In the list of features on the fiesta web site the Hill Start Assist is listed as optional on both the SE and SES hatch. It does not specify a requirement for which type of transmission. In the PDf of the owners manual, the HSA is described as a feature of the automatic transmission, and is not listed in the section on the manual transmission.
I have always thought that hill holders were used with manual transmissions because most people don't have three feet. Traditionally, automatics haven't needed them because they have torque converters which provide some push at idle, and because people can use the left foot for the brake on hills. However, I could see how this automatic, which is really an automatically shifting manual, might benefit from HSA. Because it probably shifts into neutral when stopped, it might tend to drift backwards in situations where a traditional automatic wouldn't.
So my questions are:
1. Is it really only available on the automatic and not the manual? And if so, why not?
2. How does one order it? I can't seem to find it in the build your own part of the web site?
I have always thought that hill holders were used with manual transmissions because most people don't have three feet. Traditionally, automatics haven't needed them because they have torque converters which provide some push at idle, and because people can use the left foot for the brake on hills. However, I could see how this automatic, which is really an automatically shifting manual, might benefit from HSA. Because it probably shifts into neutral when stopped, it might tend to drift backwards in situations where a traditional automatic wouldn't.
So my questions are:
1. Is it really only available on the automatic and not the manual? And if so, why not?
2. How does one order it? I can't seem to find it in the build your own part of the web site?
