Bought a Ford Fiesta / what wheels should I get?

[JCH13]

Stop pimping your Fiesta, get a stock GTI or MS3. 🙂

This. You are trying to make a sports car out of an econo-box. The engineers at VW and Mazda have done it cheaper and better than bolt-ons from Ford Racing, and won't have to pay for the stock parts that just get thrown away. I'd bet that either one will out-perform the Fiesta in every way (except fuel economy).

 

[ponyo]

You want ricer stuff like body kits and exhaust and want to roll it into the loan? Buying this new economic box is a big financial mistake and you want to compound it further with mods you can't afford? Sorry to be harsh but it's not the best option for someone struggling with small car payment.

 

[mb]

This. You are trying to make a sports car out of an econo-box. The engineers at VW and Mazda have done it cheaper and better than bolt-ons from Ford Racing, and won't have to pay for the stock parts that just get thrown away. I'd bet that either one will out-perform the Fiesta in every way (except fuel economy).

And price. And in the case of the GTI, reliability.
And 10MPG over the GTI and 15MPG over the MS3 is huge.

 

[PricklyPete]

You want ricer stuff like body kits and exhaust and want to roll it into the loan? Buying this new economic box is a big financial mistake and you want to compound it further with mods you can't afford? Sorry to be harsh but it's not the best option for someone struggling with small car payment.

yes...I think it became evident early on that he is not making good financial decisions.

 

[TechBoyJK]

And price. And in the case of the GTI, reliability.
And 10MPG over the GTI and 15MPG over the MS3 is huge.

I'm not trying to make it a sports car. I'm honestly leaning towards not getting the exhaust. I'd almost prefer to keep it quiet.

But for $300 why not do the sport suspension?

It's not so much that I'm struggling to make my current car payment, it's that it's turning into an out of warranty german sports car that I've abused the crap out of and I know will be having problems soon. It already has problems. It's a function of cutting my losses and getting into something with good fuel economy, reliability, practicality, and useability.

Also, I plan on doing a lot of traveling this year. My brother just moved to Oregon, and I live in St. Louis. It's close to a 30 hour drive and I'll probably make the trip at least twice this year.

I've really considered the golf/tdi but the Fiesta beats it on MPG and I thought it was a little more comfortable.

Have you guys driven a Fiesta? It's better than you'd expect.

With the 3dcarbon kit (factory option), and the suspension upgrade, this is pretty much what my car would look like (minus the wheels).

 

[NAC]

If money is your concern – keep your old car, or buy another used car. Don’t buy a new car thinking you are saving money over the BMW.

 

[TechBoyJK]

I don't mind buying another car.. It's just that I'm paying close to $600 per month for a bmw that's been abused, needs work, is out of warranty, and just overall seems like a money pit.

I really like the z4. I could see myself buying another one down the road.. just newer.

 

[Turin39789]

Fiesta is a nice little car, I'd be looking at one but the family is getting bigger and its a little too small. If you like it and you've driven it.....................go for it.

 

[JCH13]

And price. And in the case of the GTI, reliability.
And 10MPG over the GTI and 15MPG over the MS3 is huge.

I think the MS3 is out simply because OP can't drive stick... hasn't taken one for a test drive.

 

[TechBoyJK]

yea no stick.. i mean.. i can drive one... just not that well (all my cars have been autos). and for this car in particular I would want an auto. i've told myself if I ever buy a z4 again Im getting a stick.

 

[exar333]

I would say:

Fiesta - GTI - MS3 (in that order)

If you want comfort/tech options the Fiesta is the best. GTI gives solid power with good reliability (for a German car). The MS3 is a great car too, but I rank that last since the OP stated thet wanted AT (not MT).

 

[Throckmorton]

Get a manual. You'll be glad you did.

Then your next sports car WILL be a manual as well. I bet you wouldn't be tired of your current sports car if it was a stick. I can't even fathom an automatic Z4. What is the point??

 

[jlee]

yea no stick.. i mean.. i can drive one... just not that well (all my cars have been autos). and for this car in particular I would want an auto. i've told myself if I ever buy a z4 again Im getting a stick.

Man up and get better at it, then. 😛

 

[JCH13]

yea no stick.. i mean.. i can drive one... just not that well (all my cars have been autos). and for this car in particular I would want an auto. i've told myself if I ever buy a z4 again Im getting a stick.

My Speed3 was my first car that was a stick. I hadn't driven a stick for more than 10-20 miles before making my purchase. Within a few hundred miles I was comfortably doing hill starts, launching, etc. My girlfriend didn't even stall it when she took it for a spin, and neither did my little brother. Neither of them have owned a stick either. Driving manual isn't some amazingly difficult skill, you just need a little practice.

 

[PricklyPete]

yea no stick.. i mean.. i can drive one... just not that well (all my cars have been autos). and for this car in particular I would want an auto. i've told myself if I ever buy a z4 again Im getting a stick.

For the love of god...I'd be getting rid of that Z4 as well. An automatic Z4?? Did you buy it from gramps?

 

[JCH13]

For the love of god...I'd be getting rid of that Z4 as well. An automatic Z4?? Did you buy it from gramps?

Rofl.

 

[Zargon]

Man up and get better at it, then. 😛

this.

better to learn stick on a clutch with a warranty:thumbsup:

 

[TechBoyJK]

Ok, so I'm going to move forward on the Fiesta.

I'm just having trouble deciding on what trim level I want.

There's the SE, and then the SES. The SES is $2,000 more, and has some cool upgrades, but it gives me stuff I don't want or feel like paying extra for. But some of these features are exclusive to to the SES and just can't be had on the SE>

Here are a few things standard on the SES that I like but I can't have on the SE

-LED supplemental parking lamps
-Intelligent Access; you can unlock the door with they key in your pocket.
-Start Engine button; you can start the car with the key in your pocket.
-Electrochromatic Dimming RearView
-optional Factory installed leather interior ($750 for the leather) (dealer did say they can still get leather installed after delivery for $900)

The things I get on the SES, that i don't want, but come standard

16" Premium Wheels - I'm buying different wheels for the car
Premium Stereo With MS Sync - Sounds like crap, plan to put in aftermarket, high quality stuff

Not much else is different.

The SES is $2k more than the SE.

I could potentially, EVENTUALLY (might sit in my closet for two-five years) sell the 'premium stereo' unit and make some of the money back. Maybe for $150? Someone who needs a replacement will find it much more expensive from the dealer.

I could also sell the premium wheels. I'm sure I'd sell these fairly quick, and the wheels, when purchased as a part from ford, are about $375 each w/o tires. I'd have a set of 4 with tires. I could sell them as spares one at a time or try and sell the set. So I could potentially get some of the $2k back from that.

Even if I get $1000 for the wheels AND factory head unit, it's not like I'm going to get that back anytime soon, or ever. I'd be making a bet that I could sell them.. Assuming I get $1,000 back, I'm basically paying $1,000 for

Push Start Button (versus standard key start)
Intelligent Access (door recognizes when key is near and unlocks when you open it)
ElectroChromatic Dimming Rearview.

The extra $2000 equates to about $35 on my monthly payment. Not a big deal, I'm just not sure if I can justify spending an extra $2k for these things I've never had in a car, and I'm not sure if I'd miss. The push start and intelligent access would be nice. Not sure if the rearview thing is a gimmick or not.

I just don't want to spend $22k on the car and regret not spending a bit more and getting these extras.

Thoughts?

 

[calvie]

The Fiesta is very nice looking inside and out. Way better than boring honda/toyotas. I sat in one when i went to order my Mustang Gt last month. If you can afford the options, get it. I regret not getting a few options on my GT but it's too late as the car is being build as we speak.

 

[Lotheron]

Keep in mind that the resale value on the SES will more than the SEs. The SEs will most likely be a dime a dozen so there will probably be a bit of a premium for used SES, especially one with the options you're giving it.

 

[Spicedaddy]

Out of the things you listed, the only interesting stuff (to me) is the keyless entry/start, and leather interior.

Go all out! 😀

 

[NutBucket]

For $22k why not buy a Focus instead? You can most of the same features and more for the same price (SES trim). I know my brother in law just got a Focus Hatch with pretty much everything you've listed and more for a bit less than you paid.

 

[Throckmorton]

The Focus seems to get the same gas mileage as the Fiesta too

 

[power_hour]

Beg borrow or w/e and learn stick. Buy cheap manual. I remember the old Fiesta's and man what a POS they were. During a time when putting gas in the 5.0 was no big deal they were selling that car. Talk about bad timing. LOL. But now things are different and the car is pretty sweet. learn stick already!

 

[John P]

I am going to be looking for a car this summer as well. I talked to my brother, who has been a mechanic at a Ford dealership for several years and an auto mechanic by trade for over 20 years, and he said to look at the Focus over the Fiesta. He said they've had far fewer problems with the Focus.