Comments on: 2009 Ford Fiesta 3-door

By: jackjimturkey

jackjimturkey — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:44:09 +0000

I like the car. Looks good, but verve is better name. Fit and Yaris has more competition now.

By: jayjc08

jayjc08 — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:40:13 +0000

Heart64- Why would they make a plug in ecoboost hybrid? Look at how the Civic is selling- they do not need one of those. However, simply importing or manufacturing a low supply of diesels in America would allow them to advertise it as best gas mileage. It would also help motion a small establishment of diesel vehicles in America. If you’ve been torn into the hybrid hype, then I suggest you do some due diligence.

And they currently don’t have the means or funds to concentrate soley on electric vehicles. FYI, they are however, pouring money into hydrogen research, more so than Toyota or Honda.

By: hateful83

hateful83 — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:39:56 +0000

This car definitely has the looks, hopefully it adds up in the other categories. Looks like it could actually take on the honda fit for subcompact supremacy.

By: Heart64

Heart64 — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 17:08:21 +0000

I think other than great modern styling Ford needs to beat GM to the punch in two/three other ways(esssentially getting a triple double for a product that would devour the market) to win not only back Ford buyers, but steal GM and import buyers alike!

Other than offering a car that is the 1.best quality in its class-it should be the Gold Standard, 2-best technology(Sync is a good start), and 3-the most affordable. Can it be done yeah sure but Ford has to work at it.

To complete the other side of the triple double now,

1.)They need to offer better eco-choice than their competition:either A.)offer a version of the Verve/Fiesta as a totally Electric vehicle. Secondly, offer a ecoboost Version Verve as the best mileage of any subcompact in its class.

2) lowest cost of ownership, and

3)maintains the highest resale value.

If they can wrest those accolades away from Toyota or Honda then they’ll be on to something. electric plug-Combo that not only gets superior mileage than the best subcompact on the market or has the best range electrically speaking. I tell this to Ford/Volvo/Lincoln/Mazda/Mercury/Jaguar/Landrover Automotive Engineers is to come up with revolutionary electric technology in the area of -capitors/batteries and the Eletric motor itself.

Slightly off subject for a moment-I mean if a small start up like the Tesla electric sports car can challenge super exotic sports cars in the 0-60 acceleration gig at 4.4 seconds. How much further advanced do you think we could take technology to not only faster, more efficient vehicles, but eventually vehicles that should drive themselve as well.

The Electrics would blow away the gasoline engine world as truly the weak and lame -not the other way around as electric have been made to be.
I mean I would be willing to bet if Ford concentrated on a Electric cars with all its money they could accomplish wonders.

By: Heart64

Heart64 — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 06:09:32 +0000

I think this If Ford wants to call the 3 door a Hatch back that;s fine or if they call it Verve that’s fine too. What they need to do is give it a Diesel/ Ecoboost Engine coupled with a Hybrid-Plug-In(Electric) to Best both the Honda Civic or Prius for Highest mileage Car that people really want. I would like minimum 65 -85 MPG HWY. It should serve not only as the bench mark of Quality in the Small Car segment but be the Bench mark for being the High Milege champ too.

By: gbb

gbb — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:28:19 +0000

Sweet. I want one with a 2 liter turbocharged diesel.

By: meanpants555

meanpants555 — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 22:14:54 +0000

The whole 500/Taurus thing is a fook up. They wanted to blame the name for lack of sales, when it’s actually a car that no one wants.

By: meanpants555

meanpants555 — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 22:13:38 +0000

When Ford built the Focus, they killed the Escort name. When Ford brings the Verve, they will kill the Fiesta name.

By: LJ

LJ — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:56:49 +0000

Comment by Scott Kempton, posted on February15 at 1:54 pm

You said you saw this at the auto show? How was it? Would you feel safe driving it? I heard they had a sedan and the 3 door hatch(was the sedan larger, and if so, how much larger?).

Just curious.

Two Things:
1) Bring us the sporty diesel engine(not likely..but why not? Honda Accord and supposedly the Jetta will both have clean diesels soon, for example).

2) I agree about the 5 door hatch..like a mini-Mondeo?

By: howsmydriving

howsmydriving — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:34:35 +0000

The Fiesta name is so lame and it just shows that Ford execs don’t get it. Why resurrect a name that people still joke about? If Ford is hellbent on giving this cars a stupid name, as they seem to be, they should just call it the “Edsel” and be done with it.

By: Heart64

Heart64 — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:56:40 +0000

I second the motion erok247 those GM guys are busy trying to sell garbage from GM like the Pontiac Aztec, Aveo or whatever.

I sure hope Ford surprises everyone and make this car not only Eco-boost but also it gets not only a hybrid powertrain. And make a version Totally Electric version of the Verve/Fiesta it would sell like Hot Cakes. I guarantee it!

By: Scott Kempton

Scott Kempton — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:54:08 +0000

What a neat little car. I saw the Verve in concept form at the Detroit auto show a few weeks ago, and it’s a really cool little car. I’m glad to see that Ford is going to bring this car to the U.S., but I sure think the ought to keep the Focus name (whatever they do, don’t call it the Fiesta; that name not only has a weenie sound to it, but when the DID sell a Fiesta here 20+ years ago, it was a pretty weenie car). And I also think they really ought to offer the hatchback as well; I don’t think Americans are as turned off to hatchbacks as we’re made out to be; it’s only the goofy hatchbacks that we don’t like.

And for those who care, my recently purchased ‘06 Ford Fusion SEL is “so far, so good”. It “feels” like a good car, I really like the way it drives, and the fuel economy is respectable.

By: RicardoHead

RicardoHead — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:15:16 +0000

I can’t wait for them to offer the Fidel Castro Edition Ford Fiesta! Mucho caliente! Si ! ! ! ! ! !

By: snoboardguy21

snoboardguy21 — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:46:03 +0000

I want this car so bad. Hear that Ford?

By: SwerveEarly

SwerveEarly — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:41:17 +0000

Best looking b-segment car ever, the present Fiesta is a badass in ST form, even has its own Rally series for up and comers. This is on shared platform with Mazda2. After I read the Honda Fit S had best lane change of speed of any car in C&D, I had to test drive one. I was really impressed at how quick it felt (cornering) and how fun it was to drive (roundabouts, super twisty back roads. Every thing Ive read and seen rates the Fiest as sportier then the Fit. So bring it on.

By: wild7

wild7 — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:22:10 +0000

If Ford killed the Focus hatch in the US, then why not bring the Fiesta hatch? I like it, but why does this come with HID’s while I am somewhat certain no other Fords come with HIDs?

By: jonnycat

jonnycat — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:09:17 +0000

Home run, inside and out.

By: golf4me

golf4me — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:59:05 +0000

They really botched the dash. The “things” surrounding the gauges look like they are melted. The center stack looks like it’s going to flap, and take flight. Looks really “busy” and cheap too.

By: global_lightning

global_lightning — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:49:35 +0000

Is this the same platform as the Mazda2?

By: meanpants555

meanpants555 — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:48:10 +0000

I promise it will be named Verve, like the show car. The car is amazing. It makes the Mini look like a child’s toy.

By: Ward Cleaver

Ward Cleaver — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:48:01 +0000

Well, I actually owned a Mark I Fiesta, drove it for over 13 years and logged around 137,000 miles. While it wasn’t nearly as good as the version sold in Europe (performance, option choices and appearance) it was a heck of a good car. For me the name Fiesta brings back nothing but good memories. True, as some of you have said, most people don’t even remember or have ever seen the old Fiesta. The real reason I sold mine was Ford abandoned the car when they started selling the Escort. I could no longer find parts anywhere. The last time I took it to a Ford dealer the parts manager said, “Gee, I’ve heard of these, but I’ve never seen one”. I knew then my long time relationship was over and it truly was a tearful farewell. I just hope people don’t confuse the new Fiesta with the more recent Festiva. Not even close to being in the same league. The new car should do very well; inexpensive cars need not be cheap. Somewhere in Car Heaven my old friend is smiling.

By: LJ

LJ — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 07:53:13 +0000

I’m sorry.. I was wrong. Smallest vehicle I drove was a ( overnight) rental….a new Scion xD..think the guy said it was 155 inches long, or so(around 13 ft)… and that felt small on the hwys around here.
That would be the smallest vehicle I would drive, ever. It took over 10 seconds to 60…and you really had to plan the manuevers on the hwy.
C’Mon Ford..make the 3 door available, and xD sized, at least.
Unless they need it to be so small, for upcoming new CAFE rules, to boost overall MPG ratings.
I don’t see where an xD sized 3 door, and maybe a SX4(CUV , length of nearly 163 inches) sized sedan would steal the new Focus(in a few years) sales?
There would still be over a foot in length(and HP differences, etc…) between it and a Focus(and different group of people buying, perhaps).

Anyhow… at least they’re trying… now… another issue… 2009….not 2010, please(unless they mean 2009 , they will bring this here as a 2010 model, let’s hope).

By: LJ

LJ — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 07:46:02 +0000

A darker(Medium) Green might be nicer than this green shown.
OK. 1 ) smallest car I have driven in recent years was a VW Rabbit, ar around 165 inches in length…and around here, that was scarey enough(lot of people think tail gating in the Midwest is the norm, and with large vehicles, yet).

2) If this is only 12 ft long..no…145 inches is what, 12ft, 1 inch in length?

3) Local salesman talked about this car months ago. He said he “heard” that the sedan woul dbe about 155 inches long( around 10 inches longer than the 3 door).
Maybe at (nearly) 13 ft… if it’s fast enough(for merging onto hwys, and 0-60 of a Versa CVT at around 9.5 seconds)…Maybe…although I would rather have the 3 door hatch…at 13 ft long.

I like it… but, such a small car for USA…. maybe if I were mainly driving in city traffic… but hwy, etc…Ummmm… a little worrisome for me.
Need a little more “Crunch” room, between the front and rear bumpers, and me, in case of an accident.

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:59:00 +0000

We are getting the sedan and 5-door hatch last I heard. The 3-door was still under consideration and has not been discounted. Word is that it got very good feedback from the NAIAS. That said, I would expect a phased roll – sedan and 5-door at launch, probably, and the 3-door the next model year.

As of right now, the expected base engine is a revised version of Brazil’s stellar 1.6 either sourced from Brazil or Mexico. A 1.0 EcoBoost engine is rumored to be in development that would average probably 40 or so mpg (compared to the Yaris or Fit at low-30s), but it’s not clear if that is an EU engine or an NA engine. Ford also has a 1.4 EcoBoost in the works that is expected to provide motivation for an “ST” version.

By: jdasch1

jdasch1 — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 05:53:12 +0000

The reason all car companies cannot just bring over a car and sell it in the US is completely because of the f”"ked up “validation” process that the regulators make the car go through. Crash testing, durability testing, emission testing, and other testing and other “legal” stuff HAS to be preformed before the dealers can sell a single car. If you ever get a chance to actually talk to a factory engineer about this stuff, you would understand why these cars just can’t be brought over and sold immediately…like Mexico…like Australia, like Asia, etc. The USA has the toughest entry process of all other countries. I hope Ford and other car companies can streamline “global” platforms so all they have to do is add some airbags and emission equiptment…to maybe get the time down to 1 year from concept?? Dreaming again…

By: DrFill

DrFill — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 04:02:41 +0000

Ford wins the “Draggin’ ass” award for sending us a finished concept that won’t sell here for at least 2 years.

Many countries will get it this year. The U.S. can suck the proverbial egg?
DrFill

By: sharpie

sharpie — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 03:31:17 +0000

They should name it “Verve” in the U.S. and let it be Fiesta elsewhere. Not bad, but here we go again – Sedan only possibly? That would be a mistake! We need all the cargo room in a car this small!

By: Scudetto

Scudetto — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 03:25:02 +0000

Yeah, Ford should offer this car in the States.

It should offer the new-Gen Focus in the States.
It should offer the C-Max in the States.
The S-Max….
The Mondeo…..

Same old story.

Look at Ford’s product line in the States, and you can only conclude Ford hates America and thinks Americans stupid.

By: DeansterTJ

DeansterTJ — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 02:23:51 +0000

The exterior is a home run, but they botched the interior (center stack is awful, full of cheesy 80’s GM-style buttons). Anyways, still worth bringing over…

By: mazdaman

mazdaman — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:59:30 +0000

This car pretty much blows away everything else in the “B-Class” subcompact car segment. It really makes that Aveo 3-door monstrosity that Chevy revealed the other day look really, really sad (as well as that pseudo-crossover, jacked-up, Scion xD clone that Toyota is planning on dumping in Europe). I say Ford has a hit on their hands with this car. I would have liked to see them use the Verve name to connect this car to its concept car origins, but I guess there’s no harm in continuing with the name of the previous model. Maybe this car will improve the image of the Fiesta name, just like the 2008 Malibu has done wonders to reverse the dowdy image of the Malibu name. I think Ford should offer all variants of this car in the U.S. market (I’m assuming there will be 5-door and sedan versions in addition to the 3-door). I think they could make a pretty sizeable impact on the segment by offering more than just a sedan in the U.S. I hope this is the beginning of better days to come for Ford.

By: RicardoHead

RicardoHead — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:14:58 +0000

Cool car. If the sedan is like the concept, then even the sedan is hot, but Ford – really – offer the hatch in the states. Honda/Toyota can’t keep the Fit/Yaris Hatchbacks in stock, and this thing dusts either of those two.

By: erok247

erok247 — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:34:26 +0000

Wow…you people are morons…would you rather have an Aveo? How about a Versa? This blows those cars away…I’d rather have this over most of the small subcompacts…except maybe the Fit…
Get real people and realize a good move when you see one instead of stating your bias opinions.

By: howsmydriving

howsmydriving — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:33:00 +0000

Nice product, stupid name.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:32:24 +0000

Oh great, the sedan version- nobody wants a hot little hatch over here. And betcha it won’t have 5 engine choices. I swear Ford could f*ck up a free lunch.

By: autonut

autonut — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:25:34 +0000

The previous Fiesta was better looking.