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FIESTA ST150BUYER’S GUIDE

Words: Dan Williamson Photos: Matt Dear

“ The fi ery new Fiesta was TeamRS’s fi rst

production car, packing 148bhp from a two-litre

Duratec powerplant ”

BUYER’S GUIDE FIESTA ST150

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FIESTA ST150 Hailed as the spiritual

successor to the much-missed XR2, the original Fiesta ST appeared in

winter 2004, a time when we’d all but given up hope of a hot small Ford. But there was no need to worry because the fiery new Fiesta was TeamRS’s first production car, packing 148bhp (thus the ST150 nickname) from a two-litre Duratec powerplant tuned with a variable intake and free-flowing exhaust. The result was a load of naturally-aspirated grunt, along with 129mph top end and zero-to-60mph acceleration

in 7.9 seconds.An uprated gearbox with

lightened flywheel and quickshift enhanced flexibility, while lowered suspension and sharper steering meant big grins on the back roads. Even the brakes were beefed-up, with rear discs and ST170 fronts.

Best of all, the Fiesta ST looked fantastic. A set of multi-spoke 17in alloys were added beneath a funky new bodykit and roof spoiler. A choice of fashionable colours was boosted by the option of GT40-type decals along the sides and over the top.

Inside, the ST150 had half-

leather trim and a sporty steering wheel. It worked a treat.

November 2005 brought a mild facelift, adding soft-feel dashboard and goggle-eyed headlights. Summer 2008 saw the ST500 arrive: painted Panther Black with silver stripes, black rims and carbon fibre-pattern trim, just 500 of these UK-only editions were built.

Superb to drive and simple to tune (mountune packages were official Ford kit), the ST remains a firm favourite of those looking for cheap fast Ford thrills. You’ll not bag a better hot hatch bargain.

HOW MUCH TO PAY£750 TO £2000The bottom of this budget won’t bag much more than a scrapper, but stretch to £2k and you’ll see an abundance of early STs and high-milers. You’ll also find a fair few tidy machines alongside tatty junk.

£2000 TO £3500The sensible budget for a serious ST150 customer. Between these prices you’ll see any colour, any spec and any age of car you desire. Not to mention a host of ropey examples you don’t. Search hard and you’ll find low-mileage minters with sellers desperate to offload.

£3500 TO £5000You’d need to be looking at something really bloomin’ special to pay more than £5k but never-driven concours candidates are certainly out there. A well-built turbo’d or supercharged ST is also worth this cash.

WHERE TO BUY ONETimes are tough for ST150 values, and it’s a bit of a buyer’s market. Which means it’s worth holding out for exactly the right car to suit your budget.

For most used-car dealers, a ten-year old Fiesta is just an old banger, and they’re glad to get rid of part-ex trade-ins. Scouring the pages of Auto Trader will be your best chance of bagging an unwanted bargain.

That said, buying from a private seller will give you pointers about how well the car’s been treated, so don’t necessarily avoid eBay and its ilk; there are plenty of gems among the dross.

As always, well-cared-for cars often appear on owners’ club websites, and they’re surely the place to spot a seriously-modified ST. Happy hunting.

INSURANCE COSTSBelieve it or not, the Fiesta ST is a fast Ford that almost anyone can insure. Even young drivers will be able to access well-priced policies if they shop around.

But unlike hardcore RS models, the cheapest prices will generally be found through high-street brokers and internet comparison sites. Chances are, most funny-accented furry puppets view the ST as a regular Fiesta with a big engine, rather than a hot-hatch nuttermobile. Even cars equipped with dealer-fitted mountune parts can be insured without fuss.

That said, an ST wearing aftermarket modifications will probably require the services of a specialist insurer. But be sure to shop around, because prices can vary enormously.

VITAL STATSMADE 2004 to 2009PRICE WHEN NEW £13,595PRICE NOW £750 to £5000TOP SPEED 129mphPOWER 148bhp @ 6,000rpmTORQUE 140lb.ft @ 4,500rpm0-60 7.9 seconds

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BRAKESIf there’s any one thing to be said for the development of the ST150, Ford ensured its stoppers were up to the job. The fitment of Focus ST170 calipers at the front alongside a rear disc upgrade (something we still don’t see on several sporty Fiestas being built in 2017) meant TeamRS had a good idea of how hard the ST150 could be driven; simply bunging a set of EBC YellowStuff pads into the standard setup is man enough for any fast-road machine.

Still, that doesn’t mean parts don’t wear out. A properly-used ST150 will have its front discs juddering (felt through the brake pedal or steering wheel) in no time at all (especially if the owner’s been enjoying a few track days) but the parts are cheap and easy to replace.

And don’t neglect the rear brakes. It’s common to find a Fiesta’s parking brake being a bit on the poor side; the handbrake cable will most likely be stretched or in need of lubrication - the latter in particular if you hear squealing from the offside rear.

TECH SPECENGINE1999cc Duratec DOHC, 16-valve four-cylinder with alloy cylinder block and head, electronic multi-point fuel injection and variable intake system

TRANSMISSIONDurashift five-speed manual gearbox with short-throw shift, front-wheel drive, hydraulic clutch

BRAKES258mm ventilated discs (front), 203mm solid discs (rear), diagonally split system with servo assistance and ABS; ESP with Emergency Brake Assist optional

SUSPENSION Independent front suspension with MacPherson struts, uprated dampers, stiffened and lowered coil springs, anti-roll bar and revised knuckles for increased negative camber; short-ratio steering rack; stiffened twist-beam rear suspension with uprated dampers, stiffened and lowered coil springs

WHEELS AND TYRES7x17in 11-spoke alloy wheels and 205/40ZR17 tyres

INTERIORPart-leather ST-badged sports front seats, sports gearknob, leather-rimmed ST steering wheel, alloy pedals, ST scuff plates and silver-effect door pulls, optional interior styling pack

EXTERIORFiesta Mk6 three-door body with colour-coded ST bodykit comprising front bumper with integral foglights, side skirts and rear roof spoiler, heated windscreen, optional styling packs including stripes on sides and/or bonnet and roof

COLOURSDiamond White, Frozen White, Colorado Red, Panther Black, Performance Blue or Moondust Silver

It’s a Ford, so the ST can still suffer from rust. Thankfully not as badly as some models, but you still need to check!

BUYER’S GUIDE FIESTA ST150

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ENGINENot exactly the sexiest engine to be seen in a fast Ford, the ST150’s two-litre Duratec nevertheless lives up to its name. Well, the durable bit anyway; there’s nothing technically stimulating about a motor found fitted to millions of Mondeos and Focuses around the world.

Essentially, it’s a very reliable unit that’s capable of going twice around the clock. But it’s prone to using oil – consumption of one litre per 1,000 miles isn’t unusual, so it’s essential for owners to keep an eye on lubricant levels. And many do not. Which means the would-be buyer needs to examine any service history, check the dipstick – is it full of fresh oil or low and neglected? – and listen carefully. Knocking noises could point to a worn crankshaft or big end bearings – avoid at all costs; a new engine or rebuild is the only solution. Don’t worry about a lighter tapping from the top of the engine,

SUSPENSIONA proper, traditional fast Ford, the ST150 keeps you in touch with the tarmac thanks to plenty of feedback from its taut suspension and tightened-up steering. Indeed, much of the Fiesta’s addictive character comes from the work TeamRS tackled with stiffed and lowered springs, uprated dampers and revised steering knuckles. If a Fiesta ST isn’t fun, it isn’t right.

If the handling doesn’t feel as tight as a nun’s no-go-zone it’s a symptom of suspension wear. Tired or collapsed rubber bushes are the probable culprit, while snapped coil springs are another likely cause. Listen for clonks and rattles on the test drive, especially over bumpy surfaces. Even poorly-set steering geometry can have a negative effect on how an ST feels to drive.

Look out for a mountune KW suspension upgrade, which is Ford-backed gear – a bonus for any second-hand buy.

Some suspicious rumbling sounds point to worn-out wheel bearings (not a massive problem), while other nasty noises could be coming from a PAS pump on its last legs – especially if it’s groaning when hot.

Hard use can cause the power steering system to overheat, often resulting in the fluid looking black rather than bright red, accompanied by loud whining. Changing the fluid is simple but adding a tank relocation kit and/or an oil cooler to the system (which is cheap and easy to source) should cure any future concerns.

which will probably be caused by inherently noisy fuel injectors.

Most ST150 malfunctions are relatively minor, including jerkiness from cold (they all do that) and poor fuel economy (that’s normal). Poor idling, an annoying rev hang between gearchanges and problems with starting (requiring several turns of the key to get going, followed by juddering immediately afterwards; often worse when the engine isn’t fully warmed-up) were common on pre-facelift Fiestas, but most by now have been cured by a Ford ECU update.

Keep your eyes peeled for official dealer-supplied mountune conversions, which came in three flavours: the MP165 (CAIS, remap, sports cat and exhaust system), MP185 (adding uprated cams and valve springs) and MR200, which also gained an uprated intake manifold and 60mm throttle body.

TRANSMISSIONLike many Fords, the ST150 was fitted with the unremarkable IB5 gearbox, which will handle all kinds of neglect, abuse and even plenty of power. It also boasts a nice, precise shift.

It’s common for the gearchange to feel overly tight from cold, but if it feels sloppy once the oil has warmed up – or there’s difficulty engaging gears – it’s probably warning of a stiff or knackered linkage (which may recover by simply lubricating with multi-purpose grease). That said, total gearbox failure is not unheard of (even at low mileages), so notchiness accompanied by whining noises are real danger signs.

Juddering when pulling away from a standstill is simply a quirk of the

car (you can probably thank Ford’s standard software for that) but clutch slip is a big no-no because it’s expensive to repair. Take a quick test drive and accelerate in third gear – if the car doesn’t pull in line with a rise in engine revs it’s time to walk away.

In contrast, a floppy clutch pedal could be caused by something as simple as a loose washer. There was an official Ford fix to have an extra washer added to the pedal piston, and not all cars received the upgrade.

If you’re buying a modified ST, listen for rumbling and growling. The standard differential fails when asked to cope with big power, and when it goes bang it can trash the entire gearbox.

The ST came fitted with beefy ST170 front brakes and rear discs as standard

The 2.0-litre Duratec puts out a healthy 148bhp in standard spec, but is easily tuned to over 200bhp!

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INTERIORIt’s an ageing Fiesta, there’s no escaping that. The ST150’s cabin isn’t exactly Aston Martin-standard, so you’ve got to expect a few niggles. Well, rattles. Rattles and squeaks. And groans. And any other noise you can imagine being made by decade-old plastic not quite seating against cut-priced clips and brackets, especially around the dashboard. What’s more, cold weather makes it even worse.

So expect a high-mileage car to be shabby, and don’t necessarily discard a lesser-used example for showing signs of wear. That’s just the way it is. The folding seat catches are particularly prone to failure because of loose cables or crappy connections underneath, and the half-leather upholstery tends to sag. Pretty much all of the cabin plastics scuff easily, so if you find a minter it’s definitely a car to keep.

Talking of which, the full-leather option with heated seats is well worth searching for, as are mountune’s official Recaro fronts in black Ambler leather with black Dinamica suede.

You may also fancy a Reflex Pack, which included extra airbags and rear centre headrest, or the early ST’s Interior Styling Pack, giving shiny trim and ST mats.

BODYFords never forget how to rust, and the Mk6 Fiesta – although better than most – is no exception. Thankfully, you’re unlikely to see an ST150 with major corrosion; most likely, there could be bubbles around the rear wheelarches, especially where the side skirts are attached at the lower edges. Front arches are also susceptible, usually around the upper sections where muck and stone chips are to blame.

Door bottoms can suffer from corrosion due to blocked drain holes, and it’s wise to check the passenger front footwell; poorly-sealing pollen filters lead to damp beneath the carpets, which after years of being soaked will eventually eat the floor.

A fair few ST150s are pretty tatty,

and many have been abused. So be sure to check for signs of accident damage, such as dodgy paintwork, poor panel gaps, overspray inside door shuts and unusual creases underneath.

A (manual) sunroof was an optional extra but was seldom specified. Perhaps that’s because the funky Exterior Styling Pack offered only door decals when combined with a sunroof, rather than the full-on ST150 kit of side stripes and over-the-top bonnet/roof/tailgate stickers.

Colour-wise, it’s all down to personal choice but Performance Blue and Frozen White are desirable, while the Panther Black ST500 obviously fetches a bit more cash.

“Keep your eyes peeled for official dealer

mountune conversions”The interior plastics are easily scuffed, so a mint condition cabin is a rare find!

Sunroof was an optional extra, but very few STs had one fitted

BUYER’S GUIDE FIESTA ST150

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ELECTRICSThere’s not a great deal to worry about with Fiesta electrics, although the better-specced the car, the more important it is to check all the goodies and gadgets work correctly.

A heated windscreen was standard, but elements are prone to breaking down; checking it works isn’t exactly easy unless it’s the middle of winter; the same goes for the heated door mirrors, which operate along with the rear window heater. Factory alarm systems can be erratic (needing a replacement module), and alternators may pack up even at low mileages.

Facelifted Fiesta STs gained a trip computer plus the options of a Technology Pack (automatic headlights (which can flick around, with the motors wearing out) and auto windscreen wipers, which are prone to failure) and power-folding mirrors (which tend to break; check they stop clicking when you lock the doors). Other tasty optional extras included EATC climate control, Bluetooth with voice control, sat nav stereo and MP3 connectivity. The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) isn’t worth bothering with.Full leather is worth

holding out for

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CONTACTSSitech Racingwww.sitechracing.co.uk

PumaSpeedwww.pumaspeed.co.uk

OC Motorsportwww.oc-motorsport.co.uk

mountunewww.mountunestore.com

SiCo Developmentswww.sico-developments.co.uk

Fiesta ST Owners’ Clubwww.fiestastoc.com

FordFiestaST.co.ukwww.fordfiestast.co.uk

Fiesta Club of Great Britainwww.fiestaclubgb.co.uk

Fiesta Owners’ Clubwww.fiestaownersclub.com

NEXT MONTH MONDEO ST220

IDENTITY Most buyers would choose the facelifted ST, which was introduced in November 2005. You can spot the difference from its bulbous headlamps and updated rear light clusters with twin reversing lamps, while inside there’s a soft-touch dashboard in dark grey, blue or red (often matching the cloth inserts in the half-leather seats), plus shiny door handles and gearstick surround.

You’ll expect to pay more for an ST500 (although not huge amounts more), so it’s essential to check it’s wearing all the right kit. Each ST500 was finished in Panther Black with silver decals, matching Panther Black alloys (otherwise the same 11-spoke 17in rims found on other ST150s), red-painted brake calipers, Ebony leather heated seats, carbon fibre-pattern trim and upgraded Sony audio system.

Needless to say, any hot hatchback should be run through a thorough identity check rather than a cheap phone app, and it’s vital to check the car’s chassis number matches between the log book, the VIN plate on the offside B-pillar, a stamping in the offside suspension turret, the tag on the nearside of the dashboard (visible when looking through the windscreen from outside) and what’s stamped into the floorpan next to the driver’s seat.

FIESTA ST BUILD NUMBERS 2004 - 56 2005 - 4424 2006 - 4549 2007 - 4731 2008 - 2637 (ST500 - 462) 2009 - 182 (ST500 - 36)

BUYER’S GUIDE FIESTA ST150

As with any hot hatch, thoroughly check the front and rear for any signs of accident damage

Facelifted STs are easy to spot thanks to their twin reversing lamps