1989 Ford Fiesta S review from UK and Ireland

Both rear brake cylinders have exploded and become buckled.

Numerous simple oil leaks, through lack of maintenance.

Electrical fault in indicator/lights column control box.

A bit Smokey on startup (worn valve stem seals)

This car seems to be a compromise between many different worlds, the hot hatch, the shopping trolley and the sensible commuter.

It's not as quick or as 'raw' as my previous XR2's (both mk1 and mk2 variants) but it shares the mk2 XR2's engine, the mk3 XR2i's suspension and running gear and the basic mk3 Fiesta interior.

I bought the car because its cheap to insure, in fact its HALF the price of even the ancient mk1 XR2 but posses virtually identical power and performance.

Sadly the raw soil-yourself handling that was present in the previous XR2's has been lost, also the power of the newer XR2i's hasn't been achieved.

Luckily, being as though this is based on a now 20 yr old lump of an engine its really reliable. Brakes and other 'consumable' bits are cheap and easy to replace and its not too unrefined if its been well looked after.

In short, if you want a cheap, bullet-proof reliable car that you can drive like a nut case, but still sit in for hundreds of miles without any aches or pains this is it!

I did a 2000 mile tour of Ireland in mine with no sore backs or dead legs!

I bought mine for around 400 UK pounds, you can get em for half that now - that's the price of a mangy metro!