ford fiesta - Jalopnik

posts about #fordfiesta more →
Commenters Moved To Smack Mashable Over Ford Fiesta Story
Ford Fiesta: Will It Blend?
2010 Chevrolet Agile: South America Gets A Fiesta-Fighter
Perhaps You're Taking This Whole "Fiesta Movement" Thing Too Seriously
Attacking Pikes Peak In A 800HP Turbo Ford Fiesta RallyCross
Nun Ticketed For Doing 112 MPH En Route To Pope
That Top Gear Episode Where Clarkson Tests The New Ford Fiesta
Want To Drive With Jill Hanner?
Autoweek Crashes A Ford Fiesta
800 HP Ford Fiestas To Storm Pike's Peak

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engineerd
10/05/09

In reply to Commenters Moved To Smack Mashable Over Ford Fiesta Story
Ford took a Bold Move in setting up the Fiesta Movement. Giving cars to people and then letting them talk about it on the web, where it can be viewed by millions of people, either shows they are Built for the Road Ahead, or crazy. Luckily, Ford was smart to give a great little car -- and one that the US market really needs -- to a vocal group of people to Feel the Difference. So, I ask you, Have You Driven a Ford Lately?
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Mad_Science
10/05/09

In reply to Commenters Moved To Smack Mashable Over Ford Fiesta Story
Waitwaitwait...you're saying there are people out there who's job it is to encourage members of The Media at Large to write articles about their products or their marketing efforts?

I am shocked and dismayed to learn of such improprieties.

Seriously, Ray: drop this bitch fight with Scott Monty. It doesn't reflect well on you.
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Joe Valasek
10/05/09

In reply to Commenters Moved To Smack Mashable Over Ford Fiesta Story
There are 4 steps to successfully selling a new car.

1. Design and build new car.
2. Make sure everyone knows about the car.
3. ????
4. Profit!
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PowerTryp, Starless wonder.
10/05/09

@Joe Valasek: I do believe step 3 is make sure the car does one thing better than it's competators.
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philibuster
10/05/09

@PowerTryp forever Minardi: How does Toyota sell cars then?
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Mad_Science
10/05/09

@philibuster: It capitalizes on a generation of superior reliability.
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mikedrawcar
10/05/09

In reply to Commenters Moved To Smack Mashable Over Ford Fiesta Story
how do you judge a social media pissing contest? webcam?
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Ash Clutchem, Pokey Master
10/05/09

@mikedrawcar: You go to Facebook and create a game called Flash Mafia Wars. You get everyone to show up in one place for a big slapfight. Then we post the video on YouTube. Finally, we wait 7 days and then count the YouTube comments that include the words "Dude" or "F*ck".

Odd number of comments, Ben Parr wins. Even, Scott Monty.
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Edited by Ash Clutchem, Pokey Master at 10/05/09 10:48 AM

FTGDWolverineEdition'09
10/05/09

@Ash78 has 5 days left: You have only 5 days left? Sad.
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roaduscarnivorous
10/05/09

In reply to Commenters Moved To Smack Mashable Over Ford Fiesta Story
in terms of marketing, ford is the only one that is not still scrambling to make oneself look not crappy. instead, in combination with actually desirable products that one won't feel ashamed about, ford actually seems modern and progressive and running w/ the real dogs. chrysler is still in the recoup stage; gm, on the other hand, is doing a slightly modernized twists of its old tricks, w/ a dash of outrageous exaggeration on a questionable product (volt)
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Ash Clutchem, Pokey Master
10/05/09

In reply to Commenters Moved To Smack Mashable Over Ford Fiesta Story
I can't parse that first sentence. I keep trying, but my eyes glaze over like reading about Valerie Plame or 9/11 conspiracies.
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snapoversteer 'bout to get told
10/05/09

@Ash78 has 5 days left: Save your eyesight. Even when you figure it out, it's still going to be about social media.
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Triborough
10/05/09

In reply to Commenters Moved To Smack Mashable Over Ford Fiesta Story
Ford is doing a lot better with the whole marketing thing than GM and I am not saying that as a Ford shareholder and someone who knows one of the Fiesta Movement people.
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RLJ676-LS3 Commuter Car - for the environment
10/05/09

@Triborough:

If your statement is just saying "Ford didn't take any gov't money, so people love them" than I wholly agree.
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Ash78 has 5 days left promoted this comment

Ash Clutchem, Pokey Master
10/05/09

@RLJ676-LS3 Commuter Car - for the environment: I ask myself whether that factor plays into my admiration of Ford. It's a tiny portion, but largely its that they seem to be doing what enthusiasts have asked for over the past several years (ie domesticating the Euro models).

I'm actually really looking forward to the Grand C-Max. I can't imagine any other company offering a minivan that I'd actually look forward to.
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Triborough
10/05/09

@RLJ676-LS3 Commuter Car - for the environment: I am saying basically, "Ford isn't GM and GM has to beg people to buy crappy cars."
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Timtoolman, going ASH
10/05/09

@Triborough: I have to disagree. First, keep in mind that I have never owned a GM product, nor has my wife. I believe some of their cars have been crap, but you can say the same of Ford and really, just about all car manufacturers. You can't continue to sell millions of vehicles on propoganda. As someone noted earlier, US car buyers are the most demanding in the world. So what passes here, should be successful anywhere. (all except for the big barge, gas guzzler thing).

No matter what you do, you can't get beyond the marketing. Either you get Steve McQueen (or whoever you consider your hero) hawking a product, and collecting a handsome paycheck -my fav is Gene Hackman doing Lowes commercials- or you get some No-Name. With the celebrity, you might have a bit of honesty and integrity. Think Bill Cosby and Jello. With the no-name, you're likley to ignore the endorsement altogether.

Bottom line, some of GM's stuff HAS to be good. Ford isn't GM, The powers-that-be at Ford were smart enough to recognize and react far in advance of GM. Cerberus, as someone put it, was day trading Chrysler, and it deservedly blew up in their face. I say, give GM an objective look, because as a long time Chrysler buyer, I am.
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pauljones
10/05/09

@Ash78 has 5 days left: The Mazda5 is awesome, if that's what you're in the market for. It's a little underpowered, but still adequate, and is fun to drive.
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Edited by pauljones at 10/05/09 10:52 AM pauljones was starred pauljones was unstarred

Ash Clutchem, Pokey Master
10/05/09

@pauljones: I consider that to be a "90% car"--I really like it, but can't pull the trigger. A wee bit too underpowered, and I'd like the seventh seat that Europe gets (middle row). Also, you can't get the stick with anything but the base model.

The C-Max will be the Focus platform, so in essence, the successor to the Mazda5. Hopefully the 2.0 turbo and stick will be an option. They're supposed to keep the 7th seat, too.
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pauljones
10/05/09

@Timtoolman, still looking for work.: Nicely said.

I am a GM guy, and I readily admit that their offerings have been crappy until recently. The new Malibu, Camaro, CTS, STS, XLR, SRX, Enclave, Astra, new Vue, etc. have all been great.
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duurtlang
10/05/09

@Timtoolman, still looking for work.:
[quote]
So what passes here, should be successful anywhere.
[/quote]

There isn't a single car I can think of that has been developed for the US market and is popular over here in Western-Europe (in 2009). There have been some examples in the past (Cherokee, Chrysler/Dodge Voyager come to mind), but now: none. I might be forgetting about a model or two, and some US cars sell in modest numbers, but still.
I don't think your claim holds up. The cars the US excels in are (to an European) ALL cheap plastic "big barge, gas guzzler thing"s, so they don't sell.
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Timtoolman, going ASH
10/05/09

@duurtlang: Let me rephrase. The likes of Yugo, Opel, Peugeot, and soon to be Mitsu, as well as a number of others will support the claim that we are a fussy bunch. When Honda invaded in the 80's, it was a breath of fresh air to some. Finally, a bit of competition to the Big 3- quality over "Buy American". GM, et.al. always had problems with big payrolls which just translated to more costly vehicles and thus a marketing campaign of "support your home-town workers." Cars developed here, to be consumed here, are for all intents and purposes, made for here.

Ford is probably the best example of developing cars overseas, for overseas. they just haven't figured out a way to make it cost effective to get them here, until now. The Focus, C-Max and MAYBE Transit are examples. Holden could be successful here, if I'm not mistaken.
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Edited by Timtoolman, going ASH at 10/05/09 11:49 AM

duurtlang
10/05/09

@Timtoolman, still looking for work.:
It's the same in other continents/countries. How successful are non-Japanese manufacturers in Japan? In the European market only European brands (incl. Opel and Euro-Ford) are traditionally succesful, plus the Japanese (since the seventies-eighties, like in the US) and recently the Koreans. All with cars designed specifically for the Euro market. Lexus tried to 'invade' with US models, and failed. Cadillac tried recently, and failed even harder. Infinity wants to try, but will fail too.
What I'm trying to say is: as a manufacturer you have to listen to your costumers. And costumers vary greatly between continents (and countries). You can't say US consumers are more critical for dismissing that POS Yugo, because it failed everywhere in the west. The Saturn Astra failed in the US because it wasn't what Americans want, Cadillac failed in Europe because it didn't offer what Europeans want.
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pauljones
10/05/09

@duurtlang: The Astra failed in the US because it was too expensive and placed in a brand that was already, for the most part, dead. Cadillac failed because it had no brand equity whatsoever, as opposed to BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi. From the standpoint of an average consumer, what are you going to buy: a car from an American company that has no brand equity in Europe, or a car from a German luxury brand that has almost a hundred years worth of brand equity behind it?
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area_educator
10/05/09

@Ash78 has 5 days left: My theory is that Ford was fortunate enough to near bottom back when the economy was still decent. So, they began their turn around-- had to-- with a head start and at a time when "near bottom" didn't mean "rock bottom".

So yeah, I think Ford's incompetence caught up with them conveniently early. They're doing great things now, but they did awful things for some time before.
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drewdrawshashtags
10/05/09

@pauljones: I think the Astra, and many of the other Euro imports have failed because they were "Americanized", and the Americans tend to fail in Europe for the opposite reason. Find your personality and stick to it and buyers will come. I think that Ze Chermans have proven that point many times over.
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alexander_the_car_salamander
08/10/09

In reply to Ford Fiesta: Will It Blend?
I am going to make a giant blender big enough to fit a full Fiesta in it just to see the car get shredded! Mwahaha! I am an evil genius. (BTW does anyone know how to make a fiesta size blender, if so send me the instructions please)
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet promoted this comment

Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
08/10/09

@alexander_the_car_salamander: I'd start by asking at Mal's House of Large Sizes. You'll probably also want to get a heavy duty extension cord.
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Froggmann
08/10/09

In reply to Ford Fiesta: Will It Blend?
Boron steel, hmmm yep someone's gonna need it. Saw one of these on the the road heading in to work on Friday. Gal behind the wheel was a complete nut, cut off 3 vehicles including a 5-ton box truck. Not a bad looking little car, seemed pretty nimble too.
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Saboth
08/10/09

In reply to Ford Fiesta: Will It Blend?
Too bad the Fiesta comes out after CFC, I would have bought one in a split second. As is...stuck with my hyundai for the next 5 years. Domestic auto makers...always a day late and a dollar short.
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GreenN_Gold
08/10/09

@Saboth: I crap you not, I had a dream that I bought a Hyundai under the CFC program, and it wasn't a Genesis coupe. I was very happy to wake up.
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Saboth
08/10/09

@GreenN_Gold:
Lol, I was really tempted to get the genesis turbo, because it DID qualify for the full 4,500 since my truck got 14 mpg, and it is rated at 24 mpg combined...but I just couldn't justify that car payment.
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skaycog
08/10/09

In reply to Ford Fiesta: Will It Blend?
I did try this at home anyway. This Dick owes me a blender.
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MushyHeirloom
08/10/09

In reply to Ford Fiesta: Will It Blend?
Will It Kill You?
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egoods
08/10/09

In reply to Ford Fiesta: Will It Blend?
it's corny, but they don't take themselves seriously so I'm not sure what I feel. Will it Blend has always made me feel a little strange.
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
08/10/09

In reply to Ford Fiesta: Will It Blend?
Too bad, I was looking for a car that could blend in.
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pauljones
08/10/09

@Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet: Much like Toyota, they exist but you can't see them.
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FTGDWolverineEdition'09
08/10/09

@Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet: This might.
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MushyHeirloom
08/10/09

@Formerlythegreatestdriver: Invisible Skodas are the best kind.
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FTGDWolverineEdition'09
08/10/09

@FP - Funny how it seems quiet around here, eh?: Nah! The best are the ones are from Aston Martin. Ask Bond.
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Jinn
08/10/09

In reply to Ford Fiesta: Will It Blend?
The acting and overall quality of this clip make the two protagonists look like borons.
Sorry, I had to.
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