Some pics to start off with.
Stripes? I think the over top ones would go if I ever got one!
Far better than the Clio centre console! More gadgets too
Nicely done dashboard
Comfy seats
Climate control
Fords only: Heated Windscreen
Well, how could I turn down the opportunity that arose to me recently. That magic “two and a half year” point of owning the 197 was on the horizon, and the chance to have a Fiesta ST for a while was presented to me. I thought that taking the opportunity would give me a chance to re-kindle the love for the 197. As you’ll find out, it was almost quite the opposite...
I have a bit of a bad habit. Every car I have owned has been for 2 1/2 years roughly. I get bored of them at the two year point, then they are usually sold by the 2 and a half year point. 2 years and 2 months earlier, I got the 197, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. The Fiesta ST was in the equations for what car to buy, but not a front runner because then handling of it was nearly as good as the Clio. Another thing I like about cars is how many there are about. I can safely say I see far more Fiesta ST’s than Clio 197/200’s on the road.
So the change over took place at a fuel station, and off I went back home. The first thing I noticed was the low down power in the ST is better than the 197, the noise within the car (road noise) is louder than the Clio, and at lower speeds, the standard ST exhaust has more of a growl than the 197. The seats in the ST don’t “hug” you as much as the 197, and are very slightly less comfortable, but they are still brilliant for a journey - and for longer ones, they are better than the “Recaro” seat options in the 197/200.
The ST I had is equipped with all the mod cons such as climate control, electric folding mirrors, MP3 connectivity, CD multi changer, and it actually has an amazing sound system in it. One criticism that I have, and the ST’s owner has of the stereo in the 197 is that it is crap! The air con in the Clio is rubbish, and no MP3 etc.
Driving the ST was a total pleasure, plenty of power all through the rev ranges. No it isn’t as fast as the 197, but it isn’t that much slower either. Apparently, it is quite easy to lose the back end of the ST, but I never had that problem, partly because the owner has spent money putting good tyres on the car.
The owner of the car has not had any problems with the car at all, a far cry from myself and the 197 - all tacky problems associated with French cars. The ST is now on 63k miles, and it feels like it has 1k miles on it. No rattles, noises anything like that. The seats look new too, the Clio’s look worn out!
I have to give the car back after a month, I want it for longer, and indeed Matt was ok for me to have it for longer, but I can tell that he doesn’t like the Clio as much as I like his ST, and it isn’t fair that I hang on to his car just because I like it that much. I would like to have done a long journey in the car, and I am due to travel up north in November, but I will be Stripes-less by then. I know for certain it would have been a great journey in the ST, and would have been a lot cheaper on fuel as well. Another good point for the ST - it’s 7-8p per mile cheaper to run on fuel too.
What about the other costs associated with running a car? Well, the main two things to take into account aside from fuel, are tax and insurance.
The car is a group 13E on the old insurance scale, and the clio is a group 15. This results in a difference of about £20-£30 a year cheaper for myself on the ST. Road tax? £200 so it is about £45 cheaper per year.
So far, I have had the car nearly three weeks, and I have to say, it is a total pleasure to drive. I love it, it ticks all the boxes for what I look for in a car, and that to me is important. No it doesn’t have the speed of the Clio, no it doesn’t have the handling abilities of the Clio, it isn’t far off them though. And why is this car shunned by all other badge owners? I conducted a poll on a Vauxhall and Citroen forum, the choices being between the 197 and the ST - (and the Corsa VXR on the Citroen forum) for their next car. I also did a poll on a Ford Forum, and that was between the 197 and VXR. I cannot understand why people did nothing but criticise the ST. Gutless, Chavvy, Underpowered, Over-rated to name but a few words. The votes turned out to be 46% for the 197, 48% for the VXR and a measley 6% for the ST. I wonder to myself if any of these people have ever owned an ST. One owner of a 197 put “iv came from a st to a clio, and the clio is far better at everything. other than low down power were the st is great. been on trackdays with both and they are similar performance. thats when u spend a little on the st, i had new springs, exhaust system and filter which brought it to life. the interior is better in the st if you dont have the recaros IMO. both cars are good fun but the clio 197 is the one that puts smile on me face.”
SO what now? Well, the 197 stays, I know I would regret it if I sold it. I have learnt that actually having a car as your own is the best way to draw an opinion from one, and not hear-say from people. If i’d known what I knew now about fuel consumption on the 197 vs ST then I may have bought the ST to start off with. Same with the usual niggles in the Clio - rattles and squeaks, gearbox doesn’t like 1st gear when cold, bunny-hopping when cold etc etc. None of these issues in the ST. Do I regret buying the 197 over the ST? In some ways I do, in others I don’t. I’m not a track day person, so the Clio’s superior track abilities are wasted on me. But the Clio’s image is better, there are far fewer on the road, and there’s something else I can’t put my finger on about the Clio too. If I had to give up the Clio, there would be an ST on my drive without a shadow of a doubt.
Never slag something off until you’ve tried it! The ST has a totally unnecessary bad image. It is a fantastic car!
I leave you with one final, frightening fact too. Taking into account price rises etc etc, If i’d bought an ST instead of the Clio, I would have spent £90 less on tax, £60 less on insurance, and £1900 less on fuel. That fuel figure alone is eyewatering.
Standard "Roar" from the car too
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZyRLZxN5Ug[/YOUTUBE]
Stripes? I think the over top ones would go if I ever got one!
Far better than the Clio centre console! More gadgets too
Nicely done dashboard
Comfy seats
Climate control
Fords only: Heated Windscreen
Well, how could I turn down the opportunity that arose to me recently. That magic “two and a half year” point of owning the 197 was on the horizon, and the chance to have a Fiesta ST for a while was presented to me. I thought that taking the opportunity would give me a chance to re-kindle the love for the 197. As you’ll find out, it was almost quite the opposite...
I have a bit of a bad habit. Every car I have owned has been for 2 1/2 years roughly. I get bored of them at the two year point, then they are usually sold by the 2 and a half year point. 2 years and 2 months earlier, I got the 197, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. The Fiesta ST was in the equations for what car to buy, but not a front runner because then handling of it was nearly as good as the Clio. Another thing I like about cars is how many there are about. I can safely say I see far more Fiesta ST’s than Clio 197/200’s on the road.
So the change over took place at a fuel station, and off I went back home. The first thing I noticed was the low down power in the ST is better than the 197, the noise within the car (road noise) is louder than the Clio, and at lower speeds, the standard ST exhaust has more of a growl than the 197. The seats in the ST don’t “hug” you as much as the 197, and are very slightly less comfortable, but they are still brilliant for a journey - and for longer ones, they are better than the “Recaro” seat options in the 197/200.
The ST I had is equipped with all the mod cons such as climate control, electric folding mirrors, MP3 connectivity, CD multi changer, and it actually has an amazing sound system in it. One criticism that I have, and the ST’s owner has of the stereo in the 197 is that it is crap! The air con in the Clio is rubbish, and no MP3 etc.
Driving the ST was a total pleasure, plenty of power all through the rev ranges. No it isn’t as fast as the 197, but it isn’t that much slower either. Apparently, it is quite easy to lose the back end of the ST, but I never had that problem, partly because the owner has spent money putting good tyres on the car.
The owner of the car has not had any problems with the car at all, a far cry from myself and the 197 - all tacky problems associated with French cars. The ST is now on 63k miles, and it feels like it has 1k miles on it. No rattles, noises anything like that. The seats look new too, the Clio’s look worn out!
I have to give the car back after a month, I want it for longer, and indeed Matt was ok for me to have it for longer, but I can tell that he doesn’t like the Clio as much as I like his ST, and it isn’t fair that I hang on to his car just because I like it that much. I would like to have done a long journey in the car, and I am due to travel up north in November, but I will be Stripes-less by then. I know for certain it would have been a great journey in the ST, and would have been a lot cheaper on fuel as well. Another good point for the ST - it’s 7-8p per mile cheaper to run on fuel too.
What about the other costs associated with running a car? Well, the main two things to take into account aside from fuel, are tax and insurance.
The car is a group 13E on the old insurance scale, and the clio is a group 15. This results in a difference of about £20-£30 a year cheaper for myself on the ST. Road tax? £200 so it is about £45 cheaper per year.
So far, I have had the car nearly three weeks, and I have to say, it is a total pleasure to drive. I love it, it ticks all the boxes for what I look for in a car, and that to me is important. No it doesn’t have the speed of the Clio, no it doesn’t have the handling abilities of the Clio, it isn’t far off them though. And why is this car shunned by all other badge owners? I conducted a poll on a Vauxhall and Citroen forum, the choices being between the 197 and the ST - (and the Corsa VXR on the Citroen forum) for their next car. I also did a poll on a Ford Forum, and that was between the 197 and VXR. I cannot understand why people did nothing but criticise the ST. Gutless, Chavvy, Underpowered, Over-rated to name but a few words. The votes turned out to be 46% for the 197, 48% for the VXR and a measley 6% for the ST. I wonder to myself if any of these people have ever owned an ST. One owner of a 197 put “iv came from a st to a clio, and the clio is far better at everything. other than low down power were the st is great. been on trackdays with both and they are similar performance. thats when u spend a little on the st, i had new springs, exhaust system and filter which brought it to life. the interior is better in the st if you dont have the recaros IMO. both cars are good fun but the clio 197 is the one that puts smile on me face.”
SO what now? Well, the 197 stays, I know I would regret it if I sold it. I have learnt that actually having a car as your own is the best way to draw an opinion from one, and not hear-say from people. If i’d known what I knew now about fuel consumption on the 197 vs ST then I may have bought the ST to start off with. Same with the usual niggles in the Clio - rattles and squeaks, gearbox doesn’t like 1st gear when cold, bunny-hopping when cold etc etc. None of these issues in the ST. Do I regret buying the 197 over the ST? In some ways I do, in others I don’t. I’m not a track day person, so the Clio’s superior track abilities are wasted on me. But the Clio’s image is better, there are far fewer on the road, and there’s something else I can’t put my finger on about the Clio too. If I had to give up the Clio, there would be an ST on my drive without a shadow of a doubt.
Never slag something off until you’ve tried it! The ST has a totally unnecessary bad image. It is a fantastic car!
I leave you with one final, frightening fact too. Taking into account price rises etc etc, If i’d bought an ST instead of the Clio, I would have spent £90 less on tax, £60 less on insurance, and £1900 less on fuel. That fuel figure alone is eyewatering.
Standard "Roar" from the car too
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZyRLZxN5Ug[/YOUTUBE]
