I test drove a fiesta a few months back and I wasn't crazy about it. Also didn't like the interior and whatever was going on with that radio setup.

 

True, the radio is a bit unconventional, but once familiar with it very easy to use. It has much better sound quality than the far more expensive Subie.

I really like the interior, tight bucket seats, decent quality, soft materials, quiet, and japanese styling. I always thought that it gave a feeling of being the offspring of a european and japanese car......which I guess that is really is.

 

I about **** myself when they drove it off the landing craft up to the windshield in water.

And then I became a bit skeptical when it made it out of the water under its own power.

 

I thought they were trying to move away from this until the 2/fiesta came out. They got rid of the Tribute, B2000, etc. All those were blatantly re-badged Fords. Or the Fords were re-badged Mazdas, I dunno. The dealer I went to a while ago even convinced me that Mazda didn't want to be affiliated with Ford.

Anyways, this thread reinforces my advice about the Fiesta. Top Gear recommended, fun to drive, dirt cheap, and 40mpg. Can't go wrong for practicality.

 

This.

If it did make it out tho under its own power...

 

So, you're saying that something which was shown on an entertainment program on television might have been enhanced or fictionalized in some way?

I refuse to believe this.

 

It's cool that they put a dual clutch transmission in such cheap cars, but it seems you should be a little wary of the early models.

http://jalopnik.com/#!5774473/ford-q...ner-complaints

 

Holy ****:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-...#ht_602wt_1165

 

Get the Shogun edition with a rear mounted V8:



This is Jay Leno's with nitrous:

 

Thats slightly riced, but still pretty awesome. A bit lower and it would be fine.

 

I like it a heck of a lot more than the new one.

 

Shutting the car off to start it is a very asinine way of wasting fuel as it takes more the start the car than it does to idle.

PRO-TIP: If you gut it and sit on a milk crate, you'll pick up several MPGs.

 

Buying a new car to save money is pretty asinine too, but hey, whatever.

 

Plus the ford has a ~120hp 1.6L where the Mazda has a ~105hp 1.5L, probably both MZR motors.

What bugs me is that they advertise the fiesta foe around 13k but try getting one at the dealer for that, I was told 16.5k minimum a 3 different dealers.

I'd wait for 2012 when the new Mazda sky diesels coming here making (a claimed) 85mpg in Mazda 2's in Europe.

 

See here, same idea but better.

 

Actually the Shogun is a rear mounted V6 from the Taurus "SHO".

 

Sometimes, I'd like to.

-- 20mm Vulcan Cannons (Set to 6,000 RPM)
-- F/A-18 Hornets on Afterburner
-- 1 Woman is More than Enough for my Earning Potential

 

reading comprehension fail. i said "long" idle situations. here in NJ we have these lovely things called "jughandles" where you can sit parked for several minutes. are you suggesting that it takes several minutes of fuel to start an engine that is already at operating temperature?

 

i'm not sure if your comment was sarcastic. but, when taking fuel into the equation, i will save roughly $2k (depending on fuel costs) over the 6 year financing period.....and have a 5 year newer car.

 

the number thrown around by people who study this stuff is 10 seconds.

if you're idling more than 10 seconds, restarting doesn't use more fuel.

anyone who can datalog an engine start can calculate the real answer for you.