Down Under STory

[bigshotdan]

So I've now introduced myself and my baby. I figure now it's time to give a bit of a 'running commentary' on how things are progressing. I've no intentions of going as mental as some owners have (but then I also didn't plan on modding at all) but the finished product will be just as I want it...

The story starts with a great offer from Ford Australia on 2013-build cars, including the Fiesta ST amazingly. My plan to grab a fourth consecutive blue Euro Ford was hatched. However, that hit a proverbial wall quite quickly, with none available across the country. I opened up the search to red and black cars. That still proved difficult, but I stumbled upon one at a dealership one Saturday afternoon and had a look, as it was just sitting at the back of the lot, with another dealer sticker on the rear window...







On seeing that car I decided that I could definitely live with having a red Ford. Trouble is, it wasn't showing on Ford's system as available. I spoke to a friend who knows the dealer principal three days later. He said it didn't have a buyer. Haaaaaaang on... it did now!

So... after a phone call, I arranged to head to the dealer at lunchtime Tuesday 14 January, and had a test drive.



Barely more than 48 hours later, that same car wore my plates...



The first week saw plenty of driving done; I covered about 200km in the first night, and used any excuse to go for a blast...



... to the point that the first 1,000km disappeared under the tyres after just on a week. I snapped this the morning of 25 January.



The following day, my baby had its first clean after quite a few wet summer days. Just over 12 hours later, it would see its first track action, at Queensland Raceway. Given I was still in the official 'running in' phase, I alternated between gentle and fairly enthusiastic laps.



For much of the next six weeks, however, it could be found in the Brisbane Airport carpark, as work travels (mostly over weekends, dammit!) became the running theme...

 

[bigshotdan]

On a rare weekend not in another city, I caught up with my old baby (and its new owner) in the world's worst-named area: the often-wet Sunshine Coast.



We swapped cars for a while and the comment was along the lines of 'a shorter shift and a little more power and this thing would be perfect'. After a lengthy delay at the far end, I started receiving regular deliveries wrapped in yellow tape. The first such delivery included floor mats, an induction hose and short-shift kit.

In mid-March it was time for the 3,000km check-up, at which time I elected for an oil change. A clean bill of health (as one would hope) and I was ready for a big April.



On lurking around a UK forum, I discovered that you could order build plaques for these cars, just as I had done with the RS. So I was back in touch with Bernhard the friendly Austrian to grab a plate...



The same day the build plaque hit my desk, something else rather exciting (not to mention expensive, courtesy of a large Customs bill) arrived. I couldn't bare to wait for DHL to bring it to me so I went and got it from their Brisbane base...



The next night, it was all done...



While the car was stock I had averaged 8.8L/100km which included loads of city traffic, a few highway runs and the odd bit of fun in the twisties. Given the mTune handset wiped historic fuel data, I decided to start again when I next filled up, because a few days later I'd be off to Sydney...

Eight days and almost 4,000km later I returned home, safe and sound, and having averaged 7.1L/100km over the whole trip, which included about 2,000km of highway driving plus horrid Sydney traffic, along with a blast on an old favourite (Putty Road up to the Hunter Valley - check it out on Google Maps!) and a track day. Thankfully the drive down and back featured a bit of rain, so there weren't too many remnants of dead bugs on the nose.



On my return to work a day later, I had another nice surprise awaiting me - another yellow-taped delivery!



Exactly three months after taking delivery - and barely one month since my 3,000km inspection - this happened...



Easter Saturday - a week after returning from Sydney - finally presented a chance for a thorough clean. Inside wasn't pretty but outside (though this pic barely shows it - thank you, red paint!) was disgusting. Unfortunately, when I'd finished, I could see plenty of stone chips, but I figure cars are to be used. No more chips for the next fortnight, however, as it was hiding under a cover until the next Happy Laps at Queensland Raceway...



Speaking of Easter weekend - and more to the point, a Mountune sale - I might have also ordered an intercooler...

 

[Drifter]

Not bad for someone who wasnt going to mod at all. She looks epic mate.

 

[rooSTer]

Great start so far...when did Mountune release their tuning for Australia and how do you know what your build number is?

 

[bigshotdan]

Not bad for someone who wasnt going to mod at all. She looks epic mate.

Hehehe... thanks! Yeah, I thought I'd leave it alone, but then I read so many good reviews of the MP215 kit I decided that I needed it. Nothing whatsoever to do with want...

Great start so far...when did Mountune release their tuning for Australia and how do you know what your build number is?

They've not officially released anything Down Under yet; Ford Australia is talking Q4 this year for Mountune upgrades. We run Euro-spec cars so it's just their kit...

 

[MKVIIST]

Beautiful, looking forward to seeing the progress!

 

[Colin1337]

Nice! Jealous of the 2 door

 

[Drifter]

Ford in South Africa refuse to support Mountune, so I went the Finsport route.

 

[bigshotdan]

Beautiful, looking forward to seeing the progress!

Thanks bloke! Not much more for it now, visually at least. Performance-wise, I guess we'll just wait and see what the 'MR' kit does whenever Mountune does it...

Nice! Jealous of the 2 door

Hehe... yeah, I think the one-door-per-side suits perfectly. I understand the whole practicality thing with four doors, but if we had both options, I'd go two-door every time, but then I only have myself to think about...

Ford in South Africa refuse to support Mountune, so I went the Finsport route.

Wow... it's not so much a refusal here as it is an apparent lack of haste; there was talk of factory support when the RS came out. Now near four years later, it's still not happened. Apparently it will before the end of this year...

 

[Sekred]

Welcome, nice going. I'll believe Mountune support when I see it.

 

[Nevermind]

When I take delivery I'd love to get my hands on a build plate, if you could help?

 

[bigshotdan]

Welcome, nice going. I'll believe Mountune support when I see it.

One of my friends who used to work at a dealership on the Sunshine Coast has been told it's actually in dealer's systems as a note for later in the year. So I guess that means it's happening. It's just a matter of time...

When I take delivery I'd love to get my hands on a build plate, if you could help?

Once you've taken delivery, shoot through an e-mail to [email protected] with your VIN and you'll be on your way.

 

[SICKESSS-ST]

One of my friends who used to work at a dealership on the Sunshine Coast has been told it's actually in dealer's systems as a note for later in the year. So I guess that means it's happening. It's just a matter of time...



Once you've taken delivery, shoot through an e-mail to [email protected] with your VIN and you'll be on your way.

Can this plaque be made for USDM models also?

 

[bigshotdan]

Can this plaque be made for USDM models also?

I've no idea, honestly. They can be done for Europe, UK and Oz that I know of, so it's worth asking the question...

 

[SICKESSS-ST]

I've no idea, honestly. They can be done for Europe, UK and Oz that I know of, so it's worth asking the question...

Thank you! I contacted Bernhard, he said it can also be made for the USDM models, I'll update once I get mine.

 

[bigshotdan]

MORE UPGRADES!!!

So, a few weeks ago, after a really crappy week during which my grandfather passed away, there was at least some joy the following weekend courtesy of some good friends in the car group...

Not that I really cared, given what had happened just a couple of days earlier, another box covered in yellow tape arrived...



Deciding that I needed cheering up, I had two good friends help out (well, carry out!) the upgrades that Friday afternoon. A couple of 'during' images...





Then, on the Saturday morning, the - at that stage - finishing touches were applied...





By that stage, I really couldn't wait for my grey wheels to land, which were due in the next week or so.

Oh yeah, then our crew had Happy Laps at Queensland Raceway on the Sunday. And one of the guys has a rather cool camera mount...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTg0ngRtQOM
(Complete with me giving a little wave out the windscreen to conclude the session!!)