Faults:

Clutch.

Half shafts.

Front and rear brakes.

Rear wheel bearings.

Tires.

Timing belt.

Water pump.

Alternator.

General Comments:

Bought the Fester in 2005 for $200, at 182,000 miles. Now at 287,000 miles. Still getting good mileage. Total investment less than $1500 plus routine maintenance. Not shabby for a vehicle Ford considered a five year throwaway model.

Faults:

Smashed window, cut fuel pipe.

General Comments:

The car is brilliant now I have finished it it goes really well I'm impressed!

Faults:

Wheel arch rust, that is all.

General Comments:

This car is quick and nippy for a 1 litre, If you want a cheap, quick, reliable runaround, this is the car for you.

Faults:

Rear wheel bearings needed replacing.

Dash creaks all the time.

Eats oil - 115,000 miles.

Bit of rust around the arches and valances.

General wear and tear.

General Comments:

I have had my Fiesta for 4 years, and still think its one of the best cars I have ever bought.

Its very reliable, never broken down and always starts first time, even after 115,000 miles.

The simple mechanics and robust engine means it goes on for ever, despite becoming noisy and getting through a fair bit of oil.

The 1.1 Fiesta was never a performance machine. I have been beaten by mopeds, lorries and the odd tractor, but who cares when you get 55 miles per gallon?

Motorway driving is not ideal. The car happily revs to 3k at 60mph, and will stick at 65 all day long. Just watch that oil drop at anything over 70, and don't even think about accelerating up hills, it just won't do it.

I have been all over the country with it, it's a proper little workhorse, and its never missed a beat.

I have driven it hard, getting to 5k rpm in the first 4 gears (5 never gets past 4k at 95mph - on private roads of course), the car only really feels like its pulling when the revs get over 4k, but that's not really practical for everyday driving.

The cornering and handling ability are great fun, provided you want to see your lunch again. It really wallows around corners and doesn't inspire confidence. But, that's not really a problem as you'll never be able to approach a corner at great speed anyway!

I like the handling because despite bouncy suspension and soft damping, I have never made it lose grip, even with 13" wheels and chunky tyres. I did once get it to under-steer round a corner...

To get any sort of performance, you need to work the 55 bhp engine very hard!

To sum up, its very reliable, economical, entertaining and makes an ideal first car or everyday drive. But, it does like its oil, the creaks from the dash drive you insane, its woefully slow and sounds like a blender full of pebbles when revved.

Faults:

Not much, all I have done is replaced the fan belt. I drive it very hard round the farm so this is surprising.

General Comments:

The car is very nippy for a 1.4.

It handles OK, but I tend to find that the front end likes to wonder and under steer.

It is fully electric inside- inc windows and I have also added bonnet scoop.

It is quick off the line and doesn't lack power.

Faults:

Rust around bodywork.

Sills needed welding a couple of times.

General Comments:

Good fun and relatively quick, for a first car at the age of 17.

Unfortunately it handles like a jelly.

The 1.4 CFi of this year has an impressive 0-60 time of 10.4 seconds, however I do not feel that my car achieves 60mph from standing in this time, mainly due to its age.

Relitively well equipped for a car that I paid £150 for. Central locking, electric windows and electric boot opening.

At motorway speeds this car performs relatively well, cruising at 90mph with no problems what so ever.