How good is the Fiesta ST?

[GreenenvyFiST]

lol at those power levels - there are easier ways to get rid of tires you know. Just buy them and throw them away haha

Yea, maybe 300/300 would be more practical now that I think about it lol.😎

 

[Dpro]

Yea, maybe 300/300 would be more practical now that I think about it lol.😎

300/300 is actually around perfect. When I did my E30 tune it pushed my TQ way( 340 ft lbs) up and now I have crazy tq steer. On pump gas I was at 284/285 and after installing my Damond motorsports passenger side engine mount TQ steer was all but gone.
I suppose if I added injectors I could have Adam tune it so the TQ bump was not so nuts and would have around 340hp 320 TQ. lol I am not sure I want to spend anymore money on power mods though. A limited slip and a few other odds and ends I am pretty done.. Considered going back to running a Pump gas tune and being happy at 284/285.

 

[Boosty McBoostface]

I'm one of those guys who would easily rank the Fiesta ST as being more fun to drive than most cars outside its price range. In fact, of the cars I've owned (20-something), here's roughly the rank I'd give them in terms of being fun to drive (just to be clear, this is just a rank among the vehicles I've personally owned)...

1. Miata
2. Fiesta ST
3. Mini Cooper S
4. VW GTI
5. VW R32
6. Mazdaspeed 3
7. Subaru WRX
8. Volvo S60 Polestar
9. Audi S4 V8 (manual)
10. Porsche 944T (951)
11. Saab 9-3 Vector (manual)
12. Porsche 928 S (manual)
13. (Everything else I've owned... trucks, SUVs, and older 80s cars like a Corrado, Subaru XT, Escort GT, Corolla, etc.)

 

[Old Mike Emerson]

I hadn't clicked on the article yet, read your post, and knew immediately it was Matt Farah. I don't take his word for anything and no longer watch his channel. Congrats on his success, just doesn't get support from me.

Farah is as honest as a 3 card Monty dealer on a NY city street corner.

 

[Dash]

For me, the Fiesta ST ranks #3 for pure fun (tied with the NA/NB Miata). I think the list speaks pretty highly of the Fiesta ST.... I can go into more detail but I think you get the idea lol.

1. Lotus Elise
2. S2000
3. Fiesta ST / Miata
4. Evo IX
5. E46 M3
6. B7 Audi RS4
7. C5 Corvette Z06
8. 986 Boxster
9. MK7 GTI

All manuals and owned them all for more than a few months.

 

[akiraproject24]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3CWBI_qRzA


^ this good

 

[Mikey456]

For me, the Fiesta ST ranks #3 for pure fun (tied with the NA/NB Miata). I think the list speaks pretty highly of the Fiesta ST.... I can go into more detail but I think you get the idea lol.

1. Lotus Elise
2. S2000
3. Fiesta ST / Miata
4. Evo IX
5. E46 M3
6. B7 Audi RS4
7. C5 Corvette Z06
8. 986 Boxster
9. MK7 GTI

All manuals and owned them all for more than a few months.

I’m a little surprised that you ranked the E46 in the middle. I guess it’s not that exciting of a car to drive?

 

[rallytaff]

At 73 I'm having the time of my life with my Fiesta ST! Here are the other cars I've owned in various countries around the world:-
1. My ST.
2.1980 Vauxhall Chevette HS2300.
3.1990 Miata.
4.1973 Toyota Corolla rally car.
5.1972 Toyota Corolla rally car
6.1972 Ford Escort Mexico.
7.1963 Ford Cortina 1300.
8.196? Austin Mini van.
9.1952 Ford Prefect.
10.VW Combi camper wagon.

The list does not include a Dodge Ram truck, an old Chevy p/u, three station wagons, a M/B 240 diesel, a Dodge Dart!

Feel free to ask about any of the vehicles!

 

[Dash]

I’m a little surprised that you ranked the E46 in the middle. I guess it’s not that exciting of a car to drive?

I don't track my cars, so I'm just judging them on ~ 80% limit on canyon/twisty roads. The E46 M3 is ranked 5 out of the 40 plus cars I've owned lol. I'd say that's pretty damn good.

 

[M-Sport fan]

At 73 I'm having the time of my life with my Fiesta ST! Here are the other cars I've owned in various countries around the world:-
1. My ST.
2.1980 Vauxhall Chevette HS2300.
3.1990 Miata.
4.1973 Toyota Corolla rally car.
5.1972 Toyota Corolla rally car
6.1972 Ford Escort Mexico.
7.1963 Ford Cortina 1300.
8.196? Austin Mini van.
9.1952 Ford Prefect.
10.VW Combi camper wagon.

The list does not include a Dodge Ram truck, an old Chevy p/u, three station wagons, a M/B 240 diesel, a Dodge Dart!

Feel free to ask about any of the vehicles!

^^^That Chevette was probably fairly hot in it's day, and Colin's dad, Jimmy (McRae) won a bunch of National Brit Rally Championship titles in it.

Modded at all?

Were the 'rollas modded up to Group 4 standards?

Was the Mexico stock?

 

[Remi]

Hello,

I read recently an article about the fiesta ST placing second behind a McClaren sports car and third was the Porsche 911 Turbo and on and on. Some European magazine apparently tested this car some years back. Was this a very techical track? Its confusing because most reviews don't have the fiesta doing "this well". I was contemplating getting a lightly used 2017-2019 Fiesta ST, do a Cobb $600-1000 package, some wheel spacers front and back, better brake pads front and back and a good quality air filter like an Afe, etc. And very good grippy tires. Maybe some lowering springs. I was looking at a 2010 Porsche Boxter with PDK. With mods I am thinking on putting on the Fiesta ST, could it hang with the Porsche, handling, steering feel, etc? Yeah, the Porsche is a dream car but the luck with Porsches I have had overall has not been the greatest. Thx. Ger.

To answer the question in the title of the post, the car is great. With the caveat that it is built on Ford's cheapest platform. With that knowledge in mind, I commend the Ford Performance team for creating this hot little hatch.

 

[Remi]

It depends on what you're wanting. I love my FiST and I bought it specifically for it's handling characteristics. Not because it was fast. I ride motorcycles and also have a 981 GT4. These all provide very different sensations.

Keeping the comparison to four wheels, the GT4 is absolutely a more special experience. The FiST is solid on-track. I upgraded the radiator, did Fortune Auto coilovers, R888R tires, tune, air intake, brakes, and have an LSD awaiting install. Stock turbo. On the track, power is the issue. I could upgrade the turbo and hang with others much more effectively, but that's not what I'm after.

The Fiesta is liveable, has four doors, it's small, and has plenty of storage. In my current setup, it's a great daily and I swap wheels/tires and I'm on-track. Running costs are relatively low.

That said, it's still a FWD hatch. The same thing that makes it a blast to drive also hinder it somewhat if you're focus is track specific.

The GT4 has better suspension. Considerably wider tires. More power. Better brakes. Better cooling. I can push the GT4 at 7/10s and run better laps than the Fiesta at 9/10s.

All of this said though, the Fiesta was a $20k car and the GT4 is a $107k car. The Fiesta is less a sense of occasion, but more fun to rip around the streets and mountains. It's about momentum, carrying your speed, and having a great time doing it. While not worrying you're going to get into massive trouble having that fun.

I ride a BMW S1000RR on-track. It's an incredible bike. My little Honda Grom for $3k is more fun tooling around.

It really comes down to your use, the roads you plan to drive, and your expectations.

GT4 and S1000RR, great combination. Along with the FiST in your stable, you have a very impressive garage.

 

[Dpro]

I’m a little surprised that you ranked the E46 in the middle. I guess it’s not that exciting of a car to drive?

I am not really I own a E36 M3. They are fun but the FiST just makes hay of it.

The sports cars or sporty cars I have owned or driven for periods of time/
65 Ford Mustang
70 Ford Mustang
66 Datsun 1600 Roadster
Several Datsun 510’s 69-72
Several Datsun 240Z’s 70-72
Several Nissan S13 240sx‘s 89-93 Both Fastbacks and coupes
Toyota MR2 Gen 2
BMW M3/4/5’s 98 and 97
and my FiST and the FiST has to rival my setup 69 2 door 510 that had a pumped up L1600 with a L18 head with larger valves ported, 240z pistons .40 over , Balanced bottom end . Delong Cam and sidedraft weber. Kontrolle suspension with addco swaybars. The car was a go a kart much like the FiST the difference is the 510 stock was a sport sedan hiding in a economy car getup . I had to do it what is pretty much done at the factory on our FiST’s
Its even surprising I modded it more as stock it pulled me in. Unlike most cars. Sure the M3 reminded me of my old 240sx RB25DET ( Nissan Skyline 2.5 liter 6 cylinder Turbo engine) both of which flew .s
I would say the battle would be the 510 / 240sx and FiST oh and the MR2 , Sure the 240z should be in there but al 3 the 510 240sx and Mr2 beat it out in the handling department.

 

[ronmcdon]

Of all the cars Ive driven, like the fiesta but would rank it more mid-pack due to the torque steer, although think going bigger turbo like s280 or gtx2860r would address that. The SUV like ride height also a bit unnerving. Best thing about it to me is how easy it is to rotate.

Most disappointing was my 06 STi, just didn't care for the light and fast steering.

1) 18 camaro zl1-1le (aside from the weight and size, just about perfect imo)
2) 92 fd rx7 (family member's car who moved overseas but kept at my place for years)
3) 89 crx si
4) 14 evo x (had a 08 before that)
5) 92 na miata
6) 19 fiesta st
7) 12 mustang boss 302 (crappiest shifter ever but great engine)
8) 95 eg civic hatch with ls-vtec engine around 180whp give or take
9) 08 fa civic sedan hybrid beater (really like this car a lot and my current beater)
10) 96 240sx with sr swap
11) 98 vw passat 1.8t (destroyed steering rack at autoX)
12) 06 subaru sti

 

[Clint Beastwood]

Of all the cars Ive driven, like the fiesta but would rank it more mid-pack due to the torque steer, although think going bigger turbo like s280 or gtx2860r would address that. The SUV like ride height also a bit unnerving. Best thing about it to me is how easy it is to rotate.

Most disappointing was my 06 STi, just didn't care for the light and fast steering.

1) 18 camaro zl1-1le (aside from the weight and size, just about perfect imo)
2) 92 fd rx7 (family member's car who moved overseas but kept at my place for years)
3) 89 crx si
4) 14 evo x (had a 08 before that)
5) 92 na miata
6) 19 fiesta st
7) 12 mustang boss 302 (crappiest shifter ever but great engine)
8) 95 eg civic hatch with ls-vtec engine around 180whp give or take
9) 08 fa civic sedan hybrid beater (really like this car a lot and my current beater)
10) 96 240sx with sr swap
11) 98 vw passat 1.8t (destroyed steering rack at autoX)
12) 06 subaru sti

Man the newer camaros make me feel so claustrophobic. I think I'm just too long of torso for them, I feel like I'm in the drivers seat of a tank trying to look out through a thin strip lol.

 

[ronmcdon]

It's not that bad without a helmet and higher seating position (but im 6'0 and 185 lbs). eventually I got used to it just as the fear of rollover with the fiesta's ride height.
however the seats I think are more appropriate for a touring car with less than ideal bolstering.

 

[contemplative_shrimp]

My last car was a 2015 Mini Cooper S and the ST is more fun in every way except for "refinement."

The ST reminds me of my old 2008 Honda Fit, very nimble and abusable while the Mini S felt more compact and the fun needed to be coaxed out of it.

 

[rallytaff]

I wouldn't touch a Mini! I saw one up on a lift having part of the suspension changed. It looked so flimsy I could have probably bent it with a big hammer! That would not give me any confidence driving that at speed on a not so smooth road. I'll stick to my ST every time!

 

[CarGuy]

I wouldn't touch a Mini! I saw one up on a lift having part of the suspension changed. It looked so flimsy I could have probably bent it with a big hammer! That would not give me any confidence driving that at speed on a not so smooth road. I'll stick to my ST every time!

LOL!

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[XR650R]

I took my car to the upper peninsula of Michigan to check out some stuff. It was a 1000 mile trip.
It performed flawlessly the entire way, of course.
I did a loop of Lake Michigan, and in Wisconsin, I couldn't find 93 octane until I got lucky in Milwaukee. Oops.
I used the retail Cobb 91 octane stage 3 tune until I got to Illinois. Weak.
Considering that I got stuck in slow traffic in both Milwaukee and Chicago, I think I got great mileage, and that car is a fighter plane at 80.
I averaged just over 30 mpg, gunning it, and idling in street traffic. I drove through my old neighborhood in Chicago. It's so different now, but it's still Chicago.
So responsive, and if you step on it, it just jumps.
God bless Ford Performance and Randy Robles.