DRS Cornwalls Current Fleet

So over the years we have had many many different vehicles. Some near stock, some heavily modified, some track day toys. The current batch of everyday cars we have at current and have done for a few years now have been great in everything we have asked for them, but i think its time for a long term review.

So first up us our little 2015 Fiesta sport van with the 95bhp 1.6 TDCi engine in midnight sky. Now we wouldn't be DRS Cornwall without at least one Fiesta in the fleet. This is currently our only road legal fiesta as the others have become purely track toys/what we can push out of the ST180. Back to the litt;le van though and to be honest we adore it. we have done a variety of mods to it but nothing extreme. it sits on a set of eiback redline springs, spacers all round (20r & 15f), J1 intake, Airtec intercooler, our own DRS mapping, a full raft of PWP lights, chassis braces from Summit, ES design spoiler lip and headlight brows and a back box with twin tips to finish the look. We think it looks fantastic, it drives great its a punchy little engine and handles really well whilst still being comfortable to use everyday. its plenty frugal as a daily aswell returning around 50mpg running round the backlanes and towns of cornwall with kit and equipment in the back. It is a lot of fun to drive and still has that spirit of a Fiesta and to be honest it would be hard to part with it is a a good fun little car to drive and cheap to run in general.

Next up is our MK3 Focus ST-3 TDCi Estate in stealth grey. Now this has a little bit more about it, it feels that little bit special whilst being very practical as an estate. We actually got this from a customer who had owned it for many years and we had looked after and done a lot of mods with. So as a list with this as it currently sits, we have done a R-Sport intercooler, Shutter bypass, Exhaust system, RS style airbox, Pumaspeed induction hose, SD hard boost pipe, SD short shift, Pumaspeed rear mount, KSB lowline kit, maxton spoiler lip, Fifteen 52 Tarmac 19 inch wheels, EBC brakes, a full fit of PWP lights and a Maxd 2 R tune. Now this is a great daily driver for all the family, a proper dad wagon in my eyes. It pulls so well and is relentless in its torque delivery. the ride is a touch on the firm side maybe for a car of its type but the big leather recaros do really offset that comfort. For a big estate too i do think it handles like a car much smaller than itself. running the lanes of cornwall it comforatbly gets on average 40mpg to a tank driving faily sensibly round the lanes but does 60mpg out on the motorway where it is a bit more at home for the engine. The big touchscreen as well as the sony sound system make it feel that bit nicer too with decent sound quality and nice clear screen and I would wholy recommend one of these to some looking for a fun but sensible daily car. There a couple of bits to keep your eye on with these. the egr is a known issue for the housing to crack and throw coolant. its nott a difficult job to replace either the whole unit or just the cooler case, and also the waterpump breaking prematurely which if you do the timing belt at around the 80-90k mark rather than the 125k mark would likely avoid this anyway.

Overall again the whole family love this and it gets a lot of compliments from people as its a little different too.

Finally our third daily we have a BMW F21 118d M-Sport Individual which is of a very very high specification, who ever specced this out new was not shy with the options list thats for sure. Now this thing we love its the most understated underated car we have. we have barly done anything with this, just a set of spacers, a ProRam panel filter, a DRS tune and some PWP Lights and the 2 series additional chassis bracing, thats it. it looks almost factory at a glance. This car just tips the scales so well. yes its not as practical or as fast or arguably as well equipped as the Focus ST, but its by far the better daily. Running costs are higher as its a BMW and just naturally costs more in every measure. Its feels much more surefooted and balanced, it is much more comfortable even though it sits lower to the ground on the same size wheels. the 8 speed auto ZF box is just an absolute delight and I dare say the nicest auto I have driven in years. the different drive modes really give it that oppurtunity to be very sensible and sedate and lazy or a thrill ride where you want. The Ivory leather and interior does help the cabin not feel small or cramped the NVH is much nicer as well. Round the lanes it is on par with the Focus in terms of MPG ou on the motorway though it absolutely loves it eaily see 60mpg and its effortless aswell. The H K sound system as a factory fit upgrade is just phenominal sound quality too. Now I am a ford person through and through but i think this has me converted its just a different level espcially for saying its a car in the same catergory as the Focus and cars the like. Now im not saying this car is perfect because it isnt there are drawbacks as I have mentioned before but it does everything (taking out the practicality of the estate) that little bit better and I think this car will be a hard one to replace in terms of what it does and how it feels and does have that something about it that just makes you want another.

There are a couple of new cars on the horizon as well. but for now these 3 are here to stay they have done well as normally our cars are changed round regularly with only a couple of cars that have managed to stay on long term as everyday cars.

Overall I think having owned these 3 for some years now and in and out of them everyday. If i was to go out and buy one of these as a personal run round I think the BMW would be the one. Its much as it goes against the grain it just has me. the Fiesta makes me laugh and the Focus puts a grin on my face too when you bury the throttle and is practical, but the BMW can do both (maybe not quite as well) and be the most sensible too when you want it to be which I think that is what gets it.

I also apoligize for any mispells or typos in this.

Thanks for reading.

Ben

Owner of DRS Corwall