[Bobby]

So?

I still think the S offers the best value with no sacrifice in the basic goodness of the car. "Stripped" is inaccurate, as it suggests 'decontented', and although some might be horrified at not being able to look at themselves in their sun visor, the mechanical componentry is all the same. To me, the question really was 'Why spend more?'

 

[Bobby]

5 speed std. on S...

Well they're probably not that popular because you can't find the things! When I was originally shopping around, I wanted the S, but I couldn't find it. Still can't. SE and SESs a-plenty. But not so much the S.

Something else to add to the list is, I believe, the S MUST come as a automatic, where as the SE can have a manual.

All Fiestas come with a 5 speed as std. The S is only available on the sedan, so if you need/want the hatch, it's a deal breaker.

The S is best seen as a 'loss leader' so Ford can advertise a low starting price. Most dealers stock upper trim models with the toys b/c there's more profit in them (and for Ford, too). However, if you drive them back to back, it's hard to justify the price diff, esp. when the upper models have all the other toys adding thousands. And IMNSO, the interior is really classier.

I suspect they'll drop it soon....

 

[Bobby]

5 speed S here!

...you might have confused the body style...S only available as trunk back.