First examples of Holden's answer to the Fiesta ST arrive Down Under

LeadFoot81 · 07-09-2013, 11:11 AM

"GM Holden is ready to take on Ford’s new Fiesta ST with a turbocharged Barina hot hatch that will go on sale in November.

Motoring.com.au spotted the first shipment of new Barina Turbo models arriving at Holden’s Melbourne HQ today, and our sources have confirmed a local launch is just two months away.

The Barina Turbo will be a direct competitor for hot light-size hatchbacks like Ford’s new Fiesta ST, which was launched here last week priced from just $25,990, as well as Peugeot’s almost-as-new 208 GTi (from $29,990), Skoda’s Fabia RS and Volkswagen’s benchmark Polo GTI (both from $27,990).

Unlike all those turbocharged front-wheel drive models, however, the Korean-built Barina Turbo will benefit from local chassis tuning by Australian engineers at Holden, which is believed to have undertaken significant, ride, handling and steering upgrades."

http://www.motoring.com.au/news/2013...rbo-here-38702

I'm not a fan of the Chevrolet Sonic/Holden Barina's styling in general, but visually it's not different enough IMO. It will be interesting to read the head to head comparisons however. Holden's Aussie-tinkered Cruze still can't quite match Ford's global (Thai sourced in Oz) Focus.

**Fordman1** · 07-09-2013, 11:23 AM

Will be budget.

ST Fiesta is a class above this s&$t box

:

fiestaz · 07-09-2013, 12:03 PM

no thanks

Cheese3 · 07-09-2013, 12:56 PM

LeadFoot81 · 07-09-2013, 01:31 PM

Ha ha. Ok so it's not just me that's 'underwhelmed' with the Barina T.

**DJM83** · 07-09-2013, 01:43 PM

Answer to the ST and other proper hatches?

Yeah right.

WILDB · 07-09-2013, 03:27 PM

Ah yes, the car that looks like it's been in an accident before it's even been driven.

This pile of Daewoo crap is about as much of a competitor to the Fiesta ST as the Hyundai i30 SR is the Focus ST.....

**Fordman1** · 07-09-2013, 06:12 PM

I've changed my mind.

Fiesta ST is 2 or 3 classes above that abomination ..... What a S$&t box !!

Pursya · 07-09-2013, 07:38 PM

We had a Barina Sri which was traded for the Zetec.
It was a ripper of a car. 1.8 ltr compared to the 1.4ltr standard Barina, with short throw 5 speed, wide wheels and so much poke that V8 Commodores were embarrassed at the lights. And they hated it.
But the Sri was built in Spain. Big difference over this new abomination. Particularly in looks.

Bossxr8 · 07-09-2013, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pursya

We had a Barina Sri which was traded for the Zetec.
It was a ripper of a car. 1.8 ltr compared to the 1.4ltr standard Barina, with short throw 5 speed, wide wheels and so much poke that V8 Commodores were embarrassed at the lights. And they hated it.
But the Sri was built in Spain. Big difference over this new abomination. Particularly in looks.

I hope this is sarcasm.

A Barina a Fiesta ST competitor hahahahahaha. Is it April 1st?

And it's been expertly tuned by Holdens engineers which must be a million times better than Team RS. What have they ever done

Pursya · 07-09-2013, 09:42 PM

Sorry Bossy.
But the Barina Sri 2003 was a great vehicle, as I stated.
As the 2013 Fiesta ST didn't exist at that time I find your comparison invalid.

Bossxr8 · 07-09-2013, 10:00 PM

I wasn't comparing with your car, I was comparing it to the Barina in the OP.

I just lolled at the "and so much poke that V8 Commodores were embarrassed at the lights" comment. What are we talking about here, the first emissions choked 253 VB's that couldn't pull the skin off a rice custard or anything post fuel injection? Cause no 1.8 buzz box is going to touch one.

Pursya · 07-09-2013, 11:34 PM

Burned Commodores off at the lights all the time, old and new.
Simply the weight of the Barina was a huge advantage. They'd get me after a few hundred metres, but you should have seen how hard they had to go and how ****ed off they were that their big hunks of metal didn't just walk all over a little buzz box.
Hardest thing to cope with when trading it for the Zetec was how slow the Z is off the mark. Slooooowwwww......is an understatement. Even the 80-120 kmh overtaking range is different in the Z. You have to plan it. In the Sri you just dropped to fourth and planted it. Instant push back n the seat.
An enjoyable ride.

http://www.carsguide.com.au/news-and...den_barina_sri

http://www.autoweb.com.au/cms/A_1428...i/article.html

In Focus · 07-09-2013, 11:58 PM

It's got me worried... not.

Actually, the Barina would be OK if you were after something a little bit warmer than your standard light car range. It's a bit wrong, or stupid, to be comparing it to the Fiesta ST. I'm sure even Holden would be shying away from that comparison. Maybe a Suzuki Swift Sport would be more in its league.

Pursya · 08-09-2013, 12:12 AM

I never compared my 2003 Barina Sri to any Fiesta ST, living or dead.

1TUFFUTE · 08-09-2013, 03:26 AM

Anyone who buys that car and tries to claim some sort of sporty ability needs there head checked.......that car is a Korean hack job. The fiesta ST is a real mans small sports car...which has recently made a mockery of the much praised track abilities of the brz and Toyota 86. Maybe there's a show down for this serious Holden special suspension division to have a crack at. I love a good laugh.

**DJM83** · 08-09-2013, 03:21 PM

Wait till walkingforsure get a hold of it, I mean look what they did with the cruze

WILDB · 08-09-2013, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM83

Wait till walkingforsure get a hold of it, I mean look what they did with the cruze

0-100 as slow as factory, but with a tacky paintjob and high pricetag.