Ford Fiesta ST 150 - Mini Project

[Gdgd]

For years, I've wanted one, problem was I am a University student. I remember admiring them, toying with the idea of going knee deep in finance but thankfully resisted, decided to set myself a motivational ST wallpaper and put what I could away each month and finally the day arrived that I had the cash to buy one outright.

This is how she was the day I brought her home -

'05
Two owners
Full Ford History - inc. paint
Full Bilstein Coilovers
K&N Filter
SS braided lines







Generally the car was pretty clean and tidy however, peeling/kerbed wheels did let it down so had them re-done and went for something a bit different - Gloss white. Not everyones cup of tea but I was happy with the result...




Then came the ST side stripes....
Due to the lack of decent weather and garage space it was a rather make-do situation



However with the help of a mate they came out looking rather good imo...




I then distinctly remember saying how I was doing nothing else to the car ...until this arrived




A Milltek cat back, nice system - not loud but a nice, raspy tone - video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTNxZZR6v0I

And this is how the Smurf is at the moment, photos taken this evening...





Comments on the progress good or bad welcome

Cheers!

Grant

Edited by Gdgd on Sunday 18th March 00:24

[carreauchompeur]

Lovely. It's not a type of car I can ever envisage myself buying, but those wheels look great and really set it off. Suitably subtle!

[Synchromesh]

Do like the car, and your choice mods too. But leave it how it is now - just right.

[carreauchompeur]

Synchromesh said:

But leave it how it is now - just right.

+1. Clean is the key!

[Mastodon2]

I do like these little cars, a friend of mine just sold his, a black 05, side striped with a 4" tip Powerflow exhaust. It was a "quick" car rather than "fast", the engine was a bit harsh and unrefined and had a low redline for an NA 4 cylinder engine at 6500rpm (iirc) and the handling was nose heavy in the owner's opinion, but nevertheless it had a great character. It used to pop and bang like mad on the over-run and it was one of those cars that just didn't want to cruise, it just loved to make you put your foot flat on the floor.

By all accounts though, the fuel consumption is shocking for a 150bhp car - said friend believes that the Impreza WRX he replaced the ST with is not vastly worse on fuel!

[Gdgd]

too kind fella's Yes I agree, aesthetically I'm pleased with how its looking, only addition which may be added is having all the plastics, grills etc sprayed in satin black opposed to the faded plain plastic type which are currently on the car. Have seen this done to a couple of cars on the owners forum and it really is the finishing touch.

Thanks guys

[0a]

I was very pissed off to have a 1.25 hire car one of this Fiesta generation delivered to the office once. It turned out to be a very balanced car indeed (at the time I was driving various 'interesting machinery') and I really, really enjoyed my time with it.

It was also leagues above the MINIs I drove at the time in terms of feel/gearchange, though it's not fashionable to say so about a Fiesta. I'd imagine the 150 is good fun indeed.

Your car looks great in my eyes as well!

[Gdgd]

Mastodon2 said:

I do like these little cars, a friend of mine just sold his, a black 05, side striped with a 4" tip Powerflow exhaust. It was a "quick" car rather than "fast", the engine was a bit harsh and unrefined and had a low redline for an NA 4 cylinder engine at 6500rpm (iirc) and the handling was nose heavy in the owner's opinion, but nevertheless it had a great character. It used to pop and bang like mad on the over-run and it was one of those cars that just didn't want to cruise, it just loved to make you put your foot flat on the floor.

By all accounts though, the fuel consumption is shocking for a 150bhp car - said friend believes that the Impreza WRX he replaced the ST with is not vastly worse on fuel!

A 'quick' car is what I would class it as, however its thanks to this differentiation from 'fast' amongst others that the insurance is slightly more manageable for me being only 20 years old. It can be a thirsty little machine if pushed hard, although I would say if temptation can be overcome and you take it easy the big 2.0 Mondeo lump doesn't need to do much to move such a little car so consumption almost becomes justifiable

In terms of handling I've not had the opportunity to push the car to the point where I would be able to comment in any depth, I would say the combination of Yokohama's and the Bilstein suspension set up on my car certainly give an exceptionally grippy, planted and confident feel.

[SuperBen]

Such a good looking car, Well done OP!

[0a]

Gdgd said:

In terms of handling I've not had the opportunity to push the car to the point where I would be able to comment in any depth, I would say the combination of Yokohama's and the Bilstein suspension set up on my car certainly give an exceptionally grippy, planted and confident feel.

Please correct and report back!

For what it's worth I'd class this car as 'quick' as you will be able to make progress from 2 factors:

- handling
- being subtle

I have been driven many fast miles in an e60 M5 through the use of flashing and speeding. Undoubtedly a fast car but near to useless on normal roads in many ways.

Have you driven a Puma, if so (or anyone else!) how does it compare?

I even return back to the 90bhp mk1 Focus my parents own and come to the same conclusion - Ford know how to make a car that rewards the interested driver, even coming from 'better' machines.

[sportka1]

very nice car, i am looking to change from my sportka at the present time and drove a st, i did like it a lot but didnt want to go back to group 13/14 again so am going to test drive a zetec s on monday.
god typing that makes me feel hen pecked because i would have bought the st but the other half seems to want something 'under 1.6 for insurance and fuel costs'.

[Evangelion]

Very nice looking car. I'm not a great fan of white wheels but have to admit they do work well with some colours, and that blue is certainly one of them.

[Podie]

Get those nasty bits of plastic trim painted - then it's about right.

[Dave Hedgehog]

rims look nice in white

[Six Fiend]

Very tidy OP, like it

[r1ch]

Very nice dude, I do like the little fiesta st's, steering is nicely weighted and handle really well. Enjoy it mate.

[Jw Vw]

Very nice OP. Sounds like you have tweaked it just perfectly.

[wackojacko]

Nice little cars, not as quick as I expected them to be.

Not a fan of the stripe and white wheel but that's just me.

[s4s1995]

Looking good, normally white wheels would be a no-no, but looks good here!

[skene]

I like it

but personally I HATE the noise of the Miltek exhaust! (step-brother has an St with a Miltek) just don't think the noise suits the car. But each to their own and I hope you enjoy your car!