Fiesta st mk7, 208gti.

[imprezzaworks]

I'm kind of tempted to get a newer car and these two fall into a budget. Anyone had one, know of someone with one...

[Clarkj93]

SparkPlugSteve on YouTube has a track day mk7 fiesta St, lots of vids of him going on about strengths/weaknesses and mods but that's track based stuff so depends on what your potential car is for? If you're after something thats just a bit more lively on the b roads and commute but sacrifices comfort/liveability then my choice would probs be a fiesta st or clio 200 personally.

[imprezzaworks]

Funny enough I started watching his latest video with his moltan St he just bought. Think I have scrubbed the 208 already tbh

[pudding]

The Fiesta is a great car    You will have exactly the same HPFP cam follower and carbon fouling maintenance to do as the GTI, though 

It's not quite as brawny in the midrange as the GTI, being 400cc smaller, but the car is lighter, so overall not a big difference in point-to-point performance.  The suspension is a LOT stiffer than the GTIs, especially at the rear, but it works overall, not excessively crashy or harsh.

What pricing are MK6 Focus STs currently sitting at?  I would consider that over the Fiesta if you want something a bit more civilised.  It's still sharper than the MK5, but not as aggressive as the Fiesta. The Focus has a very decent Traction control system and can be powered out of corners much quicker than a one tyre fire MK5.

The 2 things fast Fords do really well are seats and brakes.  The Recaros being way more comfy/supportive and the brakes a lot sharper and more powerful than VW's efforts.

Peugeots are, well, Peugeots.  Quirky French stuff. I'd take the Fords over the 208 any day of the week.

[imprezzaworks]

Have dismissed the 208. Finding a nice enough in the pics st is proving hard work.

Not looked at the focus though.

[pudding]

The Focus looks bland but it drives really well 

A colleague at my old job had a Fiesta ST and I had to work my ED30 hard to keep up with her on local back roads.  They don't look like much, being a little Fiesta, but they put a smile on your face.

Either way, cheaper parts, reliable and fun.  Can't go wrong really.

[imprezzaworks]

Mate still has his black 15 plate one. Lives in sunny Scotland. Bought it new and still likes it. I think to move from the golf it would be something not similar. Tricky part will be finding one.

That and the theft issue is a slight worry!?!.

[pudding]

It is hard moving on from a favoured/trusted brand.  No one car can tick all the boxes though, so there may be things you don't like about the Ford.  Only one way to find out 

There are 100s of them roaming around where I live, so clearly popular.  Not many get pinched around here (Suffolk).  It's the Golf Rs and 140i BMWs that get nicked on a regular basis.