RE: Fiesta ST: Then and now
Discussion
Ive owned my ST over a year now and with a few engine mods, its a decent car. Handling is great, no problems reliability wise, just lacks power and fuel consumption is not great for the power it puts out.
It is a stepping stone for a Focus, which Im sure will be a all around better car.
It is a stepping stone for a Focus, which Im sure will be a all around better car.
Frp' said:
It wasn't supposed to be a rival. It was to sit below the pure hot hatch line. Think ST/RS. Lower insurance, tax etc.
It was a very good car but the new one will be special. I've driven quite a few mk7s now and the steering is simply brilliant. From 1.25 upwards.
They really need another Puma and hopefully one day a Fiesta RS. All about cost as everyone knows.
Agreed - but that still didn't stop the people who bought them (usually blokes in their early 20's) thinking that they could still 'have it' with things like Clio 172's & other hot hatches. It was a very good car but the new one will be special. I've driven quite a few mk7s now and the steering is simply brilliant. From 1.25 upwards.
They really need another Puma and hopefully one day a Fiesta RS. All about cost as everyone knows.
The same applies to the previous gen Zetec S's too, 99% of them seem to be driven by the 'Max Power' brigade.
- The Mountune one on the link looks a real weapon, a world apart from the ones I usually see.
I took one for a test drive after owning my lightly modified mk5 zetec s.
Deeply dissapointed - it didn't feel fast at all, the handling was not what it was made out to be and the seat felt like I was sitting on the car, not in it.
In the end I waited a few months, spent more and went for a Focus RS, and I'm glad I did.
Deeply dissapointed - it didn't feel fast at all, the handling was not what it was made out to be and the seat felt like I was sitting on the car, not in it.
In the end I waited a few months, spent more and went for a Focus RS, and I'm glad I did.
These are great little cars. But those who compare with Clio cups etc miss the point. The fiesta is a great little car.. the car bit being the operative word. Great fun, good drive, cheap to fix, solidly built (for what you pay) and in every way better than the frenchies. If all u want is to go fast and skid round corners you wont want one. But as an every day car to live with the Fiesta ST is a pure gem and IMO unless modified by the barry boys, far more grown up looking than the equivalent Clio..
Merp said:
The new shape has won me over eventually after seeing a red prototype on the road.
I've had mine for almost 4 years now, been a great little car and as commented many of times, very chuckable. The only problem being is the lack of power from the engine as standard, many upgrades are available to push it closer to the Clio 182/197 etc, but the money in my opinion wasnt really warranted.
Fuel consumption is reasonable, I have a full Miltek system fitted along with a simple K&N57i, achieving 35mpg on a daily A-Road Commute.
I also fitted the 35mm lowering Ford Eibach kit which improves the stance considerably, along with removing the stripes it looks slightly more tasteful now.
I actually think this shape Fiesta ST, especially on that ride height, is one of the best looking hot hatches of recent years. I've had mine for almost 4 years now, been a great little car and as commented many of times, very chuckable. The only problem being is the lack of power from the engine as standard, many upgrades are available to push it closer to the Clio 182/197 etc, but the money in my opinion wasnt really warranted.
Fuel consumption is reasonable, I have a full Miltek system fitted along with a simple K&N57i, achieving 35mpg on a daily A-Road Commute.
I also fitted the 35mm lowering Ford Eibach kit which improves the stance considerably, along with removing the stripes it looks slightly more tasteful now.
BorkFactor said:
A mate of mine has one of these - takes all the abuse that can be thrown at it and does drive very well. Kept up with my ST24 fairly well!
I didn't realise there was so much aftermarket stuff available for them though, why didn't Ford just put it on straight from the factory so it was more of a Clio 172 / 182 rival?
Simply: cost.I didn't realise there was so much aftermarket stuff available for them though, why didn't Ford just put it on straight from the factory so it was more of a Clio 172 / 182 rival?
P4ROT said:
Shouldn't this be a 'tell me i'm wrong'? I seem to remember the majority of people saying they were underpowered and a bit prone to understeer with that heavy engine up front....
Underpowered compared to what? The power/weight ratio is the same as an R5 GT Turbo so more than adequate. I have never wanted for much more power as I'm not a boy racer. The Mk IV Golf GTI only had 150hp didn't it? I fear many look at the 150hp and only think it's underpowered because it's not a big number like most moderns are. In practice, more hp means less torque and peakier delivery which is, of course, why many like diesels, for their effortless torque. I'll grant it's not a particularly characterful engine but neither is it a bad one and it can be "punted along" with alacrity.They were less powerful than the 172/182 but also have plenty of torque so you don't have to flog it like a robber's cat to make it go. They are certainly not prone to understeer and go where you point them. This was put into sharp contrast after a Fiat panda hire car which understeered like the QE2.
Having owned an ST for the last 3 years now, i'd disagree with the fact that the engine felt "gutless" or "underpowered" or the handling was rubbish with the fact it had a "heavy engine" ( its actually an alll ali unit so its fairly light ). To a younger driver who it was aimed at is definitely not the case. It was more than quick enough when going from the 1.4 version!
To someone who would have driven the likes of a 172/182/typeR then i could see why, facts and figures on paper it would have been a white-wash.
Theres vast aftermarket parts readily available for it, mine runs a K&N57i, Larger throttle Body, full Milltek sport exhaust, 35mm eibach lowering springs and stage 2 remap by AMD.
It will happily now keep up with a 182 when out and about!
To someone who would have driven the likes of a 172/182/typeR then i could see why, facts and figures on paper it would have been a white-wash.
Theres vast aftermarket parts readily available for it, mine runs a K&N57i, Larger throttle Body, full Milltek sport exhaust, 35mm eibach lowering springs and stage 2 remap by AMD.
It will happily now keep up with a 182 when out and about!
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