the perfect car to buy for, or share with, a new driver (Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 3dr)

Member Name: s.johnno

Product:	Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 3dr
Date:	25/08/03 (1183 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cheap, very fun to drive, engine suits all types of driver

Disadvantages: slightly cramped rear, maybe too common, no electric windows (in mine anyway)

Despite most of the other reviews saying the problem with the Fiesta is the size, DON'T LET THIS PUT YOU OFF!! I find the size ample - we use this car to shift all my stuff to and from Uni 6 times a year, and I have a lot of stuff. Also, last summer we fitted 2 televisions, a microwave, one big box of Uni notes, 4 adults and 4 adults' belongings for a week all into the fiesta for a 10-hour round trip from Manchester to Belfast and back (via Stanstead). Admittedly, it was cramped, but still...
The only size drawback is that legroom in the back is slightly cramped.

What puts this apart from other similar-sized cars is that the engine performs so well, both powerful and if you want, economical. I have a V-reg 1.25 16v Fiesta Zetec, bought by my dad mainly for me (I am a poor 19-year old student), but he uses it too.
This engine allows me to really push it - to maximum revs on most journeys, and it is really fun on corners, very fast, good handling, is safe, looks sporty - basically, it is everything anyone could want for a first car. I had for a few weeks a 1.4 Fiesta Ghia, and the smaller-engine Zetec performs just as well, using less petrol, and I can actually insure it for a reasonable(ish) price. The Zetec comes with metallic paint 4-spoke alloys, spoiler and white dashboard monitors as well, unlike the Ghia.

However, the car suits my dad as well as it suits me: its comfortable on long journeys, uses hardly any petrol at all if he wants to drive economically and, well, he likes it.

So, if you're looking for a car to share between a parent and son/daughter, or buy outright for a new driver, I think this is it. Insurance costs means cars this size are pretty much all is available to 17-year olds, and while fiestas in general are the most common of the lot probably, Fiesta Zetecs are not so common, and offer much better performance than standard fiestas. I like the looks too...

My advice, if buying, is to look at
2-3 year old fiestas: with brand new fiestas, there's quite a large price difference between standard fiestas and fiesta Zetecs, but after a couple of years the price difference is minimal, but the difference in quality is large. (Personally, I prefer the old-look fiestas, not the new ones that look like a Focus, but that's just my opinion.)

This might all sound like a long sales pitch, but I've had my Fiesta 2 years, and if I had the chance to get any car in this range again, I'd definitely still get a Zetec!

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