Ford Fiesta St Mk8 for Australia?

xr6-FTW · 06-08-2019, 09:43 PM

Hey guys, whats the go for the new fiesta that has continuously been delayed to come to Australia? Does anyone know any information regarding when it will be released or if it will be released at all down here? If they are to release a 5 door variant here, the mother etc are interested in purchasing one.

**russellw** · 07-08-2019, 01:51 AM

Allegedly it is supposed to be coming here but there hasn't even been any pre-release or long-lead info so I have my doubts.

Cheers
Russ

Bossxr8 · 07-08-2019, 01:37 PM

Soon.

**Luke Plaizier** · 10-08-2019, 10:38 PM

The latest Motor magazine says that the Fiesta ST has been delayed again - to 2020. (August 2019 issue, page 122 - 'Pipeline')

Lukeyson

xr6-FTW · 11-08-2019, 10:00 PM

It’s annoying but, if it’s been delayed to next year, because I don’t think my mum will be wait until then, which sucks. Because I wana see what the car is like, for what you get for the supposed money it will cost, you get a lot of car for the money.....

**PepeLePew** · 01-10-2019, 12:55 PM

Dealer bulletin August said production in Nov 19, arrival Jan-Feb 2020. Pricey but, pricey for a little jigger. But fully loaded except prestige paint, LED headlights (not optionable either) and optional panoramic roof. 5 door only, manual only. Unless changed since.

**PepeLePew** · 02-11-2019, 07:45 AM

Slight correction brochures out LED headlights included. Not cheap but fully loaded

asagaai · 25-06-2020, 09:51 PM

Just picked up a new Fiesta ST Mk 8 - white, today.

Had to go to Wollongong today to finalise purchase as there were no new white Fiesta ST's for sale in Sydney/Newcastle-all sold.

Drove back to Newcastle this evening- so much fun.The heated seat with 3 temperatures was interesting, as was the heated steering wheel.

I literally burst out laughing some 5 times going round tight bends, with 1 corner inducing outside rear wheel lift which again was a strange sensation.

The car is a blast-little underpowered, but so many new treats in the handling department which is up there with the best handlers and best steerers I have ever driven.

And the engine sounds great- reminds me a bit of driving a porsche boxster with flat 6 3.2 litre in terms of the torque pull and sound.

Although small- it is a bargain for the finessed German engineering you are getting, very balanced and integrated package.

Citroënbender · 25-06-2020, 10:45 PM

How did it pick up an outside trailing wheel?

asagaai · 26-06-2020, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

How did it pick up an outside trailing wheel?

Oops

Inside rear wheel.

Was tired- up from 3.30 am yesterday, trained down to Wollongong, working on train for 2 hours on laptop, picked up Fiesta ST, 2 hour conference in Sydney on way back, then drive back to Newcastle.

Dinner with family, then made excuse I had to go in to work to drop off files at 8.30 pm (truth was I wanted to drive the ST again that night-it is soo much fun), so when I got home late and posted here I was a tad tired- my excuse anyway.

Citroënbender · 26-06-2020, 11:50 AM

Rats, I’d hoped to learn more driving tricks!

Late, tired - you are forgiven.

I assumed you returned via the Putty Rd and Broke, when I saw the time of posting.

Bossxr8 · 26-06-2020, 01:32 PM

Wheels gave it 9.5 stars/10. Reckon it’s an absolute ripper of a car.

asagaai · 26-06-2020, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Wheels gave it 9.5 stars/10. Reckon it’s an absolute ripper of a car.

Anyone interested- links:

Here is this guy, Fiesta ST tops his driver list over Ferrari and Porsche-Jonathan Burn

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/perfor...ta-st-and-more

Chris Harris raving- best scrappy hot hatch

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...90E2EF7E96D565

Henry Catchpole- says engine has sound and engine vibe of aircooled 911 six, and is one of the best performance cars regardless of price

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFneaU_8Ww4

And here is a great segment from a review with good camera work and sound showing the joy of the car.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...A96513C63D051E

And finally- Autocar picking the top 10 cars that they like the best- ie that are FUN, or in their words- “They are not the greatest driver’s cars, nor the ones that most exceed expectations, or come from that curious confection where cars appear to be without reason somehow greater than the sum of their constituent parts. There’s only one superlative that applies to this group: they’re simply the cars we like best".

And they rated them:

1. Alpine A110
2. McLaren 600LT
3. Ford Fiesta ST
4. Porsche 911
5. BMW 320D

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/f...-five-showdown

The way this car pacman on the front grabs the corner with the Quaif LSD up front, and pulls the front and drags the rear around like oversteer, and you feel like a pivot point between the pacman front and lively rear- just amazing- first time I punched it early in a corner I started laughing hysterically- such a fun car.

**DJM83** · 26-06-2020, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Wheels gave it 9.5 stars/10. Reckon it’s an absolute ripper of a car.

Big shoes to fill too Imo.

Bossxr8 · 26-06-2020, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM83

Big shoes to fill too Imo.

Yeah the previous model was very highly rated too. Big job to improve on that.

asagaai · 05-07-2020, 06:19 PM

Here are some shots of my new car:

Quote:

Love this car- IS A BEAST in twisties-discovered track mode and the Quaif diff plus corners and 290 nm torque and 300 hp = LOVE

BAWITHLOT · 17-07-2020, 02:28 PM

Nice, I'm still waiting for a callback from Ford. Guessing it will be Sinclare as that is my closest, wont hold my breath and may have to drop into Castle Hill

BAWITHLOT · 18-07-2020, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asagaai

Love this car- IS A BEAST in twisties-discovered track mode and the Quaif diff plus corners and 290 nm torque and 300 hp = LOVE

How is your car 300hp? 147kW = <200hp and the new GR Yaris is only going to be >250hp

**DJM83** · 18-07-2020, 09:07 AM

300hp.
The new Focus ST doesn't even have that. Let alone a Fiesta ST.

asagaai · 18-07-2020, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM83

300hp.
The new Focus ST doesn't even have that. Let alone a Fiesta ST.

Yeah guys was a slip- meant to say 200 hp and 300 nm.

Still a hell of a lot of fun in dry on tight corners in race track mode with no esp and quaiff mechanical lsd - one of the best handling cars I have ever driven.

Have a look at this guy driving one around the ring- insane for a 1.5 litre...

Quote:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdkBJWz5RjY

BAWITHLOT · 18-07-2020, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asagaai

Yeah guys was a slip- meant to say 200 hp and 300 nm.
Still a hell of a lot of fun in dry on tight corners in race track mode with no esp and quaiff mechanical lsd - one of the best handling cars I have ever driven.
Have a look at this guy driving one around the ring- insane for a 1.5 litre...

I've been watching a lot lately as I have the GT Turbo Picanto that is fun with a claimed 74kW/ 171 Nm and seeing if its worth the upgrade but at over twice the price I doubt it will be twice the fun

asagaai · 18-07-2020, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAWITHLOT

I've been watching a lot lately as I have the GT Turbo Picanto that is fun with a claimed 74kW/ 171 Nm and seeing if its worth the upgrade but at over twice the price I doubt it will be twice the fun

Not sure about the GT Turbo Picanto as I have never driven. But this Fiesta to me is more fun to drive than a BMW M2, and for 90% of the time way more fun to drive than my FGX XR8.

Lets put it this way- I have been driving my FGX XR8 manual with intercooler for last 5 years and rear wheel drive oversteer is now second nature to me.

Heard about the throttle off oversteer into corners with the Fiesta Mk 8, and was a bit unsure about how to drive it.

Early one morning at 12.30 am decided to go and take the Fiesta around a very tight section of road with corners and speeds between the 40 to north of 100 km mark, put in track mode, no traction esp, and just went for it.

And I just kept pushing it- and the thing is the steering is so super sharp and right, the throttle is so quick and responsive, brakes good bite, chassis so supple and responsive, that you do not think, you just tap dance between steering and throttle inputs and play with understeer/oversteer and insane early mid corner power down. It really is that cliche you become one with the car and everything just fuses together into a seamless dance...

I purposively went into one corner way to hot to see how the understeer/oversteer played out, and it was laughable how controllable it all is and I used about 50% less of the lateral roadway than I thought I would need.

This is the closest I have driven to a track go kart in feel, in that the car pivots around you at the centre.

Take it on a tight section of roadway, track mode, and really push it and you realise it is a serious bit of kit.

The only negatives (lack of top end power being one) is that it does not like high speed bumpy roads- that is a bit freaky and on one straight section of road that I love blasting down in my FGX XR8 the Fiesta spooked me... the Fiesta is clearly designed for smooth tarmac roads like the Ring etc

I am Loving it every time I drive it....

**DFB FGXR6** · 18-07-2020, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asagaai

Yeah guys was a slip- meant to say 200 hp and 300 nm.

Still a hell of a lot of fun in dry on tight corners in race track mode with no esp and quaiff mechanical lsd - one of the best handling cars I have ever driven.

Have a look at this guy driving one around the ring- insane for a 1.5 litre...

I love the deep, thrumy sound these things make.

Glad to hear you are loving your new ST. Would love to drive one some day.