Carsguide - WQ Zetec Fiesta Review

[Teki04]

http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0...003140,00.html

17 June 2006

Ashlee Pleffer

The term fiesta conjures some rather happy connotations, with celebrations, feasts and festivals coming to mind. And when driving Ford's new version of its baby car, the Ford Fiesta, satisfaction if not happiness also comes to mind, when considering the value you're getting for the rather small price tag.

Fiesta's latest addition is the Zetec model. Released in March, it is the top three-door model in the Fiesta family, and has been slapped with the sporty label.

Fitted with new front and rear body-coloured bumpers, grille design, headlamps, which especially afford it a sporty look, rear tail lamps and tapered side body mouldings, it could be argued that the Fiesta has had the Beckham makeover of style and flare. But don't expect too much, just because of the sporty tag.

It sits in the small car segment and the Zetec is priced at $18,490.

The athletic qualities of the Zetec stretches to the sports suspension, the 16-inch alloy wheels and a revised manual transmission with a closer ratio gear set.

Take a step inside and you'll find a cosy interior with modern and creative trim, available in three different designs for the Zetec model, although these interiors are a little on the plain side in comparison to those offered in the other Fiesta models.

While the seats may feel a little firm at first, they do get comfortable after time, and the adjustable head-rests in the back look great. They are very practical to suit all, short and tall, although loftier people will suffer in the leg-room department in the back seats.

The gadgets are easy to use and very straightforward, but the extra radio controls do not appear on the steering wheel like on most new cars. Instead they feature on a bulky lever behind the steering wheel, below the blinker, making it hard to reach. It's easier to use the main radio controls.



The major annoyance of this car is the blinker, a minor thing perhaps, but it sounds like popcorn cooking and it can get pretty frustrating for anyone who gets irritated easily. Hence during my test drive, the radio was turned up and got a fairly good workout.

Turning sharp corners produces some resistance on the wheel, with heavy steering required. There is a bit of pull when doing a U-turn or manoeuvring in tight car parks.

In this generation of the Fiesta, airconditioning comes as standard and manual transmission versions are fitted with an input facility for an iPod or MP3 player.

The Zetec is also available in three new colours, with the car tested here a Sea Grey, a little dull for my liking, but it did have a certain sense of style about it.

The ability of the engine is not the most exciting available and behind the wheel it won't exactly give you that buzzing sensation you may experience in more expensive and powerful cars. However, for its class and price, it produces fairly competitive figures in the small car range.

Its 74kW at 6000rpm is equal to or a little less than similar vehicles and on the torque front, it produces a slightly higher figure, with 146Nm at 4000rpm.

The 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine trots along fairly confidently, with sufficient power in the lower gears and it travels comfortably when it hits the higher speeds.

The Zetec is the middle child in the Fiesta range, with the three-door LX manual at $15,990 and big brother Ghia only available in five door, with the manual priced at $20,490.

With a 6.8-litres/100km combined claimed fuel consumption, the Fiesta has a slightly higher fuel consumption than its small car competitors. The Honda Jazz VTi has uses a claimed 6.0-litres per 100km, the Toyota Yaris burns 6.1-litres per 100km and the Hyundai Getz uses 6.2-litres over this distance.

I couldn't notice much difference in the handling and style between of the LX model and the sportier Zetec. This suggests the cheaper LX model is worth consideration, especially if you want to save $2500.

Overall, the Fiesta seems to have most qualities people want in a small car.


The Daily Telegraph

[Teki04]

Pretty dull and quite useless review. Never highlights much about the engine, chassis and handling. Not only that, but neither does it mention anything like the past reviews about the great manual transmission for such a small car.

Pathetic attempt by the Daily Telegraph.

[LethalLeigh]

Carsguide reviews tend to cater to an everyday buyer as opposed to an enthusiast. They generally focus on the features of the vehicle with the driving dynamics playing a lesser role in the review. I usually avoid reading them and stick with Wheels or Motor magazine.

[Danny]

What a crap review. Thats the only dull review I've ever heard the Fiesta Receive..

[murcod]

I couldn't notice much difference in the handling and style between of the LX model and the sportier Zetec. This suggests the cheaper LX model is worth consideration, especially if you want to save $2500.

What the?!

Compared to Wheels quick review (May 2006) that whole story is a joke!

[Ives]

"The ability of the engine is not the most exciting available and behind the wheel it won't exactly give you that buzzing sensation you may experience in more expensive and powerful cars. However, for its class and price, it produces fairly competitive figures in the small car range.
"

Oh man, she's comparing Fiesta's engine with engines from "more expensive and powerful cars". :/

[Swaytan]

Originally Posted by LethalLeigh

Carsguide reviews tend to cater to an everyday buyer as opposed to an enthusiast. They generally focus on the features of the vehicle with the driving dynamics playing a lesser role in the review. I usually avoid reading them and stick with Wheels or Motor magazine.

Top Gear on SBS/BBC, they review cars properly, by racing them against each other.

They had a Ford Focus race a BMW 1, verdict, Focus hands down...

[robjh80]

Originally Posted by Swaytan

Top Gear on SBS/BBC, they review cars properly, by racing them against each other.

They had a Ford Focus race a BMW 1, verdict, Focus hands down...

I just watched Top Gear, Series 7, Episode 3 on my PC, Jeremy Clarkson was track testing the new Ford Focus ST, (aka XR5 to us) on a very wet track and he was very impressed with it, bear in mind he gets to drive all the very best cars on the planet, he said it goes from 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds with a top speed of around 240km/h, the handling, roadholding and driveability was superb. He said that the Vauxhall Astra VXR (due in Oz soon), was overall a quicker car but nowhere near as fun and driveable as the Focus, according to Jeremy the Astra handles "like a dog!", the Focus is also 1500 pounds cheaper than the Astra in the UK, it was as usual for Top Gear an excellent non-biased test, Jeremy really gave the Focus a damn good seeing to on the wet track, threw it around everywhere and loved every minute of it.

[joshf2]

i especially liked it when he had it c0cking a leg up

the focus asbo

[Swaytan]

Originally Posted by robjh80

I just watched Top Gear, Series 7, Episode 3 on my PC, Jeremy Clarkson was track testing the new Ford Focus ST, (aka XR5 to us) on a very wet track and he was very impressed with it, bear in mind he gets to drive all the very best cars on the planet, he said it goes from 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds with a top speed of around 240km/h, the handling, roadholding and driveability was superb. He said that the Vauxhall Astra VXR (due in Oz soon), was overall a quicker car but nowhere near as fun and driveable as the Focus, according to Jeremy the Astra handles "like a dog!", the Focus is also 1500 pounds cheaper than the Astra in the UK, it was as usual for Top Gear an excellent non-biased test, Jeremy really gave the Focus a damn good seeing to on the wet track, threw it around everywhere and loved every minute of it.

Man, Jeremy Clarkson & the guys at Top Gear are legends...

[robjh80]

Originally Posted by joshf2

i especially liked it when he had it c0cking a leg up

the focus asbo

Yea, that's right, the Focus "Asbo", I forgot about that bit, he said they shouldn't have called it the "ST" as it could stand for Sanitary Tampon,........ "classic stuff", Jeremy's all class! :monkes:

[marcosambrose]

Originally Posted by The Article

The major annoyance of this car is the blinker, a minor thing perhaps, but it sounds like popcorn cooking and it can get pretty frustrating for anyone who gets irritated easily.

The is 'major' and 'minor' in the same sentence relating to the same issue, poor journalism and poor english!

[Ives]

"Sounds like popcorn cooking"......

I don't know what kind of popcorn you're cooking, lady.

[Danny]

As If you'd get ****y over the blinker!!! It sounds classier than the common plastic click most other cars seem to have.

[Teki04]

Originally Posted by Danny

As If you'd get ****y over the blinker!!! It sounds classier than the common plastic click most other cars seem to have.

Agreed - I liked the blinker sound!

[mitch_lx]

Very Poor review,

Obviously not a real driver :P

Because in past reviews, as has been pointed out. It has been said that the Fiesta is probably one of the best low price bang for buck drivers cars out there.

[Zetec20]

At the risk of women getting angry i think it's because a woman did the review...

*cringes ready for hangbag projectiles*

[Scareybear]

Originally Posted by Zetec20

At the risk of women getting angry i think it's because a woman did the review...

*cringes ready for hangbag projectiles*

I'm glad someone had the balls to say it :

[robjh80]

Originally Posted by Zetec20

At the risk of women getting angry i think it's because a woman did the review...

*cringes ready for hangbag projectiles*

And she got through the whole review and never once mentioned the "vanity mirrors",.......not once........well done Ashlee!! :

[Sonia]

I'm a chick and I totally agree

[mitch_lx]

Originally Posted by Zetec20

At the risk of women getting angry i think it's because a woman did the review...

*cringes ready for hangbag projectiles*

Maybe she should review the new Getz,

[Swaytan]

Originally Posted by mitch_lx

Maybe she should review the new Getz,

Maybe she should review lipstick, she gives good female drivers a bad name.

[Sonia]

Originally Posted by Swaytan

Maybe she should review lipstick, she gives good female drivers a bad name.

I second that :