Ford Fiesta (why it isn't selling)

[silvrsvt]

So did 2009-2010's "Fiesta Movement" initiative, with its youth focused marketing BS and social networking nonsense turn out to be a dud? Would Ford have achieved better results for U.S. Fiesta sales with a more traditional, product focused campaign with a broader target audience?

 

The article linked in Reigner92's post vindicates BON forums member gafry IMO. :reading:

 

Not really, why focus your attention on a market that is already established and already has preexisting biases against small cars? If anything gafry posting comes across as some attention whore that is upset that Ford didn't pay him attention?

 

Anyways, my option is that chasing the youth population (or more persisley catering to them only) is a recipe for failure. They are too fickle and have no $$$ to buy cars, esp now with the way the economy is. I don't see the Fiesta Movement as catering directly to 25 and under crowd...hell I'll be 36 and was following it.

 

 

 

[jpd80]

Fiesta is after all, a subcompact car that's well optioned and selling at the same price as a Compact,

that would have been unheard of a few short years ago, the market has changed that much.

[snooter]

it rhymes with siesta its a snoozer///and again europe gets the hotter version and we get screwed...$4 gas and ford wont be able to meet demand though

[timmm55]

it rhymes with siesta its a snoozer///and again Europe gets the hotter version and we get screwed...$4 gas and ford wont be able to meet demand though

 

And snooter rhymes with snoozer, so what?

 

Europe does get a 3 door that we don't (we get a sedan that they don't) but the ST isn't out there yet either. There is a slight difference in performance due to tires and a minor weight increase from US regulations.

 

The biggest "problem" for the Fiesta is the upcoming Focus. It'd been around for awhile in Europe, here it came out and the new Focus was announced right after wards.

Edited December 11, 2010 by timmm55

[aneekr]

Days of inventory as of Dec. 1, 2010:

 

• Mazda 2: 275
  
• Ford Fiesta: 142
  
• Honda Fit: 69
  
• Mini Cooper: 44
  
• Chevrolet Aveo: 40
  

Among other B-segment cars, Toyota, Nissan, Kia, and Hyundai did not report data for models individually. SOURCE

[saintlaz1]

Does no one think or is it just me that Fiesta name is not working in America ?

Edited December 11, 2010 by saintlaz1

[mettech]

Does no one think or is it just me that Fiesta name is not working in America ?

 

 

:blink: :bag: :elefant:

 

And that sums up the posters on BON.

[David The Bruce]

II said it a year ago and was ridiculed at the time. A lot of Americans only buy miniature cars because they have too due to financial reasons, i.e. young kids/first time buyers/not a ton of money.

Who the heck wants to pay 16k to 20k for a car they wish they didn't have to get?

I can go get a stripped down vesa for 10,600, throw in AC and you walk for 11,200, and it doesn't look like a clown car, not that I like versas but if I'm going to be seen driving a mini car I at least want to be able to say I got it cheap.

A lot of folks are of the mindset "you paid 20k for a loaded clown car when you could have gotten a real car?"

The cooper is already filling that niche and I don’t think you see many low end buyers getting a cooper, it seems to be folks with money.

I agree though that as long a Ford is making money on them, good for Ford, but this isn’t the second coming of the escort, but then again maybe they didn’t make a ton of money off the escort.

[ANTAUS]

Or they can buy a larger used vehicle, maybe 2-3 years old, get an extended warranty, and it'll probably cost the same amount as a new Fiesta, but like every argument, every automaker faces that issue. The only incentive can be 0% financing whereas in a used vehicle, financing will be much higher. Plus with a new vehicle, you can sort of pick the options, colors, you have a greater selection. I mean personally if you give me an option between a new $18-20K Fiesta, I'll go with a 2 year old used Mustang instead.

[Biker16]

II said it a year ago and was ridiculed at the time. A lot of Americans only buy miniature cars because they have too due to financial reasons, i.e. young kids/first time buyers/not a ton of money.

Who the heck wants to pay 16k to 20k for a car they wish they didn't have to get?

I can go get a stripped down vesa for 10,600, throw in AC and you walk for 11,200, and it doesn't look like a clown car, not that I like versas but if I'm going to be seen driving a mini car I at least want to be able to say I got it cheap.

A lot of folks are of the mindset "you paid 20k for a loaded clown car when you could have gotten a real car?"

The cooper is already filling that niche and I don’t think you see many low end buyers getting a cooper, it seems to be folks with money.

I agree though that as long a Ford is making money on them, good for Ford, but this isn’t the second coming of the escort, but then again maybe they didn’t make a ton of money off the escort.

 

 

there is also the Focus which is directly competing with the fiesta on price right now.

 

I huag out on Focaljet alot and I am hearing that some young hipsters think the 2012 Focus is too expensive and too heavy, they are looking to move down into the fiesta. we really won't know for sure until 2013 when the mondeo/fusion launches how things will shake out. a new Fiesta is due in 2014 anyway. our lineup won't be whole until the 2013 C/D car arrives. I think that thge Fusion and the 2012 Focus step on each other's toes until the Fusion is replaced, i do not expect huge 2012 Focus numbers its first year.

 

The most important thing for ford to do is to be patient, and hold the line in incentives or make any broad conclusions about marketing. Everyone who I know has driven the fiesta loves the car, gas prices next year may completely alter this equation.

[silvrsvt]

I huag out on Focaljet alot and I am hearing that some young hipsters think the 2012 Focus is too expensive and too heavy,

 

IMO I think internet message boards are the worse place to base options on, the vast majority of people are bitching and griping about a product that they can't afford. 95% of the postings on message boards are bitching and griping, with majority of the postings being negative.

 

How many times do you see people posting they are HAPPY with the car they got? They are silent, because they are happy with what they have and don't feel the need to draw attention to themselves or the suspected problem.

 

You can get information from them, but you need a really good BS detector to sift through it at times.

 

Anyways about the 2012 Focus...you might be right about the pricing, but like you said, once $4 buck a gallon comes back (if it does) the compact market will be the new mid-sized market...unless mid-sized Sedans start pulling down 38 MPG+ Highway mileage (which is doable....to a point)

 

Not to mention, we don't have too be too Focused (pun intended) on total sales numbers, as long as ford is making a nice profit on the said product. Hell if they can sell 100K cars at $30-40K a year with a 5K profit or more, they'd be more then happy with the numbers.

[Noah Harbinger]

That can't happen fast enough.

 

It's funny how we have so many unemployed, but the Mexicans still come here illegally and seems to find work.:reading:

 

Oh, I forgot, the Illegals does the jobs that USA citizens don't want to do. Instead, we pay our citizens unemployment. benefits and the illegals minimum wage.

 

Hummm... Maybe we should trade our unemployed for the illegals on a "one for one" exchange.

 

The economic purpose of unemployment benefits is to prevent an inefficient allocation of skilled labor to unskilled jobs. It's not good for the economy to have engineers flipping burgers.

[Ford Jellymoulds]

The economic purpose of unemployment benefits is to prevent an inefficient allocation of skilled labor to unskilled jobs. It's not good for the economy to have engineers flipping burgers.

 

I watched a program US made program on how a lot of Americans over borrowed to buy houses in the subprime market, the greedy lenders more a less lent them what ever they wanted.

 

Now the poor bastards who borrowed beyond their means, are doing 3 to 4 low paid jobs like flipping burgers after they have done a hard days work just to keep their head above water.

 

Much of the USA 15 million unemployed have not got a hope in hell of getting a job if other Americans are doing 3-4 jobs with no social life just to keep their house from getting repossessed.

 

Irresponsible greedy banks have caused all the problems they damm well knew most house buyers would struggle to payback loans they never could afford in the first place.

 

I can only see things getting worst as the US have printed so much money interest rates will get forced to go a lot higher soon which will lead to another wave of repossessed homes.

Edited December 11, 2010 by Ford Jellymoulds

[mustang_sallad]

I can only speak for myself, but I am definitely somebody who's willing to pay more for a nicer small car. I will probably be buying my first car within the next year, and the Fiesta is at the top of the list. The only downside is the reduced utility compared to the Fit, but at least it gets better mpg.

[2005Explorer]

Fiesta sales might be low right now, but I can promise if we see $4 a gallon fuel again sales will pick up. The fact is no matter how good the Fiesta is or isn't doesn't have much to do with sales. It is a good car, but for most US citizens it is just too small unless fuel prices get high enough that they are willing to trade size for efficiency. Ford has done the right thing competing in this class because fuel prices aren't predictable. If fuel prices go crazy again like we saw a couple of years ago, Ford is in good shape with a strong small to mid-sized sedan line up. Fuel prices are starting to go up again and if the jump becomes bad enough the products that will be keeping Ford in business are the Fiesta, Focus, Fusion and Escape.

 

 

I can only see things getting worst as the US have printed so much money interest rates will get forced to go a lot higher soon which will lead to another wave of repossessed homes.

 

Huh? I'd say most people who are getting mortgages right now are going for a fixed rate. I have also read like 80% of people doing a refinance right now are switching over to a fixed rate. I just bought a house and locked at 4.5% for 30 years. Even if interest rates go much higher my mortgage will stay at 4.5%. I suppose if a person is on adjustable interest and rates go much higher it might impact them, but I just don't think a lot of people have adjustable rates on their home mortgage after the last mortgage meltdown. I suppose high interest rates will have some effect, but the smart homeowner can lock in a fixed rate mortgage at a very low rate right now.

Edited December 11, 2010 by 2005Explorer

[BORG]

I'm such a typical American consumer, but part of that is the fact I live in Soviet Russia (Metro Detroit) and I need a car with large tires and healthy shocks. I won't spend that kind of money on a small car up here when I could get a Focus or Fusion.

[BORG]

I'm such a typical American consumer, but part of that is the fact I live in Soviet Russia (Metro Detroit) and I need a car with large tires and healthy shocks. I won't spend that kind of money on a small car up here when I could get a Focus or Fusion.

[Ford Jellymoulds]

I can only speak for myself, but I am definitely somebody who's willing to pay more for a nicer small car. I will probably be buying my first car within the next year, and the Fiesta is at the top of the list. The only downside is the reduced utility compared to the Fit, but at least it gets better mpg.

 

 

 

Nobody buys the Fit in Europe the diesel Fiesta econetic diesel returns 88 MPG it kicks the Fit sales into touch here, thats why Ford sold 50,000 Fiesta's in Europe in the month of March this year.

 

It's about time Ford brought the econetic diesel Fiesta to USA it would wipe out Honda Fit sales in the USA, the MPG of Fords ecoboost gasoline engine is piss poor indeed.

Edited December 11, 2010 by Ford Jellymoulds

[RichardJensen]

Things I love about the internet:

 

lots of information

 

Things I dislike about the internet:

 

instant punditry

 

It is ludicrous to pass judgment on the success *or* failure of the Fiesta after what? four months? on the market.

[FordBuyer]

Or they can buy a larger used vehicle, maybe 2-3 years old, get an extended warranty, and it'll probably cost the same amount as a new Fiesta, but like every argument, every automaker faces that issue. The only incentive can be 0% financing whereas in a used vehicle, financing will be much higher. Plus with a new vehicle, you can sort of pick the options, colors, you have a greater selection. I mean personally if you give me an option between a new $18-20K Fiesta, I'll go with a 2 year old used Mustang instead.

 

Dang, you could buy a speed yellow 2004 Porsche Boxster S with 6 speed manual and 40,000 miles for $18,000-$20,000. And it will go 165mph, corner like a go-cart, has two trunks, and will do 0-60 in about 5.2 seconds. Sorry Fiesta.

[FordBuyer]

I could be wrong, but I saw that only about 60% of the parts are shared between European Fiesta and North American version. With the 2012 Focus, over 90% of the parts are shared with European version. Hopefully any sport versions of North American Fiesta will have more shared parts with European version resulting in a more enthusiast driving vehicle. And once the new Focus hits dealerships, the greater price difference between them without the big incentives on the present Focus will drive more Ford buyers to the Fiesta. The Fiesta is very roomy in the front and afterall most drivers drive alone to work.

[jpd80]

I could be wrong, but I saw that only about 60% of the parts are shared between European Fiesta and North American version. With the 2012 Focus, over 90% of the parts are shared with European version. Hopefully any sport versions of North American Fiesta will have more shared parts with European version resulting in a more enthusiast driving vehicle. And once the new Focus hits dealerships, the greater price difference between them without the big incentives on the present Focus will drive more Ford buyers to the Fiesta. The Fiesta is very roomy in the front and afterall most drivers drive alone to work.

In short, what they may be saying is that only 40% of the parts inter change,

that doesn't mean the others are completely different.

 

A lot of that has to do with regional specific requirements like diesel power train

and revised suspension, different interiors and different American bumpers

heated seats, not sure if MyFord is used in Europe either, possibly larger capacity

HVAC for USA too. The ECU and engine calibrations are also different.

 

Fiesta was the first of the post 2006 common design cars, I'd expect Ford will get

better and better at the parts count as they progress through the different cars.

Edited December 11, 2010 by jpd80

[mackinaw]

It is ludicrous to pass judgment on the success *or* failure of the Fiesta after what? four months? on the market.

 

Jensen, this is BON. We hate everything Ford does.

[mackinaw]

Does no one think or is it just me that Fiesta name is not working in America ?

 

Fiesta is a great name.

 

And considering that Toyota sells hundreds of thousands of things called Camry and Tercel, names mean very little to the American consumer.

 

BTW, can anybody tell me what exactly is a Camry?

[jpd80]

And not so long ago, suggesting that a B car would sell in significant numbers would have you ridiculed

off the BON boards. I find it amazing that Americans are even taking to B cars, they were considered the

car you bought when you couldn't afford a real car.

 

What a refreshing change that people are now prepared to give Fiesta a go and option them up like larger cars.

I think that's the key, if you only need the rear seats occasionally they have just as much room as a Mustang

and on top of that the insurance premiums means that young drivers can get an affordable spirited car.

 

What Ford needs to do is back up Fiesta sales with a "Hero" version with the Focus' 2.0 DI and 2.0 Ecoboost

Edited December 11, 2010 by jpd80