2000 Ford Fiesta Zetec S 1.6 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Nicola's future dream car

Faults:

There was a very slow leak on the power steering fluid.

General Comments:

The Zetec S is a dream car to drive. It's combination of power steering and lowered suspension add up to give an all round excellent car. The car gives power when you ask for it and it's a real hot hatch for the noughties.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 19th October, 2000

2000 Ford Fiesta Zetec-S 1.6 petrol from UK and Ireland

Faults:

Nothing. Only the fact that I have had three different sets of number plates in a week on this car due to the dealer making an error with the initial registration.

General Comments:

An excellent small car. Good performance, comfortable, 38mpg and very good looking (especially in black like mine). Engine makes a nice noise, even for a 4 cylinder unit. Air con very good.

After a horrendous BMW 325, I was a little unsure about this car, ie going from nearly 200bhp to just over 100bhp. Not a problem, the Fiesta stops, starts and steers as well as the BMW and is a lot cheaper to run. Thoroughly recommended. Only let down by poor dealer service with respect to the first registration..... I was running round with wrong number plates for nearly a week!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th September, 2000

29th May 2001, 05:29

Now had this car 8 months and not best pleased. Build quality/reliability is appalling... it failed to start one morning for no reason and it seems to start with some difficulty on random occasions. The trim around the lever to access the back seat is coming away on the passenger side - unacceptable on a new car. The car rattles a lot. The hand brake stuck on one morning and finally the clutch makes a whirring noise when idling in neutral and has been getting louder from new. Will try to get these faults amended at the first service but the dealers are crap. Customer service from all areas of Ford is poor - I will not be buying another one. I do enjoy driving the car but it needs more power... fuel economy is good (~37mpg +). The Fiesta now looks very dated against rivals like the Corsa and Polo. I miss the space in a bigger car (previous to this I've had a Cavalier, Mondeo and BMW 325). The Fiesta is also noisy (engine and tyre noise mostly).

12th Jun 2001, 05:57

I too had trim coming away from the seat (driver's). That was fixed.

I agree that the Ford dealerships are crap. You just have to be persistent and show that you are getting annoyed. If you kick up a fuss they soon start pulling their heads out their behinds.

With regard to the starting from cold, just pump the accelerator once and this ensures there is petrol in the carb as soon as the engine is about to turnover, I have had the same problem once or twice. It has always started but it sometimes turns over a little later than anticipated.

The car is great but the dealership is a big let down. Though I suppose if you're gonna buy a car that is so good on handling etc, that only costs about 11,000, you have to sacrifice something!

My next car will be a BMW. Far superior in every respect, bar of course cheapness!

3rd Jul 2001, 14:57

I also have had the problem with the trim around the passenger side seat pull.

I have also had to take it back due to the paintwork flaking on the fin above the rear window, took 4 months for them to get me a replacement fin.

The dealers who I bought the car off are also crap, won't be buying from Ford again.

21st Feb 2003, 10:10

25,000 well thrashed miles on mine. Not a single fault or rattle. Better than the Polo I had before it.

2000 Ford Fiesta Finesse 1.8 turbo diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Don't waste your money on a non turbo diesel

Faults:

None.

General Comments:

Far better than my previous non turbo diesel. A lot faster, more economical and even fun to drive.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th September, 2000