#PRODUCTWATCH: TEST DRIVING THE 2015 FORD FIESTA ST + 2015 FORD FOCUS TITANIUM

Every once in a while I get the pleasure of test driving a true gem, and a true gem the 2015 Ford Focus Titanium is indeed.  This compact, high-performance vehicle drives as great as it looks, offering phenomenal value for its listed price.

What I appreciate most about the Titanium is its concern for safety. As a city driver, awareness of surroundings is both beneficial and preventative.  Its  audio/visual cues and rear-view camera make parallel parking or backing-out a breeze and I won’t deny how handy it is to receive visual alerts in my side mirrors that let me know when cars are about to enter my peripheral vision.

Let’s talk about the experience driving the Titanium, which I equate to pure luxury.  Activated by keyless ignition, operation is simple and straightforward. The deep leather seats had me feeling cradled and cozy and that heated option sure would come in handy in the winter, am I right? A sizy hatchback trunk is perfect for those big grocery runs and gratuitous shopping extravaganzas.  That spacious moonroof had me basking under the sun as I zipped down the 401, as that glorious Sony soundsystem with 10 speakers and subwoofer, blared my favourite tunes of the Summer.  Lean On by Major Lazer, anybody?

SYNC with MyFord Touch made navigation to and from my destination simple with the touch of a finger. It worked with my Samsung S6 via bluetooth to let me take and make phone calls safely as I drove.  

One minor irritant I will say is that SYNC wouldn’t play audio files I had purchased on iTunes via a USB connection due to protected content restrictions. In fact, connecting via USB to charge my phone even caused SYNC  to crash repeatedly with lengthy waits to reboot, although we’re sure this would be corrected with a software revision down the road.

In the week I test-drove the Titanium, I experienced both torrential downpour of rain and scorching heat.  The front and rear-view wipers kept my line of vision clear in the rain, with superb handling of the road.  And nothing beats the super-quick air conditioning which had me cool and calm in no time.

I adore the 2015 Ford Focus Titanium and without a question would own one. Learn more about it here.

Some Snaps:

Total pleasure driving the @fordcanada Focus Titanium this week. A gem. Read more at MRWILLWONG.COM. #FordFocus #TestDrive #Ford

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 17, 2015 at 6:54pm PDT

 

And can we talk about my experience learning to drive standard?  Ford Canada kindly gave me the opportunity to learn to conquer this longtime fear of mine.  Driving down the 403 to Oakville, my palms admittedly were sweaty. Upon arriving at Ford Canada‘s headquarters, where I was greeted by my friend Melissa and instructor Malcolm Strachan, I knew right away I was in good hands. Patiently I was  guided how and when to switch gears and to navigate that unknown variable – the ever-daunting clutch – giving my leg a bit of a workout.

Within two hours, I still was far from perfect a standard driver, but I had the foundation and basics to be able to handle the task if I ever were to drive a manual vehicle.  The feeling of control you have over the road driving a standard is unparalleled, not to mention fuel efficiency benefits and the undisputed fact you will be a better, more focused driver for it all. There is no room for distracted driving when driving a standard.

I am proud to say I learned to drive standard in an ultra-stylish 2015 Ford Fiesta ST with its gorgeous Recaro-styled seats, six-speed transmission, 1.6L Ti-VCT EcoBoost I-4 engine and power moonroof and definitely would experience it again!

Learn more here about the 2015 FORD FIESTA ST.

 

See some Photos of my experience:

So I learned how to drive Standard on the gorgeous #FordFiesta today thanks to Coach Malcolm and @fordcanada. Was terrified but rewarding! #Ford #Driving #Oakville

A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Aug 15, 2015 at 12:32pm PDT

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)