About-to-be ST3 owner in Ireland!

[Breandawg]

Hey all!

Been perusing this forum for some weeks and have found it the best resource for info on the FIST! I've put a deposit on a 2016 Molten Orange ST3 and am hoping to collect on Tuesday (seriously excited).

The car drove superbly, is lightly modified and relatively high mileage (125k), so I was thinking it might be prudent to have it inspected.- if anyone can recommend any specialists in the East/Northeast of Ireland I'd appreciate it - it's exceedingly difficult to find trustworthy mechanics in my experience. Ford main dealer is an option too I suppose. The engine sounded a little diesel-y at idle, which I'm told is normal for these DI engines, so I'm not overly worried.

Aside from that, I'm considering changing the wheels. If anyone has gold/bronze wheel on their molten orange car and wants to share pics I'd appreciate it.

 

[D1JL]

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Dave

 

[Breandawg]

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Dave

Cheers Dave! I'm currently studying for commercial pilot exams, this forum has proven to be far too distracting..!

 

[Jabbit]

Welcome! I have bronze rpf1s on my molten orange. Don't have many good pictures yet.

 

[Breandawg]

Welcome! I have bronze rpf1s on my molten orange. Don't have many good pictures yet.

View attachment 55001

They're nice...I like the red and gold contrast, most people seem to think black is better but I reallly don't agree. Sparco Trofeo's are floating my boat...

 

[Breandawg]

My car is currently sporting these classic Ford rims, 16" with a 205/50 tyre...I'm unsure as to whether to go back to stock 205/40/17 or stick with 16".It's on Eibach lowering springs and Bilstein shocks.

 

[Jabbit]

They're nice...I like the red and gold contrast, most people seem to think black is better but I reallly don't agree. Sparco Trofeo's are floating my boat...

View attachment 55002

I don't think those come in bronze 4x108

 

[Breandawg]

I don't think those come in bronze 4x108

They do, and from 16" upwards. A nice wheel, I just wonder is the gold a bit much...

 

[Capri to ST]

They do, and from 16" upwards. A nice wheel, I just wonder is the gold a bit much...

View attachment 55013

Welcome, those look good, although I agree the color might be a bit much on an orange car. I like that you can get them in stock specs and that it looks like you don't need hubcentric rings to mount them. When I have a car that a bunch of smart engineers paid a lot of attention to, I don't lightly change what they did. However, nice looking wheels are always a plus, and if they're significantly lighter than the OEM wheels, so much the better for a softer ride and a feeling of being lighter on its feet.
The OEM wheels are 22.5 lb, how much do these weigh? I'm guessing they are about 17 or 18 pounds, and if so that would be a significant and helpful amount of unsprung weight to save.

 

[M-Sport fan]

^^^Yes, I also am not enamored of the amount of 'flush/poke' offset forced upon us by so many of the aftermarket wheel manufacturers, especially not on all of the 8" wide variants, many of which go into the ET35 range.

It seems the only solution is to custom order lesser offset wheels from Braid for three times+ the co$t, sadly.

Something in the 44-46 ET range would be perfect for my uses, and taste.

The 'Isles'/Europe/etc. all seem to get much more range and availability (sizes, colors, models) in the OZ/Sparco brands than Tire Rack allows us to have here, as well.

 

[Breandawg]

Welcome, those look good, although I agree the color might be a bit much on an orange car. I like that you can get them in stock specs and that it looks like you don't need hubcentric rings to mount them. When I have a car that a bunch of smart engineers paid a lot of attention to, I don't lightly change what they did. However, nice looking wheels are always a plus, and if they're significantly lighter than the OEM wheels, so much the better for a softer ride and a feeling of being lighter on its feet.
The OEM wheels are 22.5 lb, how much do these weigh? I'm guessing they are about 17 or 18 pounds, and if so that would be a significant and helpful amount of unsprung weight to save.

Agreed re not corrupting the fine efforts those engineers have made. I'm sure they're lighter than OEM but I'm having trouble finding exact weights. Another option would potentially be MAK NTT's (think Integrale wheel). A bronze rather than a gold could be less loud...

 

[Breandawg]

^^^Yes, I also am not enamored of the amount of 'flush/poke' offset forced upon us by so many of the aftermarket wheel manufacturers, especially not on all of the 8" wide variants, many of which go into the ET35 range.

It seems the only solution is to custom order lesser offset wheels from Braid for three times+ the co$t, sadly.

Something in the 44-46 ET range would be perfect for my uses, and taste.

The 'Isles'/Europe/etc. all seem to get much more range and availability (sizes, colors, models) in the OZ/Sparco brands than Tire Rack allows us to have here, as well.

That's a pain, I would've thought you guys over there would be spoilt for choice when it comes to these things (or maybe that's just supermarket cheese )

 

[M-Sport fan]

That's a pain, I would've thought you guys over there would be spoilt for choice when it comes to these things (or maybe that's just supermarket cheese )

No, not at all, since this car is at least 1000x more popular and prolific over there.
(Besides the fact that the 4x108 bolt pattern was sold on countless more cars than it ever was over here!)

You even pay less for the 'real rally spec' Braid and Speedline Corse rolling stock than we do, even before the exorbitant shipping on those to North America.

 

[rallytaff]

Hey all!

Been perusing this forum for some weeks and have found it the best resource for info on the FIST! I've put a deposit on a 2016 Molten Orange ST3 and am hoping to collect on Tuesday (seriously excited).

The car drove superbly, is lightly modified and relatively high mileage (125k), so I was thinking it might be prudent to have it inspected.- if anyone can recommend any specialists in the East/Northeast of Ireland I'd appreciate it - it's exceedingly difficult to find trustworthy mechanics in my experience. Ford main dealer is an option too I suppose. The engine sounded a little diesel-y at idle, which I'm told is normal for these DI engines, so I'm not overly worried.

Aside from that, I'm considering changing the wheels. If anyone has gold/bronze wheel on their molten orange car and wants to share pics I'd appreciate it.

Paddy, if I can call you that, I'm a Taffy, with all those great rally teams and roads you have over there, I'm sure you have someone living close to where you live. Maybe have a chat with those that are running Fords and offer a few Euros if they'd be prepared to have a look at the car and see if any problems are readily apparent. Worth a try. Just my two penny worth.

 

[Breandawg]

No, not at all, since this car is at least 1000x more popular and prolific over there.
(Besides the fact that the 4x108 bolt pattern was sold on countless more cars than it ever was over here!)

You even pay less for the 'real rally spec' Braid and Speedline Corse rolling stock than we do, even before the exorbitant shipping on those to North America.

You surprise me man but makes sense I guess, the market for small Euro cars still wouldn't be huge over there. Though I must say, I'm always a little saddened that America (at least in Urban centres) isn't full of the big old American iron like it used to be, most people seem to drive the same old Japanese and Korean stuff that we do. When I go to France/Italy, I want to see everone bombing around in Alfa Romeos and Citroen DSs', but sadly the same rules apply there...A globalised world I guess!

 

[Breandawg]

Paddy, if I can call you that, I'm a Taffy, with all those great rally teams and roads you have over there, I'm sure you have someone living close to where you live. Maybe have a chat with those that are running Fords and offer a few Euros if they'd be prepared to have a look at the car and see if any problems are readily apparent. Worth a try. Just my two penny worth.

I've been called worse than Paddy I suppose! Not a bad idea, though I don't really mix in those circles. I'd love to speak to the owner who had the car before me, get the full lowdown on the cars mods and history.

We really do have some amazing driving roads here...I'm originally from Donegal and the roads up there are incredible. Big rally scene too.

 

[Breandawg]

The cars current owner only had the car a month. I'm not overly concerned as he's only 22, could've bitten off more than he can chew, plus he already has a car and I think he needs the cash. The car exibited no funny signs, no smoke, engine was a tad diesel-y at idle as previously mentioned, pulled strong. It's probably due a belt change, not the end of the world. Hope I'm not buying a basket case! It drove well and pulled very hard.

 

[M-Sport fan]

I've been called worse than Paddy I suppose! Not a bad idea, though I don't really mix in those circles. I'd love to speak to the owner who had the car before me, get the full lowdown on the cars mods and history.

We really do have some amazing driving roads here...I'm originally from Donegal and the roads up there are incredible. Big rally scene too.

There is even talk of putting a WRC tarmac event there, such is the lure of those roads!

 

[M-Sport fan]

You surprise me man but makes sense I guess, the market for small Euro cars still wouldn't be huge over there. Though I must say, I'm always a little saddened that America (at least in Urban centres) isn't full of the big old American iron like it used to be, most people seem to drive the same old Japanese and Korean stuff that we do. When I go to France/Italy, I want to see everyone bombing around in Alfa Romeos and Citroen DSs', but sadly the same rules apply there...A globalised world I guess!

Yeah, that is sad to see, and is probably why Ford is so vehemently pushing the Puma over there (and eventually getting rid of the Fiesta, even there??), making it their hybrid Rally 1 choice.

 

[rallytaff]

I've been called worse than Paddy I suppose! Not a bad idea, though I don't really mix in those circles. I'd love to speak to the owner who had the car before me, get the full lowdown on the cars mods and history.

We really do have some amazing driving roads here...I'm originally from Donegal and the roads up there are incredible. Big rally scene too.

Used to go and watch rallies when I was in N. Ireland. Last one I got to see was when Toivonen crashed his Escort going straight through a hedge at a T junction. Sat and talked to him for about an hour afterwards. Such a great driver and a sad loss to the rallying world. Those Escorts are really something to watch especially on tarmac.