The new Beansmobile: getting FiST'ed

Add me to the list of those who hate you for making me want one even more.

Sadly, by the time I can buy one they will have been long since riced, ruined, and or totaled. Sigh.

I test drove an ND Miata and Fiesta ST back-to-back today. Interesting contrast. You can't really tell from a test drive, but I believe the Miata has the performance edge. Without being able (or willing) to really open them up, the Fiesta felt faster even though the test numbers say otherwise. I think this is just perception as the Miata is smoother. The feel of the Fiesta is awesome for the price. It wins the daily driver contest mainly for practicality and having a fixed roof.

Apparently all dealers advertise low-ball Internet prices and charge $699 in processing fees. At least that's what I was told. It's a shame you can't just buy a Fiesta from a vending machine. I hate the car buying game. I may consider going back tomorrow, but I really detest being lied to.

The car, though, is awesome.

See if with your employer if you qualify for any supplier plan. I work for Lowe's and get X plan. No haggling, that got about $1500 off the sticker immediately, then got another $2000 in incentives without even asking. If your dealer sucks, find a new one. For the price, this car is a bargain.

Because I can't leave E36 M3 alone, I'm a cheapass, and an innovator, I took an older(but NIB, and it was FREE) Prelude K&N air filter, "trimmed" the ends off the filter a few inches, and dropped it in the FiST. Perfect fit, first time. Spool is louder and the recirc valve makes a louder "spoosh" off throttle. Fun.

And I ordered a throttle pedal spacer because the factory offset makes heel/toe IMPOSSIBURU. Cost $60 after shipping, I was THIS close to making one out of some spare wood I've been tripping over in my garage for months, but then I realize it's a new car and I shouldn't be THAT 'thrifty'.

Also got a second set of the factory 205/40/17 Potenza's from a 2014('13 production date) ST... FOH FREE. 14k on them and they look like they've maybe lost 1-2/32 of depth. Score.

205/40/17? Wow, that's really small for a modern car. That's what you'd put on a 90s honda.

I just know they ride like crap and don't launch worth a damn.

Maybe you should buy a handling car and put much taller sidewalls on it, said very few people ever.

Vigo wrote: Maybe you should buy a handling car and put much taller sidewalls on it, said very few people ever.

I've said it and done it. It's more fun if your not going for time or trying to win anything. I like to feel a car move around on it's tires. In my experience it does nothing but add to the fun of a car. Unless your trying to set a fast time that is.

Really eyeing a set of 16x7 team dynamics and a 205/50/16. Sigh.... I have the money but I'm so cheap.

What would be the goal?

Well, spent Sunday autocrossing. Got 4th in class, mainly due to me overdriving the car and figuring out. Kept chipping time off, and if I had one more run, I'm pretty certain I could've closed in on the 2nd driver of the Mini- that car was SET UP and he was easily a nationally competitive driver based on the times he was able to run, and watching the tidiness of his technique.

http://www.nworscca.com/attachments/results/2016/2016_e5_results.htm

In reply to Vigo:

H-street build. Whatever I can manage to sell my Racing Harts for will either go towards a 16" autox only combo, or an intercooler+tune. The latter would ultimately bump me out of HS, but locally, no one really cares- I'll just stick it on the stock tune for events. I need to learn to drive the car better anyway, I'm overdriving the crap out of it.

Picking up a set of 15" TSW Revo's for my winter tires from the Accord(195/65/15) and selling those wheels this weekend.

beans wrote: Drove a 2011 GTI. REALLY nice car. Controls felt mushy, check engine light popped on, some had done a terrible job buffing it, and it looked like it had been fiddled with by someone. Pass.

That story is SO VW. You made the right choice.

beans wrote: In reply to jstein77: Good to hear. I like that size and think the stock tires are 'small' for a 205. Did the ride improve?

Hard to say, since they were already on the car when I bought it.

In reply to jstein77:

Add some pictures if you can. I want to see how "square" the sidewall is on the wheel and how tall it looks in the wheel well. I'm thiiiiiiis close to buying a set because the stock tires just suck.

Very Nice! One of maybe 3 or 4 new cars I would consider. Ford is hitting on all 8 these days, for sure. Enjoy.

A little action from Sunday.

Got bored last night and threw it in the dyno. Same dyno and similar conditions to when I had the Accord tuned earlier in the spring. Gained 30whp and 65lbs/ft at the wheels by switching to Ford.

I like the FiST, but I prefer the FoST. I have driven both on the track and around town. I ended up buying a FoST for about $22.5 with all of the rebates (it's a 2014 model and got it in Sept. 2014). Don't get me wrong, the FiST is a great car. I think it comes down to driving preference. The FiST is more toss-able, but it also felt more squirrely, which I find unsettling. The FoST will bite into a corner and hold it until you tell it to let go. Then you just have to hold on for dear life when the torque-steer comes up. I managed to surprise quite a few folks at the first autox I ran in it.

Anyway, good buy. The ST brothers are probably the best performance deal out there right now.

Sorry for the crap pic. Stock '16 FiST, half tank of gas, didn't remove anything. Launching pretty aggressively from 3500ish RPM. Just doesn't feel great getting out of the hole, pretty difficult to cut better than a 2.2ish 60ft. Had one 2.18, but I don't know how I did that. Tire pressure around 20-25psi, got about 10 runs in total over about an hour. Pretty consistent in the 14.8-15.1 range anywhere from 90-92mph. 75ish degrees. The car makes power on the dyno to be good enough to go mid-low 14's with this kind of 60ft, is it really a lot heavier than I think it is? Shouldn't it be around 2900 with driver(160lbs)? I mean it makes 30whp and 60wtq than my Accord did that should weigh about the same, it has better gearing, too, yet it barely goes 2 tenths quicker at almost the same mph.

As such, I've ordered a CP-e rear motor mount and will probably try a stickier compound tire for the 15" mustang 10 holes I have.

beans wrote: And I ordered a throttle pedal spacer because the factory offset makes heel/toe IMPOSSIBURU. Cost $60 after shipping, I was THIS close to making one out of some spare wood I've been tripping over in my garage for months, but then I realize it's a new car and I shouldn't be THAT 'thrifty'.

Can you please give me your source for the throttle pedal spacer? Because, as hard as it was to heel-and-toe the Fiesta, the FoRS is worse. There's too big a space between the throttle and the brake pedal.

PS I just saw your request for pics of the Fiesta tires - sorry I didn't notice that earlier. Here's one.

Autocrossing the FoRS this Sunday!

Bought it from modbargains.com

Almost a year in, 16k mile update. 3k overdue for an oil change (honestly haven't had time), one Cobb AP install-uninstall later, it's been great. Averaging 30mpg, fairly comfy, especially now that the recaros have broken in, stock filter back in, annoying ass freebie Boomba BPV plate still in, and summer tires back on. Great little daily, kind of kicking myself right now for not waiting for a 6mt Civic hatch sport 1.5t, or the forthcoming Si. A little bit more room would be nice, a little more MPG as well. The tuner was kind of fun, more annoying than not due to 3000rpm, sub 290lbsft peaks of torque that just wanted to rip the wheel out of your hands. It was definitely quicker, but made the powerband WAY too unlinear. Just not real enjoyable to drive daily with the tune. Felt like there was some low rpm-high gear compressor surge as well. Plus it was only averaging about 24mpg, could've been my fault, but it really didnt changed the way I drive. Suspension is a little too harsh for daily driving, IMO, I still think the shock tuning just plain sucks.

Oh well, 2 years+3 months and 38k left on the lease!