2006 Ford Fiesta
Discussion
I am possibly going to acquire one of these soon ; a 2008 Zetec 5 door. It's good to know they will do high mileages !
What sort of 'real life' economy do you get, and are the running costs reasonable?
I will be a second car as a 'spare' when my Alfa 156 is unavailable...!
I currently have a 'nice but dim' 2001 Rover 25 1.4 that was gifted to me....but.....
a) it is so slow b) the gearchange is hopeless when hot ( a common issue ), and c) it loses coolant ( I know not from where as I have done all the obvious checks as it is a K series engine ( and yes the head gasket has been done...once !)
So shall follow your thread with interest !
More pics if possible !
What sort of 'real life' economy do you get, and are the running costs reasonable?
I will be a second car as a 'spare' when my Alfa 156 is unavailable...!
I currently have a 'nice but dim' 2001 Rover 25 1.4 that was gifted to me....but.....
a) it is so slow b) the gearchange is hopeless when hot ( a common issue ), and c) it loses coolant ( I know not from where as I have done all the obvious checks as it is a K series engine ( and yes the head gasket has been done...once !)
So shall follow your thread with interest !
More pics if possible !
I've no complaints with the running costs, my insurance is about £400 for the year now with full no claims (protected), being a ford parts prices are reasonable. The 1.25 can find hills hard work but I get 32-40mpg real world economy (32-35mpg about town, 40 on a decent run although if driven right I have had 50mpg out of it on a run up to Northumberland). Road tax is £145 for the year. If they are serviced properly and not thrashed they will keep going, mine does a lot of long runs which also helps. Will put more pictures on in due course.
We have a 56 plate 1.25 'Style' had it since new.
I find the engine is a bit gutless and it feels like you have to thrash it to get any meaningful progress. We get similar mpg to yourself.
However cannot fault the mechanicals. The engine has just gone over to 148k and still runs smooth and burns no oil. We are currently playing cam belt lottery as it hasn't been changed for 90k miles.
But the chassis has got to a point where we'll be lucky to get another year out of it so will probably expire before the engine. I was quite surprised how much the tin worm has taken hold despite looking quite presentable body wise.
From new and 148k miles it has needed a couple of replacement front springs, a new steering rack, a rear silencer and a rear wheel bearing. Rest has been basic servicing.
Cannot complain about that for 11 years of motoring!
I find the engine is a bit gutless and it feels like you have to thrash it to get any meaningful progress. We get similar mpg to yourself.
However cannot fault the mechanicals. The engine has just gone over to 148k and still runs smooth and burns no oil. We are currently playing cam belt lottery as it hasn't been changed for 90k miles.
But the chassis has got to a point where we'll be lucky to get another year out of it so will probably expire before the engine. I was quite surprised how much the tin worm has taken hold despite looking quite presentable body wise.
From new and 148k miles it has needed a couple of replacement front springs, a new steering rack, a rear silencer and a rear wheel bearing. Rest has been basic servicing.
Cannot complain about that for 11 years of motoring!
Sold my Mk6 Fiesta with 130k on raw clock without a doubt it could've done 100k more.
Very simple, well put-together cars. Rust was present, but only a little on a sill that had been poorly repaired in a previous life. All work I needed to do was done myself and not too difficult (Although putting the aux belts back on is a nightmare).
Very simple, well put-together cars. Rust was present, but only a little on a sill that had been poorly repaired in a previous life. All work I needed to do was done myself and not too difficult (Although putting the aux belts back on is a nightmare).
Rust is starting to appear on mine but it's nowhere near as bad as the Mk3 I had before was at the same age. Similar story with mine really, cambelt will need doing soon again, it's also had shock absorbers all round, couple of sets of front springs and brake pads/discs, rear exhaust, brake pipes and a new clutch, all wear and tear bits really.
Paul S4 said:
I currently have a 'nice but dim' 2001 Rover 25 1.4 that was gifted to me....but.....
a) it is so slow b) the gearchange is hopeless when hot ( a common issue ), and c) it loses coolant ( I know not from where as I have done all the obvious checks as it is a K series engine ( and yes the head gasket has been done...once !)
With apologies for going off-topic, you need some of this, sir:a) it is so slow b) the gearchange is hopeless when hot ( a common issue ), and c) it loses coolant ( I know not from where as I have done all the obvious checks as it is a K series engine ( and yes the head gasket has been done...once !)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/K-Seal-K5501-Coolant-Leak...
I have a personal rule of thumb when it comes to cooling system issues - if the car is worth less than £1,000, then it gets the K-Seal treatment. If the car is worth more, it gets repaired properly.

PS: Back on topic, the Yamaha 1.25 4-pot in the Fiesta is a great little engine. I had regular access to a MkIV 1.25 Ghia at work, many years ago, and would often grab the keys over and above larger engined cars, because it was so good to drive.
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