2003 Ford Fiesta zetec review from UK and Ireland

When starting the car, it sometimes cuts out.

Sometimes jumps out of reverse.

This car would be fine for your mom with the feeling that she's in something sporty, but don't be fooled by the zetec badge. It simply has a leather steering wheel, plastic silver gear knob and 15" alloys. It has masses of head room and I have seated 3 big built lads in the back, also good for the shopping?! The car itself feels solid and proved to be after I had a bad head on crash. I later found the car was awarded 5*'s in the crash test surveys! With ford making it a safe and strong car it hasn't compromised on the cars handling. As I'm in my teens I like a thrill, I have been on the limits of the car, sharp bends the back end does seem to kick out, but that's at speed of over 50mph, it really does hold the road. (by the way, the crash previously mentioned was the other drivers fault, not mine)

Only downside is performance. You really have to rev the car to really get anything out of the 75bhp engine and it really sounds thrashy! you need to use the whole rev range (up to 6250rpm rev limit) to get any kind of peformance out of the car as there is very little torque below 3000rpm.i think the figure state 0-60 in 13.2, but I've managed high 11's. Also I use to find the gear change is clunky and has a long shifted to 3rd making the gear change awkward if I was shifting fast. Being given the fiesta free for the year because of family reasons, I have not really appreciated the car resulting in given it a good test.

Overall this car is perfect for moms and great for Pretentious lads who go by what badge it's got on the back (zetec) but at the end of the day it's a fiesta, a well built, safe and simple family car, but doesn't really put a smile on your face for the younger generation.