My new Mk8 Fiesta ST
Discussion
Hi, it's a long time since I've posted anything but here's my new (to me) Mk8 Fiesta ST.
Having owned a few hot hatches (Clio 200, Mk7 ST, Megane 250, M140i) this still feels great. It's such a good compromise, nice interior, good tech and brilliant when you get it on the right road. The Renaultsport products I've owned previously have been great at the latter but not so good day to day, cheaper interiors being the main culprit. The BMW was great at when driven up to 8/10 but just kind of fell apart when you really pushed, the engine really made it entertaining at more normal speeds though.
This is where I feel the ST falls into place a bit. The interior is a genuinely nice place to be, the materials are better than RS products and it feels all together more polished inside, not quite to the level of the 140i though. Then, where the BMW wasn't so good, this really shines. On the North Pennines near me the car feels so much more alive and at home. The engine has a chunk of character too, more so I think than most of the newer turbo 4 cylinder engines I've had a chance to drive. It revs nicely, doesn't feel strangled at the top of the rev range, and the note sounds more expensive even than a run of the mill 4 banger.
I'm really happy with it so far. I'll see how it fairs over the next few months!
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/tayJCVPd[/url]
Having owned a few hot hatches (Clio 200, Mk7 ST, Megane 250, M140i) this still feels great. It's such a good compromise, nice interior, good tech and brilliant when you get it on the right road. The Renaultsport products I've owned previously have been great at the latter but not so good day to day, cheaper interiors being the main culprit. The BMW was great at when driven up to 8/10 but just kind of fell apart when you really pushed, the engine really made it entertaining at more normal speeds though.
This is where I feel the ST falls into place a bit. The interior is a genuinely nice place to be, the materials are better than RS products and it feels all together more polished inside, not quite to the level of the 140i though. Then, where the BMW wasn't so good, this really shines. On the North Pennines near me the car feels so much more alive and at home. The engine has a chunk of character too, more so I think than most of the newer turbo 4 cylinder engines I've had a chance to drive. It revs nicely, doesn't feel strangled at the top of the rev range, and the note sounds more expensive even than a run of the mill 4 banger.
I'm really happy with it so far. I'll see how it fairs over the next few months!
[url]|https://thumbsnap.com/tayJCVPd[/url]I have to say I pretty much agree with you on most points (didn't go down the Renault route so can't comment). I'm on my 2nd ST, the first was bought new and I did 25k over just under 3 years. It was a white 5 door without the diff etc. My current one popped up locally at the same dealer but with 3 doors and the diff, a year newer and 1/3 of the miles earlier this year and I have almost doubled the miles on it already.
Many complain about the 3 pot but I like it, its characterful in a way a 4 often isn't unless done properly, interior is fine and suspension is just right for what I want from a fun hatch. Our M135i only lasted 9 months with us for more or less the same reasons you have said, reaching many leptons quickly soon wears thin if the rest of the package doesn't keep up. The steering for me was the biggest feel free issue. The ST in my opinion is more fun more of the time at speeds that you are more likely to get away with.
Enjoy!
Many complain about the 3 pot but I like it, its characterful in a way a 4 often isn't unless done properly, interior is fine and suspension is just right for what I want from a fun hatch. Our M135i only lasted 9 months with us for more or less the same reasons you have said, reaching many leptons quickly soon wears thin if the rest of the package doesn't keep up. The steering for me was the biggest feel free issue. The ST in my opinion is more fun more of the time at speeds that you are more likely to get away with.
Enjoy!
The m135/m140i comparison is interesting as I'm just thinking about swapping our 2011 nissan leaf for something petrol powered and so far I'm been looking at the 1 series as the main contender but also like the fiesta.
Use case is mainly for my wife to commute to work 5 days per week, approx 8 miles each way. Therefore a driver focused weapon is not really needed, but then neither is a straight line ballistic missile.
Any further thoughts on your BMW experience would be interesting anyway.
Oh and nice car. They do look smart.
Use case is mainly for my wife to commute to work 5 days per week, approx 8 miles each way. Therefore a driver focused weapon is not really needed, but then neither is a straight line ballistic missile.
Any further thoughts on your BMW experience would be interesting anyway.
Oh and nice car. They do look smart.
dave_s13 said:
The m135/m140i comparison is interesting as I'm just thinking about swapping our 2011 nissan leaf for something petrol powered and so far I'm been looking at the 1 series as the main contender but also like the fiesta.
Use case is mainly for my wife to commute to work 5 days per week, approx 8 miles each way. Therefore a driver focused weapon is not really needed, but then neither is a straight line ballistic missile.
Any further thoughts on your BMW experience would be interesting anyway.
Oh and nice car. They do look smart.
The M140i was great, it just didn't feel particularly special, engine aside. It felt as though they'd just placed the engine into a 120d or something, which I don't think is that far from the truth. It's probably better to use day to day than the fiesta as everything was just softer and more numb so maybe that's what you're after. Properly quick in a straight line, bags of torque means you can deploy it so so easily. I enjoyed owning the car and it was great fun at normal speeds too as the engine sounds great. I fitted mine with a bilstein b12 pro kit and that helped quite a bit, more like what it should have been out the box. Use case is mainly for my wife to commute to work 5 days per week, approx 8 miles each way. Therefore a driver focused weapon is not really needed, but then neither is a straight line ballistic missile.
Any further thoughts on your BMW experience would be interesting anyway.
Oh and nice car. They do look smart.
ChrisH72 said:
How does it compare to the mk7?
It's similar in how it handles but quite a step up in most other ways I think. The interior is a huge improvement, the ride is way less crashy at lower speeds but feels more planted when pushing on too. I prefer the 3 cylinder, not that there was anything wrong with the mk7 engine, it was just a little bland. Oh and the LSD transforms the car. Since my megane I'll rule out most things FWD if they don't have a diff and this car just re enforces that rule for me. PhillipR34 said:
dave_s13 said:
The m135/m140i comparison is interesting as I'm just thinking about swapping our 2011 nissan leaf for something petrol powered and so far I'm been looking at the 1 series as the main contender but also like the fiesta.
Use case is mainly for my wife to commute to work 5 days per week, approx 8 miles each way. Therefore a driver focused weapon is not really needed, but then neither is a straight line ballistic missile.
Any further thoughts on your BMW experience would be interesting anyway.
Oh and nice car. They do look smart.
The M140i was great, it just didn't feel particularly special, engine aside. It felt as though they'd just placed the engine into a 120d or something, which I don't think is that far from the truth. It's probably better to use day to day than the fiesta as everything was just softer and more numb so maybe that's what you're after. Properly quick in a straight line, bags of torque means you can deploy it so so easily. I enjoyed owning the car and it was great fun at normal speeds too as the engine sounds great. I fitted mine with a bilstein b12 pro kit and that helped quite a bit, more like what it should have been out the box. Use case is mainly for my wife to commute to work 5 days per week, approx 8 miles each way. Therefore a driver focused weapon is not really needed, but then neither is a straight line ballistic missile.
Any further thoughts on your BMW experience would be interesting anyway.
Oh and nice car. They do look smart.
In my experience (e39 x 3, e61, e93) BMW ownership can be like a relationship with a high maintenance woman. Ford's are a bit more down to earth.
That looks great in blue, even more so with 3 doors. There is definitely more character in a 3 pot than a 4 (and a better sound).
Going from a 135/140 to a Fiesta ST seems quite common around here - generally with the same comments - 1 series has a great engine and ropey handling as stock but the ST is the full all round package. Perfect hot hatch.
Going from a 135/140 to a Fiesta ST seems quite common around here - generally with the same comments - 1 series has a great engine and ropey handling as stock but the ST is the full all round package. Perfect hot hatch.
jam_up said:
Always had a soft spot for the Fiesta ST but never actually owned one. Curious, how is the mk8 on the motorway - wind noise, rpm @ 70 mph etc?
I can't remember what the rpm at 70 is but it's far from jarring in any way. It's still a 6 speed so the top gear is quite long. Low to mid 40s mpg on the motorway. Wind noise is nothing more noticeable than the 140i really. Go have a drive of one, you'd be surprised how refined the mk8 is. Podie said:
They're great, aren't they? 
Apparently the quickest steering rack fitted to a production Ford!
We've got the PE with the lighter wheels and upgraded suspension (Ford Performance badged KW V3) and it really is like a dirty great go kart.
I can beleive that about the steering rack! It's the one part of the car that's taking some getting used to. Coming from a mk4 golf which I've been using as a runaround it's like night and day. The golf rack is more similar to steering a boat than any other car I've driven Apparently the quickest steering rack fitted to a production Ford!
We've got the PE with the lighter wheels and upgraded suspension (Ford Performance badged KW V3) and it really is like a dirty great go kart.
Edited by PhillipR34 on Monday 15th August 15:45
PhillipR34 said:
Podie said:
They're great, aren't they?
Apparently the quickest steering rack fitted to a production Ford!
We've got the PE with the lighter wheels and upgraded suspension (Ford Performance badged KW V3) and it really is like a dirty great go kart.
I can beleive that about the steering rack! It's the one part of the car that's taking some getting used to. Coming from a mk4 golf which I've been using as a runaround it's like night and day. The golf rack is more similar to steering a boat than any other car I've driven ??Apparently the quickest steering rack fitted to a production Ford!
We've got the PE with the lighter wheels and upgraded suspension (Ford Performance badged KW V3) and it really is like a dirty great go kart.
Yeah, it's pretty direct - doesn't take long to get used to it though.Podie said:
Easier to live with than you might think. Quieter than the Mk7.5 and will return well into the 40's MPG wise.
PhillipR34 said:
I can't remember what the rpm at 70 is but it's far from jarring in any way. It's still a 6 speed so the top gear is quite long. Low to mid 40s mpg on the motorway. Wind noise is nothing more noticeable than the 140i really. Go have a drive of one, you'd be surprised how refined the mk8 is.
That's good to know. I test drove a mk7 a few years back and found it far too hard for my liking. I think the mk7.5 was a little more supple (?), and now the mk8 even more still. I wouldn't expect it to be anywhere near motorway barge standards (I used to do 20k p/a in a mk6 GTI so my expectations aren't super high), but some refinement on the odd motorway commute would be nice. A little frustrating Ford have stopped orders on the mk8.5 - pretty sure there was a 0% APR PCP offer a few months back. There are few brand-new on AT though. Very tempted - I'll be sure to have a test drive.
Any plans on tinkering with a Mountune m235 kit (or any other tune)?
jam_up said:
That's good to know. I test drove a mk7 a few years back and found it far too hard for my liking. I think the mk7.5 was a little more supple (?), and now the mk8 even more still. I wouldn't expect it to be anywhere near motorway barge standards (I used to do 20k p/a in a mk6 GTI so my expectations aren't super high), but some refinement on the odd motorway commute would be nice.
A little frustrating Ford have stopped orders on the mk8.5 - pretty sure there was a 0% APR PCP offer a few months back. There are few brand-new on AT though. Very tempted - I'll be sure to have a test drive.
Any plans on tinkering with a Mountune m235 kit (or any other tune)?
I think the best way I can describe the ride ie really well damped, not 'supple' as such but beathes with the road especially once you are say 40mph and upwards. I think better than the Cooper, A1 and Suzuki Swift sports that went before it. The Recaro are VERY firm so I sometimes get little 'numb bum' after say 5 or 6 hours so something to be aware of.....or it could just be me! Replacing the MPSS tyres with PS4 on the previous one also softened things up a little around town.A little frustrating Ford have stopped orders on the mk8.5 - pretty sure there was a 0% APR PCP offer a few months back. There are few brand-new on AT though. Very tempted - I'll be sure to have a test drive.
Any plans on tinkering with a Mountune m235 kit (or any other tune)?
I ended up with some goodies that I transferred over to the later one too, Mountune airbox & turbo elbow, dream science big mouth intakes, dream science intercooler (191% bigger but subtle in black), dream science tunes x 3 plus standard tune using their plug in do-dah. To be honest most of the time the car is in standard tune with the others giving roughly 225, 235 & 265bhps with corresponding torque increases. The top tune requires 99 ron only but as I tend to only run it on super that's no hardship. You do have to hang on to it in 2nd and 3rd with the maps uploaded as it will wander a little but good fun when you are in the mood. No plans to go any further as it remains subtle.
Sorry for the hijack, but someone asked!
jam_up said:
Podie said:
Easier to live with than you might think. Quieter than the Mk7.5 and will return well into the 40's MPG wise.
PhillipR34 said:
I can't remember what the rpm at 70 is but it's far from jarring in any way. It's still a 6 speed so the top gear is quite long. Low to mid 40s mpg on the motorway. Wind noise is nothing more noticeable than the 140i really. Go have a drive of one, you'd be surprised how refined the mk8 is.
That's good to know. I test drove a mk7 a few years back and found it far too hard for my liking. I think the mk7.5 was a little more supple (?), and now the mk8 even more still. I wouldn't expect it to be anywhere near motorway barge standards (I used to do 20k p/a in a mk6 GTI so my expectations aren't super high), but some refinement on the odd motorway commute would be nice. A little frustrating Ford have stopped orders on the mk8.5 - pretty sure there was a 0% APR PCP offer a few months back. There are few brand-new on AT though. Very tempted - I'll be sure to have a test drive.
Any plans on tinkering with a Mountune m235 kit (or any other tune)?
No plans to modify this one as it has 3 years warranty. I bought this to try and be more sensible after doing bits and pieces to my previous cars. It is tempting though!
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