1993 Fiesta Ghia 1.3 - is this a good buy?

[Split_Pin]

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/ww ... egLetter=K

 

http://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servlet/media?id=17500426

 

 

Hi,

 

My quest for a 'runaround' continues. What are peoples opinions in this car. The years MOT and 6 months tax attracts me, or is circa £400 for a dented Fiesta too much? Its also only about 10 miles from me, so little petrol costs to get there.

 

I'd appreciate any advice or help

 

Thanks

 

Iain

 

Edit - cant seem to link to the pic in the usual way for some reason.

[Pillock]

Hmmm, worth a look! 38k seems low but then these had 5-digit odometers so 138k is more likely. Would make a low offer though, can't think a 15 year old 1.3 automatic is going to get sold overly quickly. And I may be a cynic but check the MoT online, I'm always very wary of cheap cars with a full years ticket (I know I know, a lot of folks on here like to MoT stuff before sale, I've just been stung before)Dented doors shouldn't be an issue, check the usual rust areas on Fords of this era (i.e. any metal bits). Seems a decent enough spec to keep you happy if it all works.

[Split_Pin]

Cheers Chris Do you know of a link where I can check the MOT online?

[Richard]

You can't unless you have a number off the V5 or MOT certificate.It's not hard to do your own "MOT". Any bald tyres, defective lights or ominous clunks are a dead giveaway that it's a shonky MOT.

[Split_Pin]

Cheers Think I'll just have a butchers at this one and an escort I've seen for a bit more money. WIll give them both a good look over, hopefully they wont be dodgy!

[andrew e]

RUN AWAY RUN AWAY

 

Its a CVT equpped Ford, do some research, that gearbox is the transmission equivilant of the K-series head gasket. As an aside I know where you can get an AX elation for that money in Newcastle, its a Diesel too

[Guest]

Agree with above-Had 5 ax's they are far better + diesel is ideal for tightwad motoring

[VWPowered]

even 1.1 AX's are super economical

[garycox]

Personally I'd have a Mk3 Fiesta over an AX any day, I'd go for a manual though and £400 is probably a bit much for that one IMO... If it was a manual and about £300 I'd say it was a good buy.

[andrew e]

I've had both, but I'd just steer cleer of the CVT (CTX) box. Mind you I'd bank on £30 for a pair of new wishbones on any 14 year old fiesta regardless.

[AXrescuer]

I would agree that you should avoid any Fiesta with that gearbox. I myself have an 1989 Fiesta 1.1 but usually can be found reviving seemingly expired AXs as a hobby. But, I would go for a manual Fiesta to be honest. If you do get an AX just make sure you don't hit anything substantial in it and you'll be ok!

[andrew e]

Amen to that [runs magnet over knee caps]

[mk2_craig]

The Ford CVT can be fragile and tracking down a recon replacement might prove tricky, however I personally wouldn't be scared of it and if it came to the worst then converting it to 5-speed manual is not a hugely difficult job with plenty of rotten donor cars out there. Think I've got a spare pair of red doors for a mk3 sitting up in my Edinburgh lock-up!

[Split_Pin]

Cheers for the replies I was thinking about this auto-box today, and was having doubts about a 14-year -old auto, but I'm not really clued up on the CVT at all, so think I'll steer clear.Just missed out on that Escort too, £495 with 88k, 1 year mot and 6 month tax. Bottoms.Theres a couple of Corsas with a years ticket, but at over £700 and 12 years old, theyre a bit much.Hmm.

[garycox]

I bought a K reg Escort 1.4LX off ebay 18 months ago with T&T for £140... Oh and I bought a nice Fiesta (113k though) 1.1LX for £100 and smoked about in that for a while... U JEALOUS? But seriously, is it that hard to get a cheap old ford these days? Maybe I'm just not fussy enough, I'll drive any old crap

[Split_Pin]

I am a bit jealous actually!It seems so hard to get a decent motor for about £500 nicker these days!!

[alfetta]

I've had 3 fiesta's - all rot boxes. The mk3 was the worse, inert steering - handled like a boat....bag of nails OHV or if you're lucky a CVH...AX's don't rot (surprisingly) and reliabilty was spot on in my experience. People go on about paper thin body panels, but the bits you can't see were pretty decent. (rear ended by a rover 25, the rover came off worse...)55mpg from a 1.0i...petrol fez you're lucky to get 35....

[Split_Pin]

I ended up picking up a Vectra with 67k and a years mot for £795 - comfy old barge.

[Pillock]

Hmmm, fairly honest motoring. I had one, it's now in the hands of the ex-wife so hopefully it'll catch fire with her in it. SRI140 with the 2.0 engine and fairly nice sporty bits. They're a bit dull but honest, loads of them in the scrappy so lots of lovely spares. Diesels go on for ever, the petrols have a few niggly faults (idle control valves, fractured exhaust manifold studs, poor economy) but that's pretty low miles you have there.