Considering a FiST

4022 Views 23 Replies 19 Participants Last post by pleaseyesplease, Jan 12, 2014

pleaseyesplease

Discussion Starter · Dec 12, 2013

Hi Everyone! I'm currently an enthusiastic Mazda2 owner, but thinking hard about moving up to an ST (like Slow Paul) for the increase in performance, but also the more sophisticated interior, etc. I'd love to hear from any ST owners on how you're feeling about your STs after living daily with them for a month or two. Anyone who previously owned a 2 would be great to hear from as well. Thanks in advance!

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Smokin

· #21 · Jan 6, 2014 (Edited)

Monochrome said:
Been reading the forums for a few weeks now and decided to register to make a post about this. I own a Mazda 2 and will be buying a fiesta ST very soon. At the time, I was looking at the SE fiesta (not the ST, there's no comparison) as we needed some kind if economy vehicle for getting around.

We picked up the Mazda over the fiesta for many reasons:

*Much more interior space (passengers can ride comfortably in the back seat).
*Bigger trunk (my wife hauls a lot of $hit)
*Better gas mileage
*better price (nearly $3300 cheaper than the fiesta I wanted)
*better warranty and more included maintenance with the purchase

Both cars were very fun to drive! I'd say the fiesta was definitely more powerful but my wife doesn't care about that. She didn't like my "spirited"test drives either. I was amazed by the handling of the very light chassis and the torque of the tiny 1.5 motor in the Mazda. It reminded me a lot of a miata only with more room and FWD.

As for the fiesta ST, I currently own a focus ST and I'm considering trading for the fiesta simply because I like the smaller car. The focus is a boat compared to the fiesta. I absolutely love the car but for getting around in the city, its too much. Terrible turning radius, horrible blind spots, difficult to park... I never considered these challenges when I got the focus and regretting it now.

I'm expecting the fiesta ST to get worse mileage than the Mazda and I doubt ill be hauling passengers in it so the interior space doesn't bother me. It's going to be advantageous owning both cars though!

Just one question....you say the focus has horrible blind spots? I have a '14 Focus SE and have no problem with blind spots. In fact just this morning driving to work (at -10 deg F) I made special note of the good vision of all the crazy's around me. My only complaint is the driver's side wide angle mirror. It is a distraction. I catch myself looking twice, which takes my eyes off the road too long...

If you've driven the subcompacts like the M-2 it may feel big. I have a GTI and the Focus feels more substantial than the GTI but is fun to drive. The ST comes in any day now and then i have to give the Focus back to my wife....

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Max Archer

· #22 · Jan 6, 2014

Funny how many of us are Mazda2 converts, I guess it makes sense though.

The ST really does feel like an upmarket 2 on steroids. I loved my 2, but got bored of how barebones it was and was sick of being so far down on power. Out-lapping noobs in S2Ks and Evos and M3s is entertaining a few times, but being in the bottom 20 at a trackday still gets old and it's frustrating always being stuck behind people in the corners and then having them pull away on the straights.

The only downsides are that the back seats are definitely down on legroom, and I liked the 2's styling a bit better than the Fiesta's. Still, very happy with the move.

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silvertoy

· #23 · Jan 7, 2014

Monochrome said:
As for the fiesta ST, I currently own a focus ST and I'm considering trading for the fiesta simply because I like the smaller car. The focus is a boat compared to the fiesta. I absolutely love the car but for getting around in the city, its too much. Terrible turning radius, horrible blind spots, difficult to park... I never considered these challenges when I got the focus and regretting it now.

I'm expecting the fiesta ST to get worse mileage than the Mazda and I doubt ill be hauling passengers in it so the interior space doesn't bother me. It's going to be advantageous owning both cars though!

Traded my Focus ST2 for the Fiesta ST as well. The more urban driving you do, the more you'll appreciate the Fiesta. The Focus definitely outshines the Fiesta on the highway at higher speeds, but only in ride comfort. The mass and "boatyness" help it out there, vs. the fiestas bouncy (but not harsh, IMO) ride. Haven't found myself missing the Focus' additional power except on the highway when passing or climbing grades, it's not that the fiesta is ever lacking in power, just that you have to down-shift with the Fiesta where the Focus could make due in higher gears due to the extra torque and hp at lower RPMs. But hey, I'm also getting about 5mpg better so far on average than I ever got with my Focus, so there's that.

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pleaseyesplease

Discussion Starter · #24 · Jan 12, 2014

I'm still very eager to drive an ST, to say the least, but I'm not having luck finding any at local dealerships, nor do there seem to be any en route except for the occasional customer order. If there is a FiST owner in the Portland, OR area who would be willing to let me check out the car, please PM me, or post a reply here. Thanks!

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