2006 Fiesta 1.4 Zetec
Author
Discussion

CAPP0

Original Poster:

20,855 posts

232 months

Tuesday 1st April 2014
quotequote all
Are they any good?

Due to a change in another family's circumstances, MrsC has been offered, free of charge, the above car, one owner, with a strikingly-low mileage of 11000. It seems that the owning family are adequately wealthy that driving the car to WBAC and pocketing the £2k-ish cheque is really not worth the time and trouble. However, there is a suggestion also that there may be an expectation that MrsC keeps and runs the car for the foreseeable, rather than just going the WBAC route herself.

She currently drives - and loves - a Citroen C2, couple of years older than the Fiesta. She's had it 3 years or so and it's been utterly reliable, but it's woefully underpowered and she'd like something rather quicker.

Honest John doesn't seem to massively rate the Fiesta - it scores a 3, with adverse comments about trim levels and, specifically, the 1.4 Zetec lacking much oomph.

Ultimately I think the Fiesta is not setting her world alight although there is the whole mouth/gift horse thing to consider, assuming that we can move it on fairly quickly without too much heat from the donors. I guess that ultimately my question is, on the basis that she likes the C2 and it's reliable, is there any real gain to be had from ditching that and running the Ford, notwithstanding any thoughts on actually going out and looking for a car she really wants?


LuS1fer

43,503 posts

274 months

Tuesday 1st April 2014
quotequote all
I have an 07 Fiesta ST which I bought following the hire of a Fiesta 1.4 in Mallorca.
Personally, I found the 1.4 a good steer, sufficient on performance and generally a good car.

So far, a part from a broken front spring (which took out a tyre), my ST has been very reliable though it had a new rear wheel bearing a year or so ago and now wants another one - the tell-tale whine is usually evident.

Edited by LuS1fer on Tuesday 1st April 12:39

CAPP0

Original Poster:

20,855 posts

232 months

Tuesday 1st April 2014
quotequote all
Yes, broken springs seems to be an affliction across the range, from what I have read.

Patch888

701 posts

157 months

Tuesday 1st April 2014
quotequote all
Few years ago I had a 2005 1.4 zetec as a runabout and it did the job perfectly. Springs can go, mine was faultless over the 18 or so months I had it.

mnkiboy

4,409 posts

195 months

Tuesday 1st April 2014
quotequote all
On the one hand the Fiesta is slightly newer and potentially more reliable. On the other hand, if you make your Mrs get rid of a car she 'loves' and give her a slightly dull Fiesta you'll be in the dog house forever!

If you're happy keeping the C2, sell the Fiesta. Don't WBAC it though, the low mileage means you will get more for it selling privately.

GreatGranny

9,519 posts

255 months

Tuesday 1st April 2014
quotequote all
Good cars IMO, yes the safe option but I would have it over an older C2.

Its free as well which makes it instantly better than any car you have paid for :-)

kiethton

14,639 posts

209 months

Tuesday 1st April 2014
quotequote all
Mum has a '54' fiesta owned from 1 year old and 6k miles, on 64k now.

Its the 1.4 zetec and is abused, dual controlled as we learned to drive in it (she was doing ADI training before illness). It has been serviced irregularly and hasn't been washed in years, doing only short runs around town. The inside is in a condition akin to a skip...

However, barring a broken spring (which took out a tyre in addition) it hasn't put a single foot wrong, is in good shape cosmetically with no rust and is a decent steer with a decent gearbox, 100x better than a C2!

CAPP0

Original Poster:

20,855 posts

232 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
Well we now have the car.

It's an 06 2006 Fiesta 1.4 Zetec Climate 3-door. Silver in colour, 11,400 miles on the clock. One owner from new. FSH, I am awaiting the papers for this but it's probably main dealer, knowing the owning family. Other than needing a good clean it appears to be in pristine condition, the two nearside wheels need a refurb but I'll get that done before selling. The interior still smells like a new car!

There seem to be what I would consider some quite ambitious prices on AT for this type of car with 20-30k miles on, so I need to know how to pitch it. I wonder if I can be cheeky enough to ask whether someone with access to Glass's can indicate the value for me please, as the public access sites don't work for this mileage?


TIA.



Edited by CAPP0 on Tuesday 8th April 20:58

LuS1fer

43,503 posts

274 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
quotequote all
Stick it into We Buy Any Car for a base figure and work your way up. They're usually a thousand under what it's worth.

CAPP0

Original Poster:

20,855 posts

232 months

Wednesday 9th April 2014
quotequote all
Quick bump for the dealer dayshift wink