MK6 Fiesta - Reliable?

[gman88667733]

After a few much newer cars, I wanted to get an older car as my cars tend to get scratched up and mistreated due to our lifestyle and where we live. I had an Octavia which had every single big ticket issue happen at once, in July I got an 02 petrol auto Honda CRV, which has had a whole host of issues (all under warranty) but the warranty runs out in January. It is awful on fuel and I don't really like it that much in all honesty.

The courtesy car I've had each time is a 2002 MK6 Fiesta, petrol manual and each time I have not wanted to give it back, it was only on 50k miles, but it drove beautifully, the gearbox was the tightest and most positive I've used in a car before. You have to be slow releasing the clutch when changing to 2nd gear or it would jerk, but I expect that is an isolated fault. Anyway, I am back in the courtesy car later today I believe as my Honda has yet more issues. It has made me seriously wonder if I should get shot of the CRV after the warranty period and buy a tidy mk6 Fiesta?

I know it is a bog standard old car, but it was the most fun I've had driving for a long time!

What sort of mileage are the petrol ones good for? Petrol vs diesel for reliability?

How much should I expect to pay for a tidy one?

Cheers