I own a 2002 1.6 Zetec. I have had this for 3 years and it has served me well. It is a rather dull car in all honesty, but it's reliability and comfort really makes it the type of car I would probably get again in the future, subject to me winning the lottery and buying an Impreza.

The handling is really smooth and with Hancook tyres it grips the road in everything apart from snow. I drive it 50 odd miles a day, along windy country roads. The 1.6 is not enough to be able to hurtle past anyone and everyone, but when you do encounter the inevitable cautious driver doing 40mph, slipping it into 3rd and flooring it can easily get you by. The acceleration in general, is okay. It's not as quick off the mark as my old Astra 1.6 GSi, but it is much smoother. I find that tootling along at 60 in fifth, with my foot barely on the gas, makes the engine run very quietly and economically. I think I must get high 40's mpg like this.

I have not had anything go wrong with it yet (touch wood) so am impressed with the reliablility.

Inside, the seats are comfortable. Not really much more to say on that but I have found it is also comfortable to sleep in, in emergencies.

The boot is deceptively spacious. Plenty of room to pull out the parcel shelf out and stick a few dogs in the back! Or your shopping!

The standard stereo and speaker system are quite simple to use. I listen to techno, loudly, often, and I think it is just shy of the loudness I wish it was. For the normal person, it will be plenty.

Overall, I would recommend this to pretty much anyone. It is about as economic as a Fiesta or Fushion, and so for the extra room I would definitely go for this.