One car that the Fiesta ST calls to mind is the Fiat 500 Abarth. Look at the numbers and that car looks like a wimp by comparison. It's got 160 horsepower and a relatively limp-wristed 98 pound feet of torque. But the Abarth has no muffler to dampen its engine noise and it's got stiff suspension to control what would otherwise be canoe-style body roll.
The end result is an angry little car, the automotive equivalent of a chihuahua in need of counseling. It's all aggression, all the time. If that's your thing, it's awesome. I liked it for a couple days.
The Fiesta ST, on the other hand, growls only when asked and its suspension absorbs the bumps decently well. Honestly, there's only so much you can smooth out of the ride in a car this small. It's no Rolls-Royce, but your fillings will be in your head at the end of the day.
