(Author’s note: this is an opinion piece, so anyone who thinks I’m wrong can GTFAC)
A few days ago, I was in the middle of putting the Alltrack semi-sideways on a dirt road at a reasonable speed when I realized that I was having much more fun in it than I did the Fiesta. I know, this sounds ridiculous. The Fiesta ST is a poster-child for cheap fun, a tiny fast-enough econobox with handling that the less creative will describe as “on rails” and the more adventurous will describe as “confidence inspiring until your car decides it wants an all-ditch diet”. The Alltrack has about the same power, but the gearbox is much less lickety-split than the Fiesta, and it’s hauling around a lot more weight. How can it be more fun?
This is when my old friend sociology kicks down and starts screaming how your environment is just as important, if not more, than any intrinsic traits you may have. The Fiesta, while an absolute riot on an autocross track and on curvy roads, everything coming together in a peachy combination to let you have enough fun without breaking too many traffic laws, is not designed for rural Saskatchewan. The 205/40R17 tires weren’t happy on grid roads, the suspension was rough, and I managed to make it to one autocross event during the year and a half I owned it.
For the most part, I was just scared about breaking it. It was my only car, and I couldn’t do something to get me stranded. I was worried to take it on grids once I saw how quickly the paint could chip and the harshness of the ride on a good road, let alone one covered in washboard. The exhaust was a little loud on the highway. The straight line speed was fun, but there aren’t many curves nearby that aren’t dirt or gravel. The fact that it was my only car made me worried at autocross, where we were told any damages wouldn’t be covered by insurance. It was something I felt I had to baby.
But the Alltrack has ground clearance. It was all-wheel drive. It has sidewall. It’s designed for comfort. It’s easier to get to the limits of the car, and is able to take me down those fun side roads. I can do a six hour trip in it to sixty kilometres of dirt and gravel corners without worrying about if I’ll be able to make it back, or that I’ll need to take it at less than fifty kilometres an hour. And where previous roads would have stopped me, I’m more than happy to take a detour and see where it goes. It’s a better fit for me and what kind of driving I actually do. I don’t need a canyon carver, I need something that can get me places in relative comfort and at a decent clip.
It made me realize that the automotive press and enthusiasts at large are much more willing to gauge a car on its merits than where the person owning it is going to drive it. I’m sure a Hellcat is great, but I’d rather take a kick to the balls than drive it through Toronto traffic. I’m sure a Miata is great, but it’d be pushing itself on a bunch of the roads out here. I bet a Raptor would be a riot, but as my solo vehicle, it probably wouldn’t be the nicest on road trips when it chugs gas. And Ferraris may cure cancer, but you can bet I’d be terrified taking it out for anything and risking it getting damaged.
The Fiesta ST may be a darling of the enthusiast community, but wasn’t the fun car for me. I think I’m beyond the point of critiquing and insulting others’ vehicles because they may be the best choice for their lifestyle at that point, and that’s okay. As long as you can have fun with what you drive, I think that’s the most important part.