Fiesta ST/XR4 Petition - Please Mr Ford Please

[MISTA FIESTA]

Its simple, Just post in this thread if you want the Fiesta ST/XR4 to hit the shores of Oz. There is alot of talk about this rocket, so how about we see an indication from these forums as to who wants one and if the demand is actually high enough to impact. If people think this is useless then the mods can delete it. I am just addressing that this subject is on alot of peoples minds.

Past your first name, age and location.

1. Damian - Sydney - 22yrs

[theostheone]

eyy...

do you honestly believe that this is going to achieve anything??

[Pieoter]

Piotr - Sydney - 19yrs

I had my eye of the polo gti but I just didn't like it (cheap interior). The ST will run rings around everything in the same market just as it does in europe and looking at current market trends there is clearly a market for these cars.

[Fled74]

Time will tell...

Chris - Melbourne - 31yrs

[MISTA FIESTA]

..... ,,,,

[Swaytan]

Sway, Sydney, 25 years.

[Zetec20]

Isaac, Wollongong, 19 years

[Ives]

Ivan, Sydney, 22yo.

[kiwijohn42]

John, Hobart, 34. I took a Polo GTI for a spin too, it's a great little pocket rocket. Only trouble is mentioning TURBO to insurance companies. So I saved 8g & got a Zetec, really the only other car in the class, & cheaper insurance to boot.

[robjh80]

Rob, Brisbane, 40

[joshf2]

what happened to redstar71 and his ST wannabe?

oh yeah

josh, sydney, 25

rhett townsville 20

[Sonia]

Sonia - Melbourne - 26

[Teki04]

I've already written a letter to Ford... Should maybe send it soon aye? Wrote it in the perspective of the Fiesta being great, but I was left wanting more. I got the Renault. Had the Fiesta ST been out it would have been a normal progression into it.

Pieoter - You found the interior of the Polo GTI cheap? Wow... from all reports I read (and my own thoughts) the interior looks out of a place in a $27k car. Reminds me more of the $50k luxury cars around!

[marcosambrose]

Hendrik, 18, Wollongong NSW

[Pieoter]

granted with the leather the car looks awesome. But with the cloth trim the looks like crap. The centre console is great but i didn't like the rest of the interior at all. Thats my own personal thoughts.

[Danny]

I highly doubt that their whole descision to Bring Fiesta ST in will be swayed by this but I'm down

Daniel - 21 Years, Melbourne

I'd too buy one over an XR5 and or VW Gti Variant Theres a hole in this market for a small sports hatch with a local badge on it. Peugeot and Renault are too French for a lot of people who aren't in the automotive know to consider. Ford is a more recognisable brand, the XR4 would get a following from Blue bloodeds looking for economy, or the XR8 driver who wants a car for the son or daughter or missus.......

[murcod]

Regarding insurance prices, the WQ Zetec would be $372 per year for me and the Polo GTi is only $471. Certainly wouldn't put me off buying one!

BTW I imagine the ST Fiesta (if it ever arrived here) would be a similar price to the GTi?

[Teki04]

Originally Posted by mondeost24

Regarding insurance prices, the WQ Zetec would be $372 per year for me and the Polo GTi is only $471. Certainly wouldn't put me off buying one!

WOW! Are you located in the bush or something?!

[murcod]

No, Adelaide suburbs and that includes my 32yo wife as a driver- I'm 37 and rating 1.

[xurbanx]

I'd gladly sell the car and get myself into debt again (:

Helder, 19 years - Melbourne

[Teki04]

Mondeost24 - your bloody lucky mate! I wanna move to Adelaide so I can get my dream cars sooner LOL

[Teki04]

Here was my letter (which never made it to Ford LOL - Lazy? Perhaps)

Dear Ford Australia,

I write to you in regards to the Fiesta ST (should I say, XR4?). After seeing the hot hatch craze in Australia booming so well, and with a new crop of Hot Hatches destined for Australia, I fell in love with them. At the time, I was in year 12, and was also after something that was economical. After deciding against getting a used car such as the Peugeot 206 GTi, and Peugeot 306 GTi6, I looked at getting a new Fiesta Zetec WP. In September 2004, I became the proud owner of a Fiesta Zetec, with the 16 inch alloys (standard now, good work!), tints and alarm. After a few months of ownership, I went with an aftermarket rear spoiler (Wolf, from Germany), and it finished off the Zetec. I also added the sports leather gear knob from the accessories brochure. The Fiesta was just the way I wanted it. I went from A to B, had style, and the chassis/handling was absolutely unbelievable. After having a great purchase experience (though not so great pre-delivery check), I went looking for another dealer to service my car. I found my local Jubilee Ford dealership to be great. They had a reasonable service price, and they always helped me out, even with Warranty Repairs (where some other makes falter in their customer service).

Never have I had so much fun in a small hatch before, with cornering abilities able to put more expensive cars to shame. I guess, the Zetec was a hoot, and as Wheel Magazine mentioned, it is the ‘cheapest real driver’s car’. Couldn’t agree with them more!

However, after 1.5 years of ownership (and putting some nicer 205/45R16 tyres on the car to handle better), I decided I wanted something with more power, and something slightly more unique. I had a look at the Focus Range, but at the time the Zetec was mediocre, and the South African built Focus sent shivers up my spine. Coming from a German built Fiesta, with great reliability and no rattles or squeaks in the dash, I couldn’t put myself into a Zetec Focus. Especially since the lesser models had the same engine/mechanicals (Once again, like the Fiesta I owned). I knew the XR5T (Focus ST) was going to come out, but the price, and limited supply (however major demand) was surely going to send the price into the low $40,000s on the road. So, I had to leave the Ford Marque.

So, after having to leave the Ford brand, and looking for something with more power, and a little unique, I had to look into the Polo GTi, the Peugeot 206 GTi180, and the RenaultSport Clio 182 Cup. I also considered the SP23, as it was different to the base models. After comparing the cars, it was pretty obvious which would be the final runners up, the Renault and VW. The Polo GTi was great, without optioning it up though. Option the Sunroof and Leather, and prices were starting to approach $33,500. Insurance would have been hefty too, as the car is a 1.8L Turbocharged. So, I decided to go with the best bang for your buck, and headed into my local Renault dealership. After driving the RenaultSport Clio 182 Cup, I couldn’t believe what a car it was. It handled slightly better then the Fiesta (again, I had put sticky rubber and lowered it slightly too – so it did make sense as the Wheels Magazine Handling Olympics revealed that the Fiesta does handle very well), but the engine was very powerful (about 75% more power then the Fiesta Zetec), yet weighed about the same as the Fiesta. The seats were also superbly designed to hold you in place. So, that day, I walked away with $34,500 out of pocket. My Fiesta was traded-in, and 3 days later I was in a new car.

Why am I writing this letter to you? Because I remember that when I had the Fiesta, all I could think about was the Fiesta ST you previewed at the Sydney Motor Show (in 2004 I think? – my car was relatively new, I remember that!). The Fiesta ST was to have 110kW from a 2.0L I believe, and as such insurance would be cheaper then the Polo GTI. Then there were the seats, much better then the Zetec. The exterior also was unique, with different bumpers and wheels. Now, had the Fiesta ST been released here at around $26,000 to $28,500 RRP, I would have jumped into one in a heart beat. I know a few other Fiesta owners who would do the same. Actually, I know of a very close friend in a Fiesta LX WP model, who has also enhanced the appearance of his car, only to now want something more, and is now considering the Peugeot 206GTi180. Ford, your Fiesta customers will one day want more, and please, give us something more then just a warm hatch. We want a Hot Hatch, something naturally aspirated, relatively cheap to run, easy to purchase (no long waiting periods, please!), and most of all, fun to drive.

Everyday I drive the Renault, I smile. Sure, it has had warranty issues (3, to be exact) within the first 2 months, but it is great in bringing a smile to my face! Had the Fiesta ST been released, it would have been German built; If it had the same reliability as the Zetec, I would have been a proud owner of one.

Consider the Fiesta ST. The XR5T is great for the family. I’m only 19, currently studying a Bachelor of ********* at University, and also working in Real Estate. Due to working in Real Estate, I do a lot of driving. I’d like something zippy, easy to park, cheap to ensure, cheap to run (I remember the Fiesta being 15,000kms/1year service intervals. No such thing in the Renault! 10,000kms/6months), and yet, if I wanted to travel through the National Park on the weekend, I would come out with a large smile on my face, and remind myself of why the Fiesta ST is such a great car.

Regards,

Steven

N.B. I do know you considered the Fiesta ST. It is on the Federal Government’s fuel consumption website. 8.1L/100kms – impressive!

[Danny]

Did you get a reply back steve?

[Teki04]

Originally Posted by Danny

Did you get a reply back steve?

Never sent it - should I?

[Pieoter]

Thats a really good letter. You should sent it to ford.

[MISTA FIESTA]

Originally Posted by Pieoter

Thats a really good letter. You should sent it to ford.

I second that. We/You have nothing to loose if you send the letter. It might not make a big diff (some peeps have informed me that it is pointless, but i say ?????) but it might just ruffle a few feathers.

[crispymk2]

Just change "cheap to ensure" to "insure" before you do... ;)

[marcosambrose]

Originally Posted by Teki04

Never sent it - should I?

Yep. Ford might listen to thier supporters for once.

Ive sent FoMoCo Oz 2 letters in the past, i got poster of the territory signed by Tom Gorman once.

[Fled74]

Yes, send it. Send 'em the link to our online petition as well (once we get more people to sign it).