I currently have a 2014 Fiesta ST on finance until April 2016 which is when I plan to hand it back because I will be buying my first house shortly afterwards so it's bye bye finance and hello cheap runaround.

I expect budget to be £3.5k max and I'd like an automatic this time. This puts Mk1.5 and Mk2 in range and by 2016 probably Mk2.5 too.

I'm just curious about how highly the auto is rated, is it smooth to drive etc? Anything to look out for on reliability etc? I know its ages away yet but I'd like to get an idea.

Cheers

I had the auto in my CMAX (the basis for the MK2 Focus) and it was a smooth drive, and it worked really well.... However.... I had the 1.6TDCi and unfortunately it had the ZF gearbox and I would suggest do not get this combo! The gearbox cant handle the torque and when it goes bang, its a whole new gearbox!

So research carefully and make sure you dont get that particular one, otherwise the gearboxes are pretty good, but they are slow, and efficiency sucks...

Any reason you want the auto? you would be better off sticking fast with the manual!

I think it would be the petrol 1.6 that I would choose as I don't do many miles. I had an automatic Land Rover before making cutbacks and returning to Ford and I quite liked the relaxed cruising.

During the life of the Mk2.5 Focus, the dual clutch powershift box was introduced. Is that the ZF box you mentioned? Traditional autos have torque converters I believe.

Nah the zf was before but the big issue is the gearbox could only handle 100 and not 110 but yeah if your going petrol it will be weaker in power but will cope with it...

Mpg Is generally pretty poor though on the petrol auto very sluggish as well

As someone who has had 2 mk2's and a mk2.5 (all 1.6 petrol)

I'd advise you don't getthe 1.6 petrol. They're gutless and fuel economy is dire.

I'm currently looking for a mk2.5 2l tdi ;)

Thanks for the input. Things must have changed somewhat with the 1.6 because I had a Mk1 1.6 and it was superb. Perhaps the Mk2 is too heavy for it to cope

Standard 99bhp 1.6 is slow the ti vct 115bhp is much better in manual

To be honest if the 1.6 was so awful no idea why anyone would have 3 of them the ti vct replaced the old 1.8 and if you find it slow 90mph in 3rd gear and its not even at max rpm then you have an issue as for mpg I get 36mpg doing a short 10 mile trip to work given most new econoost engines in the mk3 get that the mpg isn't too bad motorway high 40s town driving never lower than 28 that's in heavy traffic

If I was getting a petrol it wouldn't be the 99bhp and it wouldn't be an auto