RE: New Fiesta ST gets LSD

[lee_erm]

No complaints about drive modes on the new Polo GTI.

Bravo Ford. There's some great innovation in place here judging by the Autocar write up.

Edited by lee_erm on Wednesday 14th March 08:44

[s m]

lee_erm said:

.

Bravo Ford. There's some great innovation in place here judging by the Autocar write up.

Yeah, I read that last night - look forward to the proper road test but they've got the Up Gti next week. Sounds like they're getting a Yaris Gremlin to test as well

[daemon]

Ahbefive said:

I don't get all the hate for drive modes.

I like being able to soften or stiffen suspension depending on how poor the road surface is or if it's a smooth track in 2 of my cars. I also like having an exhaust that can be quiet or loud. Not fussed on changing steering weighting or throttle response but having exhaust and suspension adjustable at the touch of a button is excellent and pressing a buttonr once or twice ia hardly "too complicated".

+1

We've driving modes on both our cars. Makes a big difference particularly on the A45 where it also adjusts the exhaust noise as well as suspension, throttle, steering and gear changing.

Not so much of a difference on the Cooper S but Sport mode is great when you're pushing it on and Economy mode is handy on the motorways.

[Ahbefive]

culpz said:

It's good to have options but with a little hot hatch like the Fiesta, i just want to get in and go, as apposed to fiddling around with certain modes to suit certain scenarios. If i want more noise, i'll simply squeeze the throttle a bit more. I'd also rather have just one standard suspension readily set up from the off.

You can still just get in a drive. Pressing one button is hardly a big faff if you want to change something. A handy thing for manufacturers to do would be for the car to start uo in the mode it was last left in if thats too big a deal for some people.

When a road gets crap I like to press a button and soften the suspension rather than be stuck with stiff shocks. Likewise if leaving a funeral or meeting, I don't want my car popping and banging from the exhaust.

[Shiv_P]

Ahbefive said:

You can still just get in a drive. Pressing one button is hardly a big faff if you want to change something. A handy thing for manufacturers to do would be for the car to start uo in the mode it was last left in if thats too big a deal for some people.

When a road gets crap I like to press a button and soften the suspension rather than be stuck with stiff shocks. Likewise if leaving a funeral or meeting, I don't want my car popping and banging from the exhaust.

So sorry for your loss

BANG BANG GEAR CHANGE FAAAART POP POP

[Ahbefive]

Indeed, yet on a spirited drive I love all that.

[Jual Mass Flywheel]

Halleluja!

A manufacturer taking performance seriously in a car that many of us can reasonably expect to be able to attain and that can be driven and enjoyed at realistic speeds. Well done Ford.

I'm rapidly (no pun intended) losing interest in the Ferrari/Mclaren/Koenigsegg etc etc power wars. Totally irrelavent for most us.

[culpz]

Ahbefive said:

You can still just get in a drive. Pressing one button is hardly a big faff if you want to change something. A handy thing for manufacturers to do would be for the car to start uo in the mode it was last left in if thats too big a deal for some people.

When a road gets crap I like to press a button and soften the suspension rather than be stuck with stiff shocks. Likewise if leaving a funeral or meeting, I don't want my car popping and banging from the exhaust.

It's not that i find it particularly difficult or challenging to do so, i just feel like i shouldn't have to do that or be in the position to worry about what mode i'm in for certain driving. That's the thing, i don't really want to be changing anything in the first place. Each to their own though and it's clearly appealing to others.

Again, i saw no issues with the MK7 ST's suspension, which was described by many as too firm. Either way, it's a hot-hatch and i can put up with that for the sake of it's capabilities. The new one is a 3-cylinder, so i wouldn't be expecting it to make much of a racket from the outside, regardless of what setting the exhaust is in!

[M1C]

The Autocar review suggests the ride has been able to be softened a great deal. This is a good thing. (IMO)

You dont need a hard ride for a car to handle well. I love a smooth, well damped ride!

[daemon]

Ahbefive said:

culpz said:

It's good to have options but with a little hot hatch like the Fiesta, i just want to get in and go, as apposed to fiddling around with certain modes to suit certain scenarios. If i want more noise, i'll simply squeeze the throttle a bit more. I'd also rather have just one standard suspension readily set up from the off.

You can still just get in a drive. Pressing one button is hardly a big faff if you want to change something. A handy thing for manufacturers to do would be for the car to start uo in the mode it was last left in if thats too big a deal for some people.

When a road gets crap I like to press a button and soften the suspension rather than be stuck with stiff shocks. Likewise if leaving a funeral or meeting, I don't want my car popping and banging from the exhaust.

I think they tend to revert back to "standard" for the purposes of emissions.

I've been able to reprogram the Cooper S to start in Sport mode all the time by using Bimmercode. Going to look at it for the A45. Its frankly a balls that it starts in comfort mode as its quite sluggish to pull out of junctions etc.

[WCZ]

M1C said:

The Autocar review suggests the ride has been able to be softened a great deal. This is a good thing. (IMO)

You dont need a hard ride for a car to handle well. I love a smooth, well damped ride!

I hope it's not too soft, the mk7 suspension is about right imo

also I hope it's faster than the mk7 and the mountune package will be in excess of 220bhp

[culpz]

daemon said:

I think they tend to revert back to "standard" for the purposes of emissions.

I've been able to reprogram the Cooper S to start in Sport mode all the time by using Bimmercode. Going to look at it for the A45. Its frankly a balls that it starts in comfort mode as its quite sluggish to pull out of junctions etc.

I leave my A4 in "Dynamic" mode, for all purposes. It's hardly a dynamic drive, regardless of which setting you put it in, but i find it's the best option that helps to make up for the turbo lag and pulling out of junctions with a slightly better throttle response. Barely any difference though in reality and it gives you basically full-throttle power while using about 1/4 of the pedal travel, which is really odd.

However, whatever mode i keep it in, it stays in that same mode when i've turned the car off and then on again. So, at least i don't have to keep reverting back to it when i next get in the car.

[LarsG]

Looks like a B Max from the back, next it will have sliding doors.

[J4CKO]

WCZ said:

M1C said:

The Autocar review suggests the ride has been able to be softened a great deal. This is a good thing. (IMO)

You dont need a hard ride for a car to handle well. I love a smooth, well damped ride!

I hope it's not too soft, the mk7 suspension is about right imo

also I hope it's faster than the mk7 and the mountune package will be in excess of 220bhp

Couple of tenths to sixty apparently, so marginally quicker but I guess they arent going to make it massively faster to avoid higher insurance ratings, having to spec brakes and other components up and treading on the toes of the Focus ST/RS.

Reckon it is going to be a huge seller, like the last one.

[CO2000]

I think LDS's should be standard on most performance front wheel drive cars, amazing in 1984 a RS turbo had one with only 130bhp and in 2018 they seem a rare beast!

[J4CKO]

CO2000 said:

I think LDS's should be standard on most performance front wheel drive cars, amazing in 1984 a RS turbo had one with only 130bhp and in 2018 they seem a rare beast!

That was the RS version, by no means commonplace on FWD hatches of any era, I had a Rover 200 BRM that had one, cant think of many others where ti was standard, Mk1 Focus RS.

For most drivers, most of the time, with lowish power they arent needed and add expense, plus they can induce some undesirable handling traits if too effective, or be ineffectual if not.

Fair play to Ford, they seem to be trying pretty hard for the enthusiast market.

And drive modes, most of the buyers wont be grizzled old pipe smoking curmudgeons like on here, it will be chaps like my eldest, he bought his MK7 ST at 21, they love all that stuff, just cos you old farts cant work it and will start going on about Double de clutching and Pre-Selector Trunnions doesnt mean the target market dont want it.

[DoubleD]

Jual Mass Flywheel said:

Halleluja!

A manufacturer taking performance seriously in a car that many of us can reasonably expect to be able to attain and that can be driven and enjoyed at realistic speeds. Well done Ford.

I'm rapidly (no pun intended) losing interest in the Ferrari/Mclaren/Koenigsegg etc etc power wars. Totally irrelavent for most us.

Its totally irrelevant if you cant afford to buy one, thats for sure.

[culpz]

J4CKO said:

And drive modes, most of the buyers wont be grizzled old pipe smoking curmudgeons like on here, it will be chaps like my eldest, he bought his MK7 ST at 21, they love all that stuff, just cos you old farts cant work it and will start going on about Double de clutching and Pre-Selector Trunnions doesnt mean the target market dont want it.

I'm 26 and don't find the driving modes appealing, personally. So, i wouldn't put it down to age. I reckon there are many young lads out there that aren't that bothered either.

In fact, the driving modes probably help target older audiences if anything, as the harsh ride of the old model no doubt scared many off. This now lets the driver tailor the suspension accordingly to their needs.

So, i can see why Ford are doing it. It just doesn't do much for me and i prefer the simplicity of the older car. Bet it'll still be a great to drive and no doubt will be offered on cheap PCP/lease deals.

[blade7]

J4CKO said:

Reckon it is going to be a huge seller, like the last one.

Less capacity and cylinders, I won't be buying this one.

[DoubleD]

blade7 said:

J4CKO said:

Reckon it is going to be a huge seller, like the last one.

Less capacity and cylinders, I won't be buying this one.

Many others will though