That was my line of thinking partly, the rest was because I saw one drive past me at a roundabout and decided then and there that I had to have it in that colour.

When it came to ordering, because I chose a zetec S with Leather seats and a couple other bits, I was told that I couldn't have Colerado Red. Something to do with production (the sales guy obviously didn't know why and had to come up with something). Had that battle for a fairly long while. In the end I got the Red I wanted, but had to pay the extra cost that applies to metallic anyway!

You need to write to the MD of the garage where you brought the car and copy in Trading Standards and Ford GB and let them know that while I have paid the cost of the paint as metallic it is advertised asa free paint colour and if they do not refund the money that you will be taking the matter further (taking legal advice from Trading Standards) - for the sake of a few minutes to write a letter, and the cost of 3 loads of postage, it has got to be worth it especially if you paid full price for the metallic paint and that is how it is shown on your contract with the dealer.

Thanks everyone for all your positive comments about the heated windscreens and my colour choice etc ... I feel much more content now. (Also thanks for the link to the Fiesta handbook - good to know what all the knobs and pulleys do before I take delivery).

I've just posted a couple of pics below. The first one is an official Ford image, (in Colorado red), though I've adapted and superimposed the actual alloys that you get on a Zetec onto it. The second is a 'Google Earth' shot of the Valencia car assembly plant. It's good to think that my car will be parked there soon ready to be shipped out. :)

Paul.

PS: I agree with the comments about the fact that you had to pay a 'metallic' charge for the Colorado red paint. It clearly states on the Ford website, and in the brochure, that the basic Zetecs are available in Colorado Red, Blazer Blue and Frozen White, and the Zetec S models available in Colorado Red and Frozen White. (These are the standard 'no extra cost' colours ... only the metallics should cost £425.00 extra). Sounds like you are entitled to a refund of this extra charge.

I've just posted a couple of pics below. The second is a 'Google Earth' shot of the Valencia car assembly plant. It's good to think that my car will be parked there soon ready to be shipped out. :)

Paul.

When did you order it exactly as it might not be 'soon' that you car is going to be parked there - mine is due to be built next Tuesday - 11 weeks and 1 day after ordering . . . .

Well, when I said 'soon' I was really looking at the overall bigger picture - I really meant in a few week's time.

It was ordered on 21st July, and I've been given a build date of between the 5th and 9th September. (So 'hopefully', according to the dealer, the car should be at the showroom ready for collection by the end of September ... I won't hold my breath too deeply though!)

It was a fairly standard order with no optional extras. I also believe that the car was originally on order for the dealer themselves, (either as a showroom model or demo, I'm guessing), and it was meant to be a 1.25 engine ... but I was told that they could actually let me have the car instead, to quicken things up, and notified Ford that the engine spec needed to be changed up to a 1.4 instead. (I'm assuming the dealer would then place another order for themselves, as I seem to have hijacked their car!)

So, all in all, I think there may have been two or three weeks trimmed off the overall waiting time as the car was basically already on order. (At least I think that's what the dealer was talking about - it all went slightly over my head at the time to be honest, as he was frantically typing and searching on his computer, then making phone calls to various people to arrange things.

Paul.

Well the wait seems to be part of the fun with us on here - and gives us time to spend far too long on this forum making new friends and then seeing them disappear when their cars are delivered (after a brief period of gloating and posting pictures!!)

Just like to confirm that I'll definitely be sticking around long after I've got my new car. I enjoy reading through the forum, so won't just post some nice piccies then disappear into the sunset. :) For what my humble opinion's worth, I'll try to take part in any discussions that I feel I might be able to help (or hinder) with.

In the meantime, it's back to drooling at any Fiesta photos I can find online. (My wife will be getting suspicious!) ;)

Paul.

Well the wait seems to be part of the fun with us on here - and gives us time to spend far too long on this forum making new friends and then seeing them disappear when their cars are delivered (after a brief period of gloating and posting pictures!!)

Seems to be something of a sore spot this doesnt it :P

You need to write to the MD of the garage where you brought the car and copy in Trading Standards and Ford GB and let them know that while I have paid the cost of the paint as metallic it is advertised asa free paint colour and if they do not refund the money that you will be taking the matter further (taking legal advice from Trading Standards) - for the sake of a few minutes to write a letter, and the cost of 3 loads of postage, it has got to be worth it especially if you paid full price for the metallic paint and that is how it is shown on your contract with the dealer.

I will definately do that, although I think I will wait for the car to arrive first as I don't want to do anything that will push the car back anymore. I have already had the rant and rave on the phone, when I placed my order a month or so ago. They increased the value of my part exchange to (partly) compensate for it, so anything I can get back from Ford after the event will be a bonus.

I will definately do that, although I think I will wait for the car to arrive first as I don't want to do anything that will push the car back anymore. I have already had the rant and rave on the phone, when I placed my order a month or so ago. They increased the value of my part exchange to (partly) compensate for it, so anything I can get back from Ford after the event will be a bonus.

That could be a bit of a result then as if they are still showing the full cost of the paint at £425 then that is what you can attemtp to claim back and if they gave you a better px price that doesn't matter.

Haing said that, if you just wanna get the cost ofthe paint back then you can quote in any correspsondance that they must have accepted they had done something wrong or they would not have given you more for your car after the deal was done!

Just like to confirm that I'll definitely be sticking around long after I've got my new car. I enjoy reading through the forum, so won't just post some nice piccies then disappear into the sunset. :) For what my humble opinion's worth, I'll try to take part in any discussions that I feel I might be able to help (or hinder) with.

In the meantime, it's back to drooling at any Fiesta photos I can find online. (My wife will be getting suspicious!) ;)

Paul.

Good afternoon and welcome Paul.

I've had my car since last year and I'm still here.......you don't get rid of your friendly hedgepig that easy.

Don't worry about the heated screen--you can hardly see it and it's a great bit of kit; beats scraping the windscreen! ;)

That could be a bit of a result then as if they are still showing the full cost of the paint at £425 then that is what you can attemtp to claim back and if they gave you a better px price that doesn't matter.

Haing said that, if you just wanna get the cost ofthe paint back then you can quote in any correspsondance that they must have accepted they had done something wrong or they would not have given you more for your car after the deal was done!

Cunning plan /baldrick voice

We'll see if it works out. It would almost make up for the July price increase I got hit by

Good afternoon and welcome Paul.

I've had my car since last year and I'm still here.......you don't get rid of your friendly hedgepig that easy.

Don't worry about the heated screen--you can hardly see it and it's a great bit of kit; beats scraping the windscreen! ;)

Cheers Hedgepig. I'm sure I'll soon get used to the wire elements - it's just all new to me, that's all. :)

Paul.