anyone else considering trading in for one of the Ford ST's ?

[leaky]

I got a 2012 LTZ w/ the manual & 1.4T; I ordered it back when they were having trouble keeping up with demand.

Overall I do like the car - it's fun to drive and averages 37 MPG, without going easy on it. Quality wise had a defective window switch, that's it... Just recently noticed an oil drip the dealership is going to checkout tomorrow (this is like my 6th+ Chevy - I'm not going to hold that against Chevy or the car if they just figure it out and fix it without a headache, is warrantied anyway). And for the price you can't beat it.

Even at the time when I was buying it though I was looking at the rumored Focus ST and Fiesta ST, and the Dodge Dart too actually but I don't think that's anything to get excited over after seeing it. Kept saying to myself "why didn't they just give us an extra 30 HP"?

I don't owe much on the car at this point, for what I can get on a trade it would be easy to move up to a Fiesta ST. With the performance of the Fiesta ST the Sonic just seems so inferior now. (unless of course the Sonic SS actually materializes). Anyone else in this boat?

One key point to mention though is there is a cost difference; MSRP on the Sonic RS and Fiesta ST are about the same, however the Sonic has leather seats and it's a 2K option on the Fiesta ST. If you compared a regular Sonic Hatch LTZ w/ the 1.4T to the Fiesta ST it's more like a 4K difference. If you don't care for the leather though would seem kinda stupid to buy a Sonic RS for the same $$.

Jon

 

[ahtoxa]

Yes, I want a Fiesta ST. I'm still upside down on mine, so I'll wait. But yes, FiST is at the top of a short list for next car.

 

[Isambard]

I have heard pretty much only good things about the Fiesta ST. I have heard pretty much only bad things about Ford dealerships and service departments

The Fiesta ST seems to be underrated:

2014 Ford Fiesta ST Dyno Tested on Edmunds.com

Also, I wouldn't be looking at MSRP, as both the Sonic and the Fiesta ST are not selling for MSRP. Take a look at truecar.com to get an idea of what you might be paying.

 

[ahtoxa]

I have heard pretty much only good things about the Fiesta ST. I have heard pretty much only bad things about Ford dealerships and service departments

The Fiesta ST seems to be underrated:

2014 Ford Fiesta ST Dyno Tested on Edmunds.com

That reflects exactly what I've been reading from various sources and getting feedback from current FiST owners.

 

[Isambard]

Also, OP, be aware that the back seat is quite cramped in the Fiesta (possibly more so if you opt for the Recaros), and I would avoid MyFord Touch and go with a cell phone mount.

I bought my Sonic in January 2013 because I needed to get out of my problematic prior car. If I could have waited for the Fiesta ST, I probably would have. Come at me, bros

 

[davecerv]

Nothing to do with the ST but I kinda like the new Mazda3 Hatch.

 

[MrSonic]

I traded my sonic for a Focus ST and it's well worth it!

Not to mention that if you ever get that mod itch Ford racing has parts that will bump up the power another 90TQ + 30 - 40HP. (parts coming this summer)

It's a ton of fun and still practical.

 

[attrapereves]

I really liked the Dodge Dart when I looked at it a year or so ago. I believe the Rallye model was the one I liked. It had some features that the Sonic lacks, but obviously the car was more expensive. However, Dodge has an even worse reputation for reliability than GM products.

If I begin having lots of probablems with my Sonics, I'll sell them right before the warranty expires. I'd probably go with the Fiesta or Kia Rio.

 

[JohnK]

I was looking at the Ford and the Sonic when I was looking for a Hatchback to replace my Fit, I decided to go for the Sonic due to the price and higher rated MPG than the ford.

So far no regrets

 

[ahtoxa]

If my car gets totalled today (hypotentically, I don't plan on it), I'll be at the Ford dealer tomorrow getting a FiST.

 

[Luv2xlr8]

This will make you buy the FiST when you watch this. The pricing is in US because I know in Canada it's over $30,000+.

2014 Ford Fiesta ST vs. Subaru BRZ : Car Reviews

 

[ChrisJ]

How are the reliability reports on the Fiesta?

 

[ahtoxa]

Doesn't matter. It will be hard to beat my list of warranty fixes on the Sonic.

 

[ChrisJ]

Doesn't matter. It will be hard to beat my list of warranty fixes on the Sonic.

Seriously?
That's your response?

 

[Scot]

I love the Fiesta ST, and would own one, if I didn't believe in supporting the company I work for.

Realistically, the two cars are not competitors, even in the RS trim. Ford has always seems to do small car chassis and small engines very well; GM has its own set of accolades for small boosted cars - but the Sonic was never meant to be a "performance" car in the way the ST is.

I love my Sonic and am happy I bought it. I'll keep modding it and having fun - and hopefully not be beat by too many Fords.

 

[ChrisJ]

Doesn't matter. It will be hard to beat my list of warranty fixes on the Sonic.

You're right, Ford can't possibly make one car that will have as many failures as your Sonic.

I'll just leave this link here as a taste.
Ford Fiesta Transmission Troubles

"I just bought a brand new 2012 Ford Fiesta sedan , after two days and 200 miles on it , the transmission burned up stranding me in the middle of the road, had to be towed 40 miles back to dealership, I gave them the keys, told them to keep the piece of junk, I am not going through all this crap and then the lemon law hassle ."

 

[ahtoxa]

Every make and model out there will have similar things to report. In fact, 99% of the Sonics out there will have fewer warranty claims their entire warranty period compared to mine.

Statistically, any new car I buy will most likely have far fewer problems than my current one, even if it's another Sonic.

 

[ChrisJ]

Every make and model out there will have similar things to report. In fact, 99% of the Sonics out there will have fewer warranty claims their entire warranty period compared to mine.

Statistically, any new car I buy will most likely have far fewer problems than my current one, even if it's another Sonic.

True,
But I'd still research it first.

 

[ahtoxa]

I was being dismissive to accentuate my distaste with my car's reliability, more than anything. I've done basic research on the FiST already, by virtue of being interested in it and reading related reports. So far, so good. Nothing that would turn me away from it, such as the case with the glass-brittle manual trans in the early stages of the current-gen 5.0 Mustang or the autobox issues of the current-gen Focus.

FiST and the new 1.T Fiesta are a major hit for Ford.

What scares me most about Ford, is the terrible rep of the dealerships, which was mentioned earlier in this thread. Chevy has treated me outstandingly well.

 

[Lazza]

The main reasons I recently bought my Sonic (1.4L, 6MT) over the FiST are:

- FiST reliability is unknown; waiting a couple of years seemed prudent.

- FiST availability was rather thin, so obviously the Ford dealer would want maximum price.

- the Sonic is better on gas.

My Sonic is fun and fast enough ... for now. I'm able to get up to speed and pass morons without issue. In another 3 years I might look to upgrade, but hopefully by then the Sonic will come with more horsepower.


_Lazza