FIESTA MK7 ST180
IDENTITY
ST180s are adored by sticky-fingered scum, so your first job is to ensure the car you’re buying isn’t nicked. Invest in a proper history check (not the cheapest phone app you can find), ensuring it covers stolen cars, write-offs and outstanding finance – all ultra-relevant when it comes to any ST.
Take an OBDII code reader, and check the VIN on the logbook matches the car’s ECU. It should correspond with a tag at the left-hand-side of the dashboard (visible through the windscreen), stamped into the floor between the driver’s seat and pedals (under the mat), and on a sticker on the driver’s-side B-pillar: it should clearly display whether it’s an ST-1, ST-2, ST-3 or ST200 (which will read ST LIMITED EDN.). It will also include details of the car’s paint colour and interior trim.
The engine number should match the last seven digits of its VIN. You’ll find it on the V5 and also stamped into the engine block at the gearbox side, just in front of the starter motor. If it doesn’t tally, there could be a legitimate reason – such as engine failure – but ask questions.
Oh, and invest in security to ensure your ST doesn’t become a statistic. An OBDII relocation kit is a great start, while an aftermarket alarm and separate immobiliser will give you peace of mind.
INTERIOR
You don’t expect any little Ford to be a premium product, so forgive the ST180 if its cabin feels flimsy. Listen for rattles from the dashboard and instruments, clattering from the door cards, and the A and B-pillar trims sounding like they’re falling off; fix them back into place with foam pads. Squeaking from the clutch pedal is
