2000 Ford Fiesta ZETEC S from UK and Ireland - Comments

I have not really had the car long enough to discuss the reliability, as nothing has gone wrong in the month or so that i've had the car.

I have noticed a couple of little design faults (nothing really)

1) The design of the front bumpers/ wheel arches could have done with a little more careful reviewing, as I have noticed if you hit a puddle, the water is not pushed under the car it tends to be pushed forward and up. This means if you hit puddles at pace the water it shot forward and onto the windscreen.

2) Another water problem is, if it has been raining, or you leave you're car very wet, when you break all the water left on the roof pours over onto the windscreen. Nothing important, just annoys me having to flick the wipers on and off when you hit the brakes.

I used to own a volkswagen polo 2001 1.4. A nice smooth easy drive. Not much else.

As for my zetec s fiesta, I am in love, I have never driven anything like it. The driveability is beyond belief. I have driven some of my parents cars e.g. 225 bhp Audi TT, M class mercedes. cl mercedes sl mercedes, mitsubishi shogun, mini cooper s and even a maserati 228. Out of these, the cooper s blew the others away in driveability, balance of the car, suspension and handling.

So obviously when I drive a car I make comparisons. I'm 17 years old and thought I wouldn't have a car that drove as well as the cooper s for years to come. I could'nt have been more wrong if the zetec s had the power of the cooper s there wouldn't be a thing on the road that could beat it.

The balance of the car mixed with the traction control is truly orgasmic, if you ever get the car sideways do not panic, you could drive this car on its roof and I bet you would still be in 100% control.

Obviously on everything else such as power, styling, build quality and depreciation (which is never really an issue on smaller cars) the cooper s is a better car, but believe me not the zetec s, it is a smoother, nimbler, better balanced and just a more fun ride.

FORD IF ONLY YOU HAD BLESSED US WITH MORE POWER!!!

Damn right!! had my zetec s a few months... if only those hp figures were a little bit higher!!! awesome car.

Too fast... not so furious. And I love mine. Go Ford.

Decent little car, and they do handle very well. However, I find it hard to believe the reviewer at age 17 has actually driven the cars they claim to (more likely just a passenger), and if they have it would not have been properly driving it for a a sustained period of time to test the car (insurance and the fact you are so young).

The Cooper S is not the best of the cars listed by some margin. To compare it to the Maseratti is a bit of an insult, even the TT is a superior vehicle.

The Zetec S is a fun little car, and handles like a go kart - but that's where it ends, and there is no point comparing it to other cars which are more expensive and newer as they are obviously better. The low kerb weight makes it chuckable, but even compared to the new shape Fiesta it is a big step back even in terms of chassis and handling.

I bought one and crashed it coz it was too heavy for it's little power, only seems a stiff ride coz the springs aren't up to the job, BRING ON £2500 INSURANCE PAYOUT!!!