Appreciated Peter, I understand that the ST isn't a drag racer or anything. I was genuinely impressed by the overall 0-60 performance, maybe its just in what I consider to be real world driving (motorways, fast A roads and stuff) I've over-estimated how quick the ST is. I was just expecting a little bit more in-gear urge, thats all.

I completely agree Chris, on twisty back-roads the ST is largely second to none in its price range, its only seriously more expensive stuff that would manage to pull away. I took the car out for a decent 20 mile B-road thrash last night (windows down, stereo off, enjoying the engine and exhaust note), I don't think I ever got out of 3rd gear!

Yeah my real world stuff is all twisty B& C class roads and some that are only tarmaced farm tracks,I tend to forget that there is another world out there..I hit a duel carriageway for all of 1 min on my way to work and thats it.
P.S Did you know that a road covered in sheep shit is really slippy,it,s the only time the backs come unstuck.

Sounds like you live in the middle of nowhere Peter!

spanish sheep.. lol. must be all the paella they eat lol

- Parksey, there is a road near my place too, where sheep roam the road.. lol, its great fun

In the sticks mate,dueling banjos and everything

I think part of the reason the car doesn't feel that quick is due to the high seating position. When you sit very low in a car the sensation of speed is much greater.

I've done over 6000 miles in mine now in just 3 1/2 months and overall think it was an excellent choice of car. I took it to Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire recently for a track day and was keeping up with some much more powerful stuff. Followed a 4.0 TVR Chimaera, now obviously I was eating his dust on the straghts but every time we were back in the twisty bits I was crawling all over him. There's no way he was going to let me past though, he wouldn't have been able to live with himself if a Feista had gone past him on a track!

I must say that the ST obviously DOESN'T feel like 150 bhp to me. I got mine in April, got something around 7000 km now, haven't noticed any difference from when it had 2000 km. Also, I find that 2nd gear is a lot of cool noise, but no performance at all. How do you guys feel about 2nd gear? 3rd and 4th are very good above 4000 revs, but 2nd is just lame

I have none (yet) but I had an extensive test drive:
I have a 110HP (1.6l) Clio and on the first ST kilometers I thought "hmm, that´s all???!! 0,4l more, 40HP more and such a "boring" behavior??"
Well, yes! That´s how it is - but have a look at the speedometer and you´ll get a shock! It´s like in big limos, you have no f..ing clue that you are already doing 85mph on a normal free-land-street.
My Smart Roadster, my Clio and every TurboDiesel behave more spectacular!

I experienced the same thing in a new Porsche 911. 320HP and a had the same disappointment as in the ST! I was doing 60mph, shifted to the 3rd and a very few seconds later a had 130mph. But no kick in the ass! No nothing!

But you should appreciate it! I think this behavior has 2 reasons:
1. adequate cylinder capacity (is this really the correct english word for the "liters"??)
2. a superb adjustment of wheel suspension

In fact that´s why I like the ST so much! It´s the gentle understatement in a class where most others prefer a more spectacular behavior.


Regards!
reach

That's the thing with the ST, its essentially a very benign car so hence why it does feel like its going as quickly as it actually is. I know what you mean though reach, I can be doing 70mph on the motorway, just squeeze the throttle, and before I know it I'm doing a ton.

But then I also agree with what you've said SpeedNewbie, 2nd gear is very short, so not much really happens.

I thougt the same thing about the Power of my ST. I had a 52 reg 25th Anniversary Golf GTI PD 150. In english, a 150BHP turbo diesel coupled to a 6 speed gearbox.

That would beat the ST in top end, overall speed, handling and that "pin you down into your seat" feeling.

Going from that car into the ST, makes the ST seem tame and slow. Having done 2500miles now, mine is not much better/quicker than when it was new.

Guess the car loosens up, but most people's perception of it getting faster is a combination of phsycological impact and getting used to the way the vehicle drives and operates.

People use BHP as a buzz word too. Don't forget torque has a big part to play in the cars pick up and speed. My golf was 236nm compared to the ST, don't quote me but thinks its around 146nm?? ! considerable difference, or another way of lookin at it, lack of torque from the ST.

P.S. Parksey, I nearly got beaten by an 2005 Focus LX TDCI on a dual carriage way the other day, made me feel bitter.

True, its the torque rather than the power which gives you the "shove in the back" feeling, you get it far more noticeably in powerful diesels than you ever do in petrol-engined cars, mostly because they're turbocharged. The pick-up is often quicker in diesels too because you're nearly always in the power band, you just put your foot down and it goes, regardless of the gear you're in.

You got any pics of your Golf Dunkyboy? I'd be interested to see it as I always thought the Anniversary one looked pretty cool.

Dunkyboy,I agree with you about the power of the golf that the ST feels slow compared to the diesel but the ST would easily out handle the golf.My brothers girlfriend has a GTTDI and i thought it handled like a boat.The Diesel engine is far more heavier engine than the ST engine thus upsetting the balance overall.