[Chan]

Anybody have any planned aftermarket mods you have planned for your Fiesta?

So far I have planned are a stiffer suspension with new lower/stiffer springs/shocks or a nice coilover set, awaiting on word of a short-throw shifter, and HIDs.

 

[BRGT350]

de-chroming the exterior
body kit
spoiler
short throw shifter
Individual pedal pads
17" Axis wheels
Possibly an air intake, depending on design
Exhaust
FSWerks PCM retune
Aluminum/urethane lower torque mount
Underdrive pulley
tint
graphics
headlights of somesort
Possibly FRPP or FSWerks suspension kit, depending on how the stock Fiesta handles and sits. I can't go too low since it needs to clear a lot of snow in the winter.

Eventually, I will swap from bumper covers if somebody makes one that looks more like the EU version with round foglamps and a larger air intake. The US bumper is the only part of the car I don't really care for.

 

[Mattdoommaster]

Here is my plan, in the order I plan to do it.

New wheels with summer tires. I'm not sure what wheels. Probably not larger than 16 inch.

Intake/Exhaust/Tune.

Slightly lower/stiffer suspension. Probably just a Ford Racing spring kit and some new shocks or something like that.

Turbocharger. This is a big maybe. I'm not ape**** over having a car that can do 0-60 in under 7 seconds. But I would like my Fiesta to be about as fast as my current Focus ST (around 7.5 seconds to 60) and if the Intake/Exhaust/Tune can't get me there I'll probably pick up a low-boost turbo kit. And have someone else install it, because that's way over my head.

I'm not sure if I'll buy a body kit. I'm not a huge fan of the optional one. If I don't buy the Euro spoiler I'll probably buy some sort of larger spoiler in the aftermarket.

I'm also torn about how to approach the sound system. Sync SEEMS like a no-brainer. But my problem with it is that with the way technology advances, it will probably feel out of date in 3 years. And in spite of being a huge tech-geek when it comes to PC and other home electronics, I actually rather dislike tech in my cars. If I don't get the Sync & Sound, I'll pick up a stereo upgrade - just some higher quality speakers - at some point down the road.

 

[Chan]

From my experience, BPUs are not the best bang for your buck from a performance standpoint especially on small N/A motors.

I've always been an advocate of doing suspension first and foremost before you begin working on power. I'm assuming the 1.6 is using extremely high compression along the lines of 12:1 or something, makes for forced induction nightmare. Those with the dual-clutch tranny can also kiss F/I goodbye as the tranny is rated for 170lb/ft of torque.

 

[Chan]

I'm curious as to what FSWerks has planned for the Fiesta, I'll give them a call once I get my Fiesta and see if I can be a test dummy for you guys, thats how I got two free exhausts for my Triumph

 

[Mattdoommaster]

From my experience, BPUs are not the best bang for your buck from a performance standpoint especially on small N/A motors.

I've always been an advocate of doing suspension first and foremost before you begin working on power. I'm assuming the 1.6 is using extremely high compression along the lines of 12:1 or something, makes for forced induction nightmare. Those with the dual-clutch tranny can also kiss F/I goodbye as the tranny is rated for 170lb/ft of torque.

You're probably right about the computer tuning not giving huge gains, but like I said I'm not a mechanical genius. I suppose I could put in new cams or do some other stuff but I'd have to pay a lot for the installation. Besides, as said its already been proven that a Intake/Exhuast/Tune can reach 140, so it is a safe and simple route.

 

[BRGT350]

normally, I am all about suspension mods first, but the Fiesta handles so well out of the box, I moved the mods down the list. The Fiesta will be my all-weather, every season, daily driver, so having a stiff suspension in Michigan is not a good idea. Besides, I still have my Mustang with a complete Maximum Motorsports suspension for the track.

Being very honest here, the Fiesta is one of first cars I have ever driven that I thought the suspension was perfect from the factory. The Mini Cooper S was close, but it was a little rough for the street. SVT Focus is the other car that was perfect, but the SVT suspension came tweaked. I am not in a big hurry to change the Fiesta suspension since I am so happy with it.

 

[Chan]

I'm hoping Eibach releases some of their progressive springs for the Fiesta. I've always used Tokico shocks so it'll be interesting what offerings are available as far as shocks go.

 

[BRGT350]

I tried tokico's once, but prefer Koni or Bilstein on my cars. If I do suspension on the Fiesta, it will be a complete matched set of dampers and springs. I have wasted a ton of money over the years trying out all sorts of different spring rates and dampers. Way too easy to end up with too high of a spring rate and not enough dampening or vice-versa. If I do anything, it will be most likely a complete engineered package from FRPP.

 

[Chan]

I tried tokico's once, but prefer Koni or Bilstein on my cars. If I do suspension on the Fiesta, it will be a complete matched set of dampers and springs. I have wasted a ton of money over the years trying out all sorts of different spring rates and dampers. Way too easy to end up with too high of a spring rate and not enough dampening or vice-versa. If I do anything, it will be most likely a complete engineered package from FRPP.

While I do prefer Koni or Bilstein, they cost significantly more than Tokico, if I were paying for Koni or Bilstein I rather opt for an adjustable coilover setup rather than a spring/shock setup.

My opinion on factory mods is that they're generally too conservative and overpriced for outsourced parts from one of the listed companies mentioned with Ford stamped on it instead of Bilstein or H&R or something.

 

[TeamFord]

Here is something I came across a few days ago. I would assume that someone would come up with the same style of upgrade. Go to youtube and type in mk7 mountuneperformance and you can see a video.

Fiesta 140ps Upgrade

 

[FiestaFan]

Whenever I get a Fiesta I'll probably get the 5-door SE hatch w/ upgrade package, which means that if there's a way to retrofit SES/Euro-spec wing mirrors (with indicators) I'll strongly consider doing it. The only thing that I'm miffed about with the US-spec car is that the SE models don't get wing-mirror indicators, and I'd like to fix that =)

I'll also think about getting some different wheels, maybe the current Focus SES's multi-spoke design or something from the Euro Fiesta lineup, although I like the SE's wheel design as-is (and if I had the SES I wouldn't bother changing the wheels at all).

As the Fiesta is supposedly already perfectly-balanced out of the box I don't think I'm even going to consider suspension mods, though an ECU reflash or something like that to bring the power up a bit would be cool.

 

[Chan]

I'm really curious as to how the Fiesta rides, from all the reviews I've seen they've been positive. I prefer a stiffer ride but not one that throws me off my seat like on my motorcycle. My IS300 has a stiffer all around suspension than stock (stiffer springs/shocks and sway bars). Curious as when the next round up Fiesta Agents will be around Southern California.

 

[LMTech]

Whenever I get a Fiesta I'll probably get the 5-door SE hatch w/ upgrade package, which means that if there's a way to retrofit SES/Euro-spec wing mirrors (with indicators) I'll strongly consider doing it. The only thing that I'm miffed about with the US-spec car is that the SE models don't get wing-mirror indicators, and I'd like to fix that =)

I'll also think about getting some different wheels, maybe the current Focus SES's multi-spoke design or something from the Euro Fiesta lineup, although I like the SE's wheel design as-is (and if I had the SES I wouldn't bother changing the wheels at all).

As the Fiesta is supposedly already perfectly-balanced out of the box I don't think I'm even going to consider suspension mods, though an ECU reflash or something like that to bring the power up a bit would be cool.

I hate to tell you but the upgrade package isn't available on the SE

 

[Eurek]

Here is something I came across a few days ago. I would assume that someone would come up with the same style of upgrade. Go to youtube and type in mk7 mountuneperformance and you can see a video.

Fiesta 140ps Upgrade

That is amazing! Shaving two seconds off the 0 to 60mph times with an extra 20hp?!?! I have to wonder if they could do similar with our spec. I mean the U.S. specs do 8.7 standard versus the 9.8 EU gets right?

 

[Mattdoommaster]

That is amazing! Shaving two seconds off the 0 to 60mph times with an extra 20hp?!?! I have to wonder if they could do similar with our spec. I mean the U.S. specs do 8.7 standard versus the 9.8 EU gets right?

It probably has something to do with the Fiesta's relatively light weight. Going from 120 to 140 is what, a 16% increase in horsepower? You're going to notice that in a light car like the Fiesta.

 

[BRGT350]

add 20hp more, add some ultra lightweight wheels, and I bet you would be shocked at how much quicker a Fiesta would be. Back in the day when Sport Compact Car existed, Dave Coleman did an article about rotational mass. Lightweight wheels on a car like the Fiesta will have a huge effect! Sadly, my 17" wheels and tires are a step in the wrong direction for acceleration/deacceleration.

 

[Eurek]

^^You both have me hopeful. I just hope the MPG dont suffer too much. My Father has a turbo MINI S and its good for about 6 and change to 60mph and that is fast enough for me. He continuously averages over 30mpg and does not have a light foot. EPA is about 26/34 on that one.

 

[Mark Kleis]

I'm really curious as to how the Fiesta rides, from all the reviews I've seen they've been positive. I prefer a stiffer ride but not one that throws me off my seat like on my motorcycle. My IS300 has a stiffer all around suspension than stock (stiffer springs/shocks and sway bars). Curious as when the next round up Fiesta Agents will be around Southern California.

Chan, I still have my Fiesta - I am in San Diego.

Hit me up.

Lumadar at gmail

-Mark

 

[TeamFord]

Chan, I still have my Fiesta - I am in San Diego.

Hit me up.

Lumadar at gmail

-Mark

Can I con you into taking a drive to Las Vegas? I can pay for gas and maybe a night at the Hilton I would like to be able to show it off at Team Ford, where I work of course.