Hey, I've had an old mk2 fiesta S (I think) in the 80's and two escorts. I love fords. But I know zilch about mechanics and modern car engines they seem so complex and darn expensive to fix! My current Chevrolet is almost ready to depart this world. My son is nearly 17 and will be learning to drive. So. I'm thinking fiesta 1.0l mileage about 40k, model year about 2015-2017, budget £6k. I've been warned off ecoboost engine by a mechanic because of wet cam belt. And my Chevy has cost me a darn fortune every 4 years for cam belt changes. So what are your thought on.... Running costs, tax, insurance and importantly parts costs if I can find a fiesta within my budget? Thanks in advance. Careful lady driver with teenage son. 🙈

 

I'd recommend either a diesel fiesta, or a 1.4, 1.25l, or 1.6 petrol fiesta as the ecoboost is great in the very short term but will cause you more headaches the longer you have onr

2 hours ago, Fiestamum said:

So. I'm thinking fiesta 1.0l mileage about 40k, model year about 2015-2017, budget £6k. I've been warned off ecoboost engine by a mechanic because of wet cam belt.

Keep away from the 1.0 Ecoboost engine or be prepared for heartache, disappointment and huge repair bills. 

6 minutes ago, unofix said:

Keep away from the 1.0 Ecoboost engine or be prepared for heartache, disappointment and huge repair bills. 

Bit difficult to avoid as that's been the engine in the bulk of Fiestas since late 2012. A 2015 will need that very expensive wet belt change almost straight away, and even a 2017 has only 2/3 years to go.

Some safe bets mentioned above by Benjamin, but other than diesel all discontinued by the age range mentioned.

I'd suggest widening the search to other superminis without a wet belt, so basically anything else other than a Peugeot group Puretech.

 

11 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Bit difficult to avoid as that's been the engine in the bulk of Fiestas since late 2012. A 2015 will need that very expensive wet belt change almost straight away, and even a 2017 has only 2/3 years to go.

Some safe bets mentioned above by Benjamin, but other than diesel all discontinued by the age range mentioned.

I'd suggest widening the search to other superminis without a wet belt, so basically anything else other than a Peugeot group Puretech.

 

Hello folks,

Just to be picky, the 1.25 petrol did continue until 2017 so as Benjamin suggested, that could be an option. A cursory look on AutoTrader suggests that with a max of £6.5k (allowing for a haggle🙂) there are plenty available, although only higher mileage 2016-17 cars come in under that price.

But note that to my knowledge, the cambelt interval on the 1.25 is 8 years so most cars within budget should've had it done...

🤓

9 hours ago, wordchild said:

Hello folks,

Just to be picky, the 1.25 petrol did continue until 2017 so as Benjamin suggested, that could be an option. A cursory look on AutoTrader suggests that with a max of £6.5k (allowing for a haggle🙂) there are plenty available, although only higher mileage 2016-17 cars come in under that price.

But note that to my knowledge, the cambelt interval on the 1.25 is 8 years so most cars within budget should've had it done...

🤓

Indeed and as the timing belt on a 1.25 is a conventional one (aka not a wet belt) it usually only costs a couple hundred £ to replace rather than £1k +

10 hours ago, wordchild said:

Just to be picky, the 1.25 petrol did continue until 2017

Lol, it's not being picky, the Fiesta engine saga is long and complicated!

Curiously Ford introduced the 1.0 non-turbo early in the run of the Mk 7.5, but the 1.25 lingered on for quite a while, giving a choice of 2 normally aspirated engines with similar outputs and 3 or 4 cylinders.

I'd avoid the 1.0 3 cylinder as in effect it's an ecoboost without the turbo, but the 1.25 could be a good bet if that level of power is acceptable. We had one for a few years and, while I enjoyed driving it, my wife (whose car it was!) never got on with the need to rev it hard to "make progress"!

My previous car which was also my first car was a 1.25l 82ps petrol mk7.5 fiesta and it was an amazing first car, enough oomph to get around with and to get used to driving on the road with other users, but not enough to get myself in trouble, so theu are amazing as first cars, i obviously eventually decided i wanted more power and a slightly larger car hence my current car. It also towed surprisingly well considering it's small size and only having 80hp.

On 2/26/2024 at 8:58 AM, Fiestamum said:

Hey, I've had an old mk2 fiesta S (I think) in the 80's and two escorts. I love fords. But I know zilch about mechanics and modern car engines they seem so complex and darn expensive to fix! My current Chevrolet is almost ready to depart this world. My son is nearly 17 and will be learning to drive. So. I'm thinking fiesta 1.0l mileage about 40k, model year about 2015-2017, budget £6k. I've been warned off ecoboost engine by a mechanic because of wet cam belt. And my Chevy has cost me a darn fortune every 4 years for cam belt changes. So what are your thought on.... Running costs, tax, insurance and importantly parts costs if I can find a fiesta within my budget? Thanks in advance. Careful lady driver with teenage son. 🙈

 

I went through something similar a few years back - car for 17 year old to learn to drive and then use.

I'd go older than your 2015/16, and as above look for a 1.25, 1.4 or 1.6 petrol mk7, so from late 2008 onwards.  Keep the 'saved' money in case you need something on the car - say a new clutch if it's higher mileage.

Old-skool engines at the end of their production cycle tend not to go wrong as any faults have been developed-out over the years.

I wouldn't go near any (old) diesel as the Gov / clean-air zones will be pricing them off the road over the next few years.

The insurance in my son's name on a 58-plate 1.6 petrol was 1000GBP, but 1.4 or 1.25 will be cheaper. 

Quality parts are cheap and plentiful, if you choose 'good' names from outlets such as Autodoc, carparts4less/ECP (same company), GSF, etc etc.

Watch out for water in the rear of any mk7 (they leak a bit from the roof joins) but they fixed that in the mk7.5 with a different roof design.

For context, ours had done 84k miles at purchase, and is now on 103k.

Good luck.

Thanks everyone that really useful to know. I can look now with some knowledgebase. Cheers! 👍

Hi.

If you need any help with insurance at all then please feel free to drop me a line.

Regards,

Dan.

Finally!   I got one! Thanks to everyone who responded. Happy owner of a 2013 1.25l fiesta. My son is delighted. A few niggles sorted like brake caller and new battery, but fingers crossed ok now. After my good old 2008 Chevy estate (who had to depart this world on the back of a scrapman truck)  this little fiesta is like a modern spaceship!