New Fiesta St

[mowflow 67]

Just wondering if anyone owns one of these or has spent any time behind the wheel of one.

 

I couldn't help noticing how good all the reviews were regarding them so i went for a wee test drive just out of curiosity. It felt well put together and quick enough but I'm useless at gauging if i'll be able to live with a car on a daily basis on a test drive so I'm asking everyone and anyone that might have some experience.

 

It seems like it's the antidote to all the too fast, too numb and too dull hyper hatches that are about these days.

[Gman 29]

Supposed to be very good. Graham Goode now do a 240bhp tune for not much money! Amazing power from such a small engine

[welshpug 1,657]

not that amazing when the RCZ-R is 265 bhp as standard

 

 

shame the 208 didn't get that engine though only the 200 ish bhp one, if I was looking at a new car of this type I'd definitely be looking at the 208 and the DS3 as well.

 

newest 208 gets a proper diff too, which the fiesta doesnt.

[Anthony 1,003]

The £22k 208 GTi 30th Anniversary (regular 208 GTi doesn't get the diff does it?) is a lot more expensive than the Fiesta though.

 

You can pick up a new Fiesta ST-3 (top spec) for £16k which looks like a cracking deal to be fair.

[Rams_gti6 12 1 Cars]

My sister owns one. Very good car certainly live up to the reviews, hers was close to £20k which is a lot of money for a fiesta. Depreciation is quite bad I think maybe wrong but when looking trough classifieds I seem to think they seemed cheap.

[mowflow 67]

Plan was to lease it. It can be had for roughly £170pm including initial payment its something like £4k for 2 years motoring with VED thrown in.

 

I know leasing can be daft but when I look at the possible things I can get used for 4k I struggle. I also need reliable hassle free motoring right now due to needing to make hospital appointments.

 

Don't know why I feel I have to justify it. Nobody has called me crazy yet.

[Gman 29]

Not a fan of hp/leasing etc, but 4k over 2 years makes perfect sence.

 

I'm not sure how leasing companies make the business model work tbh, as depreciation alone would be close to 4k over two years.

[Rams_gti6 12 1 Cars]

Sounds good to me, some people hate finance and leasing (normally people who can't get credit). I'm all for it, if you enjoy having a nice car on the drive and don't mind paying monthly then why not I say.

[mowflow 67]

I used to hate the idea. Then I succumbed and took a car on a 4 year PCP. It was a huge mistake as my circumstance changed and I actually had to pay a group buyer to take the car off me. The cost was a lot less than keeping making payments until the VT point.

 

I learnt a lesson about ever doing it again. Take the shortest term possible and look at the total cost rather than the monthly payment. I also learned that its OK to fool your wife with man maths but don't kid yourself on.

[stufarri 98 3 Cars]

I drove the ST and the 208 GTI over a few days earlier in the year, albeit not back to back.

 

The ST was more fun with a great exhaust note and is the keener hot hatch but more crashy compared to the 208 GTI which I personally preferred.

 

In my eyes the ST has the reversed snapback cap, wound back drivers seat and sticker-bombed rear window appeal - I must be getting old!

 

It is a great drivers car and you can throw it around and have some fun from my experience. It's just the image that would stop me getting one if I was in the market for a modern hot hatch. .

[mowflow 67]

Yeah, I totally agree that it does have that image but fortunately I don't really care. It's only natural to make judgement on a persons character/status for the car they drive but I'm the kind of person that feels a petrol head affinity with the guy driving a £3k Clio sport than something like a brand new £40k 320d M Sport. Non petrol head friends think I have my priorities all wrong.

[GLPoomobile 958]

In my eyes the ST has the reversed snapback cap, wound back drivers seat and sticker-bombed rear window appeal - I must be getting old!

 

 

Yes, yes, yes! I really like the look of the current generation Fiesta (the look it's had for the last few iterations in fact). As a hatchback, I like to think it's something that I would happily own based on the looks. And also, so many hatches at the moment are going down a very sharp, very angular, and downright ugly style route. Take the Ibiza and Leon for example. The Fiesta has much nicer lines in my eyes.

 

But....getting back to the point....It absolutely looks like a boy racers dream. Fact is, a lot of young lads do drive these (and the lesser spec ones). And that just 100% puts me off. I like the Fiesta, I'd like to own a Fiesta, but I couldn't own a Fiesta. I'm fairly broad minded....I drive a piss gold Volvo V70 with 'baby s*it brown' interior for Christ's sake!....but when it comes to owning anything that portrays a possible image of being a chav, I've got to say no.

[mowflow 67]

Wasn't so long ago that 205s were regarded as chav chariots. I'd imagine some people still see them that way. In fact, when I mentioned my 205 GTi to a couple of work colleagues they all started the "has it got a big spoiler?" "how bigs the exhaust?" "Max powahhh" s*it. For a brief moment my mind played CCTV footage from an American news reports where some guy had clearly had enough and turned up at work armed to the teeth..... Then i realised I didn't give a f*** what they thought about that or anything else.

Edited October 16, 2014 by mowflow

[GLPoomobile 958]

In my experience, 205s haven't been considered chavvy for a very long time. Their age puts them beyond that. Back when they were still appearing in Chav wank mags like Fast Car etc, I was in my early twenties, so I could live with it (and besides, I wasn't driving a wanked up 205 covered in tat). The last time someone made the boy racer connection with me was a work colleague at least 5 years ago, and he was a middle aged Nigerian, a bit of a tit, and probably didn't even know what a 205 was. Probably thought it was a 206. He'd never see my car, just heard "GTI" and started on the big exhaust jokes. Twat.

 

Anyways, as a dad marching towards his 40s (or should that be hobbling?) I'd rather not drive something that's associated with wee bell ends. Which is probably why my last 3 cars have all been something with a more grown up (boring) image, albeit still with some 'go' to them.

Edited October 16, 2014 by GLPoomobile

[Bobbafett 49 2 Cars]

I get nothing but respect for my 205 to be fair. Never once has anyone given the impression that they think it's 'that' sort of car. Most people just remark on the fact that it probably takes some keeping on the road (reliability wise), and they're of course bang on.

 

That said, on slightly the wrong side of 30 there's no way I'd buy a Fiesta ST. For the reasons covered so well already.

[welshpug 1,657]

age shouldn't matter, though most of the ford products are rather "Essex"ified.

 

if I could afford one I'd definitely give the french ones a try myself.

[feb 47]

I test drove one out of curiosity a month or so ago and liked it. It has an informative and well weighted steering, handles well, is quick enough and has a good driving position (the Recaros are really supportive).

Economy wise, I did 34mpg (or 36 can't remember) during a motorway and A road blast, not as good as it is claimed and I wasn't driving like I stole it.

 

If I had £16k spare and was looking for a new car I'd certainly consider one.

[kenp 3]

Wouldn't buy a new car, depreciates too much - as far as HP / PCP etc goes - just don't, it's money for nothing.

 

Trouble with me is I just haven't liked anything car-wise really that's been designed in the new millenium, which explains why our current road cars are a 99 Scooby and a 97 GTi-6

 

Sure, I'd like something newer but everything's got too big, too heavy, too many driver aids, too much electronics or safety stuff. Not my thing. A car needs four wheels, engine and transmission, decent handling and brakes... nothing more

[Reebmit 51 4 Cars]

I just can't put the word 'Fiesta' and 20k plus together.... when I think what other second hand cars are out there for even 10k...

[mowflow 67]

Order placed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

....... for a Golf R

 

It makes very little sense but when they told me i could have it for £15 more a month over the Fiesta i thought "why not".

[stufarri 98 3 Cars]

Good choice, it gets great reviews apparently and at the price above it is a no-brainer really.

[rikky 37]

has it got them Audi RS-style buckets in the Golf R?

[mowflow 67]

Sadly not (although the Audi ones are very uncomfortable on longer journeys). The old R32s had them as an option. The new R just gets regular looking seats. I opted for not ticking a single box on the option list apart from rear doors (as i've got 2 kids). That little extravagance is costing £1 more a month.