I was a college student in the early 1980s and  got around campus and to my part-time and summer jobs in a Pontiac Firebird .  As Ronnie & The Daytonas sang …

"Three deuces and a four-speed and a 389
Listen to her tachin' up now, listen to her why-ee-eye-ine..."

( My Firebird had a 400 cubic inch engine, not a 389 like the song's Pontiac GTO.  Four-hundred doesn’t rhyme with why-ee-eye-ine,  same idea though… It was a big thundering muscle car. )

Then I spent some time with IT Communications filming a short video for ITCN about the Fiesta. We took some footage driving around the Ford campus, of the interior, exterior and the roomy trunk. Everywhere we went people came up to take a peek at the car.

Friday evening, my friend Karen and I traveled to Northern Michigan in the car. Our first stop was Wendy's in Brighton. There a bunch of young lads in a Ford F-150 gathered around the car out in the parking lot – cell phone pictures again. We stopped in two rest areas on the way up and at both stops people came up and asked; "What kind of car is that?", "When will it be available here?" and, of course there were more pictures with cell phones. We made the trip to Kalkaska on half a tank of gas. Amazing!!!  The drive up was an unexpected pleasure. The Fiesta handled fantastic and was very comfortable. The interior is surprisingly roomy for a small car.

Friday night we attended a small party at the Pardo's (Kim works at Ford) on Manistee Lake. It was raining like crazy when we arrived. We parked right by the door and ran in. The first thing people said; Wow that is a really wild color. Next question; "What kind of car is that?" Then surprise, then lots of questions about the car! No one wanted to venture out in the rain to look at the car – but there was admiration from the door and lots of confirmation that Ford Motor Company is on the right track.

Stephani Cronenwett. Administrative Assistant, Digital Innovation

Being selected to participate in the Fiesta Employee Experience is an honor and a brilliant way to showcase the Fiesta.  On the day I picked up my sleek, shiny black Fiesta at WHQ my daughter came down from her WHQ office to meet me there and was the first to chauffeur me around.  She was impressed with how easy it is to drive and how on the inside it feels so much larger than a small car.  Within minutes we were both exploring the great new features of the Fiesta.  We love that the door lock button is on the center tower, no more getting it confused with the window controls.  That feature, combined with being able to lock/unlock the car with a tiny lock/unlock button on the door handle without having to fumble through your purse or pockets for the key fob is such a convenience and a great safety feature.  The push button start delighted not just us but everyone who sat in the Fiesta.   

Back at the office, my boss who stands 6'4" took time out of his busy day to take the Fiesta for a drive around the R&E campus with me.  I advised him to push the seat back before he tried getting in as I am over a foot shorter than him.  From outside the car he pushed the seat all the way back but still had to pull it forward a couple of notches once he sat down.  That same day another 6' person pushed the seat all the way back before getting in and I was tickled to see someone of his height actually sitting there with his feet unable to reach the pedals!!   

On my way home I met up with one my favorite racecar drivers at the Flat Rock Speedway, my husband Steve.  Steve has been a long-time competitor there and our son, Steve Jr. also drives and wins races in a Ford Fusion racecar.  I've cheered my drivers on for decades but I've never had the opportunity to drive on the racetrack until this day and what better vehicle to take my first laps in than the award winning, European Ford Fiesta.  The Fiesta's road gripping suspension was evident as I drove around the quarter mile oval track at just over 45 mph.  Steve warned me not to go any faster but I have no doubt the car would've taken to the banking at higher speeds with ease and comfort.  It's a very peppy ride!

I drove the Fiesta to my golf league on Thursday.  It drew a large crowd in the golf course parking lot.  All my friends gave it the once-over and had great things to say about it.  Here are some of their comments:  "The black paint is awesome; it's so shiny and metallic."  "It's easier for me to get out of this car than any other small car I've ever been in. I don't feel like I have to push up from the ground to get out."  "I hope they offer chrome wheels when I order my Fiesta." "This Fiesta is a car I definitely plan to buy."

On Saturday I put the Fiesta on display at Flat Rock Speedway as a huge crowd packed the grandstands.  Race fans swarmed the Fiesta all evening; they were enthusiastic and said great things about it.  They took all the literature I had on the vehicle home with them.  A couple of fellow Ford employees walked by and I overheard them talking proudly to others about the Fiesta. 

Each day I had the Fiesta we drove it to stores and restaurants and had fun communicating with potential customers who were checking out the new Ford.  At the car wash an employee told me they were all asking each other what kind of car it was as I drove into their parking lot.  They were eager to be the first to wash and hand dry a car they'd never seen before and were genuinely happy it was a Ford.  As the spray of the car wash hit the windshield, I experienced yet another neat feature on the Fiesta, the automatic wipers came on.  It's so much fun to drive the Fiesta!!  

I'm glad I had the unique opportunity to help market this remarkable car.  We should use the Employee Experience to market all of our great new products! 

Click here to view photos:  www.stevejrracing.com/moms_fiesta_experience

Shirley Gardner, Human Resources

MY FIESTA STORY – THE ROAD TO PHILADELPHIA

My story began with the purchase of a 1979 silver Fiesta as I began my second year as a Ford employee at the Mt. Clemens Vinyl Plant.  I will always remember my Fiesta because it was my first experience driving a manual transmission.

My favorite memory was the trip home from the hospital after the birth of our son, Drew, in 1981.  Little did I know then that the Fiesta would re-enter my life 30 years later.  It took only a few hours of browsing though years of family photos to find a picture of the ’79 Fiesta in the driveway of my first home and one with me pushing baby Drew in a stroller with the Fiesta in our garage.  

The opportunity to take the new Fiesta for five days would give me a chance to re-introduce my son to his “first car.”  Off we go on our road trip to Philadelphia – The City of Brotherly Love.

Before my husband, Al, and I left the driveway, our neighbor, Craig Burres, pulled up behind us to get a look.  His 6’4” frame fit easily into the driver seat.  We packed the car and began our first stops around the Detroit Metropolitan area.

Ford Product Development Human Resources- Dearborn, Mich.

As a member of the Personnel & Organization HR team, my primary customer is Product Development.  The first stop was to visit Steve Dulieu, PD HR director, and members of his HR team.  Their energy for the Fiesta began the buzz we experienced throughout our trip.  Several people hopped in and took a spirited test drive around the pond in front of the Design Center.  From Steve, we captured words of inspiration for our trip and were on our way.

Bill Brown Ford – Livonia, Mich.

Part of the excitement in having a new vehicle is sharing it with people in the dealer network who are Ford’s face to the customer.  At Bill Brown Ford, salespeople, technicians, managers and staff poured out of the country’s #1 Ford dealership with great enthusiasm.  They opened the doors, looked under the hood and analyzed the trunk for storage capacity.   Several salespeople looked at the car with customers in mind who are planning their transportation needs.  One with a small business requires larger storage space so I suggested the new Transit as a better alternative.  Three dealership employees wanted a drive so we took it for a spin on I-96 to see what it could do.   They raved about the handling and generous headroom for tall people in the back seat.  One of the employees is convinced he will buy a Fiesta next year.

Avis Ford, Southfield, Mich.

An announcement on the dealership speaker system told managers, salespeople and customers to go outside and see the new Ford Fiesta.  Salespeople said, “We can sell this, it will be a hit.”  They were happy to see the vehicle in advance and excited about having it in the Ford lineup of vehicles to sell.  We wrapped up our Avis visit with a test drive by Mark Douglas, president of Avis Ford. Like his team, Mark was impressed with the vehicle’s handling and its features.

Manufacturing Technology Mutual Insurance Company, Farmington Hills, Mich.

Gary Wood, COO, is a car enthusiast!  We stopped by to let him test drive the Fiesta and present the vehicles to other members of his staff.  Gary found the brakes very responsive and clutch and gear shifting “like-new” even with 11,000 miles.  Everything felt right.  Gary commented that the alignment of the windshield to the driver position provided a real sense of crash protection.  Initially Gary found the color striking, but after the test drive he agreed he could get used to it.

DeSERANNO Wealth Management, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.

We stopped to pick up Don DeSeranno, chairman and CEO, for a drive but he had a better idea.   We traveled downtown to display the Fiesta in the “Racing for Kids” venue.  This is a charitable event showcasing motor sports to encourage people to give donations for children’s health care.   We parked the bright green Fiesta among the hot racecars including the Mustang GT 40 and other high-performance vehicles.  The Fiesta drew attention from children to grandparents.  One of the car buffs pointed to the cool front lights.  I quoted Derrick Kuzak by saying the lights are the jewelry of the vehicle and got a big “thumbs up!”  The Fiesta was a BIG HIT!

The Road to Philadelphia

Along the way, many stared with amazement from their car window as we cruised along the Ohio and Pennsylvania turnpikes.  Travelers at the toll plazas were shy in approaching the vehicle when parked.  Most appeared focused on getting to their destination.  In Ohio, a spouse of a Ford employee stopped to get a closer look at the Fiesta.  He and his friend were excited to see the car. As night approached, the lighted dashboard display and the smooth sounds from the radio kept us alert until we parked the car for the night. The next morning, I started the car and the windshield rain-sensitive wipers worked aggressively to clear the early morning moisture.

Philadelphia – The City of Brotherly Love

We rolled into Philadelphia and found ourselves in the middle of move-in weekend at the University of Pennsylvania.  University City was filled with bumper-to-bumper traffic of tearful parents and anxious students.  My son Drew is on the staff at the university so we pulled into a great parking space in front of his office to park the car while we traveled on foot across campus for lunch.  If only the car could talk and tell us about the stops and stares it received by faculty and students curious about this sub-compact sandwiched between the BMWs and luxury trucks.

After lunch, Al and I made a trip to King of Prussia, Philadelphia’s premier mall, to get reaction from people away from campus. A Mini Cooper driver asked about a diesel version.  When told that while not a diesel we were averaging over 40 mpg, he responded, “That will work!”  One woman wearing a bright green blouse told us how much she loved the Squeeze Green color.  As we walked from the stores into an endless parking lot, we had no trouble finding the Fiesta in its space because of its vibrant color.  From the comments we quickly assessed that the color worked for most people. 

Later that evening, we arrived at the beautiful Lowes Hotel in downtown Philadelphia.  The valet company was very cooperative in helping us stick to the guidelines of the program in handling the Fiesta.  We were given a prime VIP parking spot in a highly visible place under close supervision of the valet team.  I watched with pride as the Fiesta captured the same attention from people passing by as the Bentley in the adjoining parking spot.  The valet manager eagerly posed for a photo with the Fiesta.

Friday morning people were asking about the Fiesta Movement and whether Ford was giving a car away as part of the promotion.  (Something to consider!)  We returned to University City, home of the University of Pennsylvania, to pick up Drew and Amber, our honorary Fiesta agents for the day.  A man approached us and talked about how he had seen the car around campus and was glad to now get a closer look.  He was aware that the Fiesta was coming back to America and plans to consider purchasing next year for his wife. 

The Fiesta zipped through the downtown streets making stops at Love Park and The Philadelphia Museum of Art before returning to park in the high activity around the campus bookstore. General reaction was “cute car,” “roomy interior,” “love the color, but would like to see it offered in black or white.”  One student remarked that we should be able to save money on car insurance with this “caution” colored vehicle.  Several people we approached recently ordered diesel cars.  Some were just not interested in small cars.  Looks like the East coast will be a challenging market for us.

Gerald Alston “The Manhattans” - Jersey City, N.J.

Gerald is the lead singer for “The Manhattans.”  Those of you who appreciate “old school” music will remember hits like “Kiss and Say Goodbye” and “Shining Star” among their many classic recordings.  Gerald made a complimentary appearance at Ford’s Black History Month celebration earlier this year so we decided to swing through Jersey City to show the Fiesta.  We were delighted when Edna, Gerald’s wife, called all the neighbors to their home to see the car.  From teenagers eager to get their license to parents looking for a small car for their student away at school, people seemed to come from everywhere to get a peek at Ford’s new offering.  It was BIG FUN! 

Gerald made a test-drive and then decided to give us a personal commercial endorsement. 

As we said goodbye and began the long trip back to Michigan, we reflected on the wonderful 1,500-mile trip.  We consider ourselves very fortunate to be given a chance to show the best of Ford to thousands of people in America.

Check out the YouTube video!

---

Sandra L. Richards, Manufacturing Engineering, Core New Programs Launch Analyst

I had the time of my life!!

My Ford Fiesta experience started off similar to many of the other Ford employees who preceded me in that…YES!...the Fiesta certainly turned heads!  It was like a magnet – drawing people to take a closer look and ask questions!!  Everyone was impressed with the gas mileage (we averaged 46 mpg on the highway), the roominess of the trunk and the packaging under the hood!!!  And it was so much fun to drive!  An unexpected turn of events unfolded however...I started out with a green Fiesta and ended up with a black one!

Here's my story…

After I was notified that I was chosen to receive the Fiesta for five days, I started planning my experience to make the most of it.  I had 3 months to plan. I called both my daughters…Kelly who lives in Hollywood, Calif. and is one of the producers of The Daily 10 on the E! Entertainment network; and Tracy who lives in Chicago, Ill. and is a People Leadership Development Communications specialist for the Wrigley Company.  They were thrilled and both wanted to be a part of the experience. 

Plan A

My plan was to make a video…take pictures and video clips and put them all together to illustrate my experience.  Ok.  But how could I make it interesting?   Many sleepless nights were spent coming up with ideas and jotting them down as they came to me.  A few weeks later I had a plan.  I ran it by my daughters, asking them to critique it.  They both said, "You've got it, Mom.  I wouldn't change a thing."  Wow, really?

For my plan to work, I needed a picture of Alan Mulally holding a sign in front of the Fiesta.  I composed an e-mail, requesting 10 minutes of his time to pose for pictures on the day I'd be picking up the Fiesta at WHQ.  It took me a few minutes to compose the note, but it took me two weeks to click "Send."    His reply…"Love to support you…thank you…what fun!!"  How cool! My plan was in gear.  What a great beginning!

Signs were made.  Invitations to the Ford Fiesta Fiesta were sent.  Vacations were scheduled.  Kelly and her boyfriend, Steve, arrived in town in the wee hours of Aug. 12…the day my Fiesta experience began.   

My husband, Tom, Kelly and I arrived at WHQ at 10:30 a.m. to pick up the Fiesta.  It was the flashy green one! 

Pictures with Alan were at 11:30 a.m.  He was very warm and welcoming.  Karen Hampton, Integrated Communications director, and Amanda Zusman, Communications, helped coordinate the photo op and they accompanied Alan.  It was a great pleasure to meet them all and their support was very much appreciated. 

Plan B

A part of my Fiesta plan included a trip to Chicago, staying at Tracy's and her fiancé, Erik's place, and driving around town taking pics and video clips.  A month into my plan, Tracy was notified at work that she was chosen to attend an Accelerated Leadership Program in Colorado Springs the very same days we were planning to be in Chicago!  Ok.  Go to Plan B.  We'd still go to Chicago, but I'll scrap the video clips of Tracy that I had planned and she would fly directly to Michigan from Colorado for the Fiesta Fiesta on Saturday.    

Our road trip started on Thursday and included stops in Jackson, Kalamazoo and Gary, Ind.  Everyone we asked to have their picture taken with the Fiesta was so excited to be a part of it all!  No encouragement was needed.  As soon as we stopped, people would come up to us!  

Our first stop in Chicago was at the Velodrome in Northbrook, Ill. where Erik was in a cycling race (he came in 2^nd!)   It was dark by the time the races were over but that bright green Fiesta stood out like a little gem and many people were crowding around it, expressing their delight in seeing it for the first time and asking questions from all directions!  I felt like a celebrity, with the press shooting questions at me left and right.  How fun was that!!

Plan C

The rest of my time with the Fiesta was pretty much to plan.  The Fiesta Fiesta was a hit!  Friends and family were so excited about the styling, the trunk space, the interior, the gas mileage, the push-start ignition, etc. etc.  Friends who said they probably wouldn't have considered buying one were now rethinking that.  A Honda owner neighbor, who said he thought his car's manual transmission was the best, was thoroughly impressed with the Fiesta's M/T after test-driving it.

A BIG congrats to the" Drive one" Team for coming up with this idea to promote the Ford Fiesta!!  What better way to show off this terrific vehicle before it even hits the showrooms?  Engaging Ford employees who, in turn, plant the seed for future consumers…

Perfect! 

Thanks to everyone who made this experience possible!  I loved every moment, and I really DID have the time of my life.

I hope you enjoy my video…

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=62324019

Ky Nguyen, Body and Exterior Purchasing

 Murphy’s Law:

1. Defined by Webster’s dictionary – (n.) an observation: anything that can go wrong will go wrong

2. Defined by the Fiesta adventure – (n.) the summation of the below events:

 

A.    Encounter with Ford of Germany security

B.      Stalling in 1st gear after confirmation that I can handle standard shifting

C.      Dude, it’s not pink, it’s salmon.

D.      Leaving the wedding suit at the dry cleaners, in Michigan…the wedding was in Boston

E.      Getting hit on the head with a 100 mph tennis serve

F.      Wrong wedding after-party

G.      Swept by the Yankees

 

With that, here is how the adventure started…

When my colleagues first told me about the Fiesta Employee Experience, I figured the chance of winning was about the same chance as any Boston team not making it to the playoffs, very unlikely. However, as more of my friends began submitting their applications, it became a team effort to attain departmental representation, so I caved and applied. Therefore when I won, I received the full support of my department and the following “congratulatory” remarks:

Colleague 1: “Noo-gee-an, (an intentional mispronunciation of my last name) you better be doing something fun!”

Colleague 2: “How did you end up winning? My idea was way better.”

Colleague 3: “Na-goo-glee-an, (again, very intentional) you didn’t even want to apply in the first place.”

Colleague 4: “I hate you.”  

With my turn to drive the Fiesta quickly approaching, the pressure to deliver a captivating adventure mounted. I had to think creatively and since I was already going to Germany for work, I concluded that there was no better place to start the adventure than where the Fiesta is currently being made, Cologne. With this trip and two weddings to attend later this year, I figured it was the perfect time to splurge on a new Nikon SLR camera. I envisioned myself taking several professional Fiesta pictures and getting positive feedback from multiple satisfied European customers. On the contrary, my arrival was welcomed by several written and verbal warnings not to bring a camera on Ford property. Furthermore, when I tried to take pictures of parked Fiestas, the owners weren't pleased and I didn't need a translator to understand their sentiments. Most disappointingly, however, was that my photography skills were not as close to the professional level as I had though and only got one good picture….....mission failed.

Fast forward two months time, back at States side, when I arrived to pick up the Fiesta, the representative handed me promotional material and a binder full of fun FAQs that we all know about: mph, price, colors, etc. I couldn't wait to show it to some colleagues, got a little too excited, and stalled in first gear…..right in front of her. She jokingly asked if I needed a quick refresher and then immediately checked to confirm that I did sign the waiver. I spent that Wednesday showing the car to my colleagues and there was so much interest that I even got offered free DQ for a chance to drive. What is the Ford policy for bribes? The number one feedback was that you cannot fit a golf bag horizontally in the back, even if you remove all the woods. Otherwise, this car was solid.  

Since the Germany trip failed miserably, I had to pick it up for the actual trip - driving it to Boston for my best friend's wedding.  I left at 4:30 a.m. on Thursday and drove 13 hours straight, to Ipswich, Mass. There were several instances when I only realized that I was driving too fast as I noticed other cars were going way too slow (Fun fact - the Fiesta can reach 119 mph). I took a good sunrise shot of the Fiesta in Ohio, where I met a man who said that he liked everything about the car except that it will be made in Mexico. He especially liked the green color and thought my pink (dude, it's salmon) tie that was hanging on the door handle, went well with it. I quickly looked at the tie to assess his color scheme and realized….where the heck is my suit!? (Carol, thanks again for overnighting it) When I reached Boston, the car registered 892 trip miles and 42.7 mpg….I think I could have given those Fusion Hybrid NASCAR drivers a run.

The next day, I drove the car around Ipswich and got consistent feedback. In general, people loved the car, but hated the color. As I was looking around, I felt like the Fiesta was dropped into the movie Pleasantville. Every car was black, white, or silver; no wonder the Fiesta stood out. I decided the younger and irreverent crowd would probably be at the beach and I was right. This adventurous crowd loved the car and from the questions they asked, I am convinced the Fiesta will be a hit among college students.  I remember this one conversation where the lifeguard asked, aside from the looks, what else does the Fiesta offer…talk about the right question to enable me to regurgitate all those random facts I diligently studied. After five full minutes of me babbling, she remained really interested so since I'm the buyer for exterior ornamentation (pillar appliqués, leafscreens, unfinished trim, capless fuel), I went above and beyond and told her about the 2 millimeter wall stock splash shields and the two-shot injection molded leaf screens.  During my explanation of the molecular bonding process of the two resins, I could tell she was in total awe of my vast knowledge. If there was ever an appropriate time to be wearing this T-shirt, that was it.                                            

On the day of the wedding, I challenged myself to fit 14 bridesmaids into the Fiesta but didn't even come close.  Seven, that's it…. respect points for Wendi Williams. The rest of the evening will need to be confirmed by my friends during the September wedding, coming up.

On Sunday, so as to help meet the 3 p.m. Monday deadline to return the car, I began my return trip, stopping in NYC. I lived in NYC prior to working for Ford and based on first-hand experience/impression of New Yorkers, the way they parallel park and their version of "friendly" bumper taps, there was no way I was going to park the Fiesta on the street.  I pulled the car into a garage near my friend's apartment and it was a ludicrous $50 for overnight parking. A Porsche 911 Turbo pulled up behind me and the guy got out of his car, stared at the Fiesta and gave me the nod of social validation.  We talked a little bit about the Fiesta handling and cost and I passed him my card….just in case he gets a generous bailout bonus and decides to splurge on a second car.

On the drive back Monday, it rained a little bit in Pennsylvania and the automatic wipers turned on. That was a pleasant surprise and woke me up a little, which was welcomed because the coffee, diet coke, and Red Bull were barely doing the job.  Ultimately, I got the car back by 2:41 p.m., mission accomplished.

To the Fiesta Team – thank you for this great opportunity. It was a lot of fun and I am even more convinced of this car's future success.

To the next Fiesta driver – I left a CD in the CD player (I swear it's not mine), and would appreciate it if you can shoot me an e-mail or give me a call to let me know where/when I can pick it up. 

I am David Heston and I am a part of the North America Sales Accounting team.  After I was notified earlier this summer that I would participating in the Ford Fiesta Employee Experience some of the first people to hear were my two daughters, ages 5 and 7.  They remembered seeing a Fiesta at a Ford event earlier in the year and were excited to have one all to themselves for a few days. 

I took possession of the Squeeze Green Fiesta on Wednesday morning, and after a very quick introduction I was off.  It had been over 10 years since I had driven a manual transmission on a daily basis, but I managed not to stall it as I drove away from the Fiesta staff.  As many others have stated, the Fiesta driving experience is great.  The steering is very precise and you feel very connected to the road.  The manual transmission and peppy engine provided unexpected power from a vehicle in this sub-compact segment.  A couple of co-workers put the car through its paces during lunch and had very positive comments.  I picked up my daughters after work and they instantly spotted the Fiesta in the parking lot and proclaimed it the 'Coolest Car Ever.' 

On Thursday morning, I stopped for gas just to see what kind of reaction the car would get and it attracted everyone's attention.  Some just looked and smiled, but a couple of people came over to ask what would become the 'usual' questions: availability, gas mileage, and driving feel.  At work, some more co-workers took the opportunity to view and drive the car.  That evening my daughters and I stopped at a large park in Livonia so they could play, but it gave me the chance to show off the car to several other people.

On Friday, I met a co-worker for lunch and she got to see first-hand how popular the Fiesta is with people.  As were sitting down she noticed a few people looking over the car and I realized that I forgot to set out some business cards under the wipers.  I went out and quickly gave them a chance to sit inside while I answered their rapid-fire questions.  That afternoon was the last chance for co-workers to see/drive the car and the good weather brought quite a few people downstairs.  That evening, several co-workers headed over to Cheli's Chili Bar and the car was parked on a nearby street.  There was a lot of Friday evening foot traffic between Happy Hour and the Dearborn Homecoming Festival.  On a trip to fill the parking meter I met a father and son from North Carolina who were visiting the Henry Ford Museum/Rouge Complex for the weekend.  I asked them if they would like to take a drive and they jumped at the chance.  Afterwards, the father (currently drives Honda) said he would be among the first in line to buy one for his commuter car and would tell all his friends and family about the great experience he had when visiting the home of Ford Motor Company.   It was a great feeling having such a direct impact on someone from outside the southeast Michigan area. 

Saturday, it rained!  I mean it rained hard and for hours on end.  Plans to attend an outdoor festival were shelved.  Late in the day as the rain finally broke, we took a drive to get ice cream.  Of course we met several new people who took the opportunity to see the Fiesta up close.  On Sunday, we headed to downtown Detroit and visited the Detroit Institute of Art.  As usual, I left promotional materials on the car and of course the sheets were all gone when we returned.  Afterwards, we stayed for dinner and had the chance to talk about the Fiesta to several other onlookers.

As I prepared to turn over the car on Monday morning, I realized that my Ford Fiesta Employee Experience ended much too quickly.  One comment I have made to many people is that the first Fiesta owners should be prepared for lots of attention.  People came up to ask me about the car in nearly every parking lot for five days.  I think the car will be a great success when it launches next summer and my daughters' only request is to add "yellow" to the color palette.     

David Betz, Cost Estimator

When I initially heard about the Fiesta Employee Experience I was very excited to see Ford continuing to develop creative marketing strategies that facilitate empowering people to be ambassadors of the Ford product.  I thought this would provide an excellent opportunity to introduce the all new Ford Fiesta to my hometown of Ft. Wayne, Ind.  Who better to introduce an all new Ford product to a geographic region than someone that was born and raised there and still has family and friends living in the area?  Most people outside of southeast Michigan struggle to identify with the automotive industry which has only been compounded with the events of the last year.  Therefore, I believe it is imperative to seize every opportunity to personalize the automotive industry to the general public.  Putting a local face to Ford in my hometown is one small measure to help bridge that perception gap and give the general public a personal connection to identify with. 

July 29, 2009: Wednesday - "The Ford Fiesta Experience Begins"

My Fiesta Experience kicked off by picking up a squeeze green colored Fiesta at Ford World Headquarters at 8:00 am.  Immediately upon pulling out of Ford's World Headquarters parking lot and merging onto Michigan Avenue the strange looks of curiosity and interest started. 

On Wednesday evenings this summer I'm volunteering with a friend from work to coach a youth baseball team his son plays on in Plymouth, Mich.  When I pulled into a parking space at the baseball field that evening a woman approached me and stated that she was a Ford retiree and asked if she could check the Fiesta out.  After taking an extensive look around the vehicle she said, "I'm thoroughly impressed with the Fiesta and it makes me proud to see Ford releasing exciting new products."  During baseball practice I observed numerous people walking around the Fiesta and taking the time to check it out.  Immediately following practice I invited the parents and children on our team to take a look into the future by seeing the Fiesta up close and personal.     

It was a picturesque evening, therefore after baseball practice I decided to drive to down town Ann Arbor to cruise around the city in the Fiesta.  Downtown Ann Arbor was bustling with activity that evening with numerous people enjoying the nice weather by dinning outside on the sidewalks.  Almost every time the Fiesta came to a stop at a light or stop sign someone would come up and say something like, "Nice ride" or "What type of car is that?"  Living in the Detroit surrounding area we are very fortunate to see future production vehicles driving around on a regular basis, therefore some of the mystique is lost with that being relatively commonplace.  Therefore, when a future vehicle such as the Ford Fiesta commands the attention and interest of the Detroit surrounding community you know you have a unique vehicle that has the potential to be a hit, make that a home run!   

Since I was driving to Fort Wayne after work on Thursday afternoon I decided to go to bed around 10:00 p.m. in an attempt to get rested up for the three days in Indiana.  However, that's when the evening got really interesting, almost as soon as I went to bed one of my neighbors pulled into her parking space.  Since my bed is located right next to the window I could hear her on the phone calling up people saying, "You've got to come over to my place right now as there's this really amazing futuristic looking car parked in my neighbor's parking space."  Sure enough approximately ten minutes later I heard a couple cars pull up and I looked out my window and there were at least six young people surrounding the Fiesta checking it out!  Then, inadvertently I wound up hearing a group of young people's spontaneous and unfiltered comments regarding the Fiesta.  The conversations of people checking out the Fiesta that evening continued until around 1:00 a.m. in the morning, or at least that's when I finally fell asleep!  During the course of the evening I overheard one person say, "I don't know what it is, but I've got to have one!"  From another individual, "It's so hot I wish we could take it home with us." However, my favorite line came when a woman in the group asked one of the guys, "What do you think of it?"  The response in a firm and deep voice was, "That car is badass!"   

July 30, 2009: Thursday - "Driving in a Squeeze Green Dream"                                     

I took a vacation day on Friday, therefore immediately following work I headed back to my hometown of Fort Wayne.  This was a high visibility route as I took I-94 East to  I-69 South for the 175 mile drive back to Fort Wayne.  At 7:00 p.m. that evening I arrived at my friend Craig's house as we planned to go out to dinner that evening.  Craig is a car enthusiast, therefore I was very excited to let him take an extensive test drive and get his thoughts and opinions on the Fiesta.  We were discussing how amazing the feel of the steering was and how the turning radius of the Fiesta appeared to be extremely small.  We decided to put the Fiesta's turning radius to the test at the largest mall in Northern, Ind., Glenbrook Mall in a far corner of the parking lot.  To our complete amazement we were able to do a complete 360 in the vehicle in approximately less than four parking spaces; it feels like the Fiesta can turn on a dime!  Our little steering experiment generated a lot of attention from people driving by who started snapping photos.  

When we returned to Craig's house after dinner we were brainstorming to come up with some creative ideas to capture our Fiesta Experience for that evening.  Then, inspiration struck while we were discussing the topic of music.  After taking a quick look at Craig's neon green Ibanez guitar we stumbled upon the perfect compliment to the Fiesta's eye catching squeeze green color.  We took some breathtaking pictures of the Fiesta and Craig's neon green Ibanez guitar.   

July 31, 2009: Friday - "Scenes From Fort Wayne, Ind."

Friday morning I decided to stop by some north east Indiana historic sties to take some pictures, which included:  the Auburn Cord Deusenburg Museum and the NAMTUS (National Automotive & Truck Museum) which is located right next door.  Driving through Auburn, Ind., the Fiesta was getting looks of complete total shock and amazement from nearly everyone that caught a glimpse of the car.  Next, I headed off to the National Center for Military History in Auburn, Ind., which is located directly off   I-69 a few miles from the city.  Outside the museum I got some amazing pictures of the Fiesta next to a military tank.       

Understanding the importance of our dealer partners, the direct face of Ford to our customers, I thought it was important to stop by a Ford dealership in Ft. Wayne to allow them to experience the Fiesta.  Therefore, I stopped by Dimension Ford North and to my delight when I walked in the showroom it was full of customers.   The entire Dimension Ford team was extremely excited and appreciative at the opportunity to see the all new Fiesta first hand.  I allowed one of the sales associates the opportunity to take the Fiesta for a test drive and asked his thoughts regarding the Fiesta and how it would be received by the customers in the Fort Wayne, area.  He responded, "The Fiesta is phenomenal, we couldn’t keep it on the lot if we had them!"

A couple weeks prior to my Fiesta Experience vehicle loan I contacted several traditional media outlets and was able to arrange an interview with the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette newspaper.  The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette is northern Indiana's largest newspaper with a printed circulation of 75,000 copies daily.  When I arrived for my interview, which was scheduled at 2:30 p.m., I was greeted by Journal Gazette reporter Marty Schladen and photographer Sam Hoffman.  After extending greetings to each other we loaded up in the Fiesta and headed off to a local park to do a photo shot with the Fiesta.  While driving to the park, Sam shot photos of the interior and Marty asked me numerous questions regarding my background in Ft. Wayne, my career at Ford and the Ford Fiesta.  When we arrived at the park the lighting that afternoon was perfect and Sam proceeded to take several external photos of the Fiesta.  By the end of the interview at the Journal Gazette offices, the Fiesta had started to attract a significant amount of attention from the staff of the paper.  Several members of the Journal Gazette staff checked out the Fiesta and were pleasantly surprised to learn it was a new vehicle being offered by Ford.            

With the success of the earlier visit to Dimension Ford North I decided to stop by the other Dimension Ford location in Fort Wayne on the West side of town since I was near by.  As with earlier in the day the showroom was full of customers engaged with the Dimension Ford West sales team.  The entire Dimension Ford West team welcomed the Fiesta with open arms, their biggest question was “When will be getting the Fiesta in our showroom?”  During a test drive by one of the Dimension Ford West team members one of the most memorable moments of the Fiesta Experience unfolded.  Almost immediately upon pulling out of the Dimension Ford West dealership we came up on a stop light which was red.  In the lane to our left at the red light a Corvette pulled up and the driver started revving up its engine.  The Corvette rocketed away from the stoplight as soon as the light turned green; we casually took off from the light enjoying a good laugh.  Then, all of a sudden we heard a guy honking his horn and yelling from his Toyota Camry with a smile ear to ear, “I think you could have took him at the light!”  He continued on, “You’ve got a really nice ride; I can’t believe it’s a Ford!”

After dinner with my family that evening I headed off to Spencerville, Ind., to capture some photos of the Fiesta with a historic 136-year-old wooden covered bridge that the public can still drive through.  After taking several external photos of the Fiesta and the picturesque covered bridge, I thought it would be fun to get some internal shots to show the construction in further detail.  Then, one of the more interesting and entertaining events of the Fiesta experience occurred.  While we were finishing up shooting the photos inside the covered bridge, my dad suddenly said, "Take a look out the back window."  I turned my head around and could not believe what I saw, in the middle of the 136-year-old covered bridge, driving the Ford Fiesta, two horse and buggies were coming up directly behind us!        

August 1, 2009: Saturday - "When Images, Words, and Fiesta Unite"

When I woke up Saturday morning I was completely stunned to see that the Journal Gazette newspaper had published the Ford Fiesta article in Saturday morning's paper.  Not only did the Fiesta story make the newspaper, to top it off in the printed edition it also made the front page as the lead story in the business section with a full color photo of the Fiesta and caption, "Fiesta ‘Agent’ – Fort Wayne native employed by Ford on the marking prowl.”  The business section contained a full color 6” x 8” majestic photo of the exterior of the Fiesta capturing the Fiesta's unique styling.  In addition, another full color 5” x 3” photo was included of the interior which highlighted the ergonomically located and futuristic looking controls of the vehicle.  Most importantly, the Journal Gazette article plugged the Ford Fiesta movement Web site and the Ford vehicles page for the Fiesta!  Here's a link to the online version of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette newspaper article regarding the Ford Fiesta: http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20090801/BIZ/308019934# 

The timing of the Journal Gazette article was perfect as Saturday I took the Fiesta to the Muddy River Run car show which is held on the campus of IPFW (Indiana University Purdue University, Fort Wayne).  I arrived at the Muddy River run at approximately 7:30 a.m. and attempted to park it in the highest visibility location available.  As soon as I stopped the car several Ford enthusiast who were displaying cars at the show stopped by to check out the all new Fiesta.  Then, around 8:00 a.m. the general public started flowing into the show and that's when the fun started.  Wow!  The response to the Fiesta was overwhelming.  I spent the next eight plus hours glued to the Fiesta, I literally didn’t leave all day, fielding questions relating to: the Fiesta, other Ford products, the automotive industry, etc.  The Fiesta was extremely well received by the target customer, the Millennials, however I was amazed at the interest it received from people of all ages.  Unfortunately, as a result of the overwhelming popularity of the Fiesta other than a few pictures I took at the beginning of the day, prior to the general public arriving, I wasn’t able to take many photos of the Fiesta at the Muddy River Run car show.      

August 2, 2009: Sunday - "Fiesta Unleashed in Indianapolis, IN"

Sunday I was able to fulfill a promise to a friend (J.J.) I made over five years ago that we would take a trip to see his favorite band, Social Distortion, live in concert the next time they made a tour stop in Indiana.  Ironically, a few weeks after I picked the date for my Fiesta Experience vehicle loan Social Distortion announced a concert date in Indianapolis on Sunday night Aug. 2.  Therefore, this presented an excellent opportunity to drive the Fiesta to Indianapolis and show it off in Indiana’s largest city. 

After lunch we headed off to the concert venue, The Murat Centre, which is a really unique concert venue as the entire venue is decorated with an Egyptian theme both externally and internally.  We thought taking some pictures of the Fiesta outside the historic Murat Centre would provide an excellent backdrop for some breathtaking pictures.  We arrived several hours before the concert, fortunately since we were driving the Fiesta we were able to talk the parking attendant into letting us into the parking lot prior to it officially opening.  This early access allowed us to take some photos next to the Murat Centre front marquee, the old nostalgic style with manual letter changing, and the side of the building which has an amazing Egyptian themed mural.  In the parking lot we also stumbled upon a classic car with an exotic custom paint job which we couldn’t resist taking some photos with the Fiesta next to it. 

My Fiesta Experience came to an end after five days, many memorable experiences, and approximately 1,100 miles on Monday morning Aug. 3 when I dropped off the Fiesta at Ford World Headquarters.  With a great deal of pride and confidence I can enthusiastically say, North East Indiana: the general public, news media, car enthusiast, my family and friends have experienced the Ford Fiesta and love what they’ve seen!      

To see pictures from my Fiesta Experience, please go to:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41107624@N05/

Beatriz Padilla, Ford Summer Intern

If you've been keeping up with the weekly posts from the other employees that have driven the Fiesta, then I'm sure you've read about all the positive comments and feedback from the public. My experience was no different!

I am a summer Intern here at Ford. I am from Edinburg, Texas and I go to the University of Texas – Pan American. I am a senior studying manufacturing engineering. I have really enjoyed working with Ford and this is my third internship with the company. My first two internships were at the Livonia Transmission Plant. This time around, I work in body construction engineering.

During the summer there have been a couple of events for the interns. One of the intern events was a tour of downtown Detroit. The last stop of the tour was at Ford Field. At the end of the tour the intern coordinators announced the two winners of the Fiesta drive away. When I first heard my name, I thought I had just imagined it, but when I saw my name on the scoreboard congratulating me I knew it wasn’t just in my head. I was really excited and couldn’t wait for the day when I could get my hands on the Fiesta.

I was excited to hear that the Fiesta I would get to try had manual transmission, but I must admit that I was a little concerned that I would have problems with the clutch. I have been driving a manual transmission car daily for about four years, and have loved every minute of it. However, the car I drive is somewhat old and the clutch has a different feel than newer cars. I was worried that I wouldn’t get a feel for the clutch in the Fiesta. Well, all my fears were put to rest when I got the chance to drive the Fiesta at the test track during another intern event. The minute I revved the engine I knew it was going to be a fun test drive. After the drive around the track I was hooked! I couldn’t wait for my week with the Fiesta.

Well the day finally came and I got to pick up the Fiesta at Regent Court. I was able to take off with no problems and I quickly became acquainted with the controls. It was raining and the car handled very well on the wet city streets. The automatic rain sensing wipers and automatic headlights worked like a champ. It was really nice to get to play around with all the new gadgets and features. It rained most of the day so I wasn’t able to show off the car to as many people as I had wanted to, but I was still able to let a fellow intern drive it and gave him a quick refresher course in stick shift driving. He picked it up right away and was cruising along. If anyone ever wants to learn how to drive stick, this is the car they should learn in.

The following day the weather was much better. I was able to show the car to several people and go on a couple of test drives. The car got a lot of positive feedback. Everyone seemed to like the color and the peppiness of the car. A few coworkers did say they could see themselves buying this car for their kids.

On the weekend, there was a small art festival and some softball games going on at Garden City Park. The “squeeze green” color attracted a lot of curious people. There were a lot of positive comments and a lot of people said they would be interested in buying it. I took a few people for a spin and offered test drives, but I was a little disappointed that people were hesitant to drive the car since it has manual transmission.

For my next adventure I decided to spend the day driving around Ann Arbor. The day was really nice and several people were out and about. The car got a lot of smiles and waves from the general public. I made a quick stop at Bandemer Park and had an interesting encounter with a group of people that wanted to see if their kayak would fit on the roof of the Fiesta. Although it seemed like it may have fit, I'm not too sure if it would be very practical. However, I’m sure if someone really wanted to do that they would find a way. I think the Fiesta’s catchphrase should be “It’s bigger on the inside” because that’s what everyone kept saying. The car really does have more interior room than you would think.

If this car can handle the heat well I could really see myself buying it next year. I liked it that much! I had a great time with the Fiesta and I’m sure it’s going to sell well! I’d like to thank the intern coordinators, and everyone else that made it possible for me to have such a great experience.

Mark Krugman, Product Development Engineer

What I did on my Summer Vacation - Family, Friends & Fiesta Tour!

Original Plan:

Family, Friends & Fiesta Tour I would take the Fiesta on a Family, Friends & Fiesta Tour…  I would start out visiting all our family & friends here in Oakland County – sharing with them how fun & economical it is to drive the Fiesta.. then I would head over to Friends & family in Lenawee County, from there, Friends & Family in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and back home to Michigan.  All the while sharing how driving the new Fiesta is the most fun you can have on four wheels – no matter where you live!  Sharing with everyone we see along the way how much fun and economical driving a Fiesta can be!

We had to go to the Modified Plan, since the Original Plan required 13 days, and the loan was for six days and five nights. 

Wednesday could not come soon enough.  I pulled up to WHQ to find two Fiestas ready to pick up, one green and one black.  Please let it be the green one.  YES!  Squeeze Green is just the first thing that catches the eye.  I brought my nephew to drive my daily driver back to the house – photo of him in the Fiesta a couple of days later:

The first thing to do, after getting a good driving position, was to figure out the climate control, so I looked in the Owner's Manual.  Since I do not speak German, I asked the group that dropped the car off if they spoke German, and they asked why I did not look at the OTHER Owner's Manual, in English!  Took care of that, and on to Livonia.

On the way back to ATNPC, Livonia, I let the admin know that I was on the way.  Our director had given permission to use the V.P. parking space, so that, along with the color and distinctive styling, made it easy to find.  Before I was out of the driver's seat, fifty engineers, technicians and others surrounded the little car and asked if they could look at this, and try that and what does this do, of course only after asking to open the bonnet first.  That is the hood for us on this side of the Pond.  Remember that this vehicle is actually a production 2009 Fiesta from Europe, so several things are unique, like size of fuel tank (42L, which is 9.2 gallons U.K., but 11.1 gallons US), ,, climate control in C, not F, Bonnet up front, Boot in the rear. 

What is that square cutout that seems to be a button on the outside of the door handle?  It is the lock/ unlock button for the person with the keyless fob.  NICE feature.  Put the fob in your pocket, purse, wherever, and just walk up to the car, push the button to unlock, get in, push clutch pedal and Start button and ready to drive away! 

This was my first experience with cap-less fuel fill as well, which is already available on some products here, but very nice!

Did I mention that four adults actually fit well and were comfortable?  Really!  Driver's seat travel was sufficient for under five footers and those over six foot six as well!

On level ground with clutch pressed in, right foot off all pedals, in first gear, the car can get moving without the lurching or stalling prevalent in many manual transmission vehicles.

Yes, the U.S. Market requires automatic transmissions, and I hear that we MAY be planning on one.  My hope is that it will not degrade the fuel economy, with over 41.6 MPG (US) calculated on the freeway (50 MPG (UK).  Whilst it really wanted to do 80, I kept it at 70 for this mileage; better for reduced fuel consumption and ticket avoidance.  (Sorry about that 'whilst', UK English kind of rubs off on me.)

The low-beam headlights can be adjusted for vehicle loading.  With only the driver inside, the zero position is correct, but when fully laden 4 does well, so as not to blind the oncoming traffic.  There are 8 detents to choose from above zero.

Wednesday blog  

Thursday it was on to Sterling Axle Plant, then to Fort Wayne, Ind. for a day looking for dead people.  Before leaving town, we met with our Friends in the Ford Genealogy Club, a FERA organization, at Olive Garden in Dearborn, and had a FERA officer's daughter meet me there to try it out.  She was totally impressed.  Likewise for the Washington, D.C. tourists who stopped for dinner after a day at The Henry Ford.  They want this car available ASAP to replace an aging non-Ford minivan.

Did I mention that the hatchback does VERY well for space?  We had our projector case, three laptops, suitcase, and several other items, and still the contents all stayed hidden, under the cover.  The hatch area has more vertical room than in our hybrid Mariner, vertically, as the projector case cannot be covered by the Mariner cargo cover.

Thursday blog

On the way to Fort Wayne we had a Toyota Celica pull up behind us to snap a photo.  The same thing happened with a Mitsubishi Eclipse driver the next day in Fort Wayne.  The clerks at Best Buy in Jefferson Point really noticed the Fiesta.  Everything heard was totally positive!

We also had a visit with friends when we got back to Michigan.  They live in the Irish Hills, and drive an older Escort Wagon.  The Fiesta was a peppier ride, and bettered the Escort's fuel economy.  If it came in a wagon, we would have another sale.  Dinner was at a local Bar-B-Que with the Fiesta right out in front, likely a good thing to increase business, for Randy's and for Ford. 

We did get a couple of photos with their Montana fifth wheel, as the Fiesta seemed to be saying, "I think I can!", on Carol's blog.

After visiting with Carol, we celebrated Karen's birthday at our daughter's house in Royal Oak, and the rest of the Family enjoyed the Fun of the Fiesta as well!  After the obligatory Lunch at Logan's, that is.  Wait-staff seems very ready for this car as well!

Last blog – sigh

We had a total of 21 persons ride in the Fiesta, with 16 driving it. 

I am a dyed-in-the-wool manual transmission driver, so am excited to add this car to my stable as it is, but expect good changes to improve the offering here in the U.S.!

To view this article in pdf form, click here.

J. Andy Zamora, Product Development Engineer

I'm part of the Fiesta Employee Experience!

Just picked up the Fiesta. It's lime-green and should get lots of attention over the next few days. I'm going to have people post on this blog with the question "When I get my Fiesta . . ." so if you want to drive it, think of something to write. And, I will be requesting a picture and video after you drive it.

Check out the Ford Fiesta Movement Web site and Ford's official U.S. Fiesta Web site. Jalopnik also has a Web page devoted to fun articles about the Fiesta.

When I get my Fiesta . . . by T.J. ( Tom Cusumano)

Good trunk space . . .

Good hood space . . .

Love the looks.

Love the space.

Love the drive.

Love the price.

Hate that it’s not here yet.

The driving dynamics are awesome. The chassis is so much more. Dare I dream of an SVT version in the U.S. with maybe………an EcoBoost engine and six-speed manual???

But what will I do when I get one? Drive it to mountain bike. Drive it to kayak. Drive it home across country. And most importantly, I’ll drive it to work, the drive in most dire need of an infusion of fun.

- T. J.

Initial Impressions on Fiesta

I have to remember that this is a small car and will be priced competitively with Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit. So first, the things I wish the car had. I wish the car had more space behind the rear seat which would help me with carrying my mountain bike, extra wheels, pump and bag. We'll see tomorrow as I'm planning on going trail riding with TJ. I also wish the car I drove had cruise control. Lastly, I would have really enjoyed an arm rest.

But those are just convenience gripes. What's the car like to drive? Well, it's actually quite good. The clutch is easy to engage (yes, it's a manual five-speed) and although the shifter can be a little sloppy, I quickly adapted to shifting this five-speed like I have been driving it for years. The engine pulls well from idle and never gets harsh all the way to redline. The steering on the freeway at 75 mph required more attention than what I'm used to. I didn't have much of a chance to push the handling, but on the freeway ramps, the car corners flat and seems willing to have some fun when the road gets twisty.

Putting aside the color, I think the styling is awesome. Whenever I saw a new small car in the past, I wondered why they were always so frumpy and boring. Not anymore! The Fiesta styling is aggressive and fun. The interior is more quirky than I'm used to in Ford North America interiors.

So, I'm looking forward to the next four days with the Fiesta. The car looks great and is fun to drive. Finally there  is a car that doesn't have compromises—great styling, fun to drive, at an affordable price!

What's up with this Lime Green color?

In the weeks leading up to picking up the Fiesta, I dreaded being stuck with the lime-green version of the Fiesta and when I arrived to pick it up, sure enough, I was given the lime-green version. Little did I know that I would have much more fun with the lime-green version.

Everywhere I went people noticed the lime-green color then they took a second look and noticed the Fiesta. Interesting thing is that a lot of people knew which car it was already and wanted to know when they could buy one. People in parking garages shouted their approval. People at stop-lights tried taking pictures. People in the neighborhood, young and old, stared as I drove down the street. Sometimes I drove much slower than usual to make sure they got a good look. The whole idea of test driving the car was to get noticed, and the lime-green color accomplished just that.

I always questioned why the styling of small cars was so boring and thought it didn't need to be that way, and the Fiesta proves it. Styling is subjective, but I don't think anyone can say that the styling on the Fiesta is boring. The interior is unique to other Ford vehicles, but I quickly grew to like the display on the center stack which always let me know what I was doing.

The IP (instrument panel) also had a center display which let me know the standard info like temperature and fuel economy.

Overall, driving the Fiesta was a joy. The car handles great and looks great. The launch from stop lights was more than adequate for a four-cylinder engine and offered more than enough performance for fun driving around town. I like the utility of four doors and a hatchback. I'll take mine with a matching bike rack on top, but I still don’t think I could live with the lime-green color. How about a nice bright blue?

More pictures from my week with Fiesta. Click on the picture below. And don't forget to check out the Fiesta Movement Web site and the Ford Fiesta Web site.

Click here to see this article in pdf form.

Dennis Murray, Ford Information Technology

Day 1, Wednesday

As part of a product-led recovery the Fiesta is a great product. We teamed up with the ITO Pulse team to showcase the car during the day. The Fiesta spent a couple hours each at three different building (ITHQ, iTek, FMCC) and was available along with a Taurus SHO. It was incredibly well received – couple hundred folks got to sit in and/or drive it about town. We solicited one-word descriptions from participants.

The Fiesta, the Taurus SHO and the always fun Mustang convertible that joined the celebration were all hits and really helped the PULSE team show this is a product-led recovery and we have phenomenal products to follow.

Wednesday evening it was on to Cass Benton in Northville – Frisbee Golf and Cross Country paradise. The park was packed with runners and Disc Golfers. Lots of great interest – "When is it coming to U.S.", "Will it have diesel? ", "What is it going to cost?" and "Can I have this one?"

Then finally get home and the family and neighbors are waiting for their turn. "Sweet" is the resounding cry. All three daughters pile in the back seat, after the youngest tries the trunk (boot) on for size and it's off for a ride. Nineteen-year-old family friend (Chrysler family) is there for the first ride – gets on I-96 and opens it up to 70 mph before he realizes it. After a drive around town, "Yeah, this beats anything we've ever had at our house" is his summary.

Day 2, Thursday

Thursday morning I was able to get some time to drive some of the back roads of Livingston and Washtenaw counties. What a fun car to drive on a winding road. Also got to play with all the cool technologies included – automatic windshield wipers, voice activated climate control and radio, Bluetooth connection, keyless doors.

Thursday afternoon, back to work and lots of people stopping to say "Hi!" and inquiring about the car, just fishing for a chance to drive it, accommodated of course.

Day 3, Friday

Park it at the JDRF Golf Outing. While I never golf, it was fun to be at the outing showing off a car as cool as that one. Apparently the two most important things for a golf outing fit comfortably in the trunk – Clubs and a Case (Michigan Brewed of course)

Then it was time to hit the road and head south, Nashville to see my sister. I-75 southbound was wide open and the Fiesta handled the road incredibly well – comfortable ride, nice seats and plenty of zip around the trucks. Of course we did the speed limit or just kept up with the flow of traffic. The 1.6L engine had no problems and kept up with the traffic on I-80. Plenty of looks and comments in the rest stops. We got great mileage. Most tanks were in the 35-40 miles per gallon range with one (Nashville to Louisville) at over 40 mpg.

Day 4, Saturday

The neighbors (Spring Hill, Tenn. – home of Saturn) come out to see what's new from Detroit and are quite impressed with the mileage and competing with the Honda Fit. The biggest guy in the group takes a dare and decides to try and drive – actually the bet was to try and even get in it. All are very impressed that the 6' 4", 400 pound man gets in and out with ease. The seats all the way back, but when he takes it for a drive he comments that it is more comfortable than his Volvo.

Centennial Park in Nashville near Vanderbilt was much more populous and gave a great opportunity to show that the Fiesta can 'fly low'.

On to downtown Nashville, Broadway Street – good music lots of people milling about the downtown honkey-tonks. Definitely more the SUV and F-150 area, but folks are impressed that Ford has an economical, 'green' option for the 'young folk'. 

Day 5, Sunday

It's back on the road to head home – not as fun a drive since construction season in Ohio is in full bloom. Knowing that the Fiesta handles the curves as well and having a separate GPS unit made the drive more fun. I think we used every back farm road between Cincinnati and Dayton – good times!! 

It was a great experience to drive and share with my daughters' and their friends. It was a total hit with them. The pleading has started – "Can I have one for Birthday, graduation, Christmas all rolled into one…" or "We'll share…"

You can see more comments on Facebook and the rest of the pics on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/dmurray3 or www.facebook.com/meghanpmurray

twitter.com/dmurray3 or www.twitter.com/meghanpmurray

To see this article as a pdf, click here.

Mary Farmer, Calibration Engineer

Day 1, Wednesday

Two months earlier, I received an e-mail congratulating me on being selected to have a Ford Fiesta for five days and Wednesday was the day I was getting it. I was excited as I drove to work knowing it would only be a short time before the Fiesta was delivered to my building. Just after 8:30 a.m. I got the phone call that told me that the Fiesta that I would be driving for the next five days, had been dropped off at my building. A short time after receiving the phone call, there was a break in my all day long meeting and I was able to step out for a few seconds and go grab the keys from the black Ford Fiesta waiting for me in the parking lot. I was only able to give it a quick glance over before returning to my meeting but I liked what I saw. The next eight hours that I sat in my meeting were a very long. Not because it was a bad meeting but because I knew I had a Fiesta waiting for me in the parking lot and I knew I liked it already. When my meeting ended, I collected up all my belongings and proceeded to the Fiesta, accompanied by my supervisor, who wanted to take a look at it. Together we spent a few minutes checking out the Fiesta and I was happy to finally get a good look at it. After spending a few minutes looking at it, I finally got a chance to drive it.

The first place I took the Fiesta was to my in-laws’ house in Romeo with a short stop on the way to pick up my husband. My in-laws are fans of big American muscle cars but were excited to check out the Fiesta. They were impressed by the roomy interior of the Fiesta. My father-in-law is 6’ 3” and comfortably fit in the front seat with my 5’ 4” mother-in-law in the back seat directly behind him with ample legroom. After looking at the Fiesta, we ate desert (yes, before dinner) with them before leaving to go find dinner.

I had my husband drive the Fiesta from his parents’ house to the restaurant and he was impressed by it. As we pulled into the restaurant parking lot, my husband spotted a guy staring at the Fiesta and was quick to hand him one of the brochures about Fiesta Movement. After his initial drive of the Fiesta he spent the next four days trying to convince me that it was his turn to drive it. I was surprised how much he liked the Fiesta. Usually, my husband is a die-hard GM fan but for the five days I had the Fiesta he wanted to drive it more than he wanted to drive his Cobalt SS.

Letting my husband drive to the restaurant gave me a chance to look at the audio system and other details in the Fiesta. I tethered my phone to the Fiesta using Bluetooth and tried out the voice-dialing feature by calling my father. It was great, having both my husband and me able to talk to my father at the same time. The Bluetooth phone tethering is on my of favorite features and something I’ll definitely get on my next car. Over my Fiesta loan period I found out it is wonderful to never have to dig out your phone from your bag while in the car. When it rings, it goes directly to the car audio system, tells you who’s calling and lets you answer just by pressing a button. Another feature of the audio system I like is the placement of the display. The display is located very high up so it only took a very small eye movement to go from looking at the road to looking at the display. While looking at the display you can keep the road in your peripheral vision. All of the climate control settings show on this display when they are being adjusted so you don’t have to look down low, where they are located, just to see what setting they are on. Also, the climate control system and radio can be control by voice, just like the phone.

After eating dinner, we took the Fiesta to one of my husband’s friend’s houses and let him look at and drive the Fiesta. He was worried that be might be a bit out of practice driving a manual transmission but the Fiesta is easy to drive and he had no difficulty.

The last stop before taking the Fiesta home was to visit my husband’s aunt on her birthday. She spent most of the time looking at the interior of the Fiesta. She wasn’t comfortable driving a manual transmission so I took her for a short drive and she was impressed by the ride of the Fiesta and the vehicle overall.

Day 2, Thursday

As most Thursdays start out, I went to work in the morning. The black Fiesta didn’t tend to draw very much attention in the parking lot of my building because there is always a number of prototype Fiestas in the parking lot and most of them are also black but my coworkers that knew I had a Fiesta were interested in looking at it and driving it. Lunch gave me an opportunity to have a few more people drive the Fiesta. We packed four of us in the Fiesta and one of my coworkers drove the Fiesta to the restaurant and another drove it back to our building. Having four adults in the Fiesta put it through its paces and is quick to remind you just how much weight has an effect on fuel efficiency and performance. The Fiesta didn’t have quite as sporty of a feel with the four bodies in it, but was plenty capable of hauling us around.

After returning from lunch, another coworker showed some interest in driving and looking at the Fiesta so we went out to take it for a drive. With all the Fiesta driving that was done on Wednesday, I managed to get the Fiesta pretty dirty so we decided to try and wash it. We tried to take it to the car wash by the track only to find that it wasn’t working that day. Oh well, at least it gave us a place to drive. After work, I took the Fiesta to my parent’s house, in Plymouth, Mich. Once in Plymouth, my father was the first person to check it out. My father is a retired Ford powertrain engineer and the first thing he wanted to check out is the engine. We spent some time looking over the Fiesta and checking out the engine packaging and all those other little thing only engineers tend to look at in detail.

One of the neighbors came over while we were looking over the Fiesta and wanted to take it for a test drive and I was happy to oblige. He is a European sports car fan and was excited to drive another European car. He really liked the handing and feel of the Fiesta and his overall experience could be summed up by one comment that he made which was “Ford should do real well with this car.” After looking at the Fiesta in the driveway and taking the neighbor for a test drive, my father finally got his chance to take the Fiesta for a test drive. My father owned a Fiesta back in the late 1970s and he spent most of his time comparing this Fiesta to his previous Fiesta. At first, he didn’t think it was as quick as his Fiesta from the late 1970s but once he looked down at the speedometer and realized he was going quite a bit faster than he expected, he realized just how quiet and how good the ride quality is in this Fiesta.

After my father’s test drive another two neighbors came over to take a look at it and drive it. One of these neighbors is a Ford employee and he knew a bit about the Fiesta but wanted to get to see it in person. Both of these neighbors though this car would be loved by their children, who are in their middle and late teens.

Day 3, Friday

Mary sent her "Fiesta Fiesta" invitations out on Facebook

Friday was the day that I’d been planning for a while. It was the day of “Fiesta Fiesta” where I invited a number of my friends to come over and check out the Fiesta and hang out for the evening. But first, work! At work, another one of my coworkers wanted to take the Fiesta for a test drive so we did. Not knowing where to drive the Fiesta, we made a second attempt at washing the Fiesta, this time at the emissions lab. This time the car wash worked, but didn’t do a very good job. I guess a car wash designed to handle trucks doesn’t do all that great of a job on Fiestas. I decided to take off the afternoon so I could spend some more time with the Fiesta before “Fiesta Fiesta.” When I got home, the first thing I did was wash the Fiesta by hand. The small size of the Fiesta made it an easy, quick wash. After washing it by hand, the Fiesta was finally clean enough to photograph. I spent the next hour or so photographing the Fiesta in the driveway.

The Fiesta pictures can be found on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php - /album.php?aid=2073744&id=6600560

Or my webpage here: http://gallery.khanbo.com/v/fiesta/

Once I was done photographing the Fiesta, I had to get ready for “Fiesta Fiesta.” “Fiesta Fiesta” was a party, in two parts, but I prefered to call it a “Fiesta.” The first part was checking out the Fiesta and the second part was grilling and enjoying the nice weather outside.

My friends started showing up around 6:00 p.m. and started looking at the Fiesta and taking it for test drives. They were very excited to get to check out the Fiesta. Most of them had seen the Top Gear episode where they tested the Fiesta and those that hadn’t got to watch it while they were at my house. Everyone wanted to know if they could drive it though a shopping mall while being chased by “Baddies in a Corvette” or turn it into an amphibious assault vehicle.

I told them I could get us the Corvette if they could get us the mall but they didn’t manage to get their part. Everyone that made it to the “Fiesta Fiesta” got to check out the Fiesta and either drive it or go for a ride in it depending on their experience with a manual transmission. One of the favorite tests for the Fiesta was driving it down the rough pavement at the entrance to my subdivision. Everyone was very impressed by how the Fiesta handled it. The main question I got from my friends was "Are they going to make a diesel?" to which I had to reply, "There is one in Europe but I don't know of any plans for one in the U.S." I guess I've done a pretty good job convincing my friends of the benefits of diesel.

Overall, “Fiesta Fiesta” was an enjoyable evening for everyone who attended and everyone had very positive things to say about the Fiesta.

Day 4, Saturday

Saturday was laid back compared to the previous three days with the Fiesta. I took the Fiesta to one of my friend’s birthday parties. Most of the people at this party had seen the Fiesta the day before and had already driven it or had a ride in it. One of my friends at the party hadn’t had an opportunity to see it the day before and asked out load “Hey, who’s Fiesta is out there.” I quickly offered up a test drive in the Fiesta when he expressed interest. I guess some my friends from the day before hadn’t had enough of the Fiesta yet and wanted to go for another ride. We packed four people in the Fiesta and took it for another test drive. On this test drive, I got the opportunity to show off the Bluetooth phone tethering which everyone liked. My friend really liked driving the Fiesta, even with four bodies in it, and was sure that a Fiesta would be his next car purchase.

Day 5, Sunday

Sunday was my last full day with the Fiesta and I knew I was going to miss it once it was gone. In the morning, I took the Fiesta to Lake St. Clair with my husband to take some more pictures of it and to let my in-laws get another look at it. I took a number of pictures of the Fiesta in front of the lake.

After photographing the Fiesta, I finally convinced my father-in-law that he wanted to take it for a test drive. The Fiesta exceeded his expectations for such a small car and while it wasn’t the car for him he knew it would be a great car for many people.

After visiting the lake, my husband and I spent the afternoon and evening driving around in the Fiesta because we knew it would be our last opportunities to do so.

Tweets From: http://twitter.com/khanbo

See Mary's report in pdf form here.

Jerome Avery, Stamping Engineer

June 17, 2009 @ 7:00 am, I was very excited about picking up my 2011 Ford Fiesta for the next 5 days. I had made plans to display the Fiesta at both Woodhaven and Chicago Stamping Plant for maximum exposure. Both plants were eager just knowing it was coming. Within minutes of arriving at both plants the Fiesta was surrounded with onlookers. I think the Link of pictures is the best words to describe the energy around the vehicle. After the plant tours, I spent day 3 to 5 with family and friends enjoying the Fiesta experience in Chicago and Detroit.

Employees at Woodhaven Stamping check out the Fiesta

• The Fiesta turning heads everywhere I drove it. Most people were either first impressed with the car and could see themselves/their kids driving it or stated “it is too small”. After they stated “it was too small for them”, they ask how much would it cost and MPGs. After telling them starting less than the Focus and close to 40 MPGs, each of them started to re-think if the car would be right for them.
• A Lady drove around traffic to catch up with me yelling “your car is loud, very loud, I love the color”.
• When I showed my 27 year old Niece, who is shopping for a car, she called it “Hot”! And said “it should be out Now”!
• My 17 year old daughter fell in love with her first "Ford" vehicle that she could see herself driving. She spent the entire day with me in the Fiesta.

While driving the car in Detroit I experienced:

• Back in Detroit, I parked the vehicle downtown and as I was returning to the car, three guys riding bikes pulled over to the car while it was parked and gave it a full review. When I approached the vehicle, they started to quote a European Fiesta car review and could not wait for the vehicle to come to the states. They wanted the car to come over without any changes. Then they started to praise Ford for its new products and not taking the bailout.
• My neighbor, who works for GM, came over right away and stated Ford seems to be on the right track with bringing vehicles over from Europe.

Brooke Blackford, left, 2008 Queen of the Lakes, and Alysha Kuhn, 2009 Queen with the Fiesta.

Day 1
I picked up the vehicle at WHQ. It was raining and a dark morning. I was first impressed with how well laid out all the controls are. I still haven't had enough time to work all of the functions, but I will. I really liked the keyless start! The car drove very smooth with a nice ride for such a small car. Went to lunch with a friend who is 6'8" tall and couldn't believe the headroom and interior package! Very crisp handling and good pick up with a car full of people. Really liked the keyless entry/start feature and 1-touch up driver window.

Day 2
Took car to department picnic. The car was a big hit at the picnic. There were three special edition Mustangs at the picnic. More people were huddled around the Fiesta than the Mustangs during the picnic.

The Fiesta in the Mermaid parade

Day 4
We took the car through the Mermaid Parade. We took pictures of the car and a video as it went by which will be posted on YouTube. I had the studio make up a graphic to put on the door to advertise what the car was as it went through the parade. People were very impressed with the car. Many commented by thinking it was an electric vehicle. I handed out many cards/brochures after the parade. We then took the car to the 2009 Queen of Lakes pageant. I asked the first runner up of the Queen of Lakes Pageant to have a picture near the car. The Millennials at the pageant couldn't believe this was a Ford!

Day 5
We took the car to my brother's house in Indiana for Father's day. His kids really enjoyed the car. My friend test drove the car and now she's saving up to buy one!

We drove the car back to Michigan and had many looks driving down the highway. I think Ford has a hit on its hands!

Joe Maninno, Facility engineer, Van Dyke Transmission Plant

See Joe's report as a pdf

The Fiesta at the Van Dyke Plant

I picked up the car early Wednesday morning and after some quick adjustments and familiarization, I was off to the Van Dyke Plant. Luckily, I got the green one as I had hoped and what a cool looking car it is! The body styling, color and wheels just make you want to drive it. Inside the car, the first thing I noticed was how surprisingly comfortable it is. The leather seats have great lumbar supports which wrap around the body enough to give a firm comfortable feel. The tilt steering wheel and seats which have a good amount of adjustment make it easy to find a comfortable driving position. The pushbutton start is a new feature to me and turns out to be quite convenient as are the radio control buttons on the steering wheel.

The initial 30 mile drive was a good distance to get a feel for the car and its dynamics. The engine is actually a lot peppier than I had expected considering the size of the car. Once at the plant, several of my coworkers took the Fiesta for test drives before I placed it on display outside our employee entrance in a spot where almost everyone would pass by. Some of the positive comments I heard were "I want one," "this car is hot" and "I wish it was on sale now." Considering recent passage of the Cash for Clunkers bill, now would have been an ideal time to have this car available for sale.

The Fiesta and the Stars

At the end of the day, I took the car straight to my daughter's softball game where the Starz vs. Blue Jays playoff game was in progress.

At the ball field, I parked the car where it would be noticed, mentioned it to a few spectators and allowed the girls and their parents to check it out. Everyone enjoyed the Fiesta's styling and noted that the 4-door configuration allows easy access to the roomy back seats. There's even enough storage room in the rear hatch for some equipment. The softball players whose ages were in the 10-13 year range said the car was cute.

After the game, we went home to prepare for our Thursday trip to Chicago where I had 4 days of military duty scheduled with my Army Reserve unit. My wife and I had two large suitcases, a laptop computer, document and clothing bags, shoes, etc. to bring along which easily stowed in the back of the car. With the rear hatch opened, the privacy cover easily snaps off and the rear seats fold forward at the touch of a release button. The open area provides a good amount of storage room which easily held all of our stuff without blocking the view out the rear window. Safety is always a primary concern and maintaining a clear view out all windows is imperative.

The Journey

Early Thursday morning, I drove the first leg of our trip while my wife rested. We got a lot of looks and pointing from other cars along the way and had our first chance to get a feel for the car on the highway toward Chicago . It reaches cruising speed quickly while pushing through the 5 gears and has plenty of power to be responsive at highway speeds. The Fiesta could actually use a sixth gear to take full advantage of its engine, especially considering it runs at about 3300 RPM at 70 MPH, well within its power band which kicks in around 2400 RPM. During the 2nd leg of the trip, my wife took over driving which allowed me time to read the owner's manual to learn about all the features. We didn't have a chance to try the voice commanded AC function but we did use the AC in auto mode. This feature allows the system to maintain cabin temperature at a level set by the operator, an option usually only included on luxury and high-end cars. We didn't set up the Sync system either but are already familiar with the function which we use in our 2009 Escape, another great car.

On the road, the Fiesta rides well and even when going over railroad track crossings, the suspension feels cushioned and remains stable unlike some small cars which feel like they bottom out over bumps. One very cool thing is that we made the 350 mile trip from Detroit to Chicago on less than a tank of gasoline. Not sure of its accuracy but the fuel consumption monitor integrated with the car's odometer and trip info display registered 40.6 mpg during the trip! Naturally, the way the car is driven directly affects fuel consumption. The mpg monitor makes it easier to strive for better fuel economy.

Once in luxurious Lincolnshire, Ill, we spent the rest of the day attending briefings, unpacking and getting settled. In the evening, we ate dinner at TGI Fridays, which provided a good concentration of teenagers, where we handed out fliers and cards, spoke to people about the Fiesta and watched as spectators gathered around it for a look. We left cards and fliers on the windshield wherever we went for those interested to take. One thing I noticed is that in some cases, people shied away when we tried to promote the car, much like running away from a salesperson working for commissions. Seeing this, we changed our approach, offering people to take a look at this cool new car if interested, pointing out that we were not trying to sell anything but that they could have the opportunity to check it out before the Fiesta was on sale in the US.

Friday we spent mostly around the Lincolnshire area and the Marriott where we stayed. Luckily there were 5 weddings scheduled at the conference center providing a good flow of people in addition to the military group I was working with. I made sure to park the car close to the main entrance where it would be noticed. In addition to what I had seen, other people in my group said that during our breaks, they saw people gathered around the Fiesta. Again, we took the car out for dinner where we repeated the scenario of the previous night. As one of the guys in my Army unit said, “There’s cool, then there’s Fiesta cool!”

Saturday, we had the opportunity to take the Fiesta to downtown Chicago where we drove around the city for awhile then spent a few hours at the Navy Pier. There were hundreds of people out and about but unfortunately, no where to park the car in plain view. Instead we had to hide the car away in an expensive parking garage. At least we got some attention while driving around the city.

It was a very busy night in Chicago but luckily the Fiesta is easy to drive in the city. The clutch is easy to push and the transmission slides effortlessly into gear. The AC system keeps the car plenty cool (it was over 90 degrees outside), the car is quick, nimble and easy to park anywhere. I cannot stress enough how good the brakes are; the best I've ever experienced. During hard stops, it feels like the car just digs its heels in which is great when driving in a congested city like we were or through highway construction areas like we did. I give an A+ for braking!

Sunday it was time to wind down but our mission was not yet complete. On our way home, we stopped in downtown Chicago again where the Taste of Chicago festival was in progress at Grant Park. There were hundreds of people out but again, no good places to park. Instead, I trolled around the city trying to muster some attention. The car got plenty of looks but not to the degree I had hoped. Had I known what to expect, I would have better prepared to capitalize on the opportunity. A venue like that is an ideal place to get maximum exposure.

After a few hours in the city, it was back on the highway heading home. It seemed the closer we got to Detroit, the more attention we got. Lots of people slowed to look at the car and it seemed some may have been familiar with the Fiesta Movement. While stopped at a restaurant for lunch, a couple approached our table and asked if the car was electric. When we explained what it was and what we were doing the couple replied that the Fiesta was cute but they wouldn't feel safe in a car that small and didn't need one since their Monte Carlo got 35 mpg (yeah right!). Their comment reminded me that there are some biases out there regarding small cars. Back on the highway we got more pointing, beeps and thumbs up.

Once at home, we quickly unloaded the car, shot a few more pictures and reflected on our journey. I got a few "nature shots" just to see how the green Fiesta fit with the natural elements. Monday morning it was back to the Van Dyke Plant where I parked the car at the employee entrance on display once again for a few last hours of review. Although our plant was on shutdown, there were some people available to take a final look. At 8am it was time for the trip back to Dearborn to turn the car in. I filled the tank with gas one last time, collected some trip information, gathered my personal stuff then turned the car over to the recovery drivers. Total miles driven - 1025, gallons of gasoline burned - 33.46, calculated average MPG - 30.6.

I can't thank Ford Motor Co. and the program coordinators enough for allowing me the opportunity to test and promote the Fiesta. It's a great car and I think it will do well. Our leadership have been making great decisions and guiding the company in the right direction. I can't wait to see what the North American version of the Fiesta will offer but if it's anything like the one I drove, I think it'll be a hit!

Overall, the experience was great and I was glad to have the chance to expose the Fiesta to the public.

Matt McParlane, Fleet marketing manager

Matt McParlane and the Fiesta

This car just screams ‘LOOK AT ME – NOW!’. I couldn’t wait to get it and show it off. I was admittedly just a little disappointed when I arrived to pick up the FIESTA and it was BLACK – not the GREEN - that everybody else had seemed to be gushing about. A black car in metro Detroit is a very common sight, so I wondered if this FIESTA would ‘turn heads’ like the green one…

Although the eye-catching green makes people say – “wow – what is that,” the black FIESTA did the same, but in a more sophisticated and subtle manner.

After receiving the car on Wednesday morning, co-workers test drove to the local diner for lunch. It sat in the front row of the parking lot, but didn’t get any gawkers. I saw only one couple who made a passing comment about the car and pointed at it as they strolled to their car when leaving the restaurant. The Wednesday night car show that I was to attend at the VFW Hall at Ann Arbor Road & Lilley was cancelled because of rain, but my 17-year old son had fun driving around Plymouth, Hines Drive, and Livonia, calling friends and doing quick stops to show his buds the sweet ride he had for the night. He told all of his friends to check out the FIESTA test drive on-line which is very cool. You don’t want to miss this one.

After several more co-worker test drives on Thursday, I was happily looking forward to the long July 4th weekend and inadvertently made a portion of I-275 my own personal little autobahn (woops). This car handles great at high speeds and can quickly/easily go from 60 – 85 MPH + for passing maneuvers.

Dealers loved it!

I also stopped at both Taylor Ford When can we sell it? in Taylor and Blackwell Ford We're looking forward to this car in Plymouth. The salespeople were very interested and had lots of questions, like:

• How much will it cost?
• What engines will it have?
• Will there be a diesel version?
• When will we be able to order/sell this car?
• Why can’t we build it along side the Focus in Wayne?

At each dealership, one of the salesmen took the FIESTA for a test drive and gave it a pretty good work-out. They loved the handling, the driving feel and the pep of the car. This FIESTA has ‘verve’ – and then some. It invites the driver to push through the high end of each gear and – several of the test-drivers even got a little ‘bark’ between first and second gear. This car is awesome to look at – but doubly awesome to drive. We offer no other comparable vehicle right now, and many who drove it said the 2011 North American version really needs to be as close to this one - from a looks and driving feel – as possible.

The salespeople were amazed that the ‘Average MPG’ was reading 40.4! They did stress that they were concerned that we avoid some of the mistakes we made with prior attempts to bring Euro vehicles to the U.S. They hoped the styling details (chrome trim, headlamp style, front & rear fascia, body lines, great looking/feeling seats, dash, etc. stay as close to this Euro-production FIESTA as possible.

Friday July 3 – Early Friday morning at about 6:15 AM, I went to Lifetime Fitness for my weekly basketball ‘league’. I parked the FIESTA at the end of the first row along the entrance drive - in front of the building, so when people drove into the lot, they would certainly see it. After playing basketball for a few hours, I spent another hour hanging in the parking lot – with doors/hatch/windows open and music playing. Several people stopped and looked, but everyone was in a hurry to get a work-out, and nobody took a test drive.

Also had it parked at my local CVS for a while and nobody really noticed it. I did get lots of interest when I parked at Kroger on Friday. A guy driving a Saturn said he works at GM - admitted that they have some 'catching up' to do after he specifically mentioned the Fusion success, the 2010 Taurus and F-Series legacy.

Friday night was a lot of FIESTA fun. We drove around Downtown Plymouth for quite a while until a great parking spot opened - right in the middle of Kellogg Park. The Friday Night Music in the Park band was named “50 AMP FUSE”, so, to bring a little more attention to the FIESTA, I put signs in the back windows and gave it a nick-name for the night. (Some people asked if it was an electric car. Eclectic yes – Electric, no.)

On Saturday morning, the Fiesta went to the Plymouth 4th of July Parade, but only as a spectator. (Blackwell Ford entered a Mustang convertible, and declined my offer to use the FIESTA in the parade – maybe if it was the green one, they might have.) After the parade, I parked in the first spot next to the Farmers Market, opened the windows and turned on some nice jazz music. Many people took a look and had the usual set of questions. Although we Americans love our larger vehicles, this car seems to hit the sweet spots of appeal and necessity. As they say, ‘timing is everything’, so if we can launch the FIESTA in North America in about one year from now, it will be desired by many. (Maybe a nice graduation present for some lucky ‘Class of 2010’ high school and college grads?)

Saturday afternoon was spent at the Plymouth 4th of July Click for a few other FIESTA pictures on flickr.

Larry Coan, Product Concern Engineer

My Fiesta experience started with a trip home to show the vehicle to my family, friends and neighbors. My almost 16 year-old twin daughters got to experience the car and thought it was very cool. They were more than happy to show it off to their friends and they enjoyed the looks from other drivers. It didn't take long for my neighbors to spot the bright green vehicle in my driveway and start asking questions. They were genuinely impressed with the comfort of the car and they consistently said that it didn't feel like a small car. My wife took my daughter to the nearby school parking lot and let her practice driving a manual transmission. She picked it up almost immediately. This car shifts very smoothly and makes a great vehicle to learn driving a stick.

The Fiesta adventure was just beginning. On we went to Battle Creek to participate in the 2009 Battle Creek Field of Flight (www.bcballoons.com). I have been involved in hot-air ballooning for many years and during the summer I compete in several events. Since these competitions are normally associated with large air shows and involve huge crowds, I thought this would be a great opportunity to not only show off the car to my fellow balloon pilots, but also get it in front of 50,000 people. This air show is one of the largest in the area and includes the Air Force Thunderbirds. This is a big time event! As soon as I arrived to register, someone came over to check out the car. It was an attention grabber wherever we went. In fact, my wife had to quickly become familiar with all the car's features. She spent just as much time showing it off as I did and we found ourselves fighting over who got to drive.

The first balloon event get-together was a pig roast. The pilots and their crews were very interested in checking over the car. Even my friend Paul, at 6'5", was very comfortable in the vehicle and said it offered a lot more room then some larger cars he has driven. Not only did "Tall Paul" comfortably fit into the car, his girlfriend, Erica, found out she could easily fit into the boot! Other drivers said that they could easily see themselves using this car as a daily driver. They were impressed at the level of craftsmanship, fit and finish, and the available content on a car in this class. A lot of people (my wife included) were fascinated by the push button start and loved the fact that you never had to take the key fob out of your pocket to lock, unlock, or drive the car!

Teri Coan and her friend Sarah love the Fiesta

The next afternoon it was time to return home. We packed the car and were surprised at how much actually fit in the vehicle. Driving the car Fiesta was a pleasure and the only thing more I could ask for is a center arm rest. The car is fun to drive, practical, stylish, (certainly attention-getting) and I can easily see one in my future. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to take part in the Employee Fiesta Movement experience. I can't remember the last time I had that much fun and attention driving a car. Heck, I got more attention driving this Fiesta than I did driving a 2010 Shelby Mustang recently. I wouldn't hesitate at all to buy this vehicle.

The final tally – 44.7 miles per gallon in combined highway and city driving!

If I would have had the vehicle much longer, my friends and I would have figured out a way to hook it up to my balloon and fly it around. Now that would have been a Fiesta Movement!

To see more pictures, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/lcoan1/sets/72157621152566466/.

Cristina Eckhoff, Accounting Policy Supervisor

Friday, June 19, 2009

I am one of the few lucky winners who gets to enjoy the European Ford Fiesta this summer before it hits the American market next summer.

My passion for the Ford Fiesta goes way back. Growing up in Latin America I enjoyed all kinds of Spanish pop music, particularly the Hombres G. This great Spanish music group was as big as you can imagine in Latin America during the '80s, and their big hit "Devuelveme a mi chica" ("Give me my girl back"), sung by David Summers presented the story of a guy bitter over his girl running away with someone else. Why? Simple, the other guy had a Ford Fiesta. Soon the story told in the song made it into a hit movie that debuted in the late '80s and the Ford Fiesta became a must have, it became obvious that to get the girl you must drive a Ford Fiesta.

Our family moved to Germany in 1990 and - in line with our family's long tradition of driving Ford cars - we purchased a Ford Fiesta, this was the first vehicle I drove after getting my driver's license. I loved our Ford Fiesta, not only was it incredibly economical (a big plus in Germany where gas is sold by the liter) but amazingly roomy, and just very attractive. My favorite features were the Fiesta's nimbleness, speed in the Autobahn and agility in the city. With the Fiesta I could react immediately to any traffic situation, this was a great car.

A few years later when moving to the US for graduate school I was disappointed not to find the Ford Fiesta in American dealerships. I hesitated for a long time before buying a car in the US; I just could not find a car that would compare to the Ford Fiesta. Models that were environmentally friendly and economical in gas usage didn't seem small but tiny in size, and actually unsafe. In lack of a Ford Fiesta I bought the next best option, a Ford Escort, which I loved and drove for years without a problem. My Ford Escort was the best proof of American car craftsmanship, I could have easily driven it into eternity, it never gave me a problem.

My niece recently turned 16 and I turned over my Ford Escort to her, at about the same time I learned Ford was planning on introducing the European Ford Fiesta to the American market the summer of 2010. I entered a lottery for the opportunity to test drive the Ford Fiesta this summer before it hits the American market next year, and won!!

I have since been counting the days. I am very, very anxious to drive the European Ford Fiesta; if it's anything like the model I drove in Germany so long ago I must have one.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Waiting is over, I finally got it!!
Finally, after waiting to test drive the Fiesta for months I finally received it today! I am in shock; I cannot believe how beautiful it is! Its striking looks are so exciting; this vehicle is absolutely making a fashion statement! I have to say my choice of vehicle colors so far has been more than conservative (black, only black), but I am entirely attracted to and comfortable with this vehicle's bright green.

Right away my colleagues wanted to get their hands on it, even with quarter close quickly approaching the Accounting team made time to admire and test drive the Fiesta, we are all more than positively impressed by the Fiesta and we all agree, this is a winner!

Members from the Treasury Accounting team had their turn at trying out the Fiesta, big time Mustang and Expedition enthusiasts enjoy the agility and liveliness of the Fiesta. And do not be fooled by its size, here is the Fiesta being compared to the Expedition. The Fiesta is a small vehicle, but it is certainly well designed to capitalize on every inch of space.

The Fiesta is definitely roomy and very comfortable, and one way to test this is to make sure your pet (even a big Lab) fits in the trunk. Carolyn here shows her Lab Lizzy very contented and relaxed in the spacious trunk of the Fiesta.

Cristina is at home with the Fiesta

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Downtown Detroit in my Fiesta
Driving the Fiesta through Mexicantown past the old train station, no better way to do some urban exploring!

We drove by Comerica Park baseball stadium after a game. We got a lot of attention for the Fiesta from the people leaving the game as well as driving to see the fireworks. The Fiesta really turned heads; we had people asking questions and admiring primarily the style and color of the Fiesta.

Driving in downtown Detroit to enjoy the fireworks we felt really cool, the SYNC plug and play functionality made for a fun trip, and it was great that it didn't take time at all to figure this out, you just plug in your USB and right away can enjoy your tunes.

Even while parked to enjoy the fireworks we kept getting comments and compliments about the Fiesta, again, people were attracted to the eye catching style of the Fiesta, which was perceived as "sporty" and "cute," it seemed to appeal to a young crowd.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Cruising around town
We drove the Fiesta around Farmington Hills and Novi. I just love the nimbleness of city driving in the Fiesta! The Fiesta may qualify as a small car but it definitely does not feel like it when driving it.

We had some people test drive the car at Oakland Community College, they felt the stick shift was easy to use, even for those who regularly drive an automatic transmission, but primarily, they felt this was a FUN ride!

Later in the afternoon it started pouring, but even that didn't keep people from admiring the Fiesta. Driving the Fiesta in the rain was no problem at all; we found that the windshield wipers were designed to really enhance the vision of the driver by having a larger wiper blade on the driver's side than on the passenger's side, and a wiper blade in the back as well.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Busy day for the Fiesta
Eco-friendly neighbors HAD to test drive the Fiesta! They took it for a test drive past the organic markets and nature parks in the city, they had a blast.

We found it interesting that while most people that were attracted to the Fiesta they praised primarily its design and fuel efficiency (which is awesome at 40 mpg!). The eco-friendly neighbors were so interested they even checked out the engine and kicked the tires.

We took the Fiesta for a ride in downtown Royal Oak, even in the dark of night people were interested in checking out the Fiesta.

We quickly noticed the Fiesta is a big hit within the younger age groups and wanted to hit the trendsetting spots in town, at our local Starbucks the Fiesta was certain to get attention!

Tunneling to Canada

Sunday, June 28, 2009

A car that knows no borders
We took the Fiesta across the border and hit the Canadian blacktop for a spin. Going to Canada we took the tunnel, it was great to see that the Fiesta automatically adjusts the lights through an automatic sensor; it does the thinking for you!

Driving back to the US over the bridge even custom agents inquired about the Fiesta and its availability in the US. We have so very quickly and so very easily gotten used to the Fiesta and love the attention we get driving it, we do NOT look forward to returning the Fiesta tomorrow... Mikey Cerbin (my son) started the countdown to his sixteenth birthday when he can actually drive a Fiesta...

Get more details in Cristina's blog: http://lovemyfordfiesta.blogspot.com

Brian Nellenbach, Cylindrical Block Production Engineer

How many e-mails do you get that say: "Congratulations," "You’re a Winner," "Claim your Prize Here?" How many times do they just go to the deleted file? Well being an individual that never has won anything more than a coffee cup, that’s where the Fiesta Movement e-mail almost ended up. There it was in my in-box, "Congratulations - A Fiesta Experience is Coming Your Way." What Fiesta experience and why is it coming my way?

My name is Brian Nellenbach and I work in Casting & Forging Manufacturing Engineering. I am honored to have opportunity to lead a group of highly motivated and talented engineers in bringing new cylinder block castings to Powertrain. But, I never consider myself "lucky" nor one that should be bestowed some "Great" experience. However, there it was; you have been chosen out of the great masses of Ford Motor Company to receive a new 2011 Ford Fiesta for the weekend!

So not even remembering that I signed up or filled something out, I immediately replied asking what could I have possibly written that would entice the marketing group to pick my entry? Of course they immediately sent my entry back to me stating "all you have to do, is do what you said you were going to do". Hmm. As I read my entry, for what seemed liked the first time, your kidding me? Really, I said I would do that? Sure enough there it was in print. Well I replied, thinking there was no way that they could meet my timing requirements, "I will need the vehicle by the weekend of June 6th!" There that should get me off the hook. Well, destiny has a way with things and needless to say I went into full swing planning the events to promote the Fiesta.

First event was one that I wasn't even planning on. However, once I received this phenomenal vehicle, I couldn't resist sharing the experience with the rest of our work team. I set up two days worth of ride-n-drive opportunities for other engineers in our organization. Word spread quickly and taking advantage of the M-plate didn't hurt either, as I took the prime parking spots in front of Product Development's Building #2.

Engineers of all backgrounds from Casting, CAE, Product, V-eng., and ATO to Executive Engineering Directors put the Fiesta through its paces. I, as agreed to by "contract," videoed their expressions, feelings and opinions about the car. It was exciting watching people of all walks of Ford, being charged-up about this B-class dream machine.

Next, it was time for super-speed planning of the first of the two prime objectives; The Parade! Yes, I actually said that I would drive the Fiesta in a parade and throw candy out the windows "To energize the Motor Gear Head in everyone that believes, Ford stands for Fix Or Repair Daily!" But the first hurdle I needed to tackle was to let my better half, Patty, in on my little secret that she and the kids were going to be in a parade. "WHAT! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" I really didn't expect anything different. But being true "Blue," she soon warmed up to the idea.

I am very fortunate to live in Michigan on an island in the middle of the Detroit River, just as it meets Lake Erie, called Grosse Ile. Every year in June, we celebrate our special piece of the Great Lakes with "Island Fest." A festival with all sorts of activities, carnival rides, music venues and of course thee "Island Fest Parade." But what significance does a Fiesta in a parade have? Well I went to the township planning board and explained why t hey needed this entry in their parade and they were excited. Especially, since the Down River area of Southeast, Michigan has been hit so hard by the downturn in the automobile industry. So we were in!

As I stated earlier, I have a very talented and sometimes too creative engineering team, so I decided to put some of their energy to good use. "Team, we need an eye catching marketing strategy for this parade. What can we come up with?" After a lot of very creative and some not-so creative brainstorming, there it was "Island Fiesta 2011!"

Parade day came with picture perfect weather and ideal for showing off the stunning unique lime green color of the car. As with most parades everyone lining the streets are usually most interested in the candy, but not so with the new Ford Fiesta rolling down the road! The most frequently asked question was; "Is this car a "green" car?" What's a person to say? "Of course, just look at it!"

Walleye Fishermen lured to the Fiesta

Next objective: "Put up a party tent and have them come by land or sea to socialize around the hottest vehicle in this decade!" Now this to me, sounded like an excuse to Go Fishing!

My Fiesta Movement experience tells me that even without hooks, this car is one of the greatest Ford Motor Company lures of the future and we are going to win the World Wide Automotive Tournament!

Matthew Solomon, Manufacturing engineer

My five days with the Fiesta were very exciting and very busy. Everywhere I went someone wanted to talk to me about the Fiesta. Every time I drove somewhere people in other cars where giving me a thumbs up or pointing at me. It was very nice to be popular. Because of the Fiesta, I found that I also had to be very social. No matter where I was (church, Meijer, 7-11, Dearborn Truck Plant, etc.) every time I stepped out of the Fiesta someone wanted to talk to me about it right away. It was very funny because after only a day both my wife and kids sounded like Ford Marketing Reps when talking about the Fiesta. It was a very busy week with the car…on Wednesday I took the Fiesta to both my in-laws and my parents house, on Thursday I took the Fiesta to the IHOP grand opening in Woodhaven, on Friday I took the Fiesta to the Refuge River Run 5K in Trenton, on Saturday I took the Fiesta to my daughter's soccer game in Trenton and on Sunday I took the Fiesta to church…and then we had a barbeque with friends who wanted to check the car out.

After I picked up the Fiesta I had to go to Kuka, a tooling supplier for a four hour cost negotiations meeting, the visit to Kuka gave me a good example of what my days with the Fiesta would be like. I was in a meeting at Kuka only five minutes before someone came into the conference room and asked if they could look at the Fiesta. In about 10 minutes there were about 40 Kuka employees outside checking out the Fiesta. Everyone loved the car (a clear theme all week long) and everyone left really impressed. One Kuka employee asked me to drive the car to his house so his wife could see it. After she looked at the Fiesta for about 15 minutes they were both left with the conclusion that the Fiesta will be their next purchase. Because of all of the attention the Fiesta was receiving at Kuka my four hour meeting turned into a two day, 16 hour meeting at Kuka. I felt bad for the other people I was meeting with because every few minutes another person came and asked to look at the car.

On Sunday night my wife asked me to quickly run up to 7 Eleven to grab us a few Slurpees. Unfortunately for my wife, there was no such thing as a fast trip in the Fiesta. I quickly made it in and out of 7 Eleven but when I made it back to the parking lot there was already a few people checking the Fiesta out. I talked to them for about 10 minutes about the Fiesta and as soon as they left another group of people walked up wanting to look at the Fiesta. So what is normally a 10 minute trip to grab Slurpees turned into an hour long trip to return with melted Slurpees. 7 Eleven was a good example of how the whole week went because I was late going everywhere because everyone wanted to look at the Fiesta. I ran my worse 5K time ever on Friday night because I had to run to the starting line for the race because I was talking to people in the parking lot about the car. I was late for church on Sunday morning because everyone walking into church on Sunday wanted to sit in the Fiesta. I had to stay at soccer for extra 45 minutes on Saturday morning showing the Fiesta off to the other parents because they all wanted to check it out. And you know what? I didn't mind because I really love the car and I wanted others to fall in love with it like I did.

The Fiesta received a lot of attention while I was driving as well. At the very first red light I stopped at with the Fiesta I looked over and I noticed that the driver in the car next to me was taking a picture of the Fiesta with his camera phone. On Wednesday after I left the meeting at Kuka I had a woman drive next to me at a red light and asked me if I could pull over so she could take a look at the car. On Friday, driving home from work, I had two guys ask me to pull over so they could check the car out. My friends created a game called "Where's Matt," because they were looking for the little squeeze green Fiesta every where they went.

The Fiesta fit two booster seats and one car seat in the back.

In the end, there were several people who walked away from their experience with the Fiesta planning on purchasing one, including myself.

Finally, I really wanted to thank the company for letting me take part in the Fiesta Employee Experience. I have really enjoyed my time with the car. I enjoyed driving the Fiesta, I enjoyed showing off the Fiesta and I enjoyed driving the Fiesta. When I signed up for this experience I didn't expect the attention that I received and I certainly did not expect to enjoy the car so much. Thank you once again and I more than willing to do the experience over again.

Click to see Matt's Facebook posts about the Fiesta.

Andrea with her Fiesta

Day One of my experience started in the horseshoe drive of Ford Bldg 5 when my bright lime green Fiesta arrived. It didn't take more than two seconds for some bystanders to approach me that were waiting outside to say, "Wow!!! What a cool looking car, can we get in and take a look?" So, I let them. It was then I knew this car was special and I was in for an exhilarating ride. When I arrived home from work that same phenomenon occurred with my neighbors. As soon as I pulled into my driveway, one by one, my neighbors started to gather around the Fiesta. Almost instantly, I had a party of inquisitive people in my driveway. Hence, Fiesta!!

Day Two was the same, only a gathering in my work cubicle. The word had gotten around to my co-workers that I had a Fiesta and they wanted to check it out, slide rules, pocket protectors and all. It was pouring rain and they didn't care. A smart engineer figured out why his iPod wouldn't play when it was connected to the USB port; you also have to have a 3.5mm line- in jack inserted into the headphone jack of the iPod and into the car aux jack for it to play music out of the speakers. The SYNC guys were curious about the European audio system, so they took a long hard look at the Bluetooth function since I complained a little about the interface. We will get that fixed before it comes to North America. You are welcome, Fiesta

Day Three was the start of my road trip to Traverse City, MI with my best friend from high school, Suzette. We've had some crazy times in cars together in her classic snot green Catalina back in high school and this weekend would be no exception in our lime green dream Fiesta (By the way, the color is called Squeeze in Europe). Our first stop in Traverse City was at Express Publications where we met with Bob, the editor, and we let him snap a few photos of the Fiesta. Check out the Fiesta article in Northern Express Weekly June 22-29, 2009 (Vol. 19. No.25) issue online at www.northernexpress.com. The article appears in the "Gearbox" section on page 10.

Friends enjoying the festival

Day Four, Leland Wine Festival. Suzette, my sister, and I headed to the Leland Wine Festival and parked the Fiesta as close as possible to Fishtown where all the festivities were taking place. We hung around the car for a few hours and were engaged in conversation by many interested by passers. When we were just about hoarse from Fiesta-talking, we placed all the Fiesta business cards on the windshield wipers for anyone to take if they were so inclined while we were away. When we returned, they were all gone!

Day Five was heading home from our road trip. There wasn't one rest stop that didn't have someone lingering around the car desperate to get their questions answered about the vehicle.

Here is a Summary of some of the questions and comments that I received:
LOVE the color
UNIQUE styling inside and out
FUN to drive, easy to shift, impressed with the pick-up
COOL features included; Bluetooth, push button start, voice that you wouldn't expect
DEEP, roomy trunk
Why isn't it built in the US?
Will the US version have a center console or arm rest?
Hard to drive in high heels

This was a truly awesome experience; I feel privileged and honored to have been a part of the Fiesta Employee Drive Experience! I will have full highlights on my experience on my Facebook page.

Dave Behnke, Regulations Documentation, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering

Kelly Behnke celebrates graduation with the Fiesta

When I received the e-mail stating that I was selected to participate in the Fiesta Drive Experience, I began reading the experiences posted by other employees on @Ford Online with much more interest. And the more I read, the more excited I became. While I was curious to see if I would get the same type of reaction from people as those shared by previous employee Fiesta drivers, I also wanted to write something different than what everyone else had already shared. And it just so happened that the weekend I had the Fiesta was the same weekend my daughter would graduate from high school. But I am getting ahead of myself.

The vehicle I received appeared to be the same as those described by previous drivers. It was lime green with a 1.6L engine and a manual transmission. A couple of cool features were the push button start, the capless fuel door and the one button door lock/unlock on the outside front door handles. For a small car, it handled extremely well whether on the freeway or on the two lane roads of Macomb County. I also was impressed with the roominess of the interior. I am only six feet tall, so I asked one of our calibration supervisors to try sitting in it. At six feet six inches, Scott Hughes had no problem driving it. However, if there was one thing I wished it had…that would be a center arm rest.

The one experience that carried over from every @Ford Online posting I have read from the Employee Fiesta Experience is that people notice the car. My experience was no different. Whether it was the sporty look or the lime green color, this car gets people’s attention. During my five days, I parked it at restaurants, shopping centers and at church, and people would always stop and ask questions. What kind of car is this? When will it be for sale? What is the gas mileage? How much will it cost? As a Fiesta driver, I am asked to write five paragraphs describing my experience with the vehicle. I could write five pages about all the people who asked me questions about the car. However, if I could condense some of this experience into one illustration, it would be when I was waiting at a stop light one evening. A young man driving an older red Ford Mustang pulled up beside me, rolled down his passenger window and yelled as loud as he could, “That’s my next car."

One day after work, I drove the Fiesta into the Russ Milne Ford dealership parking lot. After all, these are the people who will be responsible for selling this vehicle next year. Within the matter of seconds, the sales staff began trickling out of the front door. Before long, the entire staff was outside looking at, sitting in and taking pictures of the Fiesta. What I thought would be a brief stop on the way home turned into over an hour of answering questions about the car. If their enthusiasm is any indication, the Fiesta will be a winner.

But it is not just those outside of Ford Motor that are excited. While most everyone in my office knew I was selected to drive the Fiesta, I was a little surprised when I received a meeting notice from the vice president of SE&SE, Sue Cischke. Within hours of receiving the Fiesta on Wednesday, I was one-on-one with the Ms. Cischke in front of World Headquarters talking about how beautiful the car looked and the excitement it is generating at the company. We both agreed that the car was exciting to look at and perfect for today’s market.

That brings me to graduation weekend. I cannot think of anything that makes a parent more proud and more excited than watching their child receive their high school diploma. And with a senior class of over 500 students, what better place to show off the pride of Ford’s small car future and measure its reaction on our youth. The commencement was held at an outdoor theater called Freedom Hill. I tried to park the vehicle as close to the entrance as possible. I was surprised to see how many graduates dressed in their cap and gowns would stop and look at the Fiesta while walking to the biggest event of their young lives. I wish I could have stayed and answered all their questions, but I also wanted to get a good seat in the amphitheater. However, since my daughter was one of the summa cum laude in her class, I asked if she could put in her speech a request to the audience to check out her dad’s new Fiesta after the ceremonies. Boy, you would think I was asking for the moon. However, after graduation, several of my daughter’s friends came to the house to celebrate. I had the Fiesta parked alone in the drive way which sparked each of her friends to ask if that was her graduation present? She wished! Every one of them gushed over how hot it looked and how they wished they had one. They thought the push button start was so cool along with the push button lock/unlock on the door handle. Plus they all thought the lime green color was “their” color. When I asked if any of them would want to drive it, they all said yes until they realized it was a stick. It seems the ability to drive a stick has not been passed down from my generation to theirs. Maybe next year.

Kyle Huber, manager, Process and Strategy, FCSD

My Fiesta Experience

The Fiesta calls out to people!  No, "calls" is not the right word. It screams, "Look at ME!"  Like other employee agents the draw of the Fiesta is amazing.  It's hard to convey the degree to which people just love looking at the car.

The day I received the Fiesta, my family and I took it to the mall and parked it next to a competitor's product and it looked so good.  We were thrilled to drive it and really liked the push button start.  I had already connected my phone and used the Bluetooth capability to call everyone we could find to talk to us.  I posted the photos from the first day on my family's blog and on Facebook at Ford Fiesta - Day 1

After being driven by many employees in my department, who really thought it was fun to drive, the Fiesta was off to Detroit!  On Saturday, May 30, the Fiesta was parked front and center in the Ford display at the Komen Detroit Race for the Cure®.  I talked to as many people as time would allow.  Most people liked the styling, the gas mileage and interior design. What is there not to like?

I lined up the Fiesta business cards along the glass and under the wipers, so they could be distributed easily.  Being an ambassador for the car and the company was a phenomenal experience.  The Fiesta instantly provided common ground to talk with as many people as possible.  I felt very privileged to have the opportunity to reach out to our current and future customers.  The car was photographed by so many people.  I was happy to see people already making the Fiesta part of their lives!  The photos of the Fiesta at the Detroit Komen Race for the Cure® are on Facebook.

That night, my husband and I had a party at our house, where 25 people stopped by to be introduced to the Fiesta.  The ease of shifting and steering were top attributes by party goers.  Neighbors who would not generally drive to a dealership to see the Fiesta, got to touch, feel and drive the car, simply because it was in the neighborhood.

When I returned the car, it was like saying 'goodbye' to a new friend.  A friend that I hope to see again, very soon.

Thomas Culler, infrastructure architect, IT

Day 1

Wow! What a day for me, doing my tiny part of the Fiesta Movement!

You know, I'd been told that while driving the Fiesta, I'd see heads turning and pointing at it, but until you're in the car and the subject of the pointing, you don't realize how many times it happens.

Culler's Facebook Account

I saw a mother with her teenage son in the passenger seat point to the car while the kid craned his neck to see it.

I got a smiling 'thumbs up' from a guy who looked 70, driving an old beater.

I had a pair of guys driving an old Chevelle follow me in my left-side blind spot for 10 miles, looking at the car, then pull up along side, still obviously talking about the car and pointing to it.

I'm pumped.

I picked up the Fiesta at 9:00 Wednesday morning, with my co-worker Joe along for the ride and to take a photo of me getting the keys. We drove the 1000 feet from the front of Ford's WHQ to a parking spot waaaay out by itself in the NW parking lot behind WHQ ... In other words, the first drive left me wanting more. But I had meetings to attend, and the initial drive had to wait.

My first chance came when four of us drove to lunch in Allen Park.  a 15 minutes drive with a loaded Fiesta wasn't enough. The car has Spunk! Verve! Vigor! Attitude! Okay, maybe it's the paint that has the attitude – the wild green color made the car very easy to find in the parking lot – it was virtually shouting to us.

And I fit! Holy smokes, I'm 6'4", and I fit in the front seats with no problem and PLENTY of headroom – more than many larger cars. I don't know how the Ford designers managed to make the car appear bigger on the inside than on the outside, but they did it.

The first test drive was my coworker John, who likes and drives these little cars.  He liked it! With four people in the car, that little 1.6L, 119 HP engine still had pep.

Second Fiesta test drive was coworker Ric, who decided that the empty, roped off lots behind WHQ made a good impromptu test track. After I accepted the fact that the ghost brake pedal on the passenger side wasn't going to work, I stopped clenching long enough to realize that this car was hugging the road and stopping on a dime.

The third, fourth and fifth test drives belonged to Brian, Patrick and Thorton Zeigler. Brian and I went to school together from Kindergarten to graduation, then we drifted in different directions. We found each other in Facebook, where I found he'd married a girl that we went to high school with. So I drove the 40 miles from Dearborn to Utica to Brian and Christine's house, where Brian's parents, Norma and Thornton ('Woody') were visiting for the week from Alabama, where Woody had been an engineer for Chrysler for many years. Brian put the car through its paces in the streets around Utica and was impressed by its pickup. Patrick, his 21 year old son, was next up. Pat's experience with manual transmissions was pretty limited, and it took a few minutes to get up and running. After those few minutes on the residential streets in Brian's neighborhood, though, wow – Pat was picking it up! After awhile I couldn't tell he hadn't really driven a stick shift before. That's a real testament to this car's smooth shifting process.

Culler's Facebook Account

Finally, Brian's dad, who retired from Chrysler almost 20 years ago, also put the car through a good short drive. He impressed me with his ability to effortlessly use the clutch pedal – I guess you don't normally think of those in their 70s using a manual transmission, but he showed me hew knew what he was doing – and made me think that maybe I needed to practice it a bit more. We had a good short conversation about their move to Alabama about 30 years ago (he went to Huntsville for Chrysler) and what he's doing now. They'll be in the market soon for a new car. While I don't know if they'd pick up a car as small as the Fiesta, I was proud that they liked my little green buddy.

More tomorrow, when Tom attempts to fit his golf clubs in the hatch of this little gem!

More photos on Twitter (via Twitpic) and my Facebook account (both accounts are 'tculler').

Day 2  

Baseball day!

I took the Fiesta down to Tate Park in Clinton, where we had four Little League games scheduled, so I figured it would be a good place to show it off. Wow! People really like this car ... especially the kids. One little guy, walking past the car, said to his teammates, "Gotta go now ... I'm taking my hot car" and he proceeded to get in behind the wheel.

Several folks asked about the mileage (I'm getting around 40, YMMV) and where the car would be built (Mexico), but several others also said they'd heard that their parts plant would be supplying some portion of the Fiesta when assembly started, so it was good to hear that even though it's being assembled in Mexico, it will be generating business for local suppliers.

I was driving through Milan on my way home, and noticed that a Ford Flex was following me. I turned down a few residential streets and he continued right behind. When I finally pulled into a friend's driveway, he pulled up and parked on the street in front of the house, and got out with his camera phone. He was on his phone with his wife, and promised her that this would be her next car – and then he started snapping away with the camera. I would have offered a test drive, but I was in a hurry to get to the ball park, so I just spent a minute with him talking about the Fiesta and when it would be available here...and what other colors it might be available in.

Got another 'thumbs up' today on the Southfield freeway – that makes two in two days. I don't normally get a thumbs up when I drive; it's often a different finger. This is fun! It's a bit like hanging out with a celebrity – everyone is looking at you, smiling, taking photos, and you like to think it's you they're after ... but celebrity really doesn't transfer all that well, and certainly not for a long period of time. I imagine my life will return to its quiet, non-pseudo-celebrity, non-thumbs-up daily routine next Monday after I return the car to Ford. But the Fiesta will live on for another driver!

Day 3

Day 3 was actually pretty quiet – only four test drives, but lots of talking about the Fiesta, and lots of interest from passersby – and one more ‘thumbs up’ on the Southfield freeway!

Had to hang around after work Friday after one person from IT saw me with the Fiesta in the parking lot and wanted to get a photo – and got a test drive to boot!

So far, everyone has been really impressed with the 41 MPG I’ve been getting during my time with the car, and they expect it to be a hybrid…but it’s not. 1.6L, 119 HP engine. The kids and parents alike LOVE this green color – I hope it’s a production color here.

My boss Ed Krebs, just finishing up his test drive…

Day 4

Baseball Day!

What an exciting day! The Clinton HS baseball team played two games in the district tournament today and won both to take the district championship! They move on to the regional tournament next weekend.

They took some time out between games to wake up my stepson (and their teammate) Jesse, who was sleeping in the back seat of the Fiesta, then took turns seeing exactly how many of them could fit in the car. Finally, they posed for me. It was some nice, relaxing downtime between two good baseball games.

By the way – just to prove that the Fiesta’s trunk is big enough for you, the team helped little brother Mathew in….

Day 5 – Final day!

Here it is ... Sunday was the last day with the Fiesta.

Culler's Twitter Account

It started with meeting Mickey Alvarado from the Tecumseh Herald in Tecumseh for some 'beauty shots' of the Fiesta around Tecumseh landmarks. (The Herald is running the shots, and possibly a short story about the car, in this week's edition.) Mickey drove the Fiesta from the Herald's HQ to the Community Center at Globe Mill Pond, and as soon as we arrived a young man in a small car pulled up and asked, "Is this the car that's going to save Ford?" He said he'd been following us for a few blocks because he'd heard about the Fiesta coming over from Europe.

I explained to him that Ford was doing OK and hadn't taken government bailouts. Mickey and I both thought that this car was going to do really well when it was introduced here. The gentleman said that he really liked the look of the Fiesta and that it might have been the car that Daniel Craig (James Bond) drove in 'Casino Royale' (it wasn't - that was the 2007 Ford Mondeo). We then talked about the whole Ford lineup in 2010 and 2011 - especially the European Focus, which will be built at the old Michigan Truck Plant.

Mickey was surprised that someone would follow the car for a few blocks and get out and engage us in a conversation about it, but I told him that I'd had other situations like that over the previous 5 days with the car. The beautiful green jewel color attracts your attention, but it's really the design that holds you there and makes you smile.

Anyway, Mickey took shots of the car at the park (in front of the 'Welcome to Tecumseh' sign) and downtown in front of Lev's Bakery and the Schmidt Pharmacy, both longstanding businesses in Tecumseh. It was a beautiful sunny day, and we were out early enough Sunday that there was little traffic and no pedestrians, so there weren't many distracting elements in the photos.

All in all it's been a great experience with the car. The reaction from strangers and friends alike to the color and design were really impressive – especially the high school kids, who thought it was REALLY slick ... though I don't think they used the word 'slick'. The drive was fun, and thankfully Lenawee County is full of straight, two-lane, paved, little-used highways to unwind on. The voice-control system – similar to the SYNC system sold in Ford cars here - was fun, and I did find myself doing a better job of keeping my eyes on the road while using it.

... 5 days, 14 test drives, 670 miles, 16 gallons of fuel, 41.3 MPG, 33 MPH average, and 3 thumbs up ... and uncounted smiles.

JoAnn Schwartz, Research Library

My husband drove me in to work the morning I picked up the Fiesta. "Is that it?" he asked. "Wow! You'll get noticed in that car." And I did. Every where I drove, people waved, pointed, gave me a nod or a thumbs up. At a local shopping center I stopped so a pedestrian could cross to the store entrance and he waved me through, saying, "I want to see the rest of your car." My youngest daughter drove around the neighborhood and four of her friends shouted, "Whoa, sweet! What is that? Dylan, where did you get that car?" In supermarket parking lots, I'd come back to find folks circling the car, asking me when and where they could get one. One fellow at the garden center was especially appreciative of the hatchback. He's been holding on to his Focus wagon because he doesn't want a sedan.

There's even room for two college students in the trunk!

I spent a lunch hour letting my co-workers in Research & Advanced Engineering test drive the car. You could tell they were researchers, too, because they peppered me with questions. Powertrain folks wanted to know how I liked the engine, the manual transmission, the linkages in the shifter. Paint people came out to look at the finish and ask about reactions to the color. Interior guys wanted to know how I liked the seats or the storage. And one fellow from the HMI (Human-Machine Interface) area quizzed me relentlessly on my reactions to the instrument panel and the displays in the center stack.

Like everyone else who got in the car, my co-workers marveled at the amount of room inside the vehicle, even in the rear seats. Some were over six feet tall and still found it comfortable to drive and possible to sit in the rear without finding their knees under their chins! A friend who has had a hip replacement was amazed at how easy it was for her to enter and exit both the driver's seat and the rear seat. She currently owns a VW Passat, but said she would look at a Fiesta replacement because the Passat was much more difficult to get in and out of. The amount of trunk space also surprised many people – including the college students in the photo below. I was told more than once that they hadn't expected to see that much cargo space, given the roomy interior.

The highlight of my weekend was driving down to see my oldest daughter, who studies engineering at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. One thing that surprised me during this trip was that I got no takers for a test drive: none of the students knew how to drive a stick! (Well, my oldest daughter knows how, but she doesn't enjoy it.) They were happy to crawl in and around the car and look under the hood, but everyone asked if it would come with an automatic transmission here in the States. I actually heard this question quite a lot, even from friends that I know can drive a manual transmission. I just hope the manual transmission is available, because I thoroughly enjoyed driving it.

On Monday, we had friends over for a holiday potluck. Every one was looking at the car, but again no takers for the test drive. Instead, I took groups for rides around the neighborhood, including short trips down the freeway. One friend, who has lived in Europe, was very enthused about the car and stated that she hoped Ford did not change the lively handling in an attempt to cater to American tastes.

Overall, I really enjoyed the chance to drive the Fiesta. The highlights for me included: the peppy engine, the smooth "syncho-mesh" transmission, the keyless "start" button, the radio controls on the steering wheel, the capless fuel filler (my first experience with this feature, which was a real surprise and delight), and the quiet in the cabin -- even at highway speeds. The car really felt solid and well-made. I also very much appreciated the 38 mpg the gauges told me I was achieving on my way down to Ohio State, given that the European engine demanded premium gas.

There were surprisingly few low-lights: the lack of cruise control in the vehicle I was driving was one, although I don't think I would have missed it if not for the trip to Columbus; the way I kept having to return to the vehicle for the key fob that locked the doors was another – I tended to throw the fob in the center console after I used it to unlock the car. Inevitably, I would get out and start walking to my destination, only to remember the key fob as I went to lock the doors. As a result, I was a little paranoid that the car would lock with the key fob inside, and then what would I do? But when this car comes out next summer, I would definitely consider getting one to replace the Focus I drive now. In fact, my youngest daughter is already lobbying hard for me to do just that.

Andrea Topolski, strategic portfolio specialist, Verification Data Management & Analysis, Global Product Creation Systems

I only got about one mile from the WHQ parking lot in the Fiesta when someone rolled down his window to ask me what kind of car I was driving.  Every time I stopped at a traffic light, people couldn't help but stare at my awesome ride.  Every morning, I stopped at a different coffee house, and had a blast just watching the reactions of all the people who went out of their way to take a look at it.  Every single one of them commented on the striking design and the fact that the car is so different than anything else on the road.  Some of them even told me they're going to be waiting in line to get one!

The second day I had the car, a 6'10" tall man stopped by to see if he could fit into the car.  Once he got in, he actually had an extra inch of headroom!  We were all amazed to see him sitting in the driver's seat.  Everyone that looked inside said they were pleasantly surprised to see the amount of space inside the car, as well as the amount of space in the trunk.  And everyone loved the layout and appearance of the dashboard.

Rosie LeMaigre (center) and friends like the Ford Fiesta.

Many of the people in my building also wanted to ride in the Fiesta.  With four adults in the car and the air conditioner on full blast, the car performed beautifully.  There was no drag when merging onto the highway, and even though we got up to 90 mph, the road noise was minimal.  Because the Fiesta shifts so smoothly, I was able to teach my friend how to drive a manual.  She was very excited to find out how easy it is to drive this car.

I took the car out to cruise Royal Oak, Mich., on Friday evening, and even though there weren't many people out because it was a holiday weekend, we still got lots of attention.  I actually watched someone stop in the center lane so he could take pictures of the car.  That confirmed my belief that this car is going to sell itself.  I took a bunch of teenagers for a drive that evening, and they all loved the car.

I loved the push button start and the capless fuel feature.  The 16" polished aluminum wheels added to the car's sporty appearance.  While I love my Focus, I didn't want to turn the Fiesta back in.  It's going to be a huge success!

It's great to be a part of the Ford Team!

 

 

 

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John Galligan, Squeak and Rattle, Dearborn Truck Plant

This is the first car I have ever driven with out having to insert the key in the ignition. That was cool. All you have to do is have the electronic key in your pocket and push the start button. The 5 speed manual trans shifted really smooth. The steering is tight and it makes you feel in control. The car felt speedy while darting around town.

I received countless thumbs up while driving back and forth to work. The car definitely turned heads while driving. I even had a couple people wave me over so they could look at the car. I stopped at the store one night and the car drew a crowd in the parking lot. People kept asking me what kind of mileage does it get? When can I get one ? They liked the interior and were surprised by the luggage compartment.

Alicia on her horse

I took the car on the Dearborn Truck squeak and rattle test track. Keep in mind this track is for testing the F150.  We could not believe how good the little car sounded on the track.

My wife and I took a drive up to (Michigan's Thumb area) to look at Lake Huron. We averaged 42 mpg on the freeway. The car was comfortable for the trip especially the seats. The seats were unexpectedly very comfortable on the trip. It seemed like we were riding in a larger vehicle.

The last day we took my daughter Erin to the Pontiac Lake Riding stable in the Pontiac lake rec area. That's her holding the goat in front of the car. She is usually riding a horse on the trail. She would live there with the horses. There is her friend Alicia riding her horse. She is one of the wranglers who leads people on the trail.The horse was also very interested in the car. Unfortunately I missed the camera shot when the horse seemed to kiss the car

 

 

 

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Melinda Cupples, HR associate, Vehicle Operations

Today, my Ford Fiesta was delivered for my long weekend test drive.  It's lime green color was easy to spot from the front of the building.

Interesting Information about the Fiesta:

Þ    The Fiesta will go on sale in the U.S. in the summer of 2010.

Þ    The vehicles you will see around town over the next year are European versions and will change slightly when designed for U.S. production because of U.S. safety and emission standards.

Þ    It will be available in sedan and hatchback models  

First Impressions: 

My first impression of the vehicle is that it looked a lot smaller on the outside than I expected, but it was surprisingly roomy on the inside.  The dashboard is ergonomic and sporty, different from any Ford interior I have seen. It is comfortable to drive, has tight handling, and fun to drive as a 5-speed. 

Cupples shows the Fiesta to some kids outside the Coney Island

First Stop:

As part of my Corporate Citizenship initiative, I was off to Casa Richard Academy this afternoon to take some time with the juniors and seniors to conduct Mock Interview sessions.  The sessions are intended to give these young adults a chance to utilize the lessons they have learned in resume writing and interviewing in a more realistic situation.  There were approximately 18 students who participated.  After the interviews, we, the Ford employees, selected the top two students who most successfully accomplished the task and stood out to us.  At the end of the day, the students asked questions about us and our vehicles.  This gave me the opportunity to point out the Ford Fiesta in the parking lot and invite everyone out to take a look at the vehicle and what it had to offer.  All of the students were excited to take a look at the vehicle, loved the color and the sporty interior.  Overall, their first impression of the vehicle was excellent.

Up Next:

Word around the office spread fast that I had secured one of the Fiestas for a weekend test drive.  I made several trips out to the parking lot to show people what the vehicle was like, especially on the inside since it is so different from any other vehicle. In addition, one person requested they be able to take it for a test drive.

Next Day:

Didn't have anything special planned today, just the usual errands after work.   It is amazing how many people stare at this vehicle. 

So, there I was driving up I-75 North (following the posted speed limit of course), when all of a sudden I see out of the corner of my eye someone trying to get my attention.  I glance over and a man probably in his early 40's, driving a Ford Windstar is indicating to me to roll down my window (I am hoping he has a comment about the car).  I roll down the window and he yells to me (while I am keeping my focus on following all traffic rules), "When is that Fiesta coming out."   I yell back, "Summer 2010."  Then he yells back, "I am waiting for it."

To think this vehicle is going to be geared toward one generation, or a younger generation may be a mistake.  I think people love that it will not be a hybrid, but will still get excellent gas mileage.  People can see using this vehicle for long commutes to work and they are excited about it coming out.

Wolf Von Mueller, Jenna Bush, Jonathon Lents and Nan Von Muellerat the Keith Hamm Foundation Fundraiser.

Day of the Fundraiser: 

The Keith Hamm Foundation Fundraiser.  This event raises funds and awareness for blood-born cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma.   This year it was held at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Mich., and more than 200 people attended.  I parked the vehicle as close to the front entrance as I could.  There were at least half a dozen people who came up to me when they found out I was the owner of the vehicle to ask questions about it.  Several people took the time to come out to the car with me to take a look inside.

I also took the vehicle to my favorite weekend breakfast place, which is HAMBO's in Ferndale, the local Coney Island.  Several of the kids went out to look at the vehicle.  They loved the inside, especially how roomy it was compared to how it looked on the outside.

Overall Comments:

Þ    Interior is awesome, doesn't look like a Ford.

Þ    Love the sporty look.

Þ    Can't wait for it to come out.

Þ    Perfect for the kid heading off to college.

Þ    It's what Ford has needed.

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Plawinski shared his Fiesta experience on Twitter.

Todd Plawinski, business analyst, IT

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be picked to participate in the Fiesta Movement.  I picked the Fiesta on a Wednesday morning, and was able to drive it until the following Monday.  The one I received was a BRIGHT green 4-door hatchback, with a 1.6L / 5-speed powertrain.  The interior was well contented with very comfortable leather, Bluetooth phone support and a USB connection for my iPod.  After leaving the parking lot, it took about 2 minutes before I passed the first car where the driver was staring out the window and pointing at it.  I quickly learned that this would be the norm with the Fiesta!

 

What struck me the most about the car was how much fun it was to drive!  I have often heard people talk about the difference between European and American vehicles, but this was the first time I experienced a purely European car.  The suspension was stiffer, the gears were quicker, and the car felt glued to the road when turning corners.  One of the first posts on my Twitter feed was that it made me wish I lived in a city with more curved roads (I-94 just doesn't cut it…).

 

I spent Wednesday and Thursday showing the car to coworkers, and going on a ton of test drives (and recovering from some of those test drives…)!  As you'd expect, anytime the car was in a Ford parking lot people would quickly gather so they could take a look at it.  The overall feedback was very positive.  Most people loved the color, everyone liked the interior, and everyone commented on how well it drove.  In fact, the manual transmission was so easy to learn, that I ended up teaching three people how to drive one for the first time!  One of those occasions involved a large abandoned parking lot, and a lot of figure eights.  After numerous test drives with as many as 4 people in the car, I also commonly heard how surprised people were with the amount of space inside.

 

The Fiesta on the IU campus

On Friday, my wife Kelly (also a Ford employee of course J) and I left for Holland, MI for a family gathering. Following that, we drove down to Purdue to meet some friends and to continue showing off the Fiesta.  The next morning we drove down to Bloomington for my sister's graduation from Indiana University (no I'm not an IU football fan, it just seemed like a good picture – Go Purdue!).  We showed the Fiesta to a bunch of people in the parking lot following the ceremony, but the one that stood out the most was when I saw a guy walking up and taking pictures of the car every few steps (I wasn't quick enough to get a picture of him taking a picture).  He instantly recognized it as a European Fiesta, and was anxious to know when it would be available in the states.  He also made a point to make sure I knew he not only wanted to see the Fiesta here, but also the European Focus.  I assured him he wouldn't be disappointed!

 

One of the other interesting conversations I had was at a gas station, when a police officer walked up and started looking at the car.  He asked if I was part of that "Fiesta Movement" thing that he had read about in Car and Driver.  Following the graduation, we drove up to Indianapolis for dinner, and to cruise the downtown streets a bit.  We spent Sunday driving back home and stopped at a few cities along the way.  After spending over 16 hours and driving more than 1,000 miles in the Fiesta, the only item it didn't have that I would ask for is cruise control J

 

Overall, I had an amazing time with the Fiesta, and I can't wait for it to become available in the States!!

 

Williams managed to fit 14 teenagers into her Fiesta.

Wendi Williams, senior purchasing manager - Electrical

The first thing I have to say is:  I LOVE THIS CAR!!  I wish that I had REALLY won it...and not just a week of driving it.  The best way I can describe it is "SASSY."  This car just has sass!  The sheet metal - sassy!  The pick up - sassy!  The interior - sassy!  The way I felt driving it - well, SASSY!  I can't wait for this car to go on sale in the US...I need me one!

After that...the MOST fun I had in the Fiesta was last night.  My daughter had some friends over and I persuaded them to see how many kids we could put in the Fiesta.  Well, let me tell you - this little car is BIG!  We got 14 teenagers in there - you HAVE to see the pictures!!  We had a blast.

I also posted a sign in the car window that said "ASK ME about my SASSY Ford Fiesta!"  I think it was partly the sign but MOSTLY the car...everywhere I went, people asked me about it!  People wanted to know what it was...who made it...Everyone LOVED the color - including me!  The very first day I had it - I went to the gas station and the car literally drew a crowd.  Cannot WAIT until we can put this car on sale here in the US...cannot WAIT.

At work, I let everyone know that I had the car and took lots of people out to the parking lot to see it.  People are SO excited about this car.

The other thing that was really cool...my daughter has never driven a stick before.  I took her out in the car to try it...I was AMAZED at how well it went.  To this day, I remember my own trials and tribulations learning to drive a stick...but the Fiesta is so smooth and the gearing is so intuitive...I am not exaggerating...within 30 minutes, she was reasonably confident in the car!  That is amazing!

Wendi Williams and her Fiesta

Anyway...this has been so fun...I am VERY sad to turn in my little buddy tomorrow.  Everyone I know definitely knows how much fun I had being part of the Fiesta Experience...I have been talking it up to all of my friends and family.  I would very much like to be a part of something like this again...I find it so rewarding to be an ambassador of this GREAT company.  I was truly honored to be able to contribute to our sales effort...I would LOVE to do it again.

GO FORD!

VIVA LA FIESTA!

 Wendi