OK I've gone and been and done it!
I've placed an order today for a 1.6 TDCi Zetec Climate Fiesta.
I've had Panther Black
3 door
Technology Pack (Free)
Sports Pack (Free)
Bluetooth
Sony Radio
Aluminium Gearknob and Handbrake handle.

Why?
Well I really can't stand the irratic performance and the hard suspension any longer, I'm getting too old.
Plus the TDCi has 210NM of torque and does up to 70MPG with £35 per year road tax and group six insurance.
At current fuel prices plus the saving on insurance and road tax, I'll be saving around £1800 per year.

I will miss the alloy pedals and the skirts and the seats but I plan to upgrade the Zetec to this spec anyway, but with Zetec-S seats.
Also, I plan to get a chip that will boost the PS to 125 and the torque to 280NM.
It's got to be a factory order so I should get it either for the 1st of March or towards the end of March.
My ST will be available soon if anyone is interested, I've got to find out how much part-ex I'm getting for it first!
TBH though, I'm not that bothered about selling it, they can have it.

i hope the zetec tdci lives up to your expectations dave,your a bit like me on your second st,mine is a 07 red although the performance on this is better if sometimes erratic,but i like the car.As a part ex you may get around £9000 to £9500 at a push,i got £9550 for my 9 month old 56 reg st against my red 07 st,good luck,by the way you say your getting too old what about me at 43 but when i get behind the wheel all of a sudden i feel like a 18 year old.

Thanks.
I was thinking more in the region of the late £8,000's TBH as I only paid £9400 for it.
I had a test drive in a TDCi ZS a few months back and liked it apart from the hard ride, that's the reason I've plumped for the Zetec and also, apart from the seats, the ZS is really spartan on equiptment levels.

It will be a shame to see your go Dave

Please stay with us though, your expertise in all fields is very valuable to the site

I do like the softer suspension of a Zetec and can understand why you have opted to do that.

Good Luck with your new purchase... very nice

Thanks for that Scott, it's nice to feel welcome.
I will stay around, yes.

sorry ur selling ur ST but u still buying a ford and u right about saving up lot of money and with the price of petrol is a wise choice and with a chip u wont be far of the ST performance

Good choice there mate. And the TDCi is a cracking engine. I am getting over 50mpg around town where the same journeys in the ST would return around 27. A vast improvement. I plumped for the ZS version as I wanted to retain some of the sportiness. You are right though, the equipment level in the ZS is a bit naff but managed to get myself a pretty good deal so specced it up a bit.

I wasn't looking foward to the change over of mine back in December but I am now really glad I did, it is a much more practical car in today's climate.

You'll have to let us know what you think of the Sony CD unit because I am a tad disappointed with mine. It seems as though the rear speakers are very quiet compared to the fronts.

Anyway, good choice mate at least you have the ST to run about in for another few months.

Just a shame you couldn't have got the Sea Grey

Good luck with the new car Dave . I know what you mean about costs etc, to be honest I have been thinking a lot lately about getting something cheaper to run. Its very hard though as I do really like my .

Well, just to keep you all in the picture, I'm still driving around in my ST because Ford have decided not to build my car yet!!

I was promised 29th March but now it's delayed until 26th April.

The dealer has agreed to pay 6 months tax on my car and to honour the original deal (which expired on 31st March) which now gives them a loss of about £1500.

We have bought 7 cars off them within the last 12 months so they've got to look after me!

The prices of the cars have all gone up from April 1st - Fiesta ST is now £14000 list price (£15000 for the ST500!) my car was at a list price of £11695 plus optional extras (Bluetooth + Metallic) less marketing support and Ford discount it was £9450 OTR.

The list price for mine is now £12300!!.

Also I negotiated £8500 for my ST with 8,000 miles on the clock, by the time they get it it will be well over 12,000 miles and probably worth £7500.

Oh dear, never mind.

"Oh dear, never mind", Indeed, their loss is your gain.