RE: Ford Fiesta ST: PH Used Buying Guide
Discussion
Ride is rock hard even with the 2016 amendments. So hard in fact that it triggers the G sensor in the dash cam on some roads.
Paint is so thin and soft that a hard stare will put marks in it. Does look nice in spirit blue though.
Rear brake calipers will seize on one side of the caliper giving you unusual rear brake disc wear, though Ford will replace these FOC.
Rear brakes are rarely used in normal driving so the discs will corrode and look s
te, not helped by the seizing caliper.
IME will only do 35 MPG at most and 28-32 MPG most of the time unless you drive like miss daisy which misses the point of the car completely.
Other than that it’s an ok car that is worth putting up with day to day for when you find that perfect B road.
Edited to add that most of the above isn’t combined to just the ST and afflicts most modern cars. The St really is a good car and at £8k an absolute steal!
Paint is so thin and soft that a hard stare will put marks in it. Does look nice in spirit blue though.
Rear brake calipers will seize on one side of the caliper giving you unusual rear brake disc wear, though Ford will replace these FOC.
Rear brakes are rarely used in normal driving so the discs will corrode and look s
te, not helped by the seizing caliper. IME will only do 35 MPG at most and 28-32 MPG most of the time unless you drive like miss daisy which misses the point of the car completely.
Other than that it’s an ok car that is worth putting up with day to day for when you find that perfect B road.
Edited to add that most of the above isn’t combined to just the ST and afflicts most modern cars. The St really is a good car and at £8k an absolute steal!
Edited by dci on Tuesday 13th February 14:38
cjm said:
Flicking through a Fiesta ST brochure would be more useful than this buying guide!
It's still a relatively new car though and it just means they've held up pretty well since and not had that many issues crop upEdited by cjm on Tuesday 13th February 13:54
There's probably not much point in having a buyers guide for cars at this age but it still helps to know what you may be faced with.
blade7 said:
Small quick relatively cheap FWD hatchback sticks to the road like s*it to a blanket and Sunday drivers complain it's stiffly sprung. It's so good lots of people buy them, then car snobs moan they see them everywhere 
I've said this several times now but i never understood the harsh ride comments for the Fiesta. It was perfectly acceptable to me.When i test drove one, it was far more comfortable than my Scirocco at the time that had 35mm lowering springs installed and upgraded 18" alloys.
Each to their own though.
I ran an ST-2 from 10k to 44k all hard miles and was 100% reliable apart from the bulb blowing on the Highlevel brake light, but i don’t count that at all, but it needed a complete new unit according to Ford as it was LED’s as apose to a Bulb and sealed unit and it wasn’t cheap too! Used to get 40-42mpg on my 45+ mile a day commute to work and back but so did my Mk6 ST...
The ride didn’t bother me as I knew what to expect, but my Corsa VXR Nurburgring with Bilstein B12 Suspension is definitely better. I hear Mountune now do the Bilstein Shocks to go with the Mountune Lowering Springs and i’d 100% go down that route if i got another...
The ride didn’t bother me as I knew what to expect, but my Corsa VXR Nurburgring with Bilstein B12 Suspension is definitely better. I hear Mountune now do the Bilstein Shocks to go with the Mountune Lowering Springs and i’d 100% go down that route if i got another...
dci said:
Rear brake calipers will seize on one side of the caliper giving you unusual rear brake disc wear, though Ford will replace these FOC.
If only. The best I managed was 75% off a full set of discs & pads and that was only after complaining to Ford UK's MD. I've since had to replace another set of rear pads with the calipers being freed off & lubricated by the dealer each time.In saying that, the rears have been much, much better since it went from being my weekend car to being a daily commuter hack. It's a car that definitely doesn't like being parked for long periods, especially if you have to leave it with the handbrake on.
culpz said:
I've said this several times now but i never understood the harsh ride comments for the Fiesta. It was perfectly acceptable to me.
When i test drove one, it was far more comfortable than my Scirocco at the time that had 35mm lowering springs installed and upgraded 18" alloys.
Each to their own though.
I found it quite hard to notice the extent of the harshness on a test drive. I then went from 2 years in a 15 plate ST3 to a 17 plate Scirocco R on 19'' wheels and the ride in the scirocco, even in sport mode is way softer than the fiesta ... in comfort they coudn't be any further apart!When i test drove one, it was far more comfortable than my Scirocco at the time that had 35mm lowering springs installed and upgraded 18" alloys.
Each to their own though.
At the time the fiesta's ride annoyed me but I got used to it, now I've been in something softer as a daily I don't think I could go back to such a stiff ride again. My driving is 95% city driving though so lots of uneven/pot-holed roads and the fiesta didn't feel quite as bad once up to speeds over 40MPH.
Edited by HJMS123 on Tuesday 13th February 15:25
anonymous said:
[redacted]
They're very different cars. I've never driven a 197 or a 200 but they're definitely more bespoke and hardcore. The last of a the proper N/A driver's hot hatches. I'd agree with you on the exterior looks department too.The Fiesta ST is seen as a modern 172/182. I can understand what you're saying though. I've never driven the new Peugeot 208 GTI but i don't really want to as i don't like the interior or exterior looks, aswell as the brand.
Had mine from new for 3 months now and love every mile. Upgraded to the MP215 which is more than enough power. Very good MPG if cruising and I also cannot understand people who moan about the ride - yes its firm but not to the point it's uncomfortable.
Few bad points I've found:
Security - OBD relocation, fuse removal and steering wheel lock is a MUST.
General build quality - it is a fiesta afteral.
DAB radio - good quality sound but signal can be poor.
Dipped headlights are really crap.
Few bad points I've found:
Security - OBD relocation, fuse removal and steering wheel lock is a MUST.
General build quality - it is a fiesta afteral.
DAB radio - good quality sound but signal can be poor.
Dipped headlights are really crap.
The Mountune springs lower the rear significantly to the point where the provoked playfulness and fun upon hard cornering is dialled out. The car does feel more stable overall though which I guess is the point.
Bilstein shocks would be great. However, man maths and the bespoke offerings from Renault draw me to the marque.
For me, the ride quality is fine. It is the roads that are not. The ST will never cosset like a saloon on sensible tyres but it'll nip through the traffic quicker.
Bilstein shocks would be great. However, man maths and the bespoke offerings from Renault draw me to the marque.
For me, the ride quality is fine. It is the roads that are not. The ST will never cosset like a saloon on sensible tyres but it'll nip through the traffic quicker.
I want another. I think I'll go for a nice discreet black ST3 once my lease is up later this year.
I've said on a previous thread I prefer my current Fiesta ecoboost as a daily, which I probably still stand by. However, I think in the 18 months I've had the 140 ecoboost I've taken it out specifically for a blast once, and that was to see how it was, I don't remember ever doing it again.
When I had the ST, even though I was doing approx. 90 mile/day commute, I could honestly say I'd take it out for a drive, a proper blast, at least twice a week, I enjoyed it that much.
Would it be wrong to sell my P1 Impreza and have 2 fiestas....
I've said on a previous thread I prefer my current Fiesta ecoboost as a daily, which I probably still stand by. However, I think in the 18 months I've had the 140 ecoboost I've taken it out specifically for a blast once, and that was to see how it was, I don't remember ever doing it again.
When I had the ST, even though I was doing approx. 90 mile/day commute, I could honestly say I'd take it out for a drive, a proper blast, at least twice a week, I enjoyed it that much.
Would it be wrong to sell my P1 Impreza and have 2 fiestas....
neil1jnr said:
I want another. I think I'll go for a nice discreet black ST3 once my lease is up later this year.
I've said on a previous thread I prefer my current Fiesta ecoboost as a daily, which I probably still stand by. However, I think in the 18 months I've had the 140 ecoboost I've taken it out specifically for a blast once, and that was to see how it was, I don't remember ever doing it again.
When I had the ST, even though I was doing approx. 90 mile/day commute, I could honestly say I'd take it out for a drive, a proper blast, at least twice a week, I enjoyed it that much.
Would it be wrong to sell my P1 Impreza and have 2 fiestas....
I love it in red, have a blue one myself which is a gorgeous colour in the sunset.I've said on a previous thread I prefer my current Fiesta ecoboost as a daily, which I probably still stand by. However, I think in the 18 months I've had the 140 ecoboost I've taken it out specifically for a blast once, and that was to see how it was, I don't remember ever doing it again.
When I had the ST, even though I was doing approx. 90 mile/day commute, I could honestly say I'd take it out for a drive, a proper blast, at least twice a week, I enjoyed it that much.
Would it be wrong to sell my P1 Impreza and have 2 fiestas....
The suspension is firm, but to be fair the car is set up (by a team of experts) for precise handling and good feedback. I find that quite refreshing over endless settings for this that and the other.
I will confess that I find it pretty firm from the passenger seat however.
I’m four years in without fault. As highlighted by others the paint is particularly soft , and despite my best efforts (snow foam, wool mitt etc) swirls and chips are unavoidable.
DAB reception is hit & miss but the general layout and function of the SYNC system is weakness of the car, period.
I have the mountune 215 upgrade which compliments the chassis and braking to perfection. This is money very spent on a proven and robust package.
It’s such a fun car to drive (and I’ve owned some of the great hatches) but I am yet to bore of my ST.
I will confess that I find it pretty firm from the passenger seat however.
I’m four years in without fault. As highlighted by others the paint is particularly soft , and despite my best efforts (snow foam, wool mitt etc) swirls and chips are unavoidable.
DAB reception is hit & miss but the general layout and function of the SYNC system is weakness of the car, period.
I have the mountune 215 upgrade which compliments the chassis and braking to perfection. This is money very spent on a proven and robust package.
It’s such a fun car to drive (and I’ve owned some of the great hatches) but I am yet to bore of my ST.
Loved mine for 18 months till it was stolen
It was so laughably easy to steal that I've not bought another one on principle (why the F%%% should I have to relocate the OBD port, disklock. etc etc)
Do miss it because it was one of the best cars to drive ever on A/B roads
Fully tolerable on a 50 miles daily commute and regular 300+ mile weekend round trips
However, that is as a driver, I was aware that the ride quality was worse for front seat passengers and really pretty bad for rear seat passengers (on the rare occasions I was 4 up)
In summary, one of the great drivers hot hatches but too easy to steal
It was so laughably easy to steal that I've not bought another one on principle (why the F%%% should I have to relocate the OBD port, disklock. etc etc)
Do miss it because it was one of the best cars to drive ever on A/B roads
Fully tolerable on a 50 miles daily commute and regular 300+ mile weekend round trips
However, that is as a driver, I was aware that the ride quality was worse for front seat passengers and really pretty bad for rear seat passengers (on the rare occasions I was 4 up)
In summary, one of the great drivers hot hatches but too easy to steal
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