[14st]

Today I got a feel for how fast the car really is. I raced a 300c 5.7 and BARELY lost! I can't wait to upgrade it more when parts are available. It just has a milltek cat back system on it now

 

[k757]

 

[14st]

Is that bad?

 

[k757]

the ST has Civic Si speed (~15 sec 1/4 mi), which I think is not particularly fast when compared to all cars. Against small cars it'll surely dominate. The car's sweet spot is the handling.

 

[wash]

A few weeks ago I was driving on the freeway with my cruise control on and I hit a slow section of traffic. Not wanting to slow down I changed lanes trying to thread the needle. In the process it looked like I was trying to pass a Ferarri 458 and the driver didn't like that.

He hit the gas and I hit the gas thinking "this will be fun". I didn't shift down from sixth gear. The Ferrari pulled on me but not as much as you would think.

If I had another 100hp, I think the Ferrari would have had a hard time pulling anything.

The Ferrari is fast in a straight line and fast in the corners but it costs about 10x a Fiesta ST. A 300C is kind of fast in a straight line if it has the hemi but that's all it is, a ~luxury car that's fast in a straight line.

We have gotten to a point where nearly every newish car on the road has acceleration as fast as a 1980s "sports car" but at the same time most cars are heavy, bloated and tuned for comfort more than handling.

The Fiesta ST is a nice exception, its acceleration is sporty, its handling is sports car and its not bloated except compared to a Miata, Lotus or some other exotic with very limited practicality.

A 300c can beat you in a straight line but a Fiesta ST would destroy it on an autocross and any race track with more turns than a banked oval.

 

[Gpfarrell]

My ST is more fun than my faster cars. Straight line speed has become a cheap commodity. We're living in good times! To me, involvement is much more valuable than surplus acceleration... That's why I bought this "puppy with a turbo"!