Downsizing Focus to Fiesta?

cantdecide

Haven't read the thread.

No doubt each topic and sub topic have been discussed and disected including the marginal differences is tax and fuel economy and safety (well, up to 40mph anyway).

I always find myself returning to one fact. This is Ireland. We are a largely rural country with a very high proportion of poor quality roads and conditions by and large and need intercity cars IMO. Unless you live in Dublin and the car will pretty much never leave there, you have to legislate for the facts and not some perceived saving of money and desire for the much over-rated new factor. Add to this the prohibitive cost and consequent poor value for money of buying any new car.

To me, it's compromise after compromise...

groupb

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Just did some maths there.

The current Focus 1.6 petrol has 100bhp and weighs 1820kgs

The new Fiesta 1.6 Zetec S has 120bhp and weighs 1500kgs.

Is that a power to weight ratio improvement of 45%? :eek:

Judging by those weights , I'd go out and buy the lighter mondeo.

Henry Ford III

unkel wrote: »

I think you got those weights wrong, HF :eek:

Probably. Fiesta brochure says "Gross vehicle mass 1500kgs" though

p.s. Kerb weight is 1109kgs or 970kgs according to Parkers.

Henry Ford III

I picked up the new car yesterday. Early signs are good. Seems well screwed together (by Germans), and is good to drive. Engine is new obviously but it pulls well, and is quiet and sweet).

The so called "human machine interface" is great. It's like a simplified i drive from a BMW. Takes a few minutes to work out what's what. Stereo (upgraded to an audio pack 8) is excellent. I even manged to get it playing mp3's off the flash drive, and toggling between tracks (named on the display) using the steering wheel remote controls.

I'll do a few miles over the weekend, and advise further.

So far the driving experience reminds me of a 1.7 Puma, which is good, but with a lot more space and easier everyday practicality.

Inside the car really isn't that much smaller than a Focus, and is as big as an older Escort (MkIII) for example. Boot is smallish, but that doesn't bother me much.

Henry Ford III

Nearly 2 months on I thought I'd write an update on my experience so far with this car.

Car is good fun to drive. Handling is great with tenacious grip, and well weighted electric power steering. Ride was harsh at time of purchase but has been totally transformed by reducing the tyre pressures. There was over 50psi in them! I changed the pressures back to whatever was suggested in the manual.

Economy is ok. c.35mpg in mostly urban conditions. A lot more on a longer run. Gearing is short enough, so 120kph is c.3500rpm. Refinement really is from a car class above this, so A road legal limit cruising is comfortable and effortless. Road tax is cheap - €156. Insurance was v. reasonable - just renewed and comp. with all bells and whistles was €330.

Performance is good. Plenty of overtaking power when needed.

Equipment. Uprated stereo with ipod and USB sockets plus bluetooth is brilliant. Strangely there's no engine temperature gauge. Projector headlights are excellent.

I've had no issues at all as regards build, quality, or reliability.

As a fun but low cost car for the times we are in it's a good'un.

L-M

Great to hear!

Pics?

confuzed

pics? of car or poster.

Hal1

I want one now! :cool:

bumble1

i am a ford man thats all i have ever had the best engine in the fiesta is the 1.25 it is the most reliable by far the new fiesta is a great car i would buy the fiesta over the focus as there is a new model due in early 2010 whicg is likely to be sportier if you want a fast fiesta the fiesta st is on the way but the zetec s mountune is fast and great looking

bumble1

bumble1

look at these

Henry Ford III

Update:

The Fiesta Zetec S is now a year old, and it had it's 1st service* yesterday.

I've had no issues whatsoever with it - 100% reliable, fun to drive, practical, and inexpensive to run.

I'm doing very few miles these times (a mere 6500 mainly urban ones in the last 12 months) and the fuel computer showed 33.4mpg average. I had a rapid 90 mile trip on Wednesday and reset it. 46mpg average on A roads and some dual carraigeway/motorway stuff, which I reckon is pretty good. Gearing is short - 130kph indicated is close to 4000rpm in top. Refinement is good so it doesn't matter really.

*The annual "value service" with a local main Ford dealer was €119.99 complete with a 40 point check, and includes a €30 voucher for me to spend. Hard to beat.

The Pontiac

A few posters mentioned here that the Madza 2 was a better looking car than the Fiesta. The Mazda is a very boring car IMO, very jab looking and almost anonymous. I saw a black Fiesta yesterday with alloys and it looked stunning. The 3-Door is even nicer looking with very sporty looks.

A new Fiesta Style 5-Door for €11,700 (inc. del and met paint) under the scrappage scheme is an absloute steal. I'm a big fan of recent Fords. The introduction of the Focus in late 1998 made Ford the leading manufacturer in driving dynamics in the affordable sector. If anyone ever compared the MK 4 Golf (introduced in 1998 also) to the Focus, then I think you'll agree there miles apart in every way. The MK 4 Golf (which cost considerably more than the Focus at the time), was an atrocious car - crap to drive with no feedback from the steering, notchy gear shift, crap handling, poor visabilty and an unrealible lump. Ford set the benchmark 12 years in how an affordable cars should drive, and are still leading the way IMO.

Boardwatcher

Yeah but Ford have a chequered history with aftersales.

I bought a brand new fiesta in 2002 from Dennehy's Cross Motors in Cork, and their aftersales was terrible to be honest. Both electric windows were getting stuck on the way up and i had to bring it back to them twice to fix this. Door hinges that were not greased properly and loose plastic trim in the doors togethre with a couple rattles/vibrations that should not have been there while driving. I realise any car can have issues but my problem with ford was the dishonest way they treated me as a customer, telling me things were fixed when they were not.

I sold the car a year later and have not had a ford since. Though I am now considering a Focus, however every time i think of going for it I am put off by the experience i had in 2002.:mad:

Henry Ford III

Zetec S model is no longer listed nor available!

Mc Love

even in the UK?

Henry Ford III

Still available new in the UK.

Mc Love

Strange, any reason why its no longer available?

corktina

i got the last one I reckon....

Henry Ford III

Zetec S had it's 2nd annual service today. Main dealer. Cost €109 incl. I put a years tax on it last week €156. Result.

I put 2 new tyres 195x16x45 on the front recently €160.

A car for harsher economic times without a doubt, but still a good car, and fun to drive.