Is bigger always better? Focus ST vs Fiesta ST

So in continuing a search for a new daily driver, these two cars are very high contenders. But in the used car market, which one would you pick? I know it’s highly subjective, but it’s an interesting discussion. I haven’t driven the FiST yet, which I plan to do shortly. I’ve driven the FoST and thought it was a blast…I’ve also driven many Focus SE rentals and always liked them.

The FiST is a smaller car, buy a significant margin. It’s a foot shorter and has a much smaller cargo area. I do transport my kids around to sports practices/games, but wouldn’t need to take the whole family on vacation…we’ve got a minivan for that. It gives up 55hp and 56lb ft of tq to the FoST. It’s got a small fuel tank, which when you drive 110 miles per day, tank range matters. But…it can be had for $2k less. I can get a Certified Pre-Owned with under 15k miles for around $15-$16k. It weighs 500lbs less than the FoST, so some of the power disadvantage should be offset by the lighter weight. It should also be more nimble, given the lighter weight. It gets better mpg than the FoST. So lower buy in cost along with lower fuel costs make it notably less expensive overall.

The FoST is bigger, probably more “family friendly”. Bigger cargo area, bigger fuel tank. It has a nicer interior, more upscale feel. It’s got a crazy amount of power, I’ve read magazine reviews that say it’s almost too much for the front wheels to handle. But I’ll never turn my nose up at moar power. Buy in cost is higher. $17-$18k for a ’13 or ’14 with under 35k miles. MPG is lower, though not by a ton. It’s significantly heavier.

So is bigger better? Do either one of them have notable reliability issues or "weak spots"?

For eating up highway miles I'd pick the focus. Fiesta wins for urban driving. I should add that I didn't pass the sit behind myself test in the Fiesta. I'm six foot. It's pretty small.

I can't comment on reliability or anything, but as far as size goes I downsized from a Mazda3 to Mazda2 and don't regret it. Rear is fine for children. I've even driven from Dayton to Columbus and back with my wife up front, my mom, dad, and son in a car seat in the rear.

They weren't comfortable but was manageable. It had to be since my wife's car was in a flood the day before :-p

That said I'd buy a FoST myself due to more power, better wheel bolt pattern, and more interior room.

Like you I drive 100mi per day. I'm keeping the 2 to become a SMF or EP autocrosser, but am heavily leaning toward a FoST for GS shenanigans. It's very competitive with just tires and shocks and immensely popular... I think it will be a car to have in street class for several years.

"better wheel bolt pattern" ?

Is that a reason to buy ?

iceracer wrote: "better wheel bolt pattern" ? Is that a reason to buy ?

For auto-x class-legal wheel selection you bet!

I like small cars, I'd gladly chose the FiST over FoST for that reason alone.

I've driven both at autocrosses, and I've got to say that the Fiesta felt like a rocket. It was the only thing there that boogied down the straight as fast as my Sentra. I guess the gearing was just right for that particular course.

I've driven both, and for me the FiST is definately more giggly in terms of shear driving fun.

Most reviews I've read hold the Fiesta ST to be the winner in the "fun" category. It seems to be the right package of classic hot hatch ingredients.

The Focus is more of a compromise to meet the "more" demographic. It has added power to make up for it, but it's a bigger/plusher (relative to a Fiesta) car to begin with.

I have no seat time in either. They both seem like great cars.

It depends on your needs. the FiST is fun, fling-able and small. It has enough room for daily duties (including kids) but just.

The FoST is larger, more planted, and has the potential for very serious speed. I'd think a FiST would be more fun to autocross, but the FoST would be a better track-day choice. I've driven a race-prepped FoST at Road America, and a mildly modified FiST on the roads surrounding the track. If I was more prone to autocross, or city driving--- I'd take the FiST. If I planned on serious track-day use, or had longer distances to travel--- FoST.

They are both user-friendly, fun cars. Kudos to Ford for creating two affordable hot hatches. It's hard to lose with either.

The FoST must me so much different than the regular focus. Had a 2015 rental and hated everything literally everything about it. From the visibility, road noise, sound, entertainment system, transmission, interior layout, interior quality. Didn't have a single good thing to say about it other than that rental cars are the fastest cars ever.

I have had a 2012 Focus and a 2015 Fiesta. Neither was an ST but as far as chassis, the fiesta wins hands down. It is so much more fun to drive even with the eco tires on my 1L Ecoboost model. The back seat in both cars is equally usless to me and the Fiesta doesn't "feel" like it lost much in the rear storage department. The Driver's compartment is definitely tighter on the Fiesta and the Focus definitely has a higher quality interior. I am 6'2" and am happy enough with the space I have as the driver. Any taller and I wouldn't be able to say that though.

Joe Gearin wrote: It depends on your needs. the FiST is fun, fling-able and small. It has enough room for daily duties (including kids) but just. The FoST is larger, more planted, and has the potential for very serious speed. I'd think a FiST would be more fun to autocross, but the FoST would be a better track-day choice. I've driven a race-prepped FoST at Road America, and a mildly modified FiST on the roads surrounding the track. If I was more prone to autocross, or city driving--- I'd take the FiST. If I planned on serious track-day use, or had longer distances to travel--- FoST. They are both user-friendly, fun cars. Kudos to Ford for creating two affordable hot hatches. It's hard to lose with either.

Ford definitely has ripped off a couple of great cars recently, I agree that they're both great choices. LeMons feeds my speed addiction, so either car for me would be strictly DD duty. No autox, no track days. I probably wouldn't do any mods, I'd keep it stock. With 90% of my current miles driven being highway (a mix of open cruising and rush hour gridlock), cruising behavior is important. I do get to travel some country back roads that have some really nice curves, but it's largely highway running. Have you had a chance to run the FiST on the highway? Did it feel buzzy? I love fun, fling-able cars...I've owned 5 Miatae. Did the FiST feel notably more nimble than the FoST even at street sane speeds?

FiST...I was toying around with the idea of buying a new one With my employer discounts, I managed to price a new one without Recaros down to $19.5k. Then sensibility took over and I paid cash for an E46 ZHP.

(Actually, what really happened is I made the mistake of using TrueCar to check inventories and get quotes. Then the vultures started circling and somehow got hold of my home phone number and were really enthused to speak with my wife about it...killed that idea real quick.)

clutchsmoke wrote: For eating up highway miles I'd pick the focus. Fiesta wins for urban driving. I should add that I didn't pass the sit behind myself test in the Fiesta. I'm six foot. It's pretty small.

I'm also 6' tall and barely pass the "sit behind myself" test in a focus.

Both great cars, I think a FiST and a minivan is about the perfect 2-car solution. IMHO, the FiST will dominate your local HS class, the FoST has some tighter competition. The FiST would be fun at a track day, the FoST would be a bit more serious. (read : scary fast. Not that that is a bad thing)

The FiST is FUN FUN FUN for the daily drive...it turns every drive into a grin-enducing joyride. However, it can be a bit much on long commutes. It has a short wheelbase and a stiff suspension and can really pogo if the concrete slabs are spaced just so. If I am alone, I'll take the FiST because I like the precision and the cut and thrust nature of it. But with the wife and kids along, we take one of the Kias.

It is truly very small, but I never have a problem with 2 adults, a teen and a car seat. With the little hatch, it's fine for most errands, save Costco runs. I have a feeling that moving up to a Focus won't actually get you much more usability, realistically you'll still have to move to the minivan for 5 adults or a trip tot he big box store.

Bigger is NEVER better. Unless it is camshafts.

At no point has anyone ever said "You know, this car is nice, but what I really need for commuting is a Peterbilt."

Klayfish wrote:

Joe Gearin wrote: It depends on your needs. the FiST is fun, fling-able and small. It has enough room for daily duties (including kids) but just. The FoST is larger, more planted, and has the potential for very serious speed. I'd think a FiST would be more fun to autocross, but the FoST would be a better track-day choice. I've driven a race-prepped FoST at Road America, and a mildly modified FiST on the roads surrounding the track. If I was more prone to autocross, or city driving--- I'd take the FiST. If I planned on serious track-day use, or had longer distances to travel--- FoST. They are both user-friendly, fun cars. Kudos to Ford for creating two affordable hot hatches. It's hard to lose with either.

Ford definitely has ripped off a couple of great cars recently, I agree that they're both great choices. LeMons feeds my speed addiction, so either car for me would be strictly DD duty. No autox, no track days. I probably wouldn't do any mods, I'd keep it stock. With 90% of my current miles driven being highway (a mix of open cruising and rush hour gridlock), cruising behavior is important. I do get to travel some country back roads that have some really nice curves, but it's largely highway running. Have you had a chance to run the FiST on the highway? Did it feel buzzy? I love fun, fling-able cars...I've owned 5 Miatae. Did the FiST feel notably more nimble than the FoST even at street sane speeds?

I only had a short time in the FiST, and it was mildly modified. (ecu flash) It does feel more nimble at slow speeds that the focus, and it also exhibits less torque steer than the FoST. (the FoST has substantial torque steer) That said, the Focus ST is an awfully practical car that will swallow tons of stuff, and still be a hoot to drive. The Focus ST is also noticeably quieter and has a nicer (more compliant) ride. It would be my pick for any length of highway running. If your commute is largely highway--- I'd go FoST. If you're commute is city, or tight-twisty roads, the FiST may be a better choice.

For me, I prefer the Focus ST. I find it better looking, it has a ton of potential for more power (the race-prepped one I drove was making 350whp ) and it's overall usability trumps the more nimble feel of the Fiesta. (for me) YMMV

I think I would take the FiST, much more nimble and fun. I've been in the FoST and thought it could shave a few pounds and be really fun. But while we're talking about it, why not get the car these were derived from a Volvo s60R. You can get a good one for like 9k. All-wheel drive, 300hp and 295 torque, magnetic ride control, and world class front seats. They're pretty reliable in my book. Oh did I mention I own one. lol. Really its a great inexpensive, reliable car. A unicorn on the road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VblRfnRyPiA - Vs showing

In reply to jr10cross:

I believe the Focus is derived from the same platform the S40/V40/C30 uses, not the S60 platform. Not sure if the Fiesta is as well. So really I think the C30 would be the more apt Swedish comparison, or maybe the V40 because 5 doors.

I have short legs and a long torso at 6'4" and 210. Oddly, I fit better in the fiesta st than the focus st (both with recaros). In both cars it was a tight fit.

In reply to jr10cross:

The S60 was based on the Volvo P2 platform, which became the Ford D3 platform under the Taurus. The C30 was based on the Volvo P1/Ford C3 platform shared with the mid-00's Euro Focus, and the current Focus is on the new Global C platform, which shares absolutely nothing with Volvo...the S60R and current Focus ST have pretty much no common DNA at this point, let alone the Fiesta, which is half Mazda.

I stand corrected, but I was really just referring to the engine. The 2nd Gen ST and Euro RS share the same setup. 2.5 inline 5 Duratec. The R isn't exactly the same because it had the Dual VVT and more power, but it's all in the same family

Knurled wrote: Bigger is NEVER better. Unless it is camshafts.

Says the guy with a bridgeport avatar.

Furious_E wrote: In reply to jr10cross: I believe the Focus is derived from the same platform the S40/V40/C30 uses, not the S60 platform. Not sure if the Fiesta is as well. So really I think the C30 would be the more apt Swedish comparison, or maybe the V40 because 5 doors.

Sort of but not quite.

The C30/S40/V50 are derived from the second generation Focus.

The S40/V40 were derived from a Mitsubishi Lancer variant.

If you have a bubble S40 with a five cylinder and headlight squirters, you can use MS3 suspension parts. If you have a squarish S40 with a four cylinder and headlight wipers, you can use Evo III suspension parts. Volvo changed the wagon designation from V40 to V50 with the chassis change.

When I look for stuff on eBay, I search for V40 so that I don't have to weed through a bunch of five cylinder Focus parts