Realistic 0-60 expectations for the NA Fiesta?

[Reddog99]

Originally Posted by Chibana

C&D has explained ........... You'll notice that cars with lots of low down grunt will have smaller differences between their 0-60 and 5-60 mph tests.

I notice this effect in my present automatic Yaris. From a standing start, it will lurch off the line and wind up pretty quickly (well, maybe moderately quickly). From a rolling start, it will almost feel as if I'm starting off in too high a gear, but it's an auto.

[Chibana]

Originally Posted by Chan

That just means that the car has the potential to do said 8.6 0-60 but just not consistently. 9.4 0-60 can be obtained on a constant basis. I really don't trust C&D as they don't even trust their own # to declare a winner (See S4 vs 335i).

Traditionally, acceleration numbers for cars in the "record books" have always been the fastest times verified to be trustworthy, not what can be done on a constant basis by a so-so driver. Personally, I want to know how fast you can get it to go if you beat the hell out of it--what's the best a car can do? The 5-60 mph test is a better determination of real world acceleration abilities of a car without beating on it too much, which is why C&D does both. In addition, I don't *think* C&D adjusts their acceleration numbers for environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, altitude) as do many other magazines, including my favorite mainstream auto magazine, Road & Track.

While Car & Driver is not my favorite automobile magazine (I think the writing and technical articles in Road & Track are better and more fun, and Grass Roots is probably my all-around favorite), I do think Car & Driver is the best place to go for numbers, which is why I have subscribed to them, almost uninterrupted, for almost 30 years.

[Corvair]

Originally Posted by Chan

Those C/D #'s are Euro spec, C/D also hits numbers that nobody else can magically replicate.

You need to adjust your time for sea level. Forget about the transmission or/clutch lasting the life of car! I remember my old Neon was 7.9 at Car and Driver, Consumer Reports was like 10.5. I did beat C+D's time for my Ford Tempo, I should add I did "beat" my Ford Tempo too. Yet my Toyota Matrix had to have the tran$mi$$ion replaced! I treated my Matrix like I was the Grandma going to church on Sunday.

Dan

65 Corvair

[Matthew Wolfe]

Originally Posted by Corvair

You need to adjust your time for sea level. Forget about the transmission or/clutch lasting the life of car! I remember my old Neon was 7.9 at Car and Driver, Consumer Reports was like 10.5. I did beat C+D's time for my Ford Tempo, I should add I did "beat" my Ford Tempo too. Yet my Toyota Matrix had to have the tran$mi$$ion replaced! I treated my Matrix like I was the Grandma going to church on Sunday.

Dan

65 Corvair

OMG< you had a TEMPO too!! My first car was an 88 Tempo. Paid $640 bucks. Ran for another 60,000 miles. Not bad for a car that had 160,000 on it originally.

/OT

[BRGT350]

My wife and I had matching red Tempo's when we met. I shall never speak of that terrible car again, other than it was AWD and could drive sideways in the snow like a rally car. I wrecked a new set of tires on that thing in less than a year from cornering. People did not know a Tempo could go around corners that fast, nor could they believe they were seeing one drive sideways in the snow. AWD+handbrake+no fear=massive drifts in the winter. I only owned that thing for a little over a year, and then bought my ZX3.

[eRic]

Originally Posted by Chan

That just means that the car has the potential to do said 8.6 0-60 but just not consistently. 9.4 0-60 can be obtained on a constant basis. I really don't trust C&D as they don't even trust their own # to declare a winner (See S4 vs 335i).

I trust Car and Driver over Road and Track or Motor Trend. The fact that Motor Trend recently had BUICK on the cover killed any remaining credibility that they had. at least Car and Driver has their raw test data available for download. they take notes as to how they launch and when they shift to get the best acceleration. on the opposite end of the scale is Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports launches the car from idle. no clutch dropping or brake torquing. they just floor it from idle and go from there.

[mrbirdman330]

My first Ford was my mom and dads 85 Tempo GL with the blue pin stripe bought brand new for an impressive 10K. That car was pure comfort and just all around great to drive. Five speed manual, AC, Tilt Wheel, AM FM Radio with cassette and the 2.2L I4. I miss that car and would probably still own it if I didn't roll it.



This car is the reason why I am so attracted to the Focus aside it being European. The similarities in the body, not to mention the ST Foci interior with that of the Original Tempo Interior struck me cold.

[Chan]

Originally Posted by eRic

I trust Car and Driver over Road and Track or Motor Trend. The fact that Motor Trend recently had BUICK on the cover killed any remaining credibility that they had. at least Car and Driver has their raw test data available for download. they take notes as to how they launch and when they shift to get the best acceleration. on the opposite end of the scale is Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports launches the car from idle. no clutch dropping or brake torquing. they just floor it from idle and go from there.

You have a problem with the Buick Regal? It's a nice Opel, especially the GS version with AWD turbo I4. I'd take it over any offering from Lexus or Acura.

[FiestaFan]

Originally Posted by Chan

You have a problem with the Buick Regal? It's a nice Opel, especially the GS version with AWD turbo I4. I'd take it over any offering from Lexus or Acura.

Yeah, in MT's defense those were some nice Buicks on the cover. I'd buy a new Regal without hesitation, provided it's the Turbo.

[Corvair]

Originally Posted by Matthew Wolfe

OMG< you had a TEMPO too!! My first car was an 88 Tempo. Paid $640 bucks. Ran for another 60,000 miles. Not bad for a car that had 160,000 on it originally.

/OT

Hi Matt,

My first new car was an 85 Tempo GL. $9,511. 5 speed manual. Very nice car. AC cruise and power locks as well as a four speaker cassette player. No power windows and I don't think remote locks were out yet. Had the nicest interior of any car I ever had. The power steering and the shifter were the best of any car I ever had. First car was a used 76 Pontiac Astre, a Chevy Vega clone. I don't know any words bad enough to describe the quality and I don't want to get banned form the forum! Then I bought the Corvair as a hobby car which I still have. It was a far better car!

11 Feista waitting to ship.