If We’ve Only Ever Met at a Track…. Know This

You met the most hyper version
of me that exists.

In everyday life I am not so animated and yell-y… opposite actually, unaffected, stoic almost. Was once called “the Grumpy Cat of auto journalism.” Doesn’t help that I have “resting b*tch face.”

A handful of fellow auto journalists have commented, “It’s different, Keri you’re so… is it the track time?”

Yes it’s the track time.

I love it so much. Stopped trying to suppress it. Can’t.

KeriBlog - Ever only met at the track

Good seeing these fellas the other day, as always!

This was during a 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport auto-cross event.

A 2.0L turbo outputting 240 hp and 250 lb.fts to a 9-speed transmission and standard all-wheel drive, starting at $41,790.

Same thing I always say about Land Rover – YES the launch and cornering on these elegant machines.

Did you guys proud – returned it reeking of brakes.

 

 

A Red Licence Plate Cover

It was so red guys, this photo is #NoFilter

Don’t know the reason for red…

Maybe it’s to defeat photo-radar, or a red light camera system? Let’s Google….. nope, those are all clear.

Maybe it’s purely an aesthetic thing?

If you know, please Tweet or email me.

 

 

The 2015 Ford Fiesta ST

2015 Ford Fiesta ST

1.6 Litre, 4-cylinder engine
197 hp
202 ft-lbs
6-speed transmission

$24,599

Non-car nerds – ST means it’s the performance model of the Fiesta.

Which is why the ST is ONLY available with a manual transmission; how rare and proper.

The 1.6 litre engine outputs a ton of torque for the vehicle’s small size. The dust in the top photo is from me tossing it around the windy Muskoka roads, shifting between second and third on the gear ratios that are good and close together, windows down to heighten the wrrrrr sound of the turbo.

Because that’s what you do
with a Fiesta ST – toss it.

Its sport-tuned suspension gives it a great grip on the road, steering is tight and direct, acceleration is brisk through the rev range, and its handling is as close to neutral as possible in a front-wheel drive car.

The list of standard features is strong – heated seats and mirrors, keyless entry, push start, fog lights, Sony speaker system and cruise control-  uncommon in a vehicle at this price point.

I’d forgo the +$495 racing stripe, and instead upgrade the rims to the +$550 black aluminum ones.

Know who else drives one? Ken Block drives a Fiesta ST.

At 8.3 L /100 km over 780km fuel economy is good, espeically because remember how I drive – like a pig.

My main complaint of the ST is a small thing, but big enough it has its own post.

The RECARO racing seats come standard, and actually, the car cannot be ordered without them.

And while the orange-coloured inserts are no additional cost, I find it makes the interior visually a bit busy. But really, styling is so subjective.

Beneath the trunk floor is a surprisingly large area for extra storage.

It’s not translating well in the photos below, but the space is quite cavernous.

This is an ideal car for the young, starter enthusiast.

It’s tough to beat the ST for the amount of fun at this price point.  Its competitors are Subaru’s BRZ and Mazda’s MX-5, but both those cars are 2-seaters, instantly making them a secondary car.

Right now is Ford’s annual Employee Pricing event, take advantage of the sale which ends September 30th, 2015.

Blog tag = Ford Fiesta