Ford Fiesta LX 1.25 (Ford Fiesta 1.25 LX 5dr)

Member Name: chris212

Product:	Ford Fiesta 1.25 LX 5dr
Date:	11/07/09 (111 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Driver comfort, low maintainance

Disadvantages: Some can show age - one or two minor problems

The Ford Fiesta is the United Kingdom's most successful car in terms of sales and the car that has brough success for Ford, just not in the United Kingdom but also in Europe. The Ford Fiesta LX 1.25 is in the fourth generation of Fiestas and is the best of fourth generation.

The fourth generation is essentially a remodel version of the third generation, as the car was given a more Italian make over in appearance on both the outside and inside; as the outside was given a curvier appeal. I really like this design of the car, as it made it more sport looking and made almost look more expensive that it actually was. Although now the design, while not looking the most modern, still stands out and many people still love.

In terms of the engine, the 1.25 is the best of the bunch, as it gives economic value for money while at the same time giving enough power to give the fiesta a sporty appeal. As the higher models of engines, while giving the driver more brake horse power it is terrible in terms of economy. Which may not sound a lot, but the area of the market that the car was aimed at was the sporty hatch back, meaning that the younger driver. But with the 1.25, the end does love to rev, as this is how you get the best out of the engine. This could be a criticism of the car in that the engine could be describe as noisy when compared to a more modern cars, but I do not believe that this is justified as I thought the engine was reasonably quiet. Although what I do find odd about the car is that Ford called it a .25, which is strange as most manufacturers either round up or down the engine size.

One of the best qualities of the car is the quality of ride; this is because of the soft suspense that is able to absorb any bumps that you go over. Although the suspension is not so soft that the car roles in the corners as to throw you around when going around corners, so what you get with this car is the best of both worlds. But on older cars that have done higher mileage the ride is not as comfortable, but this is because of age as the springs may not be as springy.

In terms of the interior, at the time of launch it was one of the best, although now it does look dated and old. As in the dash board area it does look and feel plastically. As for the seats, the Fiesta that I had was a bland grey and you could best describe seats as firm. Although the car is perfectly acceptable as a second car in the house or as a first time car, as for the first car you do not want anything to flash, as it is basically a learner car in which you learn from your mistakes. But is good enough for the older driver, that it is easy to clean and maintain.

But there are one or two problems that are associated with this Fiesta, the first are the door handles and locks. Although this is common to all Fords for some reason, in that they tend to fail. This is more so on the Fiesta, because if you are likely to buy one it will be one with some age and this is the time that the two fail. As the locks may become worn, meaning they will not work and will need replacing. In terms of the door handle, over the years the plastic does seem to become brittle, this means that as you open the door handle, the part that is attached to the unlocking hinge can snap, meaning it will need replacing; although it will not be a security problem if it cannot be replaced straight away, as the hinge and door locks are well covered by security devices.

The second problem is that holes can develop in the drivers and passengers foot wells, this is more common on older cars. So when you go looking to purchase the Fiesta check this, otherwise some welding will be required. Another is the seals around the front two doors can be worn and may sometimes need replacing.

In terms of the people that are likely to own and driver a Ford Fiesta LX 1.25, it is people like me, a person that has not long passed their test and driver as a named driver on one of their parents insurance, or the first car to own by themselves. As the car is one of the most economical that a young driver can buy, which is important as well as being sporty enough to impress your friends. Although saying this, the car is also comfortable enough for the older driver.

Overall I would recommend this car to anybody that is looking to purchase this car, as it is one of the best for the first time car own, such as a young adult such as myself, in their early twenties. As the car is cheap to run and maintain, which is important as while you want to maintain the car to the best standard you do not want to be paying out a fortune on maintenance. Another positive is the car is in the lower insurance bands, what this means is you pay lower insurance premiums, although if you do have a bump or two the car is not the most expensive to repair. Although the car is not just suited to young adults, as my dad owned a Fiesta for about five years, for the very reasons that it was cheap to run and maintain, just showing that the car has broad appeal.

Summary: One of the best first cars a young driver can buy

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