MK8 Ford Fiesta ST Line X
Discussion
Finally got rid of my rattly, slow and annoying Juke and got myself car slightly more suited to my age. I was toying with the idea of an Abarth but the size and seating position put me off. I was also considering an actual ST but insurance put a stop to that as I recently got 3 points and live in NW London 
Which leads me to why I got this, it's a Race Red ST Line X with the 100ps engine as it was the cheapest to get and all 3 engine stages (100, 125 and 140) remap upto the same figures. I wanted something small and that handled nicely and also something with a bit of tuning potential, I'm also a huge fan of these ecoboost engines after having a MK7.5 ST Line as a hire car before.
Nothing to really complain about since picking it up today apart from the seats being a bit stiff but a few miles will sort that out.
Before I picked it up, I bought a Pumaspeed tuning box and I've already sent the stock file off and I'm now just waiting to get my map back which takes it up to 160hp and 240nm
Have some pictures.
Which leads me to why I got this, it's a Race Red ST Line X with the 100ps engine as it was the cheapest to get and all 3 engine stages (100, 125 and 140) remap upto the same figures. I wanted something small and that handled nicely and also something with a bit of tuning potential, I'm also a huge fan of these ecoboost engines after having a MK7.5 ST Line as a hire car before.
Nothing to really complain about since picking it up today apart from the seats being a bit stiff but a few miles will sort that out.
Before I picked it up, I bought a Pumaspeed tuning box and I've already sent the stock file off and I'm now just waiting to get my map back which takes it up to 160hp and 240nm
Have some pictures.
The new fiesta is kinda growing on me, not as much as the MK7 did as I loved that from the start but it’s gone from being ugly to being alright.
Shame they still haven’t pulled their finger out and offered LED headlights on anything lower than the ST
Still miss mine! Is this the same 3 cyclinder ecoboost as before?
Shame they still haven’t pulled their finger out and offered LED headlights on anything lower than the ST
Still miss mine! Is this the same 3 cyclinder ecoboost as before?
Nickbrapp said:
The new fiesta is kinda growing on me, not as much as the MK7 did as I loved that from the start but it’s gone from being ugly to being alright.
Shame they still haven’t pulled their finger out and offered LED headlights on anything lower than the ST
Still miss mine! Is this the same 3 cyclinder ecoboost as before?
When the MK8 first came out I didn't really like it either but I've grown to love it Shame they still haven’t pulled their finger out and offered LED headlights on anything lower than the ST
Still miss mine! Is this the same 3 cyclinder ecoboost as before?
LED Lights for the front as well as rear was an (I think) £600 option, but I'm just going to upgrade my bulbs to ice white ones anyway.
And i'm not too sure about the engine I'm afraid, I think there may be a few changes as all three power outputs remap to the same figures whereas with the MK7, I think the 100ps had a different turbo to the 125 and 140. One huge bonus point with the MK8 is that it has a stronger 6 speed rather than the old 5 speed now thank god!
Driven it for over 200 miles now and I absolutely love it, still waiting for my map to come back from Pumaspeed but for a 100ps it goes quite well. It also handles amazingly, I tried pushing it to understeer earlier (obviously still running it in so wasn’t being ragged) and it just kept gripping and gripping, the seats have also loosened up now and it’s very comfortable. I don’t really miss my heated seats or 360 camera from the Juke either.
I’ve also taken the rear Fiesta badge off which makes the rear end look cleaner IMO.
There’s a few things I’d like to do after I’ve had it mapped, I want noise so I’ll probably go for a resonated Miltek so it isn’t too loud. I’d also like to lower it 35mm and get some spacers on the rear wheels to fill the arches a bit better.
I’ve also taken the rear Fiesta badge off which makes the rear end look cleaner IMO.
There’s a few things I’d like to do after I’ve had it mapped, I want noise so I’ll probably go for a resonated Miltek so it isn’t too loud. I’d also like to lower it 35mm and get some spacers on the rear wheels to fill the arches a bit better.
LHB said:
One huge bonus point with the MK8 is that it has a stronger 6 speed rather than the old 5 speed now thank god!
Having driven both a Mk7 5 speed & Mk8 6 speed 100ps Fiesta, I preferred the Mk7. It was far more peppy & felt quicker off the line with better acceleration. It was only town driving, but the Mk8 would be miles better on motorway runs. Edited by thebigmacmoomin on Thursday 17th January 14:15
JimbobVFR said:
What's insuring with the mods like compared to insurance on a proper ST?
Insuring an ST would have been over £1200 a year for me, the ST Line with the remap is only £560, a £50 increase when I said it was being remapped. Not sure how that works but I’m not too fussed BIG SHREK said:
looks nice car buddy, wasnt there a known weakness with these ecoboost engines? if i remember it was to do with cooling?
Yeah that was an issue with a coolant hose in about 2013/14 but has since been fixed and I think the engine that comes in the MK8 has a few more improvements but don’t quote me on that.thebigmacmoomin said:
Having driven both a Mk7 5 speed & Mk8 6 speed 100ps Fiesta, I preferred the Mk7. It was far more peppy & felt quicker off the line with better acceleration. It was only town driving, but the Mk8 would be miles better on motorway runs.
The MK8 to me just feels more refined and smoother to drive than the MK7 imo, I much prefer it in every way having driven a MK7 for about 1000 miles but I can totally see what you mean about the gearboxes but that’s what the remap is for.Glosphil said:
100 to 160ps from just a re-map? Sounds unlikely.
Pumaspeed are a very reputable tuning company that have been around for years and a few owners have put their cars on independent dynos and got that figure.Looks nice, Ive just picked up a 140 ST line X, does yours have a clutch delay valve? I didn't notice it on the test drive, does my nut in. When it gets warmer weather im going to see whats what and see if i can get rid of it as it ruins the driving experience.
other than that it does well for a modern hatch, quite a nice place to be and in the dry handles well enough to have some fun in. Getting 350 miles to a tank already and its brand new.
other than that it does well for a modern hatch, quite a nice place to be and in the dry handles well enough to have some fun in. Getting 350 miles to a tank already and its brand new.
I've disliked the various recent iterations of Fiesta immensely, purely from an aesthetics perspective (particularly the absolutely dreadful interiors), but recognise of course that they were rather good to drive, having enjoyed hire cars on occasion.
The Mk8 however changes all of that, and I happen to think it's a much more mature, up-market (vs previous) and attractive looking car. My son's mate has one identical to yours (I think the middle power version), but in black, and it's a very smart thing indeed. The interior is a huge leap forward from the 1990's stereo-styling of previous incarnations, and it really feels like a much higher quality place to be. I haven't driven one yet, but am told it's as good as the last one, if not better.
My eldest is looking to change his car and he's seriously considering one of these in 140ps flavour, so I'm interested in how you get on here!
Looks like a great car!
The Mk8 however changes all of that, and I happen to think it's a much more mature, up-market (vs previous) and attractive looking car. My son's mate has one identical to yours (I think the middle power version), but in black, and it's a very smart thing indeed. The interior is a huge leap forward from the 1990's stereo-styling of previous incarnations, and it really feels like a much higher quality place to be. I haven't driven one yet, but am told it's as good as the last one, if not better.
My eldest is looking to change his car and he's seriously considering one of these in 140ps flavour, so I'm interested in how you get on here!
Looks like a great car!
LHB said:
thebigmacmoomin said:
Having driven both a Mk7 5 speed & Mk8 6 speed 100ps Fiesta, I preferred the Mk7. It was far more peppy & felt quicker off the line with better acceleration. It was only town driving, but the Mk8 would be miles better on motorway runs.
The MK8 to me just feels more refined and smoother to drive than the MK7 imo, I much prefer it in every way having driven a MK7 for about 1000 miles but I can totally see what you mean about the gearboxes but that’s what the remap is for.thebigmacmoomin said:
I preferred the Mk8 in every other way as well, especially the interior as I wasn't a fan of the Mk7's. I just hate the Mk8's passenger airbag button on the dash. Why cant it be some where else as I am never likely to need to use it.
The interior is (much) better on the mk8, but the whole car feels a bit 'tinny' somehow. I have both a facelift mk7 and mk8 at the moment so am comparing directly. Wonder if they've done a bit of weight saving in the panels for eco/handling reasons. They both feel great to drive though.I've had a Mk8 St Line with the 125 engine for the past year, personally I think its a better looking car than the previous model. A few cheap details aside and the ecoboost only delivering at best 40mpg is the only downsides really. Not sure how they'll fair longterm either in terms of reliability
Mike1990 said:
I think these look really good, but for me the Interior is the biggest change, it’s so much better than the Mk7.
For me at least in 125/140bhp guise it’s the pick of the current crop of warm-hatches.
I’ve heard the steering is more natural and ‘better’ then the full fat ST’s.
Couldn’t comment on comparing the steering myself, but I will say it is lovely. It seems to have just the right amount of weight to it For me at least in 125/140bhp guise it’s the pick of the current crop of warm-hatches.
I’ve heard the steering is more natural and ‘better’ then the full fat ST’s.
Fattyfat said:
I've had a Mk8 St Line with the 125 engine for the past year, personally I think its a better looking car than the previous model. A few cheap details aside and the ecoboost only delivering at best 40mpg is the only downsides really. Not sure how they'll fair longterm either in terms of reliability
Yeah I managed to average 43 coming from MK to Watford on the M1, but around town now my average has dropped down to 33 but I’m not bothered by that at all. If I wanted fuel economy I would have kept the juke, could easily make a full tank last over a week but that’s boring This car has made me get all my cleaning kit out again and go and top up on the things I’ve lost, I spent a solid 2 hours cleaning the car the other day so I could wax it and seal it ready for this cold salty weather and I’ve got to say it does look really good all polished up
Edited by LHB on Sunday 20th January 12:04
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