Focus ST to Fiesta ST - anyone done it?

[taustin]

Looking to sell my Focus ST to free up some cash for a toy - looking to buy an elise at the moment. So i can retain a semi-sensible car, i am thinking of buying the wife a 5 year old Fiesta ST - she loves drving the Focus and i am hoping the Fiesta would also be good b-road fun!

I was wondering whether anyone else has made the switch or driven both? I know it wont have as much punch as the big 2.5 duratec, but wanted ideas as to whether it will keep the wife happy i.e. enough poke to still feel like it shifts around town.

I know the obvious thing to do is go and drive one, which i am sure we will in time, but wanted some real world figures from owners on things like MPG and other running costs.

My ST is in performance blue, good nick, 56 plate with 38k on the clock - was hoping to free up £5k (£10k for the Focus, £5k on a Fiesta) does that seem reasonable or a bit optimisic ?

Cheers.

[AMST09]

I had one of these, and now have mk1 RS so similiar speed to the MK2 ST
They are fairly pokey and great fun on B roads, very predictable
Can make the left leg ache in traffic jams though

Running costs weren't too bad
Decents tyres are about £70 a piece
Brakes are fairly cheap
I got 34mpg out of mine
But I know different owners and varies from 28-35mpg with 40mpg achievable (if you really want to)
Improvements are fairly easy to do cone filter and a flexi pipe will make quite a difference and lowering will make it corner much better
Definantly not a motorway cruiser, copes easy and pulls in 5th well but revs at around 4000 at 80mph
Also can be quite noisey on the motorway
Plenty of torque low down to keep you happy in town

[AshBaldry]

Had a fiesta ST now a mk1 FRS....Work for Ford and have driven plenty of FST's! Go for it! Don't really think you can go wrong,just buy one of the facelift examples and don't get Colorado red Very cheap to insure and don't cost too much to run either

[oj121]

Great little cars but you may find them a little slow seeing as what you are coming from. Most people buy one then get quicker. Im after a Focci RS or DC5 ITR next. Enjoy going the other way though.

[robsco]

To be honest, upon driving the Fiesta ST I found the engine very coarse and not particularly enjoyable to rev, particularly comparatively speaking with an engine as smooth as the 5-pot in the Focus. Maybe the example I drove wasn't a good one, but it seemed spot on in every other respect so I wouldn't imagine it was an engine problem. Never really got along with the Fiesta's gearbox either, its very highly thought of on PH but I wasn't a fan.

:Dons flameproof jacket:

[Aizletree]

Slightly off topic but related (sort of)

I am also looking at getting a Fiesta ST.

Anybody know what the different Mountune kits do for the FST's driveability and noise, both everyday and on a hoon? My Mum drives a Focus ST and I drive it every now and then so wondered how they compare.

I've test driven a Fiesta ST and felt the engine didn't really have any point where it picked up. I know its N/A but was expecting some fizz. I did love the chuckability of the Fiesta though, I find the Focus feels rather large on a B/C Road.

[T66ORA]

robsco said:

To be honest, upon driving the Fiesta ST I found the engine very coarse and not particularly enjoyable to rev, particularly comparatively speaking with an engine as smooth as the 5-pot in the Focus. Maybe the example I drove wasn't a good one, but it seemed spot on in every other respect so I wouldn't imagine it was an engine problem. Never really got along with the Fiesta's gearbox either, its very highly thought of on PH but I wasn't a fan.

:Dons flameproof jacket:

Agreed, we had a 2006 ST to replace a much loved 2002 Zetec S, only kept it a year, it had to be the worst "hot?" Ford we have had, and there has been a few
Ride..awful,my Tamora rides better, Torque Steer..awful, seats..to high and firm, fuel economy?, 26 to 28 mpg regularly, performance average at best, motorway cruising? Handling? Understeer and torque steer from corner to corner. In fact a well driven Zetec S would walk all over it around the twisties,never mind my Puma with racing suspension.

[killsta]

Did you really get awful torque steer from a Fiesta ST?

Edited by killsta on Tuesday 24th August 10:33

[ZeroH]

Fiesta ST has one of the nicest steering feels of any car I've driven.... far beyond that of most modern assisted racks.

[Overlag]

killsta said:

Did you really get awful torque steer from a Fiesta ST?

Edited by killsta on Tuesday 24th August 10:33

Its the Pirelli tyres as standard fit on ST's they torque steer VERY bad, and follow the ruts. I changed to goodyears f1's and it transformed the car.

[AshBaldry]

ST Fiesta is a good car,I know of at least 4 where the gearboxes have given up! Apart from that haha

[oj121]

Yeah rule no.1 is to change the tyres ASAP. I stuck on some Toyo T1R's and they are far far better than the p-zero.

Engine is a little coarse but with a few upgrades(induction and flexi) it opens up a hell of a lot. I find the handling and steering feel very good although you do sit a little high. Gear box is nice and slick.

I just wish the car had began life as the montune 165 not the watered down version.


For the guy that is looking at getting one but drives his mums focus ST. The power delivery wont have the turbo punch you are used to. The power delivery is totally different and builds. Its comes alive over 4k but you wont ever get a kick. Even a bogo TDI will 'kick' more. N/A engines deliver a little more continuous and smoothly really.

[SonicHedgeHog]

I think everyone is missing the fatal floor in this plan. 10 grand for a 56 plate Focus ST isn't going to happen in a million years. If you look hard enough you can get a brand new one for 17k. Why would anyone pay that price for a 4yr old one?

[peeves]

SonicHedgeHog said:

I think everyone is missing the fatal floorFLAW in this plan. 10 grand for a 56 plate Focus ST isn't going to happen in a million years. If you look hard enough you can get a brand new one for 17k. Why would anyone pay that price for a 4yr old one?

^^^ I agree.

Especially with the new focus coming, Ford will be doing more special editions and massive discounts on ST's

Edited by peeves on Saturday 6th November 17:18

[neiljohnson]

I will probably get flamed for suggesting it but you could get a nice mk1 Focus st for 4k & that is a better day to day runner than the fiesta