RE: Shed of the Week: Ford Fiesta ST
Discussion
Bought one a few years back for the mrs. It was a decent car and I enjoyed driving it. From what I remember while lots of people cried about the slight lack of power compared to the Clio of the day the stock motor in the Ford was strangled a bit, simple breathing mods returned a decent gain compared to most similar N/A cars.
Ours was pretty reliable too, spring snapped on it which I think is fairly common, stuck some eibachs on and it felt like a little go kart. In the end though it just didnt have any character and wasn't overly great at anything tbh. While slower, I'd have another Panda 100HP before I had another of these I think.
Ours was pretty reliable too, spring snapped on it which I think is fairly common, stuck some eibachs on and it felt like a little go kart. In the end though it just didnt have any character and wasn't overly great at anything tbh. While slower, I'd have another Panda 100HP before I had another of these I think.
I had a top spec one of these with heated seats, auto lights/ wipers and folding mirrors. Only thing it lacked was a 6th gear to make it a decent cruiser.
I found 'premium' fuel sorted the lumpy idle mentioned in the article along with regular cleaning of the throttle body which is a 10 minute job.
I got a k&n filter and an uprated exhaust flexi and it really came alive and was a very fun car. As others have said you could wring its neck in 2nd and 3rd without entering licence losing territory.
I replaced it with a remapped focus st225 and now have an S3 saloon but I still miss the fiesta. Hence why I'm now considering the new fiesta ST to replace the Audi.
I found 'premium' fuel sorted the lumpy idle mentioned in the article along with regular cleaning of the throttle body which is a 10 minute job.
I got a k&n filter and an uprated exhaust flexi and it really came alive and was a very fun car. As others have said you could wring its neck in 2nd and 3rd without entering licence losing territory.
I replaced it with a remapped focus st225 and now have an S3 saloon but I still miss the fiesta. Hence why I'm now considering the new fiesta ST to replace the Audi.
Not really sure why shed is questioning Ford reliability. Especially this era of Ford. Every reliability survey I've seen in the past twenty years puts Ford in the upper half of the manufacturer table where reliability is concerned.
The Duratec doesn't have a harsh top end either. I suspect Shed is getting mixed up with the Zetec which isn't as free revving.
The Duratec doesn't have a harsh top end either. I suspect Shed is getting mixed up with the Zetec which isn't as free revving.
Edited by lee_erm on Friday 19th April 18:24
Mike1990 said:
I loved mine, probably best hot-hatch i’ve owned. The chassis was sublime, just enough power to hustle along a good road without having to worry to much, and good on fuel. 40-42mpg average on my commute to work and back.
Much preferred it to its replacement, a Renaultsport Clio 172. Good but not as good as the press made it out to be. Should have bought a Cup or 182 Trophy instead.
My sisters fella’s just bought one in Frozen White. Looks lovely. Can’t wait to have a drive of one again.
You trying to get in the parking thread?Much preferred it to its replacement, a Renaultsport Clio 172. Good but not as good as the press made it out to be. Should have bought a Cup or 182 Trophy instead.
My sisters fella’s just bought one in Frozen White. Looks lovely. Can’t wait to have a drive of one again.
To be fair. One on that mileage is good price. Even if it is tatty. You’d be looking at spending the same money on something with 100k on the clock.
Problem is now, most have been ragged and poorly maintained. If the gearbox hasn’t already gone then the bottom ends are starting to fail now.
They arent anywhere near as bad as people make out, anyone can quote topgear without actually driving one. Anyone who owned one always wants to buy another one as they regret selling it!
Problem is now, most have been ragged and poorly maintained. If the gearbox hasn’t already gone then the bottom ends are starting to fail now.
They arent anywhere near as bad as people make out, anyone can quote topgear without actually driving one. Anyone who owned one always wants to buy another one as they regret selling it!
I had a 2005 model, I thought it was alright but always felt it needed some mods to make it drive properly. A set of springs and a mountune kit is (overblown cliche) 'how it should have left the factory'
The biggest issue with the st is that I owned 2 mk5 zs before it and I much preferred those.
The biggest issue with the st is that I owned 2 mk5 zs before it and I much preferred those.
Bought one of these around 5yrs ago as a temporary set of wheels for SWMBO after she sold her tuned Fabia vRS.
The dashboard and interior panels are from the Ikea School of Design; hard to the touch and as exciting as a wet weekend in Wales
The car itself drove.... ‘okay’ according to my better half but she binned it off to replace it with a another tuned Fabia vRS (yep I appreciate that the interior trim was of the same quality..)
Would I buy one? I’d side with SWMBO and have a Fabia over the Fiesta any day of the week
The dashboard and interior panels are from the Ikea School of Design; hard to the touch and as exciting as a wet weekend in Wales
The car itself drove.... ‘okay’ according to my better half but she binned it off to replace it with a another tuned Fabia vRS (yep I appreciate that the interior trim was of the same quality..)
Would I buy one? I’d side with SWMBO and have a Fabia over the Fiesta any day of the week
i had one of these for around a year when I was 19, I seem to remember they responded very well to breathing mods. 10BHP was claimed just from an air filter at puma speed anyway. A £100 k&n made mine drive much nicer and feel a lot faster at least.
Taught me a lot about lift off over steer too, as i lifted off at the top of 3rd joining a dual carriageway which sent me flying down the slip road backwards into the armco bending the rear axle
Taught me a lot about lift off over steer too, as i lifted off at the top of 3rd joining a dual carriageway which sent me flying down the slip road backwards into the armco bending the rear axle
rallycross said:
Robbie1400 said:
Nice long MOT....... That should give you "piece" of mind.
next years list of advisories might read like war and peas.Last year's advisories were:
- Oil leak ()
- Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
- Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
However, it looks like it's done (a very believable) about 11,000 miles in the last 12 months, so unless it's been mechanically cherished (unlikely given the cosmetics) the list of problems is most probably going to be significantly more.
These Fiesta STs are actually great little cars, perfect for thrashing around the best of the UK backroads. Unfortunately this example is probably one to pass on. Better to spend a bit more and find a better one.
Lots of missing trim - they are (or were) prone to having bits nicked too. Lack of centre caps always puts me off for some reason as an indicator of care or pride in one's motor!
The main thing I dislike about the Fiestas (and other Ford's of the time) is the Ford Transit interior (massive gearstick, rugged plastics etc).
150bhp doesn't sound much these days. I came across a few back in the day when I had my Fabia VRS and they were generally matched performance wise as a slightly warmer but not quite fully hot hatch!
The main thing I dislike about the Fiestas (and other Ford's of the time) is the Ford Transit interior (massive gearstick, rugged plastics etc).
150bhp doesn't sound much these days. I came across a few back in the day when I had my Fabia VRS and they were generally matched performance wise as a slightly warmer but not quite fully hot hatch!
Not sure about this week’s shed myself.
Not a fan of these ST’s myself having always preferred the equivalent RS product of Cooper S. a colleague had one at the same time I had my Cooper S and despite the latter only having an extra 13bhp, it felt a shed load faster and was nicer to drive in my option.
Not a fan of these ST’s myself having always preferred the equivalent RS product of Cooper S. a colleague had one at the same time I had my Cooper S and despite the latter only having an extra 13bhp, it felt a shed load faster and was nicer to drive in my option.
I had an immaculate 06 st,fitted eibach lowering springs,a Mountune induction kit,and a scorpion exhaust,and I thought it was a great car,I sold it to my nephew and I’d happily have it back again
No they aren’t as quick as other cars but they certainly feel solidly built.
Lack of 6th gear is a bit of a pain though.
No they aren’t as quick as other cars but they certainly feel solidly built.
Lack of 6th gear is a bit of a pain though.
LuS1fer said:
The handling was pretty good, actually - watch Tiff punt one round the track. The handling also beat the Polo GTI in a German test and we didn't get that.
Even up against a Clio 172, it can hold its own: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U9y0mNCWws
The Swift isn't in the same league.
Mmm. Don't agree. The Swift Sport has always been more powerful, and quicker than the figures suggest. The truth is, that it is every bit as fast as a Mk6 Fiesta ST. And on track, I'd bet money the Swift Sport is quicker. Even up against a Clio 172, it can hold its own: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U9y0mNCWws
The Swift isn't in the same league.
Edited by DazzaSport on Saturday 20th April 14:04
MadDog1962 said:
rallycross said:
Robbie1400 said:
Nice long MOT....... That should give you "piece" of mind.
next years list of advisories might read like war and peas.Last year's advisories were:
- Oil leak ()
- Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
- Nearside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated but not resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)
However, it looks like it's done (a very believable) about 11,000 miles in the last 12 months, so unless it's been mechanically cherished (unlikely given the cosmetics) the list of problems is most probably going to be significantly more.
These Fiesta STs are actually great little cars, perfect for thrashing around the best of the UK backroads. Unfortunately this example is probably one to pass on. Better to spend a bit more and find a better one.
Oil could be anything , any sign of oil gets noted during the mot test regardless of how severe the leak is .
It could be major then again it could be a moody sump plug or just a plug not tightened up properly.
Bushes are no big deal either .
Of course until you actually look at the car it's all guess work .
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