Mark, about the “24k Civic” thing, I’d bet it was a jab at the RSX being a “rebadged Civic” – it’s based on the same platform components. I’m also no big rebadged anything fan unless the end vehicle is substantially different from the start vehicle. I can see where the RSX is substantially different than the Civic it was based on, mainly because the old Honda CRX that it basically is like hasn’t been on the market for maybe 17 years now.

The $24k was for an RSX, which is an Acura. Did I mistakenly say Civic? My bad if I did!

From this review, this seems a good little car.

2morrowdesign: “Ford should replace the focus with the fiesta and give us the RS” Different segments

Bimmer: “people with S-Class will skip the Fiesta. ‘fancy Toyota’ owners, who knows? maybe they’ll try to buy some 486s?

Borat: Fit is probably Honda’s best car. It’s the best subcompact we get here now.

MarkKleis: $24K for a Civic?

As for the center console, maybe I was wrong since so many of you still think it should be there. I haven’t had a center console in about 1.5 years, so maybe I just got used to it?

*I will let Ford know* what you guys want, and we can keep our fingers crossed!

Have a great weekend!

Living most of my life in Canada and now living in Europe, I really do not see much difference in what people desire or expect when purchasing a car. Especially with higher fuel prices hitting North America in the last year. This fact alone will make for a better business case of offering a more premium type small car in North America which the Fiesta is all about. You don’t have to give up the toys just to save on gas, and it looks very damn good to boot IMO.

The FiestaMovement is worth while to keep an eye on, if you care to read honest to goodness responses and feedback on the Fiesta. So much better then the predictable blah blah blah from the auto journalists that have to suck some kind of words out their pen to get paid.

Also as I understand Ford is doing Fiesta Test Drive Events across America at different cities, so go out and drive the car, then make an informed opinion.

Keep up the great articles Mark, look forward to more of your feedback.

MarkK, first of all this is an excellent series of articles and kudos to Ford for the whole concept. I still don’t buy into the lack of an armrest just because it is a small car and a manual. I have an original Neon Coupe and after many years of ownership I still find myself looking for something to do with my right elbow and mayer_ray pretty much nailed the reasons why. If the argument comes down to proper ergonomics I’m sure it wouldn’t be the most challenging obstacle Ford engineers have had to tackle.

One thing about the center armrest – I had a manual Honda and it had no armrest – I also didn’t think I’d miss it in a manual. I was dead wrong. Yes you use that arm to shift, but quite often you are also on the highway or wherever and you want to put your arm on something. Honda had no aftermarket part at all, and frankly I ended up making my own. Other owners saw it and wanted one also, so I wasn’t alone on this.

Point is even on the manual Ford should consider this at least as an option an owner can install. I can see why it may not be on a Euro-spec car because I lived in Munich and due to the compact crammed cities and the fact that most people drive short distances in more busy traffic they are shifting more so the arm rests less. The streets here are generally larger, less busy, and the distances are mostly longer.

To those few people giving Mark crap here – please grow up. He’s doing us all a favor with these reports and giving us a live sneak-peek. It’s fair and fun to be playfully uncivil to one another but jumping the contributors in questionable ways is really not cool.

I do like Fords. And I had a chance to drive long time ago entry level Fiesta L Mk 1. That car had worth brakes then Lada! Now they’re a world apart. I hope we could get it with dick brakes all around. Car looks fine and I, surely, would prefer it to any other car in this class (MINI excluded). But I think it would be more expensive then Yaris, Versa, etc. and would probably start from $15-16K in Canada and go all the way to $22-23 for fully loaded.

Let’s all hope that it would have same great reliability as first generation Ford Fusion!

GhiaFan, you obviously read a lot of technical specs, but they usually do not translate into look and feel of the car. I have no idea what drives car sales in Tallinn, but in US it is looks of the car: Majority of US consumers buy their vehicles because they like the looks. Try to package this factor into technical specs. Another almost equally important factor is what their neighbors drive. And lastly, some of us like European cars, but history is not kind to them. Except for German cars that in many cases were aimed at US market very carefully, I am referring to fairly expensive specimens, most of European cars failed. Statistically European cars has not penetrated below 25K market. Actually even US manufacturers failed in this segment, yet the whole segment of society that does not care what their neighbors drive are purchasing in this segment.

Borat- The prices you listed are starting prices with no options. Taking a base model Fit, and adding 16 inch wheels, floor mats, USB aux, and interior lighting to be equivocal to the Fiesta puts the price at $18,189. You can easily price a base Fit to $19k and beyond, not including Sport or Navi. Fiesta is expected to top out around 15-16k.

Apples to apples, if Ford sells these cars anywhere near the prices they told us they expect to, it will be the best value in the class (and have more power than all in the class but the upgraded Versa), will almost certainly have the highest gas MPG rating, and a long list of unique features not found anywhere else in the class.

Orangecones- There is definitely similarities with the Fit inside, especially on the steering wheel. Not sure who started using it first in Europe though.

Johnycanuck- In the manual I think people will agree a center console only gets in the way (in a small car). In my other car, I removed my center console and I greatly prefer it missing. The Fiesta is just too small of a car to have an armrest with a manual. I do agree, though, for the automatics they definitely should have a center console.

JakeK66- Thanks! I am a professional detailer by trade, so keeping my cars and trucks clean is second nature. There is nothing at all wrong with waxing a new vehicle, and in fact, I highly recommend it. Wax helps to repel things and makes it easier to wash the vehicle and helps to diminish wash induced swirls (#1 complaint about auto paint from owners).
Using Windex and Vinegar might work on windows (do not use on tint!), but I wouldn’t use it on the paint. It will strip wax, too.
I love the Sprayway foaming glass cleaner…very convenient and works great.

To the Ford haters in N.A., there is a reason why the new Fiesta is one of the best selling cars in the world, and now North America is finally getting a taste. Wake up and smell reality lads, Ford does make excellent cars in other parts of the world, get used to cause they are coming to your neighbourhood dealership soooooooon.

Mark how about a through list of the features offered in your B sgement Fiesta, normally offered in North American luxury vehicles. That should send a shcok wave through some of these posters here that have such a hate on for Ford.

BTW, Mr Bimmer fan FYI, VW Polo has rear drum brakes, as does the Fiesta. Its a common feature on B segment vehicles. Also if you are a S class or Lexus driver and your 20 year old daughter wants premium features like Dad has but in a B segment car and you live in North America, you telling me you wouldn’t consider the Fiesta with its long list of premium features.

although, many small cars lack the center arm rest. start from the Versa,Yaris, Rio, Accent….just to name a few. So Ford wouldn’t be “unique” in this aspect.

DB9

Borat, are ya havin’ trouble staging?;-)) Ah, were only F***ing with ya or… maybe not… Hmmm…:-))

DB9;-)

Does it have disks or drums at the back?

SomeGreek- Actually, the Fiesta is *expected* to be one of the best values in the segment. Est. price range of $12-15k. Fit goes over 18k.

Mutant- Feel free to ask Kristi, but I think she’s content where she is

seriously, chrissy isn’t picky with what she drives in, or who she hangs around with!

Ford should replace the focus with the fiesta and give us the RS ! (of course they wont though)