Fiesta ST cruising on the highway, how is it?

12608 Views 15 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Hiramw, Oct 31, 2013

Hiramw

Discussion Starter · Oct 24, 2013

Hello,

I'm seriously considering the Fiesta ST as my next car and I'd like to reach a decision soon. I test drove the Fiesta ST and I really enjoyed it. However, my test drive did not include any highway time. I would like to hear from Fiesta ST owners regarding extended highway driving.

How loud is the cabin at a steady 70mph? Do you have to significantly increase the volume of your music? Can you and your passenger speak is a normal voice?

Thank you in advance,
Hiram

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

ST_Rocky

· #2 · Oct 24, 2013

I love it! Brought back the joy of driving back to me.

As to the noise? It is TOO QUIET for me! My music is listening to a great exhaust system. I need to replace the stock one soon.

Reactions: 1

Sil3nt611

· #3 · Oct 24, 2013

My test drive was almost entirely 17 miles of highway driving. I was pretty much doing 70 and got to 80 accidentally a lot.

My current daily driver really has no sound deadening that is any bit effective. I turn the radio way up to drown out the road noise. If I want to talk to someone I have to talk really loud. So when I test drove the Fiesta ST I didn't really even think about it at the time, but I was pretty much talking to the salesman in a voice I would talk to someone normally. Road noise wasn't bad at all. Road noise could still be heard, bit being that I'm comparing it to my current car, it's absolutely a step up. The sound symposer is piped into the cabin. It adds some engine noise in the cabin when you're pressing the gas pedal, but it's quiet when cruising. I didn't have the radio on during the drive. You shouldn't have any problem hearing the radio or a person next to you without having to turn up the decibels much.

That being said, I don't know what you are currently driving and how bad or good the road noise is or your tolerance for road noise. I can tolerate it well. So I really don't even notice it until I have to talk to someone while driving down the highway. My current sound system can more than handle turning up enough that I can hear it while cruising the highway. If you can tolerate a little road noise, I don't think it will be an issue for you. If you're driving a Cadillac now, you'll likely have problems with it though.

Keep in mind the Fiesta is Ford's cheapest car, and with the ST having low pro tires and larger wheels you'll get more noise than the regular Fiesta. I have zero issues with it.

See less See more

Cligedy

· #4 · Oct 24, 2013

The ride can be a bit choppy over expansion joints, but that's to be expected with the stiff springs and short wheelbase. Noise shouldn't be a concern though. It's quieter than my wife's 13 forester. I'm very impressed with the noise levels in the Fiesta, I expected it to be much louder.

Reactions: 1

speedprotege

· #5 · Oct 24, 2013

Put over 1000 miles on in two days on the highway nothing to complain about

Blinkrz

· #6 · Oct 24, 2013

I've had my ST a week today, I've done enough highway driving so far I can say the tires do make a bit of noise but nothing thats annoying. I'm also coming from 13 years of driving a 2001 Lexus IS300 so I'm used to being in a quiet cabin.

As Cligedy mentioned the expansion joints can be a bit choppy, just have to get used to it.

Talking to one another is fine, no need to raise your voice.

The radio does have the feature that raises the volume as your speed increases.

But hearing the Sound Symposer work its magic is an addicting sound, a very fun sound to hear.

I'm gonna drive home without the radio today now that I think about it.

CarefreeAZ

· #7 · Oct 24, 2013

Hiramw said:
Hello,

I'm seriously considering the Fiesta ST as my next car and I'd like to reach a decision soon. I test drove the Fiesta ST and I really enjoyed it. However, my test drive did not include any highway time. I would like to hear from Fiesta ST owners regarding extended highway driving.

How loud is the cabin at a steady 70mph? Do you have to significantly increase the volume of your music? Can you and your passenger speak is a normal voice?

Thank you in advance,
Hiram

I've got over 4000 miles now in about 5 weeks, split 60%city/40%interstatehighway. Compared to my 2011 SES, the ride is choppier, especially on Midwest concrete with numerous expansion joints, but smoother overall, especially in the city (my SES ride has been softened a bit too by new OEM Hankooks for the winter.). I have a new set of Conti ExtremeContact DWSs (16s) I will put on the ST next month for driving in the cold so I am interested to see the differences in ride among the two cars' setups.
It's also slightly noisier (road noise) but not a problem for talking, listening, etc. The first week, I blipped the throttle constantly to amuse myself with the sound but now I'm over that. Mileage-wise, I'm averaging 31.5mpg (actual) so far with a best segment at 65 mph highway of about 40mpg. City is under 30mpg generally.

BRGT350

· #8 · Oct 24, 2013

I have almost 13,000 miles on the ST as of yesterday and 3300 of that was done in the last 2 weekends. I find the car to be fantastic on the highway. I actually find the ST to be much quieter than my 2011 Fiesta, but that is because the intake, exhaust, tires, and some bushings are not stock on my other car. With fresh oil, I was averaging 32 MPG with 80% highway and 20% city using 93 octane fuel. If I am really hard on the car in the city I can get it to drop to 26MPG. I have also had the ST going very fast on gravel and dirt with good results. I can't say too much more about that since some things are better left undocumented. The only thing the ST doesn't like is 2" of wet, slushy snow. I found that out this morning. Be sure to have snow tires if you live where the white stuff falls. The summer tires are fantastic on tarmac without snow, and for open track and autocross. I had no trouble with them when on a 2-track or the logging roads that I needed to drive on last weekend.

wash

· #9 · Oct 24, 2013

I've heard complaints about tramlining on stock tires, it doesn't happen for me even on heavily rain grooved concrete. The road noise is not an issue at 80 except the thwack of expansion joints could make you miss a word of your conversation.

The only bad habit I've seen is on one stretch of highway that has expansion joints very close together that sets up kind of a pitching oscillation in the car. I wouldn't want to drive over 400 miles of that but so far I've only found about 1/4 mile on one road so its a minor issue unless I find a lot more.

BRGT350

· #10 · Oct 24, 2013

Yeah, it does get a little pitching back and forth if the road has the right joint dimensions to excite the suspension. It has happened to me a few times, but those sections of road tend to be very short. I am used to a lot of the ride compromises that come from driving a performance compact. For the past 13 years I have driven highly modified or factory tuned hot hatches. I find the ST to be the best one yet. Given its ability on track, autocrossing, and even off road, I would not change anything for the street.

Hiramw

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 24, 2013

Great stuff! I really appreciate all of the replies. Thank you! I have one more related question. At 70mph, in sixth gear, what are the RPMs on the Fiesta ST?

Thanks again,
Hiram

CarefreeAZ

· #12 · Oct 24, 2013

Hiramw said:
Great stuff! I really appreciate all of the replies. Thank you! I have one more related question. At 70mph, in sixth gear, what are the RPMs on the Fiesta ST?

Thanks again,
Hiram

I want to say about 2750.

Bluto

· #13 · Oct 24, 2013

Hiramw said:
Great stuff! I really appreciate all of the replies. Thank you! I have one more related question. At 70mph, in sixth gear, what are the RPMs on the Fiesta ST?

Thanks again,
Hiram

I get 2725 rpm
FWIW you can get engine rpm at 60mph by multiplying the tire revs/mile x 6th gear ratio x final drive ratio
886 x 0.690 x 3.82 = 2335rpm
multiplying that by 7/6 gives engine rpm at 70mph
2335 x (7/6) = 2725rpm

FiestaST

· #14 · Oct 26, 2013

Considering I put over 1000 miles on it in 6 days and all highway (NYS thruway) I have no complaints. In 6th gear cruising at 80 it's quiet and comfortable. I looked down a few times and saw I was over 100 mph and didn't realize it because it was so smooth. It's way better than my 2000 Civic that shakes over 55 mph lol

takuarc

· #15 · Oct 27, 2013

Its very easy to speed in the FiST as it is quite quiet aside from the sound symposer.
So I often opt for cruise control on highways. Only take control when people irritate me or when I feel like fooling around and know there are no cameras...

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk

Hiramw

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 31, 2013

Thanks again for all of the helpful replies. I picked up my Fiesta ST on Monday. I've been enjoying getting to know it these past few days. It's a really cool car in many different ways.

Hiram

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.