Well, I'm at the stage where I either get the RenaultSport Clio or Fiesta ST . . . leaning towards the ST purely because it seems to be more sensible from an ownership point of view (several reasons, including build quality, costs and dealership network). So are you guys still happy with yours? I keep reading of these throttle/ECU/starting horror stories, software upgrades, etc... Serious stuff? Or are there thrilled owners out there? I took an ST for a test drive, and while it was faster than my Polo 1.8, it was quite far from RS Clio pace. Has anyone modified their ST yet? Are real gains possible?

Which cars are giving you a spanking on the roads (other than the usual suspects)?

Sorry for all the questions!

Got my on 3rd March, 4500 miles later I'm

Hope this helps!

I'm still chuffed to bits with mine, some 4 weeks in now. Don't worry too much about what you've read on here, the things you've mentioned are only minor niggles which you're likely to get with any new car, and are easily sorted by the dealer.

Like you, I was also tempted by the Clio 182 but having driven one I wasn't overly impressed with it on a day to day level (particularly as it was raining) and, tbh, where do you get to use the extra performance that the Clio offers in the real world? It'd only be out on a track where it would be any better. I was also genuinely shocked by the poor quality of the interior for what is a £14k car too.

Go with the ST, you won't be disappointed.

As Parksey so reliably informs you the ECU upgrades really were teeny weeny little niggles that took less than 10 minutes to rectify (if you could be at all bothered to do so). People have indeed been modifying their cars with induction kits, exhausts, panel filters, lowering and even a strut brace. I'm not so much into all that (esp as the biggest mod I made was having my calipers painted gold *lol) but from what I can gleam, power gains are there to be had from an already bl**dy nippy car and more mods are in the pipeline (so to speak *heh*)

I run my in Spain the climate is pretty similar to parts of S.A .But it,s a big country.Anyway don,t have any starting probs only when cold is there a little over run on the throttle.The problem is in the law of averages.All major manufacturers have to build a car to suite a wide range of climatic and driving conditions.Therefore there will be small problems in certain areas.They will all be sorted soon it is only fine tuning.
Who is faster,on a twisty mountain road,nobody,other cars may be faster in a straight line ,but the confidence you have on the limit is fantastic it isn,t going to spit you into a ditch.Therefor you you drive quicker.Yesterday took on a M3 beat me on the straights but I past him on every roundabout.Porsche Cayenne,Alpha GTA,s,Mercs ,BMW.s,get them on a road with no straights lots of hairpins and say bye bye.Other hot hatches same story you won,t beat a Clio on the straight but wait till his brakes start to fade .