Lad's first car 03 Ford Fiesta 1.4 Zetec
Discussion
I have wanted to get my lad a car for him to learn to drive in for a while. While he has an international racing licence, at just 16 he can not drive on the roads yet, roll on his birthday.
We wanted something, simple and basic but capable of miles, as once he has passed, our taxi days to circuits all over the UK can be limited.
I wanted to spend basically max £1500 as I know insurance will be huge
After a month of looking at Rubbish, being insulted by dealers and ignored by private sellers I was starting to give up when up popped an add local to me on the trader
No clear shot of the reg and at first no answer from the number, but it was a 03 78k 1 owner car, just outside of stratford.
I tried again last friday pm and got an answer, lovely guy, selling on behalf of his elderly Mum. she had owned the car from new, but in 2019 had stopped driving. stored for a good while, the car was recommissioned this July, with fresh tyres, battery and wipers, it was on the road, some notes on some surface corrosion, but it just needs a good wire brush and rust proofing, on the MOT but otherwise good to go.
I saw it saturday morning, left a deposit and collected it sunday.
It drives so well, AC blows cold, interior is mint bar the rubber boot round the passenger mirror adjuster is split, Engine is sweet, stops and goes ace. It has a few tiny marks and a scratch on the boot, that I will get painted, but its super clean.
Lad just wants to maintain it and look after it, maybe a better stereo with bluetooth and carplay but thats it
The car is a genuine 1 lady owner from new 78K minter, for £950
Am delighted.
We wanted something, simple and basic but capable of miles, as once he has passed, our taxi days to circuits all over the UK can be limited.
I wanted to spend basically max £1500 as I know insurance will be huge
After a month of looking at Rubbish, being insulted by dealers and ignored by private sellers I was starting to give up when up popped an add local to me on the trader
No clear shot of the reg and at first no answer from the number, but it was a 03 78k 1 owner car, just outside of stratford.
I tried again last friday pm and got an answer, lovely guy, selling on behalf of his elderly Mum. she had owned the car from new, but in 2019 had stopped driving. stored for a good while, the car was recommissioned this July, with fresh tyres, battery and wipers, it was on the road, some notes on some surface corrosion, but it just needs a good wire brush and rust proofing, on the MOT but otherwise good to go.
I saw it saturday morning, left a deposit and collected it sunday.
It drives so well, AC blows cold, interior is mint bar the rubber boot round the passenger mirror adjuster is split, Engine is sweet, stops and goes ace. It has a few tiny marks and a scratch on the boot, that I will get painted, but its super clean.
Lad just wants to maintain it and look after it, maybe a better stereo with bluetooth and carplay but thats it
The car is a genuine 1 lady owner from new 78K minter, for £950
Am delighted.
Edited by Alwayzsidewayz2 on Tuesday 16th December 18:45
Excellent choice, they are really good cars and fun to drive.
We had one, here is a thread about it:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
We had one, here is a thread about it:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Edited by MC Bodge on Thursday 18th December 08:34
Cracking things those Fiestas.
I assume you've watched the recent Top Dead Center series on first cars, or maybe not if it gives him ideas...........
https://youtu.be/FyHIU58Vlgs?si=Du1GgpRVoJy7WZLW
I assume you've watched the recent Top Dead Center series on first cars, or maybe not if it gives him ideas...........
https://youtu.be/FyHIU58Vlgs?si=Du1GgpRVoJy7WZLW
Wow, thank you so much for all the comments
I will make sure to keep this up to date
A few points vs the 1.25 cars we test drive, this just feels a bit more able in the mid range, its no screamer but is very quiet and gets on with the Job
The chassis is fun, i think the power steering fluid is old however as it does feel a tough stiff and clunky and the fluid is a murky colour so that's part and parcel of this weekends service
Tailgate struts are weak so looking to replace those too.
Overall we are delighted, it looks very easy to work on too
My son is involved in classic and Historic single seater racing. He is learning by gaining work experience at a team, preparing and building classic Formula ford cars. He raced last year a 1975 Royal RP21 and is currently building up a Reynard FF92 to race. He is also looking to race Formula Junior and F2000 cars in both the UK and also in Europe.
So he learning from time served professionals in the industry how to prep and maintain race cars, which I hope he then can use as he maintains this car
I have sent him the Links for the TDC car, but with the caveat, he is paying for the insurance, so Mods have to be declared and fully friendly for the insurance!
Insurance wise, its about £3200 the best one so far, which is crazy, but He needs to be mobile for his career.
I will make sure to keep this up to date
A few points vs the 1.25 cars we test drive, this just feels a bit more able in the mid range, its no screamer but is very quiet and gets on with the Job
The chassis is fun, i think the power steering fluid is old however as it does feel a tough stiff and clunky and the fluid is a murky colour so that's part and parcel of this weekends service
Tailgate struts are weak so looking to replace those too.
Overall we are delighted, it looks very easy to work on too
My son is involved in classic and Historic single seater racing. He is learning by gaining work experience at a team, preparing and building classic Formula ford cars. He raced last year a 1975 Royal RP21 and is currently building up a Reynard FF92 to race. He is also looking to race Formula Junior and F2000 cars in both the UK and also in Europe.
So he learning from time served professionals in the industry how to prep and maintain race cars, which I hope he then can use as he maintains this car
I have sent him the Links for the TDC car, but with the caveat, he is paying for the insurance, so Mods have to be declared and fully friendly for the insurance!
Insurance wise, its about £3200 the best one so far, which is crazy, but He needs to be mobile for his career.
Edited by Alwayzsidewayz2 on Wednesday 17th December 10:44
Sounds a great buy.
All my 3 children had various Fiestas when learning to drive / passing their tests although all seemed to end up with the 1.25 zetec.
To be boring on Insurance we found Admiral the cheapest when on a provisional and even with the ( large ) additional premium once passed was still not too offensive to my wallet.
The trick is to get him to that first years NCB which with Admiral they gave whether on a provisional or full licence.
Adding yourself as a named driver ( assuming your record is ok ) can also make a sizeable difference as can limiting the annual mileage.
All my 3 children had various Fiestas when learning to drive / passing their tests although all seemed to end up with the 1.25 zetec.
To be boring on Insurance we found Admiral the cheapest when on a provisional and even with the ( large ) additional premium once passed was still not too offensive to my wallet.
The trick is to get him to that first years NCB which with Admiral they gave whether on a provisional or full licence.
Adding yourself as a named driver ( assuming your record is ok ) can also make a sizeable difference as can limiting the annual mileage.
alscar said:
Sounds a great buy.
All my 3 children had various Fiestas when learning to drive / passing their tests although all seemed to end up with the 1.25 zetec.
To be boring on Insurance we found Admiral the cheapest when on a provisional and even with the ( large ) additional premium once passed was still not too offensive to my wallet.
The trick is to get him to that first years NCB which with Admiral they gave whether on a provisional or full licence.
Adding yourself as a named driver ( assuming your record is ok ) can also make a sizeable difference as can limiting the annual mileage.
Great advice I will try that, I have 9 years NCB so can help, fully agree we want that first year AsaP. thats brill re the fact it starts even on the provisionalAll my 3 children had various Fiestas when learning to drive / passing their tests although all seemed to end up with the 1.25 zetec.
To be boring on Insurance we found Admiral the cheapest when on a provisional and even with the ( large ) additional premium once passed was still not too offensive to my wallet.
The trick is to get him to that first years NCB which with Admiral they gave whether on a provisional or full licence.
Adding yourself as a named driver ( assuming your record is ok ) can also make a sizeable difference as can limiting the annual mileage.
Thanks!
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