As a Fiesta ST owner here in the US, I’m sorry to hear that Ford is dropping the Fiesta outright. The car simply ticks all the right boxes for me, but apparently we hot hatch enthusiasts are now part of a niche that is shrinking by the year. Whatever, I plan to keep my ST as long as I can.
I have a low mileage 2013 SE hatchback with the awful DCT. The handling, responsiveness, acceleration, steering feel and driving feel is not even comparable to my 1988 Chevy Cavalier Z24 with a 3 speed auto... horrible car all around, hell Ford couldn't even program its wipers properly
@@OldSchoolZ-wy2yx I assume that you are a car guy, or at least knowledgeable about cars, so I have to ask; What possessed you to buy a Ford Focus with an automatic gearbox? No wonder you are pissed.
Well said Ed... I personally hate the SUV craze and have zero need/want for one, i was very surprised when i heard that not only the Fiesta but also the Focus was to be killed off by Ford... I own an Abarth 595 which i gather will also be going electric in the near future, but to my mind Fiat are going in the right direction at present by still making, and selling loads of the current mild hybrid 500`s and have also managed to make the new all electric 500e while keeping not only the name but also by updating the very familiar retro looks the 500 without turning it into an ungainly high riding SUV, so why can`t Ford do the same with the Fiesta & Focus???
I understand you views to an extent, a lot of suvs are owned by people who do not need one. Personally with my lifestyle I would struggle without my dacia duster or similar car. I am an outdoorsy type and belive me it's pretty difficult transpiring a family of 4 on a cping holiday/biking holiday in a little Peugeot 206. Since getting the duster earlier this year camping trips or travelling to mountain biking locations has bern far easier. Yes the duster is un necessary for dropping my wife off at work and a small city car would be ideal. But I simply can't justify having 2 cars. As for your hate to suv as you don't need one, what about people who own high performance cars? Is there any need for such a cer. Unless its your passion and you often drive on track days. Otherwise all that performance is wasted.
@@steveoutdoors5964 My word "hate" for SUV`s is probably a bit strong, more a dislike.. If you need something with more room for your lifestyle then an SUV will fit the bill and is probably your only choice now.. the Dacia Duster is to my mind more of an estate with a slightly raised ride height, i do actually like them because they don`t pretend to be something they`re not! but the once very useful saloon based estate cars have also all but gone now, replaced with SUV`s which are often less space efficient, what i really don`t like are small cars (the new Toyota Aygo X for example) deliberately made into a higher riding plastic clad vehicle with no advances in space or practicality over the usefully small older model, its all just for style.. Obviously only my opinions..
@@steveoutdoors5964 Although they still take a hit on fuel economy due to 4wd, why not V60/V90 cross country, Skoda Scout, Subaru Outback, VW allroad etc?
I would prefer a lofted wagon. But honestly not ever having the option of a crossover or a SUV seems sucky. You can't get over curbs, many driveways, portholes, hills, and roads that's sudden incline or decline. Sedans and such are far too low to be practical these days. Also as for the Fiesta and cars like it. At least here in America they are some of the most dangerous cars to drive and kill more drivers than any other car. The last gen Fiesta was at the top. These cars barely look like they can survive a Camry. Let alone a F-150.
So agree with you about the SUV craze. One of my family was looking for something big enough for three kids used mostly for ferrying around town and occasional longer trips. Looked at all the SUVs and ended up buying a Mazda 6 station wagon. It has more space, is more comfortable and easier on fuel than everything they looked at. Hopefully the craze for oversized mini trucks will die away.
I thought the fuel prices over the last year would have hit SUVs hard but people still seem to want them in big numbers. Don't why people insist on buying these expensive things with expensive to replace parts and excess fuel consumption whilst having god awful handling when compared to the humble estate car.
Prices have gone up so much, which (while other manufacturers also) must have an effect. My 2018 Focus ST (ST-3, loaded) cost £25,096, yet the current ST is more like £35k... - that's a massive percentage increase, way above even current silly inflation. Part of Ford's big selling point was a low accessible price point.
And if you are prepared to pay the money for the cars they are not available plus attitude from dealers has changed completely. I was Ford through & through for years but had my Fiesta st3 order changed from 3-5 door after waiting 9 months & they tried to say they where giving me performance pack as a favour (it’s standard & always has been on mk8) no build date & or updates plus got a load of attitude from & salesman so just went & got a Golf GTD used & got my deposit back from Ford dealer
Your comments on SUV's are spot-on!! And having watched the long, slow death of Ford here in Australia I think your concerns about the future of Ford in Europe are totally justified. 🙁
My girlfriend and I were looking at buying a new Fiesta in late 2020, early part of 2021. We decided not to, because of three factors: road tax: it made more sense to stay with an older Fiesta with grandfathered zero tax, functionality: our existing 64 plate Fiesta was functionally equivalent, the new features didn't matter to us, fuel economy: just no significant difference between our current car and the new model. 2010-2016 Fiestas are basically tried and true models with no downsides (that aren't still present in the newer model), still available used in good quantities, and the newer model just doesn't have any compelling reason to upgrade. Add to this the difficulty in actually buying a new Fiesta in a timely way, and the uncompetitive pricing, it's not difficult to see why Ford are struggling with sales.
Fiestas (and Focus) made around 2012 - with DPS6 dual clutch - were one of the most unreliable cars you could possibly buy... and one of the sole reasons Ford were forced to pull out of the South East Asia car market, and now only sell trucks.
What a great analysis! Personally, growing up in 1980s Britain, I didn't understand why Fords were always so popular. I honestly look back and think it was because it was (partially) British-built but didn't fall apart like a BL product. But I also acknowledge that Ford really knew their stuff, they knew how to market their cars and how to make the most of their popularity. I don't understand what they're thinking now
They were affordable, looked fine, parts were cheap and easy to fit. A few years ago I asked a mechanic business is the Ford Transit still a good van? He said a"It's not perfect but look at that Nissan Cabstar over there. It needs suspension bushes, a ball joint. Those are £330 for that Cabstar van. For the Transit they're under £50. Everyone makes parts for Fords. If I can't get the genuine part at a good price I'll offer the pattern to the customer." Ford: looked good enough, fitted the market, parts cheap and easy to find, easy to work on. I think they're quite reliable. Especially the van diesels and car petrols. I know some Mondeo owners who have had their petrols for years and not had any issues. Talk to BMW owners for a different story!
The whole electric car thing is loosing control. Manufacturers are preparing to absolutely rip people off. The obsession for range is meaning (by the laws of physics) they are getting far too big and heavy. The most environmental cars are the cars of 20 years ago when most people had a 1.4 or smaller hatchback that could last a very long time if looked after.
I would say about 30 + years ago. A 1.3 engine was the norm. Some would have a small. 1 litre car. Families would have something like a 1.6 sierra or cavalier. Cars then got bigger with the change to suv type vehicles. with1.4 to 2 litre engines. Then the great diesel con came and cities became choked with 2 litre diesel vehicles.
My guess is that Ford are effectively pulling out of Europe as GM did, because they can't see a way of undoing their mistakes. The reason Vauxhall/Opel made a comeback is they could share development and purchasing cost with similar products produced by Peugeot, Citroen, etc. I guess the VW based electric cars are the answer to this. Also I agree that SUVs need to die as a mainstream choice, but I suspect what we'll get is a new type and shape of product - lower than an SUV, taller than a hatch/saloon. Your spot on with the packaging point about SUVs - they aren't more practical than a decent hatch and worse than a well designed estate car
Ford in North America have already stated that they are discontinuing all "passenger cars" other than Mustang, they are now exclusively an SUV and truck brand.
Well my Mondeo is remarkably similar to the 508 estate and comes complete with a Peugeot engine so Ford have done some degree of partnering on that front. Vauxhall/Opel are now owned by Peugeot so there's lees to distinguish them. I just hope that Vauxhall/Opel don't inherit french electrics. :)
@@waveman1500 - yes, all trucks & SUV's with the only exception the Mustang + they are supposedly planning to bring in a raised, CUV style Focus 'Crossover' built in China! All that does is etch in stone that they've lost me as a new vehicle customer going forward.
There are probably many factors behind the decisions of Ford and GM to reduce their European operations. What shouldn't be overlooked however is that the European market is very crowded with over capacity and not helped by the fact that the French Govt will do absolutely anything to prop up their two main manufacturers Renault and Groupe PSA. This was evident by the bailouts in 2008 of both and again with PSA in 2013 much to the chagrin of the Germans, and technically illegal under EU state aid rules but heah they always find ways around them. Had at least one of them gone bust it would have left space in the market for one or both of the Americans to compete, also note that Fiat is a shadow of its former self and is now consolidated with Groupe PSA (which shouldn't exist). The UK government was powerless to stop the demise of Rover why don't the French play by the same rules ?
I bought a new focus in 2015. Absolutely loved it. It was c.£18k for a diesel zetec. To buy something similar now it would be at the £30k mark. When squeezed by Hyundai and Kia they decided to price alongside VW, and other ‘premium’ brands and unfortunately at that price people will go to the premium brand, or buy a heavily discounted Vauxhall.
Couldn't agree more about SUV's, why? I just don't get it. Every time I've been in one the driver has problems parking them. The height of the rear hatch opening makes them harder to load and they don't offer any more space than a mid sized estate. They are too heavy, too big in alll directions, and usually just plain ugly. All right, the last point is very subjective but hey, are there any real pretty ones? I truly believe that it is all about status. I just wish people would get over themselves and get real. Just my opinion of course.
I've used Fiestas since 2012 as my driving instructor car. I've had 14 of them. They are brilliant. I couldn't think of a better car to teach in. I'll certainly miss them when they go. Great video Ed 🙂
@@stuartheydon6323 People doing rallying instructor courses go through less cars. Maybe for emergency stops he’s just pointing at a wall and saying hit it.
With the AA franchise you used to get a new car every 9 months,then that became every 12 months. They didn't like to have to re-sell cars that had more than 30k miles on them.
I bought a Ford Mondeo because of it's practicality, it's a car when I need a car and a van when I need a van. It's comfortable, reliable and it looks good in an Aston-ish way so that's nice. I find that in the same sort of price range SUVs tend to be higher but shorter. The boot space is ridiculously small to make up for the height and it you need a long wheel base then you will pay extra for the privilege. The Mondeo is the first Ford I've ever owned and I have to say it's a good car, shame to see it go. Leaves me wondering what to replace it with when the time comes as i have zero interest in an SUV.
Ford have also recently said that the S-Max MPV and Galaxy MPV are also being discontinued from next year. You can't order a new one and they're running out existing stock and once they're gone, that's it. No replacements are planned.
This is also a poor choice! How about those who need 7 seats like families with 4 kids or kids with friends, or a cabbie etc. No option from Ford equals another a lost next sale. I'm keeping my Smax 1.6 ecoboost for a little longer then, and why not; it's superb!
@@paultwomey3722 Apparently a lot of motor manufacturers have dumped mpv's except Volkswagen. The market has changed, a lot of people are shifting to crossovers and SUV's, and don't want full sized or compact mpv's any more. In fact when crossovers / SUV's can offer seven seats and just as flexible interiors, it's catering to a market you're not going to make money on no more.
"The SUV has to die" Amen brother! I can't stand them! You can't see round them and their headlights are in your face. By all means, if you live in a rural area or have some kind of mobility issue then fair enough, but school run mums steaming around in them and struggling to park have no need for one.
Ford seems to have been behind the curve in the UK ever since they palmed us off with the US market Mondeo ten years ago. It’s a pity really, I remember a time from the late 90s to the mid 2000s when Ford made great drivers cars, with good styling and superb engines. Not any longer though.
You are not the only one that does not understand people's preference of an SUV/CUV over a car. It is lost on me as well. I was looking for a new/used car as a single man, no kids, in a 600 sq ft condo. Some friends and coworkers said I should get something practical, even though I would only need the larger vehicle a few times a year. So that made me realize that people buy these large vehicles not because they like or want them but because they think they will need the space. Just rent a vehicle the times you might need more space.
Okay you are missing one key point : Ford from a sales point of view are insisting that all the dealerships concentrate of both cars and vans and those unwilling dealerships to convert are being pulled out of selling. Now in Aberdeen as in many other Cities across the UK, Ford are opening dedicated Sales and Servicing, which gives them full direction as to where their brands go. Dropping smaller dealerships is to me a step back in productivity and why I am as a Ford driver will now be looking at changing brands, most likely to Kia.
Consider this. You mentioned all the pro's and Cons to car ownership. But you left out the way it makes you feel. I like driving SUV's because I like the way they make me feel. Twin Cam can relate to this because he loves Melvin even though it is not practical to do so. I have heard on occasions, that he would love to own a mini even though they are less comfortable, practical and harder to drive. You can't ignore how a car makes you feel. SUV's are very important to the UK car industry. The Nissan Quashqai saved the UK nissan plant.
Driving a SUV would make me feel stupid for buying the worst available option: uglier, unconfortable, energy-innefcient and overpriced in comparison with the conpetition 🤣🤣🤣
Most people wouldn’t know a good car if it jumped up and bit them on the nose . The shear amount of totally unnecessary electronic bollocks that is legislated these days has pushed the price of small cars to silly levels .
I am on my second Kuga and love it. I get a great view of the road and sit in comfort not almost in a prone position also the boot is big enough to take my Mobility scooter. The Kuga drives very well and gives me 41mpg . It is a practical car and I have no wish to swop to a Vauxhall Corsa thankyou,
Hi Ed and thanks for this video. Former automotive market researcher checking in here, I worked in a small way on the development of the Vauxhall Frontera and Nissan X-trail. Apart from the points that you made, the rise of SUVs is also related to the perceived safety benefits of SUVs over conventional cars. Although they don't necessarily articulate it, owners are buying a mobile space that will protect their family and let them do fun and practical things like visiting the countryside, towing caravans, horse boxes etc. and carrying bigger loads with the seats down. Yes, I know you can do all of that in an ordinary car, but SUVs have been promoted as doing this better. They also reached critical mass a long time ago. When parents look at what's been used on the school run they feel like the odd one out doing it in Focus. One final point, other manufacturers have done much better at producing cheap(ish), reliable small cars like the Toyota Aygo, Hyundai i10 and Chevrolet Spark. The majority of people aren't that "into" cars and are willing to default back to a make they know as long as the driving experience was good. Ford have lost a chance to be a lot of young people's first car as there are fewer second hand Fiestas out there.
Exactly! I loathe SUVs and cannot understand why so many drivers are sucked in by the hype. SUVs are inherently bulky and the aerodynamics are all wrong, making them uneconomical (diesel is not now the solution it was for a while) and with poor handling (solution? electronic gizmos to try and battle the laws of physics!) They are cursed with appalling blind spots and poor collision protection for pedestrians (remember them?) They are far more unwieldy on winding roads, in rain, snow and wind, and all for what? To sit higher up, feel big and powerful and look down (literally) on other mortals driving far safer and better designed cars. Oh, yes, one more thing - they cost £1000-2000 more than the hatchbacks they are derived from. Ever been suckered?
@@CoastHobbit9340 I imagine crashing in an SUV over a mini cooper would be safer, as I would imagine being crashed into while being in an SUV would also be safer than being in a mini.
Very thoughtful. It is my understanding that small cars have always been a bit of a nightmare, since tooling costs and developmental costs are not correlated to size. Many manufacturers effectively bankrupted themselves with successful small cars….. a sort of pyrrhic war.
Vehicle manufacturering is a numbers game, has you have spotted you need vast volumes to keep component prices down and factories working to capacity to make it work. Small (cheap!) cars allow you ecomomies of scale and then make profits on the larger more pricey stuff. Ah, some think why bother just make the larger more profitable stuff and forget the cheaper end of the market. Difficult to do, ask Rover and their drive up market and ever smaller market share approach that ended in tears.
Well, similar things have been said about large cars 20 years ago, too: high cost of development, and then you still lose because of the consumers' damn badge snobbery - which is why they fled out of Scorpios back then. Who'd have thought selling cars might be difficult at times? If you try to maximize the margin per chip you can lay your hands on, it may help killing off the small car - but isn't that a too short-term approach?
@Retired Bore Users don't have the required technical understanding of their cars. Therefore they cannot tell you if their experience is indicative of technical failures or not, much less the severity thereof. People who claim new cars are more reliable than old ones have never worked within the auto industry. The standard for reliability are Mercedes W123 and 124 series vehicles as well as Volvo 200, 700 and 900 series vehicles. Since those times equal levels of reliability and durability have never again been reached. But even when you lack the experience and the data to really know for sure, you can still use common sense: the more technology is added to a vehicle the more points of failure it will have. The more points of failure means more failures and there's no getting away from that.
I’m a dyed in the wool Ford owner, (now retired having had twenty or so Fords, all models since the early seventies) both my wife and I are keen drivers and now we’re old (not wealthy) we are both looking for our next cars to have higher seating positions so we can get in and out easier. I also would like us switch to PHEVs as we are struggling with petrol costs.. Regrettably the Ford range aren’t on our short lists currently…..
@@regenmeister3034 thats why they're not wealthy. They've lost thousands on every car they've had. I've had 28 cars in 35 years and have lost enough to buy a 3 year old Bentley.
As a young Canadian in the late 1990s I visited Germany for work. That’s where I saw my first Ford Focus, and was amazed. Our Fords were rubbish Escorts.
Yeah, I have to agree. Not really a fan of SUVs and (whisper it quietly!) am not really a fan of modern Fords. I'm sure plenty will disagree, but I really don't like just how tacky and "false" everything seems especially on the inside. Admittedly a problem a lot of modern cars suffer from with plastic trims and the like, but this seems especially prevalent in Fords to me. I started out a number of years ago with a second-hand, reasonably low mileage 1.3L Ford KA which (whilst not exactly being what you'd call a sports car) was severely underpowered for the size and weight of the thing. Obviously, perfectly acceptable for a first car, but that's by-the-by. Although it always started first time and drove safely, there were forever little issues with electronics and corrosion on the subframe which you would expect more on a classic car if I'm honest. The best compliment I can give for Fords is that because they always were pioneers of mass-manufacture, parts for them are considerably cheaper and easier to fix (in my experience) than most other cars. Naturally, this makes them economical to fix and run which I suppose are the only things your average driver looks for which I understand. Anyway, just some of my thoughts and experiences!
The death of the FIesta is personally sad for me - my first two cars were Mk2 Fiestas. I was saying to someone the other day that with the rise of the SUV, cars have become so homogenised and frankly boring. I hope that your prediction comes true and that SUVs disappear. And don't get me started on flat grey finishes - what's all that about? Buy a car costing tens of thousands of pounds and spec it in a paint job that looks like someone put primer on then got bored and gave up - I don't get it!
I totally agree that there is no reason to kill off the fiesta, and I just wonder that when SUV’s are no longer is favour, what are Ford going to do because then they have to most likely start all over again. On a side note, the ev puma was rumoured/announced many months ago now, so I had a feeling that something was going to happen, but I didn’t expect the death of the fiesta to be that thing!!
The original Ecosport did huge damage to Ford's reputation. They chose to sell this underdeveloped car as they'd nothing else for this growing market segment. Reminds me of the CityRover debacle.
Another great video TC, Thanks. We have two Fiesta's in our household, both Diesel powered and these are belting cars. The end of a Era for Ford then dropping such an icon, lets hope it does not end up as the end of Ford.
Your points against SUVs are very similar to mine. I find my Passat estate more practical, more efficient than them and dare say more fun down a twisty road.
The SUV point is a major factor but the fiesta itself is also failing against other superminis too. I personally think that the fiesta is priced really high and doesn't match the quality of it's rivals of same or lower price.
Excellent video and you raise a lot of interesting points. If Fiat and MINI managed to squeeze electric batteries on their 500 and MINI models, surely Ford could do the same too. Ford has been late to electric party compared to other brands and I wonder if this was intentional in order take advantage of platform sharing with other brands in the future. Ford has been always a champion in cost management and a Ford /VW joint venture isn’t a new thing and they did that in the early 90’s when the mk1 Ford Galaxy was almost a rebadged VW Sharan. Only just a few months ago they released the facelift Focus and Fiesta so this decision to now kill the Fiesta is odd indeed. That leaves more room for Renault, Citroen and Opel. On another note, when I was in Portugal in the summer, the trend of SUVs was far less noticeable than here in the Uk. People still love their estates there!
Portuguese here. The problem is that there aren't affordable small estates anymore. The Clio, the SEAT Ibiza and the Skoda Fabia were the last of them. The SUV plague killed this segment 😪😪😪
We’re a family of 4. Two kids, the Mrs and myself. I’ve only ever driven a Ford Focus followed by an Astra and even when the kids were little and needed prams and kid seats, we never struggled for practicality in either cars.
The SUV bubble is going to burst. Is has to. There's simply no way the craze ban be sustained, and at the moment, it seems to be running on circular logic: people are buying SUVs because people want SUVs. Let's give them SUVs! But it's a ridiculous idea to keep on betting on them, especially at the expense of normal, more fuel-efficient cars.
I would have thought the Captur was more of a jacked up Clio than a Megane? Kind of like Juke vs Micra (probably all four built on the same platform anyway)
I had the last model fiesta, a 2016 car and I've got to say I was very underwhelmed by the build quality and the quality of the materials used in the interior. When compared to its rivals it did seem to be a lesser quality product and if that was reflected across the range it may explain Ford's decreasing place in the sales charts. Another great video by the way you really are starting to lead the way in both content and quality. Keep it up.
I'm not sure ford ever got anywhere with quality. Not in the fiesta or the focus at least. The focus mk2 was a lot more solid than previous ford's. But loads of hard grey plastic. Then the mk3 bits would almost fall of and the mk4 isn't even worth considering now. Overall it offers nothing really over the competition. I think the mondeo mk4.5 and mk5 improved a little on internal quality over previous ford's. But the mk5 mondeo was by then pricing itself out of the market
I have the 2015 FiST and I must agree regarding the build quality. I purchased it as new in late 2016 and because I have a very short commute the car only has 16k on the odometer as of now. Because of this and in spite of the build quality, I’m satisfied with the performance and handling. I’ll be hanging onto it. I got it at quite a bargain too.
That's the problem with the Fiesta now. Competitors have quietly crept up on it and improved on the comfort and general quality. The design is also beginning to look a little tired and stale.
I had the red black edition, i was just surprised how much it rattled and crashed over bumps and its general lack of refinement. Also the dealer servicing wasn't worth the additional costs compared to taking it to a trusted local garage. Perhaps Ford have just taken their eye off the ball somewhat whereas the newer companies like Kia and Hyandai have just moved the game on for what you should expect from a reasonable priced car.
Loved your video (as a former two Metro owner myself, I follow your channel) and agree 100% with you on craziness of people’s insatiable lust for SUVs, and why (if not for eco, then for the other reasons you describe), people will have to wean themselves off their addiction for these overly heavy (imagine one of these 3 ton behemoths crashing into a Corsa!) fuel guzzlers. Heavier the car, bigger the batteries needed and resulting runaway in weight (destroying our fragile, barely filled pothole ridden roads)! Talked to a friend recently who works in Ford’s commercial division, and they are doing better than ever - sales of pick-up trucks and vans has shot through the roof (the pandemic saw a huge increase in van sales due to increased on-line deliveries), and maybe that’s where Ford is concentrating - commercials. Maybe they eventually sell off the passenger division to A.N. Other (VW?)? Also, whilst Governments are brainwashing us into believing that electric (as a mandatory single point solution) is inevitable, hopefully more open-minded people can see that hydrogen and synthetic fuels will HAVE to be part of the (future) mix - there’s simply not enough lithium (or other resources) in the world to have solely electric powered transportation options.
Agree regarding strange treatment of alternative fuel; complaining about carbon emissions whilst ignoring the carbon capturing source...& unresolved/variable electrical power source.
They already made a big mistake cutting off the Fiesta, and they're going to make a HUGE mistake if they actually do cut off the Focus. Ford where is your mind? I love my mkI Focus. Looks like I may have to preserve it like treasure
I really like the way you remorselessly slap down SUVs. I had the misfortune of having a Qashqow as a hire car a few years ago, and it was horrible to drive - wallowy in the corners with all the handling and poise of a damp sponge, the ride was no more comfortable than in a normal car, obviously the fuel economy was worse, and the boot was pitifully small for a car of that footprint. The only three _good_ reasons I can think of for getting an SUV are: 🚙 If you genuinely need off-road capabilities ... very rare! 🚙 If you need to be able to tow a weighty trailer, caravan or horsebox then an SUV might have an advantage over a car. 🚙 Some people with limited mobility find it easier to get in and out of an SUV than a car because it is at the right height. That must cover, what, about 3 or 4% of the SUVs on the road? Get rid of the rest!
On the third point, my wife has limited mobility and can't use a CashCow because it's too high off the ground! You may not notice it but the suspension is jacked a bit high in SUVs and you actually have to raise yourself up a bit getting in and out. For a person with limited mobility this is not ideal, you need the seat at a good height. Her last car was a Peugeot 1007 and it had a perfect driving position for her, hard to get something to replace it with.
@@johncoops6897 Very true. But sometimes the thing about towing is not just having a powerful vehicle, but having a *heavy* vehicle, so that it controls the trailer rather than the other way round!
@@johncoops6897 even worse so, they usually have tiny turbo 3 or 4 bangers sending that power through CVTs and the front wheels whole also having barely if any ground clearance advantage
Firstly, what the hell is a Sports Utility Vehicle anyway? Is it a builder's truck that you can somehow use as a race car come the weekend? Well no, it's just marketing hype to make gullible people believe that they somehow have a "rugged" and "sporty" lifestyle. Secondly, I once had a first generation Renault Scenic, which had masses of interior space and storage compared to a comparable SUV; in fact, if it hadn't had horrible handling (could have been easily fixed by Renault), it would have been one of my all time favourite vehicles, being brilliant at just about any task you could throw at it. And I've been amazed at the tiny boot space of some very large SUVs I've encountered recently; they all seem to be competing in a race to produce the least interior space in comparison with the exterior size. Now, car design needs to change to accommodate the electric future, but I'm convinced that in twenty year's time we'll be looking back on SUVs in the same way we now view flared trousers - a ridiculous relic of a ridiculous past. Finally, respect for the way you have evolved your videos from a quick look at older cars (well researched though), to a more serious journalistic style. Just please don't abandon the former.
I disagree with you on SUVs being worse to drive, they are very peasant to drive if you are not a boy racer, they perfectly suit people with mobility issues because of the more upright driving position, they are easier to get in and out because they not so low to the ground, they are also better for people living in rural areas, the better ground clearance means they can easily get down unmade roads and tracks without needing to own a 4x4
Great video! I learned to drive in a Fiesta Classic from 1995 - it had massive travel in the clutch so I stalled a ton of times in my lessons but it was a great car. As I watch this, I can see history repeating itself a bit. Small cars became popular in the 70s because of high gas prices - history could repeat itself with SUVs. The infrastructure for EVs still isn't there yet but it's a shame if Ford experience a Kodak moment by not innovating quickly enough. They also killed the Mondeo which was a great car. Just as much practicality as an SUV and probably more economical.
I only got my driving licence on 09.11.2021 and since 01.11.2022 I have a new job for which I will drive 16,000 km a year. There is no scenario in my mind where getting an SUV is an option in the future, no matter the power-train.... I have such a massive aversion to these cars. I am currently driving a VW up! with 60 hp, very solid car with relatively high seating position and so beautifully simple. If I had the money now, my first choice would be a Mazda MX-5 ND.... I love Mazda and if I were to buy a car right now, it would at least have to be fun.
The Fiesta is very popular within the teens community here in the States and popular with all walks of life through the years. My parents had a Fiesta back in the early 90's and man I tell you, their reliable autos that can go well over 150K if taking care of responsibly. I never was a fan of any SUV's despite of growing popularity.
My friend had one in high school. Super uncomfortable. It was definitely not designed for real passengers. I must have been 130 pounds and 5'8 at the time. Also other than him camr really say many teens got a Fiesta. They topped the most dangerous car list. I doubt many parents would buy such a car for their children.
Ford will launch 7 new electric vehicles by 2024 so I think they know what they are doing. Yes, I am very sad to see the Fiesta go as it was my first car and have an emotional attachment to it.
I will not. Had one, fell apart after 5 years, replaced it with a Focus which also had build quality issues after barely 3 years (admittedly this was in 1990s). Replaced the Focus with a Mazda 6 when I had kids which was just a better made car in every way than either Ford and when that started to show its age after 10 years, replaced it with a Skoda which tramples the Mondeo into the dust - cheaper to buy, better build quality, more reliable, cheaper to maintain etc
I can never understand how over many decades it’s been a race to make vehicles more economical... engines are now more efficient so then the answer is to make vehicles larger and heavier... so back to square one? Got to keep the oil barrons happy before all vehicles are electric I guess?
There dying because big corporations are greedy and 90% of new car buying people are idiots. Such a shame. I weep for future automotive enthusiasts. Ford and many other brands want to produce a global product. however 'normal' peoples car needs vary so much that a global product is irrelevant. A large SUV fits in the US or other larger countrys not in the UK. Look at any supermarket carpark many modern day suv/crossover barely fits in car parking spaces.Great video bud , much love
Interesting take. I must admit I have always been a fan of Dagenham dustbins. Mt first car was a MkI Cortina, and had a couple of Escort company cars. I also had a diesel Focus (now my son's) which has now done well over 200 000 miles. Not sure how their electric vehicles are going to stack up against the Chinese though...
The cost to build a small car is not much different to a big car like an SUV but a customer will pay a lot more for a big car. Volume of sales of cars is also rarely linked to the profitability of a vehicle but more associated to the original capacity that was installed. It is sad to see the Fiesta go but as someone has mentioned there are 40 years worth of them to keep going and restore when us normal folk wont be able to afford a BEV or the electricity or road tax which will almost certainly end up based on weight.
Absolutely agree, Ford have been left for dead in the EV race. It's ironic that they did actually produce an electric Focus (albeit only in the US, as a compliance car). My partner has a 2013 Fiesta that she loves - and she'd like to replace it with an electric Fiesta; she doesn't want a bigger car. But, alas, this 20 year Ford customer will be obliged to buy another brand...
In my opinion Ford took a great step back with the bland looking Mk8 Fiesta as it's just grown into any other euro car. I think the Mk7 was a far more exciting looking car from every angle. I'm sure the disastrous stories about the Ecoboost engine won't have helped sales either and I hear that the gearboxes can present problems too. All this would deter me from changing my Mk7 Fiesta now. There are numerous issues with electric cars and I certainly won't be pushed into buying one, maybe Ford don't have the confidence in them either. Just take a look at the 60's and 70's exciting range of Fords and see where they have now gone wrong.
I remember Gordon Brown as Chancellor, trying to get us to drive smaller cars by cutting road tax for them. Today, we have bloated, fugly lumps of metal clogging up the roads, which all look the same. Modern cars suck ; no individuality, character, too complicated and the reliability is questionable.
Estate car beats an SUV every time for practicality...BUT I'm a 76 year old retired car sparks, carpal tunnel both wrists, osteoarthritis both knees, an SUV would suit me better.
manufacturers, including ford, are purposely pushing SUV's/4WD's. Not only can they attach a larger profit margin, after sales service costs & repairs are through the roof. $500-$1,000 for a standard service is normal. They're also designed with cheap parts that break down, particularly timing chains that need to be replaced at a certain mileage. Unsurprisingly, this is just outside the warranty period, thus allowing them to sell extended warranties.
Its so sad they have got rid of this car. Unfortunately the new cars coming out have put me off buying a new car as they have just become a silly tech fest with complex electricals that fail more than the engine does or are just as you said SUV's that are designed for the road only. Even certain Land Rover models don't meet the desirable lists for me now. I would rather spend a lot of money on a older classic car now.
I have always been "let people buy what they want," car, truck, suv, hatch or whatever. If somebody wants a EV, that's fine, if they want a ICE that also fine. When I visit family in Texas it's a 1,415-mile 25 hour non-stop drive- - - -gas coffee go gas coffee go, a EV would take HOURS longer because of charging. Also, where I live on hot days the power company says "don't charge your EV and set your A/C to 80 deg F." For me I would never buy a SUV, I need a truck for work and dirt biking (and going to Texas.) Over here were waiting for the "Big Red Wave" next Tuesday. Another great watch from Twin-Cam.....
We have a VW T-Cross, mainly for easy access as we are retired and find it difficult to get into 'normal' cars. Our VW is two wheel drive with an economical 1ltr, three cylinder engine. You suggest a Honda Jazz as a non-SUV alternative but if this has a similar seating/access provision then I don't see any benefit, just a different body shape. At what point does a car design change from small estate to SUV?
Excellent video. Ford’s decline in the European car market has been quite rapid and it’s not that long ago it used to set the benchmark in each sector. Now it’s in danger of being an also ran. I would add the caveat that in 2020, with the global chip shortage, Ford made the strongly commercial decision to prioritise commercial vehicle production, where it’s probably still market leader. To be fair, there was method in Ford’s madness there as the new car market collapsed at that stage. But I don’t feel that can be used as a genuine excuse anymore. Ford does seem have made some curious decisions of late surrounding it’s cars. I feel it’s very much led by its North American operations where it’s killed off all its cars bar the Mustang. That might make sense in that market but it makes no sense in other markets such as Europe. As you mentioned in your video, I don’t understand why they don’t bring out electrified versions of their current models, even to tide them over. It’s decision to kill off the Mondeo and not even bring out something even SUV based to take its place baffles me - something Citroen have done with the C5X. The biggest Ford passenger car - Mustang excluded - you can now buy in Europe is probably the Focus estate. I know you can technically get things like the Transit Toureno but they’re technically adapted vans. It must be promising it’s dealers a lot as they’re rapidly running out of cars to sell. They need new models and soon.
I went past TC Harrison Ford dealer in Huntingdon a couple of months ago & they only had a few cars on the forecourt none inside showroom haven’t seen anything like that for a while
We had a 2009 Fiesta Style+ and that was a great car. In recent years we've looked again at Fiestas but we found no real improvements over our last one. We chose a 67 reg Bmax over a 17 reg Fiesta (saved nearly £800 and half the mileage). Looked at a Powershift Fiesta, that was rubbish and I spent most of the test drive using it in manual mode. Then we recently looked at a 2014 Fiesta for a second car, and went for a 2014 Fabia. The Fiesta just looked old in comparisson, Ford seemed to sit back on its' past history.
I do think the Fiesta was always a sorted cheap car. Mass produced so they were pretty sorted. And Ford so parts were cheap and available but they’re recently not that budget anymore. Perfect in the 70s and 80s when they were first cars and could be maintained yourself cheaply with parts from a shop within a mile from your house. Those days are gone and there is a weird mix of us wanting to own cars for longer as they last longer at the same time as being able to change every 2 or 3 years because they are more of a commodity.
Had a 08 Ford Focus for years good reliable car but was thirsty 1.6 petrol and it was £220 a year rd tax. Took the plunge last year and swapped it for a Kia ceed 1.6 CRDI 14 plate, absolutely brilliant car, great on fuel, zero rd tax, pay around £100 less a year on insurance. Just great all round. SUVs don’t do it for me full stop, never seen the like for them. I think hybrids are the way forward, electric I just think we’re not quite ready for it yet, we don’t have the infrastructure for it all yet, but that’s Just my opinion
@@johncoops6897 here in the UK you pay a yearly or 6month tax rate called road fund licence, it goes on the age and the emissions that the car gives off. The Ford Focus I had was over ten years old and the emissions or hydrocarbons it gave off warranted a higher tax-road fund licence therefore it was £220 per year I had to pay for its road fund licence. The Kia I have now is a diesel 1.6 with a fitted DPF which almost completely eliminates any emissions given by the car, no emissions no road fund needed to pay or it’s in a cheaper bracket with cheaper road fund licence. If that makes sense
The swap to SUVs has come thanks to legislation on seat belts and the availability of parking aids. Have a look at the cars delivering kids to school. I had a couple of Fiestas and loved them. Another great report.
Sad really. I've already started researching other marques in preparation for my next purchase...and it won't be an SUV. I don't think Ford have an interest in the European market anymore.
After hearing this news I am absolutely devastated . I grew up around Ford especially the Mondeo and Focus like. I have a Focus now but now im not sure what to do for my next car. I really wanted a Focus ST3 MK3 2015 but now im unsure what to do.
As usual, Ed, you nailed it in terms of the ultimate demise of ugly SUVs due to a dramatically changing climate and economic world we are currently ruining! It takes balls to tackle such a topic where mighty Ford is concerned, but you displayed big ones! Well done. Let's hope the industry wakes up to the truth. Rob,
I don't get the point of an SUV either. Need a practical car, get an estate or an MPV. Need a car easy for mobility limited people, then like you say get a Honda Jazz or something similar. Like my new (to me) 2009 Suzuki Swift. My mother has sciatica and arthritis, but finds the Swift relatively easy to get in and out of.
I have a similar view on the SUV/crossover topic Had a talk with my father "A friend of mine drives an Audi Q5" "So?" "Its so comfy" "Not really compared to a regular A5" "But its still comfy and its got a big boot!" "Not really, the sportback version actually has more space AND is lighter. Also more fuel efficient with the same engine" "But its higher up and has better ground clearance" "Does your friend EVER even drive on dirt roads or sth similar?" "I don't think so..." "Then why would he need it? Its also not all that much. Like 5-10cm at most extra clearance. Thats also worse for handling, especially in critical situations" "Okay okay. Got it. It stil a nice car" "If he likes it, good for him. Not an option i would ever consider. One exception would be if it had all wheel drive and i was traveling on snowy mountains very frequently. And even then i would just go for the alroad version"
I’ve owned 2 Focus and now drive a 2018 Fiesta, great little car. It seems to me that Ford have pretty much given up on cars in Europe and prefer to put their efforts into vans and light commercial vehicles (better profit margins?). It wouldn’t surprise me if Ford Europe Cars eventually becomes part of the VW group.
As an American, I am continually amazed to find that Ford seems to have a much better reputation in the UK than it does in the United States. Perhaps less so recently.
The difference is that they’re essentially two different companies. Very few Ford cars have ever been shared between the US and Europe. Plus, a lot of British and German people see Ford as being British or German, because they had design and production centres in both those countries. Many of Britain’s most successful Fords, for example, were designed and built in Britain, and apart from the Ranger and Mustang, all Fords sold in Europe are German designed now.
@@TwinCam two separate companies? If you enjoy believing that you can. There were two vehicles that were absolutely shared between Europe and North America. Can you guess what they were? The focus starting in 1999 and the fiesta that showed up soon after that. The focus broke the record for the most number of safety recalls for one model. The fiesta was an uncomfortable, loud little car that people bought only when they had no other option. Or they didn't know where to find a Japanese car dealership. Fiesta ST was an exception. But there weren't many of those. And of course, the powershift transmission was also sold in the United States. You didn't mention that. How much of a disaster that was, and what it did to Ford's reputation. it was much less of a surprise in the United States.
Hate the SUV - as people say they want to go green and energy efficient, why are they buying increasingly bigger less energy efficient designs? Even if they buy an EV version of the car, its a lot of virtue signalling as a small efficient car would be far better for the environment. An ev fiesta would be great
My parents had a 2015 tourneo courier 1.0 ecoboost (fiesta courier van with back seats) after two years the whole front suspension had to be replaced which apparantly didn't fall under warranty. It was way too small even for a 3 person family. The back seat felt like a plank with upholstery. The front seats started sagging after only months of use. And then it got the infamous ecoboost cylinder wall crack which luckily did get replaced under warranty. But we were tired of it's shenanigans and they traded it in for a Renault Kadjar which felt like we had moved on decades in car engineering.
As a Fiesta ST owner here in the US, I’m sorry to hear that Ford is dropping the Fiesta outright. The car simply ticks all the right boxes for me, but apparently we hot hatch enthusiasts are now part of a niche that is shrinking by the year. Whatever, I plan to keep my ST as long as I can.
I have the 2014 Se 5door one and love it, sucks that they are dropping them
I have an MK8 ST pre facelift. It is stock and i keep it stock and will care it well.
In 10 or 15 years it will be worth much.
I have a low mileage 2013 SE hatchback with the awful DCT. The handling, responsiveness, acceleration, steering feel and driving feel is not even comparable to my 1988 Chevy Cavalier Z24 with a 3 speed auto... horrible car all around, hell Ford couldn't even program its wipers properly
@@OldSchoolZ-wy2yx sounds like a one odd issue
@@OldSchoolZ-wy2yx I assume that you are a car guy, or at least knowledgeable about cars, so I have to ask;
What possessed you to buy a Ford Focus with an automatic gearbox? No wonder you are pissed.
Well said Ed... I personally hate the SUV craze and have zero need/want for one, i was very surprised when i heard that not only the Fiesta but also the Focus was to be killed off by Ford... I own an Abarth 595 which i gather will also be going electric in the near future, but to my mind Fiat are going in the right direction at present by still making, and selling loads of the current mild hybrid 500`s and have also managed to make the new all electric 500e while keeping not only the name but also by updating the very familiar retro looks the 500 without turning it into an ungainly high riding SUV, so why can`t Ford do the same with the Fiesta & Focus???
I understand you views to an extent, a lot of suvs are owned by people who do not need one. Personally with my lifestyle I would struggle without my dacia duster or similar car. I am an outdoorsy type and belive me it's pretty difficult transpiring a family of 4 on a cping holiday/biking holiday in a little Peugeot 206. Since getting the duster earlier this year camping trips or travelling to mountain biking locations has bern far easier. Yes the duster is un necessary for dropping my wife off at work and a small city car would be ideal. But I simply can't justify having 2 cars. As for your hate to suv as you don't need one, what about people who own high performance cars? Is there any need for such a cer. Unless its your passion and you often drive on track days. Otherwise all that performance is wasted.
@@steveoutdoors5964 My word "hate" for SUV`s is probably a bit strong, more a dislike.. If you need something with more room for your lifestyle then an SUV will fit the bill and is probably your only choice now.. the Dacia Duster is to my mind more of an estate with a slightly raised ride height, i do actually like them because they don`t pretend to be something they`re not! but the once very useful saloon based estate cars have also all but gone now, replaced with SUV`s which are often less space efficient, what i really don`t like are small cars (the new Toyota Aygo X for example) deliberately made into a higher riding plastic clad vehicle with no advances in space or practicality over the usefully small older model, its all just for style.. Obviously only my opinions..
@@steveoutdoors5964 Although they still take a hit on fuel economy due to 4wd, why not V60/V90 cross country, Skoda Scout, Subaru Outback, VW allroad etc?
I would prefer a lofted wagon. But honestly not ever having the option of a crossover or a SUV seems sucky. You can't get over curbs, many driveways, portholes, hills, and roads that's sudden incline or decline.
Sedans and such are far too low to be practical these days.
Also as for the Fiesta and cars like it. At least here in America they are some of the most dangerous cars to drive and kill more drivers than any other car. The last gen Fiesta was at the top. These cars barely look like they can survive a Camry. Let alone a F-150.
@@baronvonjo1929 It's not the Fiesta that kills the driver. It's the F150 that kills the Fiesta driver. That's the problem.
So agree with you about the SUV craze. One of my family was looking for something big enough for three kids used mostly for ferrying around town and occasional longer trips. Looked at all the SUVs and ended up buying a Mazda 6 station wagon. It has more space, is more comfortable and easier on fuel than everything they looked at. Hopefully the craze for oversized mini trucks will die away.
I thought the fuel prices over the last year would have hit SUVs hard but people still seem to want them in big numbers. Don't why people insist on buying these expensive things with expensive to replace parts and excess fuel consumption whilst having god awful handling when compared to the humble estate car.
It won't because women love them.
Good to hear that someone shares my view of SUVs - especially those with tiny boots and the handling capabilities of a galleon in a crosswind
SUV`s are stupid vehicle for stupid people.
Worser road keeping with no off road capability. Hatchbacks on stilts
Prices have gone up so much, which (while other manufacturers also) must have an effect. My 2018 Focus ST (ST-3, loaded) cost £25,096, yet the current ST is more like £35k... - that's a massive percentage increase, way above even current silly inflation. Part of Ford's big selling point was a low accessible price point.
And if you are prepared to pay the money for the cars they are not available plus attitude from dealers has changed completely. I was Ford through & through for years but had my Fiesta st3 order changed from 3-5 door after waiting 9 months & they tried to say they where giving me performance pack as a favour (it’s standard & always has been on mk8) no build date & or updates plus got a load of attitude from & salesman so just went & got a Golf GTD used & got my deposit back from Ford dealer
@@jamesbrowne7601 Yeah. My 2018 mk8 fiesta Titanium cost me 12.500 euro, now it costs 21.000....
Ford is not the same company it used to be. I will stick to the MK2 - MK3 Focus ST's moving forward untill they all die off.
Personally I've always preferred estates to SUVs. Let's hope manufacturers will take note of MG and develop estate EVs
Your comments on SUV's are spot-on!! And having watched the long, slow death of Ford here in Australia I think your concerns about the future of Ford in Europe are totally justified. 🙁
My girlfriend and I were looking at buying a new Fiesta in late 2020, early part of 2021. We decided not to, because of three factors: road tax: it made more sense to stay with an older Fiesta with grandfathered zero tax, functionality: our existing 64 plate Fiesta was functionally equivalent, the new features didn't matter to us, fuel economy: just no significant difference between our current car and the new model. 2010-2016 Fiestas are basically tried and true models with no downsides (that aren't still present in the newer model), still available used in good quantities, and the newer model just doesn't have any compelling reason to upgrade. Add to this the difficulty in actually buying a new Fiesta in a timely way, and the uncompetitive pricing, it's not difficult to see why Ford are struggling with sales.
Fiestas (and Focus) made around 2012 - with DPS6 dual clutch - were one of the most unreliable cars you could possibly buy... and one of the sole reasons Ford were forced to pull out of the South East Asia car market, and now only sell trucks.
@@phuketexplorer most were made as manuals so this point is less relevant mate
SYNC 3, Ford Pass, MHEV engine, better standard equipment at entry levels, more modern styling.
@@phuketexplorer most fiesta and focus are manuals, the dual clutch ones are uncommon
@@phuketexplorer statistically irrelevant for the UK market where over 90% of Fiestas are manual.
What a great analysis! Personally, growing up in 1980s Britain, I didn't understand why Fords were always so popular. I honestly look back and think it was because it was (partially) British-built but didn't fall apart like a BL product. But I also acknowledge that Ford really knew their stuff, they knew how to market their cars and how to make the most of their popularity. I don't understand what they're thinking now
I think Fords were very popular due to fleet market.
@@davidspendlove5900 Good point. How they conquered the fleet market also goes to show how savvy they were back then
They were affordable, looked fine, parts were cheap and easy to fit.
A few years ago I asked a mechanic business is the Ford Transit still a good van? He said a"It's not perfect but look at that Nissan Cabstar over there. It needs suspension bushes, a ball joint. Those are £330 for that Cabstar van. For the Transit they're under £50. Everyone makes parts for Fords. If I can't get the genuine part at a good price I'll offer the pattern to the customer."
Ford: looked good enough, fitted the market, parts cheap and easy to find, easy to work on.
I think they're quite reliable. Especially the van diesels and car petrols. I know some Mondeo owners who have had their petrols for years and not had any issues. Talk to BMW owners for a different story!
Their range was simple and logical. Fiesta, Escort, Cortina/Sierra, Granada and the sporty Capri
The whole electric car thing is loosing control. Manufacturers are preparing to absolutely rip people off. The obsession for range is meaning (by the laws of physics) they are getting far too big and heavy.
The most environmental cars are the cars of 20 years ago when most people had a 1.4 or smaller hatchback that could last a very long time if looked after.
I would say about 30 + years ago. A 1.3 engine was the norm. Some would have a small. 1 litre car. Families would have something like a 1.6 sierra or cavalier. Cars then got bigger with the change to suv type vehicles. with1.4 to 2 litre engines. Then the great diesel con came and cities became choked with 2 litre diesel vehicles.
My guess is that Ford are effectively pulling out of Europe as GM did, because they can't see a way of undoing their mistakes. The reason Vauxhall/Opel made a comeback is they could share development and purchasing cost with similar products produced by Peugeot, Citroen, etc. I guess the VW based electric cars are the answer to this. Also I agree that SUVs need to die as a mainstream choice, but I suspect what we'll get is a new type and shape of product - lower than an SUV, taller than a hatch/saloon. Your spot on with the packaging point about SUVs - they aren't more practical than a decent hatch and worse than a well designed estate car
Ford in North America have already stated that they are discontinuing all "passenger cars" other than Mustang, they are now exclusively an SUV and truck brand.
Well my Mondeo is remarkably similar to the 508 estate and comes complete with a Peugeot engine so Ford have done some degree of partnering on that front. Vauxhall/Opel are now owned by Peugeot so there's lees to distinguish them.
I just hope that Vauxhall/Opel don't inherit french electrics. :)
@@waveman1500 - yes, all trucks & SUV's with the only exception the Mustang + they are supposedly planning to bring in a raised, CUV style Focus 'Crossover' built in China!
All that does is etch in stone that they've lost me as a new vehicle customer going forward.
There are probably many factors behind the decisions of Ford and GM to reduce their European operations. What shouldn't be overlooked however is that the European market is very crowded with over capacity and not helped by the fact that the French Govt will do absolutely anything to prop up their two main manufacturers Renault and Groupe PSA. This was evident by the bailouts in 2008 of both and again with PSA in 2013 much to the chagrin of the Germans, and technically illegal under EU state aid rules but heah they always find ways around them. Had at least one of them gone bust it would have left space in the market for one or both of the Americans to compete, also note that Fiat is a shadow of its former self and is now consolidated with Groupe PSA (which shouldn't exist). The UK government was powerless to stop the demise of Rover why don't the French play by the same rules ?
I bought a new focus in 2015. Absolutely loved it. It was c.£18k for a diesel zetec. To buy something similar now it would be at the £30k mark. When squeezed by Hyundai and Kia they decided to price alongside VW, and other ‘premium’ brands and unfortunately at that price people will go to the premium brand, or buy a heavily discounted Vauxhall.
Couldn't agree more about SUV's, why? I just don't get it. Every time I've been in one the driver has problems parking them. The height of the rear hatch opening makes them harder to load and they don't offer any more space than a mid sized estate. They are too heavy, too big in alll directions, and usually just plain ugly. All right, the last point is very subjective but hey, are there any real pretty ones? I truly believe that it is all about status. I just wish people would get over themselves and get real. Just my opinion of course.
I've used Fiestas since 2012 as my driving instructor car. I've had 14 of them. They are brilliant. I couldn't think of a better car to teach in. I'll certainly miss them when they go.
Great video Ed 🙂
14 cars in 10 years!!!
@@stuartheydon6323 People doing rallying instructor courses go through less cars. Maybe for emergency stops he’s just pointing at a wall and saying hit it.
With the AA franchise you used to get a new car every 9 months,then that became every 12 months. They didn't like to have to re-sell cars that had more than 30k miles on them.
@@plym1969 2007 Corolla is still a driving instructor car near me from new and has over 400,000 miles on it now, buy a new shape corolla for one.
Learned to drive in a Fiesta. Currently own a Focus and have a Puma on order for delivery in Jan 23.
I bought a Ford Mondeo because of it's practicality, it's a car when I need a car and a van when I need a van.
It's comfortable, reliable and it looks good in an Aston-ish way so that's nice.
I find that in the same sort of price range SUVs tend to be higher but shorter.
The boot space is ridiculously small to make up for the height and it you need a long wheel base then you will pay extra for the privilege.
The Mondeo is the first Ford I've ever owned and I have to say it's a good car, shame to see it go.
Leaves me wondering what to replace it with when the time comes as i have zero interest in an SUV.
Aston Martin Valhalla? 👍
@@JohnHughes2002 Only if you squint and cross your eyes from about 100 miles away :)
Ford have also recently said that the S-Max MPV and Galaxy MPV are also being discontinued from next year. You can't order a new one and they're running out existing stock and once they're gone, that's it. No replacements are planned.
This is also a poor choice! How about those who need 7 seats like families with 4 kids or kids with friends, or a cabbie etc. No option from Ford equals another a lost next sale. I'm keeping my Smax 1.6 ecoboost for a little longer then, and why not; it's superb!
@@paultwomey3722 Apparently a lot of motor manufacturers have dumped mpv's except Volkswagen.
The market has changed, a lot of people are shifting to crossovers and SUV's, and don't want full sized or compact mpv's any more.
In fact when crossovers / SUV's can offer seven seats and just as flexible interiors, it's catering to a market you're not going to make money on no more.
The current popularity of jacked up hatchbacks makes the Rover Streetwise look remarkably prescient in hindsight. They were on to something
I've been driving front wheel cars since 1988. I live in Illinois and have NEVER been stuck driving a front drive vehicle.
"The SUV has to die" Amen brother! I can't stand them! You can't see round them and their headlights are in your face. By all means, if you live in a rural area or have some kind of mobility issue then fair enough, but school run mums steaming around in them and struggling to park have no need for one.
Ford seems to have been behind the curve in the UK ever since they palmed us off with the US market Mondeo ten years ago. It’s a pity really, I remember a time from the late 90s to the mid 2000s when Ford made great drivers cars, with good styling and superb engines. Not any longer though.
You are not the only one that does not understand people's preference of an SUV/CUV over a car. It is lost on me as well. I was looking for a new/used car as a single man, no kids, in a 600 sq ft condo. Some friends and coworkers said I should get something practical, even though I would only need the larger vehicle a few times a year. So that made me realize that people buy these large vehicles not because they like or want them but because they think they will need the space. Just rent a vehicle the times you might need more space.
A very well-presented piece, clear and unhurried. I wish I could knock together a script like that in half an hour! Well done.
Okay you are missing one key point : Ford from a sales point of view are insisting that all the dealerships concentrate of both cars and vans and those unwilling dealerships to convert are being pulled out of selling. Now in Aberdeen as in many other Cities across the UK, Ford are opening dedicated Sales and Servicing, which gives them full direction as to where their brands go. Dropping smaller dealerships is to me a step back in productivity and why I am as a Ford driver will now be looking at changing brands, most likely to Kia.
A local-ish family owned Ford dealer going back over 100years was dropped 2 years ago. I wondered why.
Consider this. You mentioned all the pro's and Cons to car ownership. But you left out the way it makes you feel.
I like driving SUV's because I like the way they make me feel.
Twin Cam can relate to this because he loves Melvin even though it is not practical to do so.
I have heard on occasions, that he would love to own a mini even though they are less comfortable, practical and harder to drive.
You can't ignore how a car makes you feel.
SUV's are very important to the UK car industry. The Nissan Quashqai saved the UK nissan plant.
Driving a SUV would make me feel stupid for buying the worst available option: uglier, unconfortable, energy-innefcient and overpriced in comparison with the conpetition 🤣🤣🤣
I’m selling my AWD suv in the spring for a Honda Civic. No need to lug around all that weight and pay for smacking against the air resistance.
If small (and cheap) cars don’t make money then please explain why Dacia prospers!?
Most people wouldn’t know a good car if it jumped up and bit them on the nose .
The shear amount of totally unnecessary electronic bollocks that is legislated these days has pushed the price of small cars to silly levels .
I am on my second Kuga and love it. I get a great view of the road and sit in comfort not almost in a prone position also the boot is big enough to take my Mobility scooter.
The Kuga drives very well and gives me 41mpg . It is a practical car and I have no wish to swop to a Vauxhall Corsa thankyou,
Hi Ed and thanks for this video. Former automotive market researcher checking in here, I worked in a small way on the development of the Vauxhall Frontera and Nissan X-trail.
Apart from the points that you made, the rise of SUVs is also related to the perceived safety benefits of SUVs over conventional cars. Although they don't necessarily articulate it, owners are buying a mobile space that will protect their family and let them do fun and practical things like visiting the countryside, towing caravans, horse boxes etc. and carrying bigger loads with the seats down. Yes, I know you can do all of that in an ordinary car, but SUVs have been promoted as doing this better. They also reached critical mass a long time ago. When parents look at what's been used on the school run they feel like the odd one out doing it in Focus.
One final point, other manufacturers have done much better at producing cheap(ish), reliable small cars like the Toyota Aygo, Hyundai i10 and Chevrolet Spark. The majority of people aren't that "into" cars and are willing to default back to a make they know as long as the driving experience was good. Ford have lost a chance to be a lot of young people's first car as there are fewer second hand Fiestas out there.
Exactly!
I loathe SUVs and cannot understand why so many drivers are sucked in by the hype. SUVs are inherently bulky and the aerodynamics are all wrong, making them uneconomical (diesel is not now the solution it was for a while) and with poor handling (solution? electronic gizmos to try and battle the laws of physics!) They are cursed with appalling blind spots and poor collision protection for pedestrians (remember them?) They are far more unwieldy on winding roads, in rain, snow and wind, and all for what? To sit higher up, feel big and powerful and look down (literally) on other mortals driving far safer and better designed cars.
Oh, yes, one more thing - they cost £1000-2000 more than the hatchbacks they are derived from. Ever been suckered?
I notice you use the word "perceived". Sadly, in this world, marketing is now king....
@@CoastHobbit9340 I imagine crashing in an SUV over a mini cooper would be safer, as I would imagine being crashed into while being in an SUV would also be safer than being in a mini.
I like SUVs, but I also like cars. When it comes to modern SUVs though, i would rather have a small hatchback. This SUV craze is nuts. 😊
Very thoughtful. It is my understanding that small cars have always been a bit of a nightmare, since tooling costs and developmental costs are not correlated to size. Many manufacturers effectively bankrupted themselves with successful small cars….. a sort of pyrrhic war.
Vehicle manufacturering is a numbers game, has you have spotted you need vast volumes to keep component prices down and factories working to capacity to make it work. Small (cheap!) cars allow you ecomomies of scale and then make profits on the larger more pricey stuff.
Ah, some think why bother just make the larger more profitable stuff and forget the cheaper end of the market. Difficult to do, ask Rover and their drive up market and ever smaller market share approach that ended in tears.
Well, similar things have been said about large cars 20 years ago, too: high cost of development, and then you still lose because of the consumers' damn badge snobbery - which is why they fled out of Scorpios back then.
Who'd have thought selling cars might be difficult at times?
If you try to maximize the margin per chip you can lay your hands on, it may help killing off the small car - but isn't that a too short-term approach?
@Retired Bore Cars haven't been getting more reliable for decades. Ask any professional mechanic.
@Retired Bore Users don't have the required technical understanding of their cars. Therefore they cannot tell you if their experience is indicative of technical failures or not, much less the severity thereof.
People who claim new cars are more reliable than old ones have never worked within the auto industry.
The standard for reliability are Mercedes W123 and 124 series vehicles as well as Volvo 200, 700 and 900 series vehicles. Since those times equal levels of reliability and durability have never again been reached.
But even when you lack the experience and the data to really know for sure, you can still use common sense: the more technology is added to a vehicle the more points of failure it will have. The more points of failure means more failures and there's no getting away from that.
I’m a dyed in the wool Ford owner, (now retired having had twenty or so Fords, all models since the early seventies) both my wife and I are keen drivers and now we’re old (not wealthy) we are both looking for our next cars to have higher seating positions so we can get in and out easier. I also would like us switch to PHEVs as we are struggling with petrol costs.. Regrettably the Ford range aren’t on our short lists currently…..
Twenty cars in fifty years, now retired and looking at another 2 cars for yourself and your wife. But not wealthy. Yea, ok bud...
@@regenmeister3034 thats why they're not wealthy. They've lost thousands on every car they've had. I've had 28 cars in 35 years and have lost enough to buy a 3 year old Bentley.
As a young Canadian in the late 1990s I visited Germany for work. That’s where I saw my first Ford Focus, and was amazed. Our Fords were rubbish Escorts.
Yeah, I have to agree. Not really a fan of SUVs and (whisper it quietly!) am not really a fan of modern Fords. I'm sure plenty will disagree, but I really don't like just how tacky and "false" everything seems especially on the inside. Admittedly a problem a lot of modern cars suffer from with plastic trims and the like, but this seems especially prevalent in Fords to me.
I started out a number of years ago with a second-hand, reasonably low mileage 1.3L Ford KA which (whilst not exactly being what you'd call a sports car) was severely underpowered for the size and weight of the thing. Obviously, perfectly acceptable for a first car, but that's by-the-by. Although it always started first time and drove safely, there were forever little issues with electronics and corrosion on the subframe which you would expect more on a classic car if I'm honest.
The best compliment I can give for Fords is that because they always were pioneers of mass-manufacture, parts for them are considerably cheaper and easier to fix (in my experience) than most other cars. Naturally, this makes them economical to fix and run which I suppose are the only things your average driver looks for which I understand.
Anyway, just some of my thoughts and experiences!
Lets go back to estate cars!
The death of the FIesta is personally sad for me - my first two cars were Mk2 Fiestas. I was saying to someone the other day that with the rise of the SUV, cars have become so homogenised and frankly boring. I hope that your prediction comes true and that SUVs disappear. And don't get me started on flat grey finishes - what's all that about? Buy a car costing tens of thousands of pounds and spec it in a paint job that looks like someone put primer on then got bored and gave up - I don't get it!
Just by coincidence im buying a mk1 Fiesta 1300 this week. Keeping the hot hatch alive 🙂
Good for you, but the Mk1 1300 was hardly 'hot'!
@@andyhowlett2231 Im sorry is not good for you, im going to enjoy it anyway.
@@johncoops6897 Again, Im sorry is not good for you, im going to enjoy it anyway.
Picking up my second fiesta on Saturday and can't wait. Love them. Would never have an SUV.
Exactly right. Also Ford has outpriced itself like they did with the Mondeo. A top spec focus ST is nearly £40k.
I totally agree that there is no reason to kill off the fiesta, and I just wonder that when SUV’s are no longer is favour, what are Ford going to do because then they have to most likely start all over again. On a side note, the ev puma was rumoured/announced many months ago now, so I had a feeling that something was going to happen, but I didn’t expect the death of the fiesta to be that thing!!
The original Ecosport did huge damage to Ford's reputation. They chose to sell this underdeveloped car as they'd nothing else for this growing market segment.
Reminds me of the CityRover debacle.
Another great video TC, Thanks. We have two Fiesta's in our household, both Diesel powered and these are belting cars. The end of a Era for Ford then dropping such an icon, lets hope it does not end up as the end of Ford.
Your points against SUVs are very similar to mine. I find my Passat estate more practical, more efficient than them and dare say more fun down a twisty road.
The SUV point is a major factor but the fiesta itself is also failing against other superminis too. I personally think that the fiesta is priced really high and doesn't match the quality of it's rivals of same or lower price.
A lot of SUV owners buy them simply to show off. Which mum/dad/grandparent has the best car when picking the kids up from school is very important
Excellent video and you raise a lot of interesting points. If Fiat and MINI managed to squeeze electric batteries on their 500 and MINI models, surely Ford could do the same too. Ford has been late to electric party compared to other brands and I wonder if this was intentional in order take advantage of platform sharing with other brands in the future. Ford has been always a champion in cost management and a Ford /VW joint venture isn’t a new thing and they did that in the early 90’s when the mk1 Ford Galaxy was almost a rebadged VW Sharan. Only just a few months ago they released the facelift Focus and Fiesta so this decision to now kill the Fiesta is odd indeed. That leaves more room for Renault, Citroen and Opel.
On another note, when I was in Portugal in the summer, the trend of SUVs was far less noticeable than here in the Uk. People still love their estates there!
Portuguese here. The problem is that there aren't affordable small estates anymore. The Clio, the SEAT Ibiza and the Skoda Fabia were the last of them. The SUV plague killed this segment 😪😪😪
We’re a family of 4. Two kids, the Mrs and myself. I’ve only ever driven a Ford Focus followed by an Astra and even when the kids were little and needed prams and kid seats, we never struggled for practicality in either cars.
The SUV bubble is going to burst. Is has to. There's simply no way the craze ban be sustained, and at the moment, it seems to be running on circular logic: people are buying SUVs because people want SUVs. Let's give them SUVs! But it's a ridiculous idea to keep on betting on them, especially at the expense of normal, more fuel-efficient cars.
I would have thought the Captur was more of a jacked up Clio than a Megane? Kind of like Juke vs Micra (probably all four built on the same platform anyway)
Yep that’s right, same platform as a Sandero too
I had the last model fiesta, a 2016 car and I've got to say I was very underwhelmed by the build quality and the quality of the materials used in the interior. When compared to its rivals it did seem to be a lesser quality product and if that was reflected across the range it may explain Ford's decreasing place in the sales charts. Another great video by the way you really are starting to lead the way in both content and quality. Keep it up.
I'm not sure ford ever got anywhere with quality. Not in the fiesta or the focus at least. The focus mk2 was a lot more solid than previous ford's. But loads of hard grey plastic. Then the mk3 bits would almost fall of and the mk4 isn't even worth considering now. Overall it offers nothing really over the competition. I think the mondeo mk4.5 and mk5 improved a little on internal quality over previous ford's. But the mk5 mondeo was by then pricing itself out of the market
I have the 2015 FiST and I must agree regarding the build quality. I purchased it as new in late 2016 and because I have a very short commute the car only has 16k on the odometer as of now. Because of this and in spite of the build quality, I’m satisfied with the performance and handling. I’ll be hanging onto it. I got it at quite a bargain too.
That's the problem with the Fiesta now. Competitors have quietly crept up on it and improved on the comfort and general quality. The design is also beginning to look a little tired and stale.
Fords have always had poor interiors and poor dealer service. VAG cars are much better quality
I had the red black edition, i was just surprised how much it rattled and crashed over bumps and its general lack of refinement. Also the dealer servicing wasn't worth the additional costs compared to taking it to a trusted local garage. Perhaps Ford have just taken their eye off the ball somewhat whereas the newer companies like Kia and Hyandai have just moved the game on for what you should expect from a reasonable priced car.
Loved your video (as a former two Metro owner myself, I follow your channel) and agree 100% with you on craziness of people’s insatiable lust for SUVs, and why (if not for eco, then for the other reasons you describe), people will have to wean themselves off their addiction for these overly heavy (imagine one of these 3 ton behemoths crashing into a Corsa!) fuel guzzlers. Heavier the car, bigger the batteries needed and resulting runaway in weight (destroying our fragile, barely filled pothole ridden roads)! Talked to a friend recently who works in Ford’s commercial division, and they are doing better than ever - sales of pick-up trucks and vans has shot through the roof (the pandemic saw a huge increase in van sales due to increased on-line deliveries), and maybe that’s where Ford is concentrating - commercials. Maybe they eventually sell off the passenger division to A.N. Other (VW?)? Also, whilst Governments are brainwashing us into believing that electric (as a mandatory single point solution) is inevitable, hopefully more open-minded people can see that hydrogen and synthetic fuels will HAVE to be part of the (future) mix - there’s simply not enough lithium (or other resources) in the world to have solely electric powered transportation options.
Here in Australia the new (Australian designed) Ford Ranger pickup is going gangbusters. It's currently outselling the Hi-Lux.
Agree regarding strange treatment of alternative fuel; complaining about carbon emissions whilst ignoring the carbon capturing source...& unresolved/variable electrical power source.
They already made a big mistake cutting off the Fiesta, and they're going to make a HUGE mistake if they actually do cut off the Focus.
Ford where is your mind?
I love my mkI Focus.
Looks like I may have to preserve it like treasure
I really like the way you remorselessly slap down SUVs. I had the misfortune of having a Qashqow as a hire car a few years ago, and it was horrible to drive - wallowy in the corners with all the handling and poise of a damp sponge, the ride was no more comfortable than in a normal car, obviously the fuel economy was worse, and the boot was pitifully small for a car of that footprint.
The only three _good_ reasons I can think of for getting an SUV are:
🚙 If you genuinely need off-road capabilities ... very rare!
🚙 If you need to be able to tow a weighty trailer, caravan or horsebox then an SUV might have an advantage over a car.
🚙 Some people with limited mobility find it easier to get in and out of an SUV than a car because it is at the right height.
That must cover, what, about 3 or 4% of the SUVs on the road? Get rid of the rest!
On the third point, my wife has limited mobility and can't use a CashCow because it's too high off the ground!
You may not notice it but the suspension is jacked a bit high in SUVs and you actually have to raise yourself up a bit getting in and out.
For a person with limited mobility this is not ideal, you need the seat at a good height.
Her last car was a Peugeot 1007 and it had a perfect driving position for her, hard to get something to replace it with.
@@johncoops6897 Very true. But sometimes the thing about towing is not just having a powerful vehicle, but having a *heavy* vehicle, so that it controls the trailer rather than the other way round!
@@johncoops6897 even worse so, they usually have tiny turbo 3 or 4 bangers sending that power through CVTs and the front wheels whole also having barely if any ground clearance advantage
Firstly, what the hell is a Sports Utility Vehicle anyway? Is it a builder's truck that you can somehow use as a race car come the weekend? Well no, it's just marketing hype to make gullible people believe that they somehow have a "rugged" and "sporty" lifestyle. Secondly, I once had a first generation Renault Scenic, which had masses of interior space and storage compared to a comparable SUV; in fact, if it hadn't had horrible handling (could have been easily fixed by Renault), it would have been one of my all time favourite vehicles, being brilliant at just about any task you could throw at it. And I've been amazed at the tiny boot space of some very large SUVs I've encountered recently; they all seem to be competing in a race to produce the least interior space in comparison with the exterior size. Now, car design needs to change to accommodate the electric future, but I'm convinced that in twenty year's time we'll be looking back on SUVs in the same way we now view flared trousers - a ridiculous relic of a ridiculous past. Finally, respect for the way you have evolved your videos from a quick look at older cars (well researched though), to a more serious journalistic style. Just please don't abandon the former.
The reason Fiesta sales slumped after 2020 is they couldn’t make the cars for a good 6 months to a year. My mk8 ST went up 5K from when I bought it.
I disagree with you on SUVs being worse to drive, they are very peasant to drive if you are not a boy racer, they perfectly suit people with mobility issues because of the more upright driving position, they are easier to get in and out because they not so low to the ground, they are also better for people living in rural areas, the better ground clearance means they can easily get down unmade roads and tracks without needing to own a 4x4
Great video! I learned to drive in a Fiesta Classic from 1995 - it had massive travel in the clutch so I stalled a ton of times in my lessons but it was a great car. As I watch this, I can see history repeating itself a bit. Small cars became popular in the 70s because of high gas prices - history could repeat itself with SUVs. The infrastructure for EVs still isn't there yet but it's a shame if Ford experience a Kodak moment by not innovating quickly enough. They also killed the Mondeo which was a great car. Just as much practicality as an SUV and probably more economical.
Funny how people are buying bigger cars but families are getting smaller. Estates are better than SUVs 99% of the time.
This is one of the best videos you have put out. Thank you
Sounds like an excellent time to buy a good Fiesta now it's so impopular.
Fiestas drive wonderfully in my experience.
I only got my driving licence on 09.11.2021 and since 01.11.2022 I have a new job for which I will drive 16,000 km a year.
There is no scenario in my mind where getting an SUV is an option in the future, no matter the power-train.... I have such a massive aversion to these cars. I am currently driving a VW up! with 60 hp, very solid car with relatively high seating position and so beautifully simple. If I had the money now, my first choice would be a Mazda MX-5 ND.... I love Mazda and if I were to buy a car right now, it would at least have to be fun.
Bought Ford Fiesta Active 2021 last year, it is a great car, I can’t complain. Love it! ❤
The Fiesta is very popular within the teens community here in the States and popular with all walks of life through the years. My parents had a Fiesta back in the early 90's and man I tell you, their reliable autos that can go well over 150K if taking care of responsibly. I never was a fan of any SUV's despite of growing popularity.
My friend had one in high school. Super uncomfortable. It was definitely not designed for real passengers. I must have been 130 pounds and 5'8 at the time.
Also other than him camr really say many teens got a Fiesta. They topped the most dangerous car list. I doubt many parents would buy such a car for their children.
Ford will launch 7 new electric vehicles by 2024 so I think they know what they are doing. Yes, I am very sad to see the Fiesta go as it was my first car and have an emotional attachment to it.
7 "new" electric vehicles. Too bad for Ford, nobody will buy them. That's unfortunate.
@@julosx Exactly this. They are killing off the cars we love to drive and have embedded themselves into culture itself.
The Fiesta, with a manual, is one of the best cars from Ford. It's a real shame to see it not being offered in the future. Because I'd buy another.
One aspect though is that people don't buy cars with logic. Otherwise they'd buy MPV's rather than SUV's
Don't forget the death of The Mondeo. I for one will mourn it's passing
I will not. Had one, fell apart after 5 years, replaced it with a Focus which also had build quality issues after barely 3 years (admittedly this was in 1990s). Replaced the Focus with a Mazda 6 when I had kids which was just a better made car in every way than either Ford and when that started to show its age after 10 years, replaced it with a Skoda which tramples the Mondeo into the dust - cheaper to buy, better build quality, more reliable, cheaper to maintain etc
@@justinstephenson9360 later Mondeos were much better
I can never understand how over many decades it’s been a race to make vehicles more economical... engines are now more efficient so then the answer is to make vehicles larger and heavier... so back to square one? Got to keep the oil barrons happy before all vehicles are electric I guess?
Well done an excellent account of why Ford has discontinued the Fiesta. I was shocked when I heard on the radio last week the sad news.
There dying because big corporations are greedy and 90% of new car buying people are idiots. Such a shame. I weep for future automotive enthusiasts. Ford and many other brands want to produce a global product. however 'normal' peoples car needs vary so much that a global product is irrelevant. A large SUV fits in the US or other larger countrys not in the UK. Look at any supermarket carpark many modern day suv/crossover barely fits in car parking spaces.Great video bud , much love
Interesting take. I must admit I have always been a fan of Dagenham dustbins. Mt first car was a MkI Cortina, and had a couple of Escort company cars. I also had a diesel Focus (now my son's) which has now done well over 200 000 miles. Not sure how their electric vehicles are going to stack up against the Chinese though...
The cost to build a small car is not much different to a big car like an SUV but a customer will pay a lot more for a big car. Volume of sales of cars is also rarely linked to the profitability of a vehicle but more associated to the original capacity that was installed. It is sad to see the Fiesta go but as someone has mentioned there are 40 years worth of them to keep going and restore when us normal folk wont be able to afford a BEV or the electricity or road tax which will almost certainly end up based on weight.
Absolutely agree, Ford have been left for dead in the EV race. It's ironic that they did actually produce an electric Focus (albeit only in the US, as a compliance car). My partner has a 2013 Fiesta that she loves - and she'd like to replace it with an electric Fiesta; she doesn't want a bigger car. But, alas, this 20 year Ford customer will be obliged to buy another brand...
Ford did produce an electric Focus but it had a measly 85 mile range
Really interesting analysis Ed and I can't find fault with much of what you said.
Many thanks.
In my opinion Ford took a great step back with the bland looking Mk8 Fiesta as it's just grown into any other euro car. I think the Mk7 was a far more exciting looking car from every angle. I'm sure the disastrous stories about the Ecoboost engine won't have helped sales either and I hear that the gearboxes can present problems too. All this would deter me from changing my Mk7 Fiesta now. There are numerous issues with electric cars and I certainly won't be pushed into buying one, maybe Ford don't have the confidence in them either. Just take a look at the 60's and 70's exciting range of Fords and see where they have now gone wrong.
I remember Gordon Brown as Chancellor, trying to get us to drive smaller cars by cutting road tax for them.
Today, we have bloated, fugly lumps of metal clogging up the roads, which all look the same.
Modern cars suck ; no individuality, character, too complicated and the reliability is questionable.
Never mind, you'll be walking and cycling everywhere within the next few years....
I'm anti-green, by the way.
Is it also the eco boost engine probs.
Estate car beats an SUV every time for practicality...BUT I'm a 76 year old retired car sparks, carpal tunnel both wrists, osteoarthritis both knees, an SUV would suit me better.
manufacturers, including ford, are purposely pushing SUV's/4WD's. Not only can they attach a larger profit margin, after sales service costs & repairs are through the roof. $500-$1,000 for a standard service is normal. They're also designed with cheap parts that break down, particularly timing chains that need to be replaced at a certain mileage. Unsurprisingly, this is just outside the warranty period, thus allowing them to sell extended warranties.
Its so sad they have got rid of this car. Unfortunately the new cars coming out have put me off buying a new car as they have just become a silly tech fest with complex electricals that fail more than the engine does or are just as you said SUV's that are designed for the road only. Even certain Land Rover models don't meet the desirable lists for me now. I would rather spend a lot of money on a older classic car now.
I have always been "let people buy what they want," car, truck, suv, hatch or whatever. If somebody wants a EV, that's fine, if they want a ICE that also fine. When I visit family in Texas it's a 1,415-mile 25 hour non-stop drive- - - -gas coffee go gas coffee go, a EV would take HOURS longer because of charging. Also, where I live on hot days the power company says "don't charge your EV and set your A/C to 80 deg F." For me I would never buy a SUV, I need a truck for work and dirt biking (and going to Texas.) Over here were waiting for the "Big Red Wave" next Tuesday. Another great watch from Twin-Cam.....
We want fiestas
We have a VW T-Cross, mainly for easy access as we are retired and find it difficult to get into 'normal' cars. Our VW is two wheel drive with an economical 1ltr, three cylinder engine. You suggest a Honda Jazz as a non-SUV alternative but if this has a similar seating/access provision then I don't see any benefit, just a different body shape. At what point does a car design change from small estate to SUV?
Excellent video. Ford’s decline in the European car market has been quite rapid and it’s not that long ago it used to set the benchmark in each sector. Now it’s in danger of being an also ran.
I would add the caveat that in 2020, with the global chip shortage, Ford made the strongly commercial decision to prioritise commercial vehicle production, where it’s probably still market leader. To be fair, there was method in Ford’s madness there as the new car market collapsed at that stage. But I don’t feel that can be used as a genuine excuse anymore.
Ford does seem have made some curious decisions of late surrounding it’s cars. I feel it’s very much led by its North American operations where it’s killed off all its cars bar the Mustang. That might make sense in that market but it makes no sense in other markets such as Europe. As you mentioned in your video, I don’t understand why they don’t bring out electrified versions of their current models, even to tide them over. It’s decision to kill off the Mondeo and not even bring out something even SUV based to take its place baffles me - something Citroen have done with the C5X. The biggest Ford passenger car - Mustang excluded - you can now buy in Europe is probably the Focus estate. I know you can technically get things like the Transit Toureno but they’re technically adapted vans. It must be promising it’s dealers a lot as they’re rapidly running out of cars to sell. They need new models and soon.
I went past TC Harrison Ford dealer in Huntingdon a couple of months ago & they only had a few cars on the forecourt none inside showroom haven’t seen anything like that for a while
As of today the biggest Ford passenger car is the Kuga, not the Focus estate.
@@julosx - the Focus Estate is marginally longer than the Kuga. So it takes up more road space.
We had a 2009 Fiesta Style+ and that was a great car. In recent years we've looked again at Fiestas but we found no real improvements over our last one. We chose a 67 reg Bmax over a 17 reg Fiesta (saved nearly £800 and half the mileage). Looked at a Powershift Fiesta, that was rubbish and I spent most of the test drive using it in manual mode. Then we recently looked at a 2014 Fiesta for a second car, and went for a 2014 Fabia. The Fiesta just looked old in comparisson, Ford seemed to sit back on its' past history.
The mk8 fiesta wasn’t a big leap from the old model
I do think the Fiesta was always a sorted cheap car. Mass produced so they were pretty sorted. And Ford so parts were cheap and available but they’re recently not that budget anymore. Perfect in the 70s and 80s when they were first cars and could be maintained yourself cheaply with parts from a shop within a mile from your house. Those days are gone and there is a weird mix of us wanting to own cars for longer as they last longer at the same time as being able to change every 2 or 3 years because they are more of a commodity.
Had a 08 Ford Focus for years good reliable car but was thirsty 1.6 petrol and it was £220 a year rd tax. Took the plunge last year and swapped it for a Kia ceed 1.6 CRDI 14 plate, absolutely brilliant car, great on fuel, zero rd tax, pay around £100 less a year on insurance. Just great all round. SUVs don’t do it for me full stop, never seen the like for them. I think hybrids are the way forward, electric I just think we’re not quite ready for it yet, we don’t have the infrastructure for it all yet, but that’s Just my opinion
@@johncoops6897 here in the UK you pay a yearly or 6month tax rate called road fund licence, it goes on the age and the emissions that the car gives off. The Ford Focus I had was over ten years old and the emissions or hydrocarbons it gave off warranted a higher tax-road fund licence therefore it was £220 per year I had to pay for its road fund licence. The Kia I have now is a diesel 1.6 with a fitted DPF which almost completely eliminates any emissions given by the car, no emissions no road fund needed to pay or it’s in a cheaper bracket with cheaper road fund licence. If that makes sense
@@vaux_wolf4281 The newer focuses are around £30 a year to tax. Unfortunately the 2008 focus was high polluting and higher to tax
@@matthewsmith2787 sure was 😂
@@johncoops6897 I looked at newer fords but wasn’t happy with their reliability, the Kia was a good fit 👍
The swap to SUVs has come thanks to legislation on seat belts and the availability of parking aids. Have a look at the cars delivering kids to school. I had a couple of Fiestas and loved them. Another great report.
Sad really. I've already started researching other marques in preparation for my next purchase...and it won't be an SUV. I don't think Ford have an interest in the European market anymore.
After hearing this news I am absolutely devastated . I grew up around Ford especially the Mondeo and Focus like. I have a Focus now but now im not sure what to do for my next car. I really wanted a Focus ST3 MK3 2015 but now im unsure what to do.
As usual, Ed, you nailed it in terms of the ultimate demise of ugly SUVs due to a dramatically changing climate and economic world we are currently ruining! It takes balls to tackle such a topic where mighty Ford is concerned, but you displayed big ones! Well done. Let's hope the industry wakes up to the truth. Rob,
Interesting as Ford is one of the few well established car manufacturers that has never gone bankrupt!
I don't get the point of an SUV either. Need a practical car, get an estate or an MPV. Need a car easy for mobility limited people, then like you say get a Honda Jazz or something similar. Like my new (to me) 2009 Suzuki Swift. My mother has sciatica and arthritis, but finds the Swift relatively easy to get in and out of.
Another great video buddy, you are a natural at this presenting lark
Very informative video, very intelligent young man 😊
Here in the US, Ford has discontinued all cars, except the Mustang. SUV's and "no d**k" trucks dominate here
I have a similar view on the SUV/crossover topic
Had a talk with my father
"A friend of mine drives an Audi Q5"
"So?"
"Its so comfy"
"Not really compared to a regular A5"
"But its still comfy and its got a big boot!"
"Not really, the sportback version actually has more space AND is lighter. Also more fuel efficient with the same engine"
"But its higher up and has better ground clearance"
"Does your friend EVER even drive on dirt roads or sth similar?"
"I don't think so..."
"Then why would he need it? Its also not all that much. Like 5-10cm at most extra clearance. Thats also worse for handling, especially in critical situations"
"Okay okay. Got it. It stil a nice car"
"If he likes it, good for him. Not an option i would ever consider.
One exception would be if it had all wheel drive and i was traveling on snowy mountains very frequently. And even then i would just go for the alroad version"
I’ve owned 2 Focus and now drive a 2018 Fiesta, great little car. It seems to me that Ford have pretty much given up on cars in Europe and prefer to put their efforts into vans and light commercial vehicles (better profit margins?). It wouldn’t surprise me if Ford Europe Cars eventually becomes part of the VW group.
As an American, I am continually amazed to find that Ford seems to have a much better reputation in the UK than it does in the United States. Perhaps less so recently.
The difference is that they’re essentially two different companies. Very few Ford cars have ever been shared between the US and Europe.
Plus, a lot of British and German people see Ford as being British or German, because they had design and production centres in both those countries.
Many of Britain’s most successful Fords, for example, were designed and built in Britain, and apart from the Ranger and Mustang, all Fords sold in Europe are German designed now.
@@TwinCam two separate companies? If you enjoy believing that you can. There were two vehicles that were absolutely shared between Europe and North America. Can you guess what they were? The focus starting in 1999 and the fiesta that showed up soon after that. The focus broke the record for the most number of safety recalls for one model. The fiesta was an uncomfortable, loud little car that people bought only when they had no other option. Or they didn't know where to find a Japanese car dealership. Fiesta ST was an exception. But there weren't many of those. And of course, the powershift transmission was also sold in the United States. You didn't mention that. How much of a disaster that was, and what it did to Ford's reputation. it was much less of a surprise in the United States.
Hate the SUV - as people say they want to go green and energy efficient, why are they buying increasingly bigger less energy efficient designs? Even if they buy an EV version of the car, its a lot of virtue signalling as a small efficient car would be far better for the environment.
An ev fiesta would be great
My parents had a 2015 tourneo courier 1.0 ecoboost (fiesta courier van with back seats) after two years the whole front suspension had to be replaced which apparantly didn't fall under warranty. It was way too small even for a 3 person family. The back seat felt like a plank with upholstery. The front seats started sagging after only months of use. And then it got the infamous ecoboost cylinder wall crack which luckily did get replaced under warranty. But we were tired of it's shenanigans and they traded it in for a Renault Kadjar which felt like we had moved on decades in car engineering.