Fiesta ST owners/opinions
Fiesta ST owners/opinions
Author
Discussion

TomJackUK

Original Poster:

361 posts

198 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
Hey all,

I hope the new year has started well for everyone! I am currently driving around in my Mk2 Golf, but its time for something a little more modern now my circumstances have changed! I am torn between a Fiesta ST and something like a Leon Cupra. A pal from work is selling an 07 plate white Fiesta ST with 33k miles on the clock for around £5750 which seems like a great price to me, comparing it to others online. Its tax, MOT and service are all up soon though so this would be a bit of an expense. It would leave me a little short on cash for a while, but I am prepared to allow that. Problem is, a nice Leon comes in at £4k and they are a good car too (from what I can tell). Any opinions on the Ford board about these two cars? Any idea which would retrieve a better MPG? From what I can tell, they would be quite similar?

Thanks for any help guys, I am aware I made a similar post on GG but thought there might be some Ford owners on here that may have an opinion =)

Cheers in advance, Tom

Merp

2,262 posts

278 months

Monday 3rd January 2011
quotequote all
Hello buddy,

I'm coming up to 24 months of ownership now. I bought a White 07 plate originally and cannot fault them.
I commute approx 25 miles per day and average between 32-34mpg with a mixture of A roads and town driving.
Although in this cold weather I have seen it drop as low as 28.

I've covered 20k miles in the 2 years and they have all been very enjoyable. I had to replace the waterpump on mine though very early on but it was covered by the warranty, and it doesnt seem to be a common ST issue.

I have also fitted 35mm drop Eibach springs which do stand the car very well, the only problem is, it is a litte firm at times and you can feel most of the lumps and bumps with standard suspension.

The worst thing though has to be the motorway noise, fortunately I dont do many motorway miles but it does droan a little at 80mph 4k revs.

That price is also very good! Makes me wish I took the 7k offer for mine 6 months ago at 20k miles.

pringle1988

242 posts

210 months

Tuesday 4th January 2011
quotequote all
Hello Tom,
I have owned mine for nearly 36 months now and the only thing that its needed is a wheel bearing, its a 55 plate with 62,000 miles on it. I love the car and used to use it to commute 25 miles each way to work, with mixed driving it is averaging 34mpg. Last year I bought a BMW 328 sport and put the fiesta for sale however nobody bought it so I still have it parked up, im actually now going to sell the BMW and get the fiesta back on the road its such a fun car, and the BMW's reliabilty has been very poor.
I cant really comment on the Leon but I have to admit they are a nice shape haha.
Also the price you have been quoted seems very reasonable for the car your getting.

James

Steve_F

877 posts

220 months

Tuesday 4th January 2011
quotequote all
I've owned a Leon Cupra T (180bhp one) and driven the ST on a road trip round Scotland.

The ST is a cracking handling car, it really has the small grippy car down to a T. Only problem I felt with it was that it lacked power. Even an extra 30bhp (like the 185 Montune one I was briefly in) makes it a lot better. We came back down the A9 from the north of Scotland and it just didn't feel comfortable for the quick overtakes. The Leon always felt like it had plenty of shove - may all be down to the feel of a turbo vs n/a power deliver. The ST got 36mpg calculated with some very spirited driving, Leon was running in the high 20s but a lot of my journies were through the city to work (15 minutes or so).

The LCT is also a good handling car, maybe not quite as good as the ST but definitely feels quicker.

In short, I don't think you'd be unhappy with either and having driven I'd probably choose the Leon again unless I could get a tuned ST. Really not much in my choice though.

CatsPyjamas

46 posts

190 months

Tuesday 4th January 2011
quotequote all
Had mine for a few months now and am loving it although I do sometimes feel it needs more power, especially when there are other people in the car. So I am currently looking into upgrading the car with one of the kits which are available for it which will keep me entertained.

The car is great for speeding around the twisty roads and using all of the gears to get the best out of the car and sticks like glue in the dry!

RetroTed

1,029 posts

235 months

Tuesday 4th January 2011
quotequote all
CatsPyjamas said:
Had mine for a few months now and am loving it although I do sometimes feel it needs more power, especially when there are other people in the car. So I am currently looking into upgrading the car with one of the kits which are available for it which will keep me entertained.

The car is great for speeding around the twisty roads and using all of the gears to get the best out of the car and sticks like glue in the dry!
A friend of mine bought a new one and I thought it lacked power in comparison to say an old Astra Gsi. At the time I had a Golf GT TDI 150 and the Golf was honestly a faster car.

IMO it should of been turbocharged or supercharged as it felt like it could cope with 190-200 bhp.

TomJackUK

Original Poster:

361 posts

198 months

Tuesday 4th January 2011
quotequote all
Come across a tidy 182 which I am hopefully looking at later in the week, will see how that goes and compare it to the ST hopefully.

Steve_F

877 posts

220 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
TomJackUK said:
Come across a tidy 182 which I am hopefully looking at later in the week, will see how that goes and compare it to the ST hopefully.
There's only going to be one outcome of this one I feel and it's not a Ford!!!

Merp

2,262 posts

278 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Steve_F said:
TomJackUK said:
Come across a tidy 182 which I am hopefully looking at later in the week, will see how that goes and compare it to the ST hopefully.
There's only going to be one outcome of this one I feel and it's not a Ford!!!
It depends if you like sitting in a small bubble whilst having the steering wheel degrade away in your hands on the way to work. 182bhp which at a number of rolling road days friends of mine have attended the average 182 was only producing in the region of 169bhp.

I'm all for more power, I just think the Ford is a nicer package to be in and certain look at.

CatsPyjamas

46 posts

190 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Merp said:
Steve_F said:
TomJackUK said:
Come across a tidy 182 which I am hopefully looking at later in the week, will see how that goes and compare it to the ST hopefully.
There's only going to be one outcome of this one I feel and it's not a Ford!!!
It depends if you like sitting in a small bubble whilst having the steering wheel degrade away in your hands on the way to work. 182bhp which at a number of rolling road days friends of mine have attended the average 182 was only producing in the region of 169bhp.

I'm all for more power, I just think the Ford is a nicer package to be in and certain look at.
Definitely agree on the ST winning in the looks department over the Clio. No doubt about it!

xr287

875 posts

206 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Merp said:
small bubble
confused

TomJackUK

Original Poster:

361 posts

198 months

Thursday 6th January 2011
quotequote all
Went out in a Fiesta ST yesterday and was really quite impressed. The cabin noise is the only thing that really bothered me, and the lack of a 6th gear. Will reserve judgement until I have driven a 182/anything else that takes my fancy. The bloke with the ST I am would buy is still waiting on his new car so gives me plenty of opportunity to shop around.

rb5230

11,657 posts

198 months

Thursday 6th January 2011
quotequote all
I`d take the ST over a leon cupra, unless it was a cupra-r. Clio 182 just seems a little flimsy and girly compared to the fiesta for my liking.

Merp

2,262 posts

278 months

Thursday 6th January 2011
quotequote all
xr287 said:
Merp said:
small bubble
confused
Yeah im confused as to why it feels so small yet it isnt.

xr287

875 posts

206 months

Thursday 6th January 2011
quotequote all
Merp said:
xr287 said:
Merp said:
small bubble
confused
Yeah im confused as to why it feels so small yet it isnt.
It is slightly smaller and lighter than an ST. About 5cm lower and narrower, 10cm shorter and 70kg-ish lighter. So if you got out of an ST and in to a 182 it should feel smaller.

Steve_F

877 posts

220 months

Friday 7th January 2011
quotequote all
Merp said:
Steve_F said:
TomJackUK said:
Come across a tidy 182 which I am hopefully looking at later in the week, will see how that goes and compare it to the ST hopefully.
There's only going to be one outcome of this one I feel and it's not a Ford!!!
It depends if you like sitting in a small bubble whilst having the steering wheel degrade away in your hands on the way to work. 182bhp which at a number of rolling road days friends of mine have attended the average 182 was only producing in the region of 169bhp.

I'm all for more power, I just think the Ford is a nicer package to be in and certain look at.
Wasn't having a go at the Fiesta, I like it for what it is but it doesn't seem to do well in the tests against the likes of the Clio which is meant to be one of the best handling front drivers.

If the OP is still looking around the Fabia vRS and Ibiza Cupra might be worth a look. If you were considering the Leon but happy with Fiesta size the Ibiza should fit the bill. I know it's wrong on so many levels but the diesel Ibiza Cupra figures are very impressive and very much more so with a remap - what a terrible thing to admit to liking! Petrol versions of both these use the 1.8t unit the Leon does which is very easy to get a good chunk more power from.

TomJackUK

Original Poster:

361 posts

198 months

Friday 7th January 2011
quotequote all
Thanks all for the posts of guidance! I am still in the same position as I was earlier in the week, and am still looking for a replacement car. I have considered Fabia VRs but they are just too damn ugly, even with their great performance. The interior of the Ibizas really puts me off, which is where I will be spending a lot of my time, so no go for them either. Clio 182 this weekend will hopefully be getting a test drive, and a Fiesta ST to do a back to back comparison.

oj121

1,548 posts

198 months

Saturday 15th January 2011
quotequote all
How did the test drive go buddy? I bought a Fiesta ST after looking at a lot of small hatches and really enjoy it. Great handling and very solid. Not had any problems with it and have covered 30k in 2 years. Would like a little more power at times ut im a speed freak. Have comfortably held onto the tail of a Civic Type R and the like around my local parts. Dont let the fact is N/A take away from the fact its a quick car when on the boil. It just takes a different driving style compared to being guaranteed to have that wall of torque you get with a turbo.

TomJackUK

Original Poster:

361 posts

198 months

Saturday 15th January 2011
quotequote all
I didnt manage to get out to a 182 unfortunately - other commitments keep appearing that take priority! I've driven two ST's now though and I really enjoyed them. The high revs are not what I am used to (driven a mk2 golf for the last 3 years), but to be honest I quite enjoyed the change. I think I mentioned in an earlier post that the ST would be more than likely coming from someone at work, and they are off to a car auction in the week to try to get their replacement car. If he is successful then I will hopefully have a new car within the week =D If not, then I will just shop around a little as I am becoming a tad impatient waiting for a change in car now!

Karlos69

900 posts

215 months

Monday 17th January 2011
quotequote all
Make sure you do get to test drive a 182. I had one for 3 years and it was a fantastic car, probably the best car I've ever had. Don't get me wrong - it had it's faults, but what car doesn't? Like others have said, the steering wheel seems to fall apart after a few years, but aside from that I never had any problems.
I used to track mine and even got it down to the Nurburgring and it was always reliable and hugely entertaining!
As much as I like the look of the Fiesta, they don't come close to the 182 for me personally, but then that is kind of the point - it's all about how you feel about the car that matters - you're the one that'll be driving it!

P.S. If you do get behind the wheel of a 182, make sure you get it over 5k revs - that's where the fun starts! wink

Edited by Karlos69 on Monday 17th January 12:09