Fiesta ST Mk8 vs M135i F40
Discussion
As per title really, currently got a mk7 Fiesta ST but it's pretty dated now, interior really feels it, done over 105k miles etc. I've been saving up for a while, whilst I decided what to get next. In the next few months I've got a buyer lined up for it, so it's almost time to move on. 've had 2 Mk7 STs, as the first one was stolen, so owned them for 5/6 years now. They're pretty reliable, easy to work on so my old man does pretty much everything on it, decent on fuel and the parts are pretty cheap. It's fun to drive although the suspension is pretty hard and it does rattle and creak!
The most obvious upgrade is a Mk8 ST, but the 5 door version, just for easeness and also incase we start a family in the next 12/18 months (I think this is likely, but you never know). I've got enough for a low mileage one, probably less than 30k, ST3, so the top spec and full Ford service history. If I was to get one I think I'd Mountune stage 1 it, so 225ish hp and weighing not a lot, would be more than fast enough. At the moment there's only two of us, and the only time someone goes in the back is lads trips to football or abroad, probably a dozen times a year.
However, as we all do, whilst browsing AT and the like, I've looked at M135i F40s, to me they are the dream car, can easily fit 4/5 people in, big enough if you have 2 kids, fast in all weather due to xdrive, interior is lovely and they can do it all and do it very well. If I got one of these, I reckon I'd keep it for a long time, 6-8 years as I'd not need to upgrade for ages. The cons are they are obviously about 10k more to purchase, and everything else is also more, more fuel, more tax, more insurance, more expensive to service & maintain. I've also never driven one, I'm debating booking in a test drive in a couple of weeks to see how I get on with it.
I don't want anything slower than my current car, so that removes all the basic golfs and audis out of it. I alternatively looked at things like the Cupra 280/290/300, and they're faster but then I just see them as a bigger Fiesta, with higher costs and think I may as well just get a newer Fiesta. Same with the BMW 128ti, although the interior is lovely, and for the price of it, I then just think oh I may aswell get a M135i.
I should also mention that we're looking at moving house next year as well, so if I went with the Fiesta, the other 8-10k would go into a house deposit/moving fees/furniture.
Any thoughts or advice welcome, TIA.
The most obvious upgrade is a Mk8 ST, but the 5 door version, just for easeness and also incase we start a family in the next 12/18 months (I think this is likely, but you never know). I've got enough for a low mileage one, probably less than 30k, ST3, so the top spec and full Ford service history. If I was to get one I think I'd Mountune stage 1 it, so 225ish hp and weighing not a lot, would be more than fast enough. At the moment there's only two of us, and the only time someone goes in the back is lads trips to football or abroad, probably a dozen times a year.
However, as we all do, whilst browsing AT and the like, I've looked at M135i F40s, to me they are the dream car, can easily fit 4/5 people in, big enough if you have 2 kids, fast in all weather due to xdrive, interior is lovely and they can do it all and do it very well. If I got one of these, I reckon I'd keep it for a long time, 6-8 years as I'd not need to upgrade for ages. The cons are they are obviously about 10k more to purchase, and everything else is also more, more fuel, more tax, more insurance, more expensive to service & maintain. I've also never driven one, I'm debating booking in a test drive in a couple of weeks to see how I get on with it.
I don't want anything slower than my current car, so that removes all the basic golfs and audis out of it. I alternatively looked at things like the Cupra 280/290/300, and they're faster but then I just see them as a bigger Fiesta, with higher costs and think I may as well just get a newer Fiesta. Same with the BMW 128ti, although the interior is lovely, and for the price of it, I then just think oh I may aswell get a M135i.
I should also mention that we're looking at moving house next year as well, so if I went with the Fiesta, the other 8-10k would go into a house deposit/moving fees/furniture.
Any thoughts or advice welcome, TIA.
You mention the 128ti too so if considering the F40 M135 then worth test driving both as they do feel quite different. The spec varies rather a lot on them too so unless pretty bare then you have the pleasure of the £640 a year VED until it's 6 years old. Maybe if I was in a rush in all weathers I might have gone 135 but personally I bought a 128.
have you thought about a Puma 1.5 ST ?
its basically a mk8 St with more space and more practical
Ive had mk7 ST's and a Mk8 and now got the Puma as a daily it's not as good to look at but everything else is a win, boots really big with the megabox, proper back seats, rides better, good on fuel loads of up to date kit and still good fun when the mood takes me
its basically a mk8 St with more space and more practical
Ive had mk7 ST's and a Mk8 and now got the Puma as a daily it's not as good to look at but everything else is a win, boots really big with the megabox, proper back seats, rides better, good on fuel loads of up to date kit and still good fun when the mood takes me
I do like a fast Ford.
Owned a 2017 fiesta ST3 for 4 years and absolutely loved it. The mk8 looks a decent car to me but I never tried one. I'd probably pay a little more for a late model mk8.5 if I was to go back to one.
The Puma I think is a good car with decent practicality. They seem a bit cheaper than the Fiesta like for like. Where I live there has been quite a few Pumas stolen recently which is a shame.
Can't really comment on the Beemer but it seems a bit strange comparing it to the Fiesta. Surely a Focus ST 2.3 would be better competition for a 1 series?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608275...
I'd say the Focus might be more fun to drive based on what I've read. But the M135i is faster.
Owned a 2017 fiesta ST3 for 4 years and absolutely loved it. The mk8 looks a decent car to me but I never tried one. I'd probably pay a little more for a late model mk8.5 if I was to go back to one.
The Puma I think is a good car with decent practicality. They seem a bit cheaper than the Fiesta like for like. Where I live there has been quite a few Pumas stolen recently which is a shame.
Can't really comment on the Beemer but it seems a bit strange comparing it to the Fiesta. Surely a Focus ST 2.3 would be better competition for a 1 series?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608275...
I'd say the Focus might be more fun to drive based on what I've read. But the M135i is faster.
If I did that the BMW, would likely be 2019-2021 anyway, so that VED would only be an issue for 12 months, if at all.
I do like the Puma ST, but not really fast enough, like that it's automatic though.
Yeah I get it's a weird comparison, just debating whether the BMW is future proof, but will be more boring to drive, whilst also being a lot more expensive. Might hold it's value a lot better though? 95% of the time it's just myself in the car, so the Fiesta works as being fun and also being pretty cheap to run and maintain.
I do like the Puma ST, but not really fast enough, like that it's automatic though.
Yeah I get it's a weird comparison, just debating whether the BMW is future proof, but will be more boring to drive, whilst also being a lot more expensive. Might hold it's value a lot better though? 95% of the time it's just myself in the car, so the Fiesta works as being fun and also being pretty cheap to run and maintain.
If you are serious about the start a family bit I’m going to burst your bubble here and say neither car will be suitable.
There’s more to getting a baby in than having rear doors, and the rear facing car seats that are the standard for babies and young children isn’t going to fit well in either car in the back seat, if you plan on having someone in the front passenger seat at the same time, they are huge and the front seat will be so far forward to accommodate it there will be no legroom for an adult.
Then there’s all the extra stuff you have to carry in the boot.
It’s something to consider because otherwise you will be back here in 12 months asking about what to swap a Mk8 Fiesta ST for.
There’s more to getting a baby in than having rear doors, and the rear facing car seats that are the standard for babies and young children isn’t going to fit well in either car in the back seat, if you plan on having someone in the front passenger seat at the same time, they are huge and the front seat will be so far forward to accommodate it there will be no legroom for an adult.
Then there’s all the extra stuff you have to carry in the boot.
It’s something to consider because otherwise you will be back here in 12 months asking about what to swap a Mk8 Fiesta ST for.
Jamescrs said:
If you are serious about the start a family bit I m going to burst your bubble here and say neither car will be suitable.
There s more to getting a baby in than having rear doors, and the rear facing car seats that are the standard for babies and young children isn t going to fit well in either car in the back seat, if you plan on having someone in the front passenger seat at the same time, they are huge and the front seat will be so far forward to accommodate it there will be no legroom for an adult.
Then there s all the extra stuff you have to carry in the boot.
It s something to consider because otherwise you will be back here in 12 months asking about what to swap a Mk8 Fiesta ST for.
Missus will have the bigger car. Any trips away, or with her, will be done in that, when it's just myself I'll have to use my car. There s more to getting a baby in than having rear doors, and the rear facing car seats that are the standard for babies and young children isn t going to fit well in either car in the back seat, if you plan on having someone in the front passenger seat at the same time, they are huge and the front seat will be so far forward to accommodate it there will be no legroom for an adult.
Then there s all the extra stuff you have to carry in the boot.
It s something to consider because otherwise you will be back here in 12 months asking about what to swap a Mk8 Fiesta ST for.
stevemcs said:
Wild card - Clubman JCW all4 ?
Loved mine, would happily get another, the 306bhp version is basically a M135i underneath. I wasn't looking for a countryman when i started my previous car search but was so impressed when I test drove it that I bought it straight away.Quick enough, loads of room inside, just a very nice place to be. Mine was a good spec as well.
Great value used
I test drove a Mk7 Fiesta ST when they first came out and I loved it. Never driven an MK8 though.
I do currently have the new F70 M135 (no "i") which is essentially the exact same car underneath and just a facelift with a 7-speed DCT instead and a bit less power. I do like it, despite all the bad reviews, but I do agree it's flawed in many ways. It's my first 4WD car and putting the power down in all conditions is nice. However, my previous 2020 Cupra 290 was better in all other areas.
If you want auto but still want the fun, size and price of the Fiesta, why not look an a MK4 Clio 200T/220 Trophy? Again, got a bad rep, but could be a nice middle ground. I did also test drive a 200T when they came out too and looked at one last year aswell. Seem like a good used purchase.
I do currently have the new F70 M135 (no "i") which is essentially the exact same car underneath and just a facelift with a 7-speed DCT instead and a bit less power. I do like it, despite all the bad reviews, but I do agree it's flawed in many ways. It's my first 4WD car and putting the power down in all conditions is nice. However, my previous 2020 Cupra 290 was better in all other areas.
If you want auto but still want the fun, size and price of the Fiesta, why not look an a MK4 Clio 200T/220 Trophy? Again, got a bad rep, but could be a nice middle ground. I did also test drive a 200T when they came out too and looked at one last year aswell. Seem like a good used purchase.
Jamescrs said:
If you are serious about the start a family bit I m going to burst your bubble here and say neither car will be suitable.
There s more to getting a baby in than having rear doors, and the rear facing car seats that are the standard for babies and young children isn t going to fit well in either car in the back seat, if you plan on having someone in the front passenger seat at the same time, they are huge and the front seat will be so far forward to accommodate it there will be no legroom for an adult.
Then there s all the extra stuff you have to carry in the boot.
It s something to consider because otherwise you will be back here in 12 months asking about what to swap a Mk8 Fiesta ST for.
I have a Mk7 3dr fiesta ST, rear facing kids seat in the back does mean the seat needs to be quite far forward but even at 6'2" I can fit in the passenger seat with the kids seat in place. yes its not ideal for longer runs but its not impossible either. There s more to getting a baby in than having rear doors, and the rear facing car seats that are the standard for babies and young children isn t going to fit well in either car in the back seat, if you plan on having someone in the front passenger seat at the same time, they are huge and the front seat will be so far forward to accommodate it there will be no legroom for an adult.
Then there s all the extra stuff you have to carry in the boot.
It s something to consider because otherwise you will be back here in 12 months asking about what to swap a Mk8 Fiesta ST for.
Also if you have a spinning seat for said child then even a 3dr isn't really much of an issue as you just step into the footwell in the back to put child in or take them out.
We also have a Mk3 Focus RS and now an XC60 and although each is slightly better in the back not even the XC60 allows me to get the seat all the way back with kids seat behind it, so if you want a sporty car then its a price you just have to pay and if you have a bigger car then you tend to use that for longer journeys as a family.
wheels for buggy go in the boot of a fiesta too, bassinette is probably the only item that is a pain to transport but babies don't spend long in one of them anyway so you just have to have that on the back seat if you need it.
In conclusion a fiesta is fine for a one child family in my opinion
Edited by MK1RS Bruce on Wednesday 14th October 11:06
nordboy said:
stevemcs said:
Wild card - Clubman JCW all4 ?
Loved mine, would happily get another, the 306bhp version is basically a M135i underneath. I wasn't looking for a countryman when i started my previous car search but was so impressed when I test drove it that I bought it straight away.Quick enough, loads of room inside, just a very nice place to be. Mine was a good spec as well.
Great value used
I'm currently contemplating changing my Mini Cooper for either of those next year but yet to test drive them but they seem to tick all the boxes. What is the running costs like? I think anything less than real world 35mpg would potentially veto them for me.
Jayho said:
nordboy said:
stevemcs said:
Wild card - Clubman JCW all4 ?
Loved mine, would happily get another, the 306bhp version is basically a M135i underneath. I wasn't looking for a countryman when i started my previous car search but was so impressed when I test drove it that I bought it straight away.Quick enough, loads of room inside, just a very nice place to be. Mine was a good spec as well.
Great value used
I'm currently contemplating changing my Mini Cooper for either of those next year but yet to test drive them but they seem to tick all the boxes. What is the running costs like? I think anything less than real world 35mpg would potentially veto them for me.
Drove it back to the dealer, deposit and picked it up a few days later. I only got rid of it as I went into a lease car. it is one of the very few cars in many that I regret getting rid of tbh.
Would 100% have another.
nordboy said:
Jayho said:
nordboy said:
stevemcs said:
Wild card - Clubman JCW all4 ?
Loved mine, would happily get another, the 306bhp version is basically a M135i underneath. I wasn't looking for a countryman when i started my previous car search but was so impressed when I test drove it that I bought it straight away.Quick enough, loads of room inside, just a very nice place to be. Mine was a good spec as well.
Great value used
I'm currently contemplating changing my Mini Cooper for either of those next year but yet to test drive them but they seem to tick all the boxes. What is the running costs like? I think anything less than real world 35mpg would potentially veto them for me.
Drove it back to the dealer, deposit and picked it up a few days later. I only got rid of it as I went into a lease car. it is one of the very few cars in many that I regret getting rid of tbh.
Would 100% have another.
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