Ford Fiesta ST2 - 2014
Discussion
Have been discussing moving my trusty MK7 zetec S on. Been a great car. I would have had it for 4 years in August but after passing by the ford dealership I decided to have a test drive on the off chance.
Previous car
New Car
Well I picked it up on wednesday evening and have since covered 150 miles of a mixture of roads.
Wednesday evening I stuck to a mixture of B road blasting and some local town driving. Fuel consumption is horrific compared to my ZS. As to be expected I assume and seeing as the car is for Leisure use only I'm not too fussed.
Currently averaging 22mpg with a very heavy foot compared to the ZS which would return 45mpg with ease.
The interior is a nicer place to be compared to the last, the seats are comfy and the bum warmers are great. The stereo system sounds fuller compared to the last but frankly the USB interface seems to be fiddly for the sake of it.
The ride is hard. Nothing other than that. Ideally I'd like it to be softer but I'd obviously lose the charm of the handling which is in fact sublime. It will cock its rear leg around an empty roundabout with ease and the traction control will reign you in where required.
I've haven't used sport mode yet and haven't experienced the slightest bit of understeer. The TC is quite intrusive but when you straighten the wheel the car seems to go like a loaded spring.
The power delivery is superb. This car is not built for a traffic light GP. First gear is down on power, 2nd and 3rd are really where the car stretches its legs. I ride an R1 and make no mistake I ride it badly. I would definetley be quicker around a set of fiddly corners quicker in the fiesta. The brakes are up there with the best and the feel of the wheel is good.
Motorways are lethargic, the ride is awful, certainly not a car you would commute in.
Time will tell on how I get on with the car. If my job changed to require car use I would have to sell it due to the ride quality. But for a B road toy I haven't driven a better car in a while. I thought the ZS was good with the amount of power it had to use with the chassis but this car is ridiculous. When going hard at it I can get the wheels chirping between 2nd and 3rd gear.
It will be treated to the MR215 kit shortly and possibly a mountune short shifter but for now the rest will be blown on the crap MPG.
I'm smitten.
Previous car
New Car
Well I picked it up on wednesday evening and have since covered 150 miles of a mixture of roads.
Wednesday evening I stuck to a mixture of B road blasting and some local town driving. Fuel consumption is horrific compared to my ZS. As to be expected I assume and seeing as the car is for Leisure use only I'm not too fussed.
Currently averaging 22mpg with a very heavy foot compared to the ZS which would return 45mpg with ease.
The interior is a nicer place to be compared to the last, the seats are comfy and the bum warmers are great. The stereo system sounds fuller compared to the last but frankly the USB interface seems to be fiddly for the sake of it.
The ride is hard. Nothing other than that. Ideally I'd like it to be softer but I'd obviously lose the charm of the handling which is in fact sublime. It will cock its rear leg around an empty roundabout with ease and the traction control will reign you in where required.
I've haven't used sport mode yet and haven't experienced the slightest bit of understeer. The TC is quite intrusive but when you straighten the wheel the car seems to go like a loaded spring.
The power delivery is superb. This car is not built for a traffic light GP. First gear is down on power, 2nd and 3rd are really where the car stretches its legs. I ride an R1 and make no mistake I ride it badly. I would definetley be quicker around a set of fiddly corners quicker in the fiesta. The brakes are up there with the best and the feel of the wheel is good.
Motorways are lethargic, the ride is awful, certainly not a car you would commute in.
Time will tell on how I get on with the car. If my job changed to require car use I would have to sell it due to the ride quality. But for a B road toy I haven't driven a better car in a while. I thought the ZS was good with the amount of power it had to use with the chassis but this car is ridiculous. When going hard at it I can get the wheels chirping between 2nd and 3rd gear.
It will be treated to the MR215 kit shortly and possibly a mountune short shifter but for now the rest will be blown on the crap MPG.
I'm smitten.
justanother5tar said:
Absolutely love these cars. I think i might have to treat myself to one soon, just get to get OH a new car first.
The only thing I don't like about them is the illuminated scuff plates, look awfully chav but you've got have them to get the anthracite wheels.
I'm guessing if you actually wanted it without Ford would be able to help alternativley pull a fuse.The only thing I don't like about them is the illuminated scuff plates, look awfully chav but you've got have them to get the anthracite wheels.
I haven't driven it in the dark so haven't actually seen it.
They really are great cars, we got our black one last year.
Agree with all of your comments and in particular the suspension/ride - from what I have read the Mountune springs (made by Eibach to Mountune spec) take away some of the low speed rough and choppy ride but still retain the handling characteristics when pushing on, they are on my radar for an upgrade.
In regards to mpg ours has levelled out at 32mpg average after 6k miles but my wife does use it for a lot of short journeys and when I take it out at the weekends I drive it like you do!!
Enjoy
Agree with all of your comments and in particular the suspension/ride - from what I have read the Mountune springs (made by Eibach to Mountune spec) take away some of the low speed rough and choppy ride but still retain the handling characteristics when pushing on, they are on my radar for an upgrade.
In regards to mpg ours has levelled out at 32mpg average after 6k miles but my wife does use it for a lot of short journeys and when I take it out at the weekends I drive it like you do!!
Enjoy
Picking up mine on Saturday which is the same colour and spec as yours! Can't wait! The one I test drove was averaging 22mpg and it seemed to be an impossible car to drive sensibly! Brilliant fun though! Interestingly I didn't think the ride was that bad? I do own a classic MGB though!
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