MK6 Fiesta ST150....Future Classic?

[LukeyP_]

Evening all,

Some of you may remember, back in June - I foolishly bought an ST which actually turned out a bit of a dog - needed around £1,000 worth of work to make it to the standard I was happy with - including new calipers on the back, gearbox issues, thermostat and broken air con compressor. That car was quickly moved on and I went back to my trusty MK1 Octavia 'Shed' with 175k on the clock for daily duties - as I was slowly going back into the office, it made sense to pile the mileage back onto that workhorse.

However, back in August - a lot of stuff was starting to hit the fan on a project at work and literally pushing me over the edge, so I decided enough was enough and new job was on the cards - it's not a nice place to go to your wife and admit you are struggling mentally, but I feel I am coming out the other side now. Anyways, I got the job and started on 5th October - the job is working back for old company, which seem to have gone places since I left and now basing everyone from home - so it was a no brainer for me! We've just had another baby, so to be at home all the time - working flexible hours and unlimited annual leave - I was a fool to say no!

I started to be an idiot again and view Fiesta STs, I felt like I hadn't fully itched that scratch and also, the value of these does seem to be going one way. For instance my friend just bought a ST500 for £6k. I had given up hope viewing Autotrader/eBay as all were abused examples, so I went onto FB marketplace when I found this one an advert which read like the following;

"2008 Fiesta St, 79k miles, HPI clear, ultimate spec, every option ordered in Panther Black. Sony bluetooth stereo, privacy glass, cold AC, grey dash, full heated leather, stripe delete, auto lights, auto wipers, auto folding heated mirrors, new tyres that have done 10 miles, full refurbished alloys. Meticulously maintained by myself for the past 3 years, service history upto then. Recent brembos front and rear, K&N oil filter, K&N panel filter, NGK iridium plugs, carbon pollen filter, fully sythentic oil every 6k, new O/S track rod end and full wheel alignment, new standard OEM type exhaust. Few extras - -30mm Apex springs, fog light protection, miltek downpipe"

I mean what isn't there to like about that advert? It looked fantastic, owned by an ex-tech who had looked after her and was the spec anyone would need (well, apart from the dual zone climate). I spoke to the guy for a few days and left a deposit. The car was based in Somerset, but given I'm in Bradford - who could be bothered to go Bradford > Leeds > London Kings Cross > Paddington > Taunton and drive back - no thanks, so I got in touch with the guy I used last time who kindly delivered the car for £180. The train was going to cost £100 one way plus fuel (and 12 hours of my day!).

So here she is, just ticked over 80k miles and absolute gem! The seller even shoved it through an MOT so had nearly 13 months when it arrived, with only an advisory for anti roll bar and small oil leak (which isn't there, it's an old patch of oil). Looking through the MOT history its only ever failed ONE mot for a dodgy wiper - that is a sign of a well looked after car in my book.

• These are the photos the seller sent me as weather been that bad since. He even waxed/polished it before it was collected**

If I'm honest no real plans, but here is the list

- Remove ST badge from grill - DONE
- Replace Ford badge
- Fix hazing on lights
- Respray front grills into a Gloss Black
- Remove small dent in rear quarter
- New Mats
- Change PAS fluid (and re-locate)
- Heko Wind Deflectors
- New plates
- Remove fog light protectors

Then ENJOY!

Thanks
Luke

Edited by LukeyP_ on Wednesday 28th October 19:04

[Gad-Westy]

Looks great. I think these are quite underrated. They seem to be one of the few Fast Fords that can be bought for sensible money but are great fun to drive. They seem to be fairly dependable too. Great choice and congrats on the new job.

ETA, what's this about?

"- Change PAS fluid (and re-locate)"

[LukeyP_]

Gad-Westy said:

Looks great. I think these are quite underrated. They seem to be one of the few Fast Fords that can be bought for sensible money but are great fun to drive. They seem to be fairly dependable too. Great choice and congrats on the new job.

ETA, what's this about?

"- Change PAS fluid (and re-locate)"

Thanks for the comments! Exactly, one of the last NA engines too!

PAS is located right next to the manifold, so it doesn't have chance to cool down as it comes back in so then ends up boiling itself. Currently the fluid is black, it's only a year old so first job is to replace the fluid now, then get a relocation kit so it sits nearer the battery instead.

[MattHall91]

Aren’t these the 6.5? Facelift with the bulges in the lights.

I had an ST500 for a year. Fundamentally it was a decent warm hatch, but the engine was strangled deliberately to keep the insurance lower than its competitors at the time (namely the Clio 182). So frustrating.

Like you said, good value nowadays nonetheless. Enjoy.

[Paul S4]

Looks a great car you have there.

I always thought that the Mk6 Fiesta is one of the best designs of Fiesta.

I have never owned one, but recall I hired one in France to go skiing, from Geneva airport to the Alps.

Really liked that car, probably only the 1.4 petrol !

[LukeyP_]

MattHall91 said:

Aren’t these the 6.5? Facelift with the bulges in the lights.

I had an ST500 for a year. Fundamentally it was a decent warm hatch, but the engine was strangled deliberately to keep the insurance lower than its competitors at the time (namely the Clio 182). So frustrating.

Like you said, good value nowadays nonetheless. Enjoy.

They are yes, I just though the title looked better with MK6 lol.

Yeah completely, the insurance on this is lower than my Octavia but once you get the downpipes on - they do come alive a bit. The ST500 has defo gone up in value I bet since you had one.

Paul S4 said:

Looks a great car you have there.

I always thought that the Mk6 Fiesta is one of the best designs of Fiesta.

I have never owned one, but recall I hired one in France to go skiing, from Geneva airport to the Alps.

Really liked that car, probably only the 1.4 petrol !

Thanks Paul - agreed, I love this shape Fiesta even 12 years on. I'd love to own a MK7 or MK8 at somepoint.

[motorbloke]

LukeyP_ said:

Looking through the MOT history its only ever failed ONE mot for a dodgy wiper - that is a sign of a well looked after car in my book.

As a small note, experience tells me this is also possibly the sign of someone who is familiar with an MOT tester.

Previous cars I have bought were done so on the basis of a very good MOT history, but actual inspection showed that the MOT testers had previously been lenient or incompetent. I think a bad MOT history tells you something, but a clear one perhaps less conclusively.

[LukeyP_]

motorbloke said:

As a small note, experience tells me this is also possibly the sign of someone who is familiar with an MOT tester.

Previous cars I have bought were done so on the basis of a very good MOT history, but actual inspection showed that the MOT testers had previously been lenient or incompetent. I think a bad MOT history tells you something, but a clear one perhaps less conclusively.

This is true, but looking through the history it's been at different places most years.

[meb90]

Looks very nice.

I also have a Mk6 ST150, but mine is a pre-facelift. Not sure there are too many of them. It is brilliant to drive, and I've done a bit to it so far.

[MattHall91]

LukeyP_ said:

MattHall91 said:

Aren’t these the 6.5? Facelift with the bulges in the lights.

I had an ST500 for a year. Fundamentally it was a decent warm hatch, but the engine was strangled deliberately to keep the insurance lower than its competitors at the time (namely the Clio 182). So frustrating.

Like you said, good value nowadays nonetheless. Enjoy.

They are yes, I just though the title looked better with MK6 lol.

Yeah completely, the insurance on this is lower than my Octavia but once you get the downpipes on - they do come alive a bit. The ST500 has defo gone up in value I bet since you had one.

Paul S4 said:

Looks a great car you have there.

I always thought that the Mk6 Fiesta is one of the best designs of Fiesta.

I have never owned one, but recall I hired one in France to go skiing, from Geneva airport to the Alps.

Really liked that car, probably only the 1.4 petrol !

Thanks Paul - agreed, I love this shape Fiesta even 12 years on. I'd love to own a MK7 or MK8 at somepoint.

Just had a quick look - Jesus they’ve held their money! Not sure why when they’re mechanically identical to yours, unlike with the Focus RS500s etc.

[LukeyP_]

Crazy money, there is no real differences cosmetically either!

[Truckosaurus]

LukeyP_ said:

...one of the last NA engines too!....

I think there will be a demand for cars with NA engines and manual gearboxes in the near future - cars like this or the Clios with the 2.0 engine - as they will be cheap fun when compared to newer hot hatches with small turbo engines and auto boxes.

[Evoluzione]

You're a brave man buying cars without seeing them first.
I believe this has the Duratec engine in it, it's achilles heel is a fault which causes them to use oil at a rapid rate so keep an eye on that.

[LukeyP_]

Truckosaurus said:

I think there will be a demand for cars with NA engines and manual gearboxes in the near future - cars like this or the Clios with the 2.0 engine - as they will be cheap fun when compared to newer hot hatches with small turbo engines and auto boxes.

Agreed, it's actually quite pleasing driving a car that is NA. I have had turbo cars since 2008! Crazy when you think about it really....

Evoluzione said:

You're a brave man buying cars without seeing them first.
I believe this has the Duratec engine in it, it's achilles heel is a fault which causes them to use oil at a rapid rate so keep an eye on that.

I know, this one felt right though given how it had been looked after and multiple telephone calls with the seller.

Yes, I have read that and believe it can happen around my mileage. No blue smoke and oil level seems pretty spot on so far!

[Evoluzione]

LukeyP_ said:

I know, this one felt right though given how it had been looked after and multiple telephone calls with the seller.

Yes, I have read that and believe it can happen around my mileage. No blue smoke and oil level seems pretty spot on so far!

Article on it here: http://www.duratecnc.co.uk/?p=146

[Gad-Westy]

Interesting reading that these can feel a bit strangled as standard. The only one I've driven did not feel like that but I also know it was modified in some way, I just don't know what exactly. I've driven and owned other cars that are a bit strangled as standard and there are often very simple mods to get some air moving. Is that the case here?

[motorbloke]

Truckosaurus said:

Clios with the 2.0 engine - as they will be cheap fun when compared to newer hot hatches with small turbo engines and auto boxes.

I'm not really sure there's such a thing as a cheap Clio Sport though. Decent ones are a few grand now, and even at that they are Renaults and so have the ability to empty your pockets at a moments notice.


A few years ago, when they were newish, the alternative choice to one of these was an MG ZR - they got to the point where they were depreciating like a lead brick, and are getting to the point where they have mostly all disappeared. That's probably where the surprise package is.

I was quite shocked by the value of these STs a few years ago, based on the experience of this anecdote; there was a lad who lived near me who had a silver one and it seemed to constantly be broken. I don't advertise the concept that I work on cars because of the neighbours I know and speak to, I've mostly become burdened by the concept (knocks on the door at all times, where I don't have that much time for my own), so I just observed over time and didn't interfere or offer help. Eventually it looked like it just wouldn't start and an array of either mobile mechanics, or acquaintances, came to assist over a week or so.
One day I'm outside and it looked like someone was viewing it, so I had a quick search and thought "If it's cheap or spares/repair I might have a punt". Anyway, it was up for I think (from memory) £2.5k and was described like a minter that had never had an issue. Don't quite know how people have it in them for doing that kind of thing!
They don't ever seem to have got near shed money unless they are absolute dogs.

[WindyMills]

Looks like it's been really well looked after.

Have the rear seats even been sat in?

[E36Ross]

100% a future classic, Iv a TDCI Zetec-S.

[LukeyP_]

Now, the 'Shed' Octavia has to be moved on - my attentions will be turning to this.

Already had a new thermostat and housing fitted, due to it leaking and struggling to get 70 degrees. Now it gets warm really easily.

Maintenance Issues

1. Check for rumble sound on right front wheel area - worry is gearbox, but it's still there I think when in neutral so hopefully not.
2. Full service - oil, filters, gearbox oil
3. Door check strap
4. Replacement droplinks
5. Replacement Front & Rear Wipers
6. Fix clicking on NS mirror

Modifications / Improvements

1. New clean registration plates
2. Ford badge
3. Remove and spray grills into Gloss Black
4. Armrest
5. Remove haze from lights
6. Give paintwork good clean/wax/polish
7. HEKO Wind Deflectors
8. Alpine 5x7 speakers and fit my Pioneer Stereo

First job is getting the gearbox / rumble checked, then take it from there. Aim is to make it a near perfect ST. Mileage wise only 500 miles since October, so I doubt I'll be doing massive miles per annum in it. I hope over time value will go up.