Fiesta news for Canadian Fiesta Fans

[mrbirdman330]

The Taurus to the US is what the Falcon is to Australia just not that many performance models.

[golf strom]

Originally Posted by FiestaFan

The '08 Focus essentially was a complete redesign as little to no sheetmetal was carried over. I(and it was ugly).

WHAT?!?!??!?

Even with the exterior changes the car IS essentially a 00 MKI Focus. The sad thing was that Dearborn dumbed down what was really good with the original 00-04 versions and regressed!!!!!! Softer suspension. Uglier exterior, CHEAPER fuglier interior....and raised the retail price, and it cost Dearborn a fortune to do the 08+ restyle...What a JOKE!!!!!!!

[Mark Kleis]

Originally Posted by golf strom

WHAT?!?!??!?

Even with the exterior changes the car IS essentially a 00 MKI Focus. The sad thing was that Dearborn dumbed down what was really good with the original 00-04 versions and regressed!!!!!! Softer suspension. Uglier exterior, CHEAPER fuglier interior....and raised the retail price, and it cost Dearborn a fortune to do the 08+ restyle...What a JOKE!!!!!!!

Uh, I know you have a big agenda against "Dearborn" and all, but you went off the deep end if you think the 08 has a worse interior than a 2000.

Are you honestly going to tell me that this:


Is better than this?






My family owns a 2000, a 2005, and a 2006. My 2006 is nicer than my sister's 2005, especially the seats, and the 2005 AND 2006 both have better interiors than the 2000.

Then jump to the 2008, and it is a whole new ball game. The interior in the 2008 is a very nice looking interior, with much better materials than the original (albeit still mostly hard to the touch), and still much better than my 2006.

By the way, going from the 2007 to the 2008 model greatly INCREASED sales of the Focus. So although the original hatch and SVT models are gone, from a business standpoint, the 2008 was a success. Contrary to what people in the "FJ bubble" believe, the automotive industry doesn't actually evolve around the 1% demographic that falls into the racing/performance category when talking about compact cars. Most (By a LONG LONG shot) Focus buyers prefer a softer ride.

[FiestaFan]

Originally Posted by golf strom

WHAT?!?!??!?

Even with the exterior changes the car IS essentially a 00 MKI Focus. The sad thing was that Dearborn dumbed down what was really good with the original 00-04 versions and regressed!!!!!! Softer suspension. Uglier exterior, CHEAPER fuglier interior....and raised the retail price, and it cost Dearborn a fortune to do the 08+ restyle...What a JOKE!!!!!!!

Uhm, yeah, the chassis was the same, but you could say the same of many Camry and Accord "redesigns"...that was my point, it was a big enough change to be a "redesign". Toyota and Honda typically design a new platform every 10 years I believe, essentially reskinning the car inside and out and occasionally fitting a new engine every 5 years. The current Camry for example is still based on the '02 platform. And it was either you or mrbirdman who referred to the American Fiesta, a car which is only getting new bumpers and some changed interior fittings, as a complete redesign...

You're very fond of exclamation points.

[golf strom]

Originally Posted by Mark Kleis

Are you honestly going to tell me that this:


Is better than this?

If you put up the pic of the black 00-02 Focus ZX3 instead of that beige verson ABSOLUTELY.

That 08 version is HORRID...with that weak attempt to mimic the Mustange interior...I mean I want to PUKE when I see that painted or chrome slab across the dash....It reeks of a heavy handedness. The door cards are especially cheap and tacky looking as well. NO contest the 00-02 ZX3 interior is light years ahead of the 08 interior...AND wait.....the 00-02 interior is COHESIVE and is an extention of the 00-02 EXTERIOR. Not to mention the fat seats with their FLAT seat cushion bottom vs the really nice if not terribly sporty seats from the 00-02 ZX3.

By the way, going from the 2007 to the 2008 model greatly INCREASED sales of the Focus. So although the original hatch and SVT models are gone, from a business standpoint, the 2008 was a success. Contrary to what people in the "FJ bubble" believe, the automotive industry doesn't actually evolve around the 1% demographic that falls into the racing/performance category when talking about compact cars. Most (By a LONG LONG shot) Focus buyers prefer a softer ride.

The ONLY reason why sales of the Focus 08 increased is almost solely because of gas prices spiking .

We definitely have to agree to disagree on this one.

Sorry for the over use of "!"

[mrbirdman330]

I will agree, the interior of the new Focus is more or less a cheaper version of the Mustang, more or less Dearborn with this Focus model turned it into the Escort so to say, dropping the hatch and the wagon giving us a sedan and coupe. If it weren't for Mulally stepping in I would guarantee we'd see the Focus lose its sedan in a year or two leaving it with a coupe. We wouldn't have the Fiesta, we'd see all money being poured into the latest what would be the 500, the Fusion and the F Series trucks. We wouldn't have what is out there right now if it were not for Mulally. But getting on track, the 08+ Focus is seriously Fugly, it has nothing to do with the Focus family except to say it was going down the Escort Path. We're just lucky Mulally came in.

[golf strom]

True about your comments about the 08 Focus debacle....

Mulally probably saved the day for the European models coming to the USA...I bet the old crusty farts in Dearborn were pulling the last grey hairs out of their shrunken heads trying to figure out how to kill the Focus and Fiesta here by basterdizing and mismarketing it to death.

I agree that the F 150 is a big seller for Dearborn but damn is it fugly..I don't care for the new Taurus either. Looks bulky and lardy. Strangly the 500 when it first came out was VERY tastefully done, but had horrid marketing! Of course they then grafted that disgusting chrome bling to the front and altezzas to the rear, fugly returned.

[mrbirdman330]

I think if it weren't for Mulally period we'd see Ford marketing things that would have been in style like ten years ago. Then they wonder why nobody buys their product.

[GapBoyPCS]

In case those are too lazy to visit the site:

Sep 29 - Oct 4 - Laurier Quebec (2700 boulevard Laurier), Quebec QC
Oct 6 - Oct 9 - Galaries de la Capitale (5401, boulevard des Galaries), Quebec QC
Oct 14 - Oct 29 - Montreal
Nov 17 - Dec 4 - Toronto
Mar 9 - Mar 26 - Vancouver

I'm a bit surprised Ford of Canada isn't hitting all provinces. However, it seems they are trying to "focus" in on the urban centres who would want this kind of car for major city driving.

[Guneenya]

Hi all

Fiesta sighting, if anyone's interested. Yesterday evening (Oct 30th), I pulled into the truckstop in Nairn Center (Ontario) to have a look at a transport loaded up with Euro Fiesta hatchbacks. I assume these were part of the Fiesta cross-Canada tour. I just read somewhere there were to be 8 cars in this tour, but there were definitely 9 hatchbacks in the transport.... I counted a few times just to be sure. Beautiful cars 'in the flesh'. As I pulled back onto the highway, the transport fired up to life and pulled in behind me. I last saw it ~ 6PM outside Espanola, heading west towards Sault Ste Marie.

Cheers,
Gunny