1995 Ford Fiesta Si 16v from UK and Ireland - Comments

Clutch cable snapped.

Door latch went.

Eats tyres.

Spare wheel is forever falling out!

Rust on sills and arches.

Drinks water like it's going out of fashion.

Various niggles.

The Si is a great car, cheap to insure, fairly nippy, loverly to look at.

It just suffers from ford problems of being cheap and nasty, for example I had an 1987 peugeot 205, after 15 years it had no rust, my fiesta is a rust bucket, why can't ford galvanize cars???

Hello.

Please treat the car well, it will reward you! The Zetec engine has SO much life in it!... It is Cast Iron and as strong as any modern engine! This will take a constant 4500rpm, and an 'ideal' peak of 5500rpm. If you redline it all the way, regularly, with incorrect oils and infrequent changes, you can kill it. Please remember this is not a 2L car and so do not expect the same performance from the smaller 1.6 block.

The rust: - that's the way it is :- (It is a Ford (!) You did not buy a Merc.

Tyres: Unless you have non-standard tyres (or drive like a loony!) your tyres will last for ages! 185/55/14's are the best, and if you can, try and get the 5 spoke standard alloy's (hard to find now in any good condition)

Water: My Si and I (1.6, N reg) I have currently done 100k together (130 in total from new) and I regularly change (every 10k) all filters and oil with Mahle/Vavoline/Motorcraft fully synth. oil. I have no problems with using water AT all. (and I regularly hit 4500 rpm). Your engine should NOT be losing water at all. I would check for leaks and splits, change the antifreeze & coolant and new oil and filters can’t hurt :-). Also, check the heating matrix for any leaves. sounds silly, but you will find some!

Clutch cable: I have had six (6), yes, 6 go (!) :- (

THIS SEEMS TO BE A DESIGN FAULT... IF YOU PLACE SOME WHITE GREASE ON THE CABLE NIPPLE (UNDER THE AIR BOX) EVERY 6 MONTHS, YOU WILL BE FINE. nb, 1997 Zetec engines had a different system, and an 'extra' pivoting clutch arm to assist... so Ford do know about this fault, but they will not help :- (

Spare wheel: I suggest you tighten it up!! ;-)

*posted by RoyD*