Fiesta ST

[J4CKO]

AmirGSXR said:

I have just brought a Fiesta ST and I am loving this thread as much as the car!

JACKO thanks for the updates and information on your car - they are very helpful and enjoyable to read (I am currently up to page 13 of the thread).

The first change I will do is buy the quickshifter you brought and then fit it myself: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193716905377

I wanted to ask the following two questions:
1) In regards to oil and air filters - should they be original Ford items, or will Mann filters be fine? I used Mann on BMW's for many years without issues and get them easily fro ECP.
2) My car does have additional security measures specific to ST, but I am after a physical deterrent too. Should I buy a Stoplock Pro or Disclok?

Sorry to hijack the thread, and looking forward to reading your continued updates.

Hi,

Security wise get a Viper 106v plus a physical deterrent like a Stoplock, also, there is a mod on the forums that disables the boot lock from outside as this is the main way the thieves gain access, it isn't protected by the alarm. Also maybe drop a Apple AirTag or two in the car, and disable the OBD port as well, loads of info on doing this, simplest is to remove the fuse but can get kits for changing it for a dummy and blanking it, all sorts of solutions.

I just buy standard Ford oil filters or whatever is available, Mann are fine.


Mine still going fine, four new Michelin PS5's going on tomorrow on the wheels I bought which are in much better nick than the originals.

[J4CKO]

Have ordered a throttle pedal spacer (3d printed thing off eBay) frustrating me not being able to heel and toe in it, just cant seem to angle my foot adequately to blip on the way down so the spacer raises the whole pedal assembly by about 10 mm, which I am hoping will make the difference as its a key part of having a manual I have been missing. As will be taking it on track soon I want it set up so I can. Suppose could also just make a thicker spacer but limited by the thread length of the bolts without adding extensions, 10 mm hopefully enough.

Height it one thing, may still be too far from the brake so if it is, going to get a set of OMP pedals (OMP OA1000) and fit those.

Will just adjust and adapt until it works for me.

[J4CKO]

Swapped my wheels over with the new tyres on, repainted the rear calipers as they were scabby, fronts were fine after a clean. Car looks better on the new wheels and tyres, even gave it a good wash, just before the rain started....

Can feel the extra grip, has made a big difference.

Was going to give it another few weeks but checked the fronts and they were down to the wear bars, oops, couple of weeks earlier they looked a lot better but been a bit aggressive knowing they are getting changed and it was spinning up so easily.

Fitted the pedal spacer, the guy sent me the wrong one so just drilled it out so it fitted, but he is sending me the correct one and will change it over, not really had much chance to try H and T'ing it but think its still too far away for my dainty size 8.5's, will whip the pedal off again next weekend and see if I cant fashion something to bridge the gap a bit, its come up and a bit, now needs to go left maybe a cm or two.

[J4CKO]

First track day booked at Anglessey for the 17th, any tips for a track day virgin such as myself ?

Ordered some oil and a filter to give it a change before then.

[Nelka]

J4CKO said:

First track day booked at Anglessey for the 17th, any tips for a track day virgin such as myself ?

Ordered some oil and a filter to give it a change before then.

Nice one, I need to get the finger out

[Kaveney]

J4CKO said:

First track day booked at Anglessey for the 17th, any tips for a track day virgin such as myself ?

Ordered some oil and a filter to give it a change before then.

Are you running a baffled sump ?

[J4CKO]

Kaveney said:

J4CKO said:

First track day booked at Anglessey for the 17th, any tips for a track day virgin such as myself ?

Ordered some oil and a filter to give it a change before then.

Are you running a baffled sump ?

No, just a baffled driver.

Will be taking it relatively easy, am on road tyres and a complete track day novice so not sure I will get to the point of needing a baffled sump just yet, would hope the car can cope with that. Probably the kind of thing to add if I like it and get more proficient.

[Kaveney]

J4CKO said:

No, just a baffled driver.

Will be taking it relatively easy, am on road tyres and a complete track day novice so not sure I will get to the point of needing a baffled sump just yet, would hope the car can cope with that. Probably the kind of thing to add if I like it and get more proficient.

Yeah you should be then if you are on road tyres just take it slowly and have fun and try and not get bitten by the bug

[Derek182]

I'm another over 50 year old ST owner, mine's a 2015 stage 2, quite a few mods, 238hp, Mountune lowering springs, Toyo TR1 tyres on ST200 rims.
I've entered a sprint at the Lotus test track at Hethel in about a months time, for those who don't know it's timed from a standing start over a 1.6 mile course.
Should I leave the ESC on and leave it to do it's thing? Or one press to turn TC off? Or a long press to turn stability control off as well?
What do people do on trackdays? Any advice much appreciated.

[J4CKO]

Derek182 said:

I'm another over 50 year old ST owner, mine's a 2015 stage 2, quite a few mods, 238hp, Mountune lowering springs, Toyo TR1 tyres on ST200 rims.
I've entered a sprint at the Lotus test track at Hethel in about a months time, for those who don't know it's timed from a standing start over a 1.6 mile course.
Should I leave the ESC on and leave it to do it's thing? Or one press to turn TC off? Or a long press to turn stability control off as well?
What do people do on trackdays? Any advice much appreciated.

I havent done much on track driving, just those experience days and even in a 911 Turbo you feel the need to switch it off as you can feel the car butting up against it, was a 996 so will be an early, fairly rudimentary system compared to the more modern ones with the one in the Fiesta being somewhere in between

It felt frustrating as you hit this point and the car wouldnt do what you wanted but I can see why they leave it on, as push past it and it may not behave as I expected and result in a spin/crash or whatever, but it does feel unnatural.

I am going to try the different modes on, Sport and off and see how I get on, in the past we would have just driven the car and not thought about it but then it may well have had a lot less power.

Sport mode is a good halfway house as it slacken off the assistance but doesnt turn it completely off, its what I use on the road but a track is quite different as on the road you dont often corner with that kind of commitment and speed for safety and your license, or you shouldn't anyway. But until you are on track you wont know whether it feels like its hampering you.

[J4CKO]

First track day done, my eldest lad and I went to Anglesey yesterday and met up with a mate of mine I have not seen in a very long time who I reconnected with a while back, he has a track car, does lots of a track days and a bit of racing, so we arranged to meet there.

Luckily the weather was perfect, cool, overcast but most importantly, dry.

Got out and was soon building confidence, first track day is a bit daunting, well for me it was as its clear there are a lot of very seasoned drivers in some serious cars out there and there is this complete novice in his shiny, standard looking Fiesta that I cant really risk bending. With Kaveneys unfortunate incident in his lovely ST in my mind, it does happen, but is thankfully rare.

Under no illusions I am any good but I can fling a car around a bit and get into a zone with it, its not a race but its very interesting to see what you can hang onto, or even pass.

Car was pretty much faultless, engine wise it just took all the hard use, came back in and sat there idling without complaint, tyres and brakes took a pounding, two brand new PS5's are now probably 50% done, a new set of Yellowstuff pads, well lets just say the MOT man would definitely put an advise on them, most of them went in smoke in the pits until we were told a cool down lap is a good idea, but like a dog distracted by a squirrel its easy to see a particular and give chase/try and keep in front.

Only one sketchy moment when a Ferrari 360 went a bit sideways, at a fair speed and nearly span (he had spun it earlier) but he collected it back up, backed off and let me through.

Before you know it you are experimenting with lines, braking a bit later and just learning the car, the limited slip diff I had put in, you can feel it on the road but on the track you can really feel it, being able to get on the power early and it just hook up and go, only a couple of times in second gear corners did it spin both wheels briefly, and that was more me being a bit brutal and seeing what I could get away with.

Its plenty fast enough on track, but you can see that road brakes, tyres and suspension, even slightly uprated, though they work just arent really in their comfort zone.

I did lighten the car by removing the rear seat, but that was really a byproduct of having to get wheels, tools and whatever in the back and realising it wouldnt really fit, plus got to move some plasterboard soon, didnt make a huge difference but it was noticeable, but can see how a lot of the cars out there were probably further lightened, the front seats are so heavy in an ST for example.

Only causalities was my rear bumper got a bit melted as in hard cornering the exhaust is maybe a bit loose on its hangers and is going sideways and resting on it, the wheel centres on the front melted and fell off as well

My mate came out and gave me some positive feedback on the car and my driving, definitely room for improvement but he was complimentary, and knowing him of old, he isnt one to not be direct.

Everyone was really friendly and helpful, forgot my towing eye so we accosted owners of Fords and managed to get one, chap in the same garage took us out in his diesel Citroen C2, doesnt sound like a track car does it, and though it wasnt exactly hugely fast on the straights with 150 bhp, the chap could really drive and it was set up really well, the braking and cornering was very impressive, and having proper seats and harnesses fantastic.

Not going to be something I do a lot of as its expensive, so might be a once a year thing.

Will upload a couple of photos when I sort them out. Would just say, if you have never done one, get one booked, you never get chance to really let rip like that on the road, or if you do, you really shouldn't. Just do it, saw an elderly gent arrive on walking canes and get in a Mini and enjoy it on circuit, fair play !

[J4CKO]

Flickr link, couldnt seem to link to individual images, will have a look later.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/javelintrackdays/alb...

[Kaveney]

Sounds like you had a good time and as you say major crashes are not that common ( said with tonuge in cheek ) and i did a fair few track days before i had my little shunt at Goodwood .

I would say if you were looking to do more than the odd one then a BBK would be a great idea but for the road it is not needed and the stock brakes are just fine for road use .

Hope to see you out on track one day if i ever the the Megane fixed or Civic Type R finished

[J4CKO]

Kaveney said:

Sounds like you had a good time and as you say major crashes are not that common ( said with tonuge in cheek ) and i did a fair few track days before i had my little shunt at Goodwood .

I would say if you were looking to do more than the odd one then a BBK would be a great idea but for the road it is not needed and the stock brakes are just fine for road use .

Hope to see you out on track one day if i ever the the Megane fixed or Civic Type R finished

Will look into a BBK over the next year or so as I decide what to do, its an expensive business doing track days, so depends on the spare cash and whatever other priorities there are, will definitely do another though. The brakes did well, but it is such a massive gulf between road and track use, like you say a BBK isnt needed on road (Though it does look great) and to keep out longer I think it would be ideal but the standard stuff coped, but you do sort of lose a bit of confidence in them, guess with a BBK that just fades into the background and you can just concentrate on your lines and not have that niggle, is the pedal getting a bit mushy, do they seem to be working as well ? And the degree of circumspection and margin for error you leave for if they dont cope and fade. On the road you just dont get anywhere near that, always something that slows you up, mainly not wanting to get banned.

Ordered new wheel centres today to replace the ones that melted

The Civics and Clios were some of the fastest stuff out there, I would definitely need better brakes, suspension and tyres to get anywhere near, especially some of the Civics going round, but then, if you have thirty plus track days stickers, lexan windows and a massive wing you are going to be quicker than the novice in a road Fiesta.

[cerb4.5lee]

Great to hear that you really enjoyed the track day Mark. I've never done one myself(been a passenger though), and I've always felt a bit apprehensive about putting my own car through the intensity of a track day. They always seem really hard on tyres/brakes etc, plus I worry that I might get a bit too carried away and bin it as well!

[J4CKO]

cerb4.5lee said:

Great to hear that you really enjoyed the track day Mark. I've never done one myself(been a passenger though), and I've always felt a bit apprehensive about putting my own car through the intensity of a track day. They always seem really hard on tyres/brakes etc, plus I worry that I might get a bit too carried away and bin it as well!

That was kind of my feeling as well, but I had rattled on so long about doing one, I had to do it. I keep thinking about it and smiling, you just dont get chance on the road to be that committed, or get anywhere near the limits of your car, or your ability (or lack of). It felt liberating, kind of like a missing piece had slotted into place.

Your cars have various electronic aids, you have a sense of self preservation and aside from a couple of Ariel Atoms that seemed to want to bully their way through wherever, most folk were very well behaved, there was a 370Z coupe out so people do use them. Pick a more forgiving circuit, and to be honst it makes more sense when you are there, I was quite nervous but that soon goes and you are in the zone.

As for the cost, mate, you have two fairly expensive to buy and expensive to run cars, am sure you can run to a bit of accelerated tyre and brake wear, get some track day insurance if you are worried about binning it, I was but didnt bother, sometimes you have to roll the dice...

[J4CKO]

Had it two years this week now, no plans to change.

[cerb4.5lee]

Gosh and that time has flown by for sure!

[AmirGSXR]

I thought I would add to this thread as I also went to Anglesey in my ST at the beginning of this month.

My car is totally standard with only a quickshifter fitted. It generally performed very well, was composed on the standard brakes, and was fine through corners. However, it felt slow building speed out of corners, and this is where I think a stage 2 remap to ~240hp will help. The PS4 were remarkably good, and you could feel where their limit occurs. I think track orientated semi-slicks or slicks are a must for regular track-dayers. The standard suspension had lots of body roll, but the car still felt quite tight and precise (a better driver than me could probably hit all of the apexes without problem). I think the standard seats are great, but were lacking in hip support that buckets give.

I was fortunate to go with some friends with dedicated track cars, so I rode as a passenger in an E92 BMW M3 too (had things like roll cage, buckets and harness, GAZ Gold coilovers, coolerwerx shifter etc.). This gave me a good comparison. Basically a car with dedicated track spec allows flat cornering, very late braking, high entry speeds into a corner, and allows the driver and passenger to feel quite at ease. To get this in the ST, would require Kaveney levels of commitment to improving the car.

My plan with the car is to use it for fast road use so planned modifications are:
1) Stage 1 intercooler (Airtec or ND Tuning)
2) ITG induction kit
3) Collins CP2 map
4) Braided brake lines
5) Either coil overs or lowering springs and uprated dampers (any input on this would be great)

I need to change the front PS4's. Should I go with PS5's or stick with PS4? Also, what are the benefits/advantages of running 215/40/17 tyres instead of the standard 205/40/17 size?

PIC:

[danmarr14]

AmirGSXR said:

I thought I would add to this thread as I also went to Anglesey in my ST at the beginning of this month.

My car is totally standard with only a quickshifter fitted. It generally performed very well, was composed on the standard brakes, and was fine through corners. However, it felt slow building speed out of corners, and this is where I think a stage 2 remap to ~240hp will help. The PS4 were remarkably good, and you could feel where their limit occurs. I think track orientated semi-slicks or slicks are a must for regular track-dayers. The standard suspension had lots of body roll, but the car still felt quite tight and precise (a better driver than me could probably hit all of the apexes without problem). I think the standard seats are great, but were lacking in hip support that buckets give.

I was fortunate to go with some friends with dedicated track cars, so I rode as a passenger in an E92 BMW M3 too (had things like roll cage, buckets and harness, GAZ Gold coilovers, coolerwerx shifter etc.). This gave me a good comparison. Basically a car with dedicated track spec allows flat cornering, very late braking, high entry speeds into a corner, and allows the driver and passenger to feel quite at ease. To get this in the ST, would require Kaveney levels of commitment to improving the car.

My plan with the car is to use it for fast road use so planned modifications are:
1) Stage 1 intercooler (Airtec or ND Tuning)
2) ITG induction kit
3) Collins CP2 map
4) Braided brake lines
5) Either coil overs or lowering springs and uprated dampers (any input on this would be great)

I need to change the front PS4's. Should I go with PS5's or stick with PS4? Also, what are the benefits/advantages of running 215/40/17 tyres instead of the standard 205/40/17 size?

PIC:

I'm running Goodyear Asym 6 tyres which felt much better than the PS4s and they held up well on track too!

Would suggest the Eibach lowering springs, goodridge braided hoses and the CP2-E map from Collins. This is what I am running and it held up great on track and fun on the road but still does 40mpg on a good run. Ideally I would also suggest a diff as it scrabbles a bit without the torque limiter even in sport mode!