I don't think it was anything political. I think they just wanted to seperate the Focus and Fiesta Forums, but had to get rid of all the old Fiesta discussion to do it.
I actually found the factory ZX3 seat in the 2000 Focus to be not that great for me. My knee had too much pressure on it, and would hurt after driving. Even the EAP Recaro's have the same issue, and it may be directly related to command seating. The Fiesta seats are very nice, but there is a stiff peice of foam that puts pressure on my lower back. It is not bad, but not perfect. Don't think that the European seat is magically perfect. The only seats I have found to be excellent are the Recaro seat I had in my Mustang. My Kevlar RaceTech seat is good, but only for about 10 minutes. That is one of the most expensive race seats on the planet, and it is not perfect either. What I may find to be a good seat, may be bad for somebody else. I don't think what side of the pond you are on matters for that.I think it is weird though because some of the threads WERE transferred but the old posts were deleted (the Fiesta Agent car stolen). I noticed that any debate about the "Fiesta Movement" "Agents"campaign was deleted. Hmmm.
In any case lets try and keep this thread on topic.
I certainly hope that if Dearborn DOES deceide to make a Merican style seat for the Fiesta, that US buyers will have the option to select the euro spec seats at a reasonable cost.
I definitely rememeber the MKI Focus situation in the USA. It is true that initially when the US Focus came out it came with Euro spec seats (not the recaro style just standard trim level) they were EXCELLENT, after a number of years Dearborn troublesome hand stepped in and supplied a US spec seat, and yes they were awful.
The question is WHY? Like others mentioned in old threads in focaljet, one of the biggest pluses most of the agents and others said they like were the EURO spec seating.It will be a different seat for the US. There's a YouTube video about it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mxnUCLsI7o&feature=channel_page
By all means, feel free to continue your conversation, we just didn't have a decent way to move those threads over here.I noticed that the old threads from the focaljet Fiesta site are mysteriously gone. You remember the ones that were questioning the changes in the excellent Euro Fiesta seats, the deletion of the rear fog lamp and similar items even though they don't cost a penny to retain and there are NO DOT EPA regs about them either!!!!
from training I did not think the car was going to be amercanized, but looking at the spy pics, I am fearing the worst. This goes beyond seats and fog lamps, the changes extend to the terrible chrome grille that haunts the Focus. If I wanted chrome, I would buy a caddie. I am not a rapper, I don't want a chromed-out-nose.
Isn't Ford building this engine in China as well? If they are it could make it possible to sell them in the America's at a reasonable price.Ford couldn't justify spending literally hundreds of millions of dollars to convert and create and run a plant to build a small diesel that would be put in so few units.
If you import the Econetic diesel from Britain where it is built it would cost $25,700 right now. Factor a US tax credit, and it is still $24,400.
Who here would pay 25 grand for a diesel Fiesta?
I do not think they are. If they were, don't you think Ford would consider that if it made sense?Isn't Ford building this engine in China as well? If they are it could make it possible to sell them in the America's at a reasonable price.
Even if you included the transportation to supply the Mexico plant it still be be pretty cost effective.
While I don't think the mpg gain would be only 6-8 mpg more, probably around 30% gain ~12 mpg (at least real world, maybe not EPA testing which overestimates gas mileage and underestimates diesel), I don't think it's so much an issue of where the engine is made as the EPA regulations. Currently, VW is the only manufacturer selling a 50-state legal diesel that does not require a urea injection system. Their TDI is about $2000 more than a similarly equipped gasoline model, although the TDI includes some additional features the SE Jetta lacks.I do not think they are. If they were, don't you think Ford would consider that if it made sense?
Ford directly said they can not do it... it would cost $10,000 more than a normal Fiesta if they did. No one (and I mean no one) is going to buy a $25k Fiesta so they can get 6-8 MPG more.