I'd like to take mine on track because I think it'll punch well above it's weight.

 

You would be VERY quick in this motor round a track Richard. The thing seems to just stick to the road no matter how much stick you give it. With the aids left on you can more or less keep your foot planted round a roundabout without fear of it loosing grip lol.

You would be VERY quick in this motor round a track Richard. The thing seems to just stick to the road no matter how much stick you give it. With the aids left on you can more or less keep your foot planted round a roundabout without fear of it loosing grip lol.

 

I'll have 400 miles on it by the end of tomorrow and won't be far off 1,000 when the Mountune goes on a week (or so) later.

Not sure how long after that I'll be able to resist the call of Brands Hatch...

Lol - you'll be able to wear that baseball cap at last

Thing about the ST is that it's a backroad hero.

Which for me is everything. How does it compare to say a megane 265? I'd rather have 150bhp and predictable controllable on the limit handling than massive torque (under)steer and straight line grunt. A primera eGT was so much more fun to drive than the vrs is.

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Tried a bigger dealer today and said they don't do test drives of the ST anymore because apparently since it's been on TopGear they have customers coming in, picking a colour and collecting in 3mths. They fully expected me to potentially spend £18k on a car I'd never driven. Even if I got one elsewhere I'd still have to deal with them for servicing and warranty work.

 

I went to my local dealer with a friend last night who is interested in buying one. Both of us are 23 so fairly young, and they were more than happy for us to test them. Managed to get one on the road within 15 minutes of being there!

 

Nice car anyway Richard, blue is the best colour for these in my eyes. My favourite part about these cars is the seats!

Nice car anyway Richard, blue is the best colour for these in my eyes. My favourite part about these cars is the seats!

 

Thanks, I popped out in the GT-R last night (as I have not used it since last weekend) and an odd thing happened.

I've always found the seats very supportive and comfortable in the Nissan.

 

But after driving the Fiesta ST, whose seats really grip you, the GT-R Recaros felt overly big and I was moving around in them a little.

 

The Fiesta ST Recaros really grip you by comparison and I can imagine they'd be quite intrusive if you are not particularly thin.

It took me a few days to get used to them because they felt overly sculpted, but now I am over the moon with them, they are great!

I think you have to wear them in a bit.

 

Anyway, it was dry and on a potter around I actually wondered if I took the right car, I think I'd rather have been in the Fiesta. :wonder:

I've been having impure thoughts about selling the R35... it's less fun at the same speeds.

Thing about the ST is that it's a backroad hero and a lot of stuff would struggle to keep up with it through the twisties, but in a drag it's just another 1.6 turbo front driver.

 

I'd like to take mine on track because I think it'll punch well above it's weight.

 

You are going to track my car??!! That'll knock a few hundred pounds off the asking price..... I need to get a test drive in one of these, might have to pop into the local dealer for a go

You are going to track my car??!! That'll knock a few hundred pounds off the asking price..... I need to get a test drive in one of these, might have to pop into the local dealer for a go

 

I'm wearing it in for you.

Got a brief go in one today. Had to travel 20 miles for it but even for what was a 5 mins spin around the block I see what all the fuss is about. With a Mountune kit and in the right hands on twistier roads I can see it being quite the giant killer. Unfortunately I barely got it out of 2nd gear before being told to slow down. Sounds good too, steering feels sharp at TDC which not a lot of cars are these days. Brakes are spot on, as are pedals for heel and toe.

My only issue is it so close performance wise to my vRS that I don't think it a big enough jump for me. No doubt though it would get away from me in tighter twisties but where it's more open I'm not sure. I just need something more. Megane 265 maybe a good option but so would a GT86 be if I could look long term to tuning. Plus it's RWD which I have less experience of and it's something I want to add to my driving ability.

Straight line it's just another hot hatch.

Corners are where it shines, which is why for me it's so much fun on a regular road.

If you just want to power down big A roads then you're not going to get the best from it IMO.

Straight line it's just another hot hatch.

Corners are where it shines, which is why for me it's so much fun on a regular road.

If you just want to power down big A roads then you're not going to get the best from it IMO.

I have no interest in the straight bits. At one point I was seriously considering a 50bhp drop in getting a Swift Sport. The ST though is now best of both worlds.

I cant believe you couldnt get a proper test drive martyn (although I have never tried with ford) when I have had a test drive we have spent hours, and caned them to death!

 

GT86 sounds good mate now that I would buy! (If I could afford it! lol..... the Eunos will do me )

I cant believe you couldnt get a proper test drive martyn (although I have never tried with ford) when I have had a test drive we have spent hours, and caned them to death!

 

GT86 sounds good mate now that I would buy! (If I could afford it! lol..... the Eunos will do me )

 

To get a test drive a journo friend of mine put me in touch with Ford UK because they were very interested to know why I couldn't get one. Had one arranged at another dealer but wasn't really long enough. Guess cars that sell themselves don't need much of a test. May explain how I've had unaccompanied test drives in the Swift Sport, Mazda 3 MPS, RenaultSport Clio 200, SEAT Leon Cupra, MK6 Golf GTI

Edited 3 May, 201412 yr by MartynVRS

So, 500 miles on and a nearly two weeks later.

Thought it'd be worth sharing a few thoughts on the car.

Those who knew I had a mk2 Fabia VRS that lasted 4 days and 400 miles will maybe get this.

 

I've got used to the seats now, they are great.

Brakes are good.

Mess of buttons on the dash is actually surprisingly easy to use, and I don't look at it while driving.

Performance good.

Handling great, best front wheel drive car I've ever driven.

Kit makes it feel like a much better car than a Ford Fiesta, because it's got stuff you can't even get in a Fabia/Fiesta sized car usually. (like keyles entry/start, auto lights and wipers, anti-dazzle rear view mirror, heated windsreen etc...)

The bluetooth alone makes the Fabia/Rapid offering seem way, way out of date with the stalk affair.  This one is very similar to the Octy/Yeti/Superb.

 

Only real niggles are the overall impression of build quality not being up to typical Skoda standards and cheap parts of the interior.

And the cheap sounding tick the indicators make.

 

I'm starting to get used to the bottom feeder grille and the sound generator too.

 

 

But... I'm starting to wonder why we buy average cars and then spend time trying to turn them into good handling quick cars.

I can't believe this thing is a factory produced Ford Fiesta.

 

If I'd bought it and spend a few grand on aftermarket coilovers, ARBs and bushes I'd be over the moon if it handled like this.  But it's just like that from day one...

 

Yes, it's not perfect and it does have it's compromises.

But for a B road fun car to whizz about in I am amazed what a good job Ford did.

 

While I'd still like a 5 door version if they did one it's actually not too bad.

Certainly easier to get the family of four in than the Skyline or GT-R.

 

In summary...

 

I like it!

 

 

If Skoda don't made a pretty decent Fabia mk3 that's sporty they've lost my custom in this model class for a fair while.

Great write up Richard. If you're happy now I wonder what you'll be like once the mountune upgrade has been done

Id 'tag' skoda into that last post bossfox. Maybe make them change their mind if you say your not interested in their cars anymore (I know you said in that class, but still )

Still think there should be some kind of loyalty card!

Thanks for the honest review Richard. Skoda make good cars but dynamically lacking. Have to say your st looks a lot better that the basic fiesta. Though it will be interesting to see how your experience with the dealer as that was what killed any chance ford had of my business.

Maybe not to your tastes Richard but here is my mates blue ST

Running around 230bhp (has got more than just mountune kit) and ran a 14.3 down the strip.

I love the New Fiesta ST. If I didnt have so much invested on the Fabia I would have one tomorrow lol.

Yes that's me in the background lol

If that bhp is true should be easily getting mid to high 13's must try harder

If that bhp is true should be easily getting mid to high 13's must try harder

 

Not on road tyres. IMO.

Not on road tyres. IMO.

Why not?

230bhp?

I got a 14.4s in a 195bhp fabia vrs mk1 (possibly heavier with less bhp) on road tyres

Why not?

230bhp?

I got a 14.4s in a 195bhp fabia vrs mk1 (possibly heavier with less bhp) on road tyres

 

Resisting getting into a debate on a build/project thread.

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/204941-fastest-quarter-mile-on-briskoda/

Ok boss

Ford Friend.

 

Like this Richard! I have a mountune pack on my Focus and although you pay a premium for it, you do retain your warrenty (As you already said).

Looking foward to where you take this.

Skoda Race Blue and Ford Sprint Blue.

Comparison pic.

 

Nice pic. There's a bit of perspective at play there, but that photo makes the Fiesta look MASSIVE and the Yeti quite petite by comparison