2011 Ford Fiesta SFE (29 city / 40 hwy MPG US)

[alohaspirit]

under 18k is pretty good for a new car


as far as the license plate flip goes,
most time you can just take the plastic holder
notch the other side, flip it and then reattach

most people wont know until you point it out

[Nels]

Originally Posted by alohaspirit

under 18k is pretty good for a new car


as far as the license plate flip goes,
most time you can just take the plastic holder
notch the other side, flip it and then reattach

most people wont know until you point it out

Oh I agree that it is easy to do, and MOST people won't notice. However this is my wife's car, and she's having none of it. I will let some of the 'new car' feel wear off a bit before I upset that particular apple cart.

[alohaspirit]

Originally Posted by Nels

However this is my wife's car, and she's having none of it. I will let some of the 'new car' feel wear off a bit before I upset that particular apple cart.

That, I agree, is probably for the best.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by Nels

Just bumping this thread to update my results. After 5 fill-ups the car is averaging a bit over 36 mpg all around, with a high of 38.1 mpg. No real long trips though, and the weather is getting colder. It's no slouch, but I'm not overly impressed either. My 96 Saturn is making better than that with 120K on the clock. Also, my wife is driving this car, and she is not as careful with the throttle as I am. The jury is still out on this, but I remain optimistic.

My cobalts worst tank so far was 38, best 50.5mpg, not great but I am averaging mid to high 40's, sadly that amount is dropping with winter

It appears I was probably right with the $11k cobalt over the fiesta but I also doubt your wife would hypermile or drive slow so the comparison is likely moot.

My rural in town is about the same as highway (at least during the summer) but I have a nice gentle 1 mile coastdown coming back from work.

I would be curious what a Fiesta would do driven like I drive.

Cheers
Ryan

[teeker1]

I got the S model with the auto trans, remote keyless entry, CD. All the basic power stuff except for windows and cruise. Pretty basic model- I paid only 14k. Just filled up after seeing a couple weeks of taking 4 kids all over on very short trips- only got on the HWY for a minute a couple times. I got 29 mpg on the first tank. I also got the sedan and love how big the trunk is. I can fill it up with softball bags and my bucket stands upright- this trunk may not be bigger than my maxima's was but because of its height, it sure holds more of my stuff better.

[Hauln]

I bought a Fiesta about two weeks ago and I am impressed that one of the Big Three is finally listening to what people want. I took it for a short (20 mile) trip and kept my foot out of it and averaged 42.3 MPG. I'm hoping it will improve as I drive it more. The automatic transmission feels and sounds like I'm driving a stick.

[Arragonis]

Imagine how good it could be with a 1.6 Common Rail Diesel, maybe with stop/start ? The UK one gets 76 MPG (imp) on government tests

[discovery]

The Fiesta is good but what about if was Deisel? may be up to 55MPG

[BHarvey]

Seems lame compared to 40 combined mpg!

[Nels]

Just bumping this to update results. Jane has had a couple of tanks over 40 mpg now, and we expect more as the weather warms up. The overall lifetime average is creeping up into the high 30's as the engine breaks in too. The longest trip we have with this car so far is about 40 miles one way. We have a trip to KY planned for early July. I am anxious to see what the flat out hwy mileage is.

I moved the license plate:



This looks much cleaner, and contributes a little grill blocking as well. I am curious if filling the whole lower grill opening flush with the bumper cover would have a significant aerodynamic effect. It would need some air intake though. I think that lower grill, even blocked, looks like a big air scoop. Smooth that over and add an air dam extension below, and it would look quite slippery to the airstream. Still, the radiator needs to breathe . . . .