Fiesta ST what to look for when buying?
Discussion
Other than the usual given things with any car purchase, are there any specific things I should be looking out for on a fiesta ST? Looking at 13/14/15 plates. Any known problems or faults?
I've seen a couple of threads about a coolant sensor on the 1.6 Ecoboost, does this affect the fiesta ? A bit worrying as the car will be for my partner and she has our little boy in the car a lot.
There doesn't seem to be many for sale around my way to compare prices etc.
I've seen a couple of threads about a coolant sensor on the 1.6 Ecoboost, does this affect the fiesta ? A bit worrying as the car will be for my partner and she has our little boy in the car a lot.
There doesn't seem to be many for sale around my way to compare prices etc.
Aside from the usual hot hatch abuse, carefully check front bumpers. Mrs Podie has one, so i keep an eye on owners clubs / forums and the sheer volume of people who binned them in the snow is staggering.
Watch for any that may have been modified and returned to standard.
As ever, cheap tyres seem to be an indicator of not a great life. Avoid cheap brakes. Ford stuff is the best optio here. Also, they do graunch - that’s normal. There is a TSB for a softer pad compound but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Check Sat nav and mobile connection works. Sync can be a picky thing.
Worth a trek to Essex to buy. We bought a 1 year old from a dealer and it was still cheaper than private sales in the midlands.
Plenty of decent cars out there, so be picky.
Watch for any that may have been modified and returned to standard.
As ever, cheap tyres seem to be an indicator of not a great life. Avoid cheap brakes. Ford stuff is the best optio here. Also, they do graunch - that’s normal. There is a TSB for a softer pad compound but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Check Sat nav and mobile connection works. Sync can be a picky thing.
Worth a trek to Essex to buy. We bought a 1 year old from a dealer and it was still cheaper than private sales in the midlands.
Plenty of decent cars out there, so be picky.
Edited by Podie on Sunday 8th April 11:21
Yup my Fez ST2 has heated seats.
ST3 has cruise control but also has climate control, auto wipers and lights. I really miss the auto lights and wiper as my old Type R had them as well as climate control vs a manual air con, but hey ho. Apparently the auto wipers on the ST3 are a steamy pile of donky poo anyway. One to watch out for, on the top models ford has a habit of making them 2+2 vs 3 rear seats. I know they did on the focus, not sure on the fez.
As for faults, other than the obvious boy racer abuse and crazy mods, they are pretty solid. Having said that, I would not be put off by a Fiesta with the Mountune 215 upgrade. Its a warrented mod and its a very safe upgrade, keeps the torque limiters etc..
Check the rear brake pads after a drive to make sure they are clear of corrosion. Its common for the rear slider pins stick so the pads only work on the inside. Mine has this on one of the rears. Also not sure where you live but for a tenner go buy an OBD port locking cover off RS components and a OBD port disable badge. These cars can be stolen faster than you can say hot hatch.
ST3 has cruise control but also has climate control, auto wipers and lights. I really miss the auto lights and wiper as my old Type R had them as well as climate control vs a manual air con, but hey ho. Apparently the auto wipers on the ST3 are a steamy pile of donky poo anyway. One to watch out for, on the top models ford has a habit of making them 2+2 vs 3 rear seats. I know they did on the focus, not sure on the fez.
As for faults, other than the obvious boy racer abuse and crazy mods, they are pretty solid. Having said that, I would not be put off by a Fiesta with the Mountune 215 upgrade. Its a warrented mod and its a very safe upgrade, keeps the torque limiters etc..
Check the rear brake pads after a drive to make sure they are clear of corrosion. Its common for the rear slider pins stick so the pads only work on the inside. Mine has this on one of the rears. Also not sure where you live but for a tenner go buy an OBD port locking cover off RS components and a OBD port disable badge. These cars can be stolen faster than you can say hot hatch.
Edited by stargazer30 on Wednesday 11th April 11:33
Had a look at a some.
Dealer would only offer a 3 month warranty. It's a good car with low miles, just a tad put off with the short warranty. It's not some back street garage either.
The other one had been in a front end mishap, so thanks for the tip there Podie.
Should I be put off with the limited warranty?
Dealer would only offer a 3 month warranty. It's a good car with low miles, just a tad put off with the short warranty. It's not some back street garage either.
The other one had been in a front end mishap, so thanks for the tip there Podie.
Should I be put off with the limited warranty?
Edited by Spidersleg on Wednesday 11th April 19:50
Spidersleg said:
Had a look at a some.
Dealer would only offer a 3 month warranty. It's a good car with low miles, just a tad put off with the short warranty. It's not some back street garage either.
The other one had been in a front end mishap, so thanks for the tip there Podie.
Should I be put off with the limited warranty?
You can buy a warranty separate if you are that worried for anything from £300 to £500. I bought my 13reg with 30K on the clock last October with no warranty. Didn't bother me. Touch wood, no probs so far.Dealer would only offer a 3 month warranty. It's a good car with low miles, just a tad put off with the short warranty. It's not some back street garage either.
The other one had been in a front end mishap, so thanks for the tip there Podie.
Should I be put off with the limited warranty?
Edited by Spidersleg on Wednesday 11th April 19:50
Spidersleg said:
Went for a 16 plate with 24k on the clock. Hopefully picking up this week.
Will be looking at relocating obd, also seen you can take the fuse out. Possible disklok and a Faraday pouch for the keys.
Might I ask how much you paid?Will be looking at relocating obd, also seen you can take the fuse out. Possible disklok and a Faraday pouch for the keys.
I'm looking to sell my 15 plate with similar miles very soon.
I bought my 13 plate in late 2015, from a Ford dealer.
I had 6 months of wheel wobble, eventually allegedly traced, at their cost, to faulty discs and yet, even when they replaced them with genuine Ford discs, I still had a wobble so they replaced them again and no problems since. Came within an ace of trading it in because of it though.
Seems some discs were manufactured incorrectly but whether this is dealer BS is unknown - I know they aligned it about three times after i had it aligned.
Other than that, nothing really. Rear exhaust hanger half-snapped and was replaced with an £8 poly item off ebay (shop the polypart number or you'll pay a tenner).
Rear brakes can stick. I fried one side of my rear pads and had to dissemble and use penetrating oil under the seal (hard, believe me) but manual manupulation got it free and working and I put Green Stuff pads in.
Avoid ST1s. My ST2 has heated seats and they do come with 3 rear belts (one of the reasons I dismissed many other cars).
The ST2 has keyless entry but you still have to find it and click to open and shut doors - the ST2 has a proximity unlock facility.
Don't know if they all have it but mine has DAB radio.
Budget for a set of better low beam bulbs as they are crap - I used Phillips White Bulbs - main beam is fine.
As noted, chocolate alloys which are really easily kerbed.
I have always been tempted by the poly bush that improves the shift but have never justified £120 for one as the standard car is really pretty good.
I had 6 months of wheel wobble, eventually allegedly traced, at their cost, to faulty discs and yet, even when they replaced them with genuine Ford discs, I still had a wobble so they replaced them again and no problems since. Came within an ace of trading it in because of it though.
Seems some discs were manufactured incorrectly but whether this is dealer BS is unknown - I know they aligned it about three times after i had it aligned.
Other than that, nothing really. Rear exhaust hanger half-snapped and was replaced with an £8 poly item off ebay (shop the polypart number or you'll pay a tenner).
Rear brakes can stick. I fried one side of my rear pads and had to dissemble and use penetrating oil under the seal (hard, believe me) but manual manupulation got it free and working and I put Green Stuff pads in.
Avoid ST1s. My ST2 has heated seats and they do come with 3 rear belts (one of the reasons I dismissed many other cars).
The ST2 has keyless entry but you still have to find it and click to open and shut doors - the ST2 has a proximity unlock facility.
Don't know if they all have it but mine has DAB radio.
Budget for a set of better low beam bulbs as they are crap - I used Phillips White Bulbs - main beam is fine.
As noted, chocolate alloys which are really easily kerbed.
I have always been tempted by the poly bush that improves the shift but have never justified £120 for one as the standard car is really pretty good.
LuS1fer said:
my 13 plate
The ST2 has keyless entry
the ST2 has a proximity unlock facility
Don't know if they all have it but mine has DAB radio.
Keyless entry was optional on ST2 with your model year so depends on whether it was specified on the factory order.The ST2 has keyless entry
the ST2 has a proximity unlock facility
Don't know if they all have it but mine has DAB radio.
Can you tell me what "proximity unlock" is please?
All ST2's have a DAB radio as standard.
Edited by Ron240 on Tuesday 17th April 20:33
Ron240 said:
LuS1fer said:
my 13 plate
The ST2 has keyless entry
the ST2 has a proximity unlock facility
Keyless entry was optional on ST2 with your model year so depends on whether it was specified on the factory order.The ST2 has keyless entry
the ST2 has a proximity unlock facility
Can you tell me what "proximity unlock" is please?
All ST2's have a DAB radio as standard.
Edited by Ron240 on Tuesday 17th April 20:32
Shame she wants blue as I had a black one with the orange seats and it looked awesome.
Lots of them came with the style pack included which was illuminated door sills, darker alloys and tinted windows. The door sills had a tendency to fail in whole or part and the whole thing has to be replaced.
The bottom of the range ST1 has cloth seats and halogen DRL
Heated seats where standard on the ST2, the st3 gains sat nav and cruise control, and auto lights and wipers.
the ST2 also gained LED DRL, DAB (the Sony system) and part leather recaros
The ST2 has keyless go, where you have a fob you have to press the button on to open the car then a button to start, the st3 has keyless entry and go, where you touch the door handle to open it.
They are stolen all the time, so look at disc locks and move the OBD port, I had the body kit stolen from mine.
The engine drone can be annoying on longer motorway trips, and the ride over bumps and pot holes is awful.
Other than that they are fantastic cars, I loved mine so much, was sad to get rid of it.
I would go for one with orange seats again they are so nice.
There’s a lot of them around so don’t buy a cheap dog.
Lots of them came with the style pack included which was illuminated door sills, darker alloys and tinted windows. The door sills had a tendency to fail in whole or part and the whole thing has to be replaced.
The bottom of the range ST1 has cloth seats and halogen DRL
Heated seats where standard on the ST2, the st3 gains sat nav and cruise control, and auto lights and wipers.
the ST2 also gained LED DRL, DAB (the Sony system) and part leather recaros
The ST2 has keyless go, where you have a fob you have to press the button on to open the car then a button to start, the st3 has keyless entry and go, where you touch the door handle to open it.
They are stolen all the time, so look at disc locks and move the OBD port, I had the body kit stolen from mine.
The engine drone can be annoying on longer motorway trips, and the ride over bumps and pot holes is awful.
Other than that they are fantastic cars, I loved mine so much, was sad to get rid of it.
I would go for one with orange seats again they are so nice.
There’s a lot of them around so don’t buy a cheap dog.
LuS1fer said:
With the ST2, you have to physically take the keyless fob and click to lock and unlock so you still need to open the old way. I believe the ST3 unlocks automatically once you reach the car so the key stays in your pocket. I always need to know where my key is so that would niggle me. There is an actual key inside the fob, should the battery fail.
Sorry it was your terminology that confused me.The ST2 does not have keyless entry as standard, but can have as a factory fitted option.
Keyless Entry will unlock the door as you put your hand on the handle to open it but not before.
The big advantage is as you say the key fob never needs to leave your pocket.
Ron240 said:
orry it was your terminology that confused me.
The ST2 does not have keyless entry as standard, but can have as a factory fitted option.
Keyless Entry will unlock the door as you put your hand on the handle to open it but not before.
The big advantage is as you say the key fob never needs to leave your pocket.
If it's the same on the ST as it is on the Titanium there's a small button you have to press on the door handle to unlock it?The ST2 does not have keyless entry as standard, but can have as a factory fitted option.
Keyless Entry will unlock the door as you put your hand on the handle to open it but not before.
The big advantage is as you say the key fob never needs to leave your pocket.
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