Aye well obviously am going to Newcastle for the Kulture and the Klassy birdznot just the career prospects
Mrs Mills had a wee boy last week - Dont know if the baby seat fits in the 7 but am sure Ian will try
I've just bought a Fiesta
)-
anthonyyule
- Posts: 390
- Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:54 pm
Re: I've just bought a Fiesta
Aye,gorrie wrote:
Thought it was getting near the time to chop in the MG ZS180 daily driver. Also thought that we didn't need as much space as an Astra/Focus/Megane.
So, we've spent much of the last few days looking at 'small' cars. The wife was set on a Mini Cooper... and to be honest, I wouldn't have minded one either but the interior was really cramped despite the new model having grown in size. With me in a driving comfortable driving position, there was zero room behind for the kids feet.
So, we looked at the Corsa VXR and the Clio 197... I was trying to sway her towards getting a year old Clio 182 Trophy but it wasn't happening. VXR is a bit in yer face up close... so the Clio was looking favourite.
Anyway.. somehow, I've ended up putting a deposit down on a Performance Blue Fiesta ST with Leather and the stripes down the side on over the top. Was swithering between white body and blue stripes, but thought it may have been a bit too much on a daily basis. Their demo model was really quite quick off the line. Did seem to run out of puff higher up mind you. Evo don't rate it too highly, but it ticked the boxes for us. Should pick it up in 2-3 weeks.
The one thing that did stand out was how big these 'small' cars have got. The Fiesta seemed to have the most interior space from the list we tested. Inside, it couldn't have been far off an old MkII Golf I had years ago.
So there... I've said it... it's out.. I own a Fiesta...
Andy
The ST is a nice car. I went through exactly the same dilema when the wife and I were looking for a car. We owned 2 new style minis - but they were all style, and not enough practicality. I was a bit concerned about the "french" - although I love the 182. We settled on a white ST with full on boona GT stripes. Looked great too. And for Cooper money you get Cooper S performance and goodies to play with. It really is a great wee car - and handles not to shabby(ly) either!!
On the "running out of puff" front. Ford did it again. Not wanting to have the baby ST run amuck with its bigger stable mates they fitted a VERY restrictive flexipipe (pipe connecting the exhaust to the manifold) - its about 20mm narrower than the manifold/ exhaust. Its a very popular mod to replace - try pumaspeed.com - and its not difficult to do. It also wont make the car any more "boy racer". It will however let the car sing all the way through to about 6,700 - 7,000rpm or whereever the redline was, without feeling strangled. If you fancy a bit of gruff, mate that to a nice K&N induction, and the car is a very fruity baby rally car.
Enjoy it, it really is a nice un.
Yeah... I've been reading that the Miltek Flexi pipe alone can release 5bhp & 15lb/ft of torque.
I don't want to get too boy racery with it (I'm 33 now)... so will probably do that, a K&N, plus maybe a Bluefin chip. Consensus seems to be that it will see you good for about 170bhp with a balanced torqe curve. So, by my reckoning thats about 20bp and better torque for £500.
Seems to be people kicking out 190-195bp with induction, manifold, sports-cat, and cat back exhaust & chip... so there was obviously some potential there. But as it's to be a daily driver I don't want it too noisy/raw. Still got the Elise for all that shannanagins.
Good to hear a good word on it from an ex-owner though, and a good word on the handling (Evo didn't like that part of the car but Tiff N seemed to like it round the test track). Sounds like I have arrived at the same result as you via exactly the same decisions.
The wife asked me today if we can take it on track at some point just to check it out....
I don't want to get too boy racery with it (I'm 33 now)... so will probably do that, a K&N, plus maybe a Bluefin chip. Consensus seems to be that it will see you good for about 170bhp with a balanced torqe curve. So, by my reckoning thats about 20bp and better torque for £500.
Seems to be people kicking out 190-195bp with induction, manifold, sports-cat, and cat back exhaust & chip... so there was obviously some potential there. But as it's to be a daily driver I don't want it too noisy/raw. Still got the Elise for all that shannanagins.
Good to hear a good word on it from an ex-owner though, and a good word on the handling (Evo didn't like that part of the car but Tiff N seemed to like it round the test track). Sounds like I have arrived at the same result as you via exactly the same decisions.
The wife asked me today if we can take it on track at some point just to check it out....
I have no signature.
Was fancying a run in the Elise today, but wife and kids wanted to come... so, it was the 1st chance to take the ST on to some nice roads... and it was surprisingly good fun.
Chucked the kids in the back, headed off from Livi through Blackburn towards Linlithgow via Avon Gorge. Some nice flowing bends with gradient changes on there, and the little Ford seemed to love them.
Then hopped up the M9 for a short blast until the exit for Blair Drummond.
Stayed on that road until Callander, where we stopped and had some scran in the 'Ben Ledi'. Half a dozen fresh Oysters... the wife said she would have some, but tried just 1... so I polished them off... followed by Haddock/chips & mushy peas. The diet starts tomorrow (just as soon as I've finished that Carlsberg off that's in the fridge). Was just starting to rain a bit when we headed back to the car park, but it was that nice warm rain... so the kids weren't complaining. Grabbed some rum & raisin fudge from the touristy shop to munch on for the remainder of the trip.
My jumper had acted like a big sponge on the walk back so the Fiesta had misted up something rotten by the time the kids were settled and the doors were shut. Time to try out this quick-clear windscreen thingy. Being an MG-Rover man in the past, my experience of Fords is somehwat limited... but believe this is a feature on most Fords these days. What a cracking little feature it is too... windscreen cleared in less than 15 seconds and we were off. How could I ever have gone 33yrs of my life without this little button? I think it's meant to assist with frosty windscreen, but I guess I won't be able to try that out for a few months.
We then thought about heading for the Dukes Pass, but seeing as I have never been there in my puff and hadn't brought a map/sat-nav I wasn't exactly sure where it was (I knew I was close though). Instead, we headed out towards Loch Earn/Earnhead where it was absolutely pelting it down. Wipers on full. Taking the road right round the Loch, you could hardly make out the water. The tarmac was also flowing like a river, so I was actually kind of glad I was in the ST at that point !!
Those roads are great, and it was confidence inspiring the way that you could chuck the nose of the ST in to a bend and it didn't wash out even in that weather. Only once did grip seem to give up, and it was very neutral... the whole car seeming to drift progressively out a few inches rather than understeer. The wife and I turned round to each other at the same time and said "The Lotus would be great on these roads". I sense another weekend away with no kids on the horizon.
Anyway... not wanting to come down and hit traffic on the Forth Bridge, we headed off towards Crieff where the rain had given up by the looks of it... and then down towards Stirling where we picked up the M9 once again. Back over Avon Gorge and home to Livingston (where it would appear that it has remained dry all day!!!).
All in all, I am very happy with the Fiesta ST. Although the v6 MG we traded in had more grunt and a very tidy chassis, the Fiesta is putting a smile on our faces with the driving experience. I still can't quite believe I took the plunge for a Fiesta (neither can my wife)... but when I sit in it, I am amazed at the quality and by the interior space available in what is a supermini. The kids say they have more space in the rear than the did in the MG which is just mental.
Given the choice of keys available to me on a dry day without the kids though... it will always come second place. I'll leave you with a couple of pics of our new 'boring family car' while I go and make a start on that Carlsberg...
Andy.
Chucked the kids in the back, headed off from Livi through Blackburn towards Linlithgow via Avon Gorge. Some nice flowing bends with gradient changes on there, and the little Ford seemed to love them.
Then hopped up the M9 for a short blast until the exit for Blair Drummond.
Stayed on that road until Callander, where we stopped and had some scran in the 'Ben Ledi'. Half a dozen fresh Oysters... the wife said she would have some, but tried just 1... so I polished them off... followed by Haddock/chips & mushy peas. The diet starts tomorrow (just as soon as I've finished that Carlsberg off that's in the fridge). Was just starting to rain a bit when we headed back to the car park, but it was that nice warm rain... so the kids weren't complaining. Grabbed some rum & raisin fudge from the touristy shop to munch on for the remainder of the trip.
My jumper had acted like a big sponge on the walk back so the Fiesta had misted up something rotten by the time the kids were settled and the doors were shut. Time to try out this quick-clear windscreen thingy. Being an MG-Rover man in the past, my experience of Fords is somehwat limited... but believe this is a feature on most Fords these days. What a cracking little feature it is too... windscreen cleared in less than 15 seconds and we were off. How could I ever have gone 33yrs of my life without this little button? I think it's meant to assist with frosty windscreen, but I guess I won't be able to try that out for a few months.
We then thought about heading for the Dukes Pass, but seeing as I have never been there in my puff and hadn't brought a map/sat-nav I wasn't exactly sure where it was (I knew I was close though). Instead, we headed out towards Loch Earn/Earnhead where it was absolutely pelting it down. Wipers on full. Taking the road right round the Loch, you could hardly make out the water. The tarmac was also flowing like a river, so I was actually kind of glad I was in the ST at that point !!
Those roads are great, and it was confidence inspiring the way that you could chuck the nose of the ST in to a bend and it didn't wash out even in that weather. Only once did grip seem to give up, and it was very neutral... the whole car seeming to drift progressively out a few inches rather than understeer. The wife and I turned round to each other at the same time and said "The Lotus would be great on these roads". I sense another weekend away with no kids on the horizon.
Anyway... not wanting to come down and hit traffic on the Forth Bridge, we headed off towards Crieff where the rain had given up by the looks of it... and then down towards Stirling where we picked up the M9 once again. Back over Avon Gorge and home to Livingston (where it would appear that it has remained dry all day!!!).
All in all, I am very happy with the Fiesta ST. Although the v6 MG we traded in had more grunt and a very tidy chassis, the Fiesta is putting a smile on our faces with the driving experience. I still can't quite believe I took the plunge for a Fiesta (neither can my wife)... but when I sit in it, I am amazed at the quality and by the interior space available in what is a supermini. The kids say they have more space in the rear than the did in the MG which is just mental.
Given the choice of keys available to me on a dry day without the kids though... it will always come second place. I'll leave you with a couple of pics of our new 'boring family car' while I go and make a start on that Carlsberg...
Andy.
Last edited by gorrie on Sun Jun 03, 2007 7:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I have no signature.
