Yaris GR or Fiesta ST Performance Edition

[keo]

I am thinking about a replacement for my old A3 diesel. This is my every day car mainly motorway doing 18/20k a year. Thus asking has anyone got any experience of doing this kind of miles in one of these cars?

I know the sensible option get a diesel Volvo/ 5 series etc but being honest I spend a lot of time in my car and I am bored to tears of the A3. When I didn't commute as far for work I had hot hatches and do miss them. I do have a toy in the garage but frustratingly it hardly gets used I am always in the boring car. So would like to inject a bit of fun into my driving again.

The Yaris could I eek 40mpg+ out of one? Steady on the motorway. Something I have read and I am concerned about is the electric power steering doesn’t have much/ any feel? This ruined my ep3 ctr for me back in the day and it didbt last long. I do like steering feel.

I like the idea of the fiesta it sounds a very similar ethos to my clio trophy that I loved. Fancy paint, limited numbers, fancy suspension and diff. Obviously a lot cheaper to buy and from what I can gather pretty good on fuel. Compared to the GR. Decent spec with heated seats/ dab etc so enough luxuries for a small car.

Thanks!

[ChrisH72]

I bought my mk7 Fiesta ST used. It was 3 years old and the original owner had done 67k miles. So it clearly can be done, however I just can't imagine it myself!

Your choices are probably more refined than a mk7 but they're still not really designed for that kind of use. It's up to you but surely there are better options with bigger and more comfortable cars. An fk8 CTR springs to mind for starters.

[bencollins4]

I have a GR Yaris but it’s a 3rd / 4th car so I won’t be using it that much but it would happily do 20k a year. 40 mpg is do-able on a steady cruise but it’s not really where it wants to spend it’s time. I suspect the Fiesta would be 10 mpg better most of the time. The Yaris is a whole lot more serious than the Fiesta though.

Another option, Hyundai i20N? Great drive, decent motorway economy, bit more space and with similar performance to the ST. It would be just as capable of cruising on the motorway as back roads.

[g40steve]

Two totally different price points?
My 8.5 was delivered from Portsmouth & averaged 42.9mpg & after a week of short trips this is still 39.
I had a clio trophy for 3 years from 2006 onwards & the ST3 reminds me of those days. But sitting in better surroundings, vast amount of kit as standard, but still involved, excellent feedback & fun to drive.

[moonigan]

The Yaris is a noisy car to be in. Not sure if I'd want to do 10-20K PA up and down the motorway in it. Its a bit like taking a Bentley Arnarge over the Yorkshire moors for a spirited drive. Yep, you could do it but its not where its comfortable. The same can be said for yomping up and down the motorway in a GR Yaris.

[s p a c e m a n]

I'll take a rough estimate that 90% of st fiestas around here have been stolen, so I'd say Yaris.

[g40steve]

s p a c e m a n said:

I'll take a rough estimate that 90% of st fiestas around here have been stolen, so I'd say Yaris.

The old ones with the dead spot, old news?

[ZX10R NIN]

They're so different in character & price that only a test drive will settle this question, maybe somewhere in the middle is the Focus ST.

ST with Mountune upgrade:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208239...

ST Edition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210060...

[CG2020UK]

At the £30K+ a Yaris costs I’d be in a Civic Type R.

Stepping up a class will get you something far more easy to live with.

Focus ST, Golf GTI, I30N, R.S Megane, A35 you name it.

Even an M4 for the same price.

[tumble dryer]

CG2020UK said:

At the £30K+ a Yaris costs I’d be in a Civic Type R.

Stepping up a class will get you something far more easy to live with.

Focus ST, Golf GTI, I30N, R.S Megane, A35 you name it.

Even an M4 for the same price.

I've had mine since last March, 26k miles, and I'd agree with the above.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love it when I'm up for it. But there are times, as a daily, when its DNA can become a bit wearing. Bad (rough) tarmac surface and it's difficult to hold a normal/natural conversation. Motorways, as mentioned above, are not it's natural habitat.

You have zero chance of averaging 40mpg over a month, and if you do, there's no point in having one!

There's fun to be had virtually all the time, but there's a price that has to be paid.

(I'm keeping mine forever.)

[CG2020UK]

tumble dryer said:

I've had mine since last March, 26k miles, and I'd agree with the above.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love it when I'm up for it. But there are times, as a daily, when its DNA can become a bit wearing. Bad (rough) tarmac surface and it's difficult to hold a normal/natural conversation. Motorways, as mentioned above, are not it's natural habitat.

You have zero chance of averaging 40mpg over a month, and if you do, there's no point in having one!

There's fun to be had virtually all the time, but there's a price that has to be paid.

(I'm keeping mine forever.)

Exactly my thoughts mate.

Smasher of a car but the use case for the poster would break his heart I’m sure.

[keo]

Thanks for the responses. You have told me what I already kind of knew but was ignoring it. A hot hatch for my usage is a daft idea. I am just so bored of my diesel A3 though. Even though I have a toy in tbe garage I hardly use it as a bit fed up of driving all the time for work!

Maybe I should hand my PH card in! Or get a job closer to home over some B roads...

[ChrisH72]

No, a hot hatch is ideal for your use. You just need one a bit bigger than a Yaris or Fiesta as it'll be more composed and capable for long distance.

For the price of a GR Yaris you have your pick.

[Baked_bean]

Wouldn’t something like a MK7.5 Golf GTI or similar be suitable? A little bigger and more refined when you want it to be, but will be fun when needed also.

Fuel economy on a cruise is 40ish if you don’t go crazy. I almost bought a GR Yaris (still might buy one) and have to say they are very noisy on the motorway with a lot of road noise and vibration coming through.

[CG2020UK]

keo said:

Thanks for the responses. You have told me what I already kind of knew but was ignoring it. A hot hatch for my usage is a daft idea. I am just so bored of my diesel A3 though. Even though I have a toy in tbe garage I hardly use it as a bit fed up of driving all the time for work!

Maybe I should hand my PH card in! Or get a job closer to home over some B roads...

You could certainly use a hot hatch however it’s probably to go for one that is slightly more on the comfort vs fun side.

My brother in law did drive his Fiesta ST around 15K miles a year so it is possible.

I’d suggest an M140i

[ZX10R NIN]

keo said:

Thanks for the responses. You have told me what I already kind of knew but was ignoring it. A hot hatch for my usage is a daft idea. I am just so bored of my diesel A3 though. Even though I have a toy in tbe garage I hardly use it as a bit fed up of driving all the time for work!

Maybe I should hand my PH card in! Or get a job closer to home over some B roads...

I use my toys for mundane work trips as it makes the journey more interesting & I'm using them, it also makes me appreciate the workhorse too.

[ZX10R NIN]

keo said:

Thanks for the responses. You have told me what I already kind of knew but was ignoring it. A hot hatch for my usage is a daft idea. I am just so bored of my diesel A3 though. Even though I have a toy in tbe garage I hardly use it as a bit fed up of driving all the time for work!

Maybe I should hand my PH card in! Or get a job closer to home over some B roads...

Or another option is to sell both & buy one of these:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210220...

Or it's bigger brother:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185561087928?hash=item2...

[paddy1970]

Something like an Alfa guila veloce might be more suitable and fun

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2022062069...

[keo]

That green Alpina is stunning. Would be a great daily. But I drove my brothers e46 M3 years ago. Lots of people raves about it saying it was a fun/ drivers car. Big old boat imo so I can’t see any BMW keeping me happy as something fun.

I can’t see me selling my Exige really. It’s my only brand new car and I have always wanted an orange one since seeing a S1 as a kid. Mine is the 20th Anniversary so it’s pretty special to me. I’d also lose to much money if I sold it right now. Unless the £100k cup advertised has pushed prices up!

The Alpha is nice but again as a 1 car set up I don’t think it would cut it for me.

Thanks everyone

[ZX10R NIN]

In that case keep the Lotus & buy the Alpina, they're a great drive, as well as being a great daily. The D3 I linked to would be similar money to a Yaris GR & may tick the boxes you were looking for.