Does Ford know what they are doing - NO

Are you headed for a money pit - YES

When it comes to the worst modern engines the names that topically pop up are VW EA888, Ford EcoBoost 1.5 and Hyundai-Kia G4KD.

I don’t know much about the Fiesta ST variant, but reliability on the Focus ST with 182 horsepower isn’t good at all from what I’ve been seeing.

It’ll take another couple of years to see what it’s reliability is going to be - but I wouldn’t have high hopes as Ford’s EcoBoost series hasn’t been doing well at all…

On that fiesta, the good engine is the EcoBoost 1.0, those had a lot of issues with the belts and timing system but with proper maintenance they can go for quite a long time. I have high hopes for the 1.1L DuraTec Ti-VCT (it’s probably just a downscaled Sigma, and it’s full scale variants were awesome although underpowered), but I’d also just wait until there is more info about it.

Generally you want to inspect the condition of the timing belt - and that the oil pump intake mesh wasn’t completely clogged up by its pieces as that was an issue with the smaller 1.0 EcoBoost when they got to high mileages…

obviously when you get a low oil pressure light - don’t push it. Go into N, turn it off and get a tow truck. (Was a common failure with the smaller 1.0)

Sadly, you are probably going into a money pit - unless you drive very little (I can’t imagine it falling apart before 60k-80k miles) and maintain it much more frequently then recommended.

if I were you I’d just get a Suzuki Swift Sport Boostjet (solid engine, Aisin manual - very under appreciated car) or a GR Yaris (although I’m really not sure about that 3 cylinder 1.5L they got in it and on it’s pricing)

You are heading for a disaster. 

 I would not plan for it to last much longer than the warranty period. (Ford definitely knows what they are doing.)

Thanks for the replies, gentlemen. I'll be sure to maintain it properly and maybe move it on when the warranty period is over. 😪