Ford Fiesta ST200

I love Hot Hatches! Having driv- en some pretty awesome small cars in the last 10 years or so – the Opel OPC, the Fiesta ST, the Focus ST, the Focus RS – as well as some not so small – the Chev SS Ute, the Mustang V8, the Mustang 2.3 turbo and the Kuga with the 134 Kw motor – it was with anticipation that I got to drive the new Fiesta ST 200.

The 200 means 200 ( 147Kw) horsepower. Just as a comparison, my 2009 Fiesta 1.6 Trend has 115 horsepower, so the new ST 200 is almost double the power of my earlier model, but the car is the same size.

As I get older, I find that I am showing my motorcycles a lot more respect, especially in corners. But fast cars … that’s a different matter. Back in my youth, my friend Derrick and I both had HOT Mini’s. the real Mini … not BMWs.

With these early front-wheel drives, it didn’t matter how tight the corner was, as long as you kept your foot on the pedal, the Mini would track straight.

The ST 200 brings back those kind of memories. Of course, having an abundance of power is no hardship. Make no bones about it, the ST200 stands for fun!

I could bore you with stats and figures, but the Fiesta ST200 needs to be experienced. Let the young man in your past out and have some fun.

I loved the Recaro seats, leather steering wheel, and the way the rev counter needle swooped around the dial.

Just one thing … Ford what were you thinking painting the car in filing-cabinet grey?

This car deserves Ford blue or Mustang red. In a parking lot at Pick n Pay, it was swallowed up by all the white and silver econoboxes. Go figure!