Help picking a Fiesta

carleigh

I'm currently looking for my first car and hoping to go look at a couple of Fiesta's this week. They are both around the same price, and are the same age, but can anyone tell me if there is actually a difference between the Flight and Oomy models that is worth noting? Besides warranty/NCT issues is there anything I should be looking for? Thanks in advance

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Fiesta/1.25KJ-O/413240248545330/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Fiesta/FLIGHT-1/6513376750478230/advert?channel=CARS

corktina

i'd say they are both imports as the oomy and flight wouldn't be usual models here. If you are going for a Mk6, (2000/1/2 models ) go for the Ghia of failing that the LX

Bith these cars are well over priced. I picked up a 2000 LX last week for €850 with 88000 miles up, NCT into 2013 and taxed.. Might not be in as good nick as these two but can't be far short and half the price.

For the money these guys are charging , you could nearly get a Mk7 privately and I;d do that.

Definately go fro a 1.25 zetec engine over a 1.3 enduro, be careful with imports as most Irish cars will be zetec but I notice that some UK mk6s had enduro engines.

(flight seems to have no aircon)

colm_mcm

00MY means 2000 Model Year (facelift)

They're both bonkers money

carleigh

Thanks for the replies. I noticed the Blue one has ABS but the Silver doesnt state if it does or not, I'd presume so? I had it narrowed down to a Clio or Fiesta, but not hearing great things about the Clio. I've been learning in a Focus Estate, hence the bias towards the Fiesta, and dont really want to go down the private sale route, too chicken!

corktina

and if they are imports from the UK, do a motorcheck or similar to check their mileages as its not unknown for Imports (and resident cars!) to be clocked.

colm_mcm

Any dealer won't give you much of a warranty on those regardless of the crazy money theyre asking

Better to spend the few quid getting a mechanic to vet the car.

corktina

carleigh wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I noticed the Blue one has ABS but the Silver doesnt state if it does or not, I'd presume so? I had it narrowed down to a Clio or Fiesta, but not hearing great things about the Clio. I've been learning in a Focus Estate, hence the bias towards the Fiesta, and dont really want to go down the private sale route, too chicken!

well make sure you ONLY go to a well trusted and recomended local dealer. Theres a lot of crooks out there.

carleigh

Both are dealers within a hours drive, hoping they are decent enough. The garage selling the Flight are willing to take €1750 and put it through the NCT, but no warranty. The other one is due the NCT soon, but comes with a 3 month warranty. Its so stressful

colm_mcm

The garage that are giving the warranty wouldn't have an excellent reputation.

bazz26

OP, if you are willing to buy a car from a garage with no warranty then why are you not looking at buying private? You will get better value from buying private at that price range and you also get to meet the owner which will give you an idea of how the car was looked after.

Here is a 2002 higher spec Ghia model for the same money. It has 9 months NCT and 3 months tax:



http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3423504

colm_mcm

New shape (1.3) for €2100
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3329663

eringobragh

colm_mcm wrote: »

New shape (1.3) for €2100
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3329663

Shame about the Wolfrace Katanas

colm_mcm

eringobragh wrote: »

Shame about the Wolfrace Katanas

I wouldn't be so fussy, the newer model is a lot better packaged than the older one which came out in the 80s

Mister Jingles

colm_mcm wrote: »

00MY means 2000 Model Year (facelift)

They're both bonkers money

And there a few on carzone of around the same year going for a grand more. Lots and lots of dreamers out there I must say.

dr.fuzzenstein

colm_mcm wrote: »

New shape (1.3) for €2100
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3329663

Oh man, that is so much easier on the eye, the old one is not much of a looker and I'd pay money not to have to drive it.
Once rented a 1.6 diesel of the newer version, it was mental, recommend it any day.

David09

If you're buying a 5 door model, be careful of rust on the rear wheel arches and under the door sills. Some fiestas are prone to it in these areas.
Otherwise they're a great, reliable little car that's very nice to drive.

As has already been said, you'd get much better value by buying privately with a knowledgeable person with you than a dealer and their warranty.

Mister Jingles

David09 wrote: »

If you're buying a 5 door model, be careful of rust on the rear wheel arches and under the door sills. Some fiestas are prone to it in these areas.
Otherwise they're a great, reliable little car that's very nice to drive.

As has already been said, you'd get much better value by buying privately with a knowledgeable person with you than a dealer and their warranty.

Are the rust issues only on the 5 doors and not on the 3 ?

David09

Mister Jingles wrote: »

Are the rust issues only on the 5 doors and not on the 3 ?

Well I've only ever seen 5 door ones with the arches rotten. 3 door ones seem to survive better in this department for some reason. Something to do with moisture being trapped and lack of rust protection.

Mister Jingles

David09 wrote: »

Well I've only ever seen 5 door ones with the arches rotten. 3 door ones seem to survive better in this department for some reason. Something to do with moisture being trapped and lack of rust protection.

I have only noticed it on the 5 door myself but probably only because there's more on the road then the 3.

OP i'm on the look out for a car myself at the moment (although I'm not in much of a rush ) and the fiesta is one of them, Golf, Astra and Focus being the others and since I started taking more notice of Fiesta's that I see on the streets I have become more put off by them due to their rust issues.
If you can and if your willing I would look at something different or as mentioned the newer model of what your considering might be worth a look at, you budget should give you more choice then the Fiesta's I reckon.
Apparently those 00-02 models are the same shell design as the ones from the late 80s early 90's. Bit poor on Fords behalf imo.

corktina

Mister Jingles wrote: »

And there a few on carzone of around the same year going for a grand more. Lots and lots of dreamers out there I must say.

yep, Id say you would get a top-notch example for 12-1400 and a perfectly usable one for a grand. (I've seen "ready for the NCT" examples advertised at those prices....:rolleyes:) I'd go for a 2003+ model personally

David09

Mister Jingles wrote: »

I have only noticed it on the 5 door myself but probably only because there's more on the road then the 3.

OP i'm on the look out for a car myself at the moment (although I'm not in much of a rush ) and the fiesta is one of them, Golf, Astra and Focus being the others and since I started taking more notice of Fiesta's that I see on the streets I have become more put off by them due to their rust issues.
If you can and if your willing I would look at something different or as mentioned the newer model of what your considering might be worth a look at, you budget should give you more choice then the Fiesta's I reckon.
Apparently those 00-02 models are the same shell design as the ones from the late 80s early 90's. Bit poor on Fords behalf imo.

If you're careful and you choose the right car a Fiesta can be far more rewarding and cost much less than the others mentioned.

Last week I had to do a mechanic friend a favour and deliver a 00 fiesta ghia and collect an 02 1.4 golf. The difference between the two cars was like black and white. The fiesta, albeit being much smaller felt really nippy and responsive with pin-sharp handling. It was also equipped with an excellent cd player and aircon which was great as it was one of the days during last weekend's heatwave. If I was in the market for a small car, I'd certainly have bought it straight out.
So when I reached my destination, I pulled in to the valetors yard and parked the fiesta up beside the golf and swapped over. The golf was a newer and larger engined car and I thought that seeing as they have such a great following fan base that I would be in for an interesting treat.
What a disappointment. The car was absolutely bog-standard spec wise and didn't feel anywhere near as comfortable as the fiesta. On the road, things were just as bad. The wind\tyre noise was intrusive and the car handled like a boat. Vague and all over the place. I didn't drive either car hard, but the 1.4 golf felt heavy and underpowered.

I've always been a little biased towards fords, but throwing away any entrenched bigotry, there is still no way I'd pay twice the money for the golf over the fiesta. The golf just felt inferior when it really should have been a better car.


Op, buy a fiesta. Be careful in terms of rust. Some of them suffered, some didn't and I would personally put it down to poor quality control of batches in manufacturing. If a car isn't visibly rotten after 10 years it's unlikely that it will suddenly deteriorate now.

carleigh

Thanks for all the replies and info, its given me alot to think about. I'm not in a huge rush, as I know I can defer my driving test again (meant to be in 4 weeks) but I really want to get something so that I can get as much practice as I can, as the Focus isnt always available and the other car at home is an automatic. If anyone has any other suggestions of makes/models etc that would be great. Polo, C3? I'm located in west Clare so know I will have to travel, within reason!

colm_mcm

Not a c3 anyway.

Starlet if you're not fussed on having lots of equipment

meoklmrk91

What about a Panda?, well equipped, reliable, and cheap as you can get.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3440226

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

colm_mcm

That 03 had more hits than Elvis by the looks of it

Carstuck

OP the fiesta is a great car for learning how to drive on. Its nippy for its engine size and comes with good equipment and handling for 2000. I have a 00 myself so I come with a biased opinion, but once the rear wheel arches and door sills are rust free they are very reliable.