current fiesta

[sunflower]

Is it a decent car to live with?
Any faults I should know about?
etc etc

I'm looking to buy one in the new year because having now driven one it made me realise how much better it is than my Corsa (newer shape one, not the revised newer shape one).

Drawbacks though - not too fond of box looks (although I keep reminding myself you can't see the outide from inside!), door pockets are far too small compared to Corsa ones, the steering wheel is quite slippery & the audio volume automatically reduces when slowing down & increases when speed increases - too much so.

Also the pedals are situated more to the left than my car. So as I start the engine with the clutch down, when I did so in the Fiesta I kept pressing the brake instead.

[davemorganfan]

Suggest you have your left foot amputated; you'll never find anywhere to put it. Also be prepared to have to modify the seat so you don't tilt forward all the time. Not usually like Ford to get the driving position wrong.

[RTH]

Typically current Ford - its a great package and a really good drive and a big step forward from the previous model , smart discret looks without the ugliness that many of the recently revealed competition want you to think are 'Hip' whatever that means.

Don't start the car with the clutch depressed it is not necessary and does damage to the thrust bearing, the pressure plate and the crankshaft thrust washers which at cold start have no oil.

Modern cars have now very thin gearbox oil lightweight gear clusters and low friction bearings and this practice achieves nothing , 40 years ago it might have helped on a sub zero day in a car with a weak battery.

3 years warranty, 5 years free sevicing, nice car buy with confidence.

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by RTH
Don't start the car with the clutch depressed it is not necessary and does damage to the thrust bearing, the pressure plate and the crankshaft thrust washers which at cold start have no oil.

Really? Clutch thrust races are sealed units & are not lubricated by the engine oil system. They are lubricated just as well on a cold start as at any other time.

How can depressing the clutch pedal while operating the starter possibly damage the pressure plate? Please explain.

Apart from some Triumph engines of the 1960s/70s, how many engine failures have been caused by excessive crankshaft thrust washer wear?

[RTH]

You are putting unecessary stress and wear on all these components to no purpose, you will not find this practice as recommended start up proceedure in any handbook of a new car

[BertMk2]

Originally posted by davemorganfan
Suggest you have your left foot amputated; you'll never find anywhere to put it. Also be prepared to have to modify the seat so you don't tilt forward all the time. Not usually like Ford to get the driving position wrong.

Totally agree. The lack of anywhere to put your left foot is very annoying. I spent the best part of 8 hours in one of these yesterday (I just looooove the M25 ). I now hate them with a passion, just that one thing is enough, but add the total agony my back is now suffering (couldn't get a comfortable position at all) and I really would struggle to recomend the car to anyone.

Oh yeah, I'll throw in "loads of understeer" as well.

And if you ever want to change the stereo - good luck, you'll need to replace half the dashboard.

Good points - it's not a Punto. (Hire cars - just love 'em, an extra £3 would have got me a focus but it's not "cost effective" apparently)

[garcon]

I've given up getting hire cars ever since I got a Fiat Stylo and a Peugeot 307 for my last two trips. No-one should have to go through that. It's now my own car and mileage allowance, and an extended middle digit to those who complain.

Trying to bypass my utter hatred of all small cars (anything smaller than an Impreza, funnily enough) for the moment, the Fiesta looks good. But it's minor things like no foot rest, and not so minor things like awful seats, that really shouldn't be an issue in any car these days...

[JimW]

Originally posted by RTH
. . .
Don't start the car with the clutch depressed it is not necessary and does damage to the thrust bearing, the pressure plate and the crankshaft thrust washers which at cold start have no oil.

Modern cars have now very thin gearbox oil lightweight gear clusters and low friction bearings and this practice achieves nothing , 40 years ago it might have helped on a sub zero day in a car with a weak battery.

I agree. I think that RTH meant that the crankshaft thrust washers which at cold start have no oil.

The thrust bearing is indeed sealed for life. Why waste that life continuing a historic practice as some sort of folk memory of oil as thick as treacle and starter motor/battery combinations which were just marginal.

You'll be telling us next that you leave your car in gear, instead of relying on the handbrake.

Regards

Jim

[Dave Brand]

Originally posted by JimW
I agree. I think that RTH meant that the crankshaft thrust washers which at cold start have no oil.

The thrust bearing is indeed sealed for life. Why waste that life continuing a historic practice as some sort of folk memory of oil as thick as treacle and starter motor/battery combinations which were just marginal.

I'm not arguing for or against the practice - personally I've never found it made any difference; I was just pointing out factual errors.......

You'll be telling us next that you leave your car in gear, instead of relying on the handbrake.

Ever had a Peugeot 405 with disc rear brakes?

[sunflower]

Oh dear - I DO leave my car in gear. My drive slants downwards slightly so I leave it in reverse, hence why I start the engine with the clutch down. It also means I can drive straight out & not have to fight to find reverse on a cold gear box.

Going by above info - maybe I should stop this practice immediately!

[BertMk2]

My back is still hurting - that's 3 days after driving the Fiesta.

[davemorganfan]

Originally posted by garcon
I've given up getting hire cars ever since I got a Fiat Stylo and a Peugeot 307 for my last two trips. No-one should have to go through that. It's now my own car and mileage allowance, and an extended middle digit to those who complain.

Trying to bypass my utter hatred of all small cars (anything smaller than an Impreza, funnily enough) for the moment, the Fiesta looks good. But it's minor things like no foot rest, and not so minor things like awful seats, that really shouldn't be an issue in any car these days...

Just you wait till they stuff you up with a Fiat Multipla. Total bloody misery . Never been so glad to see the back of a car.

[Dave Brand]

Just thought this little instruction from the Peugeot 106 Owner's Handbook might be of interest:

'At outside temperatures below 0°C, declutch while using the starter to start the engine more easily.'