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FACT FILE
I’VE had a massive smile on my face all week, but now it’s gone.
Right, who’s carrying the can for that, then?
Ford, that’s who. If you’re listening, Ford, stop giving me cars for just a solitary week, I’m sure you can do better than that.
Next time you come up with a Fiesta ST don’t offer me one for a week.
Here’s what you should do: You ring my home phone (there’s no mobile signal where I live) and you say: “George, how would you like to test one of our new cars. If you want, you can keep it.” Now doesn’t that sound better?
Lunacy
There’s only one tiny flaw with my plan. It would mean that readers might get sick of me telling them what a great car the Fiesta ST is week after week. That’s the only problem with writing a weekly column. I have to change cars every Monday.
I’ve got to say, though, that it was a week to remember. In fact, after seven days of lunacy in the ST it could be far better for my licence to give the car back, even if I didn’t want to.
The new Fiesta ST is so good, so well equipped, so fast, so well priced and so fuel efficient that it could easily end up being 2018’s Car of the Year. You’ll find out on January 4, after all there are still two months to go before I make the big decision.
Now, before I tell you about any of the categories I’ve just mentioned I want to tell you about something else.
In fact, it’s the one thing about the ST that impressed me most – it’s the car’s handling.
Another car maker, Mini, are always going on about how well their cars perform around bends. Change the last Cooper S into Sports mode and a sign came up on the dashboard, saying: “Typical Mini gokart handling.”
Well, now Ford could be forgiven for PRICE (on the road): ENGINE: TOP SPEED: MPG: CO2: INS GROUP: copying that because the ST is blindingly brilliant, remaining stuck to the road without a hint of instability at speeds that I daren’t admit to. Let’s just say Ford’s claim that the top speed of the ST is
144mph is correct. Start up the engine on the ST and, far from it sounding like most three cylinder engines, there’s nothing tractorlike about it. Instead it burbles and booms in a surprisingly deepvoiced manner that’s more than a hint of things to come.
Select from three driving modes, Normal, Sport or Racetrack, none of which bear the message: “Typical ST go-kart handling,” and, whichever one you choose, it tears off like it’s looking for the wasp that stung it. The 0-62mph sprint is all over in
6.5s, which is pretty exciting in such a small car, yet it just keeps tearing along like a madman. On less than perfect road surfaces it bounces around and tends to follow every slope but controlling it just adds to the fun. On motorways it cruises quietly at 70mph, turning over at 2,500rpm in sixth, so you’ve got the best of both worlds.
There’s so much more to the ST that makes it likeable. Its Recaro seats hold you in place perfectly, while a carbon fibre-effect dashboard trim and studded shiny steel pedals complete the racy look. On the outside its huge red brake callipers and machine drilled 18-inch alloys add to the effect.
Rugged
At 2ft 3in deep its boot is easily big enough for two good-sized suitcases while there are little pockets on each side to stop small stuff rolling about.
Two rugged-looking luggage hooks are the required 18 inches above the boot floor so shopping won’t just fall off the hooks, leaving you to pick up the pieces, and the rear seat backs fold down to make a 4ft 6in storage area.
Anyway, that’s enough of the practical side for now, I’m going out in it again to have some more fun.
Wait a minute. Who’s had it away with my motor? It’s gone...