1991 Ford Fiesta Bonus 999cc from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A cheap noisy car that never died

Faults:

The clutch was slipping when I got the car, but was quite cheap to repair.

Rear brake cylinder needed replacing due to a leak.

Throttle cable snapped off the carb, but managed to use the manual choke to get me home. Cost £2.00 to repair.

General Comments:

This car was slow the tiny engine had a lot of trouble pulling the car, but saying that it did manage to do 100mph one evening back from Brighton.

The cabin was very basic. Ford removed so much from inside, things like the glove-box door, cigar lighter, trip clock and the dash clock. It was still comfortable though.

The car handled well. Rolled on corners, but nothing bad.

This car took a lot of abuse and survived. Solid as a rock.

I also managed to sell it at a profit to a used car salesman.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th March, 2003

1991 Ford Fiesta Bonus 1.0 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Cheap, noisy and slow

Faults:

Radiator got punctured and cost about £100 to replace.

Rear lights and dashboard lights switch off for no apparent reason.

Gearbox mounting broke, causing a fair bit of other damage to the engine.

Whole car wobbles between 30 and 40 mph, and again at anything above 68.

General Comments:

This car is very, very slow. It's OK accelerating up to 40, but from here it feels like an age to get up to 60. This is especially unnerving on motorways, especially with the crescendo of noise that accompanies swift (ish) progress.

The car lacks traction, going around roundabouts is especially scary, as it'll slide all over the road at anything over 15. When the weather's wet, the car is positively frightening.

The name of this car is ironic. Bonus?! What's that all about? The car has a 4 speed 'box, no rww, not even a cigarette lighter!

So long as you don't need a car for anything other than short, daytime journeys, then this car will be fine. Just don't expect to enjoy owning it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th February, 2003

1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo 1.6 turbo petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Fast, reliable and a laugh to drive

Faults:

Front wheel bearing became noisy at 60,000 miles.

Handbrake cable snapped.

General Comments:

Wonderful little road rocket that goes like absolute stink and handles decently with it.

CVH engine is a dog in terms of refinement, but it chucks the car down the road and pins you into the Recaro seat as it does so. Reliable too, unlike the 5 Turbo. My mate had one at the same time as I had this, and he had nothing but trouble. The Fiesta never let me down once, and only needed a handbrake cable and a wheel bearing outside of the normal service schedule.

It got nicked last year and has never turned up again to this day! With 71,000 miles it still drove like new - shame it's probably sitting at the bottom of a canal somewhere now, or was cannibalised for black market parts. The joys of 21st century car ownership in Britain!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th February, 2003

1991 Ford Fiesta Ghia 1.4 carb from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Good first car for 17 to 20 year olds

Faults:

Sometimes its difficult to start.

There is a lot of rust around the petrol cap and the passenger side key hole.

Required some welding to pass the MOT.

Rather noisy at high speeds.

Clutch can be a bit jerky after a few thousand miles.

General Comments:

The car doesn't like to be pushed hard, but will go some with a little persuasion.

However it does roll a lot when turning corners and feels like its about to topple at higher speed turns.

Fairly cheap nowadays, mine was £550.

But the insurance can be a problem, mine was horrendous and my mate was quoted over £2200 for the 1.8 diesel.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 30th January, 2003

1991 Ford Fiesta LX 1.4CFi from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A cheap, fun ideal first car

Faults:

The clutch burnt out.

The exhaust fell off.

The petrol cap got stuck.

The fuel injection system was playing up.

General Comments:

This car can be very quick when it wants to be, its 1.4cfi engine makes speeds of 115MPH truly obtainable.

I have never had any problem with the way the car handles.

The only real problem with the car itself is the lack of central locking meaning you have to manually lock or open each of the four doors.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th January, 2003