Buying a Ford Fiesta

shabbagaz

Passed my driving test on Wednesday (third time lucky) so have been busy looking at cars. Been doing my research for a while now and have decided on a Ford Fiesta.

Here are some of the options I've come up with - just after some additional advice:

Sorry to bump this back up again. Currently considering a few Fiestas:

Fiesta 1.4 Zetec, 09 reg, 53,000 miles, £4995 (for this car, the cheapest insurance quote is £761)

Fiesta 1.4 Style, 09 reg, 26,274, £5444 (note: this is with Evans Halshaw & is currently at their Lincoln dealership, this can be moved to my nearest dealership. Cheapest insurance quote is £682)

Fiesta 1.4 Zetec, 11 reg, 41,000 miles, £5495 (cheapest insurance quote is £681)


On the face of it, insurance isn't too bad for a new driver - think my age (30) has worked in my favour slightly!
Just wondering what people think is the best option and what they think I should go for?

The majority of the money that I'm paying with for the car is what I've saved - the rest will be from a bank loan.

I did originally set a budget of £7000 so these three cars seem pretty decent deals.

forgotmyname

Dont get a loan for your first car.

Your paying a lot of money extra for low mileage. Not always the right way to buy.

Plenty of 2009 cars on the autotrader website for under £3500.

Compare this one.. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201412289839812/sort/default/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/radius/100/maximum-age/up_to_6_years_old/model/fiesta/make/ford/usedcars/page/1/postcode/pr11uh?logcode=p

Nearly £2000 less for an extra 20,000 miles.

Specifically want the 1.4? How about this for over £1000 less.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201503011334876/sort/default/maximum-age/up_to_6_years_old/make/ford/usedcars/radius/100/model/fiesta/page/2/postcode/pr11uh/engine-size-cars/1-4l_to_1-6l/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew?logcode=p

ToriP

I own a 59 1.4 zetec fiesta.

It's a great car. Easy and fun to drive, easy to park and holds well on a motorway commute. I've got up to 83000 miles and it hasn't skipped a beat yet.

wild666

Whatever car you choose have an HPI check done on it. Ask to see the V5 and take down details of the last owner then contact them, they may have got rid because of constant problems, you don't want other people problems

SailorSam

I bought a 05 Fiesta about 7/8 yrs ago. I don't do a lot of driving, i think it's got about 33k on the clock, but they're great little cars.

sazaccount

I have a 2012 plate fiesta zetec and I love it, I test drove a 2002 model when looking for cars and hated it as I felt it as a metal box on wheels and not much between me and the road!!!

Mines a 1.25 and is very nippy perfect for around the town and enough umph for motorway driving (a little bit more would be brilliant) mines only got 18, 000 miles on the clock. It might be an idea to postpone looking for a couple of weeks as the mobility car 3 years is about up so there is likely to be a lot of 12 plates with low mileage coming up

On the insurance side are you likely to be driving more than 6,000 miles a year?? If not or close to then maybe a telemetics box might be an idea. I first insured mine with insurethebox, it brought down my premiums a lot as the postcode of where I live made the quotes stupid!!!

Good luck, maybe if you go out and have a test drive of the different styles of fiestas it might help with narrowing down which years your looking for

OddballJamie

forgotmyname wrote: »

Dont get a loan for your first car.

Your paying a lot of money extra for low mileage. Not always the right way to buy.

Plenty of 2009 cars on the autotrader website for under £3500.

Compare this one.. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201412289839812/sort/default/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/radius/100/maximum-age/up_to_6_years_old/model/fiesta/make/ford/usedcars/page/1/postcode/pr11uh?logcode=p

Nearly £2000 less for an extra 20,000 miles.

Specifically want the 1.4? How about this for over £1000 less.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201503011334876/sort/default/maximum-age/up_to_6_years_old/make/ford/usedcars/radius/100/model/fiesta/page/2/postcode/pr11uh/engine-size-cars/1-4l_to_1-6l/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew?logcode=p

Seriously that's the best examples you could give?

The first one is the old shape which has clearly been incorrectly listed as a 2009. The second one is an accident damaged CAT C.

OddballJamie

OP the Fiesta 1.4 Zetec, 11 reg, 41,000 miles, £5495 one sounds the best out of those you've found.

Make sure it's been serviced properly as many Fiestas haven't been.

If you are planning on using the motorway a bit, the 1.4 is the way to go. A friend of mine has the 1.25 and dislikes taking it above 60. Also Zetec or Titanium, the other levels don't usually have the heated windscreen, which is brilliant in the winter.

forgotmyname

I didnt spot the CAT C or look at the pictures. But there were loads under £3500.

shabbagaz

Thanks everyone - this is all valuable advice. One thing I should have mentioned in my post is that I'm after an automatic.

Also, Evans Halshaw have just been in contact as I type this post. The Fiesta Style has been sold so obviously I can discount that one.

OddballJamie wrote: »

OP the Fiesta 1.4 Zetec, 11 reg, 41,000 miles, £5495 one sounds the best out of those you've found.

Make sure it's been serviced properly as many Fiestas haven't been.

If you are planning on using the motorway a bit, the 1.4 is the way to go. A friend of mine has the 1.25 and dislikes taking it above 60. Also Zetec or Titanium, the other levels don't usually have the heated windscreen, which is brilliant in the winter.

This one now seems my best option. Unfortunately I can't post a link to the actual ad as I can't post links, but this is the main description on the Auto Trader website:

Metallic BLUE, 1 lady owner example, Taken in part exchange by our local v.w main agent, full comprehensive service history, all done by Ford main agent. Lovely condition throughout., Manual Air-Conditioning, 15in Alloy Wheels (195/50 Tyres) with Locking Wheel Nuts, Electrically - Operated Front Windows with One - Touch Lowering/Closing on Drivers Side, Radio/CD, MP3 Compatible, Multifunctional 2 - Line Display, AUX and USB Connection. 5 seats, HPI clear, quality comprehensive warranty as standard, finance arranged, subject to status, all major debit cards accepted. Please call Jon for further details., ALL OUR VEHICLES ARE SOURCED FROM LOCAL MAIN AGENTS AND I ONLY BUY QUALITY CARS WITH F.S.H., £5,495

Its basically a "private seller/dealership" if that makes sense, called Beechwood Motors (in Mere Brow near Southport). Have to admit I'm a little bit 'wary' but after having a browse on Evans Halshaw's facebook page, it seems its them I need to be more wary of!

agrinnall

OddballJamie wrote: »

If you are planning on using the motorway a bit, the 1.4 is the way to go. A friend of mine has the 1.25 and dislikes taking it above 60. Also Zetec or Titanium, the other levels don't usually have the heated windscreen, which is brilliant in the winter.

I've done 51K miles in my 1.25 Zetec and it's absolutely fine above 60, no idea what your friend's issue is but I'd be surprised if it's a problem with the car. I travel most weeks between Perth and Aberdeen (180 mile round trip) and several times a year do 800 - 1000 mile round trips to go down south to visit family.