Fiesta ST vs Sonic RS

Anybody on the boards own either?

I believe one of our message board regulars who writes about cars for a living (eastcoastmojo?) said that the RS was actually a decent car. Of course, the Fiesta ST clearly overshadows it in nearly every department.

The thing is, 2014 Fiesta ST's up north here are super rare, especially now that they are changing over to the 2015's. There are 3 non-moonroof cars left in Canada and thats it. I found one, for a good of price as it gets, with 0.99% financing.

However, I can get a 2013 old-stock RS for $7k cheaper.

Is the Sonic worth it? Can I throw $1k or $2k at the Sonic and make it a Fiesta? Or should I go for broke and step up to the ST?

At the end of the day, I have a STi rally car that runs on VP109 for fun. I really don't need the performance, it just needs to be a fun, sporty DD. And I don't mind wrenching, so adding parts to make it my own is a big plus.

Edit- Basically, the Fiesta is $27500, the Sonic is $21k. Part of the reason for the price discrepency is that in Canada you only get the ST fully loaded (recaros are standard), with options being moonroof and nav. The Sonic has a sunroof :( But I can live with that for the price...

I don't own either but LOVE the Fiesta ST and would pay the premium just for the amazing seats, more room and easier tune-a-bility of the Fiesta. I haven't seen much in the way of hand held tuners or exhausts for the Sonic.

I do sort of like the Sonic RS on paper. I have not driven one, yet. I expect to drive a Fiesta ST at an ecoboost event in a couple of weeks. Yesterday I had a black on black Fiesta ST ridding bumper, it was actually kind of pissed off looking in the rear view. I have heard the Sonic has more room in the back and I think the RS looks a little more grown up than the ST. Trifecta does tuning for the Sonic I believe, but I doubt it will approach ST performance.

The July issue of another magazine says the Fiesta ST is the best, not compared to the Sonic, because of driving enjoyment.

Have you test driven both? There is tuning out there for the Sonic, it's the same engine as the Cruze and there are several places for that. With work you could get 1/2 way close to a Fiesta ST, but by then you've spent ST money.... Would you be able to leave an ST alone? I'm sure there are plenty of ways to throw money at that too, getting into Focus ST territory. You see what's happening here.

Buy whatever you like better in stock form.

The Sonic seems good on paper (haven't driven it). The Fiesta ST is probably worth the premium. It was a really fun car to toss around a short AutoX course at the Ford Ecoboost challenge! I would probably have one if the Ford dealers in my area weren't the worst to deal with. Plus I couldn't find one without a moonroof within any reasonable distance.

So.. test drive both. I think you'll like the ST a lot more.

There is a Fiesta ST at a major Ford dealership here on the used lot. Recaro package, 1200 miles on the odometer, in red. The back seats are imaginary in the car with the seat in my driving position- as in, there was literally about three inches between the back of the driver's seat and the front of the rear seat.

If it was green, I might have been more interested.

Fiesta ST is everyone's love for hot hatch right now. A sonic doesn't compare.

I've driven a Fiesta ST and a Sonic LT Turbo(so not a perfect comparison). The Fiesta blows it away. The Sonic would be acceptable, as long as you aren't expecting ST levels of fun and performance, and IMHO, it needs something to improve the shift feel. Unless they really firmed up the suspension for the RS, it may be a lot easier to live with on potholed roads than the Fiesta.

I ended up with a left over Fiat 500 Abarth in the same price range as what you mentioned for the Sonic, but I have no idea what they sell for in Canada.

eastsidemav wrote: I've driven a Fiesta ST and a Sonic LT Turbo(so not a perfect comparison). The Fiesta blows it away. The Sonic would be acceptable, as long as you aren't expecting ST levels of fun and performance, and IMHO, it needs something to improve the shift feel. Unless they really firmed up the suspension for the RS, it may be a lot easier to live with on potholed roads than the Fiesta. I ended up with a left over Fiat 500 Abarth in the same price range as what you mentioned for the Sonic, but I have no idea what they sell for in Canada.

Abarth's are expensive, and while I want one, I need 4 doors. Also, I would prefer a softer ride, I live in Edmonton which ispothole and frostheave hell.

I dont expect the sonic to be a fiesta. Having owned turbo firefly's and swift gti's for years, I understand what owning the underdog is like. Incould have owned Civic's, but I went a bit of a different way.

Biggest requirements are reliability, good mpg, being able to put 300,000kms on it with no problems, and a little bit of modibility for fun.

Ive saw 200whp and 230wtq with bolt ons and tune. That is more than enough for a 2800lb fwd car :)

I have yet to get to hoon an ST, I did drive a boosted sonic awhile back and would rather drive my sho......

yamaha wrote: I have yet to get to hoon an ST, I did drive a boosted sonic awhile back and would rather drive my sho......

I'd rather drive a modded turbo firefly compared to any of these, but it won't get as good of gas mileage, be nearly as useable, and I'd have to first find one and then fix all the broken E36 M3 on it/modify it

So instead, new car! I test drive it tonight, we'll see if it turns my crank. I can live with a lot of issues if it is overall a fun car for $20k. The Fiesta ST is just NOT IMO $27.5k worth of fun. I'd buy a genesis turbo at that point. Especially for daily driving in a city that sees snow on the roads 7 months of the years, and the other 5 months is potholes and cliffs that are frost heaves

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the factory Sonic upgrades discussed here . Those, plus the Trifecta tune, might lead to cost-effective fun. If you go this route, please keep us informed!

Stealthtercel wrote: I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the factory Sonic upgrades discussed here . Those, plus the Trifecta tune, might lead to cost-effective fun. If you go this route, please keep us informed!

The plan is to get the most bang for the buck... if I wanted to spend $21k plus another $6k, I'd just buy the Fiesta

But everything for this car is SO DAMN CHEAP!

I will be buying these parts shortly if I go ahead: http://www.chevroletmuscle.com/Sonic-Performance-Suspension-Package-p/23158162.htm
Lowers the car an additional 10mm. I don't want to go any lower than that since I'll be driving 7 months of the year in winter. Perfect! Hopefully they are slightly stiffer as well.

http://store.badnewsracing.net/ZZPerformance-2012-Chevrolet-Sonic-14T-Full-Turbo-Back-Exhaust_p_111.html Full on turbo back. I won't be running any cats or mufflers.

The trifecta tune of course! http://store.badnewsracing.net/Trifecta-Tune-2012-2014-Chevrolet-Sonic-14L-Turbo_p_11.html

And then add a rear sway bar: http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/171226355453

Voila! First upgrade though would be the tune, as it seems like the best bang for the buck. Of course, this is all just mental masturbation until I sign on the dotted line, but its fun to think about

I would bet the ST is more reliable over time than the Sonic

I was cruising down the fwy at 75 or so the other day when a ST came blitzing by doing a triple digit slalom with moving cars as the cones. The guy was a complete asshat, yet I grudgingly had to admit that his chassis looked really well buttoned down and under control as he risked all our lives. Given that where I live it's not uncommon to see great wallowing Buicks on 24s trying something similar, my thought was "If you're going to be a jackass, at least show some skills and quality machinery". The ST scored on all counts.

http://bham.craigslist.org/cto/4454180314.html

The guy was a complete asshat, yet I grudgingly had to admit that his chassis looked really well buttoned down and under control as he risked all our lives.

Love it!

Sounds like for your purposes (winter use, already have an awesome "toy" car), the Sonic does make more sense than the Fiesta. I might be a bit leery of stiffening the suspension, depending on road conditions up there, but you know your situation better than I do.

I also can't think of many other "in-between" mild hot hatchbacks that the Sonic RS directly competes with. Everything else is either NA with a completely different power curve, or turbo'd with significantly more power (and presumably cost). The Fiat 500 Turbo sort of fits, but doesn't have rear doors.

f6sk wrote: http://bham.craigslist.org/cto/4454180314.html

That kid is going to learn a painful lesson about depreciation. He paid $3500 to "get it off the lot" and expects $1700 for someone to take over payments... he'll be lucky to get out of it without having to chip in more money. Fortunately he picked a car that holds value pretty well so far.

Desmond wrote: I would bet the ST is more reliable over time than the Sonic

Bet that 7K difference is only 4K and change after resale is factored in.

eastsidemav wrote: I also can't think of many other "in-between" mild hot hatchbacks that the Sonic RS directly competes with. Everything else is either NA with a completely different power curve, or turbo'd with significantly more power (and presumably cost). The Fiat 500 Turbo sort of fits, but doesn't have rear doors.

Another warm hatch option Kia Forte5 SX turbo - hatch, four doors, 201hp

http://cars.about.com/od/kia/fl/DriveWays-2014-Kia-Forte5-SX-Turbo.htm

wearymicrobe wrote:

Desmond wrote: I would bet the ST is more reliable over time than the Sonic

Bet that 7K difference is only 4K and change after resale is factored in.

I bet you are right. Its actually even less!

So I went to the dealership. First off, the guy was great. I take that as him being either relatively new at the game, or not being the typical "deal hard" kind of sales guy. In any case...

I love the car. I WANT a RS. Everything falls to hand perfectly. It does everything I want. If modern cars are all like this... gawd damn I say! Worth every penny!

Having said that, it definitely needs the suspension upgraded a bit more than factory (those 10mm lower front and rear springs with the revalved rear shocks, along with a rear sway bar would be perfect). It was absolutely liveable over our E36 M3ty roads which was a huge bonus. I can't stress enough how great everything was. It could also stand a short throw shifter, but I can't really complain about the shifting action.

So we got into the wheeling and dealing. That's when I find out that since it is a 2013 and not a 2014, there is no 0% (or for 84 months, 1.99% financing). Bank rate at 4.99%.

My little brain gets spinning, running the numbers. The car is cheap, but once you factor in the 4.99%, is it really "that" cheap? I got the guys info and left. He wanted to sell me the car that night, but I insisted that if I was buying one, it'd be the red one in the showroom from him.

I then started running numbers online. The 2013 @ $20k, once all the taxes and bullE36 M3 are added, plus final financing costs works out to $24,800 all in. Guess what a brand new 2014 at a price I know I could get "all in" works out to? $26,500 all in, interest and tax. So really, it isn't that good of a deal. You are taking a car a year older, and paying a bit more than $1k less for it. And the 2014's have upgrades (better interior materials, a stronger clutch as the older ones are known to be weak, etc). AND the 2014's are coming up on their end of model year run, they will start blowing them out soon to make way for the 2015's. And of course, I want one without a sunroof, and this one has it. Not my fault they don't have the car I want in stock.

So I'm not really convinced. Those 2013's have already been there at least a year, guaranteed (there are two sitting there). So I'm in no rush. I figure if I can get him down to $19k for the purchase price of the car, and then everything else happens on top, no big deal. That seems like a good price. But if those cars sell, I'll wait a month or two, bank some more cash, and just buy a newer one. Win-win.

But anyone looking for a car that isn't as stiff as the Fiesta, or doesn't like the look of the Fiesta, these cars should definitely be looked at. With about $1500, I bet you get close to stock Fiesta performance in the speed and handling department.

Bank rate on a 84 month with tier 1 is 2.49 with most credit unions on 84 month loan. Though I do not suggest a loan that long.

On a 13 bringing your own paper I bet you can do 20 even, not a lot of room on a economy car. Even a 13, in a manual, with no finance special.

wearymicrobe wrote: Bank rate on a 84 month with tier 1 is 2.49 with most credit unions on 84 month loan. Though I do not suggest a loan that long. On a 13 bringing your own paper I bet you can do 20 even, not a lot of room on a economy car. Even a 13, in a manual, with no finance special.

Canada dude I appreciate your thoughts on the subject though!