2005 Ford Fiesta Zetec S from UK and Ireland - Comments

I had a scratch on the inside of the windscreen when I got the car. The dealer ordered a new windscreen and changed it at a time to suit me which was nice.

I had a Saxo 1.1i Desire 2002 model for my first car which was excellent and quick too! Putting my foot down in the latest Fiesta Zetec S 2005 model is something else! The car is seriously fast, the handling is absolutely amazing aided by its lowered sports suspension and 195/45/16R low profile sports tyres. The car has a slick sports gearbox which is amazing and you go through the gears very quickly with great ease.

The car looks like it means business from the outside with a huge standard spoiler, 16" multi spoke wheels and the aggressive bumpers which look like they are going to eat the car in front! The foglights are good lookers too.

On paper acceleration is listed at 0-62 mph in 9.9secs and 115 mph. It wheel spins into second its that fast and it does not stop or struggle until it is right at its top end! Lets just say the acceleration feels and probably is faster than that and the top speed was proved wrong on my free Fiesta Sports series driving day that Ford offered me for being 1 of the first 1000 to buy a Zetec S or ST with 130 mph being much closer than 115 mph.

VTR drivers - bye bye, VTS drivers - you aint going nowhere!

The cabin is perfect for £11,500, the sports seats hold you in tight and all the controls are easy to use and everything looks very stylish with silver touches throughout the cabin.

On the whole I am very happy with the car, everyone looks at it for all the right reasons, it is fast, but not too fast which is good as I like being alive and the whole feel of the car oozes sportiness and quality.

Very useful and has persuaded me to buy one!

Well I've been out and test drove one today and bought one - rushed into it a bit to be honest, but after reading your comment I'm happy! roll on my delivery date!!!

I agree with this review, I have recently been in the market for a hot hatch.

First up I test drove a Skoda Fabia VRS, impressive engine, but not much fun on anything, but a motorway and I've have to kick myself for buying a car with those seats.

Second Citroen C2 VTS, quick car, but very hard suspension, which I could have lived with, but for the horrendous gearchange, bit like stirring treacle.

Third I drove the Fiesta Zetec S, phenomenal, not as quick as the other two, but in terms of day to day driving head and shoulders above them and in terms of blasting down a country lane, head shoulders knees and toes above them, really good handling and grip without bone breaking suspension.

I ordered the Zetec S the very next day.

I am buying a zetec s due to my younger brother not getting insured on a saxo vts... but to say a zetec s is an capable as a vts is nonsence... the saxo vts to 100 takes under 20 seconds (30ish for zetec s) with exhaust and intake mods, ie enclosed induction, 4-2-1 manifold, and exhaust -ie 135-140bhp...0-60 in low 7s, 135 plus top end.

Zetec s is sluggish in comparison... in terms of handling both handle well.

True, the zetec s is no match for citroen's 16v VTS, my mate's is completely standard and roars up to 60mph in 7 seconds flat. However if speed and performance isn't your top priority, you'd feel much better going for the zetec s. You'll enjoy better braking, sticking to every twist and turn, and not seeing another 10 on the road every day. Well done to FORD for making a 'budget' version of the incredible ST!

I took my wife's zetec-s on a track day. The above comments on the performance of this car compared to a saxo are not right. I don't know if it was my driving, but I took to rip out of several vts's and vtr's during the day and believe me - they were trying their hardest not to let me. You can't really compare the standard zetec-s to a modded saxo, it's like comparing a mondeo 2.0 LX to an Evo 8 FQ400. Remember the reviewer came from a 1.1 saxo...

These zetec-s's really are serious fun - trust me. The only other car in it's class that really compares is my own ST150, but these do cost quite a few quid more.

I also agree with the fact that the figures released by ford aren't right - I had my ST150 clocked at 6.3 seconds 0-60mph on the track - and ford say it's 7.9 sec.

I have just bought a zetec-s in black. The car is only 7 months old and it has 5000 miles on the clock. I think that £7999 was an absolute bargain so I test drove it and snapped it up right away! I've come from a clio 1.2 and the difference is phenomenal!!! Roll on Friday when I pcik it up.

I am sorry, but I find it very hard to believe that this 1.6i 16v Zetec s car will keep up with a Saxo VTS the VTS has 21 extra BHP and is lighter you do the maths.

I own a Fiesta Zetec S MK6 and the comments made were completely wrong lol. the cars top speed is 115 mph and the 0-60 is only 9.9...but its still a very pleasing car to drive.

VTR drivers you will keep in your sights... but don't bother trying to race a VTS lol ull be embarressed...

6.3 seconds from a standard ST150. In your dreams...

Hi, I'm actually thinking of buying either the zetec s, or the c2 vts, but was just wondering if anyone could tell me if the c2 vts feels genuinely quick? thanks!

Performance ford times the st150 at 8.3 0-60, 29.8 0-100. you could never get 6.3s. crap looking blue oval.

I notice the guy commenting on 3rd April seems to have spent a considerable amount of time going around every Fiesta ST/Z-S review and posted a derogatory comment.

Nobody's interested mate. Stop wasting your time.

No I'm purely stating a fact on the st also the mgzs180 is an amazing piece of machinery, what other chassis to date with that much power does'nt need traction control?

I own a 2006 Zetec S, and trust me, they are a cracking little car. It's a fantastic drive, and you will have have a lot of fun throwing it around country roads. It's not ridiculously quick, but at the end of the day, power isn't everything unless you just want to drive on a straight road over and over again.

It's reasonably priced for what it is, very cheap insurance group 7e (in comparison with the ST Fiesta 13e), and I would certainly recommend it to people that want a good handling quick car, that is stylish and don't want to be crippled by a huge insurance premium.

If you are power hungry, do not get a VTS. Citroen sell there cars cheaply for a reason - it's because no one wants to buy them, and depreciation on them is a joke. Buy an ST - they're much more reliable just as quick, they handle better, look better, hold their value better, and are all out a much better car.