Fiesta Movement video

I'm sure by now you've all heard about the Fiesta Movement

Here is a video done by a buddy of mine. He's a total Ford Focus fanatic and fellow AutoXer. It's a little corny, but it really shows how much he deserves one of these!

Jason's Fiesta Movement Video

I deserve one because I'm a poor college student who has been discussing the need for smaller cars in the US and was pushing the Fiesta back when the Focus was still new.

but...that won't get me a new car.

I wonder if the fact that I have been driving Escorts since 1982, all stick shift, belong to a car club and attend a lot of car related events ,would have any bearing. They might frown on track days though.

It's about time they bring that over here. Too bad they have to have their backs against the ropes before they see the light.

is it the Fiesta or the Ka that shares a platform with the Fiat 500? I want that one.

actually a Ka would be a great car, I drove a 1st gen when I lived in Spain, it was a hoot, hopefully the 3rd gen will be just as good (and sold in the US)

People have a bad taste in their mouths from the 90's Festiva.

Most American's who were around to see that car released prefer larger cars, the younger generation only see them in their beaten state.

So when Ford mentions cheap small car named a Fiesta, many ignorant American car buyers expect a junky little hatchback to show up, not a car that seriously outclasses the Yaris for it's size.

I think the Focus turned alot of people off as well because they didn't exactly have good reliability ratings...that could have changed though.

PHeller wrote: People have a bad taste in their mouths from the 90's Festiva. Most American's who were around to see that car released prefer larger cars, the younger generation only see them in their beaten state. So when Ford mentions cheap small car named a Fiesta, many ignorant American car buyers expect a junky little hatchback to show up, not a car that seriously outclasses the Yaris for it's size. I think the Focus turned alot of people off as well because they didn't exactly have good reliability ratings...that could have changed though.

Good to be reminded of misconceptions that have no relation to modern vehicles.

Subtract 10 years from the Festiva, and you get people remembering the cool Fiesta that was here in the first place. Nor do you consider that the current Focus is of quite high quality + people are spending extra money to get the Sync systems in their car, AND sales are up.

But I guess none of that matters in the face of negative reminders....

Eric

PHeller wrote: People have a bad taste in their mouths from the 90's Festiva. Most American's who were around to see that car released prefer larger cars, the younger generation only see them in their beaten state. So when Ford mentions cheap small car named a Fiesta, many ignorant American car buyers expect a junky little hatchback to show up, not a car that seriously outclasses the Yaris for it's size. I think the Focus turned alot of people off as well because they didn't exactly have good reliability ratings...that could have changed though.

Have you ever owned a festiva? Most people that have will tell you it is the best car they ever owned. Many are still going strong 16 years after the last one was imported here. all the componets are Mazda, the only thing ford on it was the little oval.

The cars run forever, and consistantly get 40mpg they probably would have had a better motorsport rep had the more performance versions been imported.

I would hardly consider any of the above to be considered being left with a bad taste in the mouth, personally I wish they would come out with a new version of the festiva.

Chris Rummel

I wasn't commenting on my own opinions, merely on those of just about 90% of people I've heard dicuss their opinions about the coming Fiesta and previous Festiva.

I personally would love a Festiva and I'm really looking forward to the Fiesta hatchback.

Yeah, I signed up for that. Then Ford sent me a brochure and there's no 3 door hatch. Lame. I'm not going to bother to make a video now.

PHeller wrote: I wasn't commenting on my own opinions, merely on those of just about 90% of people I've heard dicuss their opinions about the coming Fiesta and previous Festiva. I personally would love a Festiva and I'm really looking forward to the Fiesta hatchback.

Then why predict gloom and doom? If you want one, buy it, and show them they are wrong.

I think it will do fine. Won't sell like explorers, which will make a lot of people mad, but it will do just fine.

Eric

Rumnhammer wrote: Have you ever owned a festiva? Most people that have will tell you it is the best car they ever owned. Many are still going strong 16 years after the last one was imported here. all the componets are Mazda, the only thing ford on it was the little oval. The cars run forever, and consistantly get 40mpg they probably would have had a better motorsport rep had the more performance versions been imported. I would hardly consider any of the above to be considered being left with a bad taste in the mouth, personally I wish they would come out with a new version of the festiva. Chris Rummel

Right after my parent's divorce my mom bought an '88 Festy from a dealer friend, it had been a demo, manual tranny, had no AC, no radio, nothing. They did put in an AM/FM radio and 2 speakers for us at least.

I think she finally got rid of it with +185k miles on it, all 3 of us kids learned to drive on it, it had been in at least 3 accidents and repaired and the worst maintenance I think it ever required was wheel bearings.

It was also my first indirect exposure to Kia, it had a sticker under the hood stating it had been assembled by Kia and imported by Ford. I also buried the (85mph) speedo too frequently on that car and got my only 2 speeding tickets to date (knock-on-wood) in that car. So yeah, I have some good memories about Festies.

Most people think they are KIa's but they were only assembled by Kia using all Mazda parts. The ones sold in Japan, were assembled in Japan, and sold as fords via Autorama Japan.

Japan and most of the Pacific rim got the juicier versions. The GT, GTX, and GTA all of which were powered by the DOHC 1.3 liter engine making 100hp, think Swift Gti and you will be close.

Maybe one of these days I'll break down and write a history of Festiva piece for GRM, any interest?

Chris Rummel

Speaking of movements, I just took a giant Fiesta.

I saw 4 door Festivas in the Carribean but they called them something different. Weird looking. The Festiva over here was one tough lil' sumbitch. They were bought cheap, indifferently maintained and generally treated like crap but they just refused to die, much like the original Fiesta.

Come to think of it, recently I saw an orange Fiesta parked at the Westvaco office near my place. Almost stopped to ask if it was for sale.