Ford Fiesta ST Beats Toyota GT86 on the Track in EVO Test

[Sport-Tech]

This Evo reviewer makes the same complaint about both cars - not enough grip out of the corners and can't get the power down soon enough. Clearly jaded from driving too many supercars with 300 series rubber. He also contradicts himself within a couple of minutes: at first the GT86's oversteer is "easy to handle", no sweat, then he's talking about how you really have to stay alert or it will catch you out since there's so much of it.

GT86 has too much oversteer, FiST is more neutral - he's really making a good case for the the BRZ here lol. Doesn't say the GT86 is more fun, just that it's hard to beat in that department. Pretty wishy-washy conclusion.

[Sport-Tech]

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

The proportions are terrible, it will look worse in person...

Seen it in person - it's not bad. Wish it were a bit wider though, would give it more stance.

[Sport-Tech]

If you really want one, wait until they can't give them away. Then you can snag them with huge discounts. Ford always does that.

That might be quite a long wait in the case of the FiST. They are selling twice as fast as Ford planned for in the UK, there is already a 3 month waiting list - shades of the twins launch.

[EAGLE5]

I think evo has been anti twin from the start. Don't remember reading anything positive there. Doesn't matter to me.

Fiesta ST will be a hit in Europe because they like hot hatches. Here, not so much. Probably because we can get a much higher performance and a cooler image for not much more money in a Mustang, Camaro, or whatnot. The twins then meet the niche need that the s2k once filled. Hard to justify a hot hatch in the US.

[WolfpackS2k]

Originally Posted by Sport-Tech

This Evo reviewer makes the same complaint about both cars - not enough grip out of the corners and can't get the power down soon enough. Clearly jaded from driving too many supercars with 300 series rubber. He also contradicts himself within a couple of minutes: at first the GT86's oversteer is "easy to handle", no sweat, then he's talking about how you really have to stay alert or it will catch you out since there's so much of it.

GT86 has too much oversteer, FiST is more neutral - he's really making a good case for the the BRZ here lol. Doesn't say the GT86 is more fun, just that it's hard to beat in that department. Pretty wishy-washy conclusion.

What is 300 series rubber?

[thill]

Originally Posted by Sport-Tech

That might be quite a long wait in the case of the FiST. They are selling twice as fast as Ford planned for in the UK, there is already a 3 month waiting list - shades of the twins launch.

That is Europe. Hatches are not nearly as popular here. I am finding brand new Focus ST's by me selling for well below invoice (I saw one recently for $21,800 and invoice is $23,299). This is typical of Ford in the US even on a newer model like the Focus ST.

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

What is 300 series rubber?

300mm+ tread width, as found on the rears of most supercars. One of the reasons I got an frs instead of a 135i is the cost of wider rubber.

[WolfpackS2k]

Oh alright. I thought maybe you meant that, but I wasn't familiar with it being called that.

[AsianStyle]

Originally Posted by Luis_GT

huh... I just saw the latests episode of topgear and the GT86 beat the Fiesta by more than a second on the Top Gear test track... and the track was damp when they did the GT86 vs a completely dry track for the Fiesta.

GT86 1.31.3
Fiesta ST 1.32.7

I noticed this when I watched the latest top gear. They also state the European Spec Fiesta only has 180hp vs. the US Spec 200hp.

One thing I noticed when watching the EVO clip was the guy didn't seem to even try to keep the rear-end in line and just basically threw the car into the corners causing massive slides.

I think this might just be like the old GTI vs. 86 comparison done by motor trend, where the more novice drivers were slower with the 86, but in the hands of Pobst the 86 was faster.

Regardless, I didn't purchase this car to achieve the fastest track times. I bought this car for FUN and even if you can argue fwd faster than rwd in certain conditions. TO ME rwd will always be more FUN than fwd.

[DarkSunrise]

Originally Posted by AsianStyle

I think this might just be like the old GTI vs. 86 comparison done by motor trend, where the more novice drivers were slower with the 86, but in the hands of Pobst the 86 was faster.

I think that's generally true of RWD cars where you can get the rear end out with power. Probably takes an experienced driver to really ride that fine line between slip and grip.

[DAEMANO]

Originally Posted by Luis_GT

huh... I just saw the latests episode of topgear and the GT86 beat the Fiesta by more than a second on the Top Gear test track... and the track was damp when they did the GT86 vs a completely dry track for the Fiesta.

GT86 1.31.3
Fiesta ST 1.32.7

Also don't they usually give a two second bump to cars when the track is wet? That would put the 86 in the 1:29 range.

[DoomsdayJesus]

Originally Posted by SubieNate

With both cars being equally modern, I doubt the drivetrain loss is going to contribute to any large degree... tire grip, total vehicle mass, and gearing ratios are going to play a much larger role. And depending on whether you're rolling first or not, a RWD is going to have an inherent advantage off the line.

Cheers
Nathan

Plus there's an awful lot you can do to address drivetrain loss. Somewhere down the line when I'm trying to squeeze the last few drops out of the car I'll be getting a CF driveshaft, I know a lot of people already have.

[s0sl0w]

I spent last Saturday driving these:


All I have to say is while quick you'd have to be high to think that either ST is a comparable car to the twins. A great hot hatch? absolutely. A pure drivers car? not even close.

[Mikem53]

Cool video.. Thanks for posting.. A good stock to stock comparison..
The 86 is far better looking of the two... And looks more enjoyable to drive..