POLL: Would you be willing to pay $25,000 for 60+ mpg Fiesta?
As the new Ford Fiesta goes on sale in Europe, on of the highlights of the lineup is the new ecoNetic model that gets a combined fuel efficiency rating of 63.5 mpg (U.S.) on the EU cycle. Yes, I know the European cycle is different and testing the same on the EPA cycle would probably yield something closer to 50 mpg, but the highway rating would probably still be up around 60 mpg with its 1.6L diesel engine. Ford isn't planning to offer the ecoNetic when the Fiesta launches here because the bean counters don't seem to think Americans would pay $25,000 for such car. I agree with Richard Truett at Automotive News that Ford may well be wrong on this point. If nothing else, just having the bragging rights of offering a car that gets 60 mpg or more on the highway would be worth it to Ford, and probably worth $25,000 to a decent number of buyers. In the past, automakers have offered stripped-down small cars that sold in low volumes just so they could advertise the low ball prices. Now would seem the ideal time to go the other direction and offer a super mileage version at a slightly premium (no more than what a well-equipped gas MINI costs now) price. What do you think? Cast your vote!
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
donald bush 3:57PM (9/12/2008)
"Well-Ya!"
Why does Ford and GM think that we in the US will not by the better EU cars here in the states for equivalent of the price of a Honda Civic of Toyota Corolla?
Better yet I want the EU Focus ST now!!!
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jeffzekas 4:02PM (9/12/2008)
We've been looking at buying a new small car... The contenders: VW Golf Diesel, MINI & Toyota Prius... So, yes, we'd pay twenty-five thousand, since these cars are all in that range... Ford needs to realize that the current MINI set a "new standard" for small cars... meaning, a car can be small, yet have high quality, clever styling, and, guess what? Buyers will pay more for a well-built (notice I said "well built") small automobile... as long as Ford doesn't try to foist another Pinto or Aspire on us, we are willing to pay more, for a nicer car... I do *NOT* buy my vehicles, by the pound! Rather, I look to see if the interior is well put together (no large gaps, no squeaks, no cheap-looking switches), if the seats feel firm and the material on them feels good to the touch, if the instruments are easy to read, and if the vehicle is economical AND pretty and fun to drive! Please, Ford, stop assuming that American drivers are dumb and unsophisticated! Some of us have traveled abroad, have owned European cars, and have attended university... Mr Ford: my standard for all vehicles is the BMW 3-Series... can you build UP to that standard? And think: if I am willing to pay $40K (or more) for a Beemer, than I shall pay $25 for a Ford, IF that Ford is of excellent build-quality... and remember: gas will NEVER AGAIN be cheaper. The future is-- and always has been-- small, well-constructed, clever, economical cars
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Bob 11:26PM (9/13/2008)
What? The Yaris is NOWHERE in the $25K price range... did you even look? I bought my Toyota Yaris Base Sedan for $17K including all taxes and fees, and I easily get 37 MPG at 70 MPH with the A/C turned on. I have gotten up to 42 MPG going 55 MPH with no A/C and keeping RPMs under 2500 when accelerating...
Dave 4:04PM (9/12/2008)
I would pay around 20K for something along these lines. My first question is why would it cost 25K in the first place? I think the off shore manufacturers like Hyundi and Kia are around 20K or maybe even a little less cost.
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1985 Gripen 4:06PM (9/12/2008)
It never ceases to amaze me when greenies completely ignore the true reason why diesel automobiles aren't sold in the U.S.: they have to conform to emissions standards MUCH more stringent than Europe's. In order to make this car conform it would likely need to have a NOx filter and/or urea injection system engineered into it. That would significantly increase the selling price. Then the vehicle would be priced out of the market this car is targeting.
Would I pay $25K for this car? Maybe (depends on many more factors than simply fuel economy. I don't want an "appliance"). Would I pay $30K to $35K? No.
Why do you think no American car manufacturers are offering diesels for sale in the U.S.? Do you think there's a vast conspiracy and they're all colluding with each-other and Big Oil to keep us buying petroleum? Get real.
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104wb 7:43PM (9/12/2008)
You are correct.
http://home.comcast.net/~cadeyoung/emissions%20regs.JPG
In the graph, the smallest of 'boxes' is what needs to be met to sell cars here. Let the magnitude of the chronology of changes shown in the graph sink in. Obviously we could get by with the white box (Euro5) until Euro VI is ready,. The world would not end. How can we justify needing stricter NOx requirements than the more densely populated Japan and Europe, anyway? Japan, intelligently, is commonizing with EuroVI in 2009. By the way, the number of vehicle miles traveled in the US in the time frame referenced on the graph has less than doubled. Compare that to the reduction in emissions in that time frame.
Jason 12:52PM (9/25/2008)
You mean besides Chrysler, GMC and Ford?
Robert 4:08PM (9/12/2008)
I'm going to trade in my RX-8 for a small car soon-ish. It's either the 2009 Honda Fit or Ford Fiesta (or Mazda2 if that is an option within my buying period). I'm just waiting to see what Ford brings to the US market. I like the look of the Fiesta more than the Fit. So, if they can have a feature that matches the Fit's cargo area with fold flat seats, I'll jump on the Fiesta. 60+ MPG would certainly make it worth it.
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Mike!!ekiM 4:12PM (9/12/2008)
It depends. Do we get the typical small car piece of junk, or the Real EU version?
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PeterG 4:23PM (9/12/2008)
$25K for a small ford or $19K for the Honda Insight...
I'd take the Honda for $6K less.
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brandon 5:07PM (9/12/2008)
Of course Ford is wrong on this one. The Pruis gets less MPG (granted its not diesel) for that price. This looks better and is sportier. I would buy the diesel Fiesta over the Prius.
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Dave 5:01PM (9/12/2008)
Current national average prices:
Gas - $3.67 per gal
Diesel - $4.20 per gal
A 60 mpg diesel car is equivalent to a 52 mpg gasoline car.
I agree with PeterG - I'll take the larger Honda for $6k less.
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pdx 5:37PM (9/12/2008)
Your poll is poorly worded.
The question should read "would you pay $25k for a 60mpg small car?"
I voted "no" simply because I would not buy a Ford.
But I would pay $25k for a Mini Cooper D...
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James Sonne 5:45PM (9/12/2008)
We only want small cars if they are high quality. People like the MINI Cooper because it has character and is comfortable and sporty, i.e. a well designed and entertaining vehicle. If the Ford Fiesta were designed with thought and offered entertaining dynamics, people would pay money for it.
If it's typical Ford, they'd be lucky if it were worth $13k. What does a Ford Focus go for, anyway? This price range seems utterly ridiculous to me, assuming that it is about the same quality as the current Focus but smaller.
I would MUCH rather buy a Volvo S40 2.5i for $25k. But of course I value my personal sanity, driving through traffic is already tense enough.
If it were a Ford Focus with a 50-60mpg diesel engine in it and SYNC standard, I would pay $25k for it. If the Ford Fiesta were Volvo quality, I might pay $25,000 for it, but I doubt it. I'd rather have the Honda City or Kia Forte for $13k.
Sonne Times: Political and Social Commentary
http://jsonne.blogspot.com
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meme 6:22PM (9/12/2008)
* Essentially the same CO2/mi as a Prius
* Worse emissions of most other pollutants than a Prius
* Less interior room than a Prius
* More expensive than a well-equipped Prius
I'll take a Prius.
(actually, I'll take an Aptera Typ-1e, but if it was one of the two...)
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Snowdog 6:33PM (9/12/2008)
You can get a Honda fit for almost $10000 less. How is a Ford small car worth $10000 more than a Honda small car..
Resounding no.
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Phil 2:48AM (9/13/2008)
In the UK, the Honda Fit 1.4 is £11,310 and the Fiesta ECOnetic 5 door is £12,445.
I think you are comparing US price for the Honda with European price of the Fiesta.
In reality, the diesel Fiesta costs about the same as a Honda Fit, but uses much, much less fuel.
The Fit is poor on mpg by European standards anyway, lets hope Honda sort that out in the new model.
Snowdog 9:32AM (9/13/2008)
I am not the one who made up the poll with the $25000 number.
Someone seems to think Ford couldn't deliver the car here for similar to fit pricing.
Sam Abuelsamid 9:38AM (9/13/2008)
The gas engined Fiesta that we will get in a little over a year will likely be priced similar to a Fit and get similar mileage. The $25K price comes from Ford officials who were asked to estimate the price of the diesel ecoNetic model in the US. That's in the same ballpark of what a diesel powered MINI would cost in the US. Its unlikely that Ford could sell a diesel Fiesta in the US for $18K without loosing their shirts.
Mirko 7:38AM (9/14/2008)
A Mini Cooper D is about 30% more expensive than a Fiesta Econetic. So how would a Fiesta be 25k if a Mini would be 25k?