Normal Middle Aged Guy reviews Fiesta ST 2021 Mk8

A bit of a departure from my usual content. I changed my car recently and I was so surprised and pleased with the new one that I felt I should make a video on it. I have had Ford ST models before but this is by far my favourite and maybe my favourite car of all time!
I go for a drive and discuss the cars performance and practicality - Hint, they are both great! In the second part of the video which is rather long I take a look at the Fiesta ST dashboard and infotainment system which I really like as it is practical and intuitive. A modern car which was easy for me to understand in a short period of time is very unusual these days. Normally it would take me a week to turn the radio on!!
I am not a car geek and I do not know all the specs and tech details. This is for average working people like me who just want to know if this will suit their needs or not without getting bogged down in jargon and pointless detail. I discuss running costs, insurance, MPG (real world) as well as describing how fun this thing is to chuck down twisty UK B roads!!

[@martingriggs6362]

Had a 2016, and a 2019 Fiesta ST. Most fun things I ever bought with money.

[@ferrarikangaroo9271]

Spot on with the choice of car and general view of things mate! I just got back from a "spirited" drive in my ST150. Fiesta's are brilliant. Have a top one. Keep up the great content.

[@piakiby1566]

Very nice car. Of all the features I especially like the manual gear, heated seats and safe crate for the dog 🙂

[@pirreli5]

i bought st3 in October, very impressed with the quality of drive, it feels like a sports car! the 2nd gear is the best i have experienced with hatchbacks, it brings a smile!

[@davidkay3443]

I picked up one of the last mk 8.5s left in agate black couple of weeks ago ive always gone for small hatches and traded my focus st in for th fiesta. Its a great laugh. Fast.great in the corners. Great on fuel. Few subtle mods. Lowered on spacers. Got mountune carbon induction kit coming. And couple of small bits. Havent had so much fun in driving for ages. Great car and what a blast.. nice video .

[@thatgearguy]

Thanks for sharing David! Couldnt agree more!

[@colingreen2320]

Great video 👏🏻 and good to hear some common sense on the 205/225 debate. 18” wheels standard on ST3 and not LED headlights on this car.

[@ZeJelly]

Great vid, lovely car. I'm looking to downsize myself from an audi a4 to a fiesta ST, I've been looking more at the previous model because I prefer the look of them, but the more I see these they're definitely growing on me

[@thatgearguy]

Definite 2 thumbs up from me. Every day I drive it, I am smiling!

[@ickebins6948]

Nice video. I bought a new ST in 2021 (Edition) for 29k€ and just love it. (came from a 2005 ST150) There is just not much alternatives if you want a fun little car, with some power and a manual. For me the LSD is a must, it's just so much more fun on country roads. It's just a great allrounder if you don't need alot of space. I average at around 41-43mpg, mostly going to work with a mix of small b-roads, Autobahn and city. Keep it up, enjoyed the video alot!

[@thatgearguy]

Thanks Ickebins!

[@Oncebitten807]

I had one these, same spec but in grey. Such a fun car to drive. I traded it in for its competitor the Hyundai I20N, which is also really fun to drive, but I do miss that 3 pot engine!

[@oootaffooo501]

Very wise words pal cracking little car I bought a brand new mk 7 in 2017 👍👍👍

[@1103trevorp]

I bought a 22 plate ST back in June, I found pluging my mobile in for Android auto a bit of a nuisance, so I bought a wireless adaptor from amazon, I plug that into the USB in the armrest, it is absolutely brilliant, it connects in seconds every time and frees up the front USB port for a stick with all my favourite music or charging as I have a S23 ultra in a case that is too big for the wireless charging pad unless I remove the case. The wireless adaptor cost around £60 and is worth every penny.

[@2Yakuza5]

I got my 40s crisis and bought -19 Fiesta ST a year ago. Loving that thing still today,

[@Chasemcloud5745]

Pop and bang map and stage 1 for your chav box?

[@gavd6726]

Nice thorough video mate. I'm thinking of changing mine next year. One of these is definitley an option....

[@thatgearguy]

Thanks Gav. You wont be dissapointed.

[@Mcandy78gaming]

I recently traded my mk8 fiesta st in for a low mileage mk 4 focus st with the 275 mountune upgrade.the mk8 was such a fun car to drive.if it wasnt for needing something a bit bigger i would of kept it

[@Chema7657]

I love the Fiesta ST

[@leeharris5450]

Now that’s what you call a pocket rocket !! Nice car

[@thatgearguy]

Thanks Lee!

[@mgfnut]

Nice review if you want to get rid of the phone cable get the AA wireless dongle. Totally agree about the tyres too 205s all the way for me sod the price.

[@Greenie5902]

Great video, I'm the same age and owned so many hot hatches I've lost count including 3 modified impreza turbos, I keep looking at the fiesta st mk8 thinking I really really need to get one ASAP🤔

[@thatgearguy]

Do it!

[@hermitageboy]

Nice to see another ST driver review. I bought a second hand blue one too although without lsd unfortunately. That said I'm really enjoying it. I feel the same with regards to the electric era. Such a shame Ford stopped them. Will you do any modifications? I may get a Mountune exhaust sometime. Look forward to any updates 👍

[@thatgearguy]

Thanks Hermitage! I am planning on getting some upgrades in January when the warranty expires. I figured I would have plenty of fun in stock form then uprate as I got used to it. Im thinking of getting the Collins Performance induction kit and map/chip which suggests it will run around 230BHP. I would like an exhaust to so might get that afterward... I will deffo update. I might ask Collins if I can video them fitting the parts so we can see the pros do it.. Nobody needs to see me on the spanners, it will involve much swearing and head scratching!!!

[@nothanks6665]

Good review. You should upgrade the torque mount makes a big difference to wheel hop. Stage 1 once the warranties out and youll get another 50bhp.

[@thatgearguy]

Thanks. I did call Collins and I will likely go for the flash upgrade and intake + mount. Did you fit that and did you notice much effect on mpg?

[@nothanks6665]

@@thatgearguy I got an sd induction kit fitted as well as a stage 1 map on mine. Laird performance tuned. 248 bhp and 400nm on the dyno. Can't really notice any difference in economy. I still average around 36mpg on my commute. The torque mount made a big difference as it stops wheel hop and puts the power down.

[@philhill7973]

Need a remap on then they are proper.

[@anthony342]

im after the sport van , they are crazy money .

[@Aspartame69]

Buy a motorola MA1 wireless android auto module. Got one for mine and apart from phone battery use, its brilliant. For long journeys probs still best to plug in.

[@harrybyton3639]

Very good and thorough review- Have you managed to take it on the motorway yet? If so how do you find it for that purpose/comfort on long journeys?

[@thatgearguy]

I have done a few long trips for work. I got about 45mpg cruising at 65mph which was great. Comfort wise it was superb, much better than I would have guessed. The seats are very supportive. I also used the speed limiter function in South Wales - full of speed cameras and ridiculous low speed limits. That helped me avoid a ticket!!

[@CarCrazy86]

👍🏻 Vid! It’s a tidy car😃

[@CarCrazy86]

Hope your enjoy it! is it just 180PS? :D

[@XDontConformX]

When he says, you can put 225's on the wheels? How do you go about doing that? Is it a different rim or anything

[@thatgearguy]

Apparently they fit the same rims.

[@MrBurgaBoii]

You reckon you would daily this ? Small enough and powerful enough ? Cracking vid btw

[@thatgearguy]

Thanks MrBurga. Absolutely. Ive been using it daily and it is the perfect blend of fun/sensible in my opinion. If your easy on the throttle it returns good mpg and doesnt look or sound to mad. If you floor it then heaps of fun on the twisties! Love it.

[@richardschank5568]

How do you compare to your past GTIs?

[@thatgearguy]

@@richardschank5568 I had a Golf mk2 , a Citroen AXGT, an XR2, Pug 1.6GTI, Pug 404Mi16. Damn wish I had kept them in a barn. The Fiesta ST is simply better. It handles better, is more comfortable, ride is less crashy. But it is just as much or maybe more fun.. And for an extra £450 you can give it another 30+BHP which would not have been possible with any of the above without spending a couple of grand.

[@richardschank5568]

@@thatgearguy I'm glad to see you know how to enjoy driving. Too many people just look at a car as an appliance and driving as a chore. Ford stopped making these great cars in the US.

[@thatgearguy]

@@richardschank5568 I was sensible for two years in a Vitara Allgrip. I just couldnt do it anymore. Love driving and especially love hot hatches. I think they will be a dying breed.. I also looked at the Yaris GR which I really liked but the Fiesta beats it on value - Cheaper on mpg, servicing, tax, insurance, spares..

[@frankvandenbroeck8373]

how 's the ride?

[@thatgearguy]

It was ok. Certainly better than other hot hatches I have been in. Just chopped it in for a bigger vehicle. Now in a Range Rover sport. Video coming soon!

[@richlee509]

​@thatgearguy have you changed jobs? Have you got a job in an estate agent?

[@SouthCoastFinest]

Middle aged? 😂😂😂

[@chrismyers9951]

Three cyl engine with cylinder deactivation and a timing belt that is soaked in oil. No thanks. Just asking for it down the line. The 4 cyl turbo with the updated head (no slits between the cyl's) is fine.

[@richlee509]

These engines don't have the wet cambelt.

[@thatgearguy]

I had zero issues.