Do you prefer taking the driver’s seat to sitting in the rear bench? If so, then the Ford Fiesta is perfect for you. The Fiesta carries on the Ikon's ‘josh’ legacy with considerable aplomb and with its driver-focussed dynamics, is a sheer delight to drive, no matter what is propelling it - diesel or petrol.
Although the Fiesta has been around for only a little over two years, it has started trickling into used car showrooms. We take a look at the petrol variants and what to watch out for while buying used.
The Fiesta comes with two petrol units. A 1.4-litre 82bhp engine and a 1.6-litre engine developing a healthy 101bhp. The highlight of both engines is the fact that they deliver power in a smooth and effortless way, and develop a decent amount of this grunt from low down in the powerband, which translates into fewer gearshifts in the city. The Fiesta also boasts of c1ass leading ride and handling.
While tyres on the Fiesta usually last upto the 40,000km mark, some cars that have been abused will have their front set chewed-up as early as 25,000km; watch out for these.
Though the engine is reliable and largely trouble-free, some owners are known to have driven their cars hard, which translates into abuse. The petrol motors tend to have a throttle body problem, so be alert for a jerky throttle; it is expensive to repair out of warranty. Take a test drive and see if the car makes a loud screeching noise –if it does, you will need to change the timing belt, which costs around Rs 1,400. Also, if the car pulls to one direction excessively, it’s a possibility that the front suspension is damaged. Another 'do not miss' check is the quality of brakes. If the brakes only come alive when the pedal goes almost to the end of its travel, chances are, you will be spending a decent stash of cash fixing the brakes. At Rs 3,000 for the front brake pads and Rs 5,000 for the drums, it's an expense that you’d rather avoid. While you are at the pedals, also make sure that the clutch isn’t slipping; if there is too much play at the top end of the pedal's travel, it could need immediate attention. The clutch and pressure plate cost Rs 4,000 for the 1.6.
The Fiesta's body shell has been well put together by Ford and feels tough and built-to-last on our potholed roads. However, do check for signs of a shunt. Replacing body panels can be expensive. The front door costs close to Rs 9,000 and the front bumper will set you back by around Rs 3,500. Also, make sure that the radiator isn't damaged and doesn't need immediate replacement, as a new one will lighten your pocket by dose to Rs 6,000 -an expense you'd best avoid.
Another area of concern for buyers is the economy of the petrol variants. Most owners manage to get 9-10kpl in the city from their cars, which is lower than the class leading Honda City ZX. These figures fall down to only 7-8kpl if the Fiesta is driven in Josh' mode. It's a good idea to get the injectors cleaned up once you buy the car; it should help in improving this figure marginally. Another clever way to improve efficiently is to get the air, oil and fuel filters replaced every 2,000-3,000km -much before the stipulated service timings. While the cost of spares isn't the cheapest in this class, Ford has managed to reduce them substantially over the Ikon, whose spare parts cost much more in relation to the car's sticker price. The interiors, though well made, fall short of the high-quality cabin of the Honda City ZX and also lose on rear space. The boot is decent, though.
Overall, both Fiesta petrol’s are reliable units and great to drive. The best place to find a Fiesta is in the newspaper classifieds where you can get a two-year old 1.4 base model for around Rs 4,90,000. But there are only a handful of Fiestas in the used market right now, so be prepared to do little rummaging.