The not so flat Fiesta (Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 5dr)

Member Name: humus_maximus

Product:	Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 5dr
Date:	15/06/01 (836 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Handling, Engine noise

Disadvantages: Slightly poor equipment list, Tight rear legroom, Reverse gear

My Fiesta was bought brand new back in 1999, and since then there has only been one thing go wrong with it. Unfortunately it was that the car kept cutting out wheneverit was put from second to first gear. A module had become dislodged but was fixed free of charge by the dealership. The car will still stall every so often, particularly when the whells are turned to a lock and the car is pulling away, take this into account when on a terst drive or when doing any type of tight manouvre. The car is throaty and lively, it is the only car myself or my family have actually liked the handling. The best thing about the car is when you turn the funny circular thing in front of the driver. The car and chassis follow your every twitch of the steering wheel, this may sound unnerving to some who might thing the the car will be unstable but once you get used to it, it's fine. Point and shoot is a good way of describing the handling, point at the corner with the steering wheel and the chassis shoots you round with minimal roll and plenty of fun. As the car is front wheel drive there is of course under steer, but it is only likely to affect the car on a tight roundabout when you are going far to fast, it really does not come into the equation. The car is not a rocket when it comes to speed, with a nought to sixty is about 11 seconds, but it feels a lot faster than it is. This feeling is helped by the awesome sound that the tiny engine produces when revved hard. The gear change between first and second can sometimes be sticky but essentially it is a slick gearbox matched to a brilliant chassis. The major problem with the gearbox is that it is very hard to find reverse sometimes.

The looks will not set the world alight and there are so many of the things driving around it is a wonder people have not got sick of them, but five spoke alloys, a spoiler, white dials and front fog lights make you feel a bit more racy. The interior is classic ford, i.e. functional
but not inventive with colour or design. That is not to say that it not a pleasant experience to sit behind the wheel. The car has a good driving postion provided you are less than six foot two and front leg room should not be a problem. However what you gain in front leg room you lose from rear legroom. Even with both front seats as far forward as they can go the back seats will not fit three adults, but this is not a car for carting around five adults and a weeks worth of luggage. The fiesta is essentially a shopping trolley, or a runabout, or something small, cheap and fun to learn to drive in. Saying that it's a great car which will do what you want it to do provided ity is not too heavily packed with people and/or luggage.

While the majority of people will fork out a couple of hundred for metallic paint, well I say don't, go for the flat red and trust me no one will know the difference. Power steering and a drivers airbag, immoliser and central locking are about the only things you get but that is all you really need, barring of course ABS, and possibly on my next I will go for electric front windows, simply because I am too lazy to actually roll them down myself. The options package is good with sunroof, air con, ABS, cd player, electric front windows and alarm.

The fiesta is a cracking little car that will be enjoyed by anyone who likes the sheer thrill of driving, whether drive to the shops or along the twisting country lanes this car will make you realise why you don't bother walking.

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