The Ford Fiesta - RIP

[Dobloseven]

I would think Ford in Europe need to join forces with another maker ASAP,for platform and technology sharing. Vauxhall/Opel/Stellantis seem to be committed to keeping making the Corsa, which can share parts with the former PSA models. They're joining up with VW for vans and pick ups so perhaps cars will be next. 

[bunglebus]

I've had 5 Fiestas, all MK1s. My first car too, as with so many other people - and learned in a MK3 Flight

[Metal Guru]

My first car was a Mk1 , 1.1L in Baltic Blue. Only kept it a year, slightest hint of moisture in the air and it wouldn’t start. Only car I had without electronic ignition , never had starting problems ( apart from flat batteries), with any car since.

[Bitzer]

Re Focus, my understanding is they only went downhill after the manically successful Mk1. When our first Mk1 died of smashing from behind by a van, I did my research to the later generations and was not impressed at all. Which means we are at our 3rd Mk1 right now with no intention of replacing it any time soon. 

[Rustybullethole]

Had quite a few fiestas in my youth. They brought me great joy and it was a sorry time when my mum found them under my bed and binned them off. 

[yes oui si]

I've owned most marks of Fiesta over the years, and I have to say that the mk7 is a cut above all the others. Genuinely a better class of car in every way. 

If it were written off tomorrow, I'd probably replace it with another with the same engine and spec, or maybe a B-Max. 

45mpg around the hills and lanes, nice to drive, great stereo, perfect for when we need to go to a town or city. 

[artdjones]

On 10/28/2022 at 8:55 AM, chris667 said:

Modern, boring and fat.

The James Corden of cars,then.

[UltraWomble]

19 minutes ago, Rustybullethole said:

Had quite a few fiestas in my youth. They brought me great joy and it was a sorry time when my mum found them under my bed and binned them off. 

I recently flogged a load for a tenner a pop on eBay.

[willswitchengage]

Since petrol has roughly doubled in price in the past year, as has the price of electricity (as an understatement), and disposable incomes have plummeted, it seems an utterly bizarre business strategy to me to sack your smallest and most economical vehicle.

The overwhelming majority of drivers don't need an SUV and can't afford an electric car, when a supermini was designed to be cheap motoring for the masses. Pretty much what everybody needs right now.

[Bren]

Given the way Ford in the US has gone and this news you could be forgiven for thinking Ford are not making cars any more.

Mondeo. Now this. What happens when the cost of living / inflation/ rising energy prices REALLY start to bite? People will not be able to afford new cars.

It's going to be a torrid time for the big manufacturers.

It's going to be survival of the fittest.

[adw1977]

58 minutes ago, willswitchengage said:

Since petrol has roughly doubled in price in the past year, as has the price of electricity (as an understatement), and disposable incomes have plummeted, it seems an utterly bizarre business strategy to me to sack your smallest and most economical vehicle.

The overwhelming majority of drivers don't need an SUV and can't afford an electric car, when a supermini was designed to be cheap motoring for the masses. Pretty much what everybody needs right now.

The whole system of "selling" cars via PCP may unravel soon because rising interest rates are putting the costs up considerably.  So the market for cheaper more basic cars may well expand. 

[mk2_craig]

Seems a strange decision given that the Fiesta still seems to be selling strongly, or at least it did before microchip supply chains apparently went tits up, which is one reason I’ve heard for Fiesta production being cut back. Not sure how that affects the Fiesta more than other Ford models however. I wonder if the real reason is that Ford can’t build them cheaply enough these days. 
 

I have had a lot of Fiestas. 

[Ghosty]

Ford have lost it completely. 
 

[Bren]

10 minutes ago, mk2_craig said:

Seems a strange decision given that the Fiesta still seems to be selling strongly, or at least it did before microchip supply chains apparently went tits up, which is one reason I’ve heard for Fiesta production being cut back. Not sure how that affects the Fiesta more than other Ford models however. I wonder if the real reason is that Ford can’t build them cheaply enough these days. 
 

I have had a lot of Fiestas. 

And so have I.

[willswitchengage]

57 minutes ago, Bren said:

Mondeo. Now this.

In fairness the Mondeo was a boring car and the 3-box shape is very unpractical, you can see why it died it in favour of premium brands and SUVs with a higher driver position and useful boot. See also the demise of sedans in the USA.

Ford are slow to the electric game too, the Mach E has a silly name and looks ridiculous.

[Austin-Rover]

I'd love to see where Ford plans to be in ten years' time. They're chopping all the stuff that they're known for, they're seemingly late to the EV party, and seem intent on selling only SUVs. There's no way they've got an upmarket enough image to survive only on expensive oversize lifestyle accessories? 

[Bren]

37 minutes ago, Austin-Rover said:

I'd love to see where Ford plans to be in ten years' time. They're chopping all the stuff that they're known for, they're seemingly late to the EV party, and seem intent on selling only SUVs. There's no way they've got an upmarket enough image to survive only on expensive oversize lifestyle accessories? 

I regularly watch the likes of Watch Wes Work and car wizard on YouTube.

People are sinking four - and sometimes five - figures into their vehicles.

New - and used - are simply too expensive so people are choosing to invest their money into what they have.

I am not sure who will be able to afford these new SUV's.

[McRusty]

We have a mark 8, daughter has a mark 7 and son has a mark 6. All excellent cars. I can't even begin to understand what Ford are thinking. This might be the end of my loyalty to the blue oval after over 30 years. I don't like where this all seems to be going ie: being forced to buy an electric car. I can't imagine the AutoShite forum of 20 years in the future will be full of tales of “digging the old Tesla out of the shed to soup up the 400 volt motor to 800 volt in the driveway” Such tinkering has been the prerogative of the working man since before the Second World War. Sprucing up the old BSA Bantam and later the Reliant so you could get to work on Monday was a weekend ritual. When you could afford a small car such as a Mini or Escort, you had to look after that too. Who hasn't had the joy of replacing a Triumph Herald gearbox in the street in January because it's too expensive to take to the garage? The Fiesta has been a staple of the new driver for decades. It's small, simple and still cheap to work on (replaced the broken springs on my daughters mark 7 for less than £30 – in the driveway).

I don't look forward to what the future brings for those of us that like to twirl a spanner. ULEZ, scarcity of fuel in the future and new legislation is taking our simple pleasure away from us a bit at a time.

I'd like to think that “they” would take my little MG away from my cold, dead hands but I may not have a say in the matter.

[sierraman]

3 hours ago, willswitchengage said:

Since petrol has roughly doubled in price in the past year, as has the price of electricity (as an understatement), and disposable incomes have plummeted, it seems an utterly bizarre business strategy to me to sack your smallest and most economical vehicle.

The overwhelming majority of drivers don't need an SUV and can't afford an electric car, when a supermini was designed to be cheap motoring for the masses. Pretty much what everybody needs right now.

I hope you aren’t being negative about electric cars... 🤣

[RoverFolkUs]

Seems like corporate suicide to me, axing the more affordable best sellers and delving into an unknown long term territory of cr*ssovers. 

How many people does the new Puma appeal to, compared to the Fiesta which is a universally appealing car to all sorts of markets? 

If they axe the transit then that means they've definitely lost it.. 

[willswitchengage]

2 minutes ago, RoverFolkUs said:

How many people does the new Puma appeal to, compared to the Fiesta which is a universally appealing car to all sorts of markets

Puma is made cheaply in Romania, Fiesta is Cologne in one of Ford's oldest and probably thus most expensive factories. Most other superminis are also made cheaply in Eastern Europe. Might be a legal and PR nightmare to close that big German factory so this could be a way of doing so by stealth so the company can focus on higher margin manufacturing.

[adw1977]

2 hours ago, mk2_craig said:

Seems a strange decision given that the Fiesta still seems to be selling strongly, or at least it did before microchip supply chains apparently went tits up, which is one reason I’ve heard for Fiesta production being cut back. Not sure how that affects the Fiesta more than other Ford models however. I wonder if the real reason is that Ford can’t build them cheaply enough these days. 
 

I have had a lot of Fiestas. 

If Ford can't get enough microchips to build their full range at full volume then I suppose it makes sense to concentrate on the models with the highest profit margins, which probably means horrible blob things rather than Fiestas, unfortunately. 

[ProgRocker]

I think Ford might bring back a supermini sized model as a spiritual successor to the Fiesta but it will crossover like in appearance and electric powered. Perhaps even hydrogen powered. 

[sierraman]

People say what a terrible idea this was but the Puma is the U.K. third best selling car in 2022, there’s also bigger profit margins in it. Anyone even vaguely business minded would have put the Fiesta to bed under that circumstance.

[warch]

10 hours ago, RoverFolkUs said:

Seems like corporate suicide to me, axing the more affordable best sellers and delving into an unknown long term territory of cr*ssovers. 

How many people does the new Puma appeal to, compared to the Fiesta which is a universally appealing car to all sorts of markets? 

If they axe the transit then that means they've definitely lost it.. 

The problem with crossovers is that they are pretty good, no more expensive to own and run than a normal hatchback and often no worse to drive (compare and contrast with owning an actual 4x4) whilst still appealing to the aspirational market that equates success in life with a Range Rover on your (gravel) drive. The problem is that normal hatchbacks are regarded as a bit passe and unfashionable by the buying public, hence why the best selling car list is dominated by crossovers. I think Nissan sells twice as many Qashqais on a monthly basis (at £26-40k a go) compared to the Fiesta which costs between (£19-22k), so there is a compelling economic argument for manufacturers as well. I don't know if this is a temporary or permanent thing (to do with a chip shortage) but a lot of manufacturers seem to be abandoning the bottom of the market and only selling mid or high spec models.

The last Fiesta I drove was probably an 1100cc Mk2, the modern ones seem a lot bigger and heavier by comparison with the 70s/80s version which probably barely weighed 3/4 ton. 

On the subject of Transits, they seem to have vanished from the scene. I did an infrastructure job the other day and all the groundworkers had Mercedes vans and pickups. 15 or 20 years ago groundworkers all drove Transits.

 

 

[busmansholiday]

Never owned one, never wanted one, and if I have driven one it didn't make any impact on me, so it's demise isn't going to be missed by me. TBH, I didn't realise they still made them actually.

[Macscrooge]

I’m probably rare in having never owned a Fiesta. Those I drove were mostly Mk2 1.1Ls in the mid-1980s for a daily rental company. I didn’t rate them, feeling they were largely outshone by other ‘A Group’ cars on the fleet. Nova 1.2, R5, 205GL and even (whisper it) Metro. I remember several such Fiestas where at much over 70 the doors would start to peel open, sometimes to the point where I could shove my hand through the gap!  

[GrumpiusMaximus]

My Dad owned a Mk 1,  2 Mk 3s, a Mk 1 Ka, and a 1.6 Zetec Mk 5.  I've owned a 1.4 Zetec Mk 6.  My partner owned a Mark 4 (sadface) 1.3 as her first car, her sister owns a later 1.25 Mk 6 and one of our friends drives a 1.25 Mk 6.

My cousin's husband (cousin-in-law?) is the true fan and his daily is a Mk 1.  But he also owns a Mk 4 Ghia and a Mk 5 ST.  At one point he had a personal scrapyard of about 25 Fiestas and Kas in the garden in varying states of use - most of which were just parts spares.

I think it's safe to say that Fiestas have been a big part of my life.  I think they're brilliant.  I never liked the Mk 7 much, though.

It's a sad state of affairs that a practical, small car like the Fiesta isn't going to be made any more.  It's clear Ford have made a commercial decision but that makes me no less sad...

[lesapandre]

27 minutes ago, warch said:

The problem with crossovers is that they are pretty good, no more expensive to own and run than a normal hatchback and often no worse to drive (compare and contrast with owning an actual 4x4) whilst still appealing to the aspirational market that equates success in life with a Range Rover on your (gravel) drive. The problem is that normal hatchbacks are regarded as a bit passe and unfashionable by the buying public, hence why the best selling car list is dominated by crossovers. I think Nissan sells twice as many Qashqais on a monthly basis (at £26-40k a go) compared to the Fiesta which costs between (£19-22k), so there is a compelling economic argument for manufacturers as well. I don't know if this is a temporary or permanent thing (to do with a chip shortage) but a lot of manufacturers seem to be abandoning the bottom of the market and only selling mid or high spec models.

The last Fiesta I drove was probably an 1100cc Mk2, the modern ones seem a lot bigger and heavier by comparison with the 70s/80s version which probably barely weighed 3/4 ton. 

On the subject of Transits, they seem to have vanished from the scene. I did an infrastructure job the other day and all the groundworkers had Mercedes vans and pickups. 15 or 20 years ago groundworkers all drove Transits.

 

 

My guess it has something to do with financing as well - and what 'impressive' vehicles people want to pay for on leasing etc? And thus residual values? 

Is there something in this also about the move to electic cars - that it's more difficult to pack the tech and batteries into small cars and get the miles range - which is driving overall a move to bigger vehicle as car ranges are electrified?

[ETCHY]

Not big enough. Not flash enough not "allegedly" green enough for all the I'm better than you wankers that are a fair proportion of the car buying public these days. Who have no grasp of the irony of driving a new imported from fuck knows where 3 ton SUV around a congested town and then swapping it every 3 years for the same.. 

RIP the non SUV.