By Bryan Redeker       

Hopefully by now, many of you have had the opportunity to look through my collection of pictures and analysis of the Fiesta interior. If you have not, please do so here http://www.flickr.com/photos/brgt350/sets/72157619610363000/ . Since I spend most of my time inside the Fiesta, rather than looking at the outside, I have been able to really study the interior. The more I drive it, the more I find that everything is well thought out. Usually I sit in traffic and stare at the cheap plastic of a rental car, or try to figure out what the designer was thinking when he/she put the radio controls behind the shift lever or some other thoughtless location of an item. There is also the complaint of when I first get into a car and can’t find a good place for my cell phone and my glasses. I don’t have any of those issues with the Fiesta. The original Focus was the same way, but the Fiesta really is a considerable step above the Focus. All of my items have a place, and all of the controls are placed very well in the cockpit. Here are a few examples of my favorite interior design elements;

• 1.) Steering Wheel: Probably my favorite part of the Fiesta, as it is designed exactly how I would want a steering wheel. 3 spokes, leather sides, reliefs for my thumbs, thin side spokes. Simply put, this car has the perfect wheel from the factory.
• 2.) Gauge Cluster: Bright red thin needles, large face for easy reading, elegant fonts, and a bright white hue to back light the lettering make looking at the gauges a joy. American Fords from 05-09 have had fat needles, huge fonts, little faces, and were hard to read. The Fiesta’s cluster suffers none of those issues. Cluster is on par with the 00-04 Focus and Contours. To top off the gauges, each pod of the cluster is painted bright silver metallic, and each juts out from the dash. The pods stick out just far enough to reduce glare, but too so far you can’t read the cluster. 2005-2009 Mustang’s suffered this issue, and was fixed in 2010. The painted silver pods are also a good contrast of materials when placed next to the soft dash.
• 3.) Interior Lighting: Finally, back to red lighting and not the boring blue/green of the 90’s. All of the buttons, displays, accent lighting are red. The only thing not red is the back light of the gauges, which is a cool white. Overhead lights shine down on the console, giving a red glow in the cockpit. Red lights above the glove box illuminate the passenger side floor, and lights under the HVAC controller help light the console in a red glow. Driving the Fiesta at night reminds me of being in a fighter plane!
• 4.) Center Stack: The radio and the rest of the high-use interior functions are placed towards the upper center of the dash. A quick glance down and to the right for the driver reveals all of the controls, and the large digital display. No more looking around low in the cockpit to find buttons or status. A short hand movement from the steering wheel finds the controls. This car has amazing interior layout! Of course, the entire center stack glows red at night.
• 5.) Rear Seat Belt Holders: One of my biggest pet peeves is the sound of a loose, clanking seat belt in the back of the car while I am driving. To combat this, I always buckle the rear belts to keep them secure. Well, the Fiesta actually has a spot for those pesky buckles. Another one of my favorite things about the interior is the small slots located near the c-pillar at the top of the rear seats. The slots hold the buckle in place and keep it from clanking around. Such a simple way to fix one of major complaints about having a car with back seats. Job well done!
• 6.) Center Console: There is a small slot next to the hand brake, just behind the gear lever. I have found this to be a great place to store my phone and my iPod while driving. It is the perfect size to keep the phone and iPod constrained while enjoying twisty roads. There is also a cavity below the HVAC controller that also works well for the iPod. Cup holders are out of the way of the shifter, and are deep enough to securely keep items from shifting around. A removable rubber insert would be nice to clean the cup holders after your coffee decides to spill. The rear cup holder has a decent size opening around it that can be used to place your fast food bags, camera’s, or anything else you don’t want on the seats and don’t want to slide around. The lack of an arm rest is great, since they always get in the way of shifting and look cheap. USB and 1/8″ input are also placed nicely next to the handbrake and allow for easy hook-up of electronic goodies.
• 7.) Turn Signal/Wiper Stalk: Just like the original Focus and Contour, the wiper and turn-signal stalks are placed directly at your 3 and 9-o-clock positions. Once again, the proper driving position awards the driver with controls that are at your finger tips. I have been in many cars that try to put every possible thing on one bulky stalk that looks more like a tree trunk sticking out from the steering column. You need to slide this, turn that, pull on this, push that, just to make things happen. The single stalk is a terrible design and should go away. The new Fiesta carries on Fords tradition in the European bred cars to use a stalk on both sides of the column. One side controls turn-signals, and the other is for the wipers. Simple up/down or push/pull does 90% of the functions. It is also nice because the functions match the Focus, so if I need to do a quick wipe of the windshield, it is one touch down. It is the opposite in our Escape, and that drives me nuts. The voice command button on the left stalk should really be placed behind the stalk, or moved to the back side of the steering wheel to make it easier to depress with a single finger. A small oversight and really only an issue if you use the voice commands.

By Bryan Redeker       

I can’t express how much I love the steering wheel in the Fiesta! Yesterday I was driving my Mustang, which has a Sparco Lap 5 steering wheel installed in it. I have found over the years that the Sparco wheel is the most comfortable to me. The Sparco is a classic 3-spoke, with correct placement of the reliefs for my thumbs, leather on the sides, and the perfect rim diameter. I get back into the Fiesta, and realize that the steering wheel is very much the same. It is also a 3-spoke design, leather accents on the sides where your hands go, nice sculpted reliefs for my thumbs, thin side spokes so all my finger tips to sit past center so I can have feedback thru my finger-tips, and the rim diameter is very comfortable for my small hands. The overall diameter is also designed to make the driver feel very comfortable with their hands at the proper 9 and 3-o-clock hand positions. A large diameter wheel reduces the steering effort, and increases the amount of rotation needed for steering input. It also strains the chest and back muscles since the arms are placed to far outward from the body. From a function standpoint, the steering wheel does everything somebody would want for proper hand location and feedback. The Ford designers did not stop there; they designed the wheel to be visually stunning as well as functional.

The wheel is also graced with bright silver painted trim, with the Ford oval in the center. The top and the bottom of the wheel are made from a different material than the sides, which corresponds well to the use of materials to alter the look of the Fiesta’s interior. Textured soft polymers are used at the top and bottom, and leather is used for where your hands grip the wheel. The only thing I would change is the stitching, which could be another color to match the seats. I have always wanted alternating Ford Blue and White stitching on steering wheels and gear knobs. BMW uses their M colors on the M models, and I always like that. Ford could do the same for their RS Fiesta, assuming they make them. Fiesta ST’s could use silver and red stitching to match the Sporting Trophy logo colors. So many cars consider the steering wheel is just the round thing you hold with one hand while talking on your phone. No attention is paid to how to properly grip the wheel, and very little is given to its look. Not so with the Fiesta, it combines function with beauty. Really, the entire Fiesta is designed around that philosophy.

By Bryan Redeker

This past weekend, Ford was on hand at the All-Ford Nationals in Carlisle, Pennsylvania with a drop dead gorgeous white Fiesta hatchback.  Ford had set up an autocross course and was allowing people to test drive the Fiesta on the course. I was able to get an exclusive interview with Shawn Patula who is known as Spatakula on FocalJet and FiestaFaction. Shawn drives one of the very best looking SVT Focuses I have ever seen, and he is also a talented driver.

Bryan: What is your first reaction upon seeing a Fiesta in person?

Shawn: I initially thought it looked much nicer in person than in the pics. I LOVE the styling of the car. It is nothing too drastic but has a very sharp and clean look to it. Major curb appeal and the only car in its class that has yet to grab me based on looks.

Bryan: What do you think of the interior, seats, ect? Where you comfortable in the car?

Shawn: I was surprised on how high the roof line was (much like a Focus) but it gives for TONS of headroom at an upright seating position. I am 6’5 and I sat up as straight as an arrow, still having a comfortable amount of headroom. I did move the seat completely back but didn’t tweak it too much to find a comfortable fit. The overall interior space was deceiving from the exterior of the car.

Bryan: Anything you did not like or wish was different?

Shawn: Nothing that I can think of.

Bryan: What is your impression of the handing of the Fiesta on course? Steering, gear shifts, brakes, ect how did they feel to you?

Shawn: I will admit, I was definitely giggling when I ripped around the first corner. Granted the car did have after market wheels and tires to help with the handling but the chassis stayed pretty stiff and flat amongst the flogging. Some body roll but nothing too drastic to slow the pace. I wasn’t exactly “babying” her through the corners but for a car in stock form, the handling was more than acceptable. Any car you can get some 3 wheel action going on in a dinky auto-x course in stock form pretty much tells the tale on how the car handles.

The gear shifting was easy. Beyond easy. Almost like it really wasn’t a 5 speed. Not to say it was a slush box but just easy to get the hang of. I think I could teach my 85 year old grandmother to drive a standard with this car.

The brakes seem to work just fine for the course. I missed an apex around one sharp corner, tapped the brakes, and then immediately got right back into the fun.

Bryan: Where you happy with the 1.6L engine?

Shawn: I did like it. 1st gear was torquey. 2nd gear kind of chugged along, almost falling flat on its face if you didn’t hit the right rpms with a quick shift, but that expected with a motor of its size.

Bryan: Anything you would want changed for the US version?

Shawn: An EcoBoost ST version please.

Bryan: Did the Fiesta live up to your expectations? What are your thoughts about the Fiesta as an entire package after driving one?

Shawn: The car was fun. Plain and simple. Every person that drove the car that day left the car with a smile on their face. At first glance, I was already intrigued by the car. Now with the test drive, I really can say that this is a great car.

Video Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWBq9D38KrA

Pictures from the event are located here:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/SPATAKULA710/DSC00994.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a330/SPATAKULA710/DSC01003.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brgt350/3615870879/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brgt350/3615870833/

By Bryan Redeker

Check out some of great discussion in response to my blog concerning options and the US Fiesta! The comments are posted below my last blog, and include some outstanding discussions. Marc compiled a great list of options that the European Fiesta’s have, and many of us hope some of those things make it across the pond to our market. The latest batch of spy pictures ignited a great discussion on my blog, www.focaljet.com, and on www.fiestafaction.com.  The discussions show there is still concern about the changes to the US car, but somebody who got close to a test mule was able to respond to some of those concerns. From his description, there doesn’t look to be multiple chrome strips running across the upper and lower grilles. Instead, the US car may be closer to the Verve sedan concept. While not as good looking as the EU Fiesta, it sure beats the alternative of having 3″ wide chrome bars running all over the front. There was also mention that the rear mounted antenna seen on the mules is for data telemetry and not for production. Once again, good news. The question still remains about the turn signals in the mirrors. Will the US car have them? We all hope so! Trying to plan out my next car purchase based upon camouflaged test mules is very hard! When I bought my ZX3, I had never seen one in person, nor drove one. The car turned out to be everything I ever wanted in a car. The same goes for the Fiesta I am driving, it is everything I want. I hope, just as many do, that the US Fiesta is very close to the outstanding Fiesta from Germany.

By Bryan Redeker

            Lately, there has a heated discussion on www.focaljet.com concerning the latest batch of spy pictures of the US Fiesta and how many current Focus owners are considering a Fiesta when they come out. The numbers in the poll seem to indicate there is still a concern that Ford US will make too many changes to the Fiesta and cheapen the car to such an extent that is becomes nothing more than the botched 05-09 Focuses. Looking at the spy pictures and knowing Ford’s track record with trying to bring Ford EU goodness to the states, their concerns are well warranted. Heck, I even lost sleep over the thought about what a group of misguided designers could do to the near perfect Fiesta I am driving. Thoughts of giant chrome grilles, cheap plastic, little wheels, soft suspension, removal of any tech features, large bumpers, fake chrome vents stuck on the fenders, basically turning the Fiesta into what the Focus evolved to. Scary vision for those of us who loved the 2000-04 Focus, and have felt sick to our stomachs since the botched 05 refresh and the terrible 2008 redesign that saw our beloved hatch go away. Europe received the absolutely amazing Focus, and we got stuck with hacked sheet metal and fake chrome vents. Disappointed is an understatement.

            Enter the One Ford mission statement, and couple that with everything Ford NA is doing to promote the EU version of the Fiesta. The end result is hopefully an end to the era of top notch European Ford cars and mediocre US versions. I am sure the US Fiesta can’t be too different than the EU version, or else why bring the EU cars over here for people to try out. If Ford brought the current EU Focus over for people to test drive, and then delivered the 2007 US Focus instead, people would have cried. Everyone likes the new Fiesta, regardless of what side of the Atlantic you live on. Taking away the European feel of the Fiesta would remove some its allure. The uniqueness of having a small car with rear fog lamps, voice activated controls, leveling headlamps, key-less starting, incredible quality, outstanding fit & finish, BMW-like handling, and sheet metal that is drop dead gorgeous is what makes the Fiesta different than other B-segment auto’s. Trying to Amercanize the Fiesta could prove to be a fatal mistake, and turn a winner into an Aveo. The spy pictures indicated possible disaster, but trying to extrapolate the final design from a hacked up test mule is not a good idea. Just seeing the lack of turn-signals in the mirrors was enough to turn the enthusiasts into pitch-fork wielding mad men. Are those mirrors going into production? Are they borrowed from another market? What is the cost savings from doing the switch? If the mirrors are different, what else is different? These are the type of questions that come up from seeing a few spy photo’s. The real question is, how much of a shift has occurred from “I will buy a Fiesta when it comes out!” to “I will wait and see” as a result of seeing the difference between the Fiesta Movement cars and the sedan spy pics. Even I teetered on the fence, but decided to put my faith in Ford NA and hope the US car is not botched. It is hard to change perfect, and perfect is the Hot Magenta Fiesta I drove to work this morning.

            So, if I do indeed order a Fiesta next spring, what would it look like? What options would I want to see? Well, here is my list based upon the car I am currently driving. All bets are off if the US car arrives with a leftover Fusion grille hodge-podged between the headlights. I am not a rapper, and I don’t want a chromed-out nose. Ok, now here is the list;

Exterior and mechanics:

• 2011 Fiesta 5-door hatchback
• 1.6L DOHC NA engine or possible EcoBoost if available
• Manual transmission, either 5 or 6 speed. Don’t care for a flappy paddle gearbox
• White exterior paint
• Aerodynamics package (once again, hoping it is offered)
• Front and rear fog lamps
• Chrome trim around the base of the side windows, and around the lower grille
• Performance or upgraded suspension package (same as the Fiesta Movement cars have)
• 17″ wheels, or possibly 16″ so I can use them for winter wheels. I have my own custom 17″ wheels I am planning on using.
• Front roof mounted antenna and turn-signal side mirrors
• Color-keyed door handles
• ABS and traction control, as long as the traction control can be switched off for track use
• Stability control, with on/off switch for track and winter use
• A/C with recirculation HVAC

Interior and tech features;

• Titanium equivalent interior appointments
• Black/dark grey leather with heated seats
• Logo floormats
• Black carpet and interior trim
• Sync
• Rain sensing wipers
• Keyless entry/push-to-start button
• Automatic headlamps with projector low beams
• 3-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel
• SiriusXM radio, as long as the car keeps the front mounted antenna
• Interior accent lighting, just like the EU cars
• Center console WITHOUT an armrest
• Trip computer
• LCD interior temp gauge and HVAC function display (same as EU cars)

Many of the items listed are exactly the same as the car I am currently driving for the Fiesta Movement. In fact, if I could just buy my exact car in white, I would do it instantly! I could even live with Magenta if it meant getting a car that is as good as what I am driving. History shows that there are still some concerns. What if you can’t get a manual gearbox with the top of the line interior? The Fusion Sport is a prime example of how people don’t get it. Ford makes a sport version of the Fusion, but sticks it with an automatic. There is nothing sporty about an automatic. Could the same be true for the Fiesta? What if you get stuck with a flappy paddle gearbox if you want the upgraded suspension? What if leather comes only with an automatic? Trying to make packages for people to order is a bad idea. Let people pick and choose their options, rather than forcing them into packages. Chances are, if you buy a Fiesta, you don’t fit into a “package” demographic. You want to be different, you want to stand out, and you are not vanilla ice cream.

By Bryan Redeker

            On Sunday, Brandon and I were guests on Burnout Radio for their weekly Podcast. We joined Charlie and Nick to discuss the Fiesta and Racetech Performance. It was nice to talk about the Fiesta with some true car guys, who know their stuff! The four of us came to the same conclusion concerning the manual transmission in the Fiesta. The car needs a shorter throw shifter! We also all agreed to how well the Fiesta handles, and how precise the steering is. For car guys, handling and shifting are two major ingredients to what makes a car fun. Gobs of horsepower helps too, but the Fiesta seems to do just fine with its 1.6L DOHC 120hp engine. The four of us will talk again after the Fiesta is put thru its paces at GingerMan raceway and autocrossed. Thanks again to Charlie and Nick for having us on their show!

Check out the podcast here; http://www.burnoutradio.com/podcasts/burnout-radio-episode-47-racetech-performance.php

By Bryan Redeker

            This past weekend, Brandon and I attended the Wings of Mercy charity event at the Muskegon Airport. Brandon drove the Fiesta, and I took my Mustang to the event. The featured aircraft and car for this year’s event was the P-51 Mustang and the Ford Mustang. The event started off with a rain shower and cold temps, which seems to be a constant for every car event we have attended this year. Driving the Mustang in the rain with no wipers, no heat, no defrost, and semi-slick tires was less than fun. Brandon on the other hand, was enjoying heated seats and rain sensing wipers in the Fiesta. We caravanned to the event with my dad’s Shelby GT, and two other Shelby GT’s from the area.  At 7:30am, the organizers opened the gates to the flight line and the group of cars was allowed to drive out and park with the aircraft on display. All of the Mustangs were parked together, and we managed to squeeze the Fiesta in with them. Around 20-30 Mustangs were on display out of the 70-some cars in attendance.

            Up to this point, all of the aircraft on display were civilian. That soon changed with the high-speed fly by of a WWII vintage F4U Corsair, and then the awesome sound of a Rolls-Royce 12 cylinder Merlin engine. Behind the Corsair was a highly polished P-51D Mustang named Excalibur. The two fighters landed and were parked behind the row of show cars on the tarmac. Shortly there after, the sound of twin 14 cylinder radial engines could be heard. On final approach was a B-25 Mitchell bomber. The B-25 taxied to the flight line and parked about 50 yards from the row of show cars. A few more WWII vintage trainers showed up as well, and the USCG brought their rescue helicopter to the event. As the aircraft arrived, I worked quickly to re-clean the Fiesta and the Mustang after the morning rain shower. Brandon met with the organizers about the Fiesta, and was able to get the announcer to mention the Fiesta and the Fiesta Movement to the crowd throughout the morning.

            People began to swarm around the Fiesta and ask questions about the car. Brandon and I fielded questions about the Fiesta and the Mustang. We opened the doors and allowed people to sit in the Fiesta and enjoy the quality interior. Comparing to the car show we attended for Mission #1, this event brought more people and more questions about the car. I handed out a number of business cards, and scheduled a few test drives for the upcoming weeks. With rows of pristine show cars, a number of gorgeous warbirds, the Fiesta still brings a crowd!  People of all ages came to see the car, and many commented on how nice the Fiesta looks. I don’t think a Yaris, Fit, Aveo, or Versa would have even brought a single person over to see the car.

            As the event wrapped up, I was able to get the Fiesta parked next to the F4U Corsair for a photo opportunity. I would highly doubt any other agents will be able to get their Fiesta so close to one of the most beautiful aircraft in the world. The three Shelby GT’s were placed in front of the P-51 Mustang for a photo and a camera crew was on hand to talk about event in front of the Shelby’s and P-51. I had talked to the crew about doing an interview with me concerning the Fiesta. Unfortunately, another round of storm clouds were approaching and the event came to an end prior to the interview. I gave them my Fiesta Movement card so there may be an opportunity in the future. Overall, this was a great event and great exposure for the Fiesta.  

Pictures from the event are located here; http://www.flickr.com/photos/brgt350/sets/72157619075142647/

By Bryan Redeker

Mission 1 is now complete, so be sure to check it out here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyhGElpgok0 and rate it! Our first mission was to take 3 friends and the Fiesta on a road trip, and spend at least an hour at the destination. Instead of planning a special trip just for the mission, we decided to use our already planned annual trip. Each year for the past 27-some years, my family loads up in a number of cars and heads to Nashville Indiana. The Indiana region SAAC hosts the first major car event of the year, known simply as the Spring Fling. A small town in southern Indiana welcomes the massive number of high performance Fords, ranging from vintage Shelby’s, AC Cobra’s, Ford GT’s, and Mustangs ranging from 1964 to 2010. As a kid, I would ride in the back of my dad’s Mustang on the way to the show. In 1996, that changed when I was old enough to drive my own Mustang to the show. The following year, I competed in the car show again with my Mustang and picked up a very coveted 1^st place win. Winning at a 5-state regional car show with over a hundred cars is a big deal. Most cars arrive on covered trailers, and are just show pieces. Mine was built by my friends and I at night while in high school using money saved from washing cars in the summer. This year my Mustang would stay home in the garage as poor weather and a loose suspension part would keep her from going. This worked out just fine, as I have a new Ford Fiesta to take.

Taking the Fiesta on a road trip was a lot of fun. It amazes me how easy and comfortable the car is to drive long distances. The only thing it needed was a 6^th gear to drop the engine rpm’s to something less than 3800 for highway use. Once we made into the Brown County State Park, the Fiesta’s suspension really had a chance to shine. The road leading into the park is full of turns and elevation changes. It is the perfect type of road to drive a Fiesta on! The road is slow, but it was very apparent that the Fiesta is very sure footed and has plenty of mechanical grip to work with. Steering feedback was also wonderful as we navigated the tight twisty roads of the park. Once at the lodge parking lot, people began to swarm around the car and ask questions about it. This is most shocking since parked in front of me is a Ford GT, next to me is a 68 GT500KR, and an AC Cobra next to the Shelby. All of this expensive hardware, and people wanted to know more about the Fiesta.

Friday morning Brandon and I started to clean the Fiesta and get ready to take Sara and Jen downtown for a day of shopping in Nashville. After a full day of shopping, we headed back to the park, but decided to take a different route than normal thru the park. We found even more twisty roads, and a number of scenic spots to stop and take pictures. (Be sure to check out http://www.flickr.com/photos/brgt350/sets/72157618926875933/ for pictures from the road trip.)  The bright sunshine of the day was starting to be replaced with dark storm clouds, so we decided to head back. We ended up getting lost in the park as the storm clouds rolled in, causing us to be a little frantic. The Fiesta continued to shine under these conditions as the storm clouds opened up and a downpour began. Rain-sensing wipers activated, headlamps automatically sensed the darkness and turned on to light our way. Traction-control engaged on the slippery tight switchbacks and turns. These roads look like something out of a tarmac rallye stage or where you would find the guys from Top Gear testing out some exotics. Smooth blacktop, sudden drops, hill climbs, tight hairpins, and now rain made for the perfect setting for the Fiesta. I knew the car was amazing in the dry, but was even more shocked at how well it does in the wet. No hint of understeer, no dulled steering response, and no hesitation upon coming up on a blind corner. The technology came together to take care of the wipers and headlights, which allowed me to concentrate on what a driver is supposed to do. Drive. Sara, my wife, wasn’t enjoying the conditions as much as I was. Heel-n-toe downshifting, left-foot braking into corners, squeezing the power on as I apexed the corners, quick upshifts, followed by another set of corners. I felt like the late Colin McRae on a special stage at Rallye de Catalunya. I just needed Nicky Grist calling out the pace notes. Eventually my fun was over when we found our way back to the lodge. Heart was still racing from the joy of running the Fiesta thru twisty roads in the wet and darkness of a severe thunderstorm.

Once back at the lodge, we attended the welcoming bash and picked up our packet of information for the car show. I had to stop by registration and make a change to the car I entered, as my paperwork said I was there with my 1984 Mustang. Preregistration for the show was in early March, so I did not know that I would be bringing a Fiesta instead of my Mustang. After a little explaining, I was able to register the Fiesta for the car show.

By Bryan Redeker

Saturday morning greets us with dark clouds and the sound of V8’s rumbling thru the park. There is something just awesome about huge cubic inch, high compression V8’s starting up and taking off down the twisty roads in the morning. The parking lot at the lodge smells like high-octane fuel being burnt thru old school pushrod engines. Brandon and I wander down to the Fiesta and begin to clean the car, again. Parked next to us is a 2010 Taurus SHO. People all around us are wiping away the rain from their cars, and we start to do the same. The Fiesta is finally clean, and ready to move towards the show area located near the park entrance. Rain still falls from the trees as we progress thru the park. Brandon and I take position in line to enter the show around 8:30am. Just a few cars in front of us are a pair of Ford GT’s. Their owners dry the cars off after their drive thru the park, and once again, we do the same. Shortly after the Fiesta is clean and dry, the next batch of rain showers moves in. We take cover in the Fiesta and have fun watching the rain sensing wipers wipe away the mess that nature is making. While we wait for the rain to end, a 2010 Mustang GT500 drives past us and heads into the show area. The Taurus SHO is soon to follow. Those are the cars we should park with, as they represent the future of the blue oval. Brandon runs up to the front of the line to ask if we can park the Fiesta with those two cars. The organizers give us permission, and a few minutes later, I move the Fiesta in the show area. We park the Fiesta next to the GT500 and the SHO. Technically, we entered the car show in attempts to win a trophy and should be parked with the “Special Interest” cars rather than with the display only cars from Ford. Brandon and I conclude that the potential loss of popular votes and a trophy is worth the opportunity to park next the new generation of Ford products. The rain stops, and we dry off the Fiesta again.

With the Fiesta looking clean, Brandon and I head back to the lodge in Brandon’s Focus to pick up Jen and Sara along with grabbing breakfast. After breakfast and a heavy dose of coffee, the four of us return to the car show. Shortly after we return to the show, people begin to swarm around the Fiesta. Questions are asked about mileage, when it will be on sale, how much horsepower, what is it like to drive, and how much will it cost. To our surprise, the majority of comments and interest is from people considerably older than the target market of the Fiesta. I think Ford will be surprised with the number of buyers who are closer to retirement rather than just out of college. People loved the look of the car, and many of them are looking for something fun to drive around town. The younger crowd seemed to skip out on looking at the Fiesta, and drooled over the GT500 instead. I also noticed that the majority of people interested in the Fiesta were all people who are more towards the technical side of professions.

Engineers of all ages seemed to really want to know more about the car. A few walked away and said that their next daily driver will be a Fiesta. They have their high powered Mustangs for weekend use, but still want something fun for driving to work. They look for something that handles well, built with outstanding quality, formed out of beautiful sheet metal, and is fuel efficient. Perhaps as you mature you realize that in order to keep our muscle cars and race cars, we need something that uses a little less fuel, is better for the environment, is more responsible, takes up less space on this planet, and is still fun to drive. The less fuel we use daily, the more there is for our V8’s on weekends or for the track. The Fiesta is the perfect solution; it is fuel efficient yet it makes you smile every time you drive it. The fun factor is so critical to the success of the Fiesta.

As the show progressed, the rain showers came back. Sara and Jen camped out under umbrellas behind the Fiesta. Brandon and I headed over to talk to Robert Gelardi, the lead designer of the Mustang GT500. Being a design engineer with an art background, I really enjoyed talking with Robert about his work at Ford. I hope that I may be able to work with him for the July “Art and Design” themed mission. As the rain drops became larger, we decided we better head back to the Fiesta and get things packed up. The four of us jumped into the Fiesta and waited for the show to end. Cars had began to leave, and soon we had an opening to leave as well. The show was over, and it was now time to head downtown Nashville for shopping and dinner.

By Bryan Redeker

In a nasty trick of nature, the rain stopped shortly after the show ended and the sun came out. We followed our friends’ downtown and talked about what cars we liked best at the show. Our group headed into the Brown County Winery tasting room to enjoy some of the best wine in the area. A few more shops after than, then it was time for dinner. Tradition has been to eat at a place called “The Ordinary”, which has great food and a creepy painting that watches you while you eat. Sure enough, we are seated next to the painting. Silliness ensues as the effects of the beer and wine take over. After dinner, a couple of last shops and it is time to go back into the park. We get cleaned up, and head to the awards banquet. I was able to get to the banquet hall in time to catch the head of SVT and the GT500 designer give their presentations. Truly fascinating stuff!

With the completion of the presentations, the awards begin to be handed out. There was only one Mustang in our group of friends that made it to the show, so we all waited patiently as they started the awards. The class the Fiesta was placed in would be the last one to be called, so we have a long time to wait. Soon the announcers arrived at the 2007 Mustang class, and our friend Dave Kujawski’s name was called for first place in this class. Eventually, the Special Interest class was announced. Third place was called out first, and then second place. So far, no trophy for the Fiesta. First place was announced, and it wasn’t the Fiesta. Oh well, we tried for a trophy and failed. The Fiesta did however receive a lot of exposure to a group of die-hard Ford fans. In the big scheme of things, it is more important to gain exposure than to win a trophy. I keep telling myself that even though I really wanted to win. We congratulate Dave on his win, and head back to the hotel room to think about our loss.

The next morning seems to come early, and we are once again awaken by the sounds of pushrod V8’s. I don’t think there is a better way to wake up, well maybe, but they may not be family friendly. Suitcases are packed, breakfast is over, and we say our goodbyes. We thank the organizers for all of their hard work, and tell them we will be back next year. We say goodbye to our friends that we only see once a year at the show. Most of them have known me since I was just a child. The Fiesta is packed up with the suitcases, bottles of wine, an assortment of purchased goods, and car cleaning supplies. Captain Slow left prior to us in my SVT Focus, and we venture a guess that we will catch him on the way home. The Fiesta navigates thru the twisty roads of the park one last time, and then under the famed covered bridge. I make a quick stop to snap a picture of the Fiesta with the bridge in the background. I have similar pictures of my Mustang, my 2000 Focus ZX3, and my SVT Focus. Getting the picture is a long standing tradition that dates back to the early origins of the car show. Sadly, many of these traditions were cut from our mission film due to time constraints. Six hours after taking the picture in front of the bridge, the Fiesta returns home to Grand Haven.

Mission accomplished, but the work is only starting for Brandon. Hours of footage will turn in to 20 hours of editing. For the next week, he will sit at the computer putting together the film. As the mission video is completed, work now turns to how to get the Mustang back to the car show for next year. We have a plan, and have 49 weeks to get the Mustang ready. I expect to be taking a Fiesta in 2011, so next year will be it for the Mustang to make a return.