Should I buy a Ford Fiesta 2008?

[DAJ]

Hello

I've had my 2002 Ford Fiesta for 14yrs, she's 18 now and this week she's finally giving up her gearbox at 150k miles 😣

I think it would be crazy to try to replace her gearbox, so I've been told, but I can't afford much. I need a good reliable car to get to work and home, around 40 miles per day.

I've seen a 2008 (57) plate Fiesta for 2.3k. It's a 1.2 petrol and has only done 45k having one owner from new. It has a few dents and scratches but all in all it seems decent. Question is, is it worth buying an older car? Will it last me 5yrs as I aim it to?

Thanks

[Mexman]

Seems a little pricey, but nice miles.
Should be a good buy, it's not normal for Fords to have gearbox problems, but if it's the right car for you, then go for it.

[M4cruiser]

Good question, but impossible to answer from a distance.

Some Fiestas like that will last 10 years; some are already like scrap.

Have a good look at it, make your own judgement (and take a knowledgeable friend if you need to).

[CoreyDog]

All down to how well it has been looked after.

Wife has an 09 Fiesta 1.4, had it about 6 years now and all its ever needed is the usual servicing, gearbox service, battery and tyres, not a single thing has gone wrong.

If it has a good full history, I'd buy it.

[DAJ]

Thanks for the reply.

It's got 1 service stamps and one owner from new, an elderly couple apparently. It's just had a new cambelt. Two things I find odd, one, the drivers seat belt is frayed (they are replacing it) and two, it's blue but when the drivers door is open you can see red paint chips... Respray job?

[quinny100]

Mk6 Fiestas are pretty solid little cars overall. They don't usually rust and the engines are simple and reliable and will do big mileages provided the oil is changed regularly.

Getting 5 years out of a 13 year old car is a tall order but really comes down to how much you're willing to spend on repairs. If you're happy to throw a few hundred in repairs at it in 3 years time it's entirely possible.

I don't like the sound of the car you've seen. If it was mint with a full service history then it might be a goer but I'd either buy something around a grand which should get you similar age albeit with more miles, or I'd try and up the budget to around £3k and get something newer.

A Focus might also be worth a look. Fiestas are always in demand as first cars so you might be able to pick up a Focus a bit cheaper.

[mikeiow]

Our kids have “the family Fiesta”....55-plate. Only 33k miles: pretty solid little things, I would say, if they have been looked after.
Zero rust: more problems with moss along the windows :hehe. Actually, the main problem we have is if they don’t drive it: after a couple of weeks, the battery needs boosting!
That said....daughter has moved on to her own Fiesta now, and son hates driving. Have to force him out in it to keep it ticking along.
Might sell it in a few months....suspect it will be closer to £1.5k though! (ETA: we are in the Leicester area...pm me if you might want to look!!)

Fords are generally just great cheap motoring: anyone can service them, parts are as cheap as they come....But the respray thing and only 1 service stamp bothers me.
Most older owners keep their cars regularly serviced.
Keep looking!

Edited by mikeiow on Saturday 15th February 10:05

[mike9009]

You could buy a car two or three times more expensive and still run into issues. At least with the Fiesta you are looking like you will have a slush fund when something needs doing.

Generally this is what I do now. Run older cars that I know and pay up when something needs doing. If it is time to say goodbye, then so be it.......

[DAJ]

Thanks All.

I'm going to see a 2007 Yaris tomorrow, done 45k and FSH.

Thanks for the offer of viewing the fiesta but I'm in Devon!

[mikeiow]

DAJ said:

Thanks All.

I'm going to see a 2007 Yaris tomorrow, done 45k and FSH.

Thanks for the offer of viewing the fiesta but I'm in Devon!

Heh heh - no probs!
Yaris is a nice car - check insurance costs, but reliable little motors!

[Desiderata]

Mexman said:

it's not normal for Fords to have gearbox problems.

My daughter's 120000 mile mk 6 Fiesta's gearbox was getting a bit sluggish so I had a look. Apparently changing the gearbox oil isn't in the service schedule as i'ts good for 125000 miles on the original oil and the expected lifespan of a mk 6 Fiesta is around 120000. I found out that Ford didn't even put in an oil drain or filler hole. Fortunately after a bit of poking about under the car and on Google, I discovered it could be refilled via the reverse gear sensor.
It was still running well another 50000 miles later when she wrote it off in a river.

[VR99]

I think Fords are very durable at least the older simple n/a petrol models and diesels to be fair.
My mk1 focus is 16 yrs old and still.plodding along just fine. Rust hasn't hit yet but accept it will rear it's ugly rusty head at some stage. My car has averaged less than 5k mileage per year which might explain why it's in pretty good nick. However I drive it like I stole it and only basic maintenance is done so all considered it's done well. I think same applies for the fiestas but am curious if the fiestas are more rust proof compared to the focus.

[DAJ]

Fiestas don't fair any better for rust in my experience! My 18yr old has had rust for about 6yrs now, started round the front wheel arches and drivers door. Still she's been a great runner, only had one new exhaust and clutch in 14yrs and has only really started to cost me in the last year or so.

[stargazer30]

My son’s first car is a £2k ropey 1.2petrol fiesta 2009 plate. It’s done 100k. So far it’s needed a clutch and the timing belt plus it’s needed a core plug replacing in the head. So about £700 worth of repairs. No serious rust and it’s never broke down or failed to start.

Only gets 30mpg though my 220bhp fiesta st gives the same mpg lol.