Fiesta st mk7 really that good?
Discussion
mooseracer said:
A set of Frentech caliper pins sorts the problem with the rear brakes. Mine is a 2016 and had the same problem. Its a common issue.
Mine was the lever not returning on one side. The rod appeared to be corroded and penetrating oil and other lubes afforded only temporary respite. I saw one fix involving much stronger return springs.LuS1fer said:
I am on my 2nd ST.
My first was a 2013 that I owned from 2015 to 2018. Ideal car, IMHO but they seem to have issues with the handbrake. My OSR caliper kept sticking on and consequently the handbrake didn't work too well. I changed it because of that and 2013 and 14 cars are currently subject to a recall that takes 2-3 days for a coolant sensor.
I therefore traded it for a 2016 Fiesta ST with a Mountune 215 kit. The fact this one was Spirit Blue rather than black also swayed me.
After I bought it, I checked the MOT history and it seems this had handbrake issues too but it had new discs and the handbrake works so assume they sorted it.
I went and test drove a 2016 208GTi before buying this ST. It was nicer inside but I am afraid the power delivery was a disappointment. It was quick but always felt a bit flat and getting back into my Fiesta, it quickly fell off the list. Additionally, two friends who work at a Pug dealer suggested I might become overly familiar with the workshop.
Polo GTI was too expensive and looks dull and poor value so I skipped that. No Clios round here so the only way of getting a car as good as my old ST was to buy another. The Mountune came with it but doesn't add anything particularly noticeable saved an increased insurance premium.
In my view, the ST performs extremely well. The seats wrap round you but suit the narrow of frame. Fatties might find them uncomfortable. I also don't find the ride unacceptable, it's typical sports hatch. The interior may not be great but it's functional. I'm not a gadget geek so none of that crap bothers me. Steering is good, grip and handling are excellent and the power is delivered in an immediate and effervescent way which is where it scores over the 208.
I am not ordinarily one to buy the same car twice. This is the first time and I did it because I was scared I would end up with a car that I would forever think was inferior to the ST.
The theft issue is principally the ST3 so stick with the ST2.
I am currently considering a ST, and am aware that the suspension was softened from mid 2016 onwards, presumably 2016 MY?My first was a 2013 that I owned from 2015 to 2018. Ideal car, IMHO but they seem to have issues with the handbrake. My OSR caliper kept sticking on and consequently the handbrake didn't work too well. I changed it because of that and 2013 and 14 cars are currently subject to a recall that takes 2-3 days for a coolant sensor.
I therefore traded it for a 2016 Fiesta ST with a Mountune 215 kit. The fact this one was Spirit Blue rather than black also swayed me.
After I bought it, I checked the MOT history and it seems this had handbrake issues too but it had new discs and the handbrake works so assume they sorted it.
I went and test drove a 2016 208GTi before buying this ST. It was nicer inside but I am afraid the power delivery was a disappointment. It was quick but always felt a bit flat and getting back into my Fiesta, it quickly fell off the list. Additionally, two friends who work at a Pug dealer suggested I might become overly familiar with the workshop.
Polo GTI was too expensive and looks dull and poor value so I skipped that. No Clios round here so the only way of getting a car as good as my old ST was to buy another. The Mountune came with it but doesn't add anything particularly noticeable saved an increased insurance premium.
In my view, the ST performs extremely well. The seats wrap round you but suit the narrow of frame. Fatties might find them uncomfortable. I also don't find the ride unacceptable, it's typical sports hatch. The interior may not be great but it's functional. I'm not a gadget geek so none of that crap bothers me. Steering is good, grip and handling are excellent and the power is delivered in an immediate and effervescent way which is where it scores over the 208.
I am not ordinarily one to buy the same car twice. This is the first time and I did it because I was scared I would end up with a car that I would forever think was inferior to the ST.
The theft issue is principally the ST3 so stick with the ST2.
Edited by LuS1fer on Sunday 28th October 09:27
Edited by LuS1fer on Sunday 28th October 09:29
As someone who's had both pre and post 2015 models do you think the latter is worth the extra/seeking out?
Plus does anyone know how to tell for sure it's the 'new' one?
Cheers
acme said:
I am currently considering a ST, and am aware that the suspension was softened from mid 2016 onwards, presumably 2016 MY?
As someone who's had both pre and post 2015 models do you think the latter is worth the extra/seeking out?
Plus does anyone know how to tell for sure it's the 'new' one?
Cheers
That would explain the difference between my Dec 13 and very late December 2015 as the newer one seems softer and less confidence inspiring at the back end.As someone who's had both pre and post 2015 models do you think the latter is worth the extra/seeking out?
Plus does anyone know how to tell for sure it's the 'new' one?
Cheers
My 13 had crappy sponge isolators at the top of the spring - which I replaced with prothane. My 15 has a thicker rubbery pad. No idea if that is significant but, like I say, I preferred the feel of the earlier car, in cornering. As to whether it improves the ride, I'd say not, if there is any difference.
Just found this:
Taken from one of the many articles out there about the ST200...
"It seems there was some concern that the back of the ST was too aggressive, so Ford stiffened the rear torsion beam by 27%, fitted a thicker front anti-roll bar (21mm instead of 19mm), and recalibrated the steering to match.
These alterations allowed the engineers to reduce the spring and damper rate by using new front springs and dampers and new rear dampers (using the same springs), making the ST softer and better able to deal with sudden bumps and camber changes."
As Ford couldnt justify the expense of sending two different chassis setups down the production line, it started to put the suspension changes onto the standard ST apparently from 13/8/15, without telling anyone.
Thanks for the reply.
That's exactly what I'd read too, that they didn't want two versions of the same car being built and so the regular ST is identical to the ST200 - cheeky given the ST200 was 5k more!
I drove a later one on Saturday and though still stiff it definitely felt softer to me - difficult to tell if that's merely my impression a week later or the differing roads of the test drives.
Does anyone know how you tell if it's a latter one if say it's a 2015/65 plate? I did note on Saturday's one down by the handbrake there's only a 12v & USB, but no jack point as per the 64 plate one I tested???
Cheers
That's exactly what I'd read too, that they didn't want two versions of the same car being built and so the regular ST is identical to the ST200 - cheeky given the ST200 was 5k more!
I drove a later one on Saturday and though still stiff it definitely felt softer to me - difficult to tell if that's merely my impression a week later or the differing roads of the test drives.
Does anyone know how you tell if it's a latter one if say it's a 2015/65 plate? I did note on Saturday's one down by the handbrake there's only a 12v & USB, but no jack point as per the 64 plate one I tested???
Cheers
The minor facelift brought revised rear lights with "Mustang" style innards and the pedals in the older ones have little rubber dots on, newer ones have a different design. I think later ones also lost the rear 12v socket (not that I noticed any of these things, bar the lights and pedals, when I changed.
LuS1fer said:
The minor facelift brought revised rear lights with "Mustang" style innards and the pedals in the older ones have little rubber dots on, newer ones have a different design. I think later ones also lost the rear 12v socket (not that I noticed any of these things, bar the lights and pedals, when I changed.
Fantastic, many thanks for the reply - the Mustang lights (I know exactly what you mean) make it easy to spot.Does yours have jack point in front of the handbrake along with the 12v & USB? I ask as from the ones I've seen the latter ones didn't, however I've seen on on AT that should be a later one given the reg, has the Mustang rear lights but does have the jack point.
I'm wondering if it's a bit like BMW and their LCI/facelifts whereby there are some cross over of parts and some cars that appear facelifted, but weren't!
Cheers
LuS1fer said:
Had to check as I've never noticed but yes, it does.
Thanks for checking. That's completely confusing, I think you said yours is a 16 plate, the one I saw didn't have it, most odd.Anyway seems the rear lights should give the game away, that said as a much modified car it might be best to be cautious!
Cheers
Garvin said:
Why inexplicable?
I suppose because hardly anybody works on NYE and a day later would make it a 16 registration (though same plate obviously) which may affect the value....or am I being cynical? I understand monthly figures but wonder the buyer agreed as even an incentive in December would be offset at sale. Or am I being obtuse?LuS1fer said:
Mine is a 65 but inexplicably registered on 31/12/15.
Thanks for the info. It could've been a pre August '15 build, when I understand it changed, but I doubt it given they've seemingly always sold like hot cakes, especially in Spirit Blue which given the numbers on Autotrader are clearly the most popular colour.LuS1fer said:
I suppose because hardly anybody works on NYE and a day later would make it a 16 registration (though same plate obviously) which may affect the value....or am I being cynical? I understand monthly figures but wonder the buyer agreed as even an incentive in December would be offset at sale. Or am I being obtuse?
I follow your logic totally, though I assume if it's a lease it wouldn't make a difference and they wouldn't care?acme said:
Thanks for the info. It could've been a pre August '15 build, when I understand it changed, but I doubt it given they've seemingly always sold like hot cakes, especially in Spirit Blue which given the numbers on Autotrader are clearly the most popular colour.
When I bought my black one, I wanted Spirit Blue (my previous ST was the still better Speed Blue) but they didn't have one in my price range. Now I have a Spirit Blue, I look back fondly on the black although prefer a solid black to the metallic Panther black.
I like the Molten Orange but not the garish seats.
I have difficulty telling Race Red from their normal red.
LuS1fer said:
When I bought my black one, I wanted Spirit Blue (my previous ST was the still better Speed Blue) but they didn't have one in my price range.
Now I have a Spirit Blue, I look back fondly on the black although prefer a solid black to the metallic Panther black.
I like the Molten Orange but not the garish seats.
I have difficulty telling Race Red from their normal red.
I take it that speed blue was on the old (MK6?) Fiesta ST?Now I have a Spirit Blue, I look back fondly on the black although prefer a solid black to the metallic Panther black.
I like the Molten Orange but not the garish seats.
I have difficulty telling Race Red from their normal red.
If I get a blue one it'll be my third blue car in a row, and of course it's the most popular one, but to discount it for that reason would be like discounting the whole car 'cos it's so popular - i.e. daft!
Have to say I looked at a red one and really rather liked it, but I have another car that's red so fancy something different - though I think red ones seem to be cheaper.
I considered Molten Orange but saw one on Saturday when I test drove one and didn't like it that much, it's got a real metallic flake in it.
I take it race red is the only red on the ST, whereas normal red is for all other regualar Fiesta's?
Think I've settled on blue or white, just depends what I can get!
Cheers
Thought long and hard about this, but decided the ST was a bit plastic inside whilst my son advised that its chav transport and they are a major theft risk due to well known obd issues.
Sat in a 208 GTI and was suprised by the quality, nice interior, very comfortable and well finished. The Peugeot Sport version is rare but really nice although fairly new and still expensive.
Had an abarth 500 previously and found it pogo'd about everywhere, ended up spending about £800 on posh Koni dampers which made it borderline tolerable.
The mini cooper S / SD with the 2L BMW engines for me are the pick of the bunch, very quick, highly tunable, relatively classless and reasonable value used....
The 208 GTi wasn't even in the same league as the ST and a mate of mine who works for a multi-franchise including Peugeot just said "Walk away" or get to know the workshop. Nicer interior but smaller.
Never cared for the Bini, the earlier versions used the same engine but that's a matter of taste. Never really understood the cheap jibes re the Fiesta interior, it's perfectly serviceable, nothing breaks and it doesn't have a bathroom scales for instruments.
Never cared for the Bini, the earlier versions used the same engine but that's a matter of taste. Never really understood the cheap jibes re the Fiesta interior, it's perfectly serviceable, nothing breaks and it doesn't have a bathroom scales for instruments.
I have to say I've rarely test driven a car that seems so much fun from the off, I'd say it seems 'better' than the MK2 Focus RS I was thinking about getting a few years ago!
In reference to the comment about 215bhp/LSD above, the one thing I've always noted about the ST is what you allude to, it seems to be almost the only car I think of, bar perhaps the FK8 CTR that has won universal praise, everyone loves it, and now I've test driven them I can see why.
That it's chav transport, not my words I'll add, and I'm totally the wrong age bracket, who cares, as a petrolhead you recognise a great car when you drive one.
In reference to the comment about 215bhp/LSD above, the one thing I've always noted about the ST is what you allude to, it seems to be almost the only car I think of, bar perhaps the FK8 CTR that has won universal praise, everyone loves it, and now I've test driven them I can see why.
That it's chav transport, not my words I'll add, and I'm totally the wrong age bracket, who cares, as a petrolhead you recognise a great car when you drive one.
Gassing Station | Ford | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff