1998 Ford Fiesta Zetec 1.4 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A fast little car!!

Faults:

Rear windscreen wiper failed.

General Comments:

A great car to drive, plenty of acceleration and speed! Shows up many bigger cars who think they can burn you up!

Handles very well round corners, especially round those twisty country lanes.

However, it drinks petrol only manages about 200-250 miles on a full tank depending how you drive it and is quite expensive to insure if you are a young driver.

Seats are very supportive and comfortable to drive in for hours.

Still has great sporty looks at 7 years old and looks very smart.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th December, 2005

1998 Ford Fiesta LX 1.3 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Does exactly what it says on the tin

Faults:

I can't really fault the car much, only problem was a heater which gave out after 90000 miles, but it was easy fix. Just took the unit out and cleaned the release valve... just a simple case of it sticking.

General Comments:

It's not a family car and car sharing in work it is a bit of a tight squeeze for 4 lads, however it was and still is a cheap car, very reliable, covers huge mileage mostly on main roads and motorways and can transport my workmates and I along without any hassle. it returns approx 48 m.p.g.

Like everything, if you look after it and treat it good it'll last.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 20th September, 2005

1998 Ford Fiesta 1.2 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A good run around, but not a family car.

Faults:

The car heating system stopped working.

The front light switch stopped working.

Exhaust fell off at 65,000 miles

Breaks wore down at 80,000 miles.

General Comments:

The cars design is still modern and fits in with the majority of cars on the road.

I have found that it has extremely good fuel consumption and is very economical to run.

The interior is dull and basic.

The three door version is very small inside and not suitable as a family car.

Great for a first car.

Sticks to the road and handles corners well.

Very uncomfortable seating, gives me back ache.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 2nd August, 2005

1998 Ford Fiesta LX 1.25 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Small, well priced and built car

Faults:

Rear brake cylinder seals perished required replacement.

Interior rear view mirror fell off.

Electric window keeps sticking.

General Comments:

Very good little car, reliable and cheap to run.

Eats through brake pads every 10000 miles, though they only cost £12 for a pair.

Very good handling and the engine is eager and quite fast for its size, can keep up with motorway traffic, I hardly ever have to change down.

Gearbox is excellent, has a solid positive shift and easy to use.

Few problems inside, apart from the ones listed, the window goes down OK, but takes an age to come back up. Rear view mirror fell off, but, the sticky pad cost next to nothing. Not a single squeak or rattle in 3 years from the interior.

The rear drum cylinders had to be replaced, but cost less than £30 including labour.

Overall a very good car, and are selling this for another fiesta.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd July, 2005

20th Dec 2005, 05:07

60,000 miles from front brake pads is almost unheard of, and that's coming from someone who has driven 5 different cars an average of 30,000 miles per year over 10 years!

Typically, brake pads last 10-20,000 miles and discs 20-30,000 miles. That's an average based on a Rover 216 SLD Turbo, a Peugeot 306 1.8 GLX, a Peugeot 406 2.0HDi LX, a Ford Focus TDCi Zetec and a Renault Megane dCi 120 Dynamique - on each of these cars the pads were changed at the very least every other service, and none of them are exactly powerhouses (although the Megane's not too shabby). Most of my mileage is on motorways and fast A-roads too.

Since asbestos was outlawed in brake pad material, neither the pads or discs last as long as before. I have never heard of front pads lasting 60,000 miles in any of mine or my colleague's cars! Are you sure your front calipers are actually working?