34 minutes ago, mitch84 said:

 Actually has anyone got recommendations on dash cams for the mk8?

No recommendations from me but smaller the better, so it can't be seen on the screen, there's some that small they can be fitted in the top corner of the screen.

I've noticed via youtube that most dashcam users attitudes change and go out looking for trouble, just to get something recorded and banged up on youtube.... either going around roundabouts really slowly - over reacting when a car pulls out - the horn gets heavily used - pulling off very slowly at junctions - pulling up to harsh - raging because a car has pulled in front.... the whole ''I've a dash cam has become a joke for many''

7 hours ago, Mavroz said:

When I ordered my car, I was told by the dealer not to bother with led headlight units when I requested them. They said the light output wasn't very good, especially in fog and heavy rain etc.

Having always had poor night vision I was looking at the LED option well before I specced the MK8 ST-LineX 140 I've got now.

I didn't get a chance to test drive one in the dark but I have been in a few friends cars with LED lights, a BMW and a Mazda and I wasn't very impressed. Obviously things move on over the years and those cars were about 2 years old so I don't know how they compare to the current ones or the Fiesta ones, but it was an expensive option to go for if it didn't offer me any improvement. And having gone for the standard lights on my MK8 I'm glad I did as they are an improvement over the MK7.5 ones and I can see reasonably well. I also like the Auto dip/main beam feature seems to work well for me.

As for the original post topic, the things I like are (in no particular order). :-

Heated front screen

Ecoboost Engine, plenty of power for what I need, sounds good under acceleration, decent economy. Could maybe do with a little more torque on motorways in 5th and 6th (Maybe the new Hybrid one will solve that)

Handling and ride. I've always preferred a sportier suspension setup and the ST-Line is a good compromise on comfort/handling.

Michelin Pilot Sport 4's as standard fitment on ST-Line. I was quite impressed with my previous MK7 on Continental sport contacts but the Michelins are even better.

The Sync 3 Android Auto feature and the voice control, seems pretty good with Waze or Google maps for Sat Nav. The inbuilt one is Ok but sometimes it didn't understand what I said and the others give better traffic information too.

It's quieter , engine and road noise are an improvement on the MK7.5. Although the 7.5 did sound much nicer under hard acceleration than the MK8.

The digital display inbetween the Tacho and Speedo gives some useful info, wish it was a little larger though.

I did test drive a few other cars before I decided to go for another Fiesta, tried the new Corsa, Astra. Polo, Mazda and a Seat but none of them felt as good to drive as the MK7.5 or MK8. The Ecoboost engine and the handling swung it for Ford there. The best of those that I did try was the Polo but as the MK7.5 had been such a good little car I decided to stay with Ford.

 

 

 

 

36 minutes ago, Blatto said:

Having always had poor night vision I was looking at the LED option well before I specced the MK8 ST-LineX 140 I've got now.

I didn't get a chance to test drive one in the dark but I have been in a few friends cars with LED lights, a BMW and a Mazda and I wasn't very impressed. Obviously things move on over the years and those cars were about 2 years old so I don't know how they compare to the current ones or the Fiesta ones, but it was an expensive option to go for if it didn't offer me any improvement. And having gone for the standard lights on my MK8 I'm glad I did as they are an improvement over the MK7.5 ones and I can see reasonably well. I also like the Auto dip/main beam feature seems to work well for me.

As for the original post topic, the things I like are (in no particular order). :-

Heated front screen

Ecoboost Engine, plenty of power for what I need, sounds good under acceleration, decent economy. Could maybe do with a little more torque on motorways in 5th and 6th (Maybe the new Hybrid one will solve that)

Handling and ride. I've always preferred a sportier suspension setup and the ST-Line is a good compromise on comfort/handling.

Michelin Pilot Sport 4's as standard fitment on ST-Line. I was quite impressed with my previous MK7 on Continental sport contacts but the Michelins are even better.

The Sync 3 Android Auto feature and the voice control, seems pretty good with Waze or Google maps for Sat Nav. The inbuilt one is Ok but sometimes it didn't understand what I said and the others give better traffic information too.

It's quieter , engine and road noise are an improvement on the MK7.5. Although the 7.5 did sound much nicer under hard acceleration than the MK8.

The digital display inbetween the Tacho and Speedo gives some useful info, wish it was a little larger though.

I did test drive a few other cars before I decided to go for another Fiesta, tried the new Corsa, Astra. Polo, Mazda and a Seat but none of them felt as good to drive as the MK7.5 or MK8. The Ecoboost engine and the handling swung it for Ford there. The best of those that I did try was the Polo but as the MK7.5 had been such a good little car I decided to stay with Ford.

 

 

 

 

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4s are very good, I'm pleased about that, as it means I will purchase them again when needed, on my old focus I didn't like the tyres it had originally and when I purchased new tyres for it I would only need 2 so I got something else and ended up having mis-match tyres on the front and rear. Won't be the case here.

Yes, ours both have Michelin tyres on them.

My 7.5 had Continental tyres, which seemed just as good.

Heated windscreen is good but had it for years on the Focus and old fiesta so nothing new.

1 hour ago, Blatto said:

The best of those that I did try was the Polo

I quite liked the Polo, though the looks are a bit dull. I was interested in the GTI as it's obviously got more poke than the 140 ecoboost but a bit more comfortable seat/suspension wise than an ST. Unfortunately it only comes with the  DSG dual clutch box (which is fine if you like them - I don't) and there seems no chance now of a manual. Same story with the A1 40 tfsi (don't know where Audi dream up their designations these days), and the Cupra version of the Ibiza has been canned altogether it seems.

It's a shame that manufacturers can't seem to offer something with a bit more usable poke for road use at sensible speeds, rather than feeling that they have to tune the suspension to clip 0.1 sec off the time round the Nurburgring. 

 

 

A bit off topic but anyone got a Fiesta Vignale ? What a lovely looking machine and stands well out of the crowd to other Fiestas, from its chrome doors sills to hand stitched leather dash to the heated steering wheel  to satin chrome wheels, the spec is outstanding....Heck I'd love one.

Personal preference I guess. We preferred the sportier styled St Lines opposed to the Vignale. Sure we looked at it but didn't carry the looks or style for us... We saw it more as an aging persons comfort model, if I have worded that right.

18 minutes ago, Mavroz said:

We saw it more as an aging persons comfort model, if I have worded that right.

No, doesn't do it for me either and I guess I am more of an ageing person.😀 It's good to have the choice though and it obviously appeals - there are 2 near where I live, but a fair number more ST-Lines, and not many "normal" models (Zetec, Titanium, etc).

1 hour ago, Mavroz said:

Personal preference I guess. We preferred the sportier styled St Lines opposed to the Vignale. Sure we looked at it but didn't carry the looks or style for us... We saw it more as an aging persons comfort model, if I have worded that right.

Think the ST stuff appeals to the younger motorist but like me who's over 50 the Vignale appeals to me, years ago I liked my sports cars, but nowadays I love posh stuff & loads of flashy bits.

I love most things about my ST. I liked my previous Mk7 Fiesta Zetec too, but always said I'd get a Mk7 ST one day. The exterior looks are just right, and the Recaro seats are great. With 200bhp on overboost it's a lot of fun to drive too. Apart from fitting Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres and a Mk8 aerial, mine's a factory ST-2 Navigation with Style Pack.