Sedan: Euro (Hatch) Grille Install

[freechef]

First post ever... not sure if I've seen anyone do this mod yet...

As a proud sedan owner and lurker here for quite a while, I'm a bit saddened to see some sedan owners hang their heads in shame for not getting the hatch. Personally, I think the US spec Fiesta's extended fascia looks more balanced on the sedan--but we can get into that in another thread.

However, there's one thing about the hatch I've ALWAYS been envious of... that clean upper grille. Was never the hugest fan of the decision to mix the American division's three-bar design language with European Ford's "kinetic"—even though it doesn't look too bad on Ingot Silver—so I bought a "Euro Upper Grille" from Ford, had it painted and installed it myself this evening. Real happy with how it turned out.

Before:


Untitled by free_chef, on Flickr

During:


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Untitled by free_chef, on Flickr

After:


Untitled by free_chef, on Flickr

Untitled by free_chef, on Flickr

Untitled by free_chef, on Flickr

Untitled by free_chef, on Flickr

Untitled by free_chef, on Flickr

I'll probably update with some daytime shots and a short how-to. Wasn't very hard thanks to Dairam's awesome post on the Front Bumper removal.

More soon.

[71Grabber302]

Welcome to FF man, and great first post! Thats one of the main reasons I didn't get the sedan, I couldn't stand that grill it made it look like a baby fusion and I don't care for them either. lol If Ford had've made them like that it would have been a lot harder choice for me between the hatch and the sedan.

[satterfi]

That looks good.

[CarefreeAZ]

Originally Posted by freechef

First post ever... not sure if I've seen anyone do this mod

Untitled by free_chef, on Flickr

Untitled by free_chef, on Flickr

I'll probably update with some daytime shots and a short how-to. Wasn't very hard thanks to Dairam's awesome post on the Front Bumper removal.

More soon.

That is simply a great look...and a nice effort on your part. To repeat other members, welcome and what a great post and analysis. We'll have to keep a look-out for your unique SE. By the way, how long did the mod take to accomplish?

[aspitaletto]

I like this guy, his first Post, and its a Great MOD !!

Welcome Aboard !

[rdurham285]

Nice work.

I didn't even know the grilles were different

[freechef]

CarefreeAZ, it took about three hours. Wasn't a painful three hours, actually. Sun going down on me probably added an hour or so, and there were couple steps in which I had to improvise because of lack of tools/parts. When I get around to posting a more detailed how-to, you'll see what I mean. A one-hour install is certainly well within the grasp of some of the folks on here.

Everyone, thanks for such a warm welcome. It means so much to be a part of this community. I really mean it. This is my third car ever ('95 Civic Hatch Si in high school, '04 Nissan Frontier straight out of college), but the first that I'm paying without help from my parents, and certainly the biggest purchase of my young adult life. It's strange how in three months owning a Fiesta, I've suddenly become a "car guy."

And I would have never thought of buying a Ford if it weren't for this forum. It's cool that some of the owners whose cars I admire have commented in this thread.

Can't wait to get some daytime shots to post here and in Faction Fotos. Put the car through the Meguiar's treatment this evening and I think she'll be ready tomorrow.

[Pennut]

I agree I think the hatch's grille looks better. But as an alternative to getting the hatch grille, I think the sedans grille would look better if it were body color rather than chrome.

[Captainmorbid]

Nice job! Welcome to the fiesta modding addiction...

I've become a car guy since buying and joining the faction, my poor neglected bike...

[freechef]

Originally Posted by Pennut

I agree I think the hatch's grille looks better. But as an alternative to getting the hatch grille, I think the sedans grille would look better if it were body color rather than chrome.

If one were to go to the trouble repainting the three-bar chrome to body, might as well spend the extra $70 to get the hatch grille. IMO, painting the three-bar to chrome might be a lateral move if the objective is preserving the clean lines of Europe's kinetic design.

Daytime shot: (apologies for the shade but it's the best I can do on a street lined with Japanese elm)

Untitled by free_chef, on Flickr

For sedan owners, this has got to be a MUST mod. The length of our model really comes through once you fix up that fascia. Hopefully Ford ditches the three-bar altogether in future iterations. They're really underestimating North America's taste for understated clean lines.