My First Fiesta Movement Encounter...... :(

So this past weekend I drove from Miami to NorthWestern North Carolina for "MINIs on the Dragon" since I'm a MINI owner.

While at Fontana Village (for people who know the Dragon Area) which is the central meeting place for MOTD. I was walking around and quickly spotted the front bumper and headlight of a certain Lime Green small car that is impossible to miss! This little Fiesta Movement Ford Fiesta:



I was so excited it was ridiculous, my wife who has dealt with my car guyness for 10+ yrs knew it was time for her to find something to do because I was going be in the general area of this car for a little while.

I instantly started looking around to see if I could spot the Fiesta Agent for the car but didn't see anybody around. As I start taking pictures and get a closer look at the car a few more people start to walk up and also take interest. It was funny to see how much attention the car got while at a MINI get together. At one point there must have been 10-15 people standing around.



We all basically start chatting about the car which was interesting with all car guys, but not completely in the know about Ford's newest Fiesta. One guy said "Wow its already here in the states?" which sadly I had to correct and explain that "No, it was built in Europe but imported for a promotion called the FiestaMovement.com". It took some guys a few times explaining the concept for them to understand, they thought it was a prototype or someone from Ford driving it since it had a manufacture plate on it. Eventually I think a few people understood. 2-3 people even asked if the car was mine because I went on and on about it in such detail :lol:

It was great to hear people who aren't on Focaljet talk about how they think Ford has been doing cars correctly in Europe and its about damned time they bring more of them over. Literally almost every person there said the same thing. Some then asked "So is Ford gonna screw it up and Americanize it?" I said "Hopefully not, this should be about 98% of the car we'll get". I guess the people over on the Jet aren't in such a bubble about their opinions as most would think. Even people off the forums are thinking the same things and hope Ford doesn't screw this car up.



So after 15 minutes of standing around and no Fiesta Agent in sight (can't expect them all to stand around their cars all day of course hehe). We proceeded on our way but kept the Fiesta within our sight just in case we saw the Agent (yes I'm a car stalker).

If you look closely from this perch I had a good view of the Fiesta at all times during lunch hehe.





With great timing as we just finished paying for lunch we noticed someone with the Fiesta's door open and messing around inside. We quickly walk down the hill and greet the agent. The guy seemed very nice at first, we shook hands and exchanged names. I asked him how he liked the car and he said it was great of course, but then referenced the t-Shirt I was wearing that says "ASC OFF" (BMW traction control logo/acronym) and says "Sadly the traction control in this thing can't be turned off like your shirt and its about to ruin my weekend, but we'll figure a way around it" we chuckled and I thought it was a bit down to get on a car you've basically got for free for 6 months, but whatever its a true observation.



I then ask if he owned a MINI, thinking it was the reason why he was at MOTD. He says no that his friends own MINIs, I inquire well then what does he drive and says he owns 7 cars and that he's a race car driver. Interesting.... He then goes on to say that he's a writer for Jalopnik. This is where I thought, well that's strange, why would Ford basically give a car to Jalopnik? I ask him "Ohh so the car is a long term review car not really a Fiesta Movement car??" He replies, "No, its a Fiesta Movement car, I just weaseled my way in somehow, I even have the nice little unlimited gas card to prove it" with a smirk. Oh really?



This entire time I'm hoping to get a closer look at the car, you know the basic look around. But I'm quickly noticing that this guy isn't planning on showing the car. Thats fine, people gotta go, they've got stuff to do. Mid conversation he turns the car on using the starter button, which i brought up and we were talking about when he reaches for the door and just shuts it. I was holding the door when he does this, mind you. Ohhh, I'm thinking, i guess our conversation is over. He rolls the window down while backing up and I quickly ask "So you gonna be here all weekend" and I get a quick "Yup" and he's gone....

He didn't doesn't decide to turn and say "hey, i'm guessing you wanna see the car but I got somewhere to go, maybe later?" well, thats what I would have said.

I think, well hopefully I'll bump into them later during the weekend. I get in my car and decide to head out to the Dragon. Well on my way down the hill about an 1/8th of a mile I see mister Fiesta Agent parked and chatting with peeps that I'm guessing he already knew. Seems like he really didn't have anywhere to go, just away from the annoying guy asking questions. Any other time I would have been fine with this, but I would think part of being an Agent is giving people who want to see the car the time of day. Again, If i were in the position and HAD to go down the hill to meet with friends I would have told anybody interested "Hey, I have to meet some people right down the street follow me over there to get a better look at the car". But I guess I'm a little different and I don't own 7 cars and probably get to drive any car because I work for Jalopnik (ok, only some slight bitterness in that last sentence.... just a smidge :lol: )



To make this better, that night I'm at the hotel and decided to check the NAM forums where MOTD is organized and check for the latest updates on how the event is going. I then come across this thread which this guy started himself:

Insomnya3AM said:

Hello-

You've got a spy amongst you and didn't even know it. I'll be driving down to "Minis on the Dragon" in a 2011 Ford Fiesta, albeit with a few Minis in tow, to do a piece for an automotive publication.

The car obnoxious green with a big "Cityscape" decal on the side. If you happen to run into me anywhere on this trip, stop and say HI. Maybe if you're interesting enough you can worm your way into the feature. I'm Andy. We'll be leaving Detroit here at about 3:00PM, so expect us to be terrorizing the place about Friday morning.

See ya there. :thumbsup:

Click to expand...

http://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-3-2009/168079-an-intruder-in-your-midst.html

Hmmmm...... I guess you can stop and say Hi, just don't ask to see the car..... :lol: At this point I don't even want to see the car anymore. Through the weekend I spotted the car two more times driving around the Dragon but never saw him stopped anywhere showing anybody the car.

I'm still a bit miffed that Ford decided to basically give exclusive long term usage of a Fiesta Movement car to Jalopnik of all places? That's a bit different in my eyes than just a "blogger" as his profile states on the Fiesta Movement website.

So I got to see my first Fiesta inperson and it was very impressive and gave me the same feelings as when I saw my first Focus back at World Ford of Pembroke Pines back in 1999. But it was a bit bitter sweet as I really didn't get a good look at the car because of a not so friendly Movement Agent.