Back to the black stuff....... Fiesta TDCi
Discussion
Well, almost 2 weeks ago I sold my Mazda 6 ( http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... ), which had replaced my 206 1.4 HDi ( http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... )
The transformation from 65mpg and £30 road tax to 35mpg and £270 road tax went ok, as my mileage had reduced.
However, after having the Mazda a year, increasing petrol prices, a slight increase in mileage and rusty arches had me on the car hunt again.
Picked up a 2003/53 Fiesta TDCi 1.4 locally, 6 months MOT, almost a year's tax, full history, and supplied by the Ford dealer at the end of my old street when I lived in Glasgow. Pretty low equipment levels compared to the Mazda, but it does have a 4 speaker CD, central locking, PAS and electric windows.
Drive wise, well I've had the pads and discs done, however the brakes are a world away from the whiplish inducing 307 I had been driving last week (my old man's). Drums on the back too. It wears 195 section 15 inch tyres and does feel over-tyred a bit, the ride is well damped but chunky (somewhat German) and handling is grippy and safe. While the engine only has 68bhp the 113lb/ft of torque delivers a decent midrange shove for everyday driving once you're off the mark.
Main thing about the car is the economy. 8 litres got me from Fife to Glasgow, out to Glasgow Airport, back into Glasgow and then to Fife again. And down to Ferrytoll and back, twice. Not far off 70mpg, and I wasnt exactly sitting at 56mph either !
Things to do to it ? Well its a diesel so cleaning the EGR. Throttle position sensor also famous for going on these so will give the connection a clean too. Might dive into the clay bar world as well, before getting out the Autoglym SRP. The steering wheel is peeling, so I'll get a stitch on cover from Wheelskins.
I've already replaced the wipers, cleaned the inside, washed the outside and got myself some fitted carpet mats (fitted rubber ones will be kept for winter).
Mechanically, timing belt will be due by November 2013 and next service due March 2013. Front tyres will need doing in the next 6 months - might get winters like I had for the Madza - great in the Scottish rain.
There cant be many better daily driver / commuter cars to run cheaply out there !
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/z42nZhFW.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/w0dTcwgJ" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/w0dTcwgJ.jpg)
Edited to add - driven it for the first time in the dark, bloody hell, these little cars have cracking headlights , excellent beam pattern and good beam strength through the spread of light. Think a set of nightbreakers would do it nicely !
The transformation from 65mpg and £30 road tax to 35mpg and £270 road tax went ok, as my mileage had reduced.
However, after having the Mazda a year, increasing petrol prices, a slight increase in mileage and rusty arches had me on the car hunt again.
Picked up a 2003/53 Fiesta TDCi 1.4 locally, 6 months MOT, almost a year's tax, full history, and supplied by the Ford dealer at the end of my old street when I lived in Glasgow. Pretty low equipment levels compared to the Mazda, but it does have a 4 speaker CD, central locking, PAS and electric windows.
Drive wise, well I've had the pads and discs done, however the brakes are a world away from the whiplish inducing 307 I had been driving last week (my old man's). Drums on the back too. It wears 195 section 15 inch tyres and does feel over-tyred a bit, the ride is well damped but chunky (somewhat German) and handling is grippy and safe. While the engine only has 68bhp the 113lb/ft of torque delivers a decent midrange shove for everyday driving once you're off the mark.
Main thing about the car is the economy. 8 litres got me from Fife to Glasgow, out to Glasgow Airport, back into Glasgow and then to Fife again. And down to Ferrytoll and back, twice. Not far off 70mpg, and I wasnt exactly sitting at 56mph either !
Things to do to it ? Well its a diesel so cleaning the EGR. Throttle position sensor also famous for going on these so will give the connection a clean too. Might dive into the clay bar world as well, before getting out the Autoglym SRP. The steering wheel is peeling, so I'll get a stitch on cover from Wheelskins.
I've already replaced the wipers, cleaned the inside, washed the outside and got myself some fitted carpet mats (fitted rubber ones will be kept for winter).
Mechanically, timing belt will be due by November 2013 and next service due March 2013. Front tyres will need doing in the next 6 months - might get winters like I had for the Madza - great in the Scottish rain.
There cant be many better daily driver / commuter cars to run cheaply out there !
Edited to add - driven it for the first time in the dark, bloody hell, these little cars have cracking headlights , excellent beam pattern and good beam strength through the spread of light. Think a set of nightbreakers would do it nicely !
Edited by MondeoMan1981 on Thursday 24th May 22:50
Edited by MondeoMan1981 on Thursday 24th May 23:15
I had the exact same car and now my dad has it.
Cracking little car
I should never have got rid of it tbh, not very PH but my insurance was alot lower driving that.
Expect to lose your towing eye. I had the CD player break on me. Easy fix, just bought a different CD player off eBya for £45, that didn't end up working so the cd drive was swapped over and it worked then.
Enjoy. The torque isn't too bad, perfect little city car.
Cracking little car
I should never have got rid of it tbh, not very PH but my insurance was alot lower driving that.Expect to lose your towing eye. I had the CD player break on me. Easy fix, just bought a different CD player off eBya for £45, that didn't end up working so the cd drive was swapped over and it worked then.
Enjoy. The torque isn't too bad, perfect little city car.
Me and Mrs400 have a 1.4TDCI and last year we bought the Zetec S 1.6TDCI, 1.4 i use for work dutys just going there and back etc and a little pottering about on my day off.
Always reset the trip when i fuel up and just been out to look and its saying i have 98 miles left and ive covered 467 miles, ive never really paid much attention but your thread may have got me hooked on seeing what i can drag out the little 68 ponys.
FWIW the 1.4 is an 08 plate and the Zetec s is a 59 plate.
Always reset the trip when i fuel up and just been out to look and its saying i have 98 miles left and ive covered 467 miles, ive never really paid much attention but your thread may have got me hooked on seeing what i can drag out the little 68 ponys.
FWIW the 1.4 is an 08 plate and the Zetec s is a 59 plate.
JulesB said:
not sure what to do about uprating the stereo yet though!
If you have the same three part stereo as me, a newer all in one unit (with aux capability) will work in it, however as the three part stereo means two bars across the dash you either need to buy a new dash panel from Ford (£80) or hacksaw the bars out !Plenty on Ford forums about it, I've already had a looky, scratched my chin, said hmmmmm and looked at the newer headunits on ebay
MondeoMan1981 said:
If you have the same three part stereo as me, a newer all in one unit (with aux capability) will work in it, however as the three part stereo means two bars across the dash you either need to buy a new dash panel from Ford (£80) or hacksaw the bars out !
Plenty on Ford forums about it, I've already had a looky, scratched my chin, said hmmmmm and looked at the newer headunits on ebay
Have found one of the dashes on ebay for £25 Plenty on Ford forums about it, I've already had a looky, scratched my chin, said hmmmmm and looked at the newer headunits on ebay
Thanks for the advice, sound quality is not superb in there at the moment so I feel I may need to spend some wonga on new speakers/stereo!Still not used my first "tank full" so cant confirm my mpg yet.... the 206 with same engine would get 65 mpg all day regardless so hopeful for same or better !
Car is in garage at the moment, had the pads and discs done but few hundred miles in a few days later showed full pad not in contact with disc.... We'll see whats what before end of day. Second time taking it back, first time was the tracking being done with the steering wheel a good ten degrees out...
Car is in garage at the moment, had the pads and discs done but few hundred miles in a few days later showed full pad not in contact with disc.... We'll see whats what before end of day. Second time taking it back, first time was the tracking being done with the steering wheel a good ten degrees out...
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