2001 Ford Fiesta Zetec S 1.6 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Don't test drive one if you can't afford it because you will want it there and then!!!

Faults:

Brilliant car, but some common faults. Reading over these reviews I can see a trend which I can agree with.

Unidentifiable knocking noise on suspension when driving turned out to be anti roll bar come loose.

Dash display lights occasionally flicker on/off.

Fog lights flood very easily.

Windows fail to go up fully.

General Comments:

I started off with a little Nova as any 17yr old does, but soon wanted more power. My 18th birthday and my dream came true - A Fiesta Zetec S!!!

My first dream was the Saxo VTR. A good looking car with supposedly a 1.6 below the hud?! It wasn't until looking around the Ford dealers car park that I realised such a gorgeous fiesta existed. Take it for a test drive and there's no looking back. This car is incredible! Try and find a car that sticks to the road quite like this one with such instant power and high engine tolerance. Don't quite know who the genius at Ford thought he was by ceasing to make them last year! Trouble is that it's not a well known car, somewhat rare. If it had stuck it out a little while longer I don't doubt it would have been every young persons car (as the Saxo VTR is at the moment). Compared to the VTR there's barely any comparison. Although Ford quote a 103Bhp and top end 115mph, I think if you've ever driven one up against anything like a VTR you'll know there's more there than that. I've heard rumor it's been tested to produce in-excess of 110Bhp and I know for myself that you can push speed past 130mph on the flat.

Few problems with the car, but all made up for by the fantastic attributes it holds.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th January, 2003

17th Jan 2003, 06:07

130MPH I don't think so. Even if the engine did have more power the gearing is too low to permit this. You must have a faulty speedo.

15th Feb 2003, 16:05

The Zetec-S pulls 21 mph per 1,000 RPM in 5th. This would equate (given another 30 bhp or so) to just under 143 mph at the 6,800 RPM limiter. This is borne out by the Van Aaken turbo conversion models which will top a "true" 140 mph on standard gearing and the standard rev limiter.

My standard Zetec-S tops out at an indicated 127, and is reading 5,900 RPM on the digital "service mode" rev counter which can be accessed by holding the trip reset button down when switching on the ignition. This reading is taken directly from the ignition circuit pulse on the ECU and is apparently very accurate, as it is apparently used by the Ford diagnostic computers when interrogating the ECU. Assuming this to be the case, my standard car is good for a genuine 124 mph.

Ford's 103 PS rating cannot be anything other than conservative.

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2001 Ford Fiesta Zetec-s 1.6 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Small pocket rocket which will have you grinning from ear to ear, a shear joy to drive

Faults:

To be honest, I have been very fortunate, no reported defects with the car at present.

General Comments:

The Zetec-s, seriously looks like the fun performance car it so wants to be.

Not only does it look the part, it doesn't disappoint in the performance area either, the engine in this car is superb.

The car will just keep on accelerating and will cope admirable with any situation you choose, also has a lovely engine note at higher revs.

Having also owned a 1.25 fiesta, the level of detail and polish between the two is very noticeable.

Although the layout is unchanged you do get a higher level of tools including: electric windows, air conditioning, 6 speaker CD player, traction control, remote locking and boot release plus other nice touches within the car, which do have a practical use and benefit and have not just been put there for show.

I could praise this car all day, buy one now and see what all the fuss is about, you won't be disappointed.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th January, 2003