2008 Ford Fiesta Reviews

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the first and second generation Ford Fiesta between 2004 and 2015 as a used buy.

There was no more crowded or competitive market in 2008 than the small car segment, which Ford contested with a new Fiesta. Despite modest engine capacity, it was rated as a driver's car and there were ample options and variants, from base CL three-door to sporty Zetec to Econetic turbo diesel.As the car market moved away from the big cars that were Ford's bread-and-butter, the company had to change as well. The reality was that smaller cars, and small cars, represented the future.Being the company's global small car the Fiesta was one chosen to help shove Ford into a new Falcon-less future. But was it the car to take on the big players in small cars? Given the raft of terrific littlies from Mazda, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Hyundai and Kia, it had to be very good.Ford had for some time tried to be funky to appeal to hip young buyers, and the WS Fiesta certainly had the looks to appeal.Older buyers who might have preferred a sedan were overlooked - Ford limited body styles to three and five-door hatches.The WS range at launch consisted of three models, the entry-level CL in both body styles, the five-door only LX and the sporty Zetec, also five-door.Two engines were available, but curiously the larger 1.6-litre was available only with the five-speed manual gearbox. If you wanted an automatic, it was coupled with a 1.4-litre.Not only did you have to accept a smaller engine, you had to contend with a four-speed auto when a five-speed would have been infinitely better for both performance and fuel economy.If performance was your priority the 1.6-litre manual was the way to go, zippy and frugal at the same time. The 1.4-litre plus auto drivetrain was sluggish and less economical.There was some relief late in the WS series when Ford released the Econetic, a five-door hatch with a 1.6-litre turbo diesel four that delivered exceptional economy.Lesser models in the range earned only four stars from ANCAP, but still had ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution. To get five stars you had to buy a Zetec, gaining extra airbags, stability control, traction control and emergency bake assist.You could have all of that in the lesser models by shelling out extra for the option pack.The good news for anyone considering a WS Fiesta is that it came from Germany. The WT that followed it was built in Thailand and build quality arguably slipped.The other good news is that the WS missed out on the sometimes troublesome double-clutch (DSG) auto that was fitted to the WT.The auto in the WS was a conventional torque converter automatic, which is largely trouble-free.The downside is the four ratios which, in tandem with the 1.4 that struggles for torque, means performance and fuel economy aren't great.Peter Smith and his wife are very pleased with the 2009 Fiesta Zetec they bought new. It's only done about 22,000km, it has always been serviced at a Ford dealership and it has never needed a warranty claim or any other attention. Peter's the main driver and says it's the best car that he's ever had.The things they dislike are the aircon's performance, which isn't up to the Queensland climate, reverse gear is hard to select and there's apparent cost cutting in some areas. On the plus side, they love the handling and the fuel economy.Tony and Aly Hicks love their 2010 Fiesta CL, which they bought new. The car has exceeded expectations - they really rate the automatic - and the road olding is excellent.It's a real driver's car despite the 1.4, and has been trouble free over the 54,000km it has done.The WS is standing up well in service. There's nothing that should be of serious concern to anyone looking to buy one.Before handing over your cash make the usual checks, ensuring there's a credible service record.Also make a thorough check of the body and paint, looking for dings and dents that might affect the value, and look closely for signs of crash repairs.Operate all ancillaries to make sure everything is in good order and functions as it should.A test drive is always recommended. Don't let the seller take the wheel; drive the car yourself. That's the only means by which you can tell if the car is right for you. It also gets around the situation of the seller driving in such a way as to conceal any issues.

Styling of the latest couple of generations of Ford Fiestas is bold and their stunning, almost futuristic, looks appeal to many, particularly those moving down from larger cars.The Ford Fiesta is sold as a three-door or five-door hatchback. The three-door has a sporty appearance, but the five-door certainly isn’t on the staid side. Getting into the back seat of the three-door Fiesta isn’t too difficult for the kids, but large adults will find it a hassle.Once in the back seat, occupants will find it reasonably spacious. The front seats are larger than average for a car in this class and are reasonably comfortable, though some may find them on the firm side in the German manner.Ford Australia is keen to please drivers looking for more than mere transport so imports its small cars from Europe. This makes them slightly more expensive than products from Holden, which are often made in South Korean factories, but Ford Oz has managed to keep prices down.The Fiesta comes in plenty of different variants. Most use a 1.4- or 1.6-litre petrol engine and offer a couple of drivetrain options. The WZ series Fiesta, introduced in August 2013, has an interesting pair of turbocharged power units, in particular a willing little three-cylinder 1.0-litre with plenty of spark in its response. Even better is the 1.6 turbo-petrol in the Fiesta ST, it has strong torque over a wide spread of revs and can be regarded as a low cost alternative to full-on hot hatches.The Ford Fiesta XR4, introduced in June 2007, is a genuine hot hatch, not just a dressed up standard model.  Inside, there are sporting seats with leather bolsters. Fiesta XR4 has lowered suspension and rides on Pirelli P-Zero tyres. Ride comfort is surprisingly good for the hot-hatch class.The XR4's big Duratec 2.0-litre engine gives plenty of performance in a light car such as this. Some will be disappointed that only a five-speed gearbox is used. However, it has nicely chosen ratios and the change action is slick and positive.A fascinating new model was launched in November 2009. The Ford Fiesta Econetic is a super-economy model that's powered by a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine tuned specifically for low consumption. It has good torque, uses higher than normal gearing and runs on special low-rolling resistance tyres. The result is fuel consumption below four litres per hundred kilometres during easy motorway running and only five to seven litres per hundred kilometres in day-to-day suburban driving.A good home mechanic can do a fair bit of their own work on a Fiesta, but the underbonnet area is cramped. Leave the safety items to the experts. There are plenty of Ford dealers Australia wide. While uncommon parts for Fiestas may not be held in all country dealerships it usually only takes a couple of business days to have parts freighted out there. We seldom hear any real complaints about prices of parts or servicing. Plenty of mechanics running their own independent businesses will have had formal training while employed by Ford dealers in the past.Insurance premiums for the standard Ford Fiesta models are about average for its class. Some companies may charge more for the XR4 hot-hatch and the hot-ish Fiesta ST, though not outrageously so.WHAT TO LOOK FOREuropean cars aren't built to the high standards of Japanese ones, so be sure to arrange for a full professional inspection. Carefully check the interior for signs of damage due to poor assembly, also for damage done by rough or bored kids.Listen for squeaks or rattles when driving on rough roads, not necessarily outback tracks, just suburban surfaces that have seen better days. The Fiesta engine should start easily and idle smoothly virtually from the moment it kicks over. Listen and feel for a manual gearbox that hesitates or crunches during fast changes.Try the steering on full lock at low speeds both all the way to the right and the left. Listen for the clicking sounds that indicate worn universal joints. A Fiesta XR4 that has been driven hard can often be identified by uneven tyre wear. Also look for lowered suspension, big-diameter wheels and additional instruments.Rust isn't going to be a problem unless a car has been poorly repaired after a crash. Look for paint finish that doesn’t match from panel to panel and for overspray on non-painted areas.CAR BUYING TIPA simple way to check for rust repairs is to hold a magnet against a suspect area. It will stick to metal under the paint, but not to plastic fillers.

A couple of cars of the year within two weeks; winner of the V8 Supercar championship . . . now for the Fiesta.Among all the doom and gloom in the automotive industry Ford Australia has something to celebrate.The Ford Falcon G6E was named carsguide Car of the Year, the Falcon XT carried off the Australia's Best Cars Family Car of the Year title and Jamie Whincup piloted his Ford to the V8 Supercar championship and Ford has just released its new small car challenger, the Fiesta.And from what I experienced on the launch, the German-made Fiesta could keep the Blue Oval boys and girls celebrating well into the new year. Ford is hoping to shake up the light car segment and it could well do so with the new Fiesta that has all the hallmarks of a 21st century small car - sharp looks, first-class driving dynamics and the latest in human-to-car connectivity.Not that the Fiesta has been a shrinking violet.Beth Donovan, Ford Australia's vice-president of marketing, sales and service, said the sixth generation car was on target around the world to continue a 32-year history of being a best-seller boasting 12 million customers.“Now it's time to leverage that success in Australia. Our research has shown that it is a car for the world that Australia wants. It is also a blueprint for future Ford product,” she said.On sale in Australia from January 1, the new Fiesta comes in three variants - CL, LX and Zetec. Prices will start at $15,750 for the CL, $18,490 for the LX and $20,250 for the Zetec, excluding dealer delivery and statutory charges.A 1.6 litre petrol engine with manual transmission is standard across the range, while an automatic transmission, matched to a 1.4 litre motor is an option on all models except the three-door Zetec.The 1.6 with manual transmission delivers 88kW of power at 6000rpm and 152Nm of torque at 4050rpm. Claimed fuel consumption is 6.1 litres/100km (46 miles per gallon), while the carbon emissions are 143g/km.The smaller engine, mated to the automatic transmission, produces 71kW of power at 5750rpm and 128Nm of torque at 4200rpm. Fuel economy is 6.9 litres/100km (41mpg) and carbon emissions 164g/km. Ethanol-10 can be used as an alternative fuel.The CL will be available as a three-door or five-door, with manual transmission or optional automatic, and rides on 15in wheels.The LX is five-door only, available with manual or optional automatic, and is standard with 15in alloy wheels.The sporty Zetec, is offered in both three-door and five-door configurations, the latter on offer with manual or optional automatic, while the three-door is sold only as a manual.The Zetec stands out with 16in alloy wheels and a body kit with a unique front and rear bumper, a bumper grille and a larger rear spoiler. The three-door model also features sports rocker panel mouldings.All new Fiestas will be fitted with anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution plus driver and passenger airbags as standard. A driver's knee airbag is standard on both of the Zetec models.Additional safety equipment, optional on CL and LX and standard on Zetec, includes front seat head and thorax side airbags, a driver knee airbag and dynamic stability control with traction control and emergency brake assist.The previously mentioned connectivity, which includes Bluetooth with Voice Control (available on LX and Zetec) and USB connectivity, allowing MP3 player integration (Zetec), plus a 3.5mm aux jack, put the Fiesta in a class of its own.Capless refuelling, which is unique to Ford and found only on Mondeo, is standard on all models.Cruise control is standard on LX and Zetec models, and these vehicles are also fitted with a leather trimmed steering wheel adjustable for rake and reach.There are 11 fresh exterior paint colours available, while the Fiesta options include a Safety Pack for CL and LX, which includes DSC, for $1000 and prestige paint $320.In a test drive through Adelaide and the surrounding hills the Fiesta's extremely light steering at low speeds took some getting used to (it came into its own, however, while parking the car, which is larger than its predecessors).However, it weighted up nicely for excellent road feedback when the vehicle was travelling at a greater speed.The Zetec DSC produced a well balanced ride on the twisty and steep roads in the hilly areas, while the car's brakes were up to any hard use when bends tightened unexpectedly.The cabin turned out to be spacious and comfortable and insulated well enough to carry on a normal conversation.Ford is putting a lot on the Fiesta, including optimistically a great deal of TV advertising during the show Australia's Next Top Model. 

Two of the best and brightest Fords from Europe are being readied for sales in Australia. The great-looking, new Fiesta and the compact Kuga four-wheel drive are set for Down Under deliveries, with only the timing, price and equipment still to be set. Both should be in showrooms in the first quarter of 2009.They will —Join the Mondeo station wagon, which is already confirmed but running late, and probably the S-Max people mover. Ford Australia, however, isn't revealing details under a policy that prevents commenting on future products and despite the importance of the company's quality compact imports.Even the Mondeo wagon, which was previewed at the Melbourne motor show at the start of the year, is still subject to speculation.“Yes, the car is coming,” says spokesman Mark Winslow.“We will announce the details when we are ready.”The Mondeo, S-Max and Kuga have all been out for some time but the Fiesta has only just been unveiled in Europe. It is far edgier than the current car, with a crisper shape reflecting the latest direction in Ford design. Ford of Europe says it is intended to reflect style, efficiency and value, and standard equipment is more extensive than ever before in a baby Ford.Everything about the all-new Ford Fiesta is new — from the styling, materials and technologies to the core development and manufacturing processes that bring it to life. It represents our future, in more ways than one,” says Marin Burela, the executive director of small cars.Mechanically, more than half the body is made from high-strength steel for safety — which includes an “intelligent” protection system with the first knee airbag in a small Ford — and there are two new engines including one with an ultra-low CO2 emission ranking. It is the first European Ford to have electric power steering. Other features include keyless entry, a start button, electric mirrors and cap-less refuelling. There is also an entertainment system which Ford says was inspired by mobile phones.The model plan for Australia is still being developed, but in Europe the new Fiesta comes with three- and five-door hatchback bodies and a range of four petrol and two diesel engines.The car will be on sale in Europe in October.Ford says the new Fiesta was design, for the first time, as a global car.“It is also the blueprint for future Ford global product development, bringing together Europe, the Americas and Asia where it will be tailored for each region and go on sale progressively between now and 2010,” says John Fleming, the president of Ford of Europe.“I believe this is the most dramatic Fiesta since the very first model. One of the development teams greatest achievements is that it has been able to make the new Fiesta stronger, safer and more comfortable, yet lighter and more fuel efficient than the car it replaces.”The new Fiesta was developed from Ford's Verve concept car, which signalled a major change in style for the blue oval's baby cars.The car will be built in Germany, Spain and China but there is no indication of where Australian Fiestas will be made. 

From the moment you turn the key you know the XR4 has been penned with passion.It has a taut, chunky feel, a lively and tractable engine, intuitive steering and suspension tuning as close as you'll get to a go-kart without upsetting your lunch.At $24,990, the German-built two-door hatch is the new value benchmark for the sporty light-car class, lining up alongside the Polo GTi and Suzuki Swift Sport.And its non-turbo status opens it up to P-plate drivers.The XR4 is powered by a modified version of the 2.0-litre Zetec engine from the Focus.Output is 110kW at 6000rpm and 190Nm of torque from 1500rpm, an increase of 3kW and 5Nm.It's the power-to-weight ratio and the gearing that give the XR4 its magnetic performance.Breathe on the throttle in any gear and it's off, delivering strong and flexible punch in the useful low-to-medium rev range, accompanied by a healthy guttural engine note.Manual only, the five-speed, close-ratio gearbox is slick and precise.However, the ratios are chosen for sprinting, not cruising. With the engine pulling a busy 3000rpm at 100km/h in fifth gear, a relaxed tourer it is not.Fuel use is a claimed 7.4 litres/100km on the combined town-highway cycle, and the engine is tuned to run on 95 RON.The suspension has been lowered and stiffened and the brakes upgraded.The chassis is finely balanced, with near-neutral handling, flat cornering, exceptional grip and turn-in response, and a ride on the rigid side of firm, yet not bone jarring.Grip from the fat Pirelli P Zero Nero tyres is tenacious, even on gravel, at the expense of a wide turning circle.The steering is quick and pin-sharp.Traction control is standard and the stability control system is programmed for late intervention and can be switched off.A body kit adds deeper bumpers, integrated side skirts and a large roof spoiler.Visually the XR4 is either purposeful or loud, depending on whether it has the optional $300 racing stripes.Stretching from tip to toe, the fat stripes ensure an XR4 will never get lost in a car park or be mistaken for anything else on the road.The interior is dressed up with snug sports seats, a grippy sports steering wheel, extra engine gauges and alloy pedals spaced just wide enough for big feet.With or without stripes, the XR4 is guaranteed to add spice to your life. SnapshotMake: FordModel: Fiesta XR4Equipment: Six airbags, airconditioning, six-disc CD audio, anti-skid brakes, 11-spoke 17 inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, electric windows, heated mirrors and steering wheel audio controls. Cost: $24,990