Discussion 2019 Ford Fiesta ST-Line? Are Fords any good nowadays?

[Synomenon]

I have a 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback (sport touring) and before this had a Toyota Yaris. I was laid off from work earlier this month and need to reduce what I spend monthly. I'm looking to sell the Civic and am looking at picking up a 2019 Ford Fiestas ST-Line. The reduction in the monthly due (including insurance) will make a big difference. I still need a reliable car to get me around for job interviews, groceries, etc..

I haven't owned a Ford (or any other American brand), but have always heard and read that they aren't as reliable as other brands.


Anyone have any input on this change from a Civic to a Fiesta? Am I going to regret it?

 

[thedarkwolf]

I don't know about the ST-Line specifically but the only real POS thing about the fiesta and focus is the DCT trans which is a HUGE POS. Had to google the ST-Line to figure out what it is and that is available with the DCT so does it have the DCT or the good old reliable 5 speed manual?

 

[ondma]

I have a 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback (sport touring) and before this had a Toyota Yaris. I was laid off from work earlier this month and need to reduce what I spend monthly. I'm looking to sell the Civic and am looking at picking up a 2019 Ford Fiestas ST-Line. The reduction in the monthly due (including insurance) will make a big difference. I still need a reliable car to get me around for job interviews, groceries, etc..

I haven't owned a Ford (or any other American brand), but have always heard and read that they aren't as reliable as other brands.


Anyone have any input on this change from a Civic to a Fiesta? Am I going to regret it?

Dont understand how you can save money by buying a newer car. I guess if you could finance the new car at a lower rate for a long period of time, you could lower the monthly payment, but you will end up paying much more in the long run. Wouldn't the insurance also be more on the Focus? The ST is a performance model. What if you just refinanced the loan on the Civic to lower the monthly payment?

In response to your original post, I would expect the Civic to be more reliable than the Focus, although as darkwolf said, the main source of problems with the Focus is the dual clutch automatic. (Edit: just checked, the Focus ST comes with a manual trans only.) Unless you are having unusual problems with the Civic, or it is extremely high miles, a 2017 should still be very reliable. I have a 2005 Civic with 150k miles that is still running well. Just be sure to replace the timing belt when it is due.

 

[thedarkwolf]

That is why I had to look up the ST-Line, it looks to just be an appearance package. I'm not going to claim the fiesta is more reliable than a civic but really the only real flaw is the DCT. If it is a manual the car will be fine. I know my focus has a timing chain which along with the horrible resale thanks to the DCT is one of the reasons I bought it over civics, toyotas, mazdas, blah blah blah. Mine is a manual.

 

[ondma]

From what I could find, the ST has a more powerful engine as well. I am sure it is a fun car to drive. I do like the Focus, just dont see how trading for one fits for the OP.

 

[thedarkwolf]

The ST-Line isn't an ST, it is just a regular fiesta that looks like a ST.

 

[HarryLui]

Sounds like a terrible finance decision. Yeah, let's roll the 2017 Civic negative equity into a 84 months 2019 Fiesta car loan in the name of saving money.
"But I'm selling it myself". Don't kid yourself. If you want to truly save money, you'd be driving an ugly but reliable beater.

 

[ondma]

The ST-Line isn't an ST, it is just a regular fiesta that looks like a ST.

Ok, that is confusing. I think the new Kia G5 (Optima replacement) is doing the same thing though. GT-Line is just a higher trim while the plain GT is the performance model.

 

[Synomenon]

Yeah, I didn't care so much about how much it was going to cost total. I was just looking for a lower monthly payment which I could get with the Fiesta. Insurance would go down too. I looked for a new-ish one because I wasn't sure on the reliability of Fords. It is an automatic.

Is Ford's "DCT" the same thing as Honda's "Continuously Variable Transmission (LL-CVT)"?

 

[thedarkwolf]

No they aren't the same. I'd explain the differences but google would do it a lot better than me.
Anyway since it is an automatic(DCT) RUN AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ondma]

Yeah, I didn't care so much about how much it was going to cost total. I was just looking for a lower monthly payment which I could get with the Fiesta. Insurance would go down too. I looked for a new-ish one because I wasn't sure on the reliability of Fords. It is an automatic.

Is Ford's "DCT" the same thing as Honda's "Continuously Variable Transmission (LL-CVT)"?

Well, like I said, why not just refinance the Civic and extend the term of the loan? That would lower your payment and might even save you money long term if you can get a lower interest rate. Also consider that if you purchase a different vehicle, you will have to pay sales tax and other assorted fees that could easily cost an extra 1000 or more.

BTW, in the past I too have been short of money and made the mistake of "shopping" for a car in order to get a certain payment, and it seldom turns out well.

 

[Torn Mind]

If I had fairly describe a Ford's "reliability", it's probably that they're good for 100k no problem, but the defects, poor engineering, and/or cost-cutting really starts manifesting itself after the 100k mark. It's not that fasteners don't get stuck on Japanese car, but rather that the "brown" starts showing up much sooner on a Ford and things like a strut tower is basically welded on good after a decade and half.(I think a Mazda Eric the Car Guy was working required a torch).

Things like sparks plugs blowing out of an engine, transmission gasket due to a design flaw causing too much pressure. Such is the "Ford experience" once it gets old.

Plus, the fasteners are "exotic" if you are coming from self-service on a Japanese vehicle. You'll suddenly realize Torx bits, 15mm, 18 mm, and other "uncommons" are popping up in a Ford.

I had literal one-day rental with a plain ST. 40k on it. It was "fine". Didn't seem problematic, although the car wandered a bit. Whether that was due to tires or rental car beating, I can't say.

 

[deadlyapp]

me too BTW, in the past I too have been short of money and made the mistake of "shopping" for a car in order to get a certain payment, and it seldom turns out well.

Thank you for being so inventive that you copied and pasted a comment that was already in this exact same thread - not even somewhere else on the internet.

 

[zinfamous]

I'm so confused. ...is there something called the "ST-Line"? because the Fiesta and the Fiesta ST are absolutely not the same car.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

I'm so confused. ...is there something called the "ST-Line"? because the Fiesta and the Fiesta ST are absolutely not the same car.

There was for the very last year of the Fiesta. It's not much more than an appearance/trim package. Very similar to what the Germans were doing with the BMW "M Sport" and the Audi "S Line".

"Let's take a premium model designator and dilute it enough to stick it on lower models."

 

[zinfamous]

There was for the very last year of the Fiesta. It's not much more than an appearance/trim package. Very similar to what the Germans were doing with the BMW "M Sport" and the Audi "S Line".

"Let's take a premium model designator and dilute it enough to stick it on lower models."

Oh fuck me silly. Now I see what you are saying.

That is just wrong.

At least, UK Ford still makes the actual Focus, Fiesta, and actual ST models, right? That hasn't been officially abandoned in the countries that still make real cars, right? (meaning: everywhere that is not the USA).

 

[NutBucket]

I had a Fiesta rental recently. Man, I can see the ST being a hoot but that damn DCT ruined the whole car. How Ford ever green-lit that POS is a mystery to me.

 

[Greenman]

Driven nothing but Fords since 1976. Never had one go for less than 250,000 miles. The worst one was a Bronco II, it blew a head gasket around 150,000k miles.
Just retired my wife's 19 year old Escape. It still runs well, passes smog without any issues, looks great, and the interior is in outstanding condition. Took me over a year to talk her into giving it up.

 

[ondma]

Driven nothing but Fords since 1976. Never had one go for less than 250,000 miles. The worst one was a Bronco II, it blew a head gasket around 150,000k miles.
Just retired my wife's 19 year old Escape. It still runs well, passes smog without any issues, looks great, and the interior is in outstanding condition. Took me over a year to talk her into giving it up.

Unfortunately not my experience. I had an 80s Escort (manual trans) that was good for about 50k until I traded it in because I wanted an automatic for my wife to drive. No problems with it at all. I replaced it with another Escort with an auto trans, and it was nothing but trouble. Timing belt broke at 60k, had to replace water pump every 15-20k after that. All tie rods were shot at 70k, trans went out at 90k, and head gasket blew shortly after that. A real POS if I ever had one.

 

[Greenman]

Unfortunately not my experience. I had an 80s Escort (manual trans) that was good for about 50k until I traded it in because I wanted an automatic for my wife to drive. No problems with it at all. I replaced it with another Escort with an auto trans, and it was nothing but trouble. Timing belt broke at 60k, had to replace water pump every 15-20k after that. All tie rods were shot at 70k, trans went out at 90k, and head gasket blew shortly after that. A real POS if I ever had one.

That's some seriously bad luck. The worst experience I've ever had was my MIL's Toyota that I took care of for her. It was a never ending string of major and minor repairs. I danced the day she dumped it.