As my car is in need of work, I've borrowed my mother's '00 Fiesta 1.3 and I actually quite like it :eek:

Admittedly, the brakes are awful (somehow spongey and wooden at the same time...) and it's very slow (it's got the old iron pushrod engine), but it handles well, the ride is excellent, it copes with potholes and speedhumps & even the performance is fine around town. On the motorway it's surprisingly good too (until you try to accelerate, but it can cruise at illegal speeds, allegedly). It's very easy to drive.

I don't think it uses any petrol either

I usually bike it to work anyway, but the Fiesta is much easier to drive around town than the vRS which crashes over potholes and lumps and scrapes it's bumper on speedhumps.

Rather than having a compromise car, there's definitely something to be said for having both a runabout and a proper sports car.

It'll be interesting to get back in the Octavia

I've just done some research.

The Fiesta 1.3 has 60 rampaging stallions under the bonnet apparently (about a quarter of what's in my normal car!)

The torque feels, er, 'strongest' from just above tickover and seems to die away rapidly.

A bog standard Fiesta with a Puma's 1.7 engine and suspension would be a hilarious stealth car though

After driving bengies Saph for a couple of days getting back into my 1.8 Focus was an absolute revelation, so going back to a remapped Octy vRS from a 1.3 Fiesta must be almost unreal

going back to a remapped Octy vRS from a 1.3 Fiesta must be almost unreal

it should be funny Second gear in the Fiesta doesnt quite pin you to the seat -The throttle seems to be just a noise regulator.

A girl in an old Nova had me from the traffic lights. I didn't even bother trying, maybe I'm getting mature or slow cars are good for one's mood? :eek:

As I said, though, the ride and handling really are good (in common with most modern Fords). Why did Skoda fit such a low-geared steering rack to the vRS? I'm going to renew as many bushings as I can on the Octavia

it should be funny Second gear in the Fiesta doesnt quite pin you to the seat -The throttle seems to be just a noise regulator.

A girl in an old Nova had me from the traffic lights. I didn't even bother trying' date=' maybe I'm getting mature or slow cars are good for one's mood? :eek: [/quote']

same thing with the Saph, dropping a gear/revving it higher just makes it louder and doesn't really effect your speed too much - you know it's not even slightly quick so you just seem to sit back a bit and generally relax

I used to have a 2001 1.25 16V Fiesta (with an almighty 74bhp ) before I got the Octy.

The handling of the Fiesta was really quite good - very chuckable on twisty roads (but the back end became very unsettled on mid corner bumps). It could hold its own with most other cars out there (even 'some' of the more powerful ones if you knew the road well)

The ride round town was surprisingly good - it was just a bit underpowered for my liking

Getting back into the Octy will be like stepping into a different world

I'd noticed the same about the back end on bumpy corners.

The speed and grip are obviously in a different league, but the 'feel' is a large part of the driving experience.

If you thought the 1.25 was under-powered, you'd be horrified by the 1960s relic push-rod 1.3!!!!

what about a 1.1 HCS though Euuggghhh

Ive been driving a 1.5 diesel fiesta van (2001) for work for the past week, and like youve said, they do hadle quite well - once you get used to the body roll and pizza cutter tyres.... If you think the 1.3 is bad you should try the diesel! Its totally gutless, and combined with a slipping (but incredibaly heavy) clutch, you really arnt going anywhere quick! The ability to cruise over speed bumps without feeling them is quite useful - especially in the area that im using it - bit of a shock getting into a lowered car again! I know my car isnt as powerful as yours, but compared to the fiesta it feels very quick, but the noticiable difference is how nimble and pointy it feels....

My Mrs has the 1.25 (also 2001) so I guess the same engine. You're right about the noise, and the brakes (have you seen the size of the rear drums ) but the handling is such good fun - like a go kart round roundabouts

Fiesta 1.1 LX was my first car, cost me 500 quid, and it was noisy as hell. Great car for the money though, (Y reg and quite a while back, but it was old when I bought it )

SWMBO has a Kia Picanto and it's a great car for its intended market. No pretence about being sporty either (which is good )

I'm kinda hoping the Fiesta you are referring to is not as old as the one I had as it would be pretty dodgy by now, but Fiestas were and still are popular as they are decent enough cars. Distinctly average in a good way, if you get me

Once drove a 1.1 Fiesta from Manchester to Central Paris, that was scary when in a headwind and heavy rain I got stuck next to a HGV and I couldn't get past. Was OK otherwise....

When I jumped back into my car I almost went through the windscreen when I stopped at he end of my road It took me a few miles to get used to the sharpness of the brakes again! Quadruple the torque and power was welcome, but the Fiesta's Kart-like handling and speed hump floating was ideal for urban driving.