Registration comes back as different model

[Geffg]

Looking at a cheap fiesta and it’s badged as a zetec and has zetec spec but when I enter the reg it comes back on insurance sites etc as a freedom model. Would this be of any concern? Looks a genuine car with the service history etc.

Edited by Geffg on Thursday 9th February 16:24

Edited by Geffg on Thursday 9th February 16:25

[mmm-five]

There are a lot of Zetec Fiestas stolen & stripped so that chavs can modify their basic models.

What does the seller say?

Can you do a VIN lookup to see what it was originally sold as, or do one of those detailed car checks (VCheck, TotalCarCheck, Motorcheck - not AA/HPI/RAC)

Edited by mmm-five on Thursday 9th February 16:10

[evil.edna]

Sounds like someone is taking the pith. Keep your eyes peeled. Don't wanna end up buying a lemon.

[Geffg]

evil.edna said:

Sounds like someone is taking the pith. Keep your eyes peeled. Don't wanna end up buying a lemon.

Haha just got onto that and amended!,

[123DWA]

Geffg said:

Looking at a cheap fiesta and it’s badged as a zetec and has zetec spec but when I enter the reg it comes back on insurance sites etc as a freedom model. Would this be of any concern? Looks a genuine car with the service history etc.

Edited by Geffg on Thursday 9th February 16:24

Edited by Geffg on Thursday 9th February 16:25

Does it call it a freedom on the V5? 3rd party registration look up tools aren't always that reliable. I know my other halves TTS sometimes just shows up as a 'TT Special Edition"

[twing]

was the Freedom as special edition based on the Zetec? Every possibility the dealer didn't re-sticker it from new At a guess it's probably different alloys and maybe a couple of cosmetics. If you ping me the reg I can check ETIS (may or may not give me a clue).

Edited as I'm a nob and didn't read the OP properly. What does V5 show?

Edited by twing on Thursday 9th February 16:56

[Geffg]

They’ve messaged back saying it is a freedom on the documents which at least it Marty’s up to the reg, and he’s no idea why it’s badged as a zetec. Searching around and the spec is better than a zetec which I thought would’ve been other way round. Just seems weird badged as zetec unless someone in the past thought it sounded better, like people putting m badges on BMW’s maybe.

[Geffg]

After a lot of searching, I’ve found all the fiesta freedoms I’ve seen for sale have a zetec badge on for some reason. The freedom model has a better spec too so no idea why they’d be badged like that.

[Macron]

Is it just a zetec engine?

[the-norseman]

I was under the impression Zetec was the engine as well.

[Macron]

Did the prev owner park it in Digbeth?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-6...

[RVB]

In the past, on some searches my Insignia 2.8T came up as 1.4T. It was bought from a main dealer (Network Q) with one previous owner and I've had it several years so it's not a dodgy car.

But if in any doubt about a car, there are 420000 others on Autotrader, one of which will be suitable.