1 useful vote
Review Ford Fiesta 1.1 Manual 1989
Submitted by chelseaboy
Key strengths: Cornering and handling ability are great!
Areas for improvement: Wheel bearings, creaking plastic interior, oil consumption
I have had my Fiesta for 4 years, and still think its one of the best cars I have ever bought.
Its very reliable, never broken down and always starts first time, even after 115,000 miles.
The simple mechanics and robust engine means it goes on for ever, despite becoming noisy and getting through a fair bit of oil.
The 1.1 Fiesta was never a performance machine. I have been beaten by mopeds, lorries and the odd tractor, but who cares when you get 55 miles per gallon?
Motorway driving is not ideal. The car happily revs to 3k at 60mph, and will stick at 65 all day long. Just watch that oil drop at anything over 70, and don't even think about accelerating up hills, it just won't do it.
I have been all over the country with it, it's a proper little workhorse, and its never missed a beat.
I have driven it hard, getting to 5k rpm in the first 4 gears (5 never gets past 4k at 95mph - on private roads of course), the car only really feels like its pulling when the revs get over 4k, but that's not really practical for everyday driving.
The cornering and handling ability are great fun, provided you want to see your lunch again. It really wallows around corners and doesn't inspire confidence. But, that's not really a problem as you'll never be able to approach a corner at great speed anyway!
I like the handling because despite bouncy suspension and soft damping, I have never made it lose grip, even with 13" wheels and chunky tyres. I did once get it to under-steer round a corner...
To get any sort of performance, you need to work the 55 bhp engine very hard!
To sum up, its very reliable, economical, entertaining and makes an ideal first car or everyday drive. But, it does like its oil, the creaks from the dash drive you insane, its woefully slow and sounds like a blender full of pebbles when revved.
Rear wheel bearings needed replacing.
Dash creaks all the time.
Eats oil - 115,000 miles.
Bit of rust around the arches and valances.
General wear and tear.
The running costs for Ford Fiesta 1.1 Manual are normal
Areas for improvement: Wheel bearings, creaking plastic interior, oil consumption
I have had my Fiesta for 4 years, and still think its one of the best cars I have ever bought.
Its very reliable, never broken down and always starts first time, even after 115,000 miles.
The simple mechanics and robust engine means it goes on for ever, despite becoming noisy and getting through a fair bit of oil.
The 1.1 Fiesta was never a performance machine. I have been beaten by mopeds, lorries and the odd tractor, but who cares when you get 55 miles per gallon?
Motorway driving is not ideal. The car happily revs to 3k at 60mph, and will stick at 65 all day long. Just watch that oil drop at anything over 70, and don't even think about accelerating up hills, it just won't do it.
I have been all over the country with it, it's a proper little workhorse, and its never missed a beat.
I have driven it hard, getting to 5k rpm in the first 4 gears (5 never gets past 4k at 95mph - on private roads of course), the car only really feels like its pulling when the revs get over 4k, but that's not really practical for everyday driving.
The cornering and handling ability are great fun, provided you want to see your lunch again. It really wallows around corners and doesn't inspire confidence. But, that's not really a problem as you'll never be able to approach a corner at great speed anyway!
I like the handling because despite bouncy suspension and soft damping, I have never made it lose grip, even with 13" wheels and chunky tyres. I did once get it to under-steer round a corner...
To get any sort of performance, you need to work the 55 bhp engine very hard!
To sum up, its very reliable, economical, entertaining and makes an ideal first car or everyday drive. But, it does like its oil, the creaks from the dash drive you insane, its woefully slow and sounds like a blender full of pebbles when revved.
Rear wheel bearings needed replacing.
Dash creaks all the time.
Eats oil - 115,000 miles.
Bit of rust around the arches and valances.
General wear and tear.
The running costs for Ford Fiesta 1.1 Manual are normal
Safety: 74
Reliability: 73
Equipment: 66
Comfort: 81
Design: 65
Driving: 90
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