What would you choose/do?

[dtulip8]

So I’ve recently put an order in for a Fiesta ST, one of the last before they stop building them. It’s on a decent deal, £350 a month over 2 year, 0% interest and a 3.8k deposit. Should be here March/April. However, I do a 60 mile a day round trip motorway commute, and starting to wonder if the ST would be the right sort of car to do it in. Also, I have a MK2 Focus ST as a non-daily driver, and I find it frustrating to use as I want to put my foot down all the time but can’t. Would the Fiesta be the same?

Starting to think maybe I should go diesel instead, either a big auto barge like a Skoda Superb (Audi’s, Mercs and BMW’s seem to be ludicrous insurance cost-I’m 23) or a diesel hot hatch like a Focus ST diesel or Golf GTD. Also think this option might keep the MK2 ST more interesting for me. Fiesta is a heart choice, diesel is a head choice. Keep seeing Ford deleting spec out of the Fiesta too, which is a bit rubbish on a £28k car. My current cheapo lease isn’t up until August either.

What would you do in my position? Thanks!

[Carguy44]

£12k over 2 years for a fiesta? Is that a lease?

[keo]

You are 23 enjoy the hot hatch. Boring diesels come later in life! I do more miles than you and I have decided I will replace my diesel daily with a fiesta st hopefully. Heard nothing but good things about the ST but never driven one.

[georgeyboy12345]

If it were me, I'd cancel the order for the Fiesta, then loan ~£18,500 for 5 years and buy this Alpina D3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208138...

[iphonedyou]

georgeyboy12345 said:

If it were me, I'd cancel the order for the Fiesta, then loan ~£18,500 for 5 years and buy this Alpina D3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208138...

Because he's definitely cross shopping a new hot hatch and 8 year old, 105k saloon.

[smn159]

dtulip8 said:

What would you do in my position? !

Cancel the Fiesta for a start.

You need a motorway commuter car - get something already depreciated with comfy seats and a decent stereo

Get a toy for weekends with what you've saved

[georgeyboy12345]

iphonedyou said:

georgeyboy12345 said:

If it were me, I'd cancel the order for the Fiesta, then loan ~£18,500 for 5 years and buy this Alpina D3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208138...

Because he's definitely cross shopping a new hot hatch and 8 year old, 105k saloon.

He asked me what I'd do. That's what I'd do.

[covmutley]

I'd definitely be closer to the alpina than a st. Putting 60 miles a day on it is going to destroy the value, and its a lot of money new.

How about a 330d?

[lord trumpton]

iphonedyou said:

georgeyboy12345 said:

If it were me, I'd cancel the order for the Fiesta, then loan ~£18,500 for 5 years and buy this Alpina D3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208138...

Because he's definitely cross shopping a new hot hatch and 8 year old, 105k saloon.

Add in the 20p/litre diesel fuel premium, non ULEZ compliance and similar mpg with ever expanding ULEZ zones, DPF, EGR and failing thermostat issues common to the engine...

Not a chance

[dtulip8]

The Fiesta is definitely a heart purchase. I have a MK2 Focus ST which I enjoy at weekends, so worth having the Fiesta might diminish the enjoyment of that slightly, and I do fancy something V8 at some point. Anything German “prestige” seems to be stupid money for me to insure, hence my suggestion of a diesel hot hatch like a GTD or St diesel as a compromise.

The Alpina is lovely, but couldn’t justify that money on an 8 year old car with 105k on it!

[Stallzy]

Carguy44 said:

£12k over 2 years for a fiesta? Is that a lease?

Must be missing the final optional payment to own the vehicle at the end, I guess. MK7 ST's with low mileage are in the 12k range lol so a factory MK8.5 can't be costing 12k fully paid. That's way under list price

OP, maybe a Focus Titanium / ST-Line ecoboost could be a solid option rather than a diesel if you were to pull out of the Fiesta deal? I would guess the economy could be okay and comes nicely equipped, and wouldn't feel under-powered but you can't really get to silly speeds without trying unlike a full ST.

Take my suggestion with a pinch of salt though, I'm confused looking for something myself with different circumstances lol but maybe it's an okay one

[GreatGranny]

You already have a Focus ST for weekends so why the Fiesta?

Also you say your present Lease isn't up until next August so what will you do with that when the Fiesta turns up?

Cancel the ST, keep using your lease, in June/July next year come back on here with another thread titled '60 miles a day commuter for max £10k, what to buy?'

[shirt]

28k for a fiesta? i'd definitely cancel that and put some of the money towards getting your head examined!

[Countdown]

dtulip8 said:

So I’ve recently put an order in for a Fiesta ST, one of the last before they stop building them. It’s on a decent deal, £350 a month over 2 year, 0% interest and a 3.8k deposit. Should be here March/April. However, I do a 60 mile a day round trip motorway commute, and starting to wonder if the ST would be the right sort of car to do it in. Also, I have a MK2 Focus ST as a non-daily driver, and I find it frustrating to use as I want to put my foot down all the time but can’t. Would the Fiesta be the same?

Starting to think maybe I should go diesel instead, either a big auto barge like a Skoda Superb (Audi’s, Mercs and BMW’s seem to be ludicrous insurance cost-I’m 23) or a diesel hot hatch like a Focus ST diesel or Golf GTD. Also think this option might keep the MK2 ST more interesting for me. Fiesta is a heart choice, diesel is a head choice. Keep seeing Ford deleting spec out of the Fiesta too, which is a bit rubbish on a £28k car. My current cheapo lease isn’t up until August either.

What would you do in my position? Thanks!

I wouldn't buy a diesel.

Tbh it seems odd that you want two similar "fun" cars. Being a tight-fisted northerner I would have just used the Focus ST as a daily (or sole it to get a newer model). It seems silly to me to be paying two lots of RFL and Insurance and depreciation on similar cars.

Anyway enjoy - ANY new car is fun!!

[C G]

60 miles a day must be getting into the territory where a secondhand Leaf would make sense.

Assuming 35 MPG in a Fiesta ST, it will cost you £11 a day at current fuel prices to do that journey, so getting on for £200 a month.

You would probably spend a third of that on charging an EV.

[CrippsCorner]

Fiesta & Focus ST too close a car to bother owning both I think. I wouldn't put 60 miles a day on a brand new ST... but if you really wanted it, you could maybe sell the Focus for something different like an MX5 for the weekends?

[CG2020UK]

£350 a month is a £18,000 loan over 5 years with nothing upfront and you’ll have something to trade in at the end.

I’d save the money and get this:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210190...

Will get 40mpg if driving sensible, has adaptive suspension, very quick, fairly reliable and good on insurance. With the automatic it’s a competent cruiser with the plus point of being serious rapid and fun down a B road unlike the M-lites.

As you went the personal loan route nothing to stop you taking it to Revo for a few more horses.

[stevemcs]

On a 60 mile trip i'd expect the Fiesta to do 45mpg, its quite a grown up car so i would stick to it. You need to do some serious mileage in a diesel to recover the additional fuel and running costs of a used diesel.

[VeeReihenmotor6]

If the fiesta is £3800 down and £350x24 a month = £12,200 then it is a no brainer - get the fiesta, put 60 miles on a day and in 2 years time sell it for at least £12k since a 2 year Fiesta ST goes for more than that usually.

Free motoring for 2 years who cares what the car is.

I suspect OPs maths is incorrect and there is in fact a balloon payment and i assume the balloon has not been calculated with 60 miles a day use.

I would instead go and find a daily car that has done most of it's depreciation for £8k. Borrow the 350x24mths on a loan to pay for it and keep the £3800 I assume cash you have as a maintenance fund/save for the next car fund. I reckon you'll get at least £4k back for the car in 4 years and with another 350x24mths of saving after the loan has been paid, and if lucky little maintance cost, you'll be able to buy your next commuter outright and not have any finance in your life.

At 23 that is exactly what you should be aiming for if you want to buy a house, get married, family AND run a second weekend car for fun.

[dtulip8]

Thanks guys, think the Fiesta is maybe not the best option rn. I agree it is too similar to my Focus (which has sentimental value to me, so going nowhere). I do think I want an auto as a daily next, so well what that brings when my current lease is up. My friend and I have just gone 50/50 on something V8 powered as well.

The figures I quoted above for the Fiesta deal are what I’ve had direct from Ford, so they are accurate.

I should also add r.e. house buying, something for the future and I’m lucky to have a decent chunk saved up already plus
an inheritance so want to finally treat myself to a nice daily.

Edited by dtulip8 on Wednesday 14th December 17:33