2001 Ford Fiesta Zetec S 1.6 16v from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Excellent handling and lovely engine. Poor build quality though

Faults:

Drivers seat cover looks like it's coming away near release handle.

Rear window leaked and had to be fixed at Ford dealer. Door seals sometimes let in water in heavy rain leading to wet passenger seat.

Radio keeps switching off, airbag light has come on, odometer display keeps going off and returning.

Creaking from n/s front suspension. Metallic clicking noise going over speed humps.

Fog lights mist up at front.

Dealers are useless and not interested in fixing car.

General Comments:

A cracking little car if not a bit too small in the rear. What a shame the build quality (in particular the suspension and electrics) is so poor and the dealers couldn't care less.

Build quality not a patch on the Focus.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th December, 2003

21st Feb 2005, 13:38

I totally agree with your review, I own one. Same faults bar the water leaking in. Ill never by one again.

2nd Mar 2005, 11:27

Since then, the ABS/traction warning lights have come on and it needed a new ABS sensor. Airbag light still not fixed - Ford want to charge £185.

Yesterday the battery went, but we got a replacement for £30 which isn't too bad I suppose.

4th Jan 2006, 16:33

Just had to have a new starter motor - 67,000 miles. And some new front tyres - seems to eat the things (compared to my Astra, which does 30K for a set of fronts and 60K on the rears).

This car is not driven hard at all (wife's car) - just gets used for 70 mile round trip to work every day.

2001 Ford Fiesta Zetec S 1.6 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A Ford Puma in sensible clothes

Faults:

The alarm started to go off intermittently, although usually at about three o'clock in the morning which was nice. However this was fixed under warranty at the first attempt, a sensor in the boot was found to be faulty.

Tyres loose pressure quite quickly, but I am told this is common problem with all types of alloy wheels.

General Comments:

This is a great value car which offers a huge amount of performance and fun for the money. It is cheap to buy and relatively cheap to insure.

The handling is superb and it never ceases to amaze me how good it feels to drive. Compared to other cars in it's price range there is nothing that comes close to it.

I considered a Saxo VTS/VTR, but didn't fancy the reliability much. So far I have covered nearly 18,000 miles in just over nine months (60 miles commute each day) and have just returned from a 1100 mile week long bash around Ireland. The car has never missed a beat and is as much fun now as when I first drove it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th October, 2003

2001 Ford Fiesta Zetec S 1.6 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Great looking, great handling car for a very reasonable price

Faults:

Had the car a few months and nothing has gone wrong.

General Comments:

Fantastic piece of kit.

The handling is fantastic. Best car I've ever driven. Could do with a little more power for motorway runs, but this isn't what you buy this car for. Just stick to the B-roads and you'll be laughing all the way. Superb grip, gearchange and brakes. Torque isn't bad either. I think it's roughly 107lb/ft which I believe is about the same as the VTS.

Interior is OK. The coloured leather on the steering wheel has worn slightly. I have seen a few Zetec S's which suffer from this.

Overall I'm over the moon with my car.

One small point I'd like to make is that this car should be purchased in Imperial Blue. The Zetec S was the only Fiesta available in this colour so it makes it a bit more exclusive. Scrubs up nice and shiny too :)

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 28th August, 2003

2001 Ford Fiesta flight 1.3 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

I think it is Fords best ever super-mini

Faults:

None so far, but with it being a Ford I will expect the odd fault.

General Comments:

This is an excellent car, it is very nippy around town and pulls away from traffic lights great.

The car has a 1.3 Over Head Valve engine which can be quite noisy at times, which is a good point becouse it is easy to service and maintain.

I don't send it to the dealers for a service any more becouse they charged me £100!!!.The next time it was due for a service I did it myself for £14!!!... a big saving.

The dealers are just there to rip you off, they charged my friend £145!!! and he was daft enough to pay it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th August, 2003