Mini or Fiesta ST

[ajf]

I recently test drove a 2015 Fiesta ST2.
Seats were fantastic, but as others said the interior is a little boring. Also found as it's a 3 door that it felt quite closed in with the narrowing rear windows and big C pillars.
Performance wise it was great. Instant power with no lag and accelerated strongly in even 6th. Gear changes were slick and quick although initially found the clutch a bit heavy.
Steering was nicely weighted and direct and the handling felt good but couldn't take it on really twisty stuff during the test.

For me though it did feel a bit too manic even when just driving normally, but think that is just down to the size and sports orientated suspension.

I'd highly recommend at least trying one.

Mini wise, the only one I have ever driven was when they first launched several years ago. it was a Cooper S but I found the gearbox so notchy and difficult to change gear -I actually got stuck in neutral at 70mph on a dual carriageway!
This has rather coloured my opinion since!
Performance was good though and I loved the supercharger whine

 

[kaptainmarc]

Any more amazing pieces of insight?

Confused as to how you think the Mini cooper is fun but the ST isn't. What did you find sedate about it?

plenty what more knowledge would you like? can someone not have an opinion on a car?

The car drove well but lacked the fun factor, you can just bin it everywhere and it will go in a nice manor, maybe I was expecting too much when test driving it.

but I am coming from a Suzuki swift sport which is like a go kart and less computerized. which is silly fun through the twists and turns.

I found the cooper to be more engaging drive, might just be the heavier steering in the mini that made me feel more connected to the road. (was an R50 i believe) so old in comparison.

Maybe I need to drive it for a longer period of time, but it didn't get me very excited on the test drive, I might just have a thing for old hatchbacks that most people wouldn't want to do a 4 mile commute in

 

[Logsi]

but I am coming from a Suzuki swift sport which is like a go kart and less computerized. which is silly fun through the twists and turns.

I'm sorry but how can the ST be sedate coming from a luke warm hatch like the Swift Sport?

The ST has torque by the bucketful in comparison. It doesn't make any sense! That's without even mentioning it's nearly twice the amount of horses too.

Less computerised? The swift sport is a car that has bundled in every electronic gizmo since the mid naughties well ahead of everyone else as that is Suzuki's niche to get people to buy it. Keyless entry, start, electronic stability, traction, electronic brake distribution, abs...

 

[Spikey]

plenty what more knowledge would you like? can someone not have an opinion on a car?

The car drove well but lacked the fun factor, you can just bin it everywhere and it will go in a nice manor, maybe I was expecting too much when test driving it.

but I am coming from a Suzuki swift sport which is like a go kart and less computerized. which is silly fun through the twists and turns.

I found the cooper to be more engaging drive, might just be the heavier steering in the mini that made me feel more connected to the road. (was an R50 i believe) so old in comparison.

Maybe I need to drive it for a longer period of time, but it didn't get me very excited on the test drive, I might just have a thing for old hatchbacks that most people wouldn't want to do a 4 mile commute in

Just LAWL

 

[kaptainmarc]

I'm sorry but how can the ST be sedate coming from a luke warm hatch like the Swift Sport?

The ST has torque by the bucketful in comparison. It doesn't make any sense! That's without even mentioning it's nearly twice the amount of horses too.

Less computerised? The swift sport is a car that has bundled in every electronic gizmo since the mid naughties well ahead of everyone else as that is Suzuki's niche to get people to buy it. Keyless entry, start, electronic stability, traction, electronic brake distribution, abs...

Just because something has more power/torque does not make it more exciting.

I said it before and I will say it again, It was a good car maybe even brilliant, but to ME it lacked the fun.


"I'd go for the mini. I'm not sure the Fiesta will suit your needs coming from a Mazda 3."

why would a fiesta not suit his needs over the Mazda 3 then? If its amazing fun, powerful, buckets of torque?

im guessing because its not as fun as the MPS/Mini..... the exact point I'm stating

Just LAWL

problem with my personal opinion?


edit: do you own a fiesta ST and are feeling but hurt or something?

 

[Janesy B]

It's just different to the opinion of everyone that has ever driven one. Calling it sedate when most people comment on the fussy ride at low speed. Maybe the fact that it picks up speed without fuss and doesn't need ragging takes away the 'fun'.

The Fiesta is no more or less 'computerised' than the Swift.

 

[kaptainmarc]

It's just different to the opinion of everyone that has ever driven one. Calling it sedate when most people comment on the fussy ride at low speed. Maybe the fact that it picks up speed without fuss and doesn't need ragging takes away the 'fun'.

The Fiesta is no more or less 'computerised' than the Swift.

That's what I am trying to get at, the fact that the car is almost too good almost, on my test drive I felt I could just plant my foot and away we went zooming around quite effortlessly.

Not saying the car is a bad car quite the opposite, Just not what I would personally want from a hot hatch

 

[Janesy B]

If you explained that from the start I don't think others would have given you such a hard time. Give it a chance to stretch it's legs on a B road and you'd probably change your mind about it.

 

[Logsi]

im guessing because its not as fun as the MPS/Mini..... the exact point I'm stating

Nope, nothing of the sort. More to do with being used to the size and ride of a Mazda 3. If you want fun then a fiesta is better than a Mazda or Focus as shown in many reviews.

 

[Nasher]

The Fiesta ST is probably what you would get if Lotus made a hot hatch

You don't get much to look at on the inside, it's all about the performance, great handling and keeping the weight down. The gearbox is also very good. But the trade-off is that are quite "raw" and the ride is very hard, one of the hardest I've had on a road car. So not always great for UK roads.

If your not used to driving that kind of car (or you have a bad back!) you may not like it.

 

[pugheaven]

I've driven the Mini and for me, it's just bloated somehow... doesn't feel precise... however not driven an ST but everyone raves. Suppose just on looks and what I've heard the Fiesta everytime as I look at the Mini no matter in what guise and to me, it's just a fashion statement... and the quality of the bits inside isn't IMHO very good either. However, drive them and let us know what you go for and how they compare, would be interested.

 

[Dr Who]

I have driven a Corsa VXR, Mini Cooper S and Fiesta ST in the last 2 days and I would have the fiesta every day of the week. Get the mountune option as well.

The Mini is great though, comes a very close second, but the quirky controls ended up getting on my nerves.

Just did 150 miles in the Fiesta ST and was grinning most of the way.

 

[Skilid]

I have driven a Corsa VXR, Mini Cooper S and Fiesta ST in the last 2 days and I would have the fiesta every day of the week. Get the mountune option as well.

The Mini is great though, comes a very close second, but the quirky controls ended up getting on my nerves.

Just did 150 miles in the Fiesta ST and was grinning most of the way.

Did you notice much of a difference in onboard noise (wind, tyres) between the Mini and Fiesta?

 

[scoobyrichuk]

I've had my ST-3 for 6 months now and love it. I drove a Clio 172 for 2.5 years before this so am not bothered about interior/ride quality, the Fiesta feels like a modern version of my 172 with the extra power and torque making it even more fun to drive. I can't see how anyone who likes hot hatches wouldn't enjoy a decent B road blast in one, the MP215 is well worth fitting as well IMO.

 

[Dr Who]

Did you notice much of a difference in onboard noise (wind, tyres) between the Mini and Fiesta?

Main difference is how good the fiesta sounds when you boot it

The fiesta seemed very quiet overall the mini was very noisy with the window partially open. Stock sounds better on the fiesta, grip better on the fiesta, economy better on the fiesta (45mpg if you drive it properly, 36 if you drive like a knob).

The fiesta just feels so much more planted to me, and point to point, overtaking it just inspires so much confidence. Pedals are nicely spaced for heel and toe, seats are incredibly comfortable. I would definitely own one of these.

 

[Cleisthenes]

No, GP2.

I do like that, but I meant for the OP

I'm not sure a GP2 would come into budget though!

 

[Cleisthenes]

I'm sorry but how can the ST be sedate coming from a luke warm hatch like the Swift Sport?

The ST has torque by the bucketful in comparison. It doesn't make any sense! That's without even mentioning it's nearly twice the amount of horses too.

Since when is 180hp nearly twice 134hp?

 

[Nasher]

It's actually 200 in the ST because it uses overboost (an extra 20hp when you floor it). But it also has a lot of torque as well. It certainly GOES twice as fast

 

[OpenToSuggestions]

I test drove a Fiesta ST last weekend.
It was a new engine (so 'tight'), was the 180hp version and had 3 adults in it.
It was still very quick and immense fun.

I'd understand the sedate comment from someone who owned a 200hp motorbike, but otherwise the Fiesta ST really is a brilliant car.

 

[Janesy B]

Since when is 180hp nearly twice 134hp?

They're 197bhp for all intents and purposes, it's just that it's an 'overboost' feature that gives you full power for 15 seconds when booting it. To reset it you just lift off and boot it again. That's why the performance is so similar to the Pug 208 GTI and RS Clio despite being 20bhp 'down.