(First off, apologies for being a know-nothing) I love the 2012 Fiesta I've had for about 8 years, but have been wondering if I should trade it in and move on, or invest a bit more money and love in it and get a few more years.

It's only done 62,000 ish, and I've had 7 good years but this last year a lot has needed replacing - it's had a new battery, waterpump and belt, new exhaust and 'anti roll bar' (sorry, something like that?)

My ability is limited to topping up the screenwash, so I have to pay for everything - I'm wondering if those things I've had done this year are typical things that need doing at this stage of the car's life and it will settle down now for a few years, or if this is the start of end of life care??

I appreciate that it's difficult/impossible to generalise, but you guys seem to have so much knowledge and experience I thought it was worth asking. I'm no fan of shopping - for cars or anything - so I'm tempted to keep it but if there are obvious problems ahead I'd be daft to

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

 

That doesn't sound like a lot to me.  Batteries last around 8-12 years on that model.  Cambelt should be changed every 8 years (unsure if this was done with waterpump or just the aux belt).  Exhaust will probably only last about 5-6 years if it was cheap pattern parts.  Anti roll bar drop links are cheap & easy to replace.

Upcoming faults are likely to be rear axle bushes, suspension springs/shocks, clutch plates or hydraulics, rusty sills, cat (if not done with rest of exhaust) and cooling or AC faults.

If buying another used car, I don't think you'd be any less likely to need work done on it soon.  Really depends on what you'd be changing to.

Yes, cars are like people, they need increasing amounts of tlc as they get older!

Tom has covered most things there, I think, but the usual final car killer is rust, so do keep a wary eye out. Sills as Tom has mentioned, also wheel arches. There's a couple of Fiestas that age near me where I've also spotted rust developing at the front of the wings, just behind the lamps, so there could be a mud trap there.

Couple of threads here give an idea of where to look:

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/126035-mk75-rust/

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/132234-rust-on-lower-inner-edge-of-sillarch/

As for changing, as already said, it depends on to what. As you've probably seen on the forum, the latest cars are by no means without problems.

 

7 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

That doesn't sound like a lot to me.  Batteries last around 8-12 years on that model.  Cambelt should be changed every 8 years (unsure if this was done with waterpump or just the aux belt).  Exhaust will probably only last about 5-6 years if it was cheap pattern parts.  Anti roll bar drop links are cheap & easy to replace.

Upcoming faults are likely to be rear axle bushes, suspension springs/shocks, clutch plates or hydraulics, rusty sills, cat (if not done with rest of exhaust) and cooling or AC faults.

If buying another used car, I don't think you'd be any less likely to need work done on it soon.  Really depends on what you'd be changing to.

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply, that's really helpful. I'd just want another used fiesta probably! Or equivalent reasonably reliable hatchback. It sounds like the things I've had to get done this year are standard and not an indication of imminent collapse, and at least I know this car's history over the last 8 years, whereas if I get a different one I won't.

I'm torn between "better the devil you know" and "sunk cost fallacy"!

Thanks again for your help

2 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Yes, cars are like people, they need increasing amounts of tlc as they get older!

Tom has covered most things there, I think, but the usual final car killer is rust, so do keep a wary eye out. Sills as Tom has mentioned, also wheel arches. There's a couple of Fiestas that age near me where I've also spotted rust developing at the front of the wings, just behind the lamps, so there could be a mud trap there.

Couple of threads here give an idea of where to look:

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/126035-mk75-rust/

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/132234-rust-on-lower-inner-edge-of-sillarch/

As for changing, as already said, it depends on to what. As you've probably seen on the forum, the latest cars are by no means without problems.

 

Thanks for your reply, I'll definitely have a look at those threads and look out for rust. I know nowt about cars but I love learning new things!

56 minutes ago, Belonger said:

I'm torn between "better the devil you know" and "sunk cost fallacy"!

 

56 minutes ago, Belonger said:

I'd just want another used fiesta probably! Or equivalent reasonably reliable hatchback. 

Well, there's plenty of advice available on here, but do ask before making a purchase, rather than afterwards as, unfortunately, many people seem to! You've probably got what was the most reliable Fiesta, shame (as with so many things) "they don't make them like that any more"!😀

43 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

 

Well, there's plenty of advice available on here, but do ask before making a purchase, rather than afterwards as, unfortunately, many people seem to! You've probably got what was the most reliable Fiesta, shame (as with so many things) "they don't make them like that any more"!😀

Eric you've sent me off into the world of rust! Embarrassingly, it's just not something I would have thought of, I must have assumed rust was just something my granddad had to worry about and that "modern" cars were magically rust free 🤣🤣🤣 Eeh dear, it's another world 😅

I'll have to start looking out for rusty wings on Mk7 Fiestas too.  There are some very rough Focus's near me, more tape than metal on the wings of those! 

 

Fun fact...  Modern cars are rust-proofed at the factory.  They're given a base coating of zinc which delays the rust process.  But the zinc layer is only sacrificial, once it's been 'worn' away (through chemical reaction) or damaged by stone chips, the steel panels will rust just as any other mild steel does.

The 1.25 MK7 is a great little car.

I'd keep it and run it into the ground.

Just maintain it regularly and anything that flags up for replacement change in pairs, if possible, E.G if the RH front spring needs changing, change the LH too etc etc

Keep and eye out for rust as it's getting old now

You certainly don't want to swap it for a later 1.0 Ecoboom, they're more trouble than they are worth

Agree with the comment about asking for advice before you buy another car, we're always here to help, even if it's not another Ford

On 10/12/2024 at 7:36 PM, TomsFocus said:

I'll have to start looking out for rusty wings on Mk7 Fiestas too.  There are some very rough Focus's near me, more tape than metal on the wings of those! 

 

Fun fact...  Modern cars are rust-proofed at the factory.  They're given a base coating of zinc which delays the rust process.  But the zinc layer is only sacrificial, once it's been 'worn' away (through chemical reaction) or damaged by stone chips, the steel panels will rust just as any other mild steel does.

MK2s by any chance? 

23 minutes ago, FatHead1979 said:

MK2s by any chance? 

Of course!  The Mk1's have all rusted so badly there aren't any left around here.  Sadly I suspect the Mk3's will start soon, given how poorly waterproofed they are!

37 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

The Mk1's have all rusted so badly there aren't any left around here. 

Most of the crusty examples I see now are Mk 2s, but there are a number of Mk 1s round my way in (apparently) decent nick. The odd enthusiast cars like a couple of RSs and ST170s as you might expect, but also "normal" models. I still regularly see one that was the first Focus I saw other than in a showroom back in '98 - a 5 door Zetec in a "minty green"** metallic and still looking good. Hard to believe it's 26 years old, the design still seems fresh compared to some of the over-styled stuff from various manufacturers today. The owner of that car has certainly had his money's worth.

**Can't remember the proper name of the colour!

On 10/15/2024 at 9:23 AM, DaveT70 said:

The 1.25 MK7 is a great little car.

I'd keep it and run it into the ground.

Just maintain it regularly and anything that flags up for replacement change in pairs, if possible, E.G if the RH front spring needs changing, change the LH too etc etc

Keep and eye out for rust as it's getting old now

You certainly don't want to swap it for a later 1.0 Ecoboom, they're more trouble than they are worth

Agree with the comment about asking for advice before you buy another car, we're always here to help, even if it's not another Ford

Thanks so much for your advice really helpful!