Fiesta Zetec - good buy! (Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 5dr)

Member Name: ross1979

Product:	Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 5dr
Date:	04/07/01 (1128 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: reliability, economy, fun to drive!

Disadvantages: moderate looks, no power steering

I got my 1998 Fiesta 16v 1.25 Zetec lx second hand last year and what a good buy it was. It was at around 16000 miles when I bought it and I have driven another 10k and it hasn't let me down once (touch wood!). I have taken it for a service and an Mot without a hitch.

The car is fairly basic but it is reliable and efficient. I have found it cheaper to run than other cars of similar size. In terms of miles to the gallon, I would estimate I am getting around 45, but I have not calculated it accurately yet. On top of that , when you put your foot down it doesnt hang about. It is definately not sluggish and I have found the acceleration to be a match for more powerful cars. When you want to overtake, you feel you can go for it in this model without having to 'wind it up' first like in less powerful small cars. I'm a big fan of the 16v zetec engine.

The driving experience is generally good, with a reasonably smooth ride and good cornering. Cruising on the motorway, it is stable at high speeds, unlike some of the old fiesta models. It is fairly comfortable to drive for fairly long distances, even for a tall chap like me (6ft 2)! I tried out Clios, Saxos and 106s before deciding on the fiesta. One of the main reasons I chose it was that I could fit in without being cramped. The only other small car I have found to have as much room is the Punto but I am not a big fan of the looks of the Punto.

The safety features are good, with a drivers airbag, and I have found the accessories easy to find and use. There is an engine immobiliser. But make sure you get the masterkey if you are buying second hand. I didnt and paid £70 to have a complete new set of keys to be on the safe side. The radio (the 3000 model I think?) is fine, and the sound quality perfectly good with no annoying vibrations which I have found in other cars. One other little advantage I have found is the alert when you open the door with your lights
on. My families old fiesta have this and I left the lights on a number of times. Maybe thats just me!

The disadvantages of my particular model include the lack of power steering and the lack of central locking. These are features I would really desire in a car but obviously you have to pay for them. It can be difficult to manoevre around the carparks and we all know what a hassle having to open the doors manually for passengers is. Also, there is no luxuries such as electric windows, air con, etc but I understand you can get these in other fiesta models.

There is very little room for passengers in the back seat if the front seats are set back. Not a good car for transporting tall friends. But these are not big problems, the price you pay for a second-hand fiesta you still get real value for money. Mine was £4000 at 2 years old, which I suppose is somewhere around half the price of a new model.

The image of the fiesta these days is a far cry from the boy racer image of old. It has reasonable (but not brilliant) looks. Of course, you can always pay extra for a more sporty looking model but I believe the performance of the car and value for money are far more important.

Other fiesta zetec drivers I have spoken to all express satisfaction with their cars. I certainly recommend this model in particular. The evidence all seems to point to a good, safe bet for a small car.

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