Topic: Comparison Test: 2014 Ford Fiesta ST vs 2014 Mini Coopers S

[Autos_Editor]

The new Mini Cooper S is put to the test against the charmingly wild little Fiesta ST. Both are massively fun, but which will win the hearts of our Autos.ca drivers?

Read More...

[ChaosphereIX]

the Fiesta is the darling of the hot hatch segment right now, so that tells you how good the new MINI is to best it in a comparison

well done MINI

although I still maintain the most terrier-like MINI was the old R53 generation, that car was closer to the Fiesta in power delivery and sense of occasion

might have to take it for a drive...

[DriverJeff]

Bah… eat healthier and the Recaros will fit just fine.  I drove for hours in those seats and loved 'em. 

PS… geez, I love these two cars.  So much fun and character.  These cars remind me of why I'm a driving enthusiast -- they bring back the fun of motoring without doing ALL the work for you.  Plus they're cheap and reliable enough to be used as a daily driver. 

 

[JacobBlack]

Bah… eat healthier and the Recaros will fit just fine.  I drove for hours in those seats and loved 'em. 

PS… geez, I love these two cars.  So much fun and character.  These cars remind me of why I'm a driving enthusiast -- they bring back the fun of motoring without doing ALL the work for you.  Plus they're cheap and reliable enough to be used as a daily driver. 

 

The ST was good, but the Mini was just better. The ST you'd date for a while, the Mini you'd marry.

[jyarkony]

Bah… eat healthier and the Recaros will fit just fine.  I drove for hours in those seats and loved 'em. 

PS… geez, I love these two cars.  So much fun and character.  These cars remind me of why I'm a driving enthusiast -- they bring back the fun of motoring without doing ALL the work for you.  Plus they're cheap and reliable enough to be used as a daily driver. 

 

The ST was good, but the Mini was just better. The ST you'd date for a while, the Mini you'd marry.

Hey you two, you should both post your complete notes (at least the ones that are PG)... there are some gems in there that also really capture the spirit and joy of these cars.

[Fobroader]

For me it would come down to which one can be optioned with an honest to goodness mechanical limited slip. Car and Driver proved that on the bigger Focus the fake, electronic, brake actuated "LSD" on the Focus absolutely destroys the front brakes in one track day, that for me is a no sale.

[Fobroader]

Bah… eat healthier and the Recaros will fit just fine.  I drove for hours in those seats and loved 'em. 

PS… geez, I love these two cars.  So much fun and character.  These cars remind me of why I'm a driving enthusiast -- they bring back the fun of motoring without doing ALL the work for you.  Plus they're cheap and reliable enough to be used as a daily driver. 

 

Eat healthier?  I am a Boston marathon qualified runner with a resting heart rate in the 30s.  I pretty much don't have any fat to lose...and I found the seats pretty snug.  God help the average couch potato.

Speaking for the average couch potato crowd, I fit in them just fine. I have yet to find a Recaro my tuchus doesn't like.

[ChaosphereIX]

Bah… eat healthier and the Recaros will fit just fine.  I drove for hours in those seats and loved 'em. 

PS… geez, I love these two cars.  So much fun and character.  These cars remind me of why I'm a driving enthusiast -- they bring back the fun of motoring without doing ALL the work for you.  Plus they're cheap and reliable enough to be used as a daily driver. 

 

Eat healthier?  I am a Boston marathon qualified runner with a resting heart rate in the 30s.  I pretty much don't have any fat to lose...and I found the seats pretty snug.  God help the average couch potato.

Speaking for the average couch potato crowd, I fit in them just fine. I have yet to find a Recaro my tuchus doesn't like.

agreed, even in my 17 year old Alfa, the Recaro seats are amazing. Supportive and supple at the same time.

[Ace]

The Mini is the hot hatch champ    No way, what have you been smoking. Time for another Comparo test with the Golf GTI

[Fobroader]

Speaking for the average couch potato crowd, I fit in them just fine. I have yet to find a Recaro my tuchus doesn't like.

The rear end is not the problem...it's the side bolsters.  But I recognize that seat comfort is a pretty personalized issue.

Not even there, my love handle...I mean six pack, fits perfectly. 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

For me it would come down to which one can be optioned with an honest to goodness mechanical limited slip. Car and Driver proved that on the bigger Focus the fake, electronic, brake actuated "LSD" on the Focus absolutely destroys the front brakes in one track day, that for me is a no sale.

If you do track days, you add the Quaife LSD. Problem solved. For everybody else, the basic setup is fine.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I'd still take the Fiesta. The seats fit me fine. It's got more doors and handling is so close to the mini as that it comes down to preference. It'll also be less likely to spend time in dealer service bays.

[Fobroader]

For me it would come down to which one can be optioned with an honest to goodness mechanical limited slip. Car and Driver proved that on the bigger Focus the fake, electronic, brake actuated "LSD" on the Focus absolutely destroys the front brakes in one track day, that for me is a no sale.

If you do track days, you add the Quaife LSD. Problem solved. For everybody else, the basic setup is fine.

Well that would resolve the issues for most FWD cars.....why isnt this a factory thing??

[Spec5]

I'd probably take either. Sounds like I'd fit in the mini a bit better though. Not sure I'd buy one here however, while pricing out an Escape I inquired about a Focus ST and the salesperson was quite up front about not allowing any test drives. You want one - drive the regular one and sit in the ST. I seem to recall the pricing not being that far off either between the Fiesta and Focus - I'd likely go with the Focus there is NO room behind the drivers seat in a Fiesta with the seat all the way back.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

For me it would come down to which one can be optioned with an honest to goodness mechanical limited slip. Car and Driver proved that on the bigger Focus the fake, electronic, brake actuated "LSD" on the Focus absolutely destroys the front brakes in one track day, that for me is a no sale.

If you do track days, you add the Quaife LSD. Problem solved. For everybody else, the basic setup is fine.

Well that would resolve the issues for most FWD cars.....why isnt this a factory thing??

Dunno. The Focus RS gets the Quaife, the ST gets the electronic setup.

BTW it looks like the new RS may actually make it to NA this time.

[Fobroader]

I'd still take the Fiesta. The seats fit me fine. It's got more doors and handling is so close to the mini as that it comes down to preference. It'll also be less likely to spend time in dealer service bays.

Im with you on that one, the Fiesta seems much more up my alley, I like the 4 doors and hate Mini "reliability".

[greengs]

I'd probably take either. Sounds like I'd fit in the mini a bit better though. Not sure I'd buy one here however, while pricing out an Escape I inquired about a Focus ST and the salesperson was quite up front about not allowing any test drives. You want one - drive the regular one and sit in the ST. I seem to recall the pricing not being that far off either between the Fiesta and Focus - I'd likely go with the Focus there is NO room behind the drivers seat in a Fiesta with the seat all the way back.

That's too bad about your dealer.  I was able to walk into a Ford dealer and go on a test drive no problem. 

[mixmanmash]

Bah… eat healthier and the Recaros will fit just fine.  I drove for hours in those seats and loved 'em. 

PS… geez, I love these two cars.  So much fun and character.  These cars remind me of why I'm a driving enthusiast -- they bring back the fun of motoring without doing ALL the work for you.  Plus they're cheap and reliable enough to be used as a daily driver. 

 

The ST was good, but the Mini was just better. The ST you'd date for a while, the Mini you'd marry.

In my house, the MINI falls into the same category as say a Miata...both of which I kinda wouldn't mind having (no thanks to the likes of the fans on here I'm sure...oh how you've all influence me!), but then I might have to start seeing other men. If you know what I mean...and my wife (who's not a man) would not likely appreciate that.  Nor would I...but that's another thread...  I'd like the Fiesta meself, too...but I'm sure the Recaros would be on the yoga pants side of things. Sure they might feel good for a while, but eventually you'd feel uncomfortable having everything so squished together. I aint supermodel skinny anymore!  I'd need to procure a set of US spec base model seats, or just grab some from a regular Fiesta at a wrecking yard.  But alas, maybe I'm also too old to be tooling around in a punkass car like a Fiesta ST.                                        So a Mustang then...

You don't have to be seeing other men.  It speaks volumes when at a Porsche Club Autocross event, a Miata ends up with the fastest time of the day...

[Fobroader]

Bah… eat healthier and the Recaros will fit just fine.  I drove for hours in those seats and loved 'em. 

PS… geez, I love these two cars.  So much fun and character.  These cars remind me of why I'm a driving enthusiast -- they bring back the fun of motoring without doing ALL the work for you.  Plus they're cheap and reliable enough to be used as a daily driver. 

 

The ST was good, but the Mini was just better. The ST you'd date for a while, the Mini you'd marry.

In my house, the MINI falls into the same category as say a Miata...both of which I kinda wouldn't mind having (no thanks to the likes of the fans on here I'm sure...oh how you've all influence me!), but then I might have to start seeing other men. If you know what I mean...and my wife (who's not a man) would not likely appreciate that.  Nor would I...but that's another thread...  I'd like the Fiesta meself, too...but I'm sure the Recaros would be on the yoga pants side of things. Sure they might feel good for a while, but eventually you'd feel uncomfortable having everything so squished together. I aint supermodel skinny anymore!  I'd need to procure a set of US spec base model seats, or just grab some from a regular Fiesta at a wrecking yard.  But alas, maybe I'm also too old to be tooling around in a punkass car like a Fiesta ST.                                        So a Mustang then...

You couldnt be anymore wrong about the Miata.....with a few mods they are unbeatable at a lot of track days and have sent a lot of higher end equipment home with its tail between its legs. 

[aquadorhj]

would take MINI.


but check all the boxes and i'm at 40+k...