Hi guys,
Can I say first and foremost, that what I am about to say is a genuine honest opinion, my opinion alone and should not deter any one elses thoughts! Plus don't want to create trouble etc!!!!

But...

I joined the forum last night whilst reading up reviews on ST's. I have sat in a few, but yet to drive.
I had even arranged to buy one in Essex, a 4 hour round trip for me! so was deadly serious.

This morning I went to my local dealer to take one out for a test drive.

Good points..
It looked amazing, I had the choice of 2 ST's, a silver and a blue one, they both looked stunning and would be hard picked to choose between the two.


Bad Points
The seating position is far too high, I am close to 6ft tall, so granted a tall chap! but I was hoping for a lower seating position, Yes the steering wheel can be lifted, but just loses the effect. The seats almost feel like they they have bolted to a breeze block.

The Test Drive...
Having let the sales guy take the ST off the pitch we pulled up in a residential area.
Granted it was a 30mph limit so took it steady. He then decided to take us over those terrible speed bumps. My teeth almost fell out! My god, how hard is that ride!!! We then moved onto a more speedy road, and I 'tried' to open it up. Maybe its just me but it didnt feel fast?!
But when I selected 5th gear it felt like it needed a 6th! Also when accelerating in 5th it didnt exactly light me up. I have been in a type-r which leaps forward in any gear. The ST just did, well nothing to excite.

I had to drive the ST further, so went round for another 20 mins, and I just couldnt get excited.
I went back to the Ford garage and pulled it up, got out and kicked the floor. I was so disappointed. Why why why????? I am not a happy bunny. He asked me to score it out of 10, i struggled to give it my score of 6.5/10.

I drove away feeling so jacked off. My ST dream has been smashed. I am a young 34 year old guy who loves driving. Our current car (1.8T Audi Cab is 50 times more enjoyable to drive).

Please try not to slate me guys! I know you love your cars. I have owned 3 XR2s before and loved them - so have Ford in my heart.

Maybe any of you can pull it back for me???
But as it stands, I will not be the 'proud' owner of a Fiesta ST.

Thanks for reading.
Steve

If you have driven a faster car before it will never feel as fast.
Yes the suspension is hard and the fuel economy means you will make friends at the local garage.
I am just over 6ft and don't feel the seat is to high. There is a seat height adjuster on the right hand side of the drivers seat which may have been jacked up to the roof so that could be the problem.
Agree with the 6th gear but I don't have a problem with 5th at 80mph (I mean 70mph), I don't find it loud at all.
It may not feel that fast but it does 0-60 in 7.9 so it is fairly quick, you must admit.

But, everyone has there own thoughts. You can't please 100% of everybody all the time.

If it doesn't feel right then don't go for it, can't blame you for that.
Have you thought of trying any of these:
Focus ST
Clio 182 (I like it in light blue with the cup stripes)
Pug 180
?

And the handling is really good to.

Just been out in the wet and can't fault it, even on the 2 slippery roundabouts that are next to the petrol station

And, according to a list of 1/4 mile times I have here, it is as fast as or faster than this lot believe it or not:
Mazda MX-5 1.8iS
Honda CRX VTi
Alfa Romeo 156
VW Golf 2.3 V5
Mercedes C280 Auto
Citroen Saxo VTS
Renault Clio Williams
Morgan 4/4
Mercedes 230 Sport Coupe Kompressor AMG Auto
BMW 330d
Subaru Forester 2.0 XT
Mercedes S500 C
BMW 740i Auto
Ford Mondeo 24v Ghia
BMW 320i
Nissan Almera GTi
Aston Martin DB4
Mini Cooper S
Audi A4 Cabrio 3.0 Sport CVT
Saab 9-3 2.0 Vector
Audi A3 1.8T Sport
Vauxhall Vectra Super Touring
Peugeot 206 GTi
Seat Ibiza 1.8 GT 16v
Rover 800 Vitesse
Rover 620ti
Renault Megane Coupe 16v
Honda Prelude 2.2 VTEC Auto
Mercedes CLK 320 Elegance Automatic
Ford Probe V6 GT
Ford Capri 2.8i
Porsche 928 Automatic
Seat Leon GT
Alfa Romeo GTV
Mercedes CLK 230
Ford Escort RS Turbo
Vauxhall Carlton GSi
Honda Prelude 2.3i
BMW 840 Ci Auto
Dodge Omni GLH Turbo
Audi A8 4.2 Tiptronic
Peugeot 306 Rallye
Volvo 850R
Saab 9-3 Turbo SE
Toyota Celica GT Cabrio
Mercedes E320 Cdi Auto
Saab 9000 CS 2.3 Turbo S
Honda Accord 2.0 Executive
Alfa Romeo 145 Cloverleaf
Mercedes E280 Auto
Subaru Legacy 2.5 GX
Honda Legend Coupe
BMW 528i SE Auto
Jaguar XJS 4.0 Auto
Fiat Punto HGT
BMW 323Ci Cabrio
Mercedes E270 CDi Classic Auto
Mercedes CLK Cabrio Auto
Lexus LS400 Auto
BMW Z3
Lotus Esprit
Alfa Romeo 156 JTD 2.4
Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9
VW Lupo GTi
Peugeot 306 GTi-6
Honda Civic 1.8 VTi
Fiat Bravo HGT

ANNNNDDDDD,

If you spend a few £££ on it like someone on another forum you can get 1/4 miles times that will beat equal these:
BMW 528i SE
Honda Prelude 2.2i VTEC
Nissan 200SX Turbo
Fiat Coupe 16v Turbo
BMW 325i Convertible
Jaguar XJ6 Sport 4.0
Chrysler Crossfire (New!)
BMW 540i Auto
Mazda RX-8
BMW X5
Aprilia RS125
Kawasaki VN1500 Classic
Honda SR125
BMW 328i SE
Vauxhall Cavalier Turbo 4x4
Skoda Octavia RS
MG Maestro Turbo
Volvo S60 T5
Reliant Scimitar 1800Ti
Lexus SC430 Automatic
Mitsubishi FTO GPX
Lotus Excel SE
Subaru Legacy Turbo
Audi A4 2.8 Quattro
Maserati Biturbo 425
Mercedes E320 Auto
Volvo 850 T5 Estate
Audi A8 4.0 TDi Automatic
Rolls-Royce Flying Spur
Lexus LS400 Auto
Mercedes SLK 320
Vauxhall Astra Coupe 888
Jaguar S-Type V8 Auto
Porsche Boxster Tiptronic
Audi A8 4.2 Quattro Tiptronic
Porsche Boxster
Caterham 7 K-Series
BMW 325i Compact
Bentley Continental T

I think you have the remeber just what the ST is about. Its not just about its performace, but the way it handles and round twisty roads it is fantastic. I think if you were trying to compare it to an Type R then you had the wrong car in mind to compare it to. You cannot compare something like the ST with 150bhp to a type R which has 201bhp. Its bound to kickl the hell out of it in acceleration. The seating position is high i'll agree with you there and it seems to be a common complaint about the ST but I guess you just get used to it after a while. I think you may have been expecting to much out of the ST. At the end of the day though its all down to how you want a car to be, and if you don't feel like its the right choice then don't buy one as it will only be a waste of money. Try test driving some of its competitors and I think you might be more plesantly suprised.

LOL gr1340!!!
The handeling did seem fair, but only what I expected.
Having said that, right after handing the keys back for the ST, for the hell of it, I tried the Zetec S CDTi!!
I wont harp on about it, as dont want to ruffle any more feathers, but honestly thought it was better! how did that happen.

The seat on the ST was dropped to the lowest point, like wise with the Zetec S.

But apart from the wheels, engine, stripes and embroidered St logo, they looked pretty much the same. Unless anyone can tell me different.
Yes they are 2 different cars for a different purpose. But I am still kicking the cat that I couldnt fall for the ST.
I want one badly, I think this forum is great, and enjoy being part of a 'clan'!
But if I decide to go for the Zetec S, please don't shoot me!!!

Cheers
Steve

hi there,
what miles were on the clock on yourst demo car, really you need
over 1000mls on to fully loosen up the engine,then you will feel
a difference in power.shame you were not taken by it though,
i have to say i cherish mine .
yours iceman.

CDTi? - Where were you, a Vauxhall garage?

Sorry, only joking.

The ZS TDCi hasn't got body coloured door mouldings.

I nearly went for Zetec S (petrol) but I knew if I had it, I would have wished I had the faster ST.

I am not really comparing it to the type-r, what i meant was acceleration in any gear. ie when in 5th and floor it. it was just hoping for a bit more.

at the end of the day the looks could just not beat the others points i wasnt happy with.
i will look at other cars now, and maybe, just maybe bounce back to ford afterall, watch this space.

thanks though guys for being honest with me.
really good of you.
Steve

The demo ST had 7300 on the clock.
So was hoping it had been bedded in.

yeh, i thought that about disel and cdti dcti tcdi or whatever it is.
maybe i am longer in the tooth than i thought!

trust me - if i was 21 again and on my own i would have snapped there hand off.

i only use my car 3 days a week to take the bin lids to school.
other than that it would stand on the drive.
the audi gets used otherwise.

maybe i am being hard on the little fella. i still think it looks great.
but cant afford to pay loads a money just to look at a car! LOL

I would recommend taking another one out for a drive and really give it some in the first 3 gears. I seem to find mine pulls more after 4000RPM, try really hammering one, its fun!

As said above, with the ST you have to think of what it sets out to be, an affordable nimble little car. There are plenty of better cars about, but then you normally have to start to pay the extra dollar. I got my ST nearly fully loaded for around £11,500. Say for a honda civic type S you'd be looking much closer at the high teens, and then for a new type R, when its out (if it isn't already) you'll be looking at pushing towards £20,000. Then there is insurance and running costs to think of. Focus ST owners seem to struggle to get 20mpg out of it for example. If you can afford the better cars, I'd defo go for them, but the ST has a "bang for your buck" thats pretty damn hard to beat.

As for your points on ride height, yep its a little high, I'm a 6ft'er too, but I have always liked a high seating position, I think it is something you get used to, and it certainly isn't uncomfortable. I think the high seating position also lends itself to the ST feeling slower than it is. But as stated before the stats show its pretty good. If it feels slow at any point take it to the ST strength, some windy roads. I read that the Fez ST was keeping up with the focus RS round the test track in the corners, and that says a lot.

I hope that you don't drop the idea of an ST altogether, but I hope you get a car that you can enjoy!

watcha cocker,
i took a test drive in the new clio 192 before i got the ,
but there were no discounts at all, the salesman said we don,t
need to discount the 192 it sells its self , year sure it does.
iceman.