Daily driver needed - fiesta? escort?
Discussion
I've got about a grand to spend on a cheap daily driver and as I'm in deepest Essex the market is saturated with Fords! I'm looking for something quite compact, so that's really a Fiesta or Mondeo as far as the blue oval goes.
The question is, which one offers better value for money and the better driving experience? Escort will obviously have more space and I could get a late one with the chassis revisions and AC, Fiesta would be a mid 90s middle of the range one I guess and although it has less space it should be addequate - economy is possibly the main advantage here as I'd really like something capable of 40mpg and a decent range between fill ups. Either would have to be reliable (are they?) I would guess the Fiesta is a rather better driving experience, as I can't justify the insurance on an RS2000 or something for a daily hack.
PS I'm not just looking at Ford's.... Just thought I'd enquire seem's there are so many around and I have access to cheap spares
The question is, which one offers better value for money and the better driving experience? Escort will obviously have more space and I could get a late one with the chassis revisions and AC, Fiesta would be a mid 90s middle of the range one I guess and although it has less space it should be addequate - economy is possibly the main advantage here as I'd really like something capable of 40mpg and a decent range between fill ups. Either would have to be reliable (are they?) I would guess the Fiesta is a rather better driving experience, as I can't justify the insurance on an RS2000 or something for a daily hack.
PS I'm not just looking at Ford's.... Just thought I'd enquire seem's there are so many around and I have access to cheap spares
Hi Chris, bit late i know but i have first hand experience of driving a 96 1100 Fiesta. The only thing ive ever had to go wrong with mine is an offside wishbone and it overheated once for no apparent reason. It flew through the MOT with a couple of small advisories and has now done over 100 thou. IMO, you may be better of looking at one that doesn't have the HCS engine, as the rattling gets on your tit, and so does doing the tappets every month. Either that or invest in a decent sound system with the leftover cash so you cant hear it
Cheers
Mark
Cheers
Mark
No worries - still waiting to sell my existing car so haven't decided on a replacment yet.
Ideally I wanted something mid sized (like the escort) but I've heard at-best mixed reviews of them. I live in an area where a huge number of people work for or are in some way connected with Ford, so the market is saturated with cheap cars as long as they have the blue oval on the front! Next thought was the fiesta - a tiny bit smaller than I was after and quite basic. Then wondered about a Mondeo hatch - but, to be awkward that's really a bit big. Might yet go back on that though as there are 40,000 mile examples with air con etc going for less than a grand.
Back to the fiesta - the idea is definitely to avoid doing anything every month! Are they not hydraulic tappets? And what sort of MPG did you get?
Ideally I wanted something mid sized (like the escort) but I've heard at-best mixed reviews of them. I live in an area where a huge number of people work for or are in some way connected with Ford, so the market is saturated with cheap cars as long as they have the blue oval on the front! Next thought was the fiesta - a tiny bit smaller than I was after and quite basic. Then wondered about a Mondeo hatch - but, to be awkward that's really a bit big. Might yet go back on that though as there are 40,000 mile examples with air con etc going for less than a grand.
Back to the fiesta - the idea is definitely to avoid doing anything every month! Are they not hydraulic tappets? And what sort of MPG did you get?
Erm, to be honest it isnt the best on petrol, i put about 20 quid in a week and do around 15-16 miles per day, although i suppose this isnt too bad and it is a 1.1 so pretty much goes flat out everywhere. As for the tappets im not too sure, i know they did a CVH engine as well which doesnt appear to have the same problem, it just seems to be the HCS engines that have a rattling problem. It sounds like you may be better off with an escort as they are bigger and surprisingly quite nice to drive, and as you said the more upmarket ones have extras such as air con etc. Mondeos i personally would put in the same sentence such as 'wouldn't touch' and 'bargepole' as i know about three or four people that have had one and theyve had problem after problem, but hey maybe theyre just unlucky.
mckln335 said:
Erm, to be honest it isnt the best on petrol, i put about 20 quid in a week and do around 15-16 miles per day, although i suppose this isnt too bad and it is a 1.1 so pretty much goes flat out everywhere. As for the tappets im not too sure, i know they did a CVH engine as well which doesnt appear to have the same problem, it just seems to be the HCS engines that have a rattling problem. It sounds like you may be better off with an escort as they are bigger and surprisingly quite nice to drive, and as you said the more upmarket ones have extras such as air con etc. Mondeos i personally would put in the same sentence such as 'wouldn't touch' and 'bargepole' as i know about three or four people that have had one and theyve had problem after problem, but hey maybe theyre just unlucky.
Interesting. Always assumed (completely illogically I know) that bigger saloons like Mondeos would be bullet proof.Small cheap cars tend to be sold at inflated prices to try and catch learner drivers and old ladys it seems (and PHers looking for cheap transport), but I wouldn't have objected to a fiesta if it meant I could get upwards of 40mpg (occasionally borrow my parents saxo and that does about 47mpg driven gently and about 43 when thrashed!) if not, I might as well look at something a bit bigger.
Actually quite liked the (Mk5 Escort) RS2000 I drove a while back, but the petrol and insurance costs on that would be more than I want to spend on a utility/motorway car.
yep, i would agree with the comment about small cars being sold at inflated prices, and also the one about the RS2000, what a car! Ive got a Mk2 Golf GTi im currently doing up at the moment, although that does about 2 gallons to the mile i would imagine! I also had the chance of buying a Mk3 RS Turbo not so long ago, until i took one look under the bonnet and realised the engine had been bodged together from about five different others, so decided to leave it.
I run a 98 mk6 1.6 escort in great condition. Bought for a smidge under 2k 2 years ago and has cost me sod all to run. The engine is pretty nippy especially in the higher revs. Not bad on fuel although I must admit I do thrash mine a bit! Been very reliable apart from the exhaust falling off last week without warning.
Only issue I have with is it's not too keen on corners and likes to pitch/dive/roll/understeer but then its not an RS2000 so you cant really expect much.
Should think you can pick them up for a bout a grand these days. Would also suggest the 1.25 zetec fiestas (think they were mk4/5s) shouldnt be far off 1k.
Only issue I have with is it's not too keen on corners and likes to pitch/dive/roll/understeer but then its not an RS2000 so you cant really expect much.
Should think you can pick them up for a bout a grand these days. Would also suggest the 1.25 zetec fiestas (think they were mk4/5s) shouldnt be far off 1k.
Don't get a Fiesta with a 1.1, that engine is like something out of the ark!! The Mk4 wasn't available with the 1.1, instead the base engines were either 1.3 Endura E as used in the Ka or 1.25 Zetec 16v which is from a different solar system to the HCS never mind planet!!
Alternatively you should be able to find a Focus for near enough a grand these days. I sold mine for £1650 18 months ago and that was a silver 1.8 Zetec 3dr with climate pack and 107,000. Brilliant car which I cannot recommend highly enough, I only sold it because I got a company car.
Paul.
Alternatively you should be able to find a Focus for near enough a grand these days. I sold mine for £1650 18 months ago and that was a silver 1.8 Zetec 3dr with climate pack and 107,000. Brilliant car which I cannot recommend highly enough, I only sold it because I got a company car.
Paul.
Edited by plfrench on Wednesday 1st August 23:37
See if you can find an Escort Si (1.8) or even a GTi - check the owners clubs as you may well find a tidy example there.
Avoid the Fiesta, but also consider a high mileage Focus - the 1.6 Zetec is a good engine.
If you can cope with the larger car, consider a Mondeo ST24. Take a look at the ST200 in my profile for a realistic view on how much they cost to run. I know of quite a few Mk2 Mondeo V6's with well over 150k on the clock... and one at 250k.
Avoid the Fiesta, but also consider a high mileage Focus - the 1.6 Zetec is a good engine.
If you can cope with the larger car, consider a Mondeo ST24. Take a look at the ST200 in my profile for a realistic view on how much they cost to run. I know of quite a few Mk2 Mondeo V6's with well over 150k on the clock... and one at 250k.
Edited by Podie on Wednesday 1st August 18:50
It's only to be used as a second car for long motorway trips and carrying stuff around, so the insurance on something like an ST220 or Escort GTi might be an issue.
I'm told they did some fairly major chassis/suspension revisions to the escort towards the end of it's life which made it a lot better to drive, might have to look out for those.
Focus is a very good point. I assumed anything going around the £1500 mark would be rather knackered ........hmm, first one on autotrader near me is a 1.8 zetec with air con at 108k for £1400. That said, the next one along is a 'very high mileage' poverty spec estate and that's £400 more!
I'm told they did some fairly major chassis/suspension revisions to the escort towards the end of it's life which made it a lot better to drive, might have to look out for those.
Focus is a very good point. I assumed anything going around the £1500 mark would be rather knackered ........hmm, first one on autotrader near me is a 1.8 zetec with air con at 108k for £1400. That said, the next one along is a 'very high mileage' poverty spec estate and that's £400 more!
Chris71 said:
Focus is a very good point. I assumed anything going around the £1500 mark would be rather knackered ........hmm, first one on autotrader near me is a 1.8 zetec with air con at 108k for £1400. That said, the next one along is a 'very high mileage' poverty spec estate and that's £400 more!
I perhaps sold mine a bit cheaper than I should have done, but as I said that was 18 months ago. Mine was far from knackered!! Make sure it's had the cambelt done at 100k. I had mine for 90k from 17k to 107k, and the only things that weren't routine service items were the spring that puts the gear lever back in the middle of the neutral plane (cost pence to buy and 20mins to do yourself) and the thermostat housing cracked so was leaking (£20 from a scrappy for a new unit, 3 hoses IIRC, job done!)
It didn't burn a drop of oil, even though I didn't hang around in it due to the way the chassis goaded you into having fun all the time!!
Buy one, you know it makes sense!!
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