Ford Fiesta ST: PH Fleet
Will an autumn and winter on three wheels in the ST reveal any cracks in its already stellar reputation?
Where better to collect the latest addition to PistonHeads' than at a World Rally Championship round? On the eve of the recent Wales Rally GB weekend, where M-Sport fielded its Fiesta WRC cars, we grabbed the keys to our new ST-3 in the Deeside service park. Then it was time for a chat with a few team personnel to gauge their thoughts on the only road-tyre wearing Fiesta in the paddock.
"I really like the day running lights," said one. "Looks great in this colour," another added. "Wonder how it'd do out on the stage," a third jested, and we laughed, unaware that we'd actually have a pretty good idea by lunchtime tomorrow, following an unexpected venture onto the mud usually reserved for WRC cars only.
But first let's introduce the car. It's a top-spec ST-3 in three-door form. We could have gone for the more practical five-door, but opted against it because team PH wanted the ST-est ST experience. Adding two weighty doors and reducing the body shell's solid area was therefore out of the question. Plus, the three-door just looks better, doesn't it?
Standard on the ST-3 are 18-inch five-spoke wheels wrapped in Michelin Super Sport tyres (it still feels slightly mad that a car of this size can wear such serious rubber), Recaro part leather seats with snug bolstering, as well as other mod cons including an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple Carplay/Android Auto, a rear-view camera and keyless entry. It's borderline plush.
We know the ST well, what with having driven it in both normal and Performance Pack forms. We're in no doubt that the latter is the version to have simply because of that Quaife limited-slip differential, so it's the specification we have here. Although not even that effective LSD can extract much traction from the muddy slopes that surround Hiraethog, the location for the shakedown stage of Rally GB.
Let me explain. We were hoping to get the car as close as possible to the action for an explosive opening shot, and, well, we got significantly closer than planned. Somehow, after driving about three miles on damp tarmac and then sodden mud past the last marshal happy to let us through, we were at the stage start line. Not with spectators, no, it was PH in our new Fiesta ST and the WRC drivers, co-drivers and their cars.
We weren't sure if we were actually allowed here, but not wanting to waste an opportunity, we got the shot as the drivers blasted past, throwing mud into the air in an attempt to warm the cars before the start line. Or perhaps they knew PH wanted the shot and they were simply humouring us. Either way, it meant that the opening day of our latest long-termer's tenure was enhanced by much motorsport pedigree.
Not that all ST buyers are keen WRC fans, only interested in heading to a Ford dealer because Sebastien Ogier won in his M-Sport Fiesta later that weekend. The ST is a longstanding popular choice for motorists because it's such an effective all-rounder, one that offers laugh-out-loud front-drive dynamics as well as excellent economy and practicality. Rest assured we'll be exploring its full potential to see if it can maintain that image over the next few months.
Car: Ford Fiesta ST-3
On fleet since: October 2018
Run by: Sam Sheehan
List price new: £21,494 (As tested: £24,515 comprising £745 for Performance Blue paint, £600 for full LED headlights, £475 for blind spot information system, £850 for ST Performance Pack and for £350 B&O premium audio system).
Last month at a glance: The ST gets its hands dirty at Wales Rally GB.
They have plenty enough power to be fun and feel like you are making good progress as well, you can extract all of the performance and feel like you are getting the best out of it, natural habitat is B roads.
If you need a bigger hot hatch, the I30N has a similar vibe.
Interior has grown on me, so has the shape of the car. I haven't driven a st fiesta for a while, but could possibly be a car I would consider - but would have to test drive as heard the suspension can be hard and bouncy (got a golf r currently). Maybe something like the I30 N will be a better option for me but that's more £££
But more importantly, why is the rally car not sitting on ford forecourts? The lack of genuine homologation for sale is baffling. Everything is false. It's weird.
Anyway, had a choice between this and the Abarth 595 Comp and I am still happy with my choice. The Fiesta just looks so boring, and those wheels are terrible. Even the colour is properly drab too, and you actually have to pay more for it to look that drab! They drive just fine but lack ultimate character, its all a bit... well like a Ford really, which I guess isn't a bad thing (wife has the new Focus and it's a good car) if a little soulless!
Anyway, had a choice between this and the Abarth 595 Comp and I am still happy with my choice. The Fiesta just looks so boring, and those wheels are terrible. Even the colour is properly drab too, and you actually have to pay more for it to look that drab! They drive just fine but lack ultimate character, its all a bit... well like a Ford really, which I guess isn't a bad thing (wife has the new Focus and it's a good car) if a little soulless!
Anyway, had a choice between this and the Abarth 595 Comp and I am still happy with my choice. The Fiesta just looks so boring, and those wheels are terrible. Even the colour is properly drab too, and you actually have to pay more for it to look that drab! They drive just fine but lack ultimate character, its all a bit... well like a Ford really, which I guess isn't a bad thing (wife has the new Focus and it's a good car) if a little soulless!
Does not make me think "I must buy this"
Unless the ST Fiesta is being sold with 4 Wheel drive.
I had a good look round the McRae Focus and Impreza at carfest this year and what was most remarkable is that other than the interior and stickers the shells were pretty much identical to the road going versions.
This ST looks plain and, while the diff may make the difference, I replaced my Mk 7 ST with another Mk 7 ST with the Mountune upgrade and still think it looks way better and it's a far nicer blue.
They have plenty enough power to be fun and feel like you are making good progress as well, you can extract all of the performance and feel like you are getting the best out of it, natural habitat is B roads.
If you need a bigger hot hatch, the I30N has a similar vibe.
When you get out of a shopping spec version of a car thinking "that drives really well", it always bodes well for the fast models.
But more importantly, why is the rally car not sitting on ford forecourts? The lack of genuine homologation for sale is baffling. Everything is false. It's weird.
Interior has grown on me, so has the shape of the car. I haven't driven a st fiesta for a while, but could possibly be a car I would consider - but would have to test drive as heard the suspension can be hard and bouncy (got a golf r currently). Maybe something like the I30 N will be a better option for me but that's more £££
They have plenty enough power to be fun and feel like you are making good progress as well, you can extract all of the performance and feel like you are getting the best out of it, natural habitat is B roads.
If you need a bigger hot hatch, the I30N has a similar vibe.
When you get out of a shopping spec version of a car thinking "that drives really well", it always bodes well for the fast models.
I was going to mention certain Peugeot hatches, but decided not as people can get weird about anyone comparing anything that which has been cannonized and ascded to the Petrolheads hall of fame.
I drove 205 GTI's 'a few times and there is a certain echo with the ST, I used to enjoy driving XR2's back then but the 205 was on another planet, the XR2 did the go kart thing quite well but ran out of ideas in comparison, the ST feels more like a spiritual successor to the 205 than an XR2.
Dont get me wrong, the M135i does a great job but if I had to choose which to take down a winding B road, it wouldnt be the BMW, its a "Junior Supercar"
whereas the ST is is every inch the dictionary definition of Hot Hatch, brought up to date, sort of makes the big power 4wd ones feel like overkill really, if you just want a fun car.Need to scrounge a go in my brothers Focus ST for comparison.
I was tempted but three Fiestas on the drive would just be weird, 2 is bad enough.
I had a good look round the McRae Focus and Impreza at carfest this year and what was most remarkable is that other than the interior and stickers the shells were pretty much identical to the road going versions.
The speed and performance of the current WRC cars is incredible and they are far more spectacular than a few years ago, they are as close to the likes of the group B machines as they have ever been which everyone seems to think was the pinnacle of rallying. The problem is that the coverage of WRC is rubbish so it doesn't appeal to the mass market.
Finally if you think McRae focus is anything like a road going version you are very much mistaken, yes the outline might be similar but the shell and running gear are completely different, I have a mk1 RS which is probably as extreme a focus road car as there ever was and its nothing like the WRC machines of 98-02.
.
I bought the main rival, at the time, the R5 GT Turbo, with a boost upgrade to an alleged 150PS and by god, that was fun and far more the spiritual ancestor to the current turbo hatches and with it's own retro R5 look which possibly appealed less in the cute department. The iconic advert of the time showed it doing 0-60 then the rest of the ad was a picture of kittens (not PC any more, oh no, encouraging speeding on a drag strip!!!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi2dYkgbYpY
The XR2 of the time was nowhere, dynamically. The XR3i was at least competitive with the Golf GTI but the Fiesta never really came good again (not even as an RS Turbo or RS 1800) until the Mk 7 ST (the Mk 6 I loved but 150hp was never enough).
Additionally, it is pretty much Renault that we have to thank for the Mk 7 Fiesta ST, after Ford's refusal to address the Clio's superiority for so many years (Peugeot had long since dropped the baton). When they finally stepped up, they finally did it right, in terms of styling and performance. If only this ST had looked good instead of that "sucked in cheeks" look they seem to have gone for.
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