Ford Fiesta 1.8TD Flight.

Tao81

goldspanners wrote: »

is the fiesta that vastly uncomfortable? ive been in a few and they seem fine to me.

I gave it a good test drive along some fairly straight stretches where I could it test it out at speed but also lots of junctions and corners whilst negotiating a circuit around a residential estate with lots of speed bumps etc, when I got back I noticed my shoulders had begun to ache. I fiddled with the seat to adjust my position to the best I could find, but obviously this didn't help much! It felt like I was having to over extend my arms to use the steering wheel?! I suppose in my bigger car there is far more leg space and the dash is that much bigger and closer therefore, subsequently you don't have to stretch so much to reach the steering wheel?!!.........Fine as a passenger felt quite comfortable.

goldspanners

get a nice booster cushion or one of those massaging seat covers then! :rotfl:

Tao81

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:Why didn't I think of that?!!

Just looked on wisebuyers website to view valuation, seems to be priced a bit high, as says good private price, should aim to pay £1340.......quite a long way away from what he wants, and he's already turned down an offer of £1500?!! The cars been up for sale for 2 weeks already?! Must be quite seriously hanging in there for every last penny he can get, although that could be perceived as a good thing perhaps, 'cos could indicate that he knows he's got a good little motor to pass on.

Tally-Ho_2

Before I 'inherited' my dad's last Ford Focus, I had a Fiesta 1.8 TD, a year older than the one on offer to you. It was a pocket rocket but really economical.

In the 4 years I had it, never had a real problem at all. I kept it serviced by a local guy in the village I then lived in and the servicing (including a cambelt change) was very cheap compared to the Toyota I had before the fiesta. The only thing which 'went' when I had the fiesta was the alternator but got one from a scrapyard for £20 and had no further problems. Oh, some 'bush' on the suspension also needed changing at some point but it was really cheap as well. It sialed through its MOT test every year as well.

The only reason I parted company with it was my dad gave me his newer Focus with the same 1.8 td engine and have had that nearly 2 years now with no problems (has 110,000 on the clock).

Personally I would say if you do a lot of miles, go for the fiesta over the petrol astra because of the economy, cheap servicing and cheap parts.

Would I have one again?- yes definitely.

Tally

Tao81

The price is a little off putting! Wisebuyers says good private sale should be looking at paying £1340 - car needs a service and only has 6 mths MOT?! Realise it is a good cheap little motor, just trying to convince myself I'd be doing the right thing to pay well above book price, all things considered!:think:

smudger1946

Just a warning, do check under air filter box for water in plug wells, we had it on our 05 Fiesta, turned out to be the washer jets in bonnet dont have a seal and water drips onto filter box and finds it way into plug wells, mechanic said it could be an expensive job if plugs snapped due to crrosion around them, a known fault at the ford dealers, they have ready and waiting a washer kit to go under jets £3.00.


Read below, Changed the plugs March 08, when the plug lead was removed to gain access to spark plug I found water around base of the plug, I used a sponge to remove before changing the plug. The other 3 were the same. Have just changed the leads because car suffering from hesitancy when cold, there was a small amount of water around the plugs.
Has anybody else found this - any ideas.

03 1.4 Water around spark plugs -
Two possible sources; leaking windscreen washer jets and corroding core plugs between the plug-wells in the head. [Usually caused by lack of anti-freeze changing.]


03 1.4 Water around spark plugs - Washer jets - have noticed a water mark on air filter below drivers side water jet investigating further.
Core plugs - Do not seem to be loosing water at a high rate, how easy to repair core plugs. Need to investigate further.
Hope this helps.
smudger

goldspanners

smudger1946 wrote: »

Just a warning, do check under air filter box for water in plug wells, we had it on our 05 Fiesta, turned out to be the washer jets in bonnet dont have a seal and water drips onto filter box and finds it way into plug wells, mechanic said it could be an expensive job if plugs snapped due to crrosion around them, a known fault at the ford dealers, they have ready and waiting a washer kit to go under jets £3.00.

by plug wells i guess you mean spark plug wells? its a diesel so it doesnt have spark plugs.

goldspanners

Tao81 wrote: »

The price is a little off putting! Wisebuyers says good private sale should be looking at paying £1340 - car needs a service and only has 6 mths MOT?! Realise it is a good cheap little motor, just trying to convince myself I'd be doing the right thing to pay well above book price, all things considered!:think:

i wouldnt pay more than book value. let him know that its a ford fiesta he is selling not exactly rare is it? dont tell him your not interested in travelling the length of the country for a good deal and want it local. make him aware of other vehicles similar to his for less than he is asking. he is being a bit sentimental or greedy. if his ad says £1600 ono then he is looking for around £1200 to £1400 max i would have said by him knocking back an offer of £1500 then he isnt realy open to offers.

Tao81

Well Guys......The agony is finally over!!! .....(as long as that is, the car I bought yesterday proves to be as efficient and reliable as it's reputed to be?!)

To be honest I got totally fed up with looking at high mileage petrol cars which were so stupidly over-priced, coupled with the fact that I couldn't find a suitable secondhand diesel!.....actually was pretty shocked at how few diesels I could find to view?!!

The fiesta man was lovely absolutely genuine guy, wanted more than I was prepared to pay, fair play though, don't blame him hanging out for so close to asking price, car is a little gem for what it is, very low mileage and going by condition and paperwork, very lovingly looked after.

So what have I gone and done?!.........I've bought myself a beauty of a 3 yr old Astra 1.7 CDTi hatchback !!!!! ........................I know, I know, just ever so slightly more £:money: than in my original plan to shell out at this juncture!!!! :eek::eek: but Hey... needs must?!! However, in true MSE penny pincher style I really shopped around to find the best deal.:money: MPG alone should be an immediate payoback as this car should deliver more than my current average 45-50mpg!
.....This is how I've justified the extra unplanned expense to myself, added to the fact that being younger than a lot of the old sheds I was forced to look at, this should hopefully mean I won't be taking the car in for regular repairs!

It's absolutely superb to drive, 1 owner, 50,000 on the clock, full service history blah blah blah.
Simply hoping now this baby proves to be as reliable and cost efficient as my trusty old MOT failure (.....still going to find it hard to say goodbye to my dear old Cavvy Boo hoo, even though now, in comparison, it feels really heavy to drive?! 16yrs of loyal cheap service and rock solid reliability has been a real gift!! Hence, the strong emotional attachement !!:o)

So wish me luck in my new motor and just to say a BIG THANKS to all those lovely MSE'rs who took the time to reply:D:beer: