Is a ford fiesta zetec s what I want?
Discussion
Dear all,
I'm currently in a bit of a quandary. I'm considering purchasing a fiesta s to replace what is increasingly appearing to be a borked astra 1.7 cdti, however I'm after some real world advice. My commute is a 60 mile round trip daily, covering country back roads. As a result I encounter tractors,lorries and slow moving morons on a daily basis. For this reason I need the car to have a bit of 'umph', but also ideally a not too shabby mpg. The fiesta is quoted as doing 44 to the gallon on a combined cycle, can anyone please advise me as to what a real world figure would be please? Also any advice about the s fiestas would be most welcome! Otherwise, are there other cars at a comparable price point (2-3k) I should be considering?
Thanks in advance!
I'm currently in a bit of a quandary. I'm considering purchasing a fiesta s to replace what is increasingly appearing to be a borked astra 1.7 cdti, however I'm after some real world advice. My commute is a 60 mile round trip daily, covering country back roads. As a result I encounter tractors,lorries and slow moving morons on a daily basis. For this reason I need the car to have a bit of 'umph', but also ideally a not too shabby mpg. The fiesta is quoted as doing 44 to the gallon on a combined cycle, can anyone please advise me as to what a real world figure would be please? Also any advice about the s fiestas would be most welcome! Otherwise, are there other cars at a comparable price point (2-3k) I should be considering?
Thanks in advance!
Around £2-3k you're looking at the older ones right? I know you won't go back as far as my mk5 but the engine didn't change that much from the breadvan ones that came after and if you need "umph" you aren't really going to fine it in the fiesta.
However what you will find is an eager car with and excited engine and relatively little weight to deal with. The handling might not be so much fun for a daily because it's quite go-kart like (so stiff), but then it means coupled with the relatively low powered engine you feel like you're going fast without actually doing it.
Cannot make any suggestions for alternatives as I went from my Fiesta to my MG which is too large and won't hit your MPG requirements.
CTR, Polo GTi, Almera GTi, Pulsar I don't know, lots of fun hot hatches can be had for very little
However what you will find is an eager car with and excited engine and relatively little weight to deal with. The handling might not be so much fun for a daily because it's quite go-kart like (so stiff), but then it means coupled with the relatively low powered engine you feel like you're going fast without actually doing it.
Cannot make any suggestions for alternatives as I went from my Fiesta to my MG which is too large and won't hit your MPG requirements.
CTR, Polo GTi, Almera GTi, Pulsar I don't know, lots of fun hot hatches can be had for very little
Thanks for the suggestions. I should also elaborate a little on the requirements.
The fiesta vs focus decision is one that I've been having myself. However in the price range I have it's either a mk2 focus (or I've found one mk3 lx boggo spec) or a mk6 fiesta s with about 60-70k on it. I think that in reality the mpg is the greater consideration (otherwise it'd probably be a Clio cup 182 I'd go for, having been leant one as a curtesy car by my friendly local mechanic the other day!). I really need 4/5 seats, otherwise I'd be looking at smart roadsters (I've had one previously, and loved it). We also have a family wagon (smax), and relatively limited parking space, so a smaller car is preferable. In addition, at least from the quoted stats, the fiesta returns a better mpg than the focus.
I previously had a saab 9-3 diesel estatem, then (briefly) inherited the missus' astra before the ecu decided it didn't like working, so the cars are getting smaller!
I may well be getting this arse about face. I did some calculations and worked out that on 38mpg (which is my guesstimate of what the fiesta would achieve) it would cost me approximately £200 p.a more than my saab in fuel, but would (according to my mechanic!) cost less in services, tyres, borkage, etc etc!
I tend to become a little target fixated when it comes to cars, so your suggestions are more than welcome!
The fiesta vs focus decision is one that I've been having myself. However in the price range I have it's either a mk2 focus (or I've found one mk3 lx boggo spec) or a mk6 fiesta s with about 60-70k on it. I think that in reality the mpg is the greater consideration (otherwise it'd probably be a Clio cup 182 I'd go for, having been leant one as a curtesy car by my friendly local mechanic the other day!). I really need 4/5 seats, otherwise I'd be looking at smart roadsters (I've had one previously, and loved it). We also have a family wagon (smax), and relatively limited parking space, so a smaller car is preferable. In addition, at least from the quoted stats, the fiesta returns a better mpg than the focus.
I previously had a saab 9-3 diesel estatem, then (briefly) inherited the missus' astra before the ecu decided it didn't like working, so the cars are getting smaller!
I may well be getting this arse about face. I did some calculations and worked out that on 38mpg (which is my guesstimate of what the fiesta would achieve) it would cost me approximately £200 p.a more than my saab in fuel, but would (according to my mechanic!) cost less in services, tyres, borkage, etc etc!
I tend to become a little target fixated when it comes to cars, so your suggestions are more than welcome!
t on fuel for the performance Also driven the same I would guess a Clio 172/82 would be just as good on fuel if not better than a Fiesta Zetec S
For example some cars I have owned and my averages
A4 TDI 48mpg
Civic 2.2D 42mpg
Clio 172 37mpg
Fiesta Mk6 1.4 35mpg
Fiesta Mk5 1.25 35mpg
I drove the clio quite hard as well many times sounds silly but it was honestly near enough as good on fuel as a 2.2d civic I owned after don't know how they do it but they just don't seem to use much fuel at all. The later Clio 197 got a good 8/9mpg less!
For example some cars I have owned and my averages
A4 TDI 48mpg
Civic 2.2D 42mpg
Clio 172 37mpg
Fiesta Mk6 1.4 35mpg
Fiesta Mk5 1.25 35mpg
I drove the clio quite hard as well many times sounds silly but it was honestly near enough as good on fuel as a 2.2d civic I owned after don't know how they do it but they just don't seem to use much fuel at all. The later Clio 197 got a good 8/9mpg less!
greggy50 said:
Also driven the same I would guess a Clio 172/82 would be just as good on fuel if not better than a Fiesta Zetec S
For example some cars I have owned and my averages
A4 TDI 48mpg
Civic 2.2D 42mpg
Clio 172 37mpg
Fiesta Mk6 1.4 35mpg
Fiesta Mk5 1.25 35mpg
I drove the clio quite hard as well many times sounds silly but it was honestly near enough as good on fuel as a 2.2d civic I owned after don't know how they do it but they just don't seem to use much fuel at all. The later Clio 197 got a good 8/9mpg less!
That's really interesting, thanks! The Clio 182 I drove is up for grabs for 2k, so is definitely a possibility then! I'm staggered by the difference in the real world mpg you're quoting and the stated mpg of 30.5. How is it possible for it to be so different?! What sorts of driving were you doing, can I ask? I know that my saab would do about 4-5 mpg more on motorway runs that it would on my commute!For example some cars I have owned and my averages
A4 TDI 48mpg
Civic 2.2D 42mpg
Clio 172 37mpg
Fiesta Mk6 1.4 35mpg
Fiesta Mk5 1.25 35mpg
I drove the clio quite hard as well many times sounds silly but it was honestly near enough as good on fuel as a 2.2d civic I owned after don't know how they do it but they just don't seem to use much fuel at all. The later Clio 197 got a good 8/9mpg less!
nadger said:
That's really interesting, thanks! The Clio 182 I drove is up for grabs for 2k, so is definitely a possibility then! I'm staggered by the difference in the real world mpg you're quoting and the stated mpg of 30.5. How is it possible for it to be so different?! What sorts of driving were you doing, can I ask? I know that my saab would do about 4-5 mpg more on motorway runs that it would on my commute!
Mixed drivingOn a run at 70/75 you would get about 42mpg indicated and 85 showed about 38mpg, around town in traffic around 28/29mpg and on a track day about 17mpg.
I did 24k miles in mine over 18 months so a lot of it was motorway mileage hence why my average was nearly 37mpg.
However like for like it genuinely was nearly as good as the 2.2d Civic which was good on a run but thirsty around town and better than my Mums 1.4 Fiesta I used to borrow as it needed to be thrashed to get anywhere,
blade7 said:
They're crap on fuel because they don't have a 6th gear, I'd still put £3k into one instead of a Zetec.
Yeah to be honest despite on paper figures I can't see a zetec s doing much more than 33/34mpg so may as well get the ST if had to be a fiesta.I just think the 172/82 is a better car and also better on fuel than an ST and probably just as good if not better the a 1.6 ZS
Please see thread for owners figures on 182 mpg as well
Its not just me being a fan boy!
http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Its not just me being a fan boy!
http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...
blade7 said:
172/182's are quicker but they don't seem as well built, cambelt replacement is expensive too.
Get a 172 Cup and cambelt is about £350 of shop around which is pricey but not terrible I must say mine was bulletproof apart from that. The full fat 182 is also very well equipped if go that route with climate control, xenon headlights, cruise control etc...
Fiesta interior is a slightly better quality but to be honest both have pretty cheap crappy plastics as I have owned a Mk6 Fiesta as well. I will have another 182 again it was the best car I have ever owned its just the fact I do 25k motorway miles a year now and as much as I loved it and it was great on fuel I need something more relaxing for daily use currently.
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