Faults:

The rear suspension squeaks whenever I go over a ramp. A bit of WD40 will fix that, temporarily anyway.

Clutch packed in at around 75,000 miles, but that's to be expected in any car.

Rear fog lamp works whenever it feels like it it seems!

Clutch sometimes makes a grinding sound when I release my foot of the clutch pedal. Not sure what that is, but it doesn't seem to affect the performance of the clutch.

General Comments:

I bought this car in June 2008 for €750. It's the base model, so it only came with manual windows, manual exterior mirror adjustments, etc. Didn't even come with a cigarette lighter, but I fitted one into the car since I bought it.

Performance wise, it's not great. 0-60mph would take at least 20 seconds, and it tops out at around 100mph. Overtaking can be a scary experience to say the least! The engine fitted to the car is the 1.3L OHV (pushrod) petrol engine, which churns out 60bhp. It's the same engine that was in the Fiesta Mk3 and Mk4, so parts are handy (and cheap) to find.

Where it lacks in performance, it makes up in fuel economy. The car is VERY fuel efficient. I reckon it gets at least 50mpg.

I've a towbar fitted to the car, and it can pull a full laden single-axle trailer with no problems at all.

The cabin is well designed, with all necessary switches at easy reach.

I find the car is very comfortable on long trips. The seats are well designed and have good back support. Far more comfortable than my parent's Mazda 626.

Good visibility from all angles, not quite as good as my old Micra K10, but still good nevertheless.

Overall, it's a great little car, ideal for students like myself who are always short on cash, as running costs are quite low for this car.

Faults:

The boot doesn't open.

The rear view mirror fell off.

The alarm has a mind of its own.

Changed a brake light.

New suspension bush required.

Rust built up on rear arches.

2 new front tires.

The handbrake (P) light shows indefinitely.

Plastic from interior trim broke.

Cigarette lighter launches like a projectile missile. Now doesn't work.

General Comments:

This car is the worst car I have ever owned.

It handles like a boat. The suspension is too soft, which is good for tackling speed bumps at high speeds, but bad for cornering.

The performance is dismal. It sounds like a washing machine in high revs. It does have a twin cam DOHC engine, which is an improvement on the SOHC on the Mark 4.

The reliability is average. I will give it some credit here for not leaving me stuck on the hard shoulder of the M25. Yet.

The interior is cheap. Parts of it are scattered around the inside of my car including the rear view mirror, which after several attempts to glue it back on, I have left on the back seat.

Exterior.. Thunderbirds are go! Who designed this car? Was it some kind of promotional competition I missed out on in the early 90s?

Ford were on drugs when they designed this car.

Avoid like the plague.