1997 Ford Fiesta LS from UK and Ireland - Comments

Radiator Leak.

Doors sills leak.

Sunroof leaks.

Shock absorbers.

Faulty electrics (windows, ignition).

The clutch has gone.

This P reg doesn't start in damp weather (shocking).

This car has been more trouble than my A-reg Vauxhall Nova which gave 2 years of trouble free motoring before the sills rusted which made me decide to buy a new car, but I really really wish I hadn't done.

There is not one thing good about this car, the seats have water marks from leaks, it smells damp, the 1.3 engine is as responsive as a one legged donkey on a skateboard..... in my opinion stay 100 miles away from this heap of junk! Take my advice and go for a new Corsa like I am next week.

I agree with you about Ford, but personally I'd stay 100 miles away from Vauxhall too and get a Nissan.

My 1.25 1996 LX is superb. Nothing gone wrong with it, superb performance for the size on Optimax petrol. You should look after it a bit better. And a CORSA!!! Christ, do you know anything about motors!

It had been truly well looked after, this car was just Junk. Got the Corsa and am getting another one in a few weeks, have had absolutely no problems whatsoever... So that tells me all I need to know!!

The 1.3 is an 8 valve engine. The 16v 1.25 or 1.4 engines are much more refined, smooth and powerful. The 16v models are by far the pick of the bunch in my opinion and the 8v models just sound like a bag of nails.

What's a Fiesta LS?

Clearly a disgruntled Vauxhall owner posting a fake review.

It's a dead giveaway that not only is "LS" a Vauxhall trim level, not a Ford one, but most of the "review" is dedicated not to saying how bad the Fiesta supposedly is, but how much better the Corsa is. This flies in the face not only of my experience, but of every professionally written car review on the planet.

At the end of the day, the Fiesta has its faults, mostly in the build quality stakes, but it's a brilliant handling car with go-kart like steering and terrific balance when pushed hard. The Yamaha designed Zetec-SE engines are peachy smooth, reliable, and stupidly powerful for their size (Yamaha make class leading motorcycle and outboard motors with 200+ bhp per litre and 17,000 RPM and have done for years).

The Corsa is a typical rubbery, understeering, charisma-free Vauxhall with no feel or finesse whatsoever. Not a bad car, and some models go well enough, but woefully average at best. Put a Fiesta and a Corsa with similar power up against each other over some back roads, and the Corsa wouldn't know what had left it standing.

Find me a professional review that disagrees with my summary, or that has ever called the Corsa a better car than the Fiesta, and I am happy to stand corrected. I think you'll struggle, mind.

You were very unlucky with your car cos mines brilliant it hasn't let me down for 2 years so far and is a dam quick car for 1.25 16v. you must of got urs realy cheap. ford are great cars unlike nissan or peoguot.