What am i doing wrong

[dieseluser07]

Ive come from a twingo 133 and a company octavia to a mk7 fiesta st.

Its rated as one of best hot hatches, but i just dont think its that special after owning a month. It doesent feel that quick (has 215bhp, 236lb/ft), it doesent feel lairy and the engine note is very dull and linear.

My twingo felt 100% more exciting.

Am i not driving it properly? Does it need an aftermarket exhaust to spice things up a bit? It just feels overly competant and ive fallen out of love with it already. Help, i need to keep it for a few years for financial reasons.

[dieseluser07]

Supercharger? Haha its already got a turbo, its a daily driver, all the reviews say its quite raw compared to other hot hatches but to me it feels too competant, and its not like its a hyper hatch or anything

Its under warranty atm so can only do limited mountune options before it invalidates it, there is a well rated cat back for it but dont know if it will make the drive more exciting, i think its lacking a good noise to be honest

Edited by dieseluser07 on Friday 24th March 16:13

[dieseluser07]

gashead1105 said:

You could always sell it. I love my ST-3 and it's my daily driver, but it's not the last word in outright performance and I agree the ride is very firm. To be honest a 50hp differential from your twingo isn't going to be enough to make it feel significantly faster.

If you bought it second hand privately you won't lose a great deal of money and can chalk it up to experience, assuming you haven't got it on finance of course. I lost £1500 on a skoda citigo that I owned for all of 3 months a couple of years ago; but counted that a small price to pay for having it out of my life.

Edit - also, try turning the traction to sport (or off entirely) and find some roundabouts...

Edited by gashead1105 on Friday 24th March 17:10

Its way more than 50bhp more and it weighs about the same.

Its 133bhp vs 215bhp (mountune) plus a hell of s lot more talk, just doesent feel that rapid or exciting.

[dieseluser07]

CrgT16 said:

Did you test drive before buying?

I have no specific experience with the ST but I would have thought a slightly sportier exhaust may give you the exhaust note you need to enjoy it on a run. If everyday car your senses will dull down to the car characteristics taking some of the excitement feel. Why not enjoy the controls, the chassis the steering... I am sure it can be enjoyable at all speeds.

My car still feels very exciting when I open the tap, on normal driving I just love the ZF gear changes and the sweet note of the engine. I think the ST can be enjoyed at most speeds just look for different things about it... lots to discover!

Yup, tbh it was a short drive but i got to open up, and reviews were great so i just went for it

[dieseluser07]

gashead1105 said:

You could always sell it. I love my ST-3 and it's my daily driver, but it's not the last word in outright performance and I agree the ride is very firm. To be honest a 50hp differential from your twingo isn't going to be enough to make it feel significantly faster.

If you bought it second hand privately you won't lose a great deal of money and can chalk it up to experience, assuming you haven't got it on finance of course. I lost £1500 on a skoda citigo that I owned for all of 3 months a couple of years ago; but counted that a small price to pay for having it out of my life.

Edit - also, try turning the traction to sport (or off entirely) and find some roundabouts...

Edited by gashead1105 on Friday 24th March 17:10

Could i just ask what you love about your st, just out of curiousity, might restore some excitement in me lol

[dieseluser07]

Mr Tom said:

I have the same problems. Came from a Vauxhall corsa 1.2 into a SEAT Leon Cupra 290. I had previously owned a vehicle polo 1.0 and a jag xj6 4.0 straight 6. The most fun I've had in a car was in the jag, the lovely straight 6, rear wheel drive with no esp etc. Even the VW and Vauxhall were fun, thrash them everywhere. The SEAT on the other hand is so bloody quick and through the corners you can't enjoy it at normal speeds as it is just so competent. The end of third gear comes in no time and by that time you are getting towards silly speeds on a nsl. Then there is the sound, there is just nothing to get excited about, very few pops and a dull engine note. I know it's a 4 cylinder turbo but there's just nothing to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, , nothing that really excites like the jag did. Don't get me wrong the seat is a good car but I was expecting more from a 'hot hatch'. I think a golf gti may be a sweet spot?

The noise for me is the biggest issue i think, it sounds so dull, im hoping a cat back will improve it and make me enjoy the car more.