I have not heard good things about the 3 cylinder Ecoboost engine with the wet belt.

Researching it officially it's 10 years or 100k before it needs changes, but some recommend at 50k.

Now this costs over 1k to do. I don't think I'd be particularly happy to lay out a grand plus on a car that's covered such a high mileage.

Why wouldn't I choose a micra with is chain driven . Can someone convince me that a fiesta is a good buy??

32 minutes ago, alan199 said:

Can someone convince me that a fiesta is a good buy??

Not with a 1.0 EcoBoost engine.

If it's maintained well and looked after, the EB engines can be quite good. 
I had my 17 plate 1L EB Mk7.5 for 6 years and never had an issue with the engine. I then upgraded to a Mk8. 

Mk8 Fiestas (late 2017 onwards) with the EB engine have a timing chain rather than a wet belt I believe so a much better option if you can afford one. Only the oil pump drive is a wet belt. 

walk away save your money

4 hours ago, alan199 said:

Can someone convince me that a fiesta is a good buy??

Yes an excellent small car, just never ever buy one with a 1.0 Ecoboost engine.

ecoboost is an excellent engine providing it is serviced on time with the correct oil and never sees and engine flush just be aware camblet replacement cost more than a regular engine at around £700- £1800 depending on the garage carrying out the repair so shop.

5 hours ago, Nick Y said:

Mk8 Fiestas (late 2017 onwards) with the EB engine have a timing chain rather than a wet belt I believe so a much better option if you can afford one. 

The timing chain only came in mid 2020 and not on the 100ps version.

6 hours ago, alan199 said:

Can someone convince me that a fiesta is a good buy??

You don't say what sort of age you are looking at and how long you are intending to keep it? 

Non Ecoboost cars will be getting to, or past, the 10 year mark now.

From nearly new an Ecoboost with scrupulous maintenance could still be a good buy. I had a wet belt version from new for 5 years (serviced annually) and it was faultless.

It's a very good thing to drive, if that's most important to your daughter - if it isn't, there are plenty of other choices.

 

 

I have a 2017 Fiesta Titanium X automatic that I bought at three years old with 4500 miles on the clock. It has now done 35000 miles and has been absolutely faultless. It has been scrupulously maintained and, town and country, does a regular 46 mpg. Next month I am having the wet belts changed by Fords at a cost of £1350 which will give me a car that drives like a dream for another 8 years.   I wouldn't part with it. We also have an electric 2024 Audi Q4 e-tron which I leave to my wife to drive. Although it's a nice car, I prefer to drive the Fiesta.

Avoid ecobooms, even when they are serviced properly, belt replaced ect, I have now seen two focusses running ecobooms in the same year (1 was a 125hp, the other a 99hp) go bang in a similar way (the 125hp at 75k, and the 99hp at 175k) the 125hp lost compression in cylinder 3 causing a consistent misfire, the 99hp starting to have lowish but still above the minimum spec compression and so getting an intermittent miss fire. They are not robust engines, the fact they are small displacement turbo 3 cylinders makes them more likely to get uneven engine wear and seems to fail on the the 3rd cylinder if the belt doesn't kill it first.

And yes I'm aware it was a focus not a fiesta, however they are the same engines with the same engine codes.

As expected, all shades of opinion there - "yes", "no", "maybe"!😀

A friend of mine has just had the belt change this week on his daughters (originally his wifes) 9 year old ecoboost (owned from new, serviced annually, no issues). (He's a not a car enthusiast so I'm trying to get full details of actual work done/price before mentioning the garage).** Seems happy enough so far, though.

**Edit: Now mentioned on this thread: 

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/155851-10-ecoboost-wet-belt-cost/

 

 

Hi Alan and all,

Not much to add to what's been said except...

...slightly confused by your last sentence asking us to convince you about Fiestas  - wondering why you're wanting to be convinced...

Out of interest would your daughter consider a diesel, if a Fiesta is the thing?

If not / she's not an enthusiast then as Roger said above there are plenty other choices. A Yaris, Jazz or Mazda 2 might serve her better.

🤓

7 minutes ago, wordchild said:

Mazda 2

Now there's a thought - later ones are chain drive I believe, and it's always been "Fiesta-ish" driving wise. Not sure about a Jazz for a younger person (OAPs like me more the target audience - in theory) very practical though!

Suzuki Swift is worth a look too.  Very reliable chain engine on those, better specced than a Fiesta, better looking than a Mazda 2.

A diesel Peugeot 208 is also not a bad shout as well (albeit french) they are fairly fiesta ISH and the diesels are bomb proof.

3 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

Suzuki Swift is worth a look too.  Very reliable chain engine on those, better specced than a Fiesta, better looking than a Mazda 2.

Looks are a personal thing of course! But yes, a friend of ours had a Swift Sport (1.6 n/a version) for some years and loved it. She much preferred it to the MINI Cooper which preceded it.

But we're still in the dark as to what sort of age car is under consideration, I think?