Mk 6 Fiesta 1.25 as a motorway commuter?
Discussion
Hi all,
Just wondering whether anyone has any experience of the above. I currently commute 33 miles each way in a 15 year old 306 DTurbo, which copes remarkably well with the M6/M5/M42 each day. However I think the time is approaching where it needs to be retired (rust, worn suspension etc)
I've been offered a 2004 1.25 Fiesta with 12K on the clock for £2.5k which seems pretty reasonable to me (Autotrader shows them going for £2.8K+ with 50k on) However my big concern is whether it'll be tiresome on the motorway each day? I thought it would be similar to the Peugeot, but I didn't realise they are 1100 kg, the 306 is only approx 1200kg so it slightly worse than I imagined!
Any one used one as a daily commuter? What sort of MPG can be expected at a 70mph cruise? Searching the internet seems to provide varying reports!
Cheers all
Ben
Just wondering whether anyone has any experience of the above. I currently commute 33 miles each way in a 15 year old 306 DTurbo, which copes remarkably well with the M6/M5/M42 each day. However I think the time is approaching where it needs to be retired (rust, worn suspension etc)
I've been offered a 2004 1.25 Fiesta with 12K on the clock for £2.5k which seems pretty reasonable to me (Autotrader shows them going for £2.8K+ with 50k on) However my big concern is whether it'll be tiresome on the motorway each day? I thought it would be similar to the Peugeot, but I didn't realise they are 1100 kg, the 306 is only approx 1200kg so it slightly worse than I imagined!
Any one used one as a daily commuter? What sort of MPG can be expected at a 70mph cruise? Searching the internet seems to provide varying reports!
Cheers all
Ben
I imagine going from a torquey 1.9 TD to a 1.25 petrol, you'll notice a hell of a difference on the motorway. No more effortless(ish) acceleration in 5th, you be dropping to 3rd gear every time you want to pick the speed up from 50-70mph at any decent rate.
If it's a motorway commuter you want, i'd stick with diesel.
If it's a motorway commuter you want, i'd stick with diesel.
thebigmacmoomin said:
I found a Ka to be a right hoot on the motorway, the old 1.3 version. Did feel a bit insecure as its such a tiny little car however.
I got stuck doing a weekly commute between Manchester and Basingstoke for a few months in my GFs 1.3 fiesta (2000 model) Was fine once you got up to speed, bit noisy but it did the trick.Diving down to 3rd as has been mention was a common occurence, and sliproads could be a bit "interesting"
I didnt really have a choice at the time, however it sounds like you do... find a decent diesel for your money instead.
I've got a Mk4 1.25, it's not bad at 60-70 but when you get up to 80+ it really does get quite noisy, wouldn't really want to spend much time at those sort of speeds without earplugs.
At a steady 56mph on a fairly short run I can manage bang on 50mpg. Not really tried it at higher speeds, because usually it's too congested to get above 70!
Personally, the 306 sounds like a more appealing motorway car.
At a steady 56mph on a fairly short run I can manage bang on 50mpg. Not really tried it at higher speeds, because usually it's too congested to get above 70!
Personally, the 306 sounds like a more appealing motorway car.
1.25 is actually pretty good and the MK6 Fiesta is a pretty comfortable and accomplished car.
(And before we go any further the 1.25 is light years away from the old 1.3)
It will struggle if you like to ride the torque when overtaking but once up to speed it'll hum along quite nicely. Probably giving around 45ish mpg if you keep the speed close to legal.
(And before we go any further the 1.25 is light years away from the old 1.3)
It will struggle if you like to ride the torque when overtaking but once up to speed it'll hum along quite nicely. Probably giving around 45ish mpg if you keep the speed close to legal.
Thanks all, it seems there's a slightly divided opinion here!
The real reason for me considering it, is mainly down to the fact it's a family owned car from new, so I know it's history. My 306 is really on it's last legs, and with an MOT due 2 weeks before Christmas I don't want to find myself in a situation trying to find a car in the Christmas break. The Alfa is too expensive (and dare I say it, unreliable) to consider as an every day car.
My original plan was to sell the Alfa and Peugeot to fund something around £4K ish, however with the Alfa off the road for the next month at least, it wont be in a saleable condition until mid November I reckon, even then I think it will struggle to sell (22 mpg, relatively high insurance etc)
For £2.5K what else is there out there that wont need any money spending on it in the first year? (I do approx 18000 miles a year)
The real reason for me considering it, is mainly down to the fact it's a family owned car from new, so I know it's history. My 306 is really on it's last legs, and with an MOT due 2 weeks before Christmas I don't want to find myself in a situation trying to find a car in the Christmas break. The Alfa is too expensive (and dare I say it, unreliable) to consider as an every day car.
My original plan was to sell the Alfa and Peugeot to fund something around £4K ish, however with the Alfa off the road for the next month at least, it wont be in a saleable condition until mid November I reckon, even then I think it will struggle to sell (22 mpg, relatively high insurance etc)
For £2.5K what else is there out there that wont need any money spending on it in the first year? (I do approx 18000 miles a year)
mnkiboy said:
I imagine going from a torquey 1.9 TD to a 1.25 petrol, you'll notice a hell of a difference on the motorway. No more effortless(ish) acceleration in 5th, you be dropping to 3rd gear every time you want to pick the speed up from 50-70mph at any decent rate.
If it's a motorway commuter you want, i'd stick with diesel.
If it's a motorway commuter you want, i'd stick with diesel.
What? Dropping to 3rd? You'd blow the bloody thing up. Keeping it in 5th will be fine. Them Mk6's are very good.
Flanders. said:
mnkiboy said:
I imagine going from a torquey 1.9 TD to a 1.25 petrol, you'll notice a hell of a difference on the motorway. No more effortless(ish) acceleration in 5th, you be dropping to 3rd gear every time you want to pick the speed up from 50-70mph at any decent rate.
If it's a motorway commuter you want, i'd stick with diesel.
If it's a motorway commuter you want, i'd stick with diesel.
What? Dropping to 3rd? You'd blow the bloody thing up. Keeping it in 5th will be fine. Them Mk6's are very good.
Some time ago I did a commute from Crawley to Camberley via M23, M25 and M3 for 18 months in a 1.1 Saxo.
Being a light car it coped admirably, and although it did not have much pull over 80 it did the job pretty comfortably and cheaply. I never felt vulnerable when overtaking between 70 and 80mph.
I'd imagine a new Fiesta 1.25 will be more than up to the job and actually a good drive too.
Being a light car it coped admirably, and although it did not have much pull over 80 it did the job pretty comfortably and cheaply. I never felt vulnerable when overtaking between 70 and 80mph.
I'd imagine a new Fiesta 1.25 will be more than up to the job and actually a good drive too.
A Fiesta 1.25 is more than capable of the job. I used to regularly travel the A1 and across the A66 in a Rover 214 without the slightest problem.
I think dropping to 4th gear would be more than adequate for gaining acceleration at motorway speeds, unless revving it near the red line is what you intend doing.
I think dropping to 4th gear would be more than adequate for gaining acceleration at motorway speeds, unless revving it near the red line is what you intend doing.
Edited by Rammy76 on Tuesday 14th September 22:35
Suggestion: this car is perfect for running on veg oil. Get a Costco card and its 70p a litre. you will recoup the cost of keeping it on the road fairly quickly, if you can source used oil even better/cheaper, look on ebay and you should be able to get it for 45p a litre. It will run on 100% and in the colder months just thin with 10% petrol. And use some cetane improve. Its sounding complicated now, but you should be able to pay for insurance, tax and servicing easily if you do a decent mileage out of the savings.
I have driving a Festa 1.25 and would personally take the torquey diesel every time.
nb if you do run it on veg just check you have a Bosch pump not a Lucas.
I have driving a Festa 1.25 and would personally take the torquey diesel every time.
nb if you do run it on veg just check you have a Bosch pump not a Lucas.
1.25 will be fine on the motorway. I've had my mk3 1.3 for neary 3 years now. You could sit at 70mph fine. Though if you find yourself going up a slope, its best to maybe go over abit, to around 80mph as you might lose abit of momentum. Some steep motorway/dual carriage way parts (like when you're leaving brighton) might find you dropping down to 50/60mph because of the steep incline. You could easily cruise at 70 or 80, though 80 will be noticeably noiser. I did manage a trip from london to sheffield (around 180miles) on £15 of petrol (perhaps a little more), which roughly equated to 40mpg or so.
you could achieve a similar mpg in a BMW 320ci if driven sensibly.
you could achieve a similar mpg in a BMW 320ci if driven sensibly.
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