2018 Fiesta ST Performance Pack
Discussion
After much deliberation and head scratching I concluded my 330d really wasn't suited to the sort of driving I'm mostly doing these days, and the handling in particular was something that needed addressing as it was doing my head in. Engine and autobox were fantastic but the suspension in particular left a lot to be desired. Coilovers and anti-roll bars were one option but a good set would run well into four figures.
Enter stage left the Fiesta. I have owned one before, a Performance Blue 3 door also on a 68 plate and also with the Performance Pack. Exactly half the displacement and half the cylinders, no more cream leather, no more straight 6 turbodiesel and no more buttery smooth ZF8. Do I care? No. Do I miss them? Not really.
The car has a Mountune short shifter left on by the previous owner so the gearchange is really nice. I had a Golf R with 350bhp and I don't think it could get down a B road any quicker than this, in the dry at least, and I know which I'd be having more fun in.
The previous owner has also sent over his Mountune OBD dongle, so first job will be to ring Mountune to get them to send the files over. I don't have any plans for further mods right now, as we're off to Europe for two weeks in summer and the house is taking priority over other fun things.
Enter stage left the Fiesta. I have owned one before, a Performance Blue 3 door also on a 68 plate and also with the Performance Pack. Exactly half the displacement and half the cylinders, no more cream leather, no more straight 6 turbodiesel and no more buttery smooth ZF8. Do I care? No. Do I miss them? Not really.
The car has a Mountune short shifter left on by the previous owner so the gearchange is really nice. I had a Golf R with 350bhp and I don't think it could get down a B road any quicker than this, in the dry at least, and I know which I'd be having more fun in.
The previous owner has also sent over his Mountune OBD dongle, so first job will be to ring Mountune to get them to send the files over. I don't have any plans for further mods right now, as we're off to Europe for two weeks in summer and the house is taking priority over other fun things.
I have had a Mk7.5 ST for getting close to 10 years and as much as it can be a bit jarring around town, but get it on a B road and you end up grinning like an idiot. That doesn't even have the LSD, sadly.
Conversely, I did London and back a few weeks ago and it did 44mpg with 3 on board.
Conversely, I did London and back a few weeks ago and it did 44mpg with 3 on board.
TheDoggingFather said:
I have had a Mk7.5 ST for getting close to 10 years and as much as it can be a bit jarring around town, but get it on a B road and you end up grinning like an idiot. That doesn't even have the LSD, sadly.
Conversely, I did London and back a few weeks ago and it did 44mpg with 3 on board.
Yeah, they are fantastic out of the box, an LSD is a good addition, especially with a bit more power added.Conversely, I did London and back a few weeks ago and it did 44mpg with 3 on board.
I had an M135i when out ST was standard and like the app says, the Fiestas cooler ground very well, I swear I am faster in it than the M135i.
Not tried the mk8 but would like to, my sons friend had one and it sounded fantastic.
I reckon they will all end up pretty sought after as numbers dwindle and they aren’t replacing them.
If they weren't as common in terms of hot hatches (not that is a bad thing), they would be held in even higher regard. Give it a few years...
There was a lovely MK7 that finished on PH auctions not so long back and I can't believe how much you got for your money.
And yes, will be quicker than a hyper hatch, partly due to the fact it is smaller and more predictable, to people who aren't driving gods, being FWD.
There was a lovely MK7 that finished on PH auctions not so long back and I can't believe how much you got for your money.
And yes, will be quicker than a hyper hatch, partly due to the fact it is smaller and more predictable, to people who aren't driving gods, being FWD.
Edited by MattsCar on Monday 29th April 23:52
HazzaT said:
Looking good! I had eibach redlines on my old one which improved the looks quite a bit but took away from the playfulness of the rear end and made the ride a bit more jittery. Not sure I'd bother with this unless I splurge on a set of KWs
I have a 2019 ST3 Performance Pack and have had KW V3 coilovers fitted. They're very, very good. They don't give you a limousine ride at low speed - you'll never get that in a car like this - but on open roads you can feel the composure and control they give. It makes driving the Fiesta great fun. Then again the KW's cost around £2000 plus fitting which is a lot for this price bracket.More generally, the Fiesta ST Mk8 is a fantastic car; I love mine.
Hants PHer said:
I have a 2019 ST3 Performance Pack and have had KW V3 coilovers fitted. They're very, very good. They don't give you a limousine ride at low speed - you'll never get that in a car like this - but on open roads you can feel the composure and control they give. It makes driving the Fiesta great fun. Then again the KW's cost around £2000 plus fitting which is a lot for this price bracket.
More generally, the Fiesta ST Mk8 is a fantastic car; I love mine.
Did you find that it was better or more or less the same from the original suspension? If I was to upgrade from Mk7.5 to Mk8 I'd want the KWs but as you say, mega bucks...More generally, the Fiesta ST Mk8 is a fantastic car; I love mine.
J4CKO said:
What will that give you, about 240 bhp ?
About 230, there's the M260 but that needs the full intake and intercooler which I'm not splashing out on yetIt feels a lot less aggressive/torquey than the Revo map I had on my old one but that may just be the intervening 2 years in a tuned Golf R and a year in a 3 litre diesel talking! It's definitely more linear though which isn't a bad thing, the Revo map caused some clutch slip on occasion which doesn't feel like it should happen with this one
I've got one as well, mine is quite rare in that it's a 2019 ST-1 Performance Pack which means it hasn't got a heated screen or seats, no centre armrest (none of which I need) and is on 17" wheels. 
I had got mine booked in for a Revo stage 1, uprated brakes and a Revo torque mount with a view to doing a few trackdays but cancelled the remap as I bought an Alpine A110 as well. I asked not to have the torque mount either and just have the brakes done but they told me the mount "is one of the best mods you can do to these" which was complete bo$lox, it ruined it as a daily, annoying vibrations at low revs in any gear so I put that back to standard myself.
My advice would be leave the suspension standard unless you can stretch to something proper like the KWs, experience of previous lowered hot hatches tells me it just ruins the ride for little benefit, as standard the ST goes down a bumpy country road as well as anything I have owned including the Alpine.
Currently I just use it when the weather is crap, I'm parking somewhere I don't fancy leaving the Alpine or I need to carry stuff or more than one person, seems a bit of a waste but it's cheap to run and own so I think it's a keeper.
I had got mine booked in for a Revo stage 1, uprated brakes and a Revo torque mount with a view to doing a few trackdays but cancelled the remap as I bought an Alpine A110 as well. I asked not to have the torque mount either and just have the brakes done but they told me the mount "is one of the best mods you can do to these" which was complete bo$lox, it ruined it as a daily, annoying vibrations at low revs in any gear so I put that back to standard myself.
My advice would be leave the suspension standard unless you can stretch to something proper like the KWs, experience of previous lowered hot hatches tells me it just ruins the ride for little benefit, as standard the ST goes down a bumpy country road as well as anything I have owned including the Alpine.
Currently I just use it when the weather is crap, I'm parking somewhere I don't fancy leaving the Alpine or I need to carry stuff or more than one person, seems a bit of a waste but it's cheap to run and own so I think it's a keeper.
danmarr14 said:
Hants PHer said:
I have a 2019 ST3 Performance Pack and have had KW V3 coilovers fitted. They're very, very good. They don't give you a limousine ride at low speed - you'll never get that in a car like this - but on open roads you can feel the composure and control they give. It makes driving the Fiesta great fun. Then again the KW's cost around £2000 plus fitting which is a lot for this price bracket.
More generally, the Fiesta ST Mk8 is a fantastic car; I love mine.
Did you find that it was better or more or less the same from the original suspension? If I was to upgrade from Mk7.5 to Mk8 I'd want the KWs but as you say, mega bucks...More generally, the Fiesta ST Mk8 is a fantastic car; I love mine.
It's at higher speed (50 mph plus, say) where you really feel the KW's working well. The car just feels much more composed, more settled - and that gives the driver confidence. Whether the KW's give you £2k of improvement is debateable of course. It does mean you can forget about the standard rear dampers leaking and failing, which is very common on these cars.
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