Small and white, edelweiss, NO, Dumbo the Fiesta! (Ford Fiesta (pre-1995))

Member Name: angusreid

Product:	Ford Fiesta (pre-1995)
Date:	03/04/02 (1117 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cheap, economical, reliable

Disadvantages: Boxy, basic

Bargain basement, or clapped out scrapper?

The Ford Fiesta 1.0 popular is a member of the largest family of cars on the road in the UK, The Fiesta itself. Spawning some four decades, Dagenham’s baby finally ceased production in the UK last year.

Over 1 million Fiestas are estimated to be on the road, and even more litter the scrap yards and breakers throughout the UK, making it an ideal cheap car to get parts for. I don’t believe that there has been a mechanic born who doesn’t know how to fix a basic Fiesta mark 1, 2 or 3 engine, nor which parts to check out straight away for rust, corrosion, filler and other dubious selling/buying points.

I purchase my little Fiesta from South Western Vehicle Auctions for £20! Yes, that’s right, only £20!

Unable to start herself without the aid of cables attached to mobile battery, she looked sad, lonely and abused in the far end of the auction queue, last to limp almost embarrassed through the laughing onlookers at the auctioneers stand. Kind of like Dumbo, from the Disney Movie of the same name.

Little did these guffawing traders know that under that green mildew appearance lay the body of a one owner, local government, fully serviced, 71,000 miles from new, little gem of a car.

She was so glad to be owned, that she drove back almost without me touching her accelerator, then I realised I had left the choke out!

BODY & APPEARANCE

Small, three door hatchback.

Has a square look, and finished in white, or at least she is know.

The paintwork polished up lovely with a touch of T Cut polish, and the rust stains wiped off almost as if they were tear stains. I spent a few bob on welding (£50) mainly to the sills and undercarriage, this also included the sills being painted and restored.

The windows have an easy to remove black rubber strip, which tend to rot over time, but can be picked up quite cheaply from most car
part shops, or junkyards. Also the windscreen wipers are amongst the cheapest to buy, should you need to replace them.

The front of the car sees two oblong headlights, and the famous Blue Oval of Ford takes centre stage on the bonnet. Giving it the mouse-like look that most people are familiar with.

Overall, a square look, but not boxy.
INTERIOR

Basic?

To say the least!

Not blessed with any remarkable features this girl, in fact, not even a stereo or a place to fit one!

The dash has only a speedometer, petrol gauge, and temperature gauge, as well as the indicator lights and headlight lamps, showing you what beam you are using etc.

The steering wheel is non adjustable so therefore rubs against my knees a bit, even with the chair fully reclined, but my head doesn’t touch the roof, unless I spike my hair up like Gareth.

The seats are straight and square, rather like a granny chair, and the beige grey interior doesn’t do much to convince you otherwise, however cheap seat covers will make this far more attractive to the younger market. They also have a lever attached to them to allow passengers access to the rear seat. This is somewhat limited in room and manoeuvrability, therefore not recommended for stout people or Tall Tone look-alikes.

DRIVE

She packs a few surprises with her nippy acceleration and almost instantaneous steering response that would put some more modern competitors to shame. The accelerator pedal is quite jerky until you become use to her, and with the manual choke out, can be a bit hard to stop. I find that when you first start her up in the morning, push the choke back in as soon as you are underway she responds fine, and if you come to a junction, pull the choke back out until she stops stuttering (again, like Gareth!).

Steering is over-responsive, but quick to righting her mistake when you pull the wheel round. Not very good at high-
speed turning, but, not really designed for high speeds. I have witnessed young drivers doing 90 plus on the motorways in this, the 1.0 popular, and I pray that they don’t have to brake suddenly, as she will never stop in time. Also, the judders and vibrations at that speed must be uncomfortable to say the least. Even at 50, she has a low vibration hum that fills the car.

Vision is extremely good, as she is so small, and reversing is quite easy as the flat back allows you to reverse almost up to the car next to you.

ECONOMY

I don’t think you will find many cars more economical or cheap to insure and upkeep as the Fiesta.

Insurance groups range from 4 upwards, depending on the engine size and spec of car.

Parts, as mentioned earlier are virtually pocket money, and an oil and filter change can be had for as little as £10. I wouldn’t bother getting a main dealer service on a car of this age, just a Rapid Fit/Quick Fit oil and Filter change and Brake check.

A replacement engine can be acquired and fitted for £250, making a mockery of the £150 charge that a Ford main dealer would charge for a main service.

Tyres last as long as the hills, 20, 000 miles easily. A replacement would be £20 fitted, upward, depending on your personal taste for budget tyres or Michelin’s.

Petrol consumption, about 30 around town and 40 plus on motorway, at average speed of 55 mph.

As a first car, this is a must buy and easy to keep on the road. She will fit into any budget and can be relied upon almost religiously. Will suit a youngster with a 17 year old quoted £700 third party on this one, or even a small family as a second car, with myself being quoted £156 fully comp.

Not a car to take on long distances if given a choice, but would not grumble if she had to, providing you didn’t thrash her on the way.

Angus

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