2005 Ford Fiesta ST150 from UK and Ireland - Comments

The new Clio is so heavy you'll probably need an HGV licence to drive the 190.

Just under 1200kg for a "small" car. Someone is having a laff!

The St150 weighs the same as a Focus - 1392kg, very heavy.

The Fiesta ST doesn't weigh 1392kg!!! It weighs 1137kg. Paste "Fiesta ST 1137kg" in Google to see.

Got to disagree, the ST does pull less than 8secs 0-60, I did own a Corsa SRi 1.8 which did 8 smack on, the ST would have the upper hand on the corsa in a line easy, and the corsa would be left way behind on a b-road.

Not a fan of reno's, every one I've spoken to who owns a reno has had nothing, but trouble, the Clio sport is no exception.

Yeah the Clio is heavy, but on the plus side it's the biggest supermini in the market, and taking practicality into account, it's very spacious inside, which is nice.

It is heavy, but then again it has a 197 bhp, which makes the car hit 60 mph in 6.9 sec, and overall top speed of around 135 mph, a lot quicker than the Fiesta ST150 I'm afraid.

The new Clio also has German build quality, which puts an end to Renault's biggest flaw.

No Renault will ever have "German build quality"

I assure you the new renault clio has excellent build quality, Due to Brtitsh engineering. Far better than what it used to be, and everyone now agrees better than ford. Renault have also won the F1 Constructors championship last year and are gonna win it again this year. The F1 Team played a major part in developing the clio 197 which is apparent by the side vents and rear diffuser, the only one to appear on a Hot Hatch. The clio is so much quicker than the fiesta ST and the dynamics are far better and it will handle so much sweeter. I am sorry to say the 197 will eat the fiesta ST 150 as a snack.

You make me laugh!

How does Renaults F1 success relate to the clio build quality? There is no way that it will ever be better than the Fiesta in that department!

I thought that we had already agreed that the clio was the faster car and with an extra 50 bhp it isn't a big suprise that the 197 will destroy the Fiesta in a race!

Yep why are people still harping on about the Clio being the quicker car, the Fiesta ST can be bought for around 12k new whilst the new Clio 197 is going to priced at around the 16k mark, clearly the Fiesta was never intended to be a rival for the Clio. That job would be left to the Fiesta RS (if Ford ever change their mind and decide to make it!).

Rivals for the 197 are cars like:

Mini Cooper-S,

next Civic Type-R,

Astra VXR and forthcoming Corsa VXR

Even Ford’s Focus ST1 is nearer in price to the 197 than the Fiesta.

Rivals for Fiesta ST:

Polo GTi

C2 VTS

Corsa 1.8 Sri.

The Clio 197 is far better than the Fiesta ST150. You were all happy to compare the Clio 182 to the Fiesta ST150, even though that type of Clio came out in 1997.

So how comes you don't want to compare the ST150 with the new 197. That would only be fair. Oh yeah, because the 197 is better and they are comparable cars as the both fall into the super mini category, and it is only 3 grand difference.

Also I did not say Renaults F1 success contributed to the Clio build quality. That is achived by its excellent British engineering, but dont take my word for it, read reviews from "What Car" "Autocar" "Autoexpress" and many other places, and they all say the Clio's build quality is on par with a Polo.

However, the F1 team helped design the Clio and the dynamics, and that contributes to the Renault's excellent handling.

In reply to the comments made on the 5th June, how do you know the Clio 197 is far better than the Fiesta ST? The car isn't even for sale yet and I've yet to see any road tests of the 197, only lower models in the range. I read “autocar” and “autoexpress” and the first road test is immenent, but at this point unpublished.

So other than build quality what assumtions are you basing your statement on? Lets wait and read the road tests, test drive the car and then make a decision.

Comparisons with the 197 are pointless. Once specc'd up to what I want, it's hitting the same price as the Focus ST and I know which I'd have. Hell the Megane Cup is not much different. You are talking about a different price range. To be fair to Renault the Clio has jumped up a step in terms of build quality but it's looking expensive now, especially when compared to the cooking models.

I've driven a 182 Cup a fair few times and it's incredible. HOWEVER I hate the driving position, it's like driving a bus - the Fiesta is way better (but not perfect). At the end of the day you have to live with a car and I think the ST is a good compromise. It isn't as good as the Clio on the handling stakes and the top end can't compare with it, but I know which car I'd rather live with and the ST wins hands down. Mine fully loaded with everything was the same as a standard Mini Cooperer (admittedly I got a good deal). I'm happy and besides I've always got a Ariel Atom 245 sitting in the garage when I need a real fix and no Clio will keep with that! :-)

The clio is in a much higher class than the fiesta st150, I'm a 182 owner and I have drove a fiesta st150 theres no comparison. Fiesta st150 is a girls car.

No comparisons are not pointless at the end of the day they are both small hot hatches which ford had in mind to compete with the clio the saxo and the colt. 3 grand diffrence is not really gonna put you off buying a better car and you cannot compare a focus st to a clio 197, you compare a megane to a focus st as they are both in the same class medium sized hatchback. However though they are bringing out cosworth powr kits upgrades for the fiesta ST which will be cool and their aim is to bring it out in three stages and by the time time stage 3 is completed and installed they hope to bring the fiesta's power to 230 bhp. check out pumaspeed.co.uk and cosworthpower, stage 1 may be out I've not checked in a while though I do know it was scheueled for june and it should bring the power to 172 bhp, and the good thing is it's a ford approved part and will not void your warranty if fitted by ford.

I own a Clio 182 Sport and I find it hard to believe that that a st150 could beat my car. I raced one of my mates in his st150 with 10,000 miles on the clock, and beat him comfortably. I just don't like the dash in the fiesta, it seems miles away, and yes Clios aren't the best built car ever, but let's be honest, Ford are hardly up to BMW standards are they?