36 Months in a Fiesta ST
It all started with an article. Much like the one you’re reading right now. The year was 2018 and I had always been curious about the pint-sized, but mighty Fiesta ST. Numerous automotive journalists much more esteemed than myself had either owned them, or had them on a short-list of fun hatchbacks that you can easily live with and drive every single day.
Like any other like-minded enthusiast, I was perusing my local Turo market, and stumbled upon a gray, stock, base-trim Fiesta ST. I was immediately intrigued and decided to click on the listing. The part that immediately drew me in (aside from the fact that it was a Fiesta ST) was the supremely low price of $37/day. I mean…. Come on. I’d be a fool to not look further into it.
For $37/day, that would get me a 2700 lb car making 200 hp, paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox, and had a mileage limit of 500 miles/day. Or as it turns out in Gavin Maths, basically free. I immediately booked the rental and was teeming with excitement to get out of my base manual 2011 Subaru Forester.
Days later, I picked up the car, dumped the Subaru and made off as quickly as possible. The connection was instant. By the time I hit my first on-ramp, the emotions and the character of the car were all I could think about. Dancing with all three pedals, the vehicle working and engaging in perfect harmony, hitting boost before I even entered the freeway. The rest of the rental went swimmingly. Hundreds of miles later, many of which were on twisty canyon roads, I knew that I needed to have this car in my life… but for more than just two days at a time.
Fast forward to May 2020 and I was in dire need of a new car. I needed out of the Forester after murdering Bambi, and into something I legitimately enjoyed. Something that I can either show up to a Cars and Coffee, or host a group drive, and hang with the best of everyone and set a good and healthy pace. Something fun and sporty that I could enjoy on a daily basis, carry all my camera gear if need be, get decent fuel economy, while also blasting up the canyon on a whim, just because I felt like it. Like any budget-conscious enthusiast, I hopped onto Autotempest (no they aren’t a sponsor… yet) and started the search for Fiesta STs in my area. It took less than a week of looking before settling on a gray… seemingly standard Fiesta ST. I popped down to a nearby Ford dealership where they had my very car on the lot for $16,000. It was certified pre-owned, with 23k miles on the odometer.
Unlike the Turo Fiesta, this one had a sunroof, and most importantly, Recaro seats that are also heated. The Recaro seats are an absolute must in these cars, seeing as the only other seating option is the flat “Ottoman-style” chairs. Also, if you live in the harsh winter environment that Utah is home to, heated seats are a standard box to check. These things heat up near instantly and will warm you up well before the HVAC system will.
Okay so now that I’ve had the car for almost 36-months, what can I tell you about it?
When I picked up the car, it already had an aftermarket Sound Symposer-delete, which ditches any kind of “pumped in engine audio” and in return makes all the pssh-pssh noises one could ever ask for. Along with this modification, the car also came with an MBRP Cat-Back style exhaust system. As far as noise levels are concerned, it is at the upper limit of what I (as someone still mentally in my 20’s) would be able to tolerate for a daily car. People hear me coming, and I do receive the occasional pop and crackle upon downshift, while still maintaining a nice burble at idle. It’s a good amount of noise while also still being able to carry on a conversation on the phone, or with someone in the car with me.
What don’t I like about this car?
Well… There are definitely cons to having a car of this small stature, even if I am only 5’10” tall. If I ever need to fold down the rear seats, the fronts have to move. They just do. Upon opening the rear hatch, the trunk space is actually laughable as well. With the seats up, I can throw my backpack camera bag, an overhead suitcase, and a pair of hiking boots. That’s all ya got.
Along with the other modifications to this car, I have fitted an aftermarket Mishimoto radiator to the car. Let me tell you why…
Now, my understanding may be a bit hazy, but over the last few years of looking at forums and watching Youtube videos, I have deduced that sub-par radiators are a touch-and-go-by-build-date issue, with some exceptions sprinkled throughout. Allow me to break this one down.
2014-2015 cars could possibly overheat in stop-and-go traffic on a summer’s afternoon.
2016-2017 cars (mine) would overheat when being thrashed through a canyon road under high-load and high-rpm scenarios when the vehicle speeds aren’t as high (reducing air-flow into the engine bay), and high amounts of engine load while climbing mountains.
2018-2019 cars don’t really have many issues here.
I snagged my radiator from a friend and it was $400 installed through an independent shop, per his request.
“Hey Gavin, have you had any other issues with the car? Maybe left you stranded or even just other inconveniences?” No, not really. Even a couple of years after the fact, I still get compliments on my gold Fifteen52 Integrale wheels, I have a smile on my face at some point of the drive most days, and the car does exactly what I ask of it.
As of today, I’ve just fitted my aforementioned Fifteen52s with a relatively fresh set of Continental Extreme Contact Sport tires that give me +5 on the sidewall. I did this for a couple of reasons.
A.) The cost of Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s have blown up to a price bracket that no longer fits the tire. So Continental it is.
B.) These tires have loads more grip, while still maintaining the character of the car’s platform.
C.) Most importantly, I get a slightly better ride quality by adding more rubber between my ass and the cracked up pavement. These cars ride….. Hmmmm what’s a kind way to put this? Taught. They are quite taught. I’ve heard of folks downsizing to a set of 16” or even 15” wheels, and I feel like I’ll give the current wheel/tire setup one more season of bliss before making a change for the 2023-24 winter season. Gold 15” rally wheels for winter anyone?
“Well what is going to replace it? As a car guy, you must be looking for your next thing?” I mean, sure I’m always exercising my brain and figuring out what’s next. But whatever may come next, I can assure you it won’t be a front-wheel-drive hot hatch. I’ve driven plenty of other cars in this market, and the Fiesta ST resonates with me the most. Maybe I can do what I truly love and try daily-driving a sports car like a 987 Cayman or 996 Carrera? Or perhaps find myself in a truly economical appliance that is basically free to run, and have some cheap toy on the side like a Miata or BRZ that I take out for fun, or to flex on my coworkers. But what I know I will never do is try to fill the Fiesta ST-shaped hole in my heart, for whenever I decide to part ways with it. I don’t see any real lateral moves from this car. I see myself either moving down and getting some quiet with silky smooth ride quality and a warranty, or moving up to a vehicle with maybe an engine in a different place, making completely different noises, and requiring a different set of inputs from the driver.
At the time of writing this article (March 18th, 2023), we in the Salt Lake City area are just coming out of what seems like the craziest winter in terms of snowfall with local ski resorts clocking in almost 700” in snow accumulation. It also happens to be that part of the season when Justin and I plan our big videos for the year, and I find myself getting lost at 12:28am on Google maps, in search of winding mountain roads. All because I want to find new places, or just escape the city for an afternoon with the people I love, and my plucky little Fiesta ST.
