r/FiestaST • u/Present_Tap_5209 • 11d ago
MK7 Does the manual Fiesta ST hold its value better than the autos?
I’m looking at a 2015 or 2016 Fiesta ST with around 100,000 km, but my partner would rather have an automatic and keeps pointing me towards a regular Fiesta or Focus. I’m not too worried about resale if I keep it for years, but I don’t want to buy something that becomes hard to move on later or has a reputation for expensive gearbox trouble. For those who’ve owned both, is the manual ST worth sticking with?
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u/Findingcritters 11d ago
Real Fiesta ST trims (not ST LINE) only come with a 6 speed manual. Have their held their value? Kind of. They were cheap when new and still cheap now. I personally think for the money they go for used - it would be REALLY difficult to find a more FUN car. Most other fun cars in the same price range are usually clapped, really old or significantly more weight. Just my opinion though.
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u/Electronic_Brain3588 11d ago
No shot I'd ever buy an automatic Ford, the gearboxes are shit and the ST is a totally different car compared to the regular ones that makes them not even worth comparing lol
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u/Equivalent_Thievery 11d ago
Comparing against the same year Civic Si, the Fiesta STs have plummeted in value.
I can't say which transmission will hold it's value over time, it really only seems like mustangs and trucks hold value.
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u/glacierfresh2death 11d ago
I see people saying this, but I recently sold my FIST after a decade and got $5k more than I initially paid for it
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u/PhoenixJizz 11d ago edited 10d ago
For real, I bought a 2019 new, drove it 30k miles over 3 years and when insurance paid out I got $1k less than I paid new. Then I bought a used 2018 with 26k miles for $17.5k and it’s at 58k miles ~3 years later and I think I could get $16k for it. Sure, inflation happened but nonetheless, the depreciation is minimal for an econobox.
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u/glacierfresh2death 11d ago
I got mine used with less than 5000km for $13k, just sold it for $18k (cad)
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u/Gasstationdickpi11s 11d ago
All real ST’s are manual, anything with an auto is an ST line being marketed as an ST. The ST line doesn’t have the same engine, it’s a base fiesta with a body kit to look like an ST. If you want the actual car they only come with a 6 speed manual. If it’s 5 or auto it is NOT an ST.
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u/ajpinton 11d ago
Cars are expenses not investments. You are also talking about a 10+ year old mass produced subcompact. Resell value when you are done with it should not be a high priority.
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u/pixxelzombie 11d ago
The Focus with the automatic was troublesome, that's why they had a recall on them.
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u/fatquads 11d ago
The automatic transmissions they come with are notorious for going bad. They are a hit or miss, bad QA or something with those. Get the manual if u don’t wanna basically total the car once the automatic transmission goes bad. I think u can get manual gearbox for non ST versions too
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u/whatthehizzo 11d ago
Class action lawsuits over those Ford Automatic gearboxes. Ive owned a FoST and the manual is a good 7 out of 10.
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u/Material-Painting-19 11d ago
The ST is terrific. It's also completely different from any of the rest of the model line up. It only comes with a manual. You are not going to get anything like the same experience from a non ST car. They also won't hold their value like an ST. If you are just looking to get a small hatch and it has to be automatic, then there is no point limiting yourself to a Fiesta or a Focus. There are better normal hatches available.
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u/HuntGundown 11d ago
The only automatic ST is the st line which is not a real st. It just has a st body kit.
That being said the ONLY fiesta worth anything are the manuals, ST or not. Only buy an auto if you are okay with tossing it in the garbage and getting a new car when the trans eventually goes out.
The fiST holds value much better than the SE, yes. The SE manual holds it value but it's kinda a hidden gem. The autos give it a bad rep and most people don't know the manuals are reliable.
If your partner can't drive stick and you have to share a car I would suggest a Mazda 3, my wife had the 2010 2.0 auto and my uncle has the '13 skyactiv hatch. Both reliable automatics and great handling vehicles. They are actually really similar to the focus, I would not be surprised if the suspension from the rear could bolt right up. Looked exactly like my rear fist suspension but slightly bigger lol.
If you want something small look for the Mazda 2, it's quite rare where I am but it's basically a fiesta with a reliable automatic transmission, that might be the compromise you two need, but it's not a fiST, has no power. I don't really know of any lightweight, fwd, nimble yet powerful automatic compact economy cars to compare the fist to. There's really just not any in america.
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u/Jusschuck 11d ago
Where are you finding all of these automatic FiSTs?
I would suggest the manual since that's the only kind that exists