Hello everyone

This is my first post so please be gentle! Im not very technical

I am able to get a car through the NHS car lease scheme and have chosen to get a Fiesta. My problems is which one? Obv money does come in to it but to be honest its a £10 a month difference between the top and bottom choices. I know thats not a lot but it is when im on a budget.

Ive just got rid of a Grand Scenic so you can imagine how much of a difference this will be for me!

I have a few questions if anyone can help.

1) I think i will more than likely be ordering the Econetic 1.6 Either Zetec or Titanium. Is the Econetic slow? Im not likely to be tearing down the motorway but i do want to be able to overtake easily. My only experience of a small sized car is my hubbys Polo which is only 1 litre and basically has no power!

2) I like the 3 dr much more but i have 2 children aged 4&5 so i know deep down i should get a 5dr. Is anyone else in this situation with small children and a 3dr new fiesta?

3) Can anyone advise how a 1.4tdci compares over a 1.6 econetic? In relation to power and realistic fuel consumption?

Sorry to waffle

Helen x

Hi & welcome. The 1.6 is not a slow car, if you get a chance have a test drive of both cars you are interested in to compare.

I have the 3 door as there is only 2 of us using it. Getting in the back is a bit of a pain, and if you are leaning in to strap the little ones it will be a tad difficult. We chose the 3 door as it looks better to us, but the 5 is more practical.

I'd get the 1.6. I am currently driving a pool car with the 1.4TDCi and its OK, not as slow as I thought it would be but the 1.6 (which I've ordered) does feel a fair bit quicker.

I'd get the 1.6. I am currently driving a pool car with the 1.4TDCi and its OK, not as slow as I thought it would be but the 1.6 (which I've ordered) does feel a fair bit quicker.

1.6TDCI very happy with it and 896KM on a 55ltr fill and I don't drive it under 100km watching the fuel needle,

so I'm sure you can get allot better fuel economy out of it, I just don't try

plenty of torque though, I was a petrol lover till I drove the 1.6TDCI

top speed 180km so I’m told not admitting to have done that kind of speed or anything

Don’t need to drop to fourth when overtaking as fifth will pull when you put the foot down, even on a hill

1. I lauph at peoples misconceptions about diesel, it is not slow I easily keep up and after 50 can overtake my parents focus cc 2.0 petrol. It's a brillian engine fuel and fun.

2. I have a 3 door for looks but if I had kids it would not work for me thenseats arentnthe most stable of mechanisms.

3. I test drove both diesels, the 1.4 is not bad but if you are going to be doing m way miles I'd suggest the bigger engine as it will be much smoother at that speed and you wont save any fuel with a smaller engine.

Ant

Thanks everyone. Id heard that it was the Econetic 1.6tdci was a bit slow due to it being more 'green' and there isnt an option to get a normal 1.6tdci. The Econetic is more expensive so i was torn between the 'normal' 1.4tdci or the econetic 1.6tdci. Any ideas?

I think you are right that i should go test drive but at the moment its just getting down to a dealer.

Does anyone have an Econetic 1.6tdci Zetec that could give me their opinion

ta Helen x

The econetic used to be a seperate trim level, since start of September though it's compulsory choice with every Fiesta 1.6 TDCI (excluding the Zetec S).

I'd suggest the 1.6 TDCI also, even if you get the "greener" econetic, it will still be more powerful than the 1.4 TDCI.

3/5 Doors? 3 Door looks better, however they aren't really practicle, particularly with kids, whenever I've ferried my young nieces around (2+3 years old) I struggle, really struggle to strap them in and lift them out etc.

If you don't want the econetic but want the 1.6 TDCI you can either look for nearly new (I'm sure dealers still have some) or go for the Zetec S 1.6 TDCI (firmer suspension & body kit)

Diesels are far from slow. Give a 90bhp petrol and 90bhp diesel in the same car and the diesel will be more economical and will have a lot more pull overtaking in a diesel will be alot better than a petrol in 5th gear it will just breeze past. My grandads 1.6 HDi picasso will overtake with ease so imagine a 1.6tdci fiesta. I'd say go for the 1.6 if you can but the 1.4 wont let you down if you need to save the money. But it will be noticably different to the 1.6.

The 1.6 tdci is fast and quiet as well.Deffo go for the 1.6

Whilst I can't really comment on the engine size debate I would recommend you seriously look at opting for the 5 door mainly on a point of safety and ease of getting in and out especially in case of an emergency, plus the 5 door has 'proper' opening windows in the doors.

Lets not get carried away, diesels are slower than petrols ;)

not on a 45 degree hill petrol would have to drop down to third gear,

or

hook on to the back of a diesel while it sails past in fifth gear,

if you drive over 140-160 alot then diesel isint for you but if 160 is fast eneough then diesel is good.B)

I'm not saying diesel isn't good, I'm just saying it isn't as fast as petrol.

Thanks everyone

Right ive ordered it!

Econetic 1.6 Zetec in Hot Magenta with privacy windows - cant wait til it arrives!! xx :D

forgot to say 5 door x

Congrats! Be sure to take some pics and report back on how you find it.

Did you go for any other options? How long do you have to wait til it arrives?

Good stuff. The 1.6 is definitely the right call.

I had a Ka Petrol, and wanted a 3dr Fiesta Zetec, they had one, 6 months old, lad lost his licence, and they bought it back, to I took it, and it was diesel.

Then it got broken in to, and week after getting it back I wrote it off! So looked for replacement, and found a nice tango 3dr diesel again, then mk7 came out and I part exchanged it for a diesel 1.6 titanium. When I took a test drive last december in a petrol 1.6 zetec I was blown away how much quicker it took off over the diesel, I was so impressed I got one, and then fuel went up, and I pay pretty much the same as I did!