New car choice- Fiesta zetec-s tdci OR ibiza tdi?

[bondbill2k2]

Im looking to change my car in a few months times im looking around the 5k mark and diesel as I do around 60miles per day for work

 

Currently I have a ford focus studio tdci 1.6 06 plate with 113k on the clock, its not the most powerful thing around but its still pulls nice and reliable as a brick sh*t house. Im after something abit smaller too...

 

So my two favourite choices for reasonable milage and around an 05 plate are an Ibiza diesel (have looked at the FR but insurance isnt great) and the fiesta zetec-s tdci which has good style, simular engine to the focus, low insurance (group 6) £30 a year tax and brilliant fuel economy, over 50mpg urban, over 10mpg more then the ibiza.

 

 

What would you guys choose?

 

I've also looked into MK5 golfs but they are very bland if there a none GT tdi I think, the polo comes across as a more girly car (and the GF owns ones lol) ive owned a clio which I hated with a passion, Leon is abit pricey again id rather get an FR if that was the case, C2 too small, C3 too bubbly.... 05> Honda civics abit big, better speced focus was another idea (a titanium 2.0 diesel maybe) but I fancy change...

 

Yes im fussy

 

 

http://www.parkers.co.uk/imagecache/file/650/archive/SEAT/Ibiza%20(02-)/Reference_01.jpg

http://www.parkers.co.uk/imagecache/file/650/archive/Ford/Fiesta%20(02-)/097350100_1214493373.jpg

 

(a none checkered version tho )

Edited February 7, 2011 by bondbill2k2

[sted]

having owned both i wouldnt touch the ibiza with a 10ft pole it was a dreadful car badly screwed together rattled diddnt like anything other than a straight line it was a poor car. Currently got an 08 fiesta zetec s only things i will say against it is it needs a 6th gear in the motorway and the wheels appear to be made of butter they seem to be fairly wasy to buckle (and this is also from friends i know with the same car)

[bondbill2k2]

having owned both i wouldnt touch the ibiza with a 10ft pole it was a dreadful car badly screwed together rattled diddnt like anything other than a straight line it was a poor car. )

I knew seat had build issues in the past but I didnt think they were this recent! I think comparing those two pictures even the fiesta looks much better and having two friends who have owned fiestas (an 05 and an 07) but they were both 1.25 zetecs, they were a fun, nippy little car with good room for a vehicle of its size and well equipt with modern tech.

 

Up till last september I had an 03 115 zetec tdci focus which was great and had full climate pack, half leathers,AC,alloys, nice stero etc, this 06 studio doesnt even have central locking and came with a tape player! SO a zetec-s would be a nice upgrade both in luxury terms and fun (its going to be more fun on the country roads to and from work then the same powers much heavier focus i'd expect)

[sted]

I knew seat had build issues in the past but I didnt think they were this recent! I think comparing those two pictures even the fiesta looks much better and having two friends who have owned fiestas (an 05 and an 07) but they were both 1.25 zetecs, they were a fun, nippy little car with good room for a vehicle of its size and well equipt with modern tech.

 

Up till last september I had an 03 115 zetec tdci focus which was great and had full climate pack, half leathers,AC,alloys, nice stero etc, this 06 studio doesnt even have central locking and came with a tape player! SO a zetec-s would be a nice upgrade both in luxury terms and fun (its going to be more fun on the country roads to and from work then the same powers much heavier focus i'd expect)

 

its only a 90bhp engine but its fast enough. Try and get one with heated front the zs is teh only modewl in the range where it wasnt standard towards the end as they had to differentiate it from the st (i wish mine had one) auto lights / wipers / power fold mirrors are nice but not exactly essential lol. depending on the age /2 leater is stanard about 57ish its cloth

[tommej]

Having also owned an ibiza, stay away.

 

Get a golf.

[pantscat]

You'll be disappointed if you go from the Focus to the Fester... the Focus feels much more "grown-up" and comfy.

I had a Focus 2.0Tdci and then a Fiesta 1.6 (petrol) Zetec and although the fiesta was a good little car, the Focus was much more comfortable and seemed to handle better too.

 

If you could stretch to the new shape Fiesta then you might be on to a winner...

[rad]

Of the two I'd go for a Fiesta.

 

I currently have (57 reg) and also had a Focus Mk1 (53 reg), if I were to downsize it would be another Ford. The Fiesta would be the choice all depending on budget.

 

The Seat cars are based on the VW sub frame, similar to the Skoda, sounds wrong but I'd prefer a Skoda over the Seat, have you looked into the Ibiza Brothers and Sisters, the Skoda Fabia Vrs, the VW Polo GTi.

[SteveBentley]

I suspect the Fiesta would be cheaper to insure.

[sted]

I suspect the Fiesta would be cheaper to insure.

 

i wouldnt bank on it fiesta are actually (or seem to be) expensive to insure

 

Im not 100% on the new fez driven it as courtesy cars a few times and apart from the clutch rest being nice (biggest thing apart from the seats i miss from my st170) theres just something i cant put my finger on that dosent feel right but that could just be the courtesy have been poverty spec 1.25 60 bhp

[bondbill2k2]

Of the two I'd go for a Fiesta.

I currently have (57 reg) and also had a Focus Mk1 (53 reg), if I were to downsize it would be another Ford. The Fiesta would be the choice all depending on budget.

The Seat cars are based on the VW sub frame, similar to the Skoda, sounds wrong but I'd prefer a Skoda over the Seat, have you looked into the Ibiza Brothers and Sisters, the Skoda Fabia Vrs, the VW Polo GTi.

 

The new fabia VRS's are very nice, tho for my budget (£5000 or less depending how much I get for my focus) I'm looking at the older styled 1.9 tdi vrs with 130bhp, 0-60 9.5.

 

The golfs are pretty expensive being VW, ive already had a MK4 and wouldn't have another (piston rings went, central locking went, twice the window dropped of the runners, boot lock went) their not the best for insurance either, at 21 insurance is an issue

 

 

Can pick the fiestas for a good price with good mileage too

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201105379022013/sort/priceasc/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/maximum-mileage/up_to_60000_miles/maximum-age/up_to_5_years_old/transmission/manual/body-type/hatchback/model/fiesta/make/ford/radius/1500/postcode/wv38bs/page/1/keywords/zetec-s?logcode=p

 

 

its only a 90bhp engine but its fast enough. Try and get one with heated front the zs is teh only modewl in the range where it wasnt standard towards the end as they had to differentiate it from the st (i wish mine had one) auto lights / wipers / power fold mirrors are nice but not exactly essential lol. depending on the age /2 leater is stanard about 57ish its cloth

 

My old focus was the 115bhp mk1 version and it was great fun, my current one is the 1.6 90bhp version 0-60 in 12.6, so the fiesta is actually quicker and if I wanted more power a remap/bluefin should see around 30bhp more on the fiesta.

 

Tommej I'm not so sure I would be disappointed as my focus is the 1.6 90bhp peasant spec model.

 

Also thought about the 150bhp astra diesels but having drove my mates petrol astra last week I wasnt a big fan, bad rear viability, interior was very bland, very plastic and the dated looking display screen were off putting

Edited February 7, 2011 by bondbill2k2

[john]

The golfs are pretty expensive being VW, ive already had a MK4 and wouldn't have another (piston rings went, central locking went, twice the window dropped of the runners, boot lock went) their not the best for insurance either, at 21 insurance is an issue

I'm a VAG car person, love my VWs, currently enjoy my MK4. Not had those issues on mine thankfully, but know all of them are fairly well known Piston rings I've seen mentioned a few times on UKMKIVs website (I suffer from Camshaft and Tappits being eaten away ), Central Locking yup it was a weak point, but the last point about the boot lock thats the rear wash wipe leaking and it screws the boot lock as it leaks onto it and the electrics for it and thus can fry your central locking Window dropping is down to silly plastic catches and you need to ensure you fit / have fitted the metal replacements as some people seem to have a stock pile of the plastic ones that just go brittle

 

 

I agree the MK5 is bland, and cheap interior wise compared to the MK4, the reason being Green and Econess and the fact that the focus was lots of plastic when the MK4 was designed it was designed to top the Focus (as it was the Escort replacement that was supposed to be amazing) so VW really went to town and boy can you feel it on long drives So comfy

 

The GT TDI model in the MK5 is still plasticy and not as nice for my liking, thus I'll either wait till the MK6 before cheaper (and get a GTD) or go to an Audi instead, or keep my eyes peeled for a same age but lower mileage MK4 than what I have now.

 

 

As for what to get, I'd go for an Ibiza, I like them as small nippy little cars, wouldn't' have one personally not enough room for all my junk I carry but perfectly good cars usually although it seems some people here have had bad ones Maybe they were built before afternoon nap time in the factory or something lol

[EduTech]

You know you want a Nice Vauxhall Corsa in White!

 

 

 

;-)

[bondbill2k2]

You know you want a Nice Vauxhall Corsa in White!

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9395[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9396[/ATTACH]

 

;-)

 

Ha ill pass, they dont look too bad the newer shape but its no vxr, if I wasnt doing 300+ miles per week Id prob get a nice sporty petrol car but no such luck!

 

Zetec-s and remap I think it is, a nice 125-130bhp fun hatchback with super economy

[EduTech]

Ha ill pass, they dont look too bad the newer shape but its no vxr, if I wasnt doing 300+ miles per week Id prob get a nice sporty petrol car but no such luck!

 

Zetec-s and remap I think it is, a nice 125-130bhp fun hatchback with super economy

 

I know sorry! wasn't really helping the discussion

 

I do approx. 900 Miles per month average in that car! (not the VXR) bit of a drinker for fuel! i'll be changing it in a year or so i was a nice Audi A3 S-Line personally but we shall see how that pans out.

 

The VW GOLF's are supposed to be really good cars to be honest from what i have heard.

 

James.

[john]

I know sorry! wasn't really helping the discussion

 

I do approx. 900 Miles per month average in that car! (not the VXR) bit of a drinker for fuel! i'll be changing it in a year or so i was a nice Audi A3 S-Line personally but we shall see how that pans out.

 

The VW GOLF's are supposed to be really good cars to be honest from what i have heard.

 

James.

 

James, I can assure you that you wont have an A3 S-Line next year unless you only have 3rd party insurance or are just very silly on price, they are VERY expensive cars to insure due to high residual values, high theft rate and high repair costs. I know I priced one up and I'm an old person when it comes to driving and also have age on my side, it was horrid the quote even for me compared to a new Golf GTD which was cheaper!

[bondbill2k2]

Yep Audis in genral have a very high premium both in purchase price (they keep their value well, for an 05-06 tdi with decent milage im looking 7k+ where golfs around 6k+ and fiesta 5k+.

 

I did some reading on the Fabia Vrs and it seems pretty dam good to be fair, reviewers are all for it and rate everything about it, it packs a real little punch too and will out perform the FR, I would expect simular issues with the fabia as the ibiza tho with the same underpinnings and designed as a "Cheaper VW" but ive not read any bad bits on reliablity/build quality.

 

Still unsure on the look of them tho, ive seen some nice ones and some dog awful ones

 

These don't look too bad for example

http://imganuncios.mitula.net/skoda_fabia_diesel_hatchback_1_9_tdi_pd_130_vrs_5dr_92690600665484702.jpg

http://www.parkers.co.uk/imagecache/file/650/archive/Skoda/Fabia%20vRS/Skoda06-.jpg

 

But the fiesta does look nicer and a remaped fiesta would have around the same power, with remaps only being around £250-300 and insurance specalists like brentacre will allow alot of performance mods and any amount of visual mods (and lowering) with no additional cost, my GF is paying £700 a year at 21 with 1years ncb on her polo 1.4 16v 100bhp, lowered 60mm, tints, smooth grill, sub & stero etc.... all declared, I had a quote from them last year for under 1k on a Fiesta ST (was curious and doing quotes for this year)

[mthomas08]

having owned both i wouldnt touch the ibiza with a 10ft pole it was a dreadful car badly screwed together rattled diddnt like anything other than a straight line it was a poor car. Currently got an 08 fiesta zetec s only things i will say against it is it needs a 6th gear in the motorway and the wheels appear to be made of butter they seem to be fairly wasy to buckle (and this is also from friends i know with the same car)

 

I would agree here, although I have a 2009 new fiesta titanium and it has started to make a few noises...

 

Personally if i went back in time I would of upped the money for some thing bigger and better like the Focus, it had many more better reviews then the fiesta.

 

Although I would shop around but then thats me

[bondbill2k2]

Collecting tomorrow

1.6 tdci 07 plate model with all extras, bluetooth headset with voice activation, auto wipers, auto lights, climate control, parking sensors

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/Bondbill2k2/DSC_0879JPGAltered.jpg

[EduTech]

That looks nice mate!! bigger rims always set a car of nice i think.. nice one!

[3s-gtech]

[teacher voice]Remember to declare the aftermarket wheels on the insurance![/teacher voice]

[EduTech]

[teacher voice]Remember to declare the aftermarket wheels on the insurance![/teacher voice]

 

Thumbs Up!

 

I declared everything on my car and it did not increase the insurance premium due to it not increasing the performance of the vehicle. So worth doing! :-)

[bondbill2k2]

Of course! Alot policys wont change as it has alloys on it already, in fact they are cheaper then fords own wheels. Part of me is unsure about the after market wheels and im tempted to get some normal zs ones or ST wheels. Edited April 3, 2011 by bondbill2k2

[MatthewL]

I say get the Ibiza, I have the FR but its obviously too late now.

 

The Ibiza wins easily over the Fiesta in my eyes.

[sted]

I say get the Ibiza, I have the FR but its obviously too late now.

 

The Ibiza wins easily over the Fiesta in my eyes.

almost everyone i know with a seat has build/reliability issues (tbh same with all vw based cars) the people i know with fords/vauxhalls/citroens combined have more cars and less problems

 

Of course! Alot policys wont change as it has alloys on it already, in fact they are cheaper then fords own wheels. Part of me is unsure about the after market wheels and im tempted to get some normal zs ones or ST wheels.

 

they look like 17" rather than the standard 16" though it may just be lowered arch gap looks too small for standard suspension/16"s

 

http://www.stedscarpics.net/gallery/albums/08zstdci/IMG_3232.JPG

 

http://www.stedscarpics.net/gallery/albums/08zstdci/IMG_3727.JPG

[bondbill2k2]

I say get the Ibiza, I have the FR but its obviously too late now.

 

The Ibiza wins easily over the Fiesta in my eyes.

 

Ive been driving the fiesta over the weekend a fair bit and average MPG hasnt dropped below 53mpg, did over 250 miles on less then half a tank without driving carefully too. It has lots of optional extras including bluetooth handsfree and voice control for all the equiptment including voice control phone dialing (useful) auto wipers, auto lights, parking sensors, climate control, power fold mirrors.

 

Also that I picked this up for a good 2k less then any 57 reg ibiza FR ive seen for sale and insurance is abit cheaper + £30 tax, even with all mods declared (only £50 more per year for all mods) im paying under £900 at 21 with admiral

 

Also enquired about remap, puts it up by £60 a year, not too bad but realy enjoy it. Yea standard zetec-s rims would look abit strange and too small, Just looked and ST alloys are 17"