Ford Fiesta mk6 1.6 Auto - Now Bought!

[SiC]

I have been drafted in by wife to look around a 2008 Fiesta 1.6 Auto (petrol) for one of her friends tomorrow. However I have no idea of what to look out for on these!

 

Style trim, 76k miles - they want £2k. No advisories on last MOT. Unfortunately currently SORN, so I can't go for any decent test drive. I've given her disclaimer that I can't guarantee any 8 year old small auto and not be responsible if it craps itself.

 

Anyone know anything about them and common faults?

 

I assume these boxes slushes?

 

Any spots where they rust (because Ford)??

[Kiltox]

Sounds cheap for the year and mileage to me!

 

1.25 and 1.4 are plagued with issues caused by washer jets letting water through the bonnet onto the HT leads causing a misfire, no idea if the 1.6 is the same

[egg]

1.6 is the same I think.

 

Is it a true automatic or one of those complex durashift things that seem to create pages of techie stuff on Ford forums....

[SiC]

According to google I believe it's the mk7 that gained the Powershift/Powershit robo-box. However that might be wrong ...

 

Problem finding small autos is that there are absolutely loads of small manuals, buy virtually no small autos. As she's going for an auto driving test, it has to be an auto.

[castros_bro]

Is it the 1.6 semi-auto Festa with dura shift ?  If so then I'll write a long saga of ownership/despair.?

[SiC]

How can I tell on these?!

I assume engaging gear on a robo-box won't load the engine down and pull forward while holding the brake like a slush box does?

 

Do Ford do sealed for life rubbish on their slush autos?

[Cavcraft]

They're horrible and the plastic trims behind the front doors will fall off.

[EssDeeWon]

These Fiesta's are for winners!  Forget anything after the MK2

 

[Cavcraft]

To be fair the early Mk3s were great little things with a bit of character. IMHO any Fiesta sort of 1994 on is just awful. In fact, the last of the Mk3s (or whatever they were called) with the different grille from about 1995 on were truly dreadful cars and in the same league of hatefulness as an Escort.

[SiC]

I did suggest my Saab (with its dodgy auto box) would be a great thing for her. Apparently not.

 

I don't really have much choice what she likes (nor care too much). I'm just being dragged in to make sure she doesn't by an absolute lemon.

 

I know the general stuff to look out for on a used car, however I just was wondering if there was anything on the Fiestas worth focusing my attention on, what's normal (that might not ordinarily be on other cars) and what are the big gotchas..

[Cavcraft]

I  Unfortunately currently SORN, so I can't go for any decent test drive.

 

Only just spotted that, to be perfectly honest I'd give it a miss if you can't drive it. Could be an expensive mistake for her if it's knackered.

[SiC]

Boughted.

 

Service history up to 2013. 15k miles since then. ATF was darkish red but still smelt sweet (it was a slush box). No record of cambelt. Her family friend is a mechanic, so she can get that done cheaply and easily.

 

Everything worked bar aircon and the passenger up window switch (driver side control for the passenger window worked fine).

 

They were situated on a quiet private* lane, so got a chance for a good blizzle up and down there. Started fine, changed through the gears smoothly. Braked straight and true. Front discs and pads looked brand new.

 

MOT was last done at a local fast fit type place (in and out) a week ago. Was SORN 3 months ago. Still had the confirmation slip in the pack with all the old MOTs.

 

It was his girlfriend's dad's car (backed up by scuffed trims and giffer door protectors). Only slightly dodgy thing was the V5 was not at the right address (still in Bristol though) and the girlfriend's dad was away till Thursday. I made sure my wife's friend was aware of the risk. VIN matched up on the car with V5, totalcarcheck came back clean with V5 details - not stolen or written off (didn't bother with finance check at this price).

 

He was more than willing to arrange to meet back up on Thursday and the girlfriend's parents house to sell it then. Decided to just go ahead and fill the form in and get it all done. Got a written receipt too, just in case.

 

Parted with £1800 cash and the job was done.

 

I didn't like the fact the v5 was different address, but everything else stacked up ok and I made her aware of the risks. Should be alright! (I hope!)

[carlo]

Doesn't seem out of the way on price, and a tidy thing.  Seemed to pass under the radar a bit those Mk 6 Fiestas.  Apparently drove very well if a bit tinny and the interior always seemed a bit meh to me, especially with that cheap leather they put on the Ghias.

 

Would be interested to know how good that auto box is, looks like a proper torque converter auto?

[SiC]

Yeah it had a dipstick and smelt like ATF. Second hand gearboxes for a similar aged car on eBay are slush too, which backs it up.

 

Actually changed pretty smoothly. Very sprightly off the line - much quicker than my Laguna or Saab. Ford 1.6s are only 100bhp (compared to most manufacturers 110+bhp of similar era) but they're not that heavy cars. I suspect it's the same drivetrain they put in the Focus. Not a bad little motor. Glad they didn't couple it with any smaller engine.

 

Bit of an eye opener driving a small car after so long. Great fun to drive around corners, but sadly lacking in the noise, vibration and harshness department. Even my diesel civic is quieter and more refined.

[Kiltox]

Well bought I reckon

[Bren]

At least it does'nt have the horrible manual gear lever gaiter that looks like the bastard child of a mk 3 cortina item and a walnut whip.

[egg]

Good work. Re the noise, they all do that sir. Fusion is probably worse....

[Noel Tidybeard]

if its anything like my mates mums fusion auto it will se absolutely shite on fuel

[RichL]

A/C Condensers are a common fail on these and Fusions. A small stone is enough to put a hole in one. 

 

Euro Car Parts stock OE spec ones for £not much.

[Pillock]

They look way better in black than the 99.5â„… of them that were silver.

[Noel Tidybeard]

don't expect that the seat tilt handles will work- TADTS

[SiC]

The handled that allow them to pull the back forward, so that passengers can get in? Both worked! First thing I checked - experience from owning 3dr Clio's...