Upgrading/Downgrading to a Fiesta ST

[jimmyt1202]

My current car is a 2009 Seat Leon Cupra. I love it to bits, it's very well equipped, has only done 30,000 miles and is remapped to circa 300-320bhp so it really does shift. I've had it about 18 months now which is the longest I've ever owned a car by far. Prior to this I had a variety of hot hatchbacks including 3 Fiesta ST's (the old 2.0 ones). I've had a hankering for the new 1.6 Turbo one for a little while and feel like I need to scratch the itch. I'm wanting something a little bit newer and something that I can comfortably use everyday (the Leon is rather thirsty!). I hear great reviews about the ST's handling and the power delivery is meant to be good but I'm also a bit put off by the image of it behind every 18 year old's dream car. I'm 25 and pretty much everybody I've spoken to about getting one has said I'm too old for it! It would be great to hear from some ST owners about the general everydayness of the Fiesta. Does it seem like I'm downgrading?

Here's the Leon:

[Podie]

Go for a test drive - and consider the Mountune MP215 kit.

Drive what you want, I'm nearly forty and have a bright orange Focus ST. I couldn't give a st what people think.

[Ron240]

jimmyt1202 said:

I'm 25 and pretty much everybody I've spoken to about getting one has said I'm too old for it

As far as im concerned that is absolutely ridiculous and i dont understand anybody who could even think it......totally misguided logic.
A new Fiesta ST will undoubtedly be a step down in performance from what you have, but there are official power upgrade packages available from Mountune as mentioned.
Even though its still fairly basic i think the inside of a Fiesta is nicer than a Leon.
The Fiesta ST is a great little car in all but refinement - its not what you would want for long motorway journeys, but then your Leon probably isnt either.
Only you can decide if you will be happy with a Fiesta ST.

[rehab71]

I'm 31 and am currently driving a white Fiesta ST-3. Great little car. I work for a Ford dealer so have had lots of different cars as a demo over the years and I can honestly say that I enjoy the ST the most.

Go and have a drive of one.

[blade7]

jimmyt1202 said:

I hear great reviews about the ST's handling and the power delivery is meant to be good but I'm also a bit put off by the image of it behind every 18 year old's dream car. I'm 25 and pretty much everybody I've spoken to about getting one has said I'm too old for it!

The Fiesta ST has become a victim of it's own success, if you're more concerned about image than the car itself perhaps you would be happier in a Polo GTI.

[stargazer30]

Wildcard...

Keep the leon and avoid the £2K dealer profit, vat, depreciation hit you'll take on the Fez. Use the £2K to buy a cheap MX5 or MR2. Then you'll have a really fast car and a fun/good handling car that still manages half decent MPG. Both will make you a better driver too (or try and kill you if they don't)

PS I really like the new Fez ST too. I'm 38 and would happily have one as a semi practical car.

[thebigmacmoomin]

stargazer30 said:

Wildcard...

Keep the leon and avoid the £2K dealer profit, vat, depreciation hit you'll take on the Fez. Use the £2K to buy a cheap MX5 or MR2. Then you'll have a really fast car and a fun/good handling car that still manages half decent MPG. Both will make you a better driver too (or try and kill you if they don't)

PS I really like the new Fez ST too. I'm 38 and would happily have one as a semi practical car.

Just buy a year / 18 month old one saving the initial depreciation on a new car.

[jimmyt1202]

Well I've agreed a sale on the Leon so the likely replacement will be an ST when I get back off holiday next month. I work in the trade so I'm sure I'll be able to pick one up at sensible money as recently the market seems to be pretty full of them and everyone I've seen go through the auctions hasn't made CAP clean. Ideally would like an ST-2 in Molten Orange with Nav but it seems not many have the Nav!