New Ford Fiesta 65ps is it underpowered?

sciencetec

I am looking to buy a new ford fiesta and all the reviews online say that the ford fiesta is a great car if you get the ecoboost engine, these are all english reviews. However I went into a ford dealership in Dublin and discovered that they are not selling the award winning ecoboost engine in Ireland. They are only selling the 65ps which is naturally aspirated where as in england you can get 100ps and 125ps with a turbo which have great fuel economy and are fun to drive.

Does any one know what the 65ps engine is like? Is it very underpowered for a lot of moterway driving as i will be living in cork during the week and coming back to dublin at weekends.

Thanks

Alanstrainor

I thought they were selling the ecoboost fiesta here? Did they say when they would be...very strange. I wouldn't get the old engine if the ecoboost was close.

dbrunson

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I thought they were selling the ecoboost fiesta here? Did they say when they would be...very strange. I wouldn't get the old engine if the ecoboost was close.

+1, could be a dealer trying to shift old stock, I would drop a call to ford Ireland and see what the story is.

sciencetec

They market the engine sold in ireland as an ecoboost but its not really the cars don't even get an eco boost badge or anything, they don't even sell the engine they have here in england. Ecoboosts are meant to have a turbo.

moleyv

I test drove the 65ps. I found it reasonably nippy taking off and up to about 50kmph, after that it was absolute dribble.

The thing I hated most though was the fact I couldn't see the top section of the speedo. The steering wheel was in the way. I moved seat and steering around but it wouldn't work any way good for me.

sciencetec

moleyv wrote: »

I test drove the 65ps. I found it reasonably nippy taking off and up to about 50kmph, after that it was absolute dribble.

The thing I hated most though was the fact I couldn't see the top section of the speedo. The steering wheel was in the way. I moved seat and steering around but it wouldn't work any way good for me.

I had the same problem with seeing the speedo

sciencetec

No its nothing to do with the dealer selling old stock, they are not selling the 100 or 125 ecoboosts in ireland which is the only engine you would want in the fiesta.

Mycroft H

While they may not be the engine petrol heads want, most Irish people would just be happy with a new plate regardless of what anaemic engine powers it

Alanstrainor

Just checked ford.ie and the 65ps engine is indeed a turbo ecoboost....just a strangled version. Terrible to see that, what are they at!?

sciencetec

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Just checked ford.ie and the 65ps engine is indeed a turbo ecoboost....just a strangled version. Terrible to see that, what are they at!?

i really don't think the 65ps has a turbo

Tragedy

Neither the 1.0 65PS Ecoboost nor the 1.25 60PS engine feature a turbo.

In the case of the former, the torque figure is a dead giveaway: 105Nm, less than the 60PS 1.25

Alanstrainor

Tragedy wrote: »

Neither the 1.0 65PS Ecoboost nor the 1.25 60PS engine feature a turbo.

In the case of the former, the torque figure is a dead giveaway: 105Nm, less than the 60PS 1.25

My mistake...weird that they're still branded ecoboost...without any boost!

Crazy to think that they don't deem it necessary to bring the better engines to Ireland at the minute.

ba_barabus

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Crazy to think that they don't deem it necessary to bring the better engines to Ireland at the minute.

IIRC from the launch articles Ford figured they could sell the 1.25 and Econoboost for a more competitive price against competitors. I think it reduced the VRT considerably and therefore the purchase price for consumers.

Looking at the fact the 1.2 Clio is the most popular and the 0.9T hardly sells I think they were justified in their choice. Mind you the 1.2 in the Clio and 1.25 in the Fiesta are dead and slow to drive. Seriously underpowered for this day and age.

Henry Ford III

sciencetec wrote: »

I am looking to buy a new ford fiesta and all the reviews online say that the ford fiesta is a great car if you get the ecoboost engine, these are all english reviews. However I went into a ford dealership in Dublin and discovered that they are not selling the award winning ecoboost engine in Ireland. They are only selling the 65ps which is naturally aspirated where as in england you can get 100ps and 125ps with a turbo which have great fuel economy and are fun to drive.....

You can buy a new Fiesta Zetec S in Ireland complete with a 125bhp 1.0T Ecoboost engine.

Tragedy

Most fiesta's sold are 5dr, no? And the Zetec Z is 3dr only.

porsche boy

if its your genuine wish for a proper ecoboost engine why not buy it in the north and import it down south?

Boskowski

For the size range/car it is 65PS should be sufficient. With 125PS you're nearly in the GT/sporty range. If thats what you expect fair enough, but I wouldn't call 65PS underpowered. GF has a 09 model with 60PS and sure its no racer but you'll get around.

Edit: Actually, forget what I just said, she has the 82PS model, not sure I'd like the car with nearly 20PS off. Just looked it up and it weighs in at 1100kg which is more than I thought.

Falcon L

It would depend on what you want from the car. If you just want to plod around, 65ps is fine. If you want to enjoy your drive, it's not.

dr.fuzzenstein

Boskowski wrote: »

For the size range/car it is 65PS should be sufficient. With 125PS you're nearly in the GT/sporty range. If thats what you expect fair enough, but I wouldn't call 65PS underpowered. GF has a 09 model with 60PS and sure its no racer but you'll get around.

65 PS is sufficient. In a go-cart. Anything above that, no it's dangerously slow and you are condemned to sit behind tractors and trucks as the is not enough power to overtake. Anything. Mind you, that won't be a problem as tractors and everyone else is overtaking you. Including cyclists and stationary objects.
Mind you, it might be a great auxiliary motor on my mountain-bike. I'd still have to pedal uphill, though...

Rippy

moleyv wrote: »

I test drove the 65ps. I found it reasonably nippy taking off and up to about 50kmph, after that it was absolute dribble.

The thing I hated most though was the fact I couldn't see the top section of the speedo. The steering wheel was in the way. I moved seat and steering around but it wouldn't work any way good for me.

I'd say it's deliberate you can't see the speedo properly so you can't see how slow it is

bazz26

Henry Ford III wrote: »

You can buy a new Fiesta Zetec S in Ireland complete with a 125bhp 1.0T Ecoboost engine.

Might as well keep going the whole hog and buy the ST. :pac:

Truckermal

sciencetec wrote: »

i really don't think the 65ps has a turbo

I really don't think it has an engine..:D

dr.fuzzenstein

Truckermal wrote: »

I really don't think it has an engine..:D

It might have pedals or even be powered Flintstones style.

Boskowski

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

65 PS is sufficient. In a go-cart. Anything above that, no it's dangerously slow and you are condemned to sit behind tractors and trucks as the is not enough power to overtake. Anything. Mind you, that won't be a problem as tractors and everyone else is overtaking you. Including cyclists and stationary objects.
Mind you, it might be a great auxiliary motor on my mountain-bike. I'd still have to pedal uphill, though...

Ah don't be silly now. It's a very small car. I had a beetle once. She was ancient and had 34ps and I was not being overtaken by tractors and stationary objects I can assure you. A fiesta is not a GT but an entry level small run around. Like someone else said it depends what you want from the car.

kirving

Although a new Fiesta is probably approaching the size of the 1st gen Focus, and larger car would be nicer on a Dublin to Cork round trip every week. Driven the new Fiesta, diesel, mind you and it was lovely, but I wouldn't like it on the motorway.

Frankie Lee

For a recently developed 1.0l engine it is a fairly pathetic power output. A 99 Yaris 1.0l is more powerful.

Boskowski

The strange thing really is that despite oil becoming rarer and more expensive all the time cars are getting bigger and bigger. Go figure.

Henry Ford III

bazz26 wrote: »

Might as well keep going the whole hog and buy the ST. :pac:

Huge difference in price, power, performance, suspension, transmission, wheels/tyres, equipment, and running costs.

Apart from that they are identical.

bazz26

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Huge difference in price, power, performance, suspension, transmission, wheels/tyres, equipment, and running costs.

Apart from that they are identical.

I know but for most people looking at a 60bhp Fiesta the mid range Zetec S is probably just as unnecessary, in this country anyway.

Jesus.

Boskowski wrote: »

Ah don't be silly now. It's a very small car. I had a beetle once. She was ancient and had 34ps and I was not being overtaken by tractors and stationary objects I can assure you. A fiesta is not a GT but an entry level small run around. Like someone else said it depends what you want from the car.

The OP said he was going to be motorway driving regularly from Cork to Dublin. How anyone could advise him to go ahead and buy a 60-odd bhp car for that is strange.

The poor bloke would be almost as knackered as his little engine at the end of such a trip

Jesus.

Boskowski wrote: »

The strange thing really is that despite oil becoming rarer and more expensive all the time cars are getting bigger and bigger. Go figure.

They're not really. People confuse the growth of particular models with the size of the actual cars on the road.

thierry14

Boskowski wrote: »

For the size range/car it is 65PS should be sufficient. With 125PS you're nearly in the GT/sporty range. If thats what you expect fair enough, but I wouldn't call 65PS underpowered. GF has a 09 model with 60PS and sure its no racer but you'll get around.

Edit: Actually, forget what I just said, she has the 82PS model, not sure I'd like the car with nearly 20PS off. Just looked it up and it weighs in at 1100kg which is more than I thought.

65ps and 1100kg is horrible.

My mother has a 1.0l Yaris ( 64ps, 1000kg ) and I am terrified driving it on the open road, I actually feel like I am being bullied in it.

Don'tagree about the GT/sport range either with 125ps.

I drove a Fabia rs sport model once with over 150ps and 1200kg or thereabouts and to me that was the perfect balance between power and safety for a small car.

It was perfect for overtaking, felt sturdy on the road and didn't feel like a car you want to go fast in ie a GT type sporty car.

It just felt like a good strong small car that was safe, not a tin can with a lawnmower engine like the Yaris.

That's the kind of car that should be the standard.

Edit: just checked the Skoda website, the strongest new Fabia comes with a 1.4tdi 102ps engine.

What a joke, we are going backwards.

Brasso

Frankie Lee wrote: »

For a recently developed 1.0l engine it is a fairly pathetic power output. A 99 Yaris 1.0l is more powerful.

Just checked CO2 for the Yaris though and it's at 134g, I think the fiesta is 99g so you have to consider that Ford has been forced to lower CO2 by government regulations.

It is a bit disappointing we're mainly going to be seeing this engine in Ireland though, even my 15 year old Fiesta came out of the factory with 75 PS and it probably weighs under 900kg.

Tragedy

Brasso wrote: »

Just checked CO2 for the Yaris though and it's at 134g, I think the fiesta is 99g so you have to consider that Ford has been forced to lower CO2 by government regulations.

It is a bit disappointing we're mainly going to be seeing this engine in Ireland though, even my 15 year old Fiesta came out of the factory with 75 PS and it probably weighs under 900kg.

The majority of co2 reductions have come from gearing - usually a single extra tall gear, ecu trickery (changing combustion mix at the exact loads the NEDC tests at) and low RR tyres.

The sooner the better the WLTP gets brought in.

Kevin!

Was having a look in ford bray and they have a 125 zetec s with an ecoboost engine

Henry Ford III

bazz26 wrote: »

I know but for most people looking at a 60bhp Fiesta the mid range Zetec S is probably just as unnecessary, in this country anyway.

It has low motor tax though. That makes it priceless.

dr.fuzzenstein

Kevin Irving wrote: »

Although a new Fiesta is probably approaching the size of the 1st gen Focus, and larger car would be nicer on a Dublin to Cork round trip every week. Driven the new Fiesta, diesel, mind you and it was lovely, but I wouldn't like it on the motorway.

Back in '05 I got a Fiesta diesel as a hire car, it was the 1.6 TDCI.
It was the biggest hoot on the motorway, I only had to slow down at 180km/h due to a whining noise coming from the passenger side. It was the GF. We then rounded a corner and found a wall of stopped cars. I can also tell you that it has good brakes.

dr.fuzzenstein

Henry Ford III wrote: »

It has low motor tax though. That makes it priceless.

Yep, we're willing to put up with just about anything, doesn't matter if the car is a heap of sh*te, slow, ugly, boring and generally soul destroying, in fact we seem to positively relish these attributes in a car. As long as it has the cheaaap tax, we would drive just about anything. As long as it's not interesting, cool, different or in any way stands out from all the other sh*teboxes. For the average Irish motorist, standing out from the crowd seems to be the single most terrifying idea.

Larbre34

The issue of the Fiesta engines is as much to do with the Focus engines as anything else. The Fiesta is so commodious now and the Focus offered with such wheezy versions of its own engines, they dont want to eat into the sales of the most popular car in Ireland.

bear1

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Yep, we're willing to put up with just about anything, doesn't matter if the car is a heap of sh*te, slow, ugly, boring and generally soul destroying, in fact we seem to positively relish these attributes in a car. As long as it has the cheaaap tax, we would drive just about anything. As long as it's not interesting, cool, different or in any way stands out from all the other sh*teboxes. For the average Irish motorist, standing out from the crowd seems to be the single most terrifying idea.

You should have seen the looks I was getting when I bought a 2.4 Alfa.

Henry Ford III

Larbre34 wrote: »

The issue of the Fiesta engines is as much to do with the Focus engines as anything else. The Fiesta is so commodious now and the Focus offered with such wheezy versions of its own engines, they dont want to eat into the sales of the most popular car in Ireland.

You can buy a new Fiesta with almost 200bhp and a new Focus with 250bhp.

That Fiesta Zetec S with its 125bhp 1.0T is as powerful (and a little quicker) as any Focus available here bar the ST.

sciencetec

Henry Ford III wrote: »

You can buy a new Fiesta Zetec S in Ireland complete with a 125bhp 1.0T Ecoboost engine.

Yea but its far more expensive than getting the car in england. nearly 22000 euro i think for that

Henry Ford III

sciencetec wrote:

Yea but its far more expensive than getting the car in england. nearly 22000 euro i think for that

add the extra taxes and its the same

Special Circumstances

bear1 wrote: »

You should have seen the looks I was getting when I bought a 2.4 Alfa.

You think that's bad? I worked with a guy that was told by the Alfa dealer that he should buy the 1.4 147 rather than the 1.6 because they wouldn't take the 1.6 back from him as a trade in.

I think if you turned up at a Ford dealer looked for 200bhp fiesta these days they'd form a pitchfork wielding mob chanting "burn the witch" or something.

bear1

Special Circumstances wrote: »

You think that's bad? I worked with a guy that was told by the Alfa dealer that he should buy the 1.4 147 rather than the 1.6 because they wouldn't take the 1.6 back from him as a trade in.

I think if you turned up at a Ford dealer looked for 200bhp fiesta these days they'd form a pitchfork wielding mob chanting "burn the witch" or something.

1.4 in a 147? Or do you mean the 146/145?
Anyway yeah it's true. We've been so taxed to death when it comes to cars though that I can see why people want to give as little tax as possible to the thieving bastards.

Special Circumstances

Ugh, musta been "get the 1.6 not the 2.0" so - long time ago when they were newish.
Makes more sense, sure you'd be certifiable to buy more than a 1.6 petrol.

Jesus.

Special Circumstances wrote: »

sure you'd be certifiable to buy more than a 1.6 petrol.

It does sound mad but we're fleeced so badly on tax I can't say I blame people

Mycroft H

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Yep, we're willing to put up with just about anything, doesn't matter if the car is a heap of sh*te, slow, ugly, boring and generally soul destroying, in fact we seem to positively relish these attributes in a car. As long as it has the cheaaap tax, we would drive just about anything. As long as it's not interesting, cool, different or in any way stands out from all the other sh*teboxes. For the average Irish motorist, standing out from the crowd seems to be the single most terrifying idea.

There is a whole load of people to whom a car is nothing more than a tool. And once it gets them from A to B in the cheapest way possible, they're happy.

I know loads of them. They only want something cheap and reliable. Anything more is just excessive to them. Leather seats? Sure why would I want them...

Jesus.

Mycroft H wrote: »

There is a whole load of people to whom a car is nothing more than a tool. And once it gets them from A to B in the cheapest way possible, they're happy. I know loads of them. They only want something cheap and reliable. Anything more is just excessive to them. Leather seats? Sure why would I want them...

And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Everyone has different interests.

Mycroft H

Probably wasn't clear enough. That's my point. Sure why else would Dacias and Kias are so popular here.

dr.fuzzenstein

Henry Ford III wrote: »

You can buy a new Fiesta with almost 200bhp and a new Focus with 250bhp.

That Fiesta Zetec S with its 125bhp 1.0T is as powerful (and a little quicker) as any Focus available here bar the ST.

But its not miserable enough for people.
We used to go for miserable slow cars with tiny engines in this country until car makers thought that small can be fun. They are now finding out that we like miserable and slow over fun any day of the week.