Fiesta 2002-on, or similar
 

My wife needs a small 5 door hatchback to be parked outside for the odd trip to the supermarket, in-laws etc. We are looking to spend about 3K or so for a car with up to about 50,000 miles on the clock. She's not bothered about rocket-ship performance (I don't think any 5 door Fiesta would match the WRX or Integrale she used to drive!), but does want something that will start without fail whenever she needs to use it and get her and the 2 kids to and from her destination.

I can't see much that fits the bill beyond the 2002-on shape Fiesta, which is now in the 3K - 4K bracket. Are they any good and above all reliable? Are there any models to avoid and regular occurring problems to look out for? I know they did a million different engines for them, but I don't know my Zetec from my Finesse so to speak. In fact I've never owned a Ford and feel a bit dirty even considering buying one!

Any opinions welcome.

Current shape Nissan Micra?

On a 02 plate are you looking at the Mk5 Fiesta? I would highly recommend the Zetec-s version, has a 1.6 litre engine, 110bhp, but is a fun little car to drive, great handling, like a little go cart, and looks smart in Imperial Blue, you would find a really good one for your budget, I had one for 3 years and it never missed a beat.
Good thing about Fords is they are pretty cheap to maintain too.
The 1.25 Zetec engine is also quite nippy, depends on what you want.

Don't touch the 1.3 Endura engine, it's slower than the 1.25 and not popular at all.
No experience of the 1.4 so can't comment.

Finesse etc are just trim levels, if you find the Fiesta black that has leather interior.

My Son has a 1.4 Zetec on a 53 plate, can't say it's been pain free ownership.
Faults so far (that I can remember):
2 broken window regulator mechanisms.
Intrusive engine noise inside the cabin.
Possible water pump noise, still looking into that one.
3 cam cover gaskets inside 18 months, now leaking oil from the Camshaft seal (probably going to cost several hundred to fix)
New ignition leads where the leaking oil had corroded them.
New ignition module.
Clonky gear change, not a fault just the design.

All in probably just typical problems for a Ford.

Allan

No, the 2002-on is the Mark 6, that I'm thinking about.

Honda Jazz............Nuff said.

Nissan Micra: this car's going to be parked outside. I don't think my stomach could put up with looking at that monstrosity each time I opened the curtains each morning!

Honda Jazz: I agree with you, definitely the wisest choice. Probably the only one in that class that would be genuinely reliable. However, so many old biddies keep spending their life savings on them, that they hold their price remarkably well. I have only found one in the East Midlands that fits the bill ("52" plate for 3800 quid, 40,000 miles). Trouble is the missus doesn't like the look of them: they are a bit bland/van-like with diddy wheels aren't they? Still that higher purchase price would probably be more than offset against any future repair costs for the other cars, so I might see if I can twist her arm.

AT has 37 5 door Toyota Yaris at 3-4k with <50k miles.

Parkers review says:
Toyotas are generally faultless to the delight of most owners. Some problems reported with soft paint and stone chips, but that's all.

Daihatsu Sirion. Pint in a quart pot. 1.0 0r 1.3. AC standard and loads of other goodies too. Loads of room and still seats five and shopping too.

£3.5 k at a Daihatsu Dealers with warranty less than 30k. Go for the new shape 54 onwards.

Anyone got any opinions on 5 door Corsas (the "C" model 2000 - 2006)?

Oh well, as usual I took on your advice and my considered my own opinion and then completely ignored it! Small and reliable eh? That'll be a Fiat Punto Grande then :wonder:

Just put down a deposit on a 30,000 miles black 5 door 1.4 2006 model with jazzy pale blue highlight interior. It's the "Dynamic" model with air-con and alloys rather than the more common paupers' "Active" spec with but a hand-held fan and wooden wheels. 3850 paid inc. its first 12 months MOT.

Even with the "big" 1.4 litre engine, it barely pulls the skin off your rice-pudding, but at least it will look pretty parked outside, which is more than can be said for the rest of the cars in this class.

Will it break-down?? It's only a 2006 so of course not....

Good price with that mileage, only trouble with the Puntos is the hideous interior colour schemes some have. The pale blue one you've bought is among the worst :)

Hey if it was up to my missus, she'd get the outside of our house painted pale blue. She loves that colour. Good job I never showed her any piccies of Punto Grandes with pale blue bodywork, or else she'd want one of those instead!

Depreciation? What depreciation?
 

UPDATE.

It's been 13 months since we bought my wife's 2006 30,000 mile 1.4 litre Grande Punto Dynamic with FSH for 3850 quid and I have just checked Autotrader & Pistonheads to see how little it was still worth today.

Blow me if there are only 2 higher mileage even punier 1.2 litre basic-spec cars on there at anything under 4000 quid and one of those is a Cat C!. In fact the only one privately advertised of a similar specification/mileage to ours is up for 4500 quid and the lowest dealer price for the equivalent is 4995 quid!

So we've potentially had free motoring out of it for the past 13 months! I certainly wasn't expecting to say that when we bought it. :thumb: