2000 Ford Fiesta Zetec-S from UK and Ireland - Comments

Leather trim on steering wheel "melted" during hot weather. However, despite the car being out of warranty, the dealer replaced it free of charge, without the problem recurring.

In the Republic of Ireland it is practically impossible to insure a performance car if you are under 25 years of age. The Fiesta Zetec-S is on the performance-limit, which is why I bought it. It has proved reliable, quick, fun and practical during the last two years.

Performance-wise, it has more than is sufficient for town use. It is only on a straight, open road that one would desire extra punch.

The dealer, South Dublin Ford, deserves particular praise as they really have been impeccable.

For more specs and photos of this car, see http://www.eireann.org/fiesta.html.

I am sorry to burst your bubble, but the Fiesta Zetec-S is not a fast car. It is slower than the MK2 XR2 and MK3 XR2i Fiesta's. For a 1.6 16v engine the power output should be at least another 15BHP.

I doubt you burst his bubble, after all he's the one having the enjoyment of driving it which I doubt you've ever done. Performance difference between the Z-S and MK2-XR2 MK3- XR2I's is neglible, what isn't neglible is performance handling, the Zetec-S is vastly superior in handling and ride not to mention that the two cars you've dragged up are synonymous and perhaps partly responsible for the term "boyracer", as for the extra 15bhp needed, who are you to declare this, the car was never released by ford to be smoking hothatch, a drivers car with sports coupe levels of handling, coupled with affordable insurance were the idea, which the car achieved exactly. You have a very narrow minded ignorant opinion, that is, you only look at 0-60 times and think that is what makes a car, wrong.

I own an XR2i 8v model. My wife owns a Zetec-s and I prefer the XR2i it has better acceleration, more mid-range and top end speed is a world of differance.

OK there is no doubt that the Zetec-s has better handling, but the XR2i has shorter gear ratios which demands more skill to drive quickly. You need skill to handle the XR2i as it is an old school hot hatch.

The Zetec-s takes the skill out of driving. I find the XR2i despite being 10 years older a far better hot hatch.

I have to disagree that the Zetec S takes the skill out of driving fast, although I can see why you would suggest it. Yes, in the twisties where the XR2i is getting "interesting", the Zetec-S is simply covering ground without any fuss or drama, but that's simply because its handling abilities are on a different plane altogether. Push it harder and you can play with it to your heart's content. Understeer, lairy oversteer, four wheel drifts - all are there to be exploited when you get to know the car. I've had mine for 6 months and I'm still not at the stage where I feel I can get 100% out of it. Every drive gets quicker and quicker, albeit often lairier, but that's all part of the fun. Dynamically, this is one of the finest small hatches since the 205 GTi in my opinion, and offers similar rewards to those prepared to really grab it by the balls and give it a pasting.

I do however, take your point about the lack of power, but as the previous commenter mentioned, this was never Ford's goal. How else could they get it into insurance group 8, and have it return a steady 35 mpg? The engine might be 20 brake down on what would be ideal, but it is sweet, free revving and a joy to work hard, which are qualities you could never associate with the old CVH engine in the XR2i.

How anyone can call the Zetec-S a fast car I don't know? A good car yes, but not fast. It does not even qualify as a hot hatch don't make it out to be something its not.

To re-iterate what has been said before, the Zetec-s was never released as a hothatch, although if critics call the ZR105 & VTR hothatches then it definately can be called one, especially as its road abilities embarrass cars costing twice as much. I hate this rubbish about old school hot hatches and them needing skill to be driven fast, this bad handling wasn't a manufacturing goal, more a bi-product of putting big car power in little cars. The Zetec-s would slaughter all previous fiesta's with its handling abilities alone, including the RS Turbo & 1800 which are not renouned for great handling or brakes, FACT! The person who wrote the last comment, I guarantee this person has never driven one, he mearly looks at the 0-60time and thinks that's what makes a car fast and he thinks himself clever, well, "don't make yourself out to be something you're not!

So the 103BHP Zetec-s would slaughter all previous fiesta's Including the 133BHP RS Turbo model. What a load of rubbish and that's a FACT!

Drive a mk2 Astra GTE 16v that is a fast "hot hatch" it has crap handling yes, but in a strait line it would beat all the "old school" hot hatches. Modify the handling and it is the don!!! Saxo VTR's are not in my class a Hot Hatch they are a "warm" unreliable french disaster!

The GTE 16v is a seriously quick car I agree. A mate of mine had one, complete with a Jamex adjustable suspension kit and it was very capable. However, my old 1.6 205 GTi would regularly make it look stupid on twisty roads, and I suspect the Zetec-S would do the same, having similar power and similar handling characteristics.

The GTE is a great car, but as you say, in straight lines only. Modded suspension helps, but you can only do so much with bolt on mods.

You think your MK2 16v Astra would beat all the "old school" hot hatches, I don't think so. I own a Fiesta RS Turbo with a documented 384BHP at 6250RPM it has a 2.0i ZVH engine with a big turbo and 6 injectors. 0-60 in just over 5 seconds and a top speed of around 155mph.

It was featured in performance Ford a while back. Yes the MK3 Fiesta does have crap handling and yes it takes a firm grip of the wheel when you lay down 384BHP, but who cares? How many MK2 Astra's have 384BHP?

All this straight line stuff is good pub boasting material, but the twisting country lanes are when the real fun (and driving skill) is at. No Plod, no Gatsos, no need for 300+ bhp.

To be fair just managing to keep 300+bhp under control in the mk3 Fiesta chassis would be a challenge. It must torque steer like mad.

384 BHP? in a Fiesta?

Have you kept the FWD set up?

Who did the conversion?

Are you the guy who wrote the 1988 Carlton 1.8 L report?

Don't know anything about a 1988 Carlton 1.8 L? Anyway the 2.0i ZVH was built from the ground up by a company called 'mad for it' in devon. It was originally 280bhp, but after uprating the turbo, changing the ECU and mapping the fuel its last output on the rollers was 384bhp.

It has a qualfie gearbox as the original went pop with the 280bhp. It has modified lower front arms and a modified LSD the rear suspension has also been modified the vehicle is still front wheel drive.

Super Hatches = Focus RS, Leon Cupra R, Audi S3, Golf R32, Integrale, Alfa 147 GTA, Clio V6.

Hot Hatches = Focus ST170, Golf GTi 180, Clio 172, Civic R, Corolla T Sport, Leon VT, Astra Turbo, Mini Cooper S, Octavia RS.

Warm Hatches = Zetec S, Saxo VTR/S, All Peugeot GTis, Yaris T Sport, Puma, Punto GT, Mini Cooper, MG ZR160, Corsa SRi, POLO GTi, Golf GTi (petrols only).