Firstly..Hi everyone.

I hope you're all doing well.

Background information, i currently own a Renault Clio 1.2 16v, but i'm in discussion with my local Ford dealer regarding the New Fiesta ST. I've been on this site for a few days reading peoples reviews/thoughts/opinions on the ST, and i can say thus far is, i'm impressed.

As you know i currently own a Clio, and people would argue that i should look at the Clio Sport 182, but being only 21, can prove to be extremely harsh on insurance, so my thoughts are, lets look at a car with less power, lower insurance group, but with huge potential. The ST stands out by a mile!

Currently in the process of getting my car valuated at the dealers, and booking a test drive. I hope i enjoy the car as much as you all have!

A few questions if i may:

I do like the centre console in the ST, but would want my own Head Unit installing. Is there away of keeping the 6-CD and having your own Head Unit? I'm not too fussed if you cant.

If i went for the leather seat option, does that come with heated seats? If so, where is the button located to activate the heat to come through on both driver and passenger seats? How much are they, £970?

What 0-60 times are you getting? Ford claims 7.9, while What Car claim 7.8. What do you guys think?

Why is ESP not standard on a Sport car? Very odd that one. How much is it?

Is it proven that the standard 17 inch wheels don't slow the car down? Would of thought 16's would of been ample as the rolling radius would be the same, but it would be a lighter wheel?

What is the tuning potential on the ST? Chip, Induction Kit, De-Cat Exhaust, anything else?

Anyway i think this post is long enough (lol), i hope to have good conversions with you all regarding the ST! Your comments will be most useful.

Thanks, Chris (Tyson) - Tyson is preferrable though!

Hi, welcome to the board! Have decided what colour you might get - and with or without stripes? It'll certainly be v diff to the Clio 1.2 and IMO will beat the 182 handsdown on handling/ cornering and comfort.

There are various posts already on the site about 0/60's, scope for improving performance (DanST has his up to about 200ps I think)

Re the leather seats, they are heated and the switch is located under the drivers seat - not sure if this is for both or individually controlled - PARKSEY will know - he has them.. and as for the ESP, I think the gen consensus is that you don't really need the ESP on the ST, as its been engineered to be as safe as possible, plus 150ps isn't exactly ott... that being said though, I was considering it when I was looking at getting an ST so.. I think its 275.00 factory fit ONLY and if you buy ESP you HAVE to buy the Reflex Pack too (side and curtain airbags).

Lastly re the CD head, a few people inc Pinky have changed their head unit (I like ur head unit pinks..) and I guess as long as u have a multi changed hooked up, you would keep the ability to have 6 discs.. or is that not what u meant? the 6006 is a massive lump of a unit, if you take the front fascia off, its a lump of metal, so you have to buy the din bit etc etc. Others will be able to advise better.

Hope that goes some way to help..

Oh dear, not another Chris on this site... Welcome to the club btw.

As for your questions:

As far as I know, there's no way to keep the existing 6 CD changer with a new headunit. The standard CD changer is an in-dash double size unit, not a boot/glovebox changer like you get on most other cars. If you wanted to change the headunit then you'd need to get a CD changer to go with it.

The ST has part-leather but if you pay for the full leather you get heated seats too. There's a simple on/off switch (with a timer) which is located on the base of the seat - a bit fiddly IMO. I've not used them yet as its not been cold enough. If you can afford it then I'd recommend getting full leather, it looks saweeeeeeeet.

I did a 0-60 sprint at Silverstone the other weekend, got 8.76 seconds. Not spectacular, but then I've never done it before. Some magazines have said that the quoted figure (7.9) is unrealistic, but I know of guys with standard cars who have done it in 7.2 seconds.

I wouldn't bother with ESP if I were you. The ST isn't massively powerful anyway, and in the dry the Pirellis offer more than enough grip. ESP costs £350 and as Chris says, I believe you need to get the Reflex pack as well to get ESP. That's another £275. I haven't driven one with ESP yet so can't really comment though, but I would say its not necessary. The only reason a lot of manufacturers sell cars with some sort of stability control is to cover up a crap chassis anyway...

You don't notice any loss in performance from having 17s on the car, tbh but I've not tried an ST with the 16s (you can't get them in the UK). The car looks a billion times better with the 17s anyway.

Not much is out in the way of tuning parts for the ST yet. There's a few exhaust systems about, the Milltek is favoured at the moment, the full system with de-cat being proven to give a 21bhp increase. Induction kits will be out soon enough, but you'll want an enclosed one due to the cramped engine bay allowing too much heat to get in. Superchips hope to have a Bluefin out shortly too (that's what they told me at Ford Fair). I reckon with a proper induction kit, full exhaust and chip/remap, you could easily see an extra 30bhp, if not more.

Anyway, hope that helps Tyson, sorry for the lengthy reply!

Yay, another member of club chris!

Just adding to some of the comments above, the 6006 is not 3 units like it looks, behind the facia its a massive cube thing as tall and as wide as you'd imagine. I know some people have had problems with it and changed it. Personally I don't think its bad for a unit that comes with the car, and wouldn't think about changing it unless I was to start having trouble with it, as much as anything because I suspect it would be quite fiddly to do.

With the ESP, I wouldn't bother with it especially with the reflex pack pushing the cost up further. I find the handling good enough as it is, and I know that if I had it fitted I would have it switched off more often than on, but that may be down to the way I drive. Perhaps someone who has it fitted could share some comments?

I'll have to agree to differ with Parksey here about the full leather seats here. I just think they are a tad too expensive, feel the way the partial leather and fabrics go together fits the st well, and just wonder if full leather seats will get a little sticky in hot weather.

Hope some of this helps.

Thanks guys, your help is appreciated!

I won't bother with ESP, i guess there is no need! Money isn't really an issue, so i may go for the full leather. It's just that i wish they did black leather trim with red/blue leather inserts, because i think the leather trim and red/blue cloth looks really nice and suits the interior.

I'm unsure on colour, i really like the Performance Blue, but haven't seen one in the flesh, and photo's don't do them justice, so can't comment. Red looks nice with stripes, and the white looks amazing! Really stands out imo, especially with those stripes!

Going down to the dealership after work, to take a second look. The car looks amazing from the outside. Those bumpers give it such an aggressive stance, yet still gives off a subtle effect. Interior looks wicked, those seats are just what it needed. Only sat in them for a short period, are thye comfy over long distances?

I'm weary of magazines saying 7.9 to 60 is unrealistic, yet some of you guys have done it in 7.2. I hope you guys claiming that, are not being biased, like a lot of Civic Type-R owners i know who claim 6 sec dead to 60! LMAO!

I will keep you updated on my position.

Tyson.

Just on colour. I think if you want a reasonably 'lairy' looking car, aggressive etc etc, go for Red with full stripes. If you want something that people will say "mmm nice colour" get the perf blue. Swiss Nick has a white one and I saw one in Cardiff the other day.. it does look good, but just perhaps a smidges less aggressive than the other colours. maybe stripes would aid that. depends on the look you're going for tho.. and how much time u have to clean it!

Welcome to the site Tyson!

I agree with ChrisCumbria about the seats! We (ChrisCumbria, ChrisSussex, Nicky, FiestaRS, chrisST) met up and I drove from South East London to The Cotswolds, along the jam packed M25 and belting along the M4 & A roads (legally! *ahem*) and the seats were as comfy as can be. I do a lot of town driving in and around London and they are just as comfortable then as with long distance motorway driving.

Might I recommend performance blue with the side strpes?

You'll find on this forum we arent a "my ST does 0-60 in 7 seconds flat" & cant back it up. For the most part (ChrisSussex) we're sensible and fairly honest with what we say on here. Mainly because we know we'll meet up at some point & have to prove it *hehe*

I had my head unit changed from the 6006 (my new 6006 turned up after only 3 weeks!! Now I gotta send my old one away & hope me CDs come back...). I'm sort of disappointed I dont have a 6 CD changer but I dont miss it massively, like you said, I'm not that bothered. Here's a pic:



People have commented about the gap underneath but can I just say it proves to be a very useful sunglasses case/£1 for the Dartford Tunnel/QE2 Bridge tolls space *lol* It also now freaks me out now that someone pointed out the console looks like a face (air vents as the eyes etc)

Crikey there are a few Chris' on here!

ChrisCumbria - Thanks for the info there mate, you have dispelled my worry about the seats!

ChrisSussex - I can see where you're coming from with the colours, no mentioning of black though and tbh i haven't seen many on the road, nor show room! Only colour i have ever owned is black so may look to change. I can see lots of people going for red, then blue, then white, then black, then silver. Is that the general feel in the forum also?

My current car gets treated to a clean once a week, usually Sat or Sun, as i work during the week, and gym at nights (no time for the Mrs she keeps telling me, lol), but if i bought the ST it would get treated all the time, as i think it looks very, very nice!

Tyson.

Might I recommend performance blue with the side strpes?

You certainly can!

Tyson.

It also now freaks me out now that someone pointed out the console looks like a face (air vents as the eyes etc) :lol

Also not forgetting the Hazard Light in between the two air vents acting as a nose!

Tyson.

lol, black is pretty rare. i personally dont favour it, but it looks great in any colour..

Er Pinky.. I am honest, I am sensible and I CAN back everything I say up... lol

So to put my mind at rest..The ST can hit 60 in the late 7 seconds?

Going from a car with 75bhp, to a car with 148bhp will be really something! Can't wait for the test drive. I hope i'm smiling like all you guys are! If i'm honest i have driven quicker, but who hasn't? It's what you can do with the speed that you have got that counts, and as everybody knows, cars that are quick in a straight line, may get beat when you hit the corners!

The Clio Sport 182 with the 'Cup pack (suspension)' etc, apparently handles extremely well around the corners. Is the ST better in your honest opinions?

Tyson.

yes, HANDS DOWN IMO