12th Nov 2002, 15:31

Regardless that it's a Porsche, in a small tight piece of maneuvering, a smaller car would probably have the edge.

There was a Top Gear test involving shooting round a mock multi-story car park, going round obstacles, trying to escape. A Vauxhall Agila held off a BMW, GTI and Caterham.

Here's a Porsche engineer praising the Zetec-S brakes, which is high praise. Fact is in 4 road tests I've read, the Zetec-S has come out on top. Of course the VTS has the much faster 0-60 time, but without modification it will not out handle the Zetec-S, fact, fact, fact, fact, fact.

The reason the Saxo is the best seller is because it's so cheap, and they give free insurance, and it is cheap, cheap and nasty. You Saxo owners really annoy me, you will not accept that the Saxo can be outdone by other cars. The VTS I can maybe understand, super acceleration for little money, but the VTR is the same cheap car without the VTS speed.

11th Feb 2003, 09:19

Bit of tin, bit of cord, tie them together, you have a Ford!!! Saxos are way better... would much rather have one than a Fiesta, sorry, and as it goes, my best friend's little VTR (not VTS, VTR!!) kills me constantly when we race, especially round corners!! I drive a BMW 320 E36 V plate if ya interested!!! Stop slagging them off!! They're amazing little cars!!! Jealousy will get you nowhere!

21st Mar 2003, 07:20

All this praise about Saxos, I don't understand it. I have a 2002 VTS, 7 months old, and it's easily the most over-rated car I have ever driven. Anything other than perfect driving conditions, and you can forget driving fast, and please lets not mention the build quality... that would be a bad idea. Give it it's due though, in dry conditions it had fantastic acceleration, it FEELS (not is) just as fast the Lotus Exige which I had.

In short plus points are: Very fast for the price (only in dry)...mmmmm, that's it.

Down points: Very, very, very bad build quality, handling in anything, but perfect conditions (oversteer is horrendous), to much torque steer, and the fact that you'll have to deal with Citroen Dealerships.

31st Mar 2003, 07:17

I don't understand why every time I read a review on this survey from Saxo to Fiat Chinq's to Lexus IS200's, you all have to try and have a pop at the Fiesta Zetec-S. Clearly this is a complement, as you must all see the Zetec-S as the corner stone of the performance hatch market. When will you boys learn to play nice. Just because our cars are better, should not mean that you all should throw temper tantrums and try and slate the Fiesta, why don't you just look at them, admire the car and think... One day I will have a car like that!!! I have a Zetec-S that does 0-60 in 7.8. If anyone has a VTR that goes quicker and lives in the Birmingham/Black country area, then leave some details and we can settle this is the fairest way possible, Fiesta/VTR shootout!!!

7th Apr 2003, 08:49

To Mr 11 FEB 09:19, from your comments it sounds like you own a ZETEC-S and are trying to say the Saxo VTR beats you because it's faster. I think maybe you need to let someone who knows how to make the Zetec-S perform like the beast that it is, drive your car, whilst you enjoy the sheer thrill of a drive from the passenger seat! I have never in all my 2 years driving a Zetec-S been troubled by a VTR from stand still or on the motorway, and I do over 300 miles a week.

5th Oct 2003, 14:04

I don't see how you can say a VTR has never troubled you. Check the official manufacturer stats, confirmed by many car magazines and reviews...

Ford Fiesta 1.6i 16v Zetec: 0-62mph 10.6s, top speed 114mph.

Citroen Saxo 1.6i 8v VTR: 0-62mph 9.4s, top speed 120mph.

Citroen Saxo 1.6i 16v VTS: 0-62mph 7.8s, top speed 127mph.

So not only is the VTS 2.8 seconds quicker to 62 than the Fiesta, but even the 8v VTR manages 1.2 seconds quicker to 62, and an additional 6mph at the top end than the sluggish Ford.

The Ford may handle better, but off the lights and on the motorway, a Saxo rules... You can't argue with the stats.

13th Oct 2003, 04:55

My Saxo VTR can kill a VTS when I use NOS. No Fiesta Zetec could touch mine, and as mine is lowered 80mm back, 70mm front, it handles like a dream.

13th Oct 2003, 11:03

You've screwed up your own point. By admitting you NEED Nitrous, you haven't made much of a statement to say the least!!! You're actually saying that without it, your cars a dog. Den.

8th Dec 2003, 10:02

He said he needs nitrous to beat a VTS, not a Fiesta so he hasn't really screwed up his point at all.

31st Dec 2003, 09:04

I am currently purchasing a used Zetec-S after test driving a Saxo VTR and finding that it was no faster than my current 1.25 Fiesta, had an ugly cheap looking dash board, was noisy for a car of its age, and the whole interior in general looked more suited to a car of the 80s than a modern day hot hatch. The Fiesta is far superior in terms of build quality.

I was disappointed in this, as I always wanted a VTR. Maybe a C2 VTR when they're available used.

23rd Jan 2004, 12:01

Fiesta zetec 0-62 10.6 seconds.

Now that's funny.. yawn yawn yawn, wake me up when you get there. Fiesta boys, please please go away and stop coming here trying to justify why you own a grandmas car. We all know as owners, the Saxo is cheaply built inside, but we buy them because they are cheap and affordable, and look amazing, and they are very good performance wise. Upgrade that comment to awesome in the case of the VTS.

13th Aug 2004, 09:13

I own both a Zetec S, and a Saxo VTR.

The VTR has faster acceleration, and top end.

The handling is far better on the Saxo.

The looks, personally I like the Zetec S.

Petrol consumption is in the favour of the Saxo.

The brakes are better on the Fiesta.

I have now modified both of them. They are due to appear in Max Power as twins. Watch that space for a definitive answer of which one is better. Personally I'll take the Saxo any day though.

28th Sep 2004, 17:22

Wasn't the 106 GTi voted by Top Gear as the second best handling car ever made? And that was behind a Porsche or Ferrari or something?

The Saxo has almost exactly the same chassis, so the same must apply to the Saxo.

As for speed, I have blown away a few Zetec-S in my 106 GTi, and I believe the Saxo VTS has exactly the same engine?

Oh, and I see a test with the Saxo/106 brakes, and the car was supposedly very good due to its light weight. The Saxo VTR is lighter, produces more power, lower in the rev range, and in my opinion, looks better!!! And I don't own a Saxo!