2004 Ford Fiesta 1.4

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jUgg3rnAutZA

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So I have the opportunity to purchase a 2004 Ford Fiesta 1.4 (2 door) for R60k and I was wondering if this is a good deal or not. I currently drive a 2000 Opel Corsa Utility and my main reason for "upgrading" is to gain a couple of extras such as power steering, ABS, air conditioning, electric windows, etc. Given that I will sell my Corsa before buying the Fiesta I won't take such a major financial hit at all. Also, I walk to work so the only times I really drive are on weekends. This is why I want to spend as little as possible on a car.

I was just wondering whether anyone here still drives one of these Fiestas and whether they are good cars? Also, since it is rather old, would there be anything specific I need to replace or have looked at perhaps? The car is in very good condition as far as I know and the current owner has been keeping up with the services. The only big thing I know of that was replaced was the radiator.

Any help would be appreciated :)
 
I had major problems with mine, but I know a couple of people who never had any issues with theirs...
 
My previous car was a 2004 1.4 trend 2door...I have mixed feelings about it.

I bought it in 2009 and traded it in last year.

For the majority of my ownership I had no complaints. However, in the last 2 years it gave me some pretty serious issues. The scheduled cambelt change caused some issues with the waterpump. I had the pump replaced 3 times which was...frustrating

I'm not sure if this was a dealer fault or not so I don't want to say avoid the car but this kind of soured my experience with it

Other problem with the 2 door is that the doors tend to wear and open all the way with the slightest wind, hitting other cars in the parking or closing on your leg

The seat release levers to get into the rear seats are notoriously bad and break all the time.not cheap to fix.
 
phoenix99 said:
My previous car was a 2004 1.4 trend 2door...I have mixed feelings about it.

I bought it in 2009 and traded it in last year.

For the majority of my ownership I had no complaints. However, in the last 2 years it gave me some pretty serious issues. The scheduled cambelt change caused some issues with the waterpump. I had the pump replaced 3 times which was...frustrating

I'm not sure if this was a dealer fault or not so I don't want to say avoid the car but this kind of soured my experience with it

Other problem with the 2 door is that the doors tend to wear and open all the way with the slightest wind, hitting other cars in the parking or closing on your leg

The seat release levers to get into the rear seats are notoriously bad and break all the time.not cheap to fix.
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Doesn't sound too promising. I'm hoping I won't have any issues though since I'll be driving like twice a week.
 
With the seat release clips just be extremely careful when using...they are plastic and break all the time. I eventually just tied a nylon rope "hand pull" to the release cable because Ford wanted to charge me close to R1500 to fix one side
 
technically it is a 3 door.

but I had a charcoal 2004 1.4, bought with 12k the clock and sold it on 103k. only real issues I had
- clutch pedal or cable snapped on about 78k
- the black plastic bits on the doors at windows came lose. so as soon as you start seeing them coming off, invest in some very good double sided tape and pratley putty
- replacing the bulb in the 3rd top brake light was mission, even the ford dealer broke the unit when I asked them to replace the bulb
but apart from that I was very happy with the car
 
You can buy a 2010 or 2011 Ford Figo for R65 000 to R75 000, so if able to stretch your budget...

So that's a much newer vehicle with the same engine. Only thing you would miss out on is the electric windows (unless you can get the Trend version as opposed to the more available Ambiente).

Regarding the car you asked about, they are pretty hardy, but things can go wrong with all things mechanical but nothing specific with these cars that are an issue (beyond the forward lean chair handle thing).
 
I have a 2006 Fiesta 1.4, 3 door trend. Have owned for just over 4 years, no problems thus far.

Only thing that's cost me is I've managed to damage the low-hanging bumper twice by reversing over things. Certainly more my fault than the car's though.
 
supersunbird said:
You can buy a 2010 or 2011 Ford Figo for R65 000 to R75 000, so if able to stretch your budget...

So that's a much newer vehicle with the same engine. Only thing you would miss out on is the electric windows (unless you can get the Trend version as opposed to the more available Ambiente).

Regarding the car you asked about, they are pretty hardy, but things can go wrong with all things mechanical but nothing specific with these cars that are an issue (beyond the forward lean chair handle thing).
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None here in Cape Town at that price (at least not on Autotrader), And even the ones that cost around R85 000 have about 70 000 kms on the clock. To me that is quite a lot for a 2011/2012 model. The Fiesta I am looking at has 117 000 kms
 
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FuLL_MeT4L said:
I have a 2006 Fiesta 1.4, 3 door trend. Have owned for just over 4 years, no problems thus far.

Only thing that's cost me is I've managed to damage the low-hanging bumper twice by reversing over things. Certainly more my fault than the car's though.
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Are you still driving yours?
 
Have the 2004 1.4 fiesta, great car. In pocess of selling it though. Cheap to maintain. Just the back shelf that squeak a bit.
 
EtTA said:
Cool. My biggest fear of buying such an old car with 117 000 km on the clock is engine failure soon after buying it :confused:
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Engines don't simply fail at 100k+ mileage, though I'm not sure I'd buy one.

The timing belt on the Fiesta is supposed to be replaced at 120 000 km on the Fiesta, I believe. I'm due to do mine soon.
 
EtTA said:
Cool. My biggest fear of buying such an old car with 117 000 km on the clock is engine failure soon after buying it :confused:
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These cars engines can be reconditioned, for less than the cost of a service of some newer cars. So no need to worry.
Btw, just make sure they replaced the cambelt on that 117k km fiesta. The old service book states 160k km, but Ill rather do it on 100k.
 
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