Faults:

Very poor tyre grip and handling on the road in wet conditions.

Engine tappets rattled for the last 18 months despite regular servicing.

The handbrake cable snapped twice in 2 years.

Constant slow oil leak since early 2000.

Rust appeared by the wheelarch on the passenger side.

General Comments:

The car seemed quite reliable early on but then things started going wrong regularly, and I found myself paying out about £800 a year in repairs alone.

The 1.1L engine kept on going and started well even on cold mornings but the tappets sounded terrible when I sold it.

It was quite a nice looking, comfortable car and would be a decent car for students and young people who just want a cheap runabout.

Faults:

The ABS light started flashing, caused by worn belts.

Valve stem seals, tappets, oil pump and big end shells wore out.

Door and boot locks are a pain (the rods keep dropping off).

Otherwise it has been fine!!!

General Comments:

Mk 3 Fiesta's need a lot of TLC, more than a baby!.

Faults:

In 7 months I have had a new starter motor, exhaust, clutch, battery, suspension cap, and recently a multi-function switch for the windscreen wipes.

And for some reason on all the Mark 3 Ford Fiestas, the door panels come out at the top.

General Comments:

Parts are cheap (secondhand), and DIY is easy. Not very comfortable when long distance travelling, more suited as just a runaround.

Overall a nippy car when it's going OK.

Faults:

It is hopeless in wet weather, whenever you stop at a junction it will cut out.

The rear panel by the fuel cap has had to be replaced due to rust, after a £500 respray last year.

Road holding had deteriorated over the last 6 months. First I thought it was the tracking but that was fine. Then the suspension was checked by a main dealer and that was fine, but I am still having problems with handling when the car is on anything less than a perfectly smooth surface.

General Comments:

Apart from the above, it hasn't got bad performance although when pushed it will struggle to 30 mpg. I can keep up with 205 GTi's and beat Nova SR's.

Faults:

Engine mounts went causing antifreeze hose to burn through and leak... Faulty mounts not spotted by Ford Dealer, they just fitted a new hose and the same thing happened!!!

Battery went after being stuck in massive traffic jam for 3 hours at a stand still in minus 5 temperature... I'll forgive the car this one.

Seems to drink both oil and petrol alarmingly.

No electrics of any note, so nothing else to go wrong :)

Other things were due to age.... exhaust, front tyres worn, brake pads etc...... if you buy make sure it's got plenty of new parts!!!!! I've done 24k miles in 2 years mostly on the M-way and it's still going strong.

General Comments:

Only 4 forward gears but could be described as a bonus, no need to change down to get some extra speed. Point and press from 30-95!!!. Does 80 happily but very thirsty... 95 less happily... 70 is very pleasant indeed.

Can't beat it around town.... fun beating anything below 1.4 from the lights especially Corsas and Micras. RS Turbo without the engine? Possibly not.... but I love it.

0-50 in 10 seconds, 0-60 in 3 hours. Only feels out of place pulling out onto fast moving roads with no run up. Great first car...... but now I long for something faster and more sexy...... Saxo VTR methinks.