Rusty Ford Fiestas

BrianD3

I just saw a 1993 Fiesta with some of the worst rust i've ever seen on a modern car. Massive holes in the front and rear valances under the bumpers, rust spots all over the sills and rear wheelarches, one badly rusted door and a lot of ugly advanced rust around the petrol filler cap. I didn't check whether it had a current NCT or not

Now a 93 car is not that old and is a relatively modern design so you would think it would resist rust pretty well. These Fiestas were produced from around 1989 to 1997 - they continued in production after the introduction of the new model.

I know a couple of people who have 1995 and 1996 year Fiestas and they are rapidly going the same way as the 93 one I saw. It seems to me that Ford were the last manufacturer to take rust proofing seriously long after VW, Fiat, Renault Peugeot, Nissan etc. had gotten theri acts together. I've also seen appalling rust on early nineties Granadas and Escorts and even on late nineties Kas. The Mondeo seems to be very rust resistant though.

Max_Damage

I saw a white '92 Fiesta a while back with brown spots all over it. Looked like a sick dalmation! I agree, they do have some rust-proof problems alright. I've even seen a '99 Transit that was in rag order with rust.

In saying that, my parents had a '93 Sierra, and that resisted the rust very well. Maybe it was just the British-built Fords that had the problems.

bazz26

BrianD3 wrote:

I just saw a 1993 Fiesta with some of the worst rust i've ever seen on a modern car. Massive holes in the front and rear valances under the bumpers, rust spots all over the sills and rear wheelarches, one badly rusted door and a lot of ugly advanced rust around the petrol filler cap. I didn't check whether it had a current NCT or not

Now a 93 car is not that old and is a relatively modern design so you would think it would resist rust pretty well. These Fiestas were produced from around 1989 to 1997 - they continued in production after the introduction of the new model.

I know a couple of people who have 1995 and 1996 year Fiestas and they are rapidly going the same way as the 93 one I saw. It seems to me that Ford were the last manufacturer to take rust proofing seriously long after VW, Fiat, Renault Peugeot, Nissan etc. had gotten theri acts together. I've also seen appalling rust on early nineties Granadas and Escorts and even on late nineties Kas. The Mondeo seems to be very rust resistant though.

It could be a UK import, they put alot of salt on their roads in the winter time which rusts the underneath of the body with enough time particularly old cars which were not made of galvanized steel.

Or possibly a previous owner lived near the coast. Again I have seen old cars (mostly late 80s cars though years ago) rust to death from the salt in the sea air.

alias no.9

They're pretty bad for rust. You'll usually see it bubbling through around the rear wiper too.

maidhc

My 1995 mondeo has no rust, despite spending most of its life outside. Even where it has lost paint due to stone chips it seems to be perfect. Same with a friends Fiesta of similar vintage.

Some of the Foci have rust problems under the door sills and rear window trim, although I have never seen this with mine own eyes.

Nearly every Avensis rusts at the top corner of the side windows (front & rear)

TBH Mercs seem to rust a lot worse than Fords, or anything else.

PhilipFromBosco

And I thought is was me peeing against my aunt's Fiesta that caused it, although I'm sure it didn't help.

vector

a guy across the road from me has a mk2 fiesta (well it is towards the end of the shape 89-D) in mint condition as a daily driver

well it looks good but maybe its falling apart under the surface!