1989 BMW 325i Vert 2015 Fiesta ST | 1983 BMW 320i parts car
  Reply
#17
(03-06-2020, 11:04 AM)D_Eclipse9916 Wrote:
(03-05-2020, 08:52 PM)Senor_Taylor Wrote:
(03-05-2020, 08:37 PM)Jake Wrote:
(03-05-2020, 10:43 AM)Senor_Taylor Wrote: Ford Sync 3 is actually really nice. The screen looks great. The sound system is fine. No features from the GTI that the fiesta doesn't have are missed yet.

Just FYI, you have MyFord Touch, aka "Sync 2."
You are correct. Learned that today. Only the 17+(?) Got Ford sync 3.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

I am a little disappointed in my Ford MySync 3 "Bang Olfuson" in the Raptor.  Windows down and sunroof back; volume has to be basically maxxed out at 75mph to even hear the lyrics and really doesn't have much oomph or clarity.  And I actually have decent ears, a lot of complaints about people legitimately maxxing their volume and complaining it's not loud enough.   My "bose" GMC Sierra from 2007 had a better sound system.


Interesting - I thought the B&O was pretty good. Make sure your phone's volume is turned all the way up if streaming over Bluetooth. I had mine set to "surround" or whatever it is (not stereo) which made it better too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Now:
'16 Ram 1500 | '97 BMW M3 | Some Press Loan

Then:
87 BMW 325e | 91 BMW 535i | 96 BMW 328i | 95 BMW 325i | 95 Mazda Miata | 13 Focus ST | 09 BMW 128i | 00 Pontiac Firebird | 05 Yukon Denali | 96 BMW 328iC | 11 Ford F-150 | 06 BMW M3 | 10 Range Rover SC | '03 Ford Ranger | '18 Ford F-150 | '01 BMW X5 | '98 Volvo S70 T5M
  Reply
#18
If you're streaming music connect with a cord. Bluetooth compresses the files and kills quality and volume. I can tell a huge difference between the two in my car.
2019 Accord Sport 2.0 A/T
2012 Civic Si - Sold
  Reply
#19
(03-06-2020, 11:51 AM)JPolen01 Wrote: If you're streaming music connect with a cord. Bluetooth compresses the files and kills quality and volume. I can tell a huge difference between the two in my car.


Bluetooth compression is much, much less harsh (2 Mbps) than the compression used in streaming music (~300Kbps). Sounds like maybe the transmitter or receiver is your problem.
'76 911S | '14 328xi | '17 GTI | In memoriam: '08 848, '85 944

"Here, at last, is the cure for texting while driving. The millions of deaths which occur every year due to the iPhone’s ability to stream the Kim K/Ray-J video in 4G could all be avoided, every last one of them, if the government issued everyone a Seventies 911 and made sure they always left the house five minutes later than they’d wanted to. It would help if it could be made to rain as well. Full attention on the road. Guaranteed." -Jack Baruth
  Reply
#20
(03-06-2020, 11:51 AM)JPolen01 Wrote: If you're streaming music connect with a cord. Bluetooth compresses the files and kills quality and volume. I can tell a huge difference between the two in my car.

None of the above, its just a "Raptor" issue and is all over the forums.  It doesn't hugely irritate me since I don't blast my music anyway.  It's the same issue across HD Radio/Satellite Radio/Streaming and yes I plug in mainly because it doesn't have wireless carplay.
2020 Ford Raptor
2009 Z06
1986.5 Porsche 928S
  Reply


Forum Jump: