RE: Ford Fiesta ST150 | Shed of the Week
Discussion
We've got one of these in blue. Its my wife's car and its been a pretty reliable second car for the past 5 years. The engine is based on the Mazda 2 litre MZR petrol, so no issues there. Probably a lower risk than the later ecoboost tbh. Chain driven too.
Personally I think its under-rated, because everyone slams it for being so much slower than the Clio 182, but in certain areas I think its superior. IMO, the gearbox and steering are sweeter and it feels better tied down than the Clio, which I felt got a bit ragged when you pushed on. It is more warm hatch than hot in terms of straight line performance and any average 2 litre diesel will give it a hard time in a drag race. However, given that we came from a 205 GTI 1.9 to this car, it says a lot that we've enjoyed it even after owning one of the all time greats.
All in all, these aren't bad cars and I reckon will rise in value 4 or 5 years from now. Modern Classics even featured one this month in fact.
Personally I think its under-rated, because everyone slams it for being so much slower than the Clio 182, but in certain areas I think its superior. IMO, the gearbox and steering are sweeter and it feels better tied down than the Clio, which I felt got a bit ragged when you pushed on. It is more warm hatch than hot in terms of straight line performance and any average 2 litre diesel will give it a hard time in a drag race. However, given that we came from a 205 GTI 1.9 to this car, it says a lot that we've enjoyed it even after owning one of the all time greats.
All in all, these aren't bad cars and I reckon will rise in value 4 or 5 years from now. Modern Classics even featured one this month in fact.
My feelings are a bit mixed on these. I drove one when they first came out and it left me a bit cold. It just didn't really feel anything special.
However, as the prices keep coming down, they do appeal more. For under £2k, they're not a bad buy in my view. I did considered one recently as a cheap runabout, but ended up spending a bit more on a Clio 197, as I think it's the better car. That being said, the Fiesta is a lot cheaper.
They aren't all that quick as standard, but a couple of simple modifications does seem to add a reasonable amount of extra poke for a normally aspirated engine. If you were looking for a budget fun car or track tool, I think you could do a lot worse than one of these.
However, as the prices keep coming down, they do appeal more. For under £2k, they're not a bad buy in my view. I did considered one recently as a cheap runabout, but ended up spending a bit more on a Clio 197, as I think it's the better car. That being said, the Fiesta is a lot cheaper.
They aren't all that quick as standard, but a couple of simple modifications does seem to add a reasonable amount of extra poke for a normally aspirated engine. If you were looking for a budget fun car or track tool, I think you could do a lot worse than one of these.
greenarrow said:
We've got one of these in blue. Its my wife's car and its been a pretty reliable second car for the past 5 years. The engine is based on the Mazda 2 litre MZR petrol, so no issues there. Probably a lower risk than the later ecoboost tbh. Chain driven too.
Personally I think its under-rated, because everyone slams it for being so much slower than the Clio 182, but in certain areas I think its superior. IMO, the gearbox and steering are sweeter and it feels better tied down than the Clio, which I felt got a bit ragged when you pushed on. It is more warm hatch than hot in terms of straight line performance and any average 2 litre diesel will give it a hard time in a drag race. However, given that we came from a 205 GTI 1.9 to this car, it says a lot that we've enjoyed it even after owning one of the all time greats.
All in all, these aren't bad cars and I reckon will rise in value 4 or 5 years from now. Modern Classics even featured one this month in fact.
Yes. Personally I think its under-rated, because everyone slams it for being so much slower than the Clio 182, but in certain areas I think its superior. IMO, the gearbox and steering are sweeter and it feels better tied down than the Clio, which I felt got a bit ragged when you pushed on. It is more warm hatch than hot in terms of straight line performance and any average 2 litre diesel will give it a hard time in a drag race. However, given that we came from a 205 GTI 1.9 to this car, it says a lot that we've enjoyed it even after owning one of the all time greats.
All in all, these aren't bad cars and I reckon will rise in value 4 or 5 years from now. Modern Classics even featured one this month in fact.
Straight line performance is available to all nowadays. It is not really a differentiator. Very few people exploit the handling of a car.
We have a (inherited) facelift 1.4 Zetec, probably worth peanuts, with not much more than half the power of the ST. The gear change and steering are also very good. The ride is quite firm, but good over bumps - I'd be interested to know what the ST was like in comparison.
The performance is actually adequate, but the extra grunt of the 1.6 from the Zetec S would probably be the ideal.
Mike1990 said:
I had a Mk6.5 Fiesta ST in Performance Blue. Looking back now, it was probably the best car i’ve owned. 150bhp is more than enough for car what weights not much over a Ton.
I’d love another.
I have one at the moment and have fixed the only two things that bugged me:I’d love another.
1) High driving position, fixed by fitting a Cobra Imola GT on modified original runners; and
2)Huge gap between the rear wheel and the arch, fixed with Ford’s 12.5mm rear hub spacers available for all of the small Fords of this era (MK5/6 Fiesta, MK1 Focus, Puma etc.).
Mine’s a facelift in Performance Blue (no stripes) to which I’ve done a few other modifications including Mountune’s MP165 pack – the extra 15bhp doesn’t tell the whole story as it pulls better in every gear at every rev range, takes nearly a second off the 0-60 and actually makes it easier to drive! Added torque means 30mph in 5th doesn’t labour the engine, and the exhaust is quieter at a steady 70mph on the motorway (although a fair bit louder when accelerating!).
For anyone thinking about one, do it! Prices are rock bottom, 38mpg claimed is very achievable (my average is bang on 40mpg calculated over 45,000 miles including trips to Germany, Cornwall and the Highlands) and parts are cheap. Top steer as well.
dufunk said:
150 from a 2L sport was this 1988!
No, because in 1988 there were no catalytic converters or other Euro IV compliance that had to be met, strangling engines of power.Ford got more out of (I think) this engine with the VVT ST170 Focus, but had they thrown on a couple of massive carbs and a lumpy cam al-la 1988, I suspect they could have got more.
t" 
s m said:
Performance ( acceleration/in-gear) is the same as a GT86 at legal speeds. Owners of those claim it's no bar to having fun when you have decent handling
Don't forget this has the same engine as the NC MX5 as well - as for the comment above about the ST170, this is a Duratec engine not the Zetec found in the ST170 which had a strange habit of making figures both substantially lower and higher than the book.I had one of these, great fun for the money !
when the mk7 st came out I bought one straight away, so much faster and more capable in every way
makes me laugh that so many people on the fiesta st forums said "didn't feel any quicker than my st150 when I test drove it" - my experience couldn't have been further away!
when the mk7 st came out I bought one straight away, so much faster and more capable in every way
makes me laugh that so many people on the fiesta st forums said "didn't feel any quicker than my st150 when I test drove it" - my experience couldn't have been further away!
Arsecati said:
For the love of jehovah, please don't tell me this place is becoming one of them forums, where absolute morons can't help themselves from rabidly thumping at their keyboards 'first comment', just so they can tell everyone they have made the 'first comment'??? Seriously?? Surely there has to be some legal basis here to just shoot this imbeciles and remove them from society???
(Is the shooting thing a bit much??)
Calm down dear, you're taking it far to seriously. (Is the shooting thing a bit much??)
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