MK4 Ford Fiesta 1.25

[amancalledrob]

Hi

I've been given this car for nothing. It's on about 60k, runs well, exhaust a bit blowy but apart from that (and the door cards starting to come a bit unglued) it's in great condition.

I want to do something with it, but I'm not sure what. The handling's a bit vague but I think this is because the stock ride height's a bit high and the suspension's a bit soft. I need ideas for a budget of say £1500-2000 over the next 18 months - two years. I'm open to suggestions, whether it be replacing the engine for something juicier, or making it more show than go by updating the interior and the hifi...

[kiethton]

Do not spunk your cash on this car at 18 (beer and hookers instead....)

You will get no return on the investment and get bummed by insurance when you do. Save the cash and then sell the Fiesta to upgrade when you can afford to do so, makes far more financial (and taste) sense.

[amancalledrob]

Those are wise words, but I'm 35.

[kiethton]

amancalledrob said:

Those are wise words, but I'm 35.

My bad....so used to these posts from people of that age on here. You will still get bummed but less lube required!

Seriously though is there any point in modifying a 1.25 fiesta when for the total outlay you could have cars far better engineered, put together and faster for the same money that are actually worth what you paid?

[Vince70]

Save your money for a contingency fund for new inner and outer sills and wheel arches come Mot time.

My sister in law has got one which has just failed the Mot and from the top the car looks in good nick.

She's getting it repaired but its not worth spending to much on a old fiesta as its only a £300 car at the end of the day.

Edited by Vince70 on Thursday 25th July 14:47

[tsinc]

I used to have the same car, before spending any money on unnecessary modifications take it to a local garage and get them to check for rust that you can't spot. I spent a good few hundred sorting rust out for 2 years as it would've failed it's MOT both times. They do like to rust!

Or sell it and you've got another £600+ to your budget

[amancalledrob]

Thanks guys, I really like the thought of making the car more like what I want, rather than buying something someone else has done. I'll get it checked for rust but tbh since I got it for free I'm inclined to either sell it or scrap it if it turns out to need any major work on the shell.

Anyway we'll see what happens

[T.K]

The 1.25 engine is a peach.

[Hooli]

Burn it, shopping cars are hateful little things.

[mwstewart]

If you really want to stick with the Fiesta, and make a project of it, then the Puma engine conversion is probably your best bet.

[amancalledrob]

Hooli said:

Burn it, shopping cars are hateful little things.

Aaaah but it's lovely! It's got a sunroof!

olly22n said:

Nope. Great cars.

But, I would subscribe to the mantra of use it until it dies, and not spend a penny on it.

I'm kinda with you on that, but on the other hand it would have to cost me hundreds of pounds before it stopped being an absolute bargain

[amancalledrob]

olly22n said:

amancalledrob said:

olly22n said:

Nope. Great cars.

But, I would subscribe to the mantra of use it until it dies, and not spend a penny on it.

I'm with you on that

Good to see we agree.

Er... yes

These are not the droids you are looking for

[Gooly]

Run it till it dies, or stick a puma lump in it, get some used coilovers, focus 15" steel wheels, strip it out and have a nice sleeper b-road blaster/trackday car. They do handle very well and there is a fair bit of potential hidden beneath the dowdy looks.