Must say, your comments are a big help! and very much appreciated.
I think when I look at the bigger picture it doesnt make great sense to get one anyway...

1) why waste an ST on the drive for 4 days out of a week
2) i only take the kids to school in 'my' car
3) other car is a fast car anyway!
4) why pay high insurance, road fund tax and running costs for a car i would hardly use / appreciate?
5) is the diesel Zetec S the answer 'for me'?

Renault = unrealiable french rubbish, no thanks
Vauxhall = i am only 34!
Honda = too expensive
Mini = as above
Citroen = whats one of those
Mitsubishi = what they got cZT??? phhaaaaaaa
Audi = mmmmmmmmmm - maybe! but which model for ST prices, prob none
Toyota = (see vauxhall)
Fiat = oh dear, say no more
Mazda = terrible depreciation, running costs ie RX8
BMW = no car available M1 - too dear
Merc = as above again! - i need 5 seats!

Thanks guys HEEEEELLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!
Steve

I have been looking at Clio 182's, you can get a good one for about £10,000 and they are so much faster than the ST. I know you said "french rubbish" but i'm sure it would be ok up to the 4 year point. My mate has one and has had no problems. Sounds great too!

Maybe I was rather harsh!
I just think I have a bad one.
Had big coil probs with current Megane!
It puts ya off for such a new car.
My has had Renault also, and had same problem!!!

Will check out the Clio 182!!!
Thanks KeithST!

When I was looking to buy a car I was looking at a fast little car went I look at lots of different cars like the Toyota Yaris TS too slow, Citroen C2 VTS too small, Ibiza FR more expensive than a ST and not that much faster, Lupo GTI too small but look great! Mni CooperS too expensive, Honda Type R too expensive to buy or insure, Peugeot 206 GTI, RC don't like peugeot RC too expensive for what it is, Clio 172, 182 too much around 182 too expensive insurance a no! no! The ST cheaper than those car except the TS, or same Price has a Peugeot 206 GTI or Second Hand Clio, lots of equipment over here anyway, not the slowest one, one of the best handling around and fun to drive! not see many around in my area anyway. I think the ST is the best in performance/Price and none of those car can beat that!

Sorry you felt that way about the ST.

When I test drove the ST I could barely get above thirty due to the fact that I couldn't get out of town and it wasn't run in. However, I still bought it on the looks and what people were saying about it.

My ST has done almost 4000 miles now and I don't regret buying it one bit.
One thing I have noticed about the ST is that sometimes it doesn't feel that quick but you're going quicker than you think. You could never compare it to a Type R, particularly when the second set of valves come into play and performance wise the Clio will have it well licked as well. However, the ST is a quick little car that likes to be revved, sounds great (even with the standard exhaust), handles brilliantly and looks far better than anything else - watch all the young lads and lasses stare as you drive past!

Mine is used as a second car and I get about 34 to the gallon. It's got plenty of space for 2 child seats in the back and despite being 2 door they're easy to access. It is not expensive to insure although I am a few years older than you.

The choice is yours. However, wqhy not think again!

Regards

Steve

How about A Seat Ibiza, the FR or the Cupra?? I've just test driven an FR and I loved it. I did have an ST but had soo many problems with it that I'm now getting a refund and buying something else. I looked around loads of cars to decide what else to get. The renault, in my opinion, is disapointing. Yes its fast but it dosen't look particulaly nice, the interior is very disapointing. I looked at the peugoets, renaults, vauxhall etc and none of them came any where near the ST. The Seat Ibiza FR is a fab little car. It's faster than the ST especially in the lower gears as it has a turbo, and I think now they've given it a bit of a face lift it looks great, really meaty. I havent driven the cupra as I cannot afford to insure it, but that would probably fly. Not quite as fast as the renault but faster than the ST as it has 30 extra BHP and again it is a turbo.

I've had a Cooper S for 3.5 yrs and now I'm buying an ST.

On test driving it, it's more comfortable, better built, just as fun and feels almost as quick - I did miss the 6th gear, but then I hardly do any m-way or A road driving to make a huge difference.

It'll be cheaper to run and insure and for 10.5K plus the costs of some toys it really is a bargain. I have looked at everything else and short of spending another 8-15K on top, which I don't have, I can't find anything better. Roll on the ST mark II - hopefully turbo-charged and with a DSG box option that Ford are working on...

M

markant, hi mate
you serious about an ST being better than a cooper s???

better built?

more comfortable?

well i am surprised at that verdict tbh!
but each to their own.

i have since been looking at coopers and just think that the extra bits like stereo upgrades are nice little touches.
having said that, i am not exactly sure of what ST upgrades you can get.

so what else had you looked at???
have you looked at the zetec s diesel??? with added chip?
i have been told they rock!!!
but hey, i dont always listen to what i am being told.

cheers
steve

The Mini Cooper s isn't that fantastic you know!!
My brother's got one and the ride is much harder than the ST and the ESP light was coming on all the time which means the chassis must be crap.
Also, what I always remind my brother, it's built in the same factory by the same people that used to build Morris Marinas!!

I would have thought all the people who built morris marinas were dead!
Current Minis have Chrysler engines, as for the new ones are BMW, ie the new facelift 2007 model.

Wouldnt mind a go in one to see. But at least the seating position isnt like sitting in the crows next of a sailing ship.

I think i am gonna wait for a concours winner 1989 XR2 mkII.
Loved them all my life. Owned 2, and arguably the best cars I have had.
But then again I was a young lad back in those days, the latest hot hatch at the time.
Maybe if i stepped in one now, that soft spot would become, well, not so soft!!!

Cheers
Steve

hey i used to own a solid white xr2 (e reg)way back in 1989, superb car in its
day, iceman.

yep, same here mate!
well, this is what i have owned.. (gone off subject slightly, but who cares!)

MkI XR2 - X Reg, white

MkII XR2 - F Reg, white

MkII XR2 - E Reg, gunmetal grey - best of the bunch!

Maybe a Zetec S would be more like the old Xr2, afterall, Ford were going to call the ZS the new XR2!!!
Not so sure that would have gone down so well.

Anyway, Cooper S & cZT test drive Saturday. So can compare against the ST.
I really hope I can pull it back!!! I want an ST badly!!!!!!!

Steve

I feel the same about the mk2 xr2 i had 2 a 'd'rg in red and an 'f'reg it tasmin blue i felt some buck at the age of 18 razzing around ,i also had an 'h'reg xr2i god those were the good days!!!!!!

My Cooper S has been rattling from day one, despite several dealer fixes and bumps and shakes over every but the smoothest surfaces, the new one may be better built and slightly softer suspension but having had 2 already im not gonna give BMW another 18K for a potential lemon!

The ST handles poor surfaces better than the S and seemed more solid - it certainly didn't rattle!

M

Re the z-s diesel, I didn't try it as I'm not a fan of truck engines, for noise, immediate power and environmental reasons...having worked for mercedes and porsche in the past I have driven just about every brand and model of car over the years and am pretty quick to spot a duff or sub-standard car - the ST is neither.

Having got out of my S to drive it, then back into it after, It didn't feel a lesser car in any way, I presumed I would notice the power difference - but I really didn't and I tested it purposely on some of Herts's worst unmaintained road's.

M