Fiesta ST - Missing the point?

[Skeleton_Crew]

I have a Fiesta St-3, which I bought due to the positive reviews, the alternatives being a clio 200 and megane 250/265.

I've had the car since June last year and I just don't get any kind of enjoyment from driving it (took it from Leicester to Yorkshire for a week).

The car has a mountune stage 1 remap, has runflats fitted on all 4 corners (were on it when I bought it)

Most fun I've had in a car has been my 99' 1.2 punto and a 1.1 Kia picanto as thrybwere satisfying to throw around.

Question is, so I give it a chance or move onto something different, perhaps naturally aspirated? 😕

[S100HP]

Going fast in a slow car is more fun than going slow in a fast car.

[cbmotorsport]

Sell it, it's not for you, you've had it for nearly a year.

[cerb4.5lee]

cbmotorsport said:

Sell it, it's not for you, you've had it for nearly a year.

This.

[ZX10R NIN]

+1 if you've not had a moment where everything has just clicked then it's likely you never will so move onto something else.

[Angpozzuto]

I've driven my sisters st many times and found it a very enjoyable B road car. What about it don't you get on with?

[Jonesy1972]

About a month ago, I sorted my first lease; Scirocco TSI. Whilst it’s a nice car and I can waft about in it, it’s not half the fun my previous 75bhp Up! was. It’s a discussion had on the Up! Forum recently about being able to drive a car to its limit. In other words I could hoon about in the Up! at 90% most of the time with no fear of losing my licence. This ties in with what you’ve said and also explains why if I had the money, I’d be back in a classic Mini at the drop of a hat.

Jonesy

[cuprabob]

The runflats won't be helping. Ditch them and replace with some decent rubber and you might just find the car is transformed and much more fun.

[Skeleton_Crew]

Angpozzuto said:

I've driven my sisters st many times and found it a very enjoyable B road car. What about it don't you get on with?

The ride is a bit unforgiving, especially on longer journeys, though I know the rear suspension was revised on MY2015, my car was made just before they introduced that.
Yes, I thought the runflats might ruin the ride, are runflats standard on these?

I've taken it out on B-road blasts and I don't get the same feeling as I did with lower powered cars I had before it.
What I mean by that is that I felt as though I was at the limit, that I actually had to work the engine and chassis to make progress.


I wanted it to be like others have said, fun, taking time in the day to just go out and drive it like hot hatches of old.

Is it the power delivery? Would I be better off in a clio 200?

Does anyone have any suggestions or alternatives?

[Angpozzuto]

Skeleton_Crew said:

Angpozzuto said:

I've driven my sisters st many times and found it a very enjoyable B road car. What about it don't you get on with?

The ride is a bit unforgiving, especially on longer journeys, though I know the rear suspension was revised on MY2015, my car was made just before they introduced that.
Yes, I thought the runflats might ruin the ride, are runflats standard on these?

I've taken it out on B-road blasts and I don't get the same feeling as I did with lower powered cars I had before it.
What I mean by that is that I felt as though I was at the limit, that I actually had to work the engine and chassis to make progress.


I wanted it to be like others have said, fun, taking time in the day to just go out and drive it like hot hatches of old.

Is it the power delivery? Would I be better off in a clio 200?

Does anyone have any suggestions or alternatives?

My sisters car never came with run flats so that could be a factor, personally I love wringing it's neck and working the car hard which I can't do with my supercharged v6 mk1 mr2. Maybe it's worth trying something with a different style of power delivery v6 or perhaps?

[alorotom]

I’d move on... horse for courses and it’s odd what make sure people smile.

Of all the cars I’ve owned my 2002 1.6 megane cab never ceases to make me smile no matter what and I’ve owned all sorts of others, faster, slower, semi exotic, etc...

[jsims1]

I always wanted one from the first time I saw one, thought they looked the dogs danglies. One came in at work recently and I was so ready to pull the trigger... and then I drove it.
I was so underwhelmed and disappointed. The suspension too hard, steering overly darty at anything over 60mph or so and just generally didn't feel special enough to me.
The mk6 Golf GTi I have now is leagues ahead in my opinion though I know they're not to everybody's tastes after all the bad feedback it got on the buying guide earlier this week but I certainly don't recognise the Fiesta ST as a great hot hatch at all.

[mikey P 500]

Always disappointing when you fall out of love with a car, but life is short etc, move on. Have you tried a gt86 yet, similar money to a fiesta ST but totally different type of driving experience.

[stargazer30]

I have an ST2. I do like driving it as it’s nippy, quick and easy to drive. I do miss the type r it replaced though. That was more fun when you were in the mood but tiring when you weren’t. The fez is a nicer all rounder.

I get the slow car fun factor too. I had a 1.2 £700 micra for a while and it was so much fun to drive the wheels off it and still not be doing silly speeds.

[ZX10R NIN]

jsims1 said:

I always wanted one from the first time I saw one, thought they looked the dogs danglies. One came in at work recently and I was so ready to pull the trigger... and then I drove it.
I was so underwhelmed and disappointed. The suspension too hard, steering overly darty at anything over 60mph or so and just generally didn't feel special enough to me.
The mk6 Golf GTi I have now is leagues ahead in my opinion though I know they're not to everybody's tastes after all the bad feedback it got on the buying guide earlier this week but I certainly don't recognise the Fiesta ST as a great hot hatch at all.

Compare apples with apples the Fiesta is a great junior hot hatch (if you'd driven the Polo GTI you'd know) at the same time I wouldn't look at a Golf GTI when looking for a hot hatch, which is why it's nice to be blessed with choice so everyone can get their idea of a hot hatch.

[gazza5]

I get what you are saying, my car hostory is pretty crap for the 15 years I have been driving.

But the rover 25 was under powered but best at getting by the scruff of the neck and driving to the redline - its been said many times - under powered cars can be more fun.

In these days of point and squirt car (over taking in the golf r is effortless) - in the rover you had to plan which in a way I was probably a better driver then.

I haven't gelled completely with my golf r - but I need a decent drive in it - 20 miles a day stop start traffic isn't what its made for. It is fun - but personally I think I prefer a n/a engine rather than a turbo.

We are all different which is why there are many different types of cars

[culpz]

Jonesy1972 said:

About a month ago, I sorted my first lease; Scirocco TSI. Whilst it’s a nice car and I can waft about in it, it’s not half the fun my previous 75bhp Up! was. It’s a discussion had on the Up! Forum recently about being able to drive a car to its limit. In other words I could hoon about in the Up! at 90% most of the time with no fear of losing my licence. This ties in with what you’ve said and also explains why if I had the money, I’d be back in a classic Mini at the drop of a hat.

Jonesy

I love my Scirocco. It loses it's hot-hatchness with it's weight and refinement though. Most modern hot-hatches do IMO. However, for my commute and most of my driving, it's pretty perfect. It's also entertaining and fun in it's own way, but nothing like a Fiesta ST, which is one of the most fun cars i've ever driven. For the stuff in between though, i can imagine that it could become frustrating, but i loved my test drive of one regardless.

Horses for courses, but i couldn't enjoy an VW Up! at all. I've driven my fair share of low powered and low weight hatchbacks that are very similar. The sheer lack of performance frustrates me and revving it out to not to get much back isn't my idea of fun. The Up! GTI could be interesting though. I don't really struggle to use my Scirocco's 180 bhp and it works really well with the DSG box. It also makes sitting in traffic a dream.

OP, why not try a Suzuki Swift Sport a go? Seems like an N/A warm hatch is probably the most your looking to get out of a car.

Edited by culpz on Friday 13th April 10:33

[HJMS123]

Jonesy1972 said:

About a month ago, I sorted my first lease; Scirocco TSI. Whilst it’s a nice car and I can waft about in it, it’s not half the fun my previous 75bhp Up! was. It’s a discussion had on the Up! Forum recently about being able to drive a car to its limit. In other words I could hoon about in the Up! at 90% most of the time with no fear of losing my licence. This ties in with what you’ve said and also explains why if I had the money, I’d be back in a classic Mini at the drop of a hat.

Jonesy

I moved from an Fiesta ST3 to a Scirocco R last year and they aren't even close in terms of fun factor.

The R can be fun but in a completely different way/level to the fiesta. You cannot beat small & pointy cars for fun IMO

[Skeleton_Crew]

As I said I was considering a 200 cup as they seemed like a good alternative and I don't know if I just don't like the power delivery of the Fiesta.

Does anyone have any experience with the Clio 200, Panda 100hp, Suzuki swift sport mk2?

I wouldn't mind some suggestions please 🙂

[CallorFold]

Skeleton_Crew said:

As I said I was considering a 200 cup as they seemed like a good alternative and I don't know if I just don't like the power delivery of the Fiesta.

Does anyone have any experience with the Clio 200, Panda 100hp, Suzuki swift sport mk2?

Recently sold a Clio 197 (basically the same vehicle as a 200, although mine wasn't a cup) and have now moved onto a Clio 220 Trophy. Had the 197 for 3 years.

The 197 was a fantastic car, and a friend of mine had Fiesta ST-3 at the same time. Having driven both cars, there's not really a whole lot in it. Power delivery is different being Turbo vs. NA, but handling and chassis is much of the same. Fiesta comes better spec'd, with a newer platform. I think moving from the Fiesta to the Clio 200 will be underwhelming as there's really not a whole lot to be gained, it's just 'different'. I'd also argue the Clio's are less of a pleasure to daily drive - a little more rattly, a little less refined. Fantastic fun, and even more so when you really get to chase the red line but I'd recommend a few decent test drives before making your mind up.