Downsizing Focus to Fiesta?

Henry Ford III

Is this a mad idea folks?

I'm thinking of going from an 07 Focus (a good spec. 1.6 3 door) to a new 3 door Fiesta 1.6 Zetec S. Looks like I can cut an ok deal with a main dealer with a lowish cost to change.

The attractions are:

1/. New car.
2/. Low tax (€150p.a vs c.€450)
3/. Zetec S is a great little car to drive.

Negatives:

1/. Smaller car (not that much smaller in reality).
2/. Not as well equipped as the Focus, although it's not bad.

EPM

i saw a black one in CAB in cork last week. Looked the dogs. If you dont need a bigger car and you're happy with it then go for it. The reviews are great for it but the ride is supposed to be very firm. I was well impressed by the look of it and thought the interior was good

Henry Ford III

Thanks EPM. Ride was fine on the test drive. Current car has 17" alloys and sports suspension/205 tyres, so I'm not too bothered. Handling of the Fiesta was good.

EPM

If you're happy with it then go for it. They really do look impressive

Alicano

New fiesta looks savage..id say its nice and pokey with a 1.6l.
Enjoy.:)

bazz26

Only problem I would have is that if you ever grow out of the Fiesta and want to upgrade to a bigger car it will cost a fortune.

I'm having this problem now with my Focus, my last car was from a class above and now we are taking about expanding the family which will make life difficult with the Focus. That and I prefer driving bigger cars.

BTW how much is the cost to change out of interest?

Henry Ford III

Very little bazz tbh. I refuse to do the whole finance thing.

The way I'm thinking is if I need a bigger car later, I'll probably import a diesel.

EPM

you sound sold on it. Just out of interest, what colour? Best of luck with it if you go ahead

unkel

If you're happy and only have to pay little for the change, go for it. Your Focus still has a lot of depreciation to do in the next 2 or 3 years, which for the Fiesta is less of an issue as it is a brand new model and superminis just depreciate a lot less the first few years compared to family hatches

Stevie Dakota

If the journos are to be believed the Fiesta is all the car you'll ever need. If you can live with the downsides which you mention then go for it. The only thing that would needle me would be how good the next Focus is going to in a couple of years.

deRanged

I saw one at at the weekend - looks like a mighty car.

colm_mcm

sounds like a good plan.

galwaytt

Not mad. As you're finding out, new gen small cars are bigger than the older model up the line.

This is why they have to 're-invent' the small car every few years. E.g. a VW Fox is the size of the 'old' Polo, and the current Polo is near as dammit the size of the 'old Golf'.

Me, I'd do it.

Henry Ford III

EPM wrote: »

you sound sold on it. Just out of interest, what colour? Best of luck with it if you go ahead

They have a black one in stock. I'd prefer red though.

alexmcred

I'd go for it if you can live with the down sides no reason not to. Saw a black one and it looked very nice.

bf

The new fiesta is a cracking looking car, the only question I would have is over the saleability of a 1.6 fiesta in a year or two versus a 1.4

Drummerboy08

The zetec S is a crackin little car, i drove one yesterday. Great car to go, good looker, loads of kit.

If you can live with the difference in size, then go for it!

GoneShootin

Watch the alloys in those low profile tyres, as they are soft as butter. My girlfriend has a 2005 Steel and while a nice car the alloys take a beating on the Irish roads and lead to soft tyres more often than not.

rebel.ranter

bf wrote: »

The new fiesta is a cracking looking car, the only question I would have is over the saleability of a 1.6 fiesta in a year or two versus a 1.4

In "old money" this would be true, but the Op has stated that the Road Tax is just €150 thanks to CO2 emissions rating system. So this should not be a factor.
If you don't need the bigger car OP then the new Fiesta looks like a nice car. I think Top Gear did a good job promoting this season AFAIK.

Henry Ford III

Thanks for the replies folks. I think I'll go ahead

Bluefoam

Have you thought about downgrading to a Mito?

http://www.alfaromeo.com/

Henry Ford III

Bluefoam wrote: »

Have you thought about downgrading to a Mito?

http://www.alfaromeo.com/

I get a Ford employee discount, so financially that'd make no sense.

Nice cars though.

p.s. The Alfa website broke (no joke)

r3nu4l

So unusual to hear someone downsizing from a Focus to a Fiesta but it does seem like a really good choice, especially as it's the new model Fiesta. Also, going from a 1.6 Focus to a 1.6 Fiesta, you'll probably feel like a Rally driver with the extra poke because of the reduced weight in the Fiesta compared to the Focus .

Just out of interest what's the difference in fuel economy?

Henry Ford III

r3nu4l wrote: »

So unusual to hear someone downsizing from a Focus to a Fiesta but it does seem like a really good choice, especially as it's the new model Fiesta. Also, going from a 1.6 Focus to a 1.6 Fiesta, you'll probably feel like a Rally driver with the extra poke because of the reduced weight in the Fiesta compared to the Focus .

Just out of interest what's the difference in fuel economy?

Around town I wouldn't expect much difference tbh, but I don't cover huge mileage so it's not too important.

On a longer drive I'd hope to see maybe a 10-15% improvement. Having said all that I did just under 100 miles yesterday in the Focus and the computer told me I averaged nearly 45mpg at or marginally over the 100kph allowed.

The Fiesta Zetec S has a 120bhp 1.6 (20bhp more than the Focus) with Ti-Vct (variable valve timing) engine, and is brisk enough.

Stevie Dakota

r3nu4l wrote: »

Also, going from a 1.6 Focus to a 1.6 Fiesta, you'll probably feel like a Rally driver with the extra poke because of the reduced weight in the Fiesta compared to the Focus .

Anyone have the weights of both, I am sure the Fiesta has got more porky, may not be that much in it.

pburns

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

Anyone have the weights of both, I am sure the Fiesta has got more porky, may not be that much in it.

Don't think so. Quite the opposite in fact. The Fiesta is based on the Mazda 2 and has inherited Mazda's weight-reduction policy AFAIK.

Saw a Fiesta yesterday, don't get what the big fuss is over the looks, Mazda 2 is much nicer IMO (but I'm a Mazda fan).

EPM

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Around town I wouldn't expect much difference tbh, but I don't cover huge mileage so it's not too important.

On a longer drive I'd hope to see maybe a 10-15% improvement. Having said all that I did just under 100 miles yesterday in the Focus and the computer told me I averaged nearly 45mpg at or marginally over the 100kph allowed.

The Fiesta Zetec S has a 120bhp 1.6 (20bhp more than the Focus) with Ti-Vct (variable valve timing) engine, and is brisk enough.

My dad has a 115PS version of this engine in his Focus. You'd be very suprised by the economy on a long journey. He can regularly see 48 MPG on a good run so I'd be expecting close on that from the Fiesta.

Only thing though, would the gearing in the Fiesta be lower to add to the sporty feel and all that?

Bluefoam

pburns wrote: »

Mazda 2 is much nicer

+1

L-M

Looks well in blue. Nice car though, nice to have something different. I say go for it.

road_high

They look very impressive and seem good value too. reckon it will be No. 1 seller in Ireland this year.

Henry Ford III

Car was ordered today. I should have it bythe end of the month (it's in Ford's depot/yard in Cork).