Comments on: 2009 Ford Fiesta Zetec – Long Term Update

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:09:52 +0000

I am currently in the process of buying a ford fiesta in China where you can buy them for a good price. This will be the first ford car I have ever thought about buying. I have always had japanese cars or german cars. However the ford dealer will say yes to everything and then lead you to believe them and say they are arranging the finance. assuring me that everything is fine , Only to find out that it isn’t possible and costing me a lot of money and time wasted on buying a ford. As this is my first experience with ford and this is probably going to be my last experience in thinking about ford. I am planning to go back to my old ways, Japanese or German. Simple, easy, and an experience to remember. FORD YOU ARE GOING TO BE NEXT OF THE US CAR MAKER TO GO OUT IF THESE WAYS DON’T CHANGE. MANY PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF THAT CAN EASILY AFFORD YOUR CARS ARE GOING TOWARDS JAPANESE OR GERMAN BRANDS.

By: GARRICK

GARRICK — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 04:08:42 +0000

Paid for a new car on 8/3/09, delivery mid July on a June build from Cologne Germany 5 door Zetec.
Hope it’s worth waiting for, but it beats the pants on the Mazda 2 & Yaris. more features and bang for the buck. Will use the top of the range petrol to get economy down to under 6.1L/100K. Waiting, Waiting, Waiting!!

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 10:54:18 +0000

I actually just sold my Black Polo Gti 2006 model! What a coincidence..Great value car. Really quick, look great, awesome interior. Mine had a few little problems: front cv went after 14000 ks (not due to harsh driving) lots of rattles in the steering. was eventually fixed under warranty. Some small little electrical faults all fixed under warranty. But the biggest problem was at about 25,000 when the breaks started to wear they would make a horrible grinding sound when cold and eventually quiten down, however the sound never disappeared. I went to vw at least 6 times about the problem, at first they said it was nothing, then they said they had fixed it (hadn’t) then it was definately fixed (wasn’t) they said they machined the brakes. Then finally I went absolutely berserk at them and they obviously realsied the breaks were fucked and that they needed to replace them however they called me in after having it for a day and said there was no problem and that all vw brakes are noisy. The manager also proceeded to tell me that my pads had never been machined (as the service manager had advised me) as they don’tmachine pads at vw. I left a complaint at head office and sold the car. Avoid vw service department at Springwood. They are rubbish.

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:46:13 +0000

The Fiesta supply problem caused by sales success is a problem Ford obviously didn’t see coming – guess they’ve got used to the opposite – but you’d reckon that sales in Europe and the rave reviews here might have suggested a bit more confidence with the order books? Put it down to tight finances. So at the end of the supply chain the mere customer has little bargaining strength. Interesting to read the press release stating they ARE now bringing in the TDCi. Ford Customer team stated 28/10/08 “the Fiesta TDCi will not be released in Australia as part of the new range.” I’ve asked them about making a special order but I fear the answer will be a Henry-esque “any colour you like but we choose the interior colour”. A Polo GTi (in white, with a normal interior) is one of my other options, or maybe wait for the TDCi. By which time mine will over 5yo, have 80,000 k’s, need another service, a battery, full set of tyres (third set of fronts nearly done, backs due). Might have to check out the VW option……

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 11:24:59 +0000

I don’t actually have the car yet. I ordered it 2 weeks ago so I don’t actually know what they are like. I receive the car in May (apparently) although previous posts have mentioned a June delivery..If that’s the case then I will be requesting free mats! I’m not waiting til the middle of the year for a bloody fiesta! I got my White Polo Gti 6 days after I paid the deposit, and it came from overseas too!
PS I have unfortunately….noticed that the Ocean colour is pretty nice, it has the normal grey interior too! have a look at the one on this site!

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 01:40:24 +0000

Ben,

Thanks for the report on what it looks like in the flesh……perhaps I might be more impressed if Ford had called the colour “Flesh”. But as I live in the tropics the thought of driving around in a warm toned interior is putting me off as much as any distaste for the actual colour. I can imagined the combo with black paintwork works well. Yes black always looks good…..when it’s clean. You’d have to really enjoy washing your car to have one in rural NQ! Disappointed you thought the silver unappealing – that was my next choice. I actually like the look of the Juice, sorry, “Squeeze” version (that word contemporary seems apt) but as my daily drive is through sugar cane, it fails the visability test. I fear ending up sqeezed by a bloody great cane-hauler. The only one at my local dealer is a CL in “Sea Grey” and that looks decidedly dull. Re colour names. What are these guys on? I’ve spent the greater part my working life on the sea and I’ve rarely seen it look that colour. Maybe for a couple of minutes before the wind picks up ahead of a front at dusk, then it goes white with foam. Neptune would claim misrepresentation. Anyhow I remain indecisive – I want one, but I want it white and I want it nuetral in the interior so I can cooly concentrate on what’s happening on the road. I want, I want, I want….(as in fully fledged tantrum, 4YO style). Are you happy with the car in other respects? I noticed a bump/thump noise from FR over tracks and I recall a review commenting on same, but otherwise it drives similarly to my old one, with a bit less grunt at low revs but perhaps a little more higher. Mine took 10,000 km to free-up fully and it kept getting more and more torquey, so hopefully the latest one will too – same mechanicals but it seems they’ve programmed things a bit differently.

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:13:15 +0000

Dave,
I have purchased a black 3dr Zetec and have ummed and ahhed over the choice of the ‘wine’ coloured interior. Lots of the images on the net and in the brochure etc make it look more vivid then it is. I saw it on a ‘Cedar’ coloured 5 dr at the dealership and I was really put off, however after seeing it again in real life I think it is more subtle then I originally thought. I really don’t want any of the other colours except the white or the silver however the silver tends to take away a lot of the effect of the chrome finishes and I have just had a white car so it leaves black. (Black always looks good). After pondering for hours about the interior colour I think I have convinced myself that it might actually be quite unique and it does align with the contemporary theme of the interior. Your thoughts?

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:44:36 +0000

I’m looking to replace my White 2004 Zetec with the new model, and I’m very pleased with the refinements in the new model which thankfully include a proper seat and cruise control. The only thing stopping me signing on the dotted line is that for my required white paintwork the only interior colour option is pink. They call it “Soho” but it looks bordello pink to me. FoMoCo (or their interior design people at least) seem to have got too wrapped in their own projections and marketing formula. They seem so obsessed that this car will sell to 25YO females that they have forgotten who buys white cars – people who live in the hot parts of the country, who don’t want to make a big “statement” with the colour of their car, who want to standout in poor light, but do not want to attract the attention the Highway Patrol. Is there anyone else out there who would also like a 3 Dr Zetec in White with the normal colour (grey – “Syracuse” in Int-design-speak)interior? Perhaps we could ask Ford to reconsider.

By: ZANDIT

ZANDIT — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:54:21 +0000

CA, when will we be getting an update on this and the Commodore AFM, it seems like ages?

By: TheNameless

TheNameless — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:22:44 +0000

Love the new little Fiesta. I was at Peter Warren Ford on the weekend and they had two there, a Zetec and CL. The Zetec looks great and the interior plastics seem very top notch as well.

By: kcj

kcj — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:05:08 +0000

the fiesta resembles the holden barina (TK series) 08 immensely…. i own a holden barina 08, a big mistake was not doing a reverse drive of it before buying it. Its a safety hazard when i can’t even look properly into a small narrow back view when over taking in a 100m 5 lane road. I HOPE the fiesta isn’t like it.

By: Adam (aka Mada)

Adam (aka Mada) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:48:32 +0000

Mike,

Agreed.

Also, some believe how can the fiesta be a class leader, it’s a Ford!

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:18:08 +0000

Geni,
You have hit it right on the head by beating me to it.

Ford need the Econetic model here. They need that “Green Halo car” here as it will propel the sales of the other variants aswell.

The name of the game is Perception, and Toyota have nailed it.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:43:50 +0000

I love how people want the technology of a 50k+ car in a 15 k car. Apples and Oranges.

By: phillip

phillip — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:20:49 +0000

Even Carpoint are raving about the new Fiesta, calling it a class leader by a margin. This is an enormous compliment from a site that rarely has nice things to say about 4-cyl Fords.

Even the previous model Fiesta was a class leader in terms of drivability, so it’s nice to see that Ford have presented such an all-round package in this new model. Ford Oz should also give serious consideration to the TDCi models, as these have always been class-leaders in Europe.

By: summerschool

summerschool — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:12:38 +0000

its going to be a hard year for car dealers in 2009.
i hope they’re well prepared
new cars coming in and the cash is goin to stretch real thin….

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:52:12 +0000

B Man, thank you for correcting me, I did mean in line 6 (I make that mistake all the time).

Matt, I knew what you were talking about, however indicators are another one people won’t stop complaining about. Review after review, people complain about the buttons on the dashboard being too far away from the drivers seat and all sorts like that and I don’t see why it’s such a problem. It’s quite easy to get around.

By: ZoomZoom

ZoomZoom — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:12:08 +0000

JasonP,
I would be interested in finding out how your barina is better than your current car.
It definitely isn’t better in safety, dynamics or stlye.

By: The Salesman

The Salesman — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:46:58 +0000

JasonP,
Daewoo was the cheapest solution for Holden (already owned by GM). Don’t forget this industry is consumer driven, the constant push for cheaper prices, better quality and more features forces manufactures to out source or merge. This is not a new idea; many car companies share technology or have development alliances to reduce the cost of developing. A totally new and unique product would cost millions more. The only way to change this trend would be to convince the buying public to spend more money on their next purchase. Tough job.
We are assuming of course that the cheap cars are of bad quality, at a price point of say $13,000 , 5 years warranty and the latest passive and active safety included, they make for a good argument. Don’t forget they must also pass every contrary’s design rules.
My involvement in Korean cars is no mistake, Hyundai – Kia is the next Toyota and i made deliberate steps to be in a position were growth is assured. I would rather be a big fish in a little pond, than a little fish in a big pond :)

By: JasonP

JasonP — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:17:28 +0000

Salesman,

So you’d agree with Holdens’ policy of building sales via their Daewoo supply chain?

Bearing in mind of course your own involvement in furthering the Korean Cause in Oz?

:-)

I looked briefly at the current (Korean) Barina, having owned the last of the Euro ones from 05 to 07.

And, well, even as a Holden Tragic, I just couldn’t.

Happy enough with the Mazda 2, but in many ways, my 05 Euro Barina was a better car.