New Fiesta ST - performance pack ?
Discussion
Hello
I'm interested in getting a new Fiesta ST - probably the 2 or maybe even the 3 if funds allow.
Looking to hear from owners whether or not they bought the performance pack ? I'm not interested in the launch control or the gear shift lights but the Quaife limited-slip differential...
In the real world does it really make a difference ? Every review says its brilliant and is a must have but it does add £950 to the price...
I won't be using the car on a track and alothough I like to drive swiftly I'm pretty sure I don't drive a car anywhere near its limits - I haven't even had the back end out in my MX-5....
So iin the real world of commutes and the occasional countryside blast is the Quaife a must have ?
thanks
I'm interested in getting a new Fiesta ST - probably the 2 or maybe even the 3 if funds allow.
Looking to hear from owners whether or not they bought the performance pack ? I'm not interested in the launch control or the gear shift lights but the Quaife limited-slip differential...
In the real world does it really make a difference ? Every review says its brilliant and is a must have but it does add £950 to the price...
I won't be using the car on a track and alothough I like to drive swiftly I'm pretty sure I don't drive a car anywhere near its limits - I haven't even had the back end out in my MX-5....
So iin the real world of commutes and the occasional countryside blast is the Quaife a must have ?
thanks
Personally I would defo have the lsd , in my experience of FWD cars it makes a difference , even if your not going to track it , for fast road use through the twisty bits it will be far superior car to drive , these new St fiestas are supposed to be really good , with the performance pack even better and it has to be a plus when the time comes to sell .
Mmm. Depends.
If you want to get the fastest lap time, or annihilate your favourite back road in the fastest possible time. Get the LSD.
But, if you're the sort of driver that wants to have fun at lower (safer) speeds, don't get the LSD.
Without the LSD, roundabouts and hard cornering at the edge of grip can be enjoyed at lower speeds. Understeer will come in earlier without the LSD. As an example... attacking a roundabout on the edge of grip. A non LSD equipped car will allow to 'go wide' on the throttle at lower speed. Backing off the throttle will tuck the nose in and - if the car is playful - provoke the rear into sliding out instead. The point is - this sort of low speed handling 'fun' can be enjoyed at saner speeds.
The LSD however will make the front end feel that much more 'keyed' into the road surface. The LSD will keep the front end tucked in much more than a car with an open diff. The LSD equipped car will still understeer of course, given enough throttle / speed. But the speed when this starts to happen is generally higher. So if you're looking to have fun on the edge of grip with your LSD equipped car. You are likely going to have to go much faster to overcome the grip / LSD on the front end. This means that the overall speed has risen, which isn't as safe in the event you need to recover the car. Depending on how brave a driver you are, the LSD equipped car may have 'moved the fun' up to a speed that is too high for you. So that you never get to enjoy sliding the car around a roundabout. Simply because you're not brave enough to go that fast.
If you're not keen on driving 'at the edge of grip'. Or are a driver that is not keen on booting the car through corners... an LSD is a waste of money, as you will barely utilise the benefit of it.
In my opinion, the LSD adds precision to the front end of the ST. Or any FWD car for that matter. An open-diff car has less precision, and perhaps will be slower point to point at the hands of a keen driver. But will allow the car to get 'edgy' at slower / safer speeds. For some people, who just want a fun car at lower speeds. That might be more enticing.
So, just don't buy the 'performance pack' for the reason it is better. Ask yourself what you want out of the car, and whether you will actually see benefit out of it as a driver.
If you want to get the fastest lap time, or annihilate your favourite back road in the fastest possible time. Get the LSD.
But, if you're the sort of driver that wants to have fun at lower (safer) speeds, don't get the LSD.
Without the LSD, roundabouts and hard cornering at the edge of grip can be enjoyed at lower speeds. Understeer will come in earlier without the LSD. As an example... attacking a roundabout on the edge of grip. A non LSD equipped car will allow to 'go wide' on the throttle at lower speed. Backing off the throttle will tuck the nose in and - if the car is playful - provoke the rear into sliding out instead. The point is - this sort of low speed handling 'fun' can be enjoyed at saner speeds.
The LSD however will make the front end feel that much more 'keyed' into the road surface. The LSD will keep the front end tucked in much more than a car with an open diff. The LSD equipped car will still understeer of course, given enough throttle / speed. But the speed when this starts to happen is generally higher. So if you're looking to have fun on the edge of grip with your LSD equipped car. You are likely going to have to go much faster to overcome the grip / LSD on the front end. This means that the overall speed has risen, which isn't as safe in the event you need to recover the car. Depending on how brave a driver you are, the LSD equipped car may have 'moved the fun' up to a speed that is too high for you. So that you never get to enjoy sliding the car around a roundabout. Simply because you're not brave enough to go that fast.
If you're not keen on driving 'at the edge of grip'. Or are a driver that is not keen on booting the car through corners... an LSD is a waste of money, as you will barely utilise the benefit of it.
In my opinion, the LSD adds precision to the front end of the ST. Or any FWD car for that matter. An open-diff car has less precision, and perhaps will be slower point to point at the hands of a keen driver. But will allow the car to get 'edgy' at slower / safer speeds. For some people, who just want a fun car at lower speeds. That might be more enticing.
So, just don't buy the 'performance pack' for the reason it is better. Ask yourself what you want out of the car, and whether you will actually see benefit out of it as a driver.
DazzaSport said:
Mmm. Depends.
If you want to get the fastest lap time, or annihilate your favourite back road in the fastest possible time. Get the LSD.
But, if you're the sort of driver that wants to have fun at lower (safer) speeds, don't get the LSD.
Without the LSD, roundabouts and hard cornering at the edge of grip can be enjoyed at lower speeds. Understeer will come in earlier without the LSD. As an example... attacking a roundabout on the edge of grip. A non LSD equipped car will allow to 'go wide' on the throttle at lower speed. Backing off the throttle will tuck the nose in and - if the car is playful - provoke the rear into sliding out instead. The point is - this sort of low speed handling 'fun' can be enjoyed at saner speeds.
The LSD however will make the front end feel that much more 'keyed' into the road surface. The LSD will keep the front end tucked in much more than a car with an open diff. The LSD equipped car will still understeer of course, given enough throttle / speed. But the speed when this starts to happen is generally higher. So if you're looking to have fun on the edge of grip with your LSD equipped car. You are likely going to have to go much faster to overcome the grip / LSD on the front end. This means that the overall speed has risen, which isn't as safe in the event you need to recover the car. Depending on how brave a driver you are, the LSD equipped car may have 'moved the fun' up to a speed that is too high for you. So that you never get to enjoy sliding the car around a roundabout. Simply because you're not brave enough to go that fast.
If you're not keen on driving 'at the edge of grip'. Or are a driver that is not keen on booting the car through corners... an LSD is a waste of money, as you will barely utilise the benefit of it.
In my opinion, the LSD adds precision to the front end of the ST. Or any FWD car for that matter. An open-diff car has less precision, and perhaps will be slower point to point at the hands of a keen driver. But will allow the car to get 'edgy' at slower / safer speeds. For some people, who just want a fun car at lower speeds. That might be more enticing.
So, just don't buy the 'performance pack' for the reason it is better. Ask yourself what you want out of the car, and whether you will actually see benefit out of it as a driver.
well summarized !If you want to get the fastest lap time, or annihilate your favourite back road in the fastest possible time. Get the LSD.
But, if you're the sort of driver that wants to have fun at lower (safer) speeds, don't get the LSD.
Without the LSD, roundabouts and hard cornering at the edge of grip can be enjoyed at lower speeds. Understeer will come in earlier without the LSD. As an example... attacking a roundabout on the edge of grip. A non LSD equipped car will allow to 'go wide' on the throttle at lower speed. Backing off the throttle will tuck the nose in and - if the car is playful - provoke the rear into sliding out instead. The point is - this sort of low speed handling 'fun' can be enjoyed at saner speeds.
The LSD however will make the front end feel that much more 'keyed' into the road surface. The LSD will keep the front end tucked in much more than a car with an open diff. The LSD equipped car will still understeer of course, given enough throttle / speed. But the speed when this starts to happen is generally higher. So if you're looking to have fun on the edge of grip with your LSD equipped car. You are likely going to have to go much faster to overcome the grip / LSD on the front end. This means that the overall speed has risen, which isn't as safe in the event you need to recover the car. Depending on how brave a driver you are, the LSD equipped car may have 'moved the fun' up to a speed that is too high for you. So that you never get to enjoy sliding the car around a roundabout. Simply because you're not brave enough to go that fast.
If you're not keen on driving 'at the edge of grip'. Or are a driver that is not keen on booting the car through corners... an LSD is a waste of money, as you will barely utilise the benefit of it.
In my opinion, the LSD adds precision to the front end of the ST. Or any FWD car for that matter. An open-diff car has less precision, and perhaps will be slower point to point at the hands of a keen driver. But will allow the car to get 'edgy' at slower / safer speeds. For some people, who just want a fun car at lower speeds. That might be more enticing.
So, just don't buy the 'performance pack' for the reason it is better. Ask yourself what you want out of the car, and whether you will actually see benefit out of it as a driver.
Most of the reviews forget to mention the negatives of the LSD in a FWD
Con:
"You’ll spend some time fighting the limited-slip diff on rougher surfaces too, and depending on the road surface you may find yourself fighting cambers and ruts" - evo magazine
Pro:
"it’s satisfying to get on the gas early out of a corner and feel your line tightening rather than washing wide" - evo
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