FORD FIESTA ST-2

Here’s the advert I thought I might never have to write, but sadly even my most optimistic man-maths can’t convince me that four cars is a sensible idea.

I’m the second owner but acquired the car in 2017 so have had it from nearly new. This ST is lightly modified but my approach has always been to try and enhance what is already a great package and not risk ruining it trying to turn it into something it was never intended to be.

For the last 4 years, the car has been running the Mountune MR230 tune. Ever since I read the Evo review, I knew I’d have to get this upgrade at some point! Sadly it failed the MOT this year due to the catalytic converter losing efficiency. A like-for-like replacement proved problematic because of the recent EC regulation changes - even Mountune themselves will no longer fit their own sports cat to these cars.

Since the car was also due for the 10 year cambelt change, it made sense to have this done and the timing reverted back to stock spec at the same time as fitting an original cat. I’ve had all of this work completed within the last couple of weeks by my local trusted Independent garage. I’ve also had a mobile remap service apply a mild Stage 1 map. They quoted me a figure of 205 bhp. I’ve not had the car dyno tested since, but I’d struggle to tell the difference from the Mountune 215 map.

As I was never intending to sell, I had the car professionally treated with Dinitrol back in 2021. The photos of the underside of the car are from the time this was done. Hopefully this means this ST should be one of the better preserved examples in the years to come.

The car has visited the venues on the number plates, but certainly hasn’t been tracked to death or anything like that. I think it’s done 3 or 4 track days in total, but none for the last few years. The brake discs have been replaced all round since the last time it was on track.

Overall this has just been a wonderful machine to own for the better part of a decade. I hope it brings as much joy to the next owner as it has to me, and I hope we can come to an agreement that I get first refusal should you ever come to sell!

Modifications

Mountune Spring Kit

Mountune Cat Back exhaust

Symposer delete. This is unnecessary once you add the Cat Back, and fixes a common source of boost leaks

Mountune roll restrictor

Lovely set of unmarked Speedline Turini’s. These were new in 2022. They give a noticeable improvement to the handling thanks to being lighter than the stock wheel.

Mountune short shift and carbon gear knob. The gear knob seems like a small thing, but really does make a tangible improvement. Looks better too!

Mountune front splitter with sunsport lower grille

The Good

Cambelt Just done

Brand new OEM-equivalent (EuroFlo) Catalytic Converter

Matching set of Pilot Sport 5’s (probably the best tyre available on the mk7) with plenty of tread left

Set of expensive Fourdot number plates

Full Service History, although a couple of the minor services I’ve performed myself

The Bad

Usual set of stone chips and paint imperfections, but nothing you wouldn’t expect on this age car

Badge has fallen off one of the centre caps

The Mountune badge had gone missing from the splitter