Fiesta Movement at Santana Row
So Ford is working hard to get the brand and their product in front buyers. Nothing works better than putting a car in the middle of a throng of people and letting them check it out in person.
This weekend, Santana Row was playing host to Ford’s “Fiesta Movement“, and I was pleasantly surprised. The 2011 Ford Fiesta (currently available in Europe and selling very well) is finally coming to the US. There was a good crowd and test drives were encouraged. So what’s the hubbub about?
Style – Sensible yet fashionable. It’s the usual aerodynamic shape, but with some key elements to give the Fiesta some uniqueness. Me likey – it channels the good things from the Ford Focus without looking derivative. Saw 4-door hatchbacks today, but there are some pics of a sedan as well.
Build Quality – Doors open/close nicely. Dashboard gaps are respectable and everything lines up. VERY different from previous Ford experiences. Engine is 1.6L Inline 4 w/ about 120HP. Considering these Fiesta’s are getting flogged pretty hard in Europe, dealing with US traffic should be easier. Even the seats were comfortable (leather/seat heaters optional) and looked good. Only catch was body panel paint quality on the interior surfaces (when you open the hood, you could see where the paint overspray doesn’t quite cover the primer, etc). Visible surfaces were great and the car presents itself nicely.
Performance – 120HP doesn’t sound like much – but when the car weighs 2300 lbs – now things are getting interesting. With a 5-spd manual and talk of a turbo option – this could raise the bar. Also bringing over the European tuned suspension setup (woohoo!).
Efficiency – Mileage numbers sound very reasonable – especially considering the weight of the car. From talking with some of the team drivers at the event, they were averaging in the high 30s for mpg. Having a car that’s easy on gas and fun to drive? Sweeeet
Functionality – Decent interior head/leg room that you would expect from a 4 door hatchback. Felt slightly roomier than the Honda Fit. Controls were well placed and intuitive. They made the technology features integrated/accessible. I hope this makes it to the final US model. Microsoft SYNC is a nice touch, but the bluetooth integration and voice commands really show the attention to detail.
Sounds like they are still hashing out some of the details in terms of packaging options and trim levels – but functionally the ingredients for a great US launch are already there. There is a tremendous amount of value for a <$15K car – and I am glad to see Ford learning from their past experiences.
So what didn’t make the grade? The interior door handles. Felt like I was stepping back in time to a mid 90s Hyundai. If these were made of a little thicker plastic or even metal – that would be awesome. Needless to say if that is the worst thing I could find – whatever 
Jensen-Healey Restoration – Getting started
Part 1 of the ongoing saga of the 1974 Jensen-Healey that I am attempting to restore.
First - Why the Jensen-Healey? I was looking for an interesting car with some history. Preferred a convertible, but mainly looking for a lightweight chassis with a decent engine. I have no plans to swap in anything in quite yet, but I have seen everything from electric conversions to a shoehorned V8. With a curb weight of about 1850 lbs and stock HP of about 140, this thing is a blast. Wikipedia has a great entry that gives the background on the short-lived Jensen-Healey
Next – Acquisition…$600 on Craigslist (running but beat-up). There was standing water in it from it being stored outside, so I knew that some panels would need some help. Google “rust+british+1970s” and you will find a myriad of examples as why this is no surprise. If you prep for this before hand, it helps when you see bubbled metal and you won’t freak out…
Next time – “What the heck am I in for…?”
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