2000 Ford Fiesta Zetec S review from UK and Ireland

Electric window switch became intermittent and then packed up altogether.

Anti roll bar link needed replacing at 19,000 miles.

Very pleased with the car. It needs a bit more grunt, but apart from that is seriously hard to fault. It's reliable, it's economical (33-38 mpg) and huge fun to drive.

I had a Saxo VTR which was a lot of fun, but suffered a problem or breakdown on an almost weekly basis. It was also appallingly built.

The Zetec-S is much better quality, although it too is a bit cheap and nasty in places. But then it is a small, cheap car. Has only had two relatively minor issues though and both have been resolved without quibble by a helpful dealer. The Fiesta also has a big advantage in that people over 6ft (like me) can actually get comfortable in it.

Handling is phenomenal. Steering quicker and more communicative than anything I've ever driven (including a 911) and one of the sweetest, slickest gearboxes around. Turns in beautifully, can be coaxed into oversteering when you want it to, and generally leaves a grin on your face on a bendy B-road. The Saxo was also a superb car in this environment, but somehow never felt quite as polished or as finely balanced.

So, to summarise it is a great warm hatch which will hold its own with pretty much anything on a B-road blast. It could do with more power, but does offer some compensation by way of low insurance and good fuel economy. It's a bit quicker than my old VTR, but no match for a VTS (which I have also driven) or a 106 GTi (same car).

That said, it was only supposed to be a warm hatch, and the handling and steering are among the finest available on any car at any price. You will find yourself peeling off motorways and seeking the back routes. I've even caught myself going out to the lanes just for the hell of it and I never did that even in the Saxo.