Madman's Shed of the Week

[ifcar]

When Ford introduced the current Focus for the 2012 model year, there was some concern as to whether consumers would be willing to pay more for a vastly upgraded and much improved car compared to the previous Focus, which sold almost exclusively by virtue of being cheap.  Well, as history has shown (and as I had correctly predicted at the time) the answer was an emphatic yes!

The answer was an emphatic no.....just like with the first-gen Focus, buyers insisted on paying less than they'd pay for the competition. The Focus is the budget car of its class, sophistication or not.

[2o6]

Isn't transaction price for the Focus actually at a high among the class?

[ifcar]

Isn't transaction price for the Focus actually at a high among the class?

I haven't seen that stat. Every time I run the Truecar numbers on the Focus versus the competition, it's down in deep-budget territory. And it's still a fleet queen for governments and rental agencies.

[CALL_911]

That surprises me. The Focus is a super nice car. When I think budget in that class, I think of the Sentra

[ifcar]

That surprises me. The Focus is a super nice car. When I think budget in that class, I think of the Sentra

When I last ran the numbers, the cheapies are the Focus, Sentra, and Corolla, when comparably equipped. Expensive ones are the Cruze, Jetta, and Impreza.

Granted, you can also get a Focus with a lot more features than some compacts, so if a lot of people buy those that may drive up the average transaction price.

[Madman]

28 August - 3 September 2016.

Honest, unpretentious transport.



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Toyota once pitched the Yaris with the advertising tagline "It's a Car!".  I wish I could have been at the meeting when the ad agency presented this idea to Toyota's executives.  If this was the campaign that got approved, just imagine how shit all the ones that got rejected were!  Where the hell is Don Draper when you need him?  Maybe that explains why every time I come across a Yaris, it always turns out to be an ex-rental car.  After all, who's going to spend their own money on a car the manufacturer can't be bothered to say anything interesting about?  Maybe this is why I feel compelled to stick up for Toyota's unsung little hero?  While the Corolla, Camry and so on get to bask in all the marketing limelight, the Yaris gets treated like the red-headed stepchild.  I, for one, appreciate the Yaris as an honest, unpretentious mode of transport.  So let's take this opportunity to celebrate the 2013 Toyota Yaris LE five door hatchback!

Forward motion is provided by Toyota's 16 valve DOHC 1.5 litre 1NZ-FE engine augmented by variable valve timing, just like pretty much everything else these days.  This mill produces 106 horsepower on regular unleaded.  A five speed manual is theoretically available but most of these you will find have a four speed automatic.  This auto-equipped Yaris gets a so-so 30 MPG City and 36 MPG Highway rating, which is pretty far adrift from the magic 40 MPG number many rivals in this segment like to brag about in their advertising.  A CVT would undoubtedly score better in the EPA's fuel economy tests, so why doesn't Toyota sell the CVT-equipped Yaris over here, as they do in many other markets?  I can't be the only one who wants an answer to this question!  Even with the antiquated automatic, the Yaris puffs just 273 grams of CO2 per mile from its little pea-shooter tailpipe, helping it to score a commendable ULEV II (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle, generation II) rating from the Feds.

Being the middle child of the Yaris family, the LE brings to the party stuff like independent strut front suspension and semi-independent torsion beam rear suspension, 15 inch steel wheels with plastic covers, power operated outside mirrors, air conditioning, cruise control, tilt steering wheel, keyless entry, power operated windows and door locks, reclining front seats, 60/40 split fold rear seats, black and white fabric upholstery, metal-look cabin accents, CD stereo with speed sensitive volume and MP3 decoder, AM/FM/HD/Satellite radio receiver, wireless phone connectivity, halogen headlights, rear window wiper and defroster, light tinted windows, trip computer, front disc/rear drum brakes with three channel ABS, dual front airbags, dual side torso airbags, dual side curtain airbags, driver's knee airbag, rear child safety locks, ignition immobiliser, electronic stability control and electronic traction control.

I've commented before about the odd placement of the aux outlet and a USB port, not-so-conveniently hidden all the way in the back of the glovebox as part of a game of automotive designer hide-and-seek.  You have to wonder what were they thinking.  Were Toyota's designers as lazy as their advertising agency?  As for the infotainment unit itself, it looks like the sort of aftermarket audio deck you could have bought from Circuit City's going-out-of-business sale, circa 2009.  The Chiclet-sized buttons and tiny digital display further add the to the dated and slightly low-rent ambiance.  Dash plastics have often been panned by reviewers as hard and scratchy, but what do you want for an MSRP of just $17,240 including destination charge?  But you won't pay anywhere near that much for this 2013 Yaris LE five door.  This 71,892 mile example, finish in a lovely shade of light blue, can be bought from a nearby beater merchant for only $7,500.

The Yaris is honest, unpretentious and all the car most people will ever need.

[ifcar]

Couple of notes:
- The manual wasn't offered on this trim, just on three-doors or the five-door SE.
- I had no complaints about the dashboard plastics; all of the light-colored section is padded, not "hard and scratchy."

[Madman]

4-10 September 2016:

The Nissan Note is music to my ears.



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What's handsome, practical, unbelievably roomy inside and so economical you can afford to run it on pocket change?  Say hello to the 2015 Nissan Versa Note SV, or the Nissan Note as it is known everywhere else on Planet Earth.  Evidently, Nissan's North American marketing department felt compelled to awkwardly wedge the Versa name into this car's moniker for sake of brand recognition.  This car followed the wholly unremarkable previous generation Versa (called Tiida overseas) and, contrary to it's name, is only distantly related to the utterly miserable and pointless Versa sedan.  Therefore, let's just stick to calling this car the Note.  And, as you will see, it is a very Note-able car, indeed!

Before buying the MINI, I test drove one of these.  I was absolutely blown away by the amount of room inside!  Rear legroom is better than some mid-sized sedans I've ridden in.  It's as if Nissan's engineers have cracked the secret of Dr. Who's Tardis and somehow made the Note bigger on the inside than on the outside.  If only they could make it travel in time and space, too!  I also noticed Nissan's interior quality has improved by leaps and bound since I last looked at one in the '90s.  For an economy car, the plastics and switchgear were pretty decent.  But what about the oily bits underneath?

As befitting such a roomy yet eminently practical ride such as this, the Versa Note is powered by the fuel-sipping 16 valve DOHC 1.6 litre HR16DE variant of the Renault-Nissan HR engine.  It produces 109 horses on regular unleaded, which is perfectly adequate for a seemingly small, lightweight car such as this.  I'd prefer a proper manual gearbox but, this being America (home of the lazy and clueless motorist), finding one is next to impossible.  The problem is all but the poverty-spec S model came with a CVT transmission, so it's not as if you really have any choice.  This particular Nissan gets 31 MPG City and 40 MPG Highway.  Plus, it's EPA-rated as a ULEV II (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle, generation II) thanks, in part, to it emitting only 249 grams of CO2 per mile.

The 2015 Versa Note SV comes with independent front strut and semi-independent torsion beam rear suspension, speed-sensing electric power-assist rack-and-pinion steering, 15 inch steel wheels with plastic covers, power adjustable outside mirrors, air conditioning, cruise control, keyless entry, power operated windows and door locks, auto-locking doors, tilt adjustable steering wheel, reclining front seats, 60/40 split fold rear seats, Charcoal fabric upholstery, metal-look cabin trim, CD stereo with speed sensitive volume and four speakers, halogen headlights, rear window wiper and defroster, light tinted windows, trip computer, front disc/rear drum brakes with four channel ABS and electronic brake assist, dual front airbags, dual side torso airbags, dual side curtain airbags, rear child safety locks, ignition immobiliser, electronic stability control and electronic traction control.

Nissan calls this paint Red Brick Metallic.  I've never seen a metallic brick in my life, so I'll just have to take their word for it.  Now, you think a car this new with only 39,805 miles would be beyond the range of the hypothetical Shed budget, right?  Well, you'd be wrong.  These cars are getting unbelievably cheap and, for somebody needing a practical runabout, you could do a lot worse than the Note.  In fact, you can snap up this very one shown here from a local beater merchant for the very reasonable price of $8,999.

A deal like that is certainly music to my ears!

[BimmerM3]

But sooooo slow. I had one for a rental a few months ago.

It was huge inside though.

[Madman]

9-15 September 2016:

The elusive, affordable Honda Fit.



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I haven't had the opportunity to showcase very many Honda Fits in this thread.  In fact, this is the very first second generation Fit to grace the SOTW thread, ever.  I can assure you it's not because I have anything against the Fit.  Far from it, in fact.  I think it is an excellent car.  So why the veritable drought of Fits?  If you want to know the answer, just try finding one in good condition, going for a reasonable price that hasn't clocked more miles than your average Space Shuttle.  Go on, give it a try.  I'll wait.

Back so soon?  I'll bet you didn't have much luck, did you?  I don't want to be the one who says "I told you so" but, I told you so.  The damn things simply don't depreciate!

Upon further investigation, it's not hard to see why the Fit is the blue-chip, investment-grade stock of the small car world.  I'll use this 2012 Honda Fit base model, shown above, to illustrate my point.  Let's start with the space inside.  Cavernous doesn't even begin to describe how huge the inside of the Fit really is.  The best part is that nearly all of that space is usable space.  Even with the rear seats in the up position, the Fit's cargo hold puts many larger cars to shame.  Flip the back seats down and you have a completely flat and level loading floor that gives the Fit the feel of a minivan that shrunk in the wash.  Those same "Magic" seats, as Honda calls them, also fold upwards, allowing you to carry large bulky items.  Underneath the seat bases are hidden storage compartments, ideal for hiding your weed, er.., I mean your small valuable items!  In short, if what you've got doesn't fit inside the Fit, you probably don't need it!

Okay, so we all know the Fit is incredibly versatile.  And, being a Honda, we also know it will be as dependable as the sun rising in the east every morning.  But does it have the cool factor?  I think it does.  The funky styling still turns heads after all these years and Fits are still just about rare enough to maintain a certain level of exclusivity, which only further enhances it's coolness quotient.  This ain't your grandma's Accord!

Did I mention it's fun, too?  You'll never lack for power from Honda's 16 valve DOHC 1.5 litre engine with i-VTEC (Just kicked in, Yo!) producing 117 horsepower.  It uses a chain-driven cam, so there's no expensive timing belt changes to worry about and it runs on cheap regular unleaded, too.  Naturally, the five speed manual gearbox is the enthusiast's choice but finding one can be a problem.  The more common automatic transaxle is a conventional torque converter five speed slushbox and a very refined one, at that.  Unlike last week's Nissan Note, you won't hear any CVT drone coming from this car!  With the auto, you can expect to see 28 MPG City and 35 MPG Highway.  Sure, some other B-segment cars get better fuel economy, but none have the room or the loading capability of the Fit.  CO2 emissions are only 287 grams per mile, helping the base model Fit achieve a ULEV II (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle, generation II) rating from the EPA.

Even base cars such as these get a plethora of standard features, including independent front strut and semi-independent torsion beam rear suspension, electric power-assist rack-and-pinion steering, steel wheels with plastic covers, power operated outside mirrors, air conditioning with cabin air filtration, cruise control, keyless entry, power operated windows and door locks, auto-locking doors, tilt/telescope steering wheel, reclining front seats, 60/40 split fold rear seats, grey fabric upholstery, metal-look cabin trim, anti-theft CD stereo with MP3 decoder and speed sensitive volume control, four audio speakers, halogen headlamps, rear window wiper and defroster, light tinted windows, front disc/rear drum brakes with four channel ABS, electronic brakes assist, daytime running lights, dual front airbags, dual side torso airbags, dual side curtain airbags, rear child safety locks, ignition immobiliser, security system with alarm, VSA electronic stability control, electronic traction control and anti-whiplash front seats.

Introduced for the 2009 model year, the second generation Fit received a mild mid-cycle refresh for the 2012 model year.  Improvements included newly styled wheel covers and colour-keyed mirror housings for the base model and blacked-out headlamp bezels and additional sound deadening material for all models.  Unfortunately, Honda doesn't deem Fit buyers worthy enough to have the option of a sunroof, which is a pity because a full-length panoramic sunroof would look very much at home on this car.  And whilst I'm going on about what Honda could have done to improve things, a sixth gear for the transmission would certainly have been a welcome addition.  Too bad that didn't happen, either.

There appears to be a couple of stone chips on the front bumper, but nothing a little bit of Honda's Cool Turquoise Metallic touch-up paint can't rectify.  The Shed-peddler selling this 2012 Honda Fit has also given the interior and good clean and shampoo, so no worries there.  There are only 61,442 miles on the clock and the dealer is asking just $9,500.

Behold the rarely seen, clean, original and, above all, affordable Honda Fit.  Methinks I won't see it's like again for a very long time!

[mzziaz]

Had that car as a rental once. A nice little motor.

[2o6]

Had that car as a rental once. A nice little motor.

Too bad road noise is loud, and the seats are really hard and the ride is so bad.

[MrH]

287 grams of C02 per mile?  Phew, too rich for my blood.  Hard pass.

[2o6]

287 grams of C02 per mile?  Phew, too rich for my blood.  Hard pass.

This one will kill you quicker if you run it in the garage with the door closed, compared to my Sonic, which is only 271 grams of C02 per mile.



Honda hates human life.

[mzziaz]

Too bad road noise is loud, and the seats are really hard and the ride is so bad.

Only negatives I remember was a bit weak engine and a tad cheap interior. Otherwise, I found it very roomy for its size with great visibility, iirc. I remember thinking it could almost do duty as a family car for us at the time (3 kids)

[CALL_911]

I like those Fits quite a bit

[2o6]

Only negatives I remember was a bit weak engine and a tad cheap interior. Otherwise, I found it very roomy for its size with great visibility, iirc. I remember thinking it could almost do duty as a family car for us at the time (3 kids)

It's got a lot of room, yea. But the car as a whole I found to be kind of uncomfortable. I love the latest Fit, and the one before it, but the one pictured above I don't particularly care for.

[Madman]

SOTW Update!




Well, that didn't take long.

The price tag on the 2015 Nissan Versa Note from two weeks ago has just been given a substantial haircut.

$1,000 has just been lopped off, so now you can buy this eminently practical motor for only $7,999.

[Madman]

16-22 September 2016:

Sonic boom or bust?



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GM's track record of building small cars is somewhat patchy, to say the least.  But what about some of their newer offerings, like this 2012 Chevrolet Sonic 1LT hatchback?  It this Sonic a boom or a bust?  Let's dig a little deeper and find out.

The Sonic arrived in 2012 to replace the almost universally loathed Aveo.  Although it bore a passing resemblance to its predecessor, the Sonic was in fact a very different kind of car.  With the smaller Spark assuming the role of bargain bucket transport, the all new Sonic was free to move slightly upmarket and pursue a more aggressive and sporty position within the Chevrolet range.  In many ways, the Sonic was a first for Chevy.  Here was a small car from GM's American-as-apple-pie brand that wasn't mind-blowingly awful.  You'd never believe this car follows in the footsteps of such craptacular efforts as the Vega, Monza and Chevette.  After these miserable turds, is it any wonder GM spent the next twenty years farming-out their small car production to Isuzu, Suzuki and Toyota?  But does the Sonic have what it takes to square-up against the Fiesta, Fit, Yaris, Rio and Versa?  Allow me to present the case for the prosecution.

The Sonic is built on GM's Gamma II global platform, which you will also know in jacked-up form from the Chevy Trax and Buick Encore.  It is also unique in that this is the only B-Segment car currently being built in the United States.  Specifically, at the Orion Township assembly plant in Michigan.  So go ahead and dig out all those old "Buy American" bumper stickers and feel free to slap them on this car!  The Sonic is still sold globally under the Aveo name but Australians insist on calling this car the Holden Barina because they simply can't resist the urge to be different.  Power for this 1LT trim Sonic comes by way of a turbocharged 16 valve DOHC 1.4 litre I4 engine with variable valve control from GM's Ecotec engine family and sends its power to the front wheels through a six speed manual transaxle.  This powerplant churns out a respectable 138 horsepower and, with the do-it-yourself six-speeder, delivers 29 MPG City and 40 MPG Highway on regular unleaded.  This drivetrain also achieves ULEV (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) status from the EPA and emits just 269 grams of CO2 per mile.  It is worth noting that Sonic buyers can also settle for a naturally aspirated 1.8 litre engine that produces the same 138 horsepower but less torque and poorer fuel economy.

The Sonic is a pretty roomy car for its size and the buyer of this one will get independent front strut and semi-independent rear torsion beam suspension, electric power-assist rack-and-pinion steering, 15 inch alloy wheels, heated and power operated outside mirrors, rear lip spoiler, air conditioning, cruise control, keyless entry, power operated windows and door locks, auto-locking doors, tilt/telescope steering wheel, OnStar communication system, reclining front seats, 60/40 split fold rear seats, grey fabric upholstery, metal-look cabin trim, anti-theft CD stereo with AM/FM/SiriusXM satellite radio receiver and MP3 decoder, speed sensitive volume control, six "performance" speakers, halogen headlamps, variable intermittent wipers, rear window wiper and defroster, light tinted windows, trip computer, front disc/rear drum brakes with four channel ABS, electronic brake assist, daytime running lights, dual front airbags, dual front side torso airbags, dual rear side torso airbags, dual side curtain airbags, driver's knee airbag, front seatbelt pretensioners, rear child safety locks, ignition immobiliser, security system with alarm, Stabilitrak electronic stability control and electronic traction control.

Wow, can you believe all the stuff you get in a little economy car these days?  With all the safety and luxury features you get in humble bread-and-butter cars nowadays, what's the point in spending the extra money for a so-called luxury car?  Apart from a fancy badge and bragging rights, what's the point?

This Victory Red Chevy Sonic has just 66,427 miles under its radials.  The car has just been listed on Autotrader by my local Audi dealer, of all places, for the very reasonable price of $8,572.  That seems like a bargain for a turbocharged warm-ish hatch!

So what's the verdict on this one?  Is this Sonic a boom or will it be a bust?

[2o6]

Turbo Sonics are Six speeds.

[MrH]

Every time I see a sonic, I think toot toot Sonic warrior.

[Madman]

Turbo Sonics are Six speeds.

Oops!  Maybe I should have looked at the photo of the gear knob a little more closely?   

The post has now been corrected.

[Cookie Monster]

Every time I see a sonic, I think toot toot Sonic warrior.

[2o6]

Every time I see a sonic, I think toot toot Sonic warrior.

http://youtu.be/i3cFn6NneHA

[Madman]

25 September - 1 November 2016:

Bigger is not always better.



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Back in the 1950s, one of Volkswagen's first advertising campaigns in America encouraged buyers to "Think Small".  But Fiat want you to think even smaller.  They know less bulk and lower weight equals more fun.  And you'd be hard pressed to find a car that's more fun than this 2012 Fiat 500 Sport hatchback.

Fiat's purchase of Chrysler opened the door for all sorts of exotic Italiana to make its way to our shores.  And just as pizza and pasta have become as American as apple pie, the cheeky little 500 is another tasty Italian dish warmly embraced by the American public.  Seriously, if you don't love this car, you have no soul!

The 500 Sport is motivated by a characterful 16 valve DOHC 1.4 litre engine endowed with Fiat's clever MultiAir variable valve timing and lift control technology.  Like a midget bodybuilder, the diminutive Fiat may be small but it packs some serious punch!  101 horsepower may not sound like much but, in a car this small and light, you'll be amazed by how quick it feels.  Many of you will object to this particular specimen not having the standard five speed manual gearbox.  I'll admit I had my doubts about this car's six speed automatic, too.  But, according to a lot of owners out there, its actually pretty decent.  At least there's a Tiptronic-style manual shift feature to appease those who insist upon rowing their own gears.  Besides, a quick search of my local AutoTrader listings revealed that finding a non-Abarth 500 with a stick is about as likely as striking oil in your back yard.

The auto-equipped 500 claims fuel consumption figures of 27 MPG City and 34 MPG Highway.  You will need to fill the 10.5 gallon tank with premium unleaded to get the best from it.  This 500 also emits just 296 grams of CO2 per mile, helping it achieve a LEV II (Low Emission Vehicle, generation II) rating from the powers that be in Washington.

While car shopping this past summer, I had the opportunity to crawl inside a 500 and discovered this little pipsqueak of a car to be much roomier than initial appearances would suggest.  The driving position still has that traditional long arm and short leg "Italian Ape" stance I remember well from my old X-1/9, but you soon get used to it.  And yes, the back seat is tiny.  Hey, this is a city car.  What did you expect?

Some people still buy into the outdated mindset that small cars are unsafe.  Don't believe it.  The 500 has a strong chassis, seven airbags and a "Top Safety Pick" award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  You're more likely to be injured in your own home than you are in the Fiat 500.

Best of all, the 500 proves you can downsize without having to downgrade.  You get independent front and semi-independent rear suspension, electric power-assist rack-and-pinion steering, 16 inch alloy wheels, heated and power operated outside mirrors, air conditioning, rear lip spoiler, cruise control, keyless entry, power operated windows and door locks, auto-locking doors, tilt adjustable steering wheel, reclining front seats, 50/50 split fold rear seats, grey/black leather upholstery, CD stereo with MP3 decoder and six speakers, projector bean halogen headlights, rear window wiper and defroster, light tinted windows, trip computer, four wheel disc brakes with four channel ABS and electronic brake assist, daytime running lights, dual front airbags, dual side torso airbags, dual side curtain airbags, driver's knee airbag, front seatbelt pretensioners, ignition immobiliser, security system, electronic stability control, electronic traction control and anti-whiplash front head restraints.

The "Argento" (AKA Silver) paint on this 500 looks very classy and the inside is immaculately spotless.  A nearby beater lot has listed this 80,277 mile car for sale.  It's on offer for the unbelievably cheap price of $5,995.

Bigger may not always be better, but here's proof good things do come in small packages!

[ifcar]

Some people still buy into the outdated mindset that small cars are unsafe.  Don't believe it.  The 500 has a strong chassis, seven airbags and a "Top Safety Pick" award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. 

Incorrect; it failed one of the IIHS tests.

[Madman]

Wasn't that test introduced after the 2012 models had been tested?

I'm wondering because the 2012 model did earn an IIHS Top Safety Pick award.

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/fiat/500-2-door-hatchback/2012

[Eye of the Tiger]

Small offset? That's a stupid test. You might as well shoot it with a .50 caliber rifle and fail it when the paint chips.

[ifcar]

Wasn't that test introduced after the 2012 models had been tested?

I'm wondering because the 2012 model did earn an IIHS Top Safety Pick award.

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/fiat/500-2-door-hatchback/2012

I guess by 2012 standards they didn't yet require a passing grade in that test.

[Madman]

2-8 October 2016:

Fiesta is ready to party!


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After decades of fobbing off their American customers with substandard small cars (I'm looking at you Festiva and Aspire!) Ford finally decided to offer us the same high-quality and high-content Fiesta available throughout the rest of the world.  It has always irritated me to no end that somebody in Botswana living in a hut made from mud and goat dung could theoretically buy a better small Ford that I can!  And now. thanks to the miracle of depreciation, you can buy one for a fraction of its original MSRP.  Cast you eyes over this lovely 2014 Ford Fiesta SE five door hatch and you'll see exactly what I mean.

For 2014, Ford gave the fiesta a significant facelift.  The most obvious change was the faux-Aston Martin grille up front, a styling flourish Ford has grafted onto the fronts of nearly all it's cars.  It really does look like a tiny Aston Martin.  In retrospect, Aston needn't have bothered turning the Toyota/Scion iQ into a Mini-Me version of one of their supercars.  Ford have already done the work for them!  Other changes for the 2014 Fiesta include more sound-deadening insulation, new tail lights, improved infotainment and some minor interior updates.

Most of the Mexican-built Fiestas you'll find in the wild are fitted with a 16 valve DOHC 1.6 litre iteration of Ford's Sigma engine which produced 120 horsepower while running on regular unleaded.  A conventional five speed manual gearbox was standard but this example comes with the more popular six speed dual dry clutch "Powershift" automatic which, in reality, is an automated manual transaxle.  Early versions of this transmission have been criticised for jerky-feeling gear changes and slow upshifts.  In response, Ford has released several software and firmware upgrades over the last few years to mitigate these issues.  The 1.6 Sigma and Powershift combo in the Fiesta scored an excellent 27 MPG City and 36 MPG Highway rating on regular unleaded in the EPA's tests.  Even more impressive is the commendably low 294 grams of CO2 per mile emitted into the atmosphere, helping the Fiesta achieve an LEV II (Low Emission Vehicle, generation II) ranking from the same agency.

One look inside reveals the Fiesta is not one of the cheap, horrid penalty boxes to which American small car shoppers have become accustomed.  The upper dash is a slab of the sort of soft-touch plastic which motoring journalists can't seem to get enough of.  However, the lower dash and inner doors are made from the type of rock-hard stuff usually seen on industrial equipment.  It will probably last forever but the soft-touch polymer fetishists out there will still bemoan the lack of give beneath a prodded finger.  The middle of the dash is dominated by mobile phone-style buttons for the infotainment system and a digital screen that appears to have been liberated from a 1990s-vintage hand-held video game.

The feature count on this Fiesta SE Hatch model is certainly impressive.  You get independent front and semi-independent rear suspension, speed-sensing electric power-assist rack-and-pinion steering, alloy wheels, rear lip spoiler, power operated outside mirrors, air conditioning, cruise control, keyless entry, power operated windows and door locks, auto-locking doors, tilt/telescope steering wheel, reclining front seats, 60/40 split fold rear seats, Smoke Storm (AKA grey) fabric upholstery, simulated brushed-metal cabin trim, leather wrapped steering wheel, CD stereo with MP3 decoder and speed sensitive volume, AM/FM receiver, six audio speakers, wireless phone connectivity, halogen headlights, variable intermittent wipers, rear window wiper and defroster, light tinted windows, trip computer, front disc/rear drum brakes with four channel ABS, daytime running lights, dual front airbags, dual side torso airbags, dual side curtain airbags, driver's knee airbag, rear child safety locks, ignition immobiliser, electronic traction control and electronic stability control.

This gorgeous Ingot Silver Metallic 2014 Ford Fiesta SE 5-Door looks brand new inside and out.  It has only done 48,136 miles, comes with a clean Carfax and a local multi-brand franchised dealer has listed it for just $9,460.

A deal this good is cause to celebrate.  Let the Fiesta begin!