Any reason not to buy a Fiesta ST 1.6 180?

[Warcloud36]

Really interested in the MK7 Fiesta 180.


I need something fun but cheap to run and the engines on them seem very good to tune and rather robust. (stage 2 would be all the power I'd need)

Currently I own a MX5 2.0 180hp but the £340 tax, 30mpg, 250 miles to a tank, it's not a lot to run but a newer car would have much more torque and be cheaper on the out goings.
Fiesta ST180 £150 tax, 35-40mpg and 300+ to a tank

Seems I could basically equal the running costs of my MX5 but with 220whp and 350nm vs 160whp and 188nm that my mx5 has.


I have already looked at other options and have whittled it down to the Mk7 Fiesta 180

Contenders were, in most desired order:
370z
MX5 Turbo (mk3)
CRZ supercharged (people wanted £15k-20k)
Megane 250
M135i
TT 2.0 TFSI
Toyota GT86
BMW Z4


So is there any reason not to buy the Fiesta when Fun and keeping costs low are your main goals?

I don't care that it's impractical, I own a MX5.
I don't care that it's seen as a girls car, I own a MX5.
I don't care that it's front wheel drive.

[ChrisH72]

No good reason I can think of.

I've owned my ST3 for 18 months now and it's been great. Does exactly as you describe by being fun to drive and cheap to run. Mine is on standard power as I don't feel the need for any more. 38mpg average and I do like to enjoy the car, if I did longer journeys I'd expect that to increase a bit. It had 67k miles when I bought it and is now on 73k so I do very low miles but nothing has gone wrong and it still feels fresh.

[georgeyboy12345]

I like them, but playing devil's advocate, here's why you shouldn't get one

They are easy to nick
They are popular amongst scrotes to nick
mpg won't be significantly better than your mx-5, probably worse when mapped
mpg will fall even further as the intake valves coke up, expensive to sort
The engines don't last over 150,000 miles

[clarki]

A couple of my friends have MK7 STs (one is bonkers quick) and they're great. Great to drive, great to look at, painless to run, would thoroughly recommend.

But i'd never swap my nd for one, no chance.

[ChrisH72]

There are some simple solutions to the security issues though. And certainly where I live there are a lot more Audis BMW and Mercs get stolen.

I haven't heard about this engine coking up. It probably helps to give it a damn good thrashing on a regular basis and also I haven't used e10 fuel in mine, only super.

As for 150k miles, they've only been around 8 years and are not exactly the kind of car you buy to do big mileage in. I'm not sure there's enough evidence yet to say that 150k is it's limit.

[Lincsls1]

Zero reason at all.
Very good cars from what I've heard and read.
Would you miss the MX5 when the sun comes out though? I would. MX5's are a brilliant little sports car.
Do what makes you happy ultimately.

[anonymous-user]

I had mine a year and found it dull and boring. Didn't live up to the hype. 182 was much better

[Richtea1970]

I'd go for a 500 Arbarth over a Fiesta every day of the week.

[Warcloud36]

georgeyboy12345 said:

I like them, but playing devil's advocate, here's why you shouldn't get one

They are easy to nick
They are popular amongst scrotes to nick
mpg won't be significantly better than your mx-5, probably worse when mapped
mpg will fall even further as the intake valves coke up, expensive to sort
The engines don't last over 150,000 miles

Yeah I did notice many of them had "disclok" on the steering wheels.


For my budget of 10k I could get one on less than 50,000 miles, I would only run on it on premium fuel so hopefully this would help keep the internals clean but I will look in to that issue.

clarki said:

But i'd never swap my nd for one, no chance.

I hear the ND is much better handling, the MK3 is a bit of a black sheep when it comes to MX5s, it needs some good coilovers otherwise it feels very heavy, mine being the hardtop version is said to be 1200kg but doesn't feel any lighter than my old FN2 which is about 1350kg. I looked up the ND it's saying 1000kg!!

R6T9GT said:

I had mine a year and found it dull and boring. Didn't live up to the hype. 182 was much better

That's why I would look for a low mileage version, FSH, non CAT with only a few owners, If I don't like it I can shift it quickly.

Lincsls1 said:

Zero reason at all.
Very good cars from what I've heard and read.
Would you miss the MX5 when the sun comes out though? I would. MX5's are a brilliant little sports car.
Do what makes you happy ultimately.

Cool! I have owned it for about 1.5 years and only had the roof down once, it's a good car but I doubt I'd miss it, much. Sounds good with the 4-1 headers though so I'd miss the sound.

[ZX10R NIN]

They're great cars there's no good reason not to buy one & it'll bring a smile to your face, buying one with a map on already will be no bad thing or finding one with a change of springs as it settles the everyday ride whilst losing none of the fun factor.

[trevalvole]

Warcloud36 said:

georgeyboy12345 said:

I like them, but playing devil's advocate, here's why you shouldn't get one

They are easy to nick
They are popular amongst scrotes to nick
mpg won't be significantly better than your mx-5, probably worse when mapped
mpg will fall even further as the intake valves coke up, expensive to sort
The engines don't last over 150,000 miles

For my budget of 10k I could get one on less than 50,000 miles, I would only run on it on premium fuel so hopefully this would help keep the internals clean but I will look in to that issue.

I think that different fuel will only help if it comes into contact with the affected area e.g. if the engine is pure direct injection (don't know if the Fiesta is), rather than a mix of direct and port, then no fuel passes over the intake valves, so it doesn't help keep them clean from whatever oily/sooty stuff is coming in from the EGR and PCV etc.

Edited by trevalvole on Sunday 2nd January 14:32

[georgeyboy12345]

trevalvole said:

Warcloud36 said:

georgeyboy12345 said:

I like them, but playing devil's advocate, here's why you shouldn't get one

They are easy to nick
They are popular amongst scrotes to nick
mpg won't be significantly better than your mx-5, probably worse when mapped
mpg will fall even further as the intake valves coke up, expensive to sort
The engines don't last over 150,000 miles

For my budget of 10k I could get one on less than 50,000 miles, I would only run on it on premium fuel so hopefully this would help keep the internals clean but I will look in to that issue.

I think that different fuel will only help if it comes into contact with the affected area e.g. if the engine is pure direct injection (don't know if the Fiesta is), rather than a mix of direct and port, then no fuel passes over the intake valves, so it doesn't help keep them clean from whatever oily/sooty stuff is coming in from the EGR and PCV etc.

Edited by trevalvole on Sunday 2nd January 14:32

They are direct only, not multiport, hence why they suffer from the problem. Using higher octane fuel, allowing the engine to fully warm and using the full rev range of the engine may alleviate the coking to a degree, especially with the injectors, but the back side of the inlet ports will still eventually coke up - it might be a case of it happening around 75,000 miles instead of 50,000 miles. The only way to de-coke them is to disassemble the engine and physically clean the valves. Loads of cars with DI have this problem these days.

Also, this engine isn't only used in the Fiesta ST - it's also been used in Focuses, Mondeos, Kugas, C/S-Maxes and Galaxies since 2011. You won't find any on autotrader with more than 150,000 miles, this is because they don't last. Probably won't be an issue for the OP as he'll have got rid well before then anyhow.

[anonymous-user]

Great car but I'd save some cash and go for an R26.

[ChrisH72]

A bit worrying to hear about coking up, especially with mine sat on 73k miles.

My previous BMW suffered failed injectors a year into my ownership. Cost an absolute fortune and really put me off the brand. I'll just have to hope the Fiesta doesn't do the same before I change it.

[LightningBlue]

georgeyboy12345 said:

They are direct only, not multiport, hence why they suffer from the problem. Using higher octane fuel, allowing the engine to fully warm and using the full rev range of the engine may alleviate the coking to a degree, especially with the injectors, but the back side of the inlet ports will still eventually coke up - it might be a case of it happening around 75,000 miles instead of 50,000 miles. The only way to de-coke them is to disassemble the engine and physically clean the valves. Loads of cars with DI have this problem these days.

Also, this engine isn't only used in the Fiesta ST - it's also been used in Focuses, Mondeos, Kugas, C/S-Maxes and Galaxies since 2011. You won't find any on autotrader with more than 150,000 miles, this is because they don't last. Probably won't be an issue for the OP as he'll have got rid well before then anyhow.

Also in some Volvos of the era. I have it in my S60 T4 but on 78000 miles and so far no issues at all. I’ve run it on V Power since buying it on 35000 miles.

[ZX10R NIN]

It's pretty much true of most GDI engines in some cases you can get them peanut blasted to decoke them but it is a first world problem.

[Warcloud36]

ZX10R NIN said:

It's pretty much true of most GDI engines in some cases you can get them peanut blasted to decoke them but it is a first world problem.

Seems to be around £250, not the end of the world.

ChrisH72 said:

A bit worrying to hear about coking up, especially with mine sat on 73k miles.

My previous BMW suffered failed injectors a year into my ownership. Cost an absolute fortune and really put me off the brand. I'll just have to hope the Fiesta doesn't do the same before I change it.

Ask a shop to look down the intake with a camera if it's weighing on your mind.

[willmagrath]

I had one for years. Took it to 75,000 with no issues what so ever. Great fun and fast.

Did 40-50mpg easily.

Only problem is the ride quality. Its very bumpy, some back road blasts were definitely ruined by the ride as it becones all encompassing.

Try one out on a bad road and see what you think.

BUT don't let this put you off too much, its an excellent car and very reliable.

[willmagrath]

willmagrath said:

I had one for years. Took it to 75,000 with no issues what so ever. Great fun and fast.

Did 40-50mpg easily.

Only problem is the ride quality. Its very bumpy, some back road blasts were definitely ruined by the ride as it becones all encompassing.

Try one out on a bad road and see what you think.

BUT don't let this put you off too much, its an excellent car and very reliable.

Just to add, I've replaced it with an M135i manual. Amazing car but more expensive to run.

[ZX10R NIN]

willmagrath said:

I had one for years. Took it to 75,000 with no issues what so ever. Great fun and fast.

Did 40-50mpg easily.

Only problem is the ride quality. Its very bumpy, some back road blasts were definitely ruined by the ride as it becones all encompassing.

Try one out on a bad road and see what you think.

BUT don't let this put you off too much, its an excellent car and very reliable.

A change of springs really sorts this out & still keeps the fun factor there.