Discussion
Picked the new wheels up, really good condition, ended up paying £350, one needs a new TPMS sensor so will sort than then order some tyres. Probably going to go with Uniroyal Rainsport 5's as get a good review of the ST owners and a bit cheaper, this little job will be into £800, plus the alignment next week, could have got away with a couple of tyres for £200 ish.
danfilm007 said:
J4CKO said:
Picked the new wheels up, really good condition, ended up paying £350, one needs a new TPMS sensor so will sort than then order some tyres. Probably going to go with Uniroyal Rainsport 5's as get a good review of the ST owners and a bit cheaper, this little job will be into £800, plus the alignment next week, could have got away with a couple of tyres for £200 ish.
I run Goodyear Asym 6 on my car - performed much better than the PS4s it had on when I collected!Probably not a fair comparison if they were on the wear limit and say three years old.
But will look at the prices and include that as an option, really need a circuit and a set of about six different candidates to try in the wet and the dry, plus say a day each on the road to get a feel of comparable new tyres.
Bought a set of eBay special TPMS sensors, will change them over before the tyres are fitted.
Ste372 said:
Can you let me know how the alignment goes? I'm Manchester based but need a fast road geo doing on my car. Was thinking suspension secrets in knutsford but it's ways good to get feedback from other places!
Yeah, will update the thread when its done on Tuesday, its had some much messed with since it was new its probably way out so hoping it makes a good difference.Ordered some new "ST" centre caps for my new wheels, will order some new tyres soon, just need to have the TPMS sensors in and ready and will organise it. Pretty sure will go for the Rainsport 5s, like the idea of having the best wet performance.
It desperately needs a clean, but I quite like it looking filthy.
Alignment done and a new set of genuine Ford mats, I ordered the mats when I decided the old ones looked manky, then set to on the old ones which came up really well using the dog grooming brush to get all the bits out, but had spent £40 by then.
Alignment done today at ABP in Crewe, the Camber and the castor were fine, I had eyeballed both so was amazed when the chap said they were spot on, 1.5 degrees neg on the front which he said is a good fast road/track setting.
The toe was way out as its been lowered, this is typical and it was toeing in quite badly so he set it to a slight toe out which helps apparently.
Can definitely feel a difference, seems to turn in a bit better and its not shuffling the power as much, cost £110, was worth it for the improvement and the peace of mind, will be booking my first track day soon when I get the new tyres sorted.
Alignment done today at ABP in Crewe, the Camber and the castor were fine, I had eyeballed both so was amazed when the chap said they were spot on, 1.5 degrees neg on the front which he said is a good fast road/track setting.
The toe was way out as its been lowered, this is typical and it was toeing in quite badly so he set it to a slight toe out which helps apparently.
Can definitely feel a difference, seems to turn in a bit better and its not shuffling the power as much, cost £110, was worth it for the improvement and the peace of mind, will be booking my first track day soon when I get the new tyres sorted.
AmirGSXR said:
I have just brought a Fiesta ST and I am loving this thread as much as the car!
JACKO thanks for the updates and information on your car - they are very helpful and enjoyable to read (I am currently up to page 13 of the thread).
The first change I will do is buy the quickshifter you brought and then fit it myself: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193716905377
I wanted to ask the following two questions:
1) In regards to oil and air filters - should they be original Ford items, or will Mann filters be fine? I used Mann on BMW's for many years without issues and get them easily fro ECP.
2) My car does have additional security measures specific to ST, but I am after a physical deterrent too. Should I buy a Stoplock Pro or Disclok?
Sorry to hijack the thread, and looking forward to reading your continued updates.
Hi,JACKO thanks for the updates and information on your car - they are very helpful and enjoyable to read (I am currently up to page 13 of the thread).
The first change I will do is buy the quickshifter you brought and then fit it myself: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193716905377
I wanted to ask the following two questions:
1) In regards to oil and air filters - should they be original Ford items, or will Mann filters be fine? I used Mann on BMW's for many years without issues and get them easily fro ECP.
2) My car does have additional security measures specific to ST, but I am after a physical deterrent too. Should I buy a Stoplock Pro or Disclok?
Sorry to hijack the thread, and looking forward to reading your continued updates.
Security wise get a Viper 106v plus a physical deterrent like a Stoplock, also, there is a mod on the forums that disables the boot lock from outside as this is the main way the thieves gain access, it isn't protected by the alarm. Also maybe drop a Apple AirTag or two in the car, and disable the OBD port as well, loads of info on doing this, simplest is to remove the fuse but can get kits for changing it for a dummy and blanking it, all sorts of solutions.
I just buy standard Ford oil filters or whatever is available, Mann are fine.
Mine still going fine, four new Michelin PS5's going on tomorrow on the wheels I bought which are in much better nick than the originals.
Have ordered a throttle pedal spacer (3d printed thing off eBay) frustrating me not being able to heel and toe in it, just cant seem to angle my foot adequately to blip on the way down so the spacer raises the whole pedal assembly by about 10 mm, which I am hoping will make the difference as its a key part of having a manual I have been missing. As will be taking it on track soon I want it set up so I can. Suppose could also just make a thicker spacer but limited by the thread length of the bolts without adding extensions, 10 mm hopefully enough.
Height it one thing, may still be too far from the brake so if it is, going to get a set of OMP pedals (OMP OA1000) and fit those.
Will just adjust and adapt until it works for me.
Height it one thing, may still be too far from the brake so if it is, going to get a set of OMP pedals (OMP OA1000) and fit those.
Will just adjust and adapt until it works for me.
Swapped my wheels over with the new tyres on, repainted the rear calipers as they were scabby, fronts were fine after a clean. Car looks better on the new wheels and tyres, even gave it a good wash, just before the rain started....
Can feel the extra grip, has made a big difference.
Was going to give it another few weeks but checked the fronts and they were down to the wear bars, oops, couple of weeks earlier they looked a lot better but been a bit aggressive knowing they are getting changed and it was spinning up so easily.
Fitted the pedal spacer, the guy sent me the wrong one so just drilled it out so it fitted, but he is sending me the correct one and will change it over, not really had much chance to try H and T'ing it but think its still too far away for my dainty size 8.5's, will whip the pedal off again next weekend and see if I cant fashion something to bridge the gap a bit, its come up and a bit, now needs to go left maybe a cm or two.
Can feel the extra grip, has made a big difference.
Was going to give it another few weeks but checked the fronts and they were down to the wear bars, oops, couple of weeks earlier they looked a lot better but been a bit aggressive knowing they are getting changed and it was spinning up so easily.
Fitted the pedal spacer, the guy sent me the wrong one so just drilled it out so it fitted, but he is sending me the correct one and will change it over, not really had much chance to try H and T'ing it but think its still too far away for my dainty size 8.5's, will whip the pedal off again next weekend and see if I cant fashion something to bridge the gap a bit, its come up and a bit, now needs to go left maybe a cm or two.
Kaveney said:
J4CKO said:
First track day booked at Anglessey for the 17th, any tips for a track day virgin such as myself ?
Ordered some oil and a filter to give it a change before then.
Are you running a baffled sump ?Ordered some oil and a filter to give it a change before then.
Will be taking it relatively easy, am on road tyres and a complete track day novice so not sure I will get to the point of needing a baffled sump just yet, would hope the car can cope with that. Probably the kind of thing to add if I like it and get more proficient.
Derek182 said:
I'm another over 50 year old ST owner, mine's a 2015 stage 2, quite a few mods, 238hp, Mountune lowering springs, Toyo TR1 tyres on ST200 rims.
I've entered a sprint at the Lotus test track at Hethel in about a months time, for those who don't know it's timed from a standing start over a 1.6 mile course.
Should I leave the ESC on and leave it to do it's thing? Or one press to turn TC off? Or a long press to turn stability control off as well?
What do people do on trackdays? Any advice much appreciated.
I havent done much on track driving, just those experience days and even in a 911 Turbo you feel the need to switch it off as you can feel the car butting up against it, was a 996 so will be an early, fairly rudimentary system compared to the more modern ones with the one in the Fiesta being somewhere in betweenI've entered a sprint at the Lotus test track at Hethel in about a months time, for those who don't know it's timed from a standing start over a 1.6 mile course.
Should I leave the ESC on and leave it to do it's thing? Or one press to turn TC off? Or a long press to turn stability control off as well?
What do people do on trackdays? Any advice much appreciated.
It felt frustrating as you hit this point and the car wouldnt do what you wanted but I can see why they leave it on, as push past it and it may not behave as I expected and result in a spin/crash or whatever, but it does feel unnatural.
I am going to try the different modes on, Sport and off and see how I get on, in the past we would have just driven the car and not thought about it but then it may well have had a lot less power.
Sport mode is a good halfway house as it slacken off the assistance but doesnt turn it completely off, its what I use on the road but a track is quite different as on the road you dont often corner with that kind of commitment and speed for safety and your license, or you shouldn't anyway. But until you are on track you wont know whether it feels like its hampering you.
First track day done, my eldest lad and I went to Anglesey yesterday and met up with a mate of mine I have not seen in a very long time who I reconnected with a while back, he has a track car, does lots of a track days and a bit of racing, so we arranged to meet there.
Luckily the weather was perfect, cool, overcast but most importantly, dry.
Got out and was soon building confidence, first track day is a bit daunting, well for me it was as its clear there are a lot of very seasoned drivers in some serious cars out there and there is this complete novice in his shiny, standard looking Fiesta that I cant really risk bending. With Kaveneys unfortunate incident in his lovely ST in my mind, it does happen, but is thankfully rare.
Under no illusions I am any good but I can fling a car around a bit and get into a zone with it, its not a race but its very interesting to see what you can hang onto, or even pass.
Car was pretty much faultless, engine wise it just took all the hard use, came back in and sat there idling without complaint, tyres and brakes took a pounding, two brand new PS5's are now probably 50% done, a new set of Yellowstuff pads, well lets just say the MOT man would definitely put an advise on them, most of them went in smoke in the pits until we were told a cool down lap is a good idea, but like a dog distracted by a squirrel its easy to see a particular and give chase/try and keep in front.
Only one sketchy moment when a Ferrari 360 went a bit sideways, at a fair speed and nearly span (he had spun it earlier) but he collected it back up, backed off and let me through.
Before you know it you are experimenting with lines, braking a bit later and just learning the car, the limited slip diff I had put in, you can feel it on the road but on the track you can really feel it, being able to get on the power early and it just hook up and go, only a couple of times in second gear corners did it spin both wheels briefly, and that was more me being a bit brutal and seeing what I could get away with.
Its plenty fast enough on track, but you can see that road brakes, tyres and suspension, even slightly uprated, though they work just arent really in their comfort zone.
I did lighten the car by removing the rear seat, but that was really a byproduct of having to get wheels, tools and whatever in the back and realising it wouldnt really fit, plus got to move some plasterboard soon, didnt make a huge difference but it was noticeable, but can see how a lot of the cars out there were probably further lightened, the front seats are so heavy in an ST for example.
Only causalities was my rear bumper got a bit melted as in hard cornering the exhaust is maybe a bit loose on its hangers and is going sideways and resting on it, the wheel centres on the front melted and fell off as well
My mate came out and gave me some positive feedback on the car and my driving, definitely room for improvement but he was complimentary, and knowing him of old, he isnt one to not be direct.
Everyone was really friendly and helpful, forgot my towing eye so we accosted owners of Fords and managed to get one, chap in the same garage took us out in his diesel Citroen C2, doesnt sound like a track car does it, and though it wasnt exactly hugely fast on the straights with 150 bhp, the chap could really drive and it was set up really well, the braking and cornering was very impressive, and having proper seats and harnesses fantastic.
Not going to be something I do a lot of as its expensive, so might be a once a year thing.
Will upload a couple of photos when I sort them out. Would just say, if you have never done one, get one booked, you never get chance to really let rip like that on the road, or if you do, you really shouldn't. Just do it, saw an elderly gent arrive on walking canes and get in a Mini and enjoy it on circuit, fair play !
Luckily the weather was perfect, cool, overcast but most importantly, dry.
Got out and was soon building confidence, first track day is a bit daunting, well for me it was as its clear there are a lot of very seasoned drivers in some serious cars out there and there is this complete novice in his shiny, standard looking Fiesta that I cant really risk bending. With Kaveneys unfortunate incident in his lovely ST in my mind, it does happen, but is thankfully rare.
Under no illusions I am any good but I can fling a car around a bit and get into a zone with it, its not a race but its very interesting to see what you can hang onto, or even pass.
Car was pretty much faultless, engine wise it just took all the hard use, came back in and sat there idling without complaint, tyres and brakes took a pounding, two brand new PS5's are now probably 50% done, a new set of Yellowstuff pads, well lets just say the MOT man would definitely put an advise on them, most of them went in smoke in the pits until we were told a cool down lap is a good idea, but like a dog distracted by a squirrel its easy to see a particular and give chase/try and keep in front.
Only one sketchy moment when a Ferrari 360 went a bit sideways, at a fair speed and nearly span (he had spun it earlier) but he collected it back up, backed off and let me through.
Before you know it you are experimenting with lines, braking a bit later and just learning the car, the limited slip diff I had put in, you can feel it on the road but on the track you can really feel it, being able to get on the power early and it just hook up and go, only a couple of times in second gear corners did it spin both wheels briefly, and that was more me being a bit brutal and seeing what I could get away with.
Its plenty fast enough on track, but you can see that road brakes, tyres and suspension, even slightly uprated, though they work just arent really in their comfort zone.
I did lighten the car by removing the rear seat, but that was really a byproduct of having to get wheels, tools and whatever in the back and realising it wouldnt really fit, plus got to move some plasterboard soon, didnt make a huge difference but it was noticeable, but can see how a lot of the cars out there were probably further lightened, the front seats are so heavy in an ST for example.
Only causalities was my rear bumper got a bit melted as in hard cornering the exhaust is maybe a bit loose on its hangers and is going sideways and resting on it, the wheel centres on the front melted and fell off as well
My mate came out and gave me some positive feedback on the car and my driving, definitely room for improvement but he was complimentary, and knowing him of old, he isnt one to not be direct.
Everyone was really friendly and helpful, forgot my towing eye so we accosted owners of Fords and managed to get one, chap in the same garage took us out in his diesel Citroen C2, doesnt sound like a track car does it, and though it wasnt exactly hugely fast on the straights with 150 bhp, the chap could really drive and it was set up really well, the braking and cornering was very impressive, and having proper seats and harnesses fantastic.
Not going to be something I do a lot of as its expensive, so might be a once a year thing.
Will upload a couple of photos when I sort them out. Would just say, if you have never done one, get one booked, you never get chance to really let rip like that on the road, or if you do, you really shouldn't. Just do it, saw an elderly gent arrive on walking canes and get in a Mini and enjoy it on circuit, fair play !
Flickr link, couldnt seem to link to individual images, will have a look later.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/javelintrackdays/alb...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/javelintrackdays/alb...
Kaveney said:
Sounds like you had a good time and as you say major crashes are not that common ( said with tonuge in cheek ) and i did a fair few track days before i had my little shunt at Goodwood .
I would say if you were looking to do more than the odd one then a BBK would be a great idea but for the road it is not needed and the stock brakes are just fine for road use .
Hope to see you out on track one day if i ever the the Megane fixed or Civic Type R finished
Will look into a BBK over the next year or so as I decide what to do, its an expensive business doing track days, so depends on the spare cash and whatever other priorities there are, will definitely do another though. The brakes did well, but it is such a massive gulf between road and track use, like you say a BBK isnt needed on road (Though it does look great) and to keep out longer I think it would be ideal but the standard stuff coped, but you do sort of lose a bit of confidence in them, guess with a BBK that just fades into the background and you can just concentrate on your lines and not have that niggle, is the pedal getting a bit mushy, do they seem to be working as well ? And the degree of circumspection and margin for error you leave for if they dont cope and fade. On the road you just dont get anywhere near that, always something that slows you up, mainly not wanting to get banned.I would say if you were looking to do more than the odd one then a BBK would be a great idea but for the road it is not needed and the stock brakes are just fine for road use .
Hope to see you out on track one day if i ever the the Megane fixed or Civic Type R finished
Ordered new wheel centres today to replace the ones that melted
The Civics and Clios were some of the fastest stuff out there, I would definitely need better brakes, suspension and tyres to get anywhere near, especially some of the Civics going round, but then, if you have thirty plus track days stickers, lexan windows and a massive wing you are going to be quicker than the novice in a road Fiesta.
cerb4.5lee said:
Great to hear that you really enjoyed the track day Mark. I've never done one myself(been a passenger though), and I've always felt a bit apprehensive about putting my own car through the intensity of a track day. They always seem really hard on tyres/brakes etc, plus I worry that I might get a bit too carried away and bin it as well!
That was kind of my feeling as well, but I had rattled on so long about doing one, I had to do it. I keep thinking about it and smiling, you just dont get chance on the road to be that committed, or get anywhere near the limits of your car, or your ability (or lack of). It felt liberating, kind of like a missing piece had slotted into place.Your cars have various electronic aids, you have a sense of self preservation and aside from a couple of Ariel Atoms that seemed to want to bully their way through wherever, most folk were very well behaved, there was a 370Z coupe out so people do use them. Pick a more forgiving circuit, and to be honst it makes more sense when you are there, I was quite nervous but that soon goes and you are in the zone.
As for the cost, mate, you have two fairly expensive to buy and expensive to run cars, am sure you can run to a bit of accelerated tyre and brake wear, get some track day insurance if you are worried about binning it, I was but didnt bother, sometimes you have to roll the dice...
fiesta_STage3 said:
i’m taller and heavier than you and i happily run a 2016 mk7.5 as a daily.
With the comfort aspect of the Recaros, I struggled a bit at first as I have a wide back, I am 6 ft and 15 and a bit stone but my shoulders and back are kind of at the limit of what will fit between the bolsters.Otherwise, car going well, left it with my dad whilst we were on holiday and he gave it a really good clean, my attentions had been diverted to a Toyota Hilux I had been getting ready for sale so mine was a lot dirtier than usual.
Not much to report, moved the front tyres to the back as they have had a hard life and with the additional camber and track day are wearing a bit unevenly.
Ordered some new front disk and pads, just gone for a set of eBay slotted disks and Mintex pads as the Yellowstuff ones I put on in April are dead and the disks rumble a bit.
Went with a cheaper option as considering a big brake kit but not sure how much you need to spend, will do another track day in the new year and the braes were a bit of a weak link last time, ok, but it was borderline.
Would like a slightly quieter exhaust, anyone got any suggestions, current is a mongoose.
Ordered some new front disk and pads, just gone for a set of eBay slotted disks and Mintex pads as the Yellowstuff ones I put on in April are dead and the disks rumble a bit.
Went with a cheaper option as considering a big brake kit but not sure how much you need to spend, will do another track day in the new year and the braes were a bit of a weak link last time, ok, but it was borderline.
Would like a slightly quieter exhaust, anyone got any suggestions, current is a mongoose.
mooseracer said:
Milltek? I tihnk they are a smaller bore than the mongoose though - not sure what your turbo would think of that
Yeah, I had a Mountune one on it before, which had to be changed when it had the turbo and other work, apparently it was, where it stepped down from the 3 inch cat to the 2.5 inch exhaust pushing the exhaust backwards and glowing white under power which probably isnt great.Might just be it needs a 3 inch exhaust to flow that much gas, and 3 inch exhausts are pretty noisy, but then luxury cars have big exhausts and arent, might be a case of taking it to an exhaust fabricator and seeing what they can do.
Three year update,
Due an oil change and was going to do it this weekend but remembered I need to fit a baffled sump if going to do any more track days so have ordered one today and will defer the oil change until thats here, saves dropping the oil again to fit it.
Still planning to keep it, its such fun, had a Cayman owner attach himself to my bumper on the bypass the other day, thought why not and gave it a squirt in second and third, result being one miffed Porsche driver, best bit was had getting on for 180 kilos of building materials in the boot ! Couple of tries and then he realised it was a bit pointless.
Plan is to make it a bit more suitable for track use and get something else, nearly bought a Jag XJ a couple of months back but it wasnt the right one, but think its what I want, but cant really justify the high VED for a V8 if I have two cars with two lots of insurance so will likely be a 3.0 diesel, want something for longer trips that isnt a Fiesta (we have two) and isnt noisy/hard riding like mine. VED is like £740 vs 240, which pays for the insurance.
Then, and the baffled sump is the start of it, add a few more bits to the ST so it works better on track, i.e. get a set of track tyres for my spare wheels, some bigger front brakes and maybe look at coilovers. Want it to still work as a road car and not turn it into a complete PITA, but it matters less if its more compromised if I have a big comfy barge the rest of the time. So might whip the rear seats out and do some other lightening, but only stuff that is reversible. No more power planned as I reckon its about right.
Due an oil change and was going to do it this weekend but remembered I need to fit a baffled sump if going to do any more track days so have ordered one today and will defer the oil change until thats here, saves dropping the oil again to fit it.
Still planning to keep it, its such fun, had a Cayman owner attach himself to my bumper on the bypass the other day, thought why not and gave it a squirt in second and third, result being one miffed Porsche driver, best bit was had getting on for 180 kilos of building materials in the boot ! Couple of tries and then he realised it was a bit pointless.
Plan is to make it a bit more suitable for track use and get something else, nearly bought a Jag XJ a couple of months back but it wasnt the right one, but think its what I want, but cant really justify the high VED for a V8 if I have two cars with two lots of insurance so will likely be a 3.0 diesel, want something for longer trips that isnt a Fiesta (we have two) and isnt noisy/hard riding like mine. VED is like £740 vs 240, which pays for the insurance.
Then, and the baffled sump is the start of it, add a few more bits to the ST so it works better on track, i.e. get a set of track tyres for my spare wheels, some bigger front brakes and maybe look at coilovers. Want it to still work as a road car and not turn it into a complete PITA, but it matters less if its more compromised if I have a big comfy barge the rest of the time. So might whip the rear seats out and do some other lightening, but only stuff that is reversible. No more power planned as I reckon its about right.
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