Fiesta Zetec S or SportKa which one?
Discussion
Hi i'm looking to buy myself a new car; would like to spend £3K approx and pref buy something with less than 60K miles on the clock, want a bit of punch as i currently own quite a basic fiesta - 2nd car - and looking to upgrade but can't decide between either a Zetec S or Sport KA - any advice?
From what i can tell they are pretty similar i.e. both 1.6l and approx bhp so how do i choose?!
Thanks
Bec
From what i can tell they are pretty similar i.e. both 1.6l and approx bhp so how do i choose?!
Thanks
Bec
Welcome to the forum!
I have owned a SportKA for 8 months and had a standard KA for two years before that so factor in i'm not exactly impartial....
Bearing that in mind I would go for the SportKA purely because you would get a newer lower mileage model - most of the zs fiestas I have seen tend to be high mileage.
The engines are different but both are poor on fuel. I get 35mpg from the KA which is poor for the performance but the ride, steering and gearbox do offset this.
Key points to watch for are rust on the bootlid by the wiper, and fuel filler cap. Also drive over speed humps slowly and listen for a creak. This means lower arms will require replacement which most 60k miles cars will need.
Driven a zs fiesta a few times and they are great fun I think you would struggle to be disappointed with either to be honest.
I would also look at 1.7 puma's as the engine is much better than the 1.6 engines used in the zs/KA.
Any questions feel free to ask,
I have owned a SportKA for 8 months and had a standard KA for two years before that so factor in i'm not exactly impartial....
Bearing that in mind I would go for the SportKA purely because you would get a newer lower mileage model - most of the zs fiestas I have seen tend to be high mileage.
The engines are different but both are poor on fuel. I get 35mpg from the KA which is poor for the performance but the ride, steering and gearbox do offset this.
Key points to watch for are rust on the bootlid by the wiper, and fuel filler cap. Also drive over speed humps slowly and listen for a creak. This means lower arms will require replacement which most 60k miles cars will need.
Driven a zs fiesta a few times and they are great fun I think you would struggle to be disappointed with either to be honest.
I would also look at 1.7 puma's as the engine is much better than the 1.6 engines used in the zs/KA.
Any questions feel free to ask,
The Sport Ka is a bit of a let down, it could have been so much better than it is, drive one and see what you think.
Fiesta zetec s drives better.
A Puma would be my choice if you can find one thats not rusty.
The standard 1.3 ka shows how good the Ka is but the Sport Ka does not really make the leap forward you might expect.
Ok its bigger engine (100 bhp) and bigger wheels/stiffer suspension is more sporty (and it looks much better) but you have to put up with the following
low gearing,
noisy,
harsh ride,
uncomfortable seats
wheezy engine (this is no free revy twin cam its a lazy old thing)
Almost unbelievably a normal 1.3 Ka is better to be in on the motorway than the 1.6 due to being quieter, better ride, feels less low geared.
I bought a Sport Ka for my mum to replace her aging Puma and the Sport Ka was a real let down, I only did about 1,000 miles in it but that was more than enough. The tyre size makes the ride awfull, 16" 45 series tyres mean you are always avoiding pot holes/speed bumps etc.
Fiesta zetec s drives better.
A Puma would be my choice if you can find one thats not rusty.
The standard 1.3 ka shows how good the Ka is but the Sport Ka does not really make the leap forward you might expect.
Ok its bigger engine (100 bhp) and bigger wheels/stiffer suspension is more sporty (and it looks much better) but you have to put up with the following
low gearing,
noisy,
harsh ride,
uncomfortable seats
wheezy engine (this is no free revy twin cam its a lazy old thing)
Almost unbelievably a normal 1.3 Ka is better to be in on the motorway than the 1.6 due to being quieter, better ride, feels less low geared.
I bought a Sport Ka for my mum to replace her aging Puma and the Sport Ka was a real let down, I only did about 1,000 miles in it but that was more than enough. The tyre size makes the ride awfull, 16" 45 series tyres mean you are always avoiding pot holes/speed bumps etc.
bec501uk said:
Hi i'm looking to buy myself a new car; would like to spend £3K approx and pref buy something with less than 60K miles on the clock, want a bit of punch as i currently own quite a basic fiesta - 2nd car - and looking to upgrade but can't decide between either a Zetec S or Sport KA - any advice?
From what i can tell they are pretty similar i.e. both 1.6l and approx bhp so how do i choose?!
Thanks
Bec
MX-5? From what i can tell they are pretty similar i.e. both 1.6l and approx bhp so how do i choose?!
Thanks
Bec
Which ZS?
The earlier MK4 (?) ones are very good cars and really well set up, but you will need to search hard to find a good unmodified one.
The MK5/6 which are probably in budget are a bit more refined, and bigger than the MK4. The engine is good but not going to set the world on fire, and while it really will handle well the trade off is a very crashy ride at times.
The Sport Ka is hilarious fun, and for thrashing down a B road is much better than the fiesta IMO. There are also lots of rally derived bits that make it even more fun. But the 1.6 in the KA is not as economical as you would hope, and the car will be a step down in terms of comfort and space from the fiesta.
It really depends what you want from the car, but I would guess 3k would get you a better later sport Ka than fiesta ZS. For 3k though you would also get the pick of the 1.6 and 1.7 pumas, even better handling, just as practical and good looking.
The earlier MK4 (?) ones are very good cars and really well set up, but you will need to search hard to find a good unmodified one.
The MK5/6 which are probably in budget are a bit more refined, and bigger than the MK4. The engine is good but not going to set the world on fire, and while it really will handle well the trade off is a very crashy ride at times.
The Sport Ka is hilarious fun, and for thrashing down a B road is much better than the fiesta IMO. There are also lots of rally derived bits that make it even more fun. But the 1.6 in the KA is not as economical as you would hope, and the car will be a step down in terms of comfort and space from the fiesta.
It really depends what you want from the car, but I would guess 3k would get you a better later sport Ka than fiesta ZS. For 3k though you would also get the pick of the 1.6 and 1.7 pumas, even better handling, just as practical and good looking.
boredofmyoldname said:
The MK5/6 which are probably in budget are a bit more refined, and bigger than the MK4. The engine is good but not going to set the world on fire, and while it really will handle well the trade off is a very crashy ride at times.
mk5 (first generation of the zetec-s) is basically the facelift version of the mk4, it is the mk6 which is the larger boxier version that also comes in ST form, mk7 is the latest fiesta.Edited by rb5230 on Sunday 16th January 16:42
300bhp/ton said:
bec501uk said:
Hi i'm looking to buy myself a new car; would like to spend £3K approx and pref buy something with less than 60K miles on the clock, want a bit of punch as i currently own quite a basic fiesta - 2nd car - and looking to upgrade but can't decide between either a Zetec S or Sport KA - any advice?
From what i can tell they are pretty similar i.e. both 1.6l and approx bhp so how do i choose?!
Thanks
Bec
MX-5? From what i can tell they are pretty similar i.e. both 1.6l and approx bhp so how do i choose?!
Thanks
Bec
boredofmyoldname said:
The MK5/6 which are probably in budget are a bit more refined, and bigger than the MK4. The engine is good but not going to set the world on fire, and while it really will handle well the trade off is a very crashy ride at times.
This man is correct.I'd go for the ZS, but then I am biased!
Sport-Ka is very girly! (Not saying a fiesta is much better
)Robb F said:
boredofmyoldname said:
The MK5/6 which are probably in budget are a bit more refined, and bigger than the MK4. The engine is good but not going to set the world on fire, and while it really will handle well the trade off is a very crashy ride at times.
This man is correct.I'd go for the ZS, but then I am biased!
Sport-Ka is very girly! (Not saying a fiesta is much better
)Edited by rb5230 on Sunday 16th January 16:48
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