Recently Bought A 07 Zetec 1.4 Climate

[baggister]

I am quite disappointed with my Fiesta. Sorry all. I didnt know whether I should post this thread or not because no one likes a moaner. But I do have a couple of questions too.

I used to drive 5 door clio 1.4 dynamique, 2004, around 50k on clock. so now got a 5 door 2007 fiesta Zetec 1.4 climate, about 50k on clock, and I confess, I'm not a fan. I think throwing the Clio around was fun, liked the dash, the layout, the steering wheel, gears, ride, everything; I just feel my Fiesta Zetec lacks that fun-ness. Also, think the gears are slightly further apart from each other compared to clio, so need to rev a bit higher and longer before changing gears.

A few other points ...

Quick-clear electric demister of front screen: why bother with this? Just takes forever. And it sort of has a stripy effect, with the most import bit (infront of me) coming last. Pointless. I just use a cloth.

I was under the impression that handling on these fiestas are very good, but I feel that theres body roll. Things go flying across the car when I drive around corners ( did on clio too, come to think of it, but not quite as quickly). Going over speed bumps, I can hear the springs make that squelchy, bedspring noise, and the car feels slightly spring after going over. Perhaps the shocks/springs need replacing - i'd like to hear from other owners of same model.

Economy. Driving in London, can get sticky traffic; but since getting it about 2 months ago and resetting trip, average says 28 mpg. My mate has a 10year old volvo 2.4 that averages 25. His car feels rock solid and drives beautifully and quietly, with nice response. Whats the point of a little car if you dont get the economy?

Reverse gear sometimes doesnt go in. I think its in, then the grinding noise lets me know its not in. I think I sometimes can tell its in. Occasionally, if on a slight hill, I let go of foot brake so it can roll a bit, then it goes in.

I miss the central locking button on the old Clio. No way of me or passenger central locking all doors when in the car. Dont like the way lights are switched on or off. Fiesta is a turney knob to the right of the steering wheel. Clio is the usual lever of the stem.

The seat belt is a bit too far back, and doesnt slide smoothly into the seatbelt buckle so smoothly (always fumbling around). Dont like the way you put key in ignition. Unnatural angle. Dont like the way you cant open the boot without the key (no button to press even when all doors are closed)

Left hand door mirror clicks when locking the door. I have read forums about this, so I'm not overly too fussed.

Clio had a space on the left of the clutch to rest the foot; in Fiesta, my foot has to sit under the clutch.

The steering on Clio was excellent: light,accurate, responsive; returned to centre when letting wheel slide. Didnt need to turn the wheel so much. On Fiesta, steering is heavy, doesnt quite return to centre; wheel occasionally feels it wants to drift a bit left or right; need to turn the wheel a bit more than what I used to.

Thats it more or less. So, sorry all, im just not a fan of my Fiesta at all.

So why did I buy the car? we were under pressure to get another car relatively quickly (accident in Clio), and I wanted to try another company/model. OK, I'm stuck with it, so need to make the best of it. So some questions ..

What can I do about the quick-clear electric front window? Is this a common behaviour?

Could there be an issue with reverse gear, and with the steering?

Regarding the squelchy springs, body roll: Is this normal? I am thinking of getting shocks replaced, and perhaps getting slightly shorter and stiffer springs, ie lower the car by maybe 1cm/2cm? Is it worth it?

Thanks.

[winemart2]

Now, I like a good gripe which I have done about my new Fiesta Titanium. I preferred many things about my 98 Corsa, even more so since I had it for 13 years. I even preferred my 85 XR2 which I had for 16 years. You just have to let it go and get used to (put up with) the new one. I'd get yours looked at by someone who knows, just to ensure that nothing is actually wrong with it. If it's ok, just persevere. I'm told it's called progress.

[Paramanic]

I am quite disappointed with my Fiesta. Sorry all. I didnt know whether I should post this thread or not because no one likes a moaner. But I do have a couple of questions too.

I used to drive 5 door clio 1.4 dynamique, 2004, around 50k on clock. so now got a 5 door 2007 fiesta Zetec 1.4 climate, about 50k on clock, and I confess, I'm not a fan. I think throwing the Clio around was fun, liked the dash, the layout, the steering wheel, gears, ride, everything; I just feel my Fiesta Zetec lacks that fun-ness. Also, think the gears are slightly further apart from each other compared to clio, so need to rev a bit higher and longer before changing gears.

A few other points ...

Quick-clear electric demister of front screen: why bother with this? Just takes forever. And it sort of has a stripy effect, with the most import bit (infront of me) coming last. Pointless. I just use a cloth.

I was under the impression that handling on these fiestas are very good, but I feel that theres body roll. Things go flying across the car when I drive around corners ( did on clio too, come to think of it, but not quite as quickly). Going over speed bumps, I can hear the springs make that squelchy, bedspring noise, and the car feels slightly spring after going over. Perhaps the shocks/springs need replacing - i'd like to hear from other owners of same model.

Economy. Driving in London, can get sticky traffic; but since getting it about 2 months ago and resetting trip, average says 28 mpg. My mate has a 10year old volvo 2.4 that averages 25. His car feels rock solid and drives beautifully and quietly, with nice response. Whats the point of a little car if you dont get the economy?

Reverse gear sometimes doesnt go in. I think its in, then the grinding noise lets me know its not in. I think I sometimes can tell its in. Occasionally, if on a slight hill, I let go of foot brake so it can roll a bit, then it goes in.

I miss the central locking button on the old Clio. No way of me or passenger central locking all doors when in the car. Dont like the way lights are switched on or off. Fiesta is a turney knob to the right of the steering wheel. Clio is the usual lever of the stem.

The seat belt is a bit too far back, and doesnt slide smoothly into the seatbelt buckle so smoothly (always fumbling around). Dont like the way you put key in ignition. Unnatural angle. Dont like the way you cant open the boot without the key (no button to press even when all doors are closed)

Left hand door mirror clicks when locking the door. I have read forums about this, so I'm not overly too fussed.

Clio had a space on the left of the clutch to rest the foot; in Fiesta, my foot has to sit under the clutch.

The steering on Clio was excellent: light,accurate, responsive; returned to centre when letting wheel slide. Didnt need to turn the wheel so much. On Fiesta, steering is heavy, doesnt quite return to centre; wheel occasionally feels it wants to drift a bit left or right; need to turn the wheel a bit more than what I used to.

Thats it more or less. So, sorry all, im just not a fan of my Fiesta at all.

So why did I buy the car? we were under pressure to get another car relatively quickly (accident in Clio), and I wanted to try another company/model. OK, I'm stuck with it, so need to make the best of it. So some questions ..

What can I do about the quick-clear electric front window? Is this a common behaviour?

Could there be an issue with reverse gear, and with the steering?

Regarding the squelchy springs, body roll: Is this normal? I am thinking of getting shocks replaced, and perhaps getting slightly shorter and stiffer springs, ie lower the car by maybe 1cm/2cm? Is it worth it?

Thanks.

I cant speak from ford climate 2007 but i had a ford fiesta mk6.5 1.25 2008 model and it was GREAT! loved how when i chucked it at corners i just laughed at it! the 1.25 was a fun little engine but didnt like economy much as in summer i would get 35mpg and winter 29-30mpg! but my dad had a mk6 2005 a think it was a 1.4"duratec" and it was getting 35mpg all the time sometimes even 38mpg but you issue with the demister in mines it worked perfect and worked in my dads perfect too years ago! mines used to clear window (doesnt matter how much ice or snow was on it! ) within about 2-3mins and driver side would clear up first then passenger about 30seconds later..... my steering was perfect for me and always returned to center when driving only times it wouldnt is if the road had a bad canter. the reverse gear did sometimes crunch but not too often with me alot of people get this because of the type of gearbox they used but ive drove clios corsa and fiats and never felt a smoother gearbox than the fiestas i have.... unless it goes into revers! lol but didnt happen to often to be honest ..... central locking is when you push the drivers door leaver in and it would lock all the doors and for me the seat belt placement wasnt back at all (maybe because i sit back on my seats when driving) and i had the car for 3years if i didnt like it i would have got rid of it to be honest the only thing i didnt like was the economy and the harsh ride of springs going over pot holes that ive missed! but i dont think it was really the springs problem because my car had low profiles on it and they were annoying (thats why my new car doesnt have low profiles lol! ) and if your suspension is sqwelchy (i never had this) but yeah i would lower it but i wouldnt have low profiles again lol not with the roads up here (scotland)

[MattDRX]

See, Clios FTW!

[StumpyBloke]

The quick clear front windscreen is to melt ice on the outside...it's fantastic

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[laumk7]

Having worked at a Renault main dealership I won't comment on how many came in facing problems (even from brand new) ;)

Ford every time for me

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[DieselPig]

If you don't like it sell it and buy something else, it's a second hand car and will not be perfect.

Don't waste money trying to make the car into your idea of perfection.

[jace1969]

I liked my 09 corsa design for a lot of stuff but ride was not firm and didn't hold the road at all.

And the MPG on it for a 1400 was bad,just the same as my 1.6 now (28 but very,very local) and the same distance,not even a mile there and back..( a lot of people must like them as there always top of the pack )

The front window is amazing and mine works very quick.

I have a lot more power and same MPG so that did me.

[Jake90087]

One thing to add- for the central locking, just push the door handle into the door and it will lock them all. The drivers or passengers will activate the central locking this way. Also there is no issue with the gearbox. It's a common thing with the IB5 transaxle as there's no synchromesh on reverse.. Just select neural, lift the clutch, put the cluch in and go for reverse again. The steering on the fiesta is heavier than the Clio and hydraulically assisted, not electrically. Everything else is subective really. I prefer how the fez drives to a clio and driving them back to back the fiesta is a better handling car to me. Have an alignment done and check the tyre pressures also, that could be the reason for the tramlining.

[baggister]

So true! Clios are it. Not sure about latest models, though. Seem a bit bigger.

[baggister]

Ok , well I'll do that then -take it to a ford expert to give it a thorough once over. Anyone know a good one in South London?

Re quick clear screen - if its true that its purpose is for the outside rather then in, ok, fine, I can live with that.

Thanks everyone

[StumpyBloke]

Yes it's for the outside. You won't want to live without it once you've used it the first time...give it some credit! ;)

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[laumk7]

Ok , well I'll do that then -take it to a ford expert to give it a thorough once over. Anyone know a good one in South London?

Re quick clear screen - if its true that its purpose is for the outside rather then in, ok, fine, I can live with that.

Thanks everyone

Dees of Croydon used to be good, dunno about these days as moved 15yrs ago

Yes it's for the outside. You won't want to live without it once you've used it the first time...give it some credit! ;)

Sent from my iPhone using Ford OC

As the man says the heated screen is a godsend

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[StumpyBloke]

Baggister, have you used the quick clear windscreen yet?

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[baggister]

Not yet, no - not been too cold in London. On the day it was really cold, my girlfriend was going to use the car, and the car wouldnt start!

starter motor turned very slowly for half a second, then sounded like a cuckoo. Couldnt get it to start.

Thought it was a low battery, borrowed cables - then two days later, decided to push start it, drove it for 60 seconds, then no problem starting.

I never had any of this nonse with my clio! haha