Oppo Review: 1996 Ford Fiesta: Cheap Thrill That Hates Passengers

"Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy" (zipppyart) 09/23/2014 at 20:50 • Filed to: Review, Ford Fiesta, Ford, Cheap cars

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The Ford Fiesta, Now in its 6th generation, is pretty much now known by enthusiasts for its snappy ST trim and blitzing performance in a small package worldwide, things weren't always so freakishly quick. The 4th generation model from 1995-98 was none of those things, and had no option for a "go fast" trim, you Bought a Ford Puma instead.

See? the car is in HD!

The Fiesta of this generation was sold in Europe, South America, and for the first time, South Africa. It proved very popular where sold. Even today, Fiestas of this generation are a dime a dozen.

( Full disclaimer : Ford wanted me to drive the 4th generation Fiesta so bad, that they convinced my oldest cousin to buy one used, who promptly tinkered with it, and convinced me to board a plane to Portugal to drive it.)

Exterior : 4/10

The front clip in the 4th generation of this car is bland, stale, and just sad and droopy.

MEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHH.......BOOOORRRRIIIINNNGGG!!

The rest of the car resembles a bubbly jellybean look, very much like other cars of the era. It is tiny, and the current owner has put carbon fiber wrap around certain parts of the car for added lightness. It does accent the car well in certain places, I'll give it credit for that. The headlight lenses are glass, and never have faded out, unlike modern plastic counterparts. The clearcoat on the roof and top of the hatch is peeling off, and that is a common problem, regardless of the age, brand, or mileage of vehicle.

Also, do not park underneath those trees, Sparrows will will ruin your day. (and your paintjob!)

Interior : 5/10

Plain Jane is my name.. but sometimes I start a fiesta!

Very generic interior, very much expected in an "economy car". There's four doors, 5 seats, and it seats a family of 4 adults fairly well. It also seems to enjoy punishing passengers, there's electric windows up front, but not the back seats. The rear gets no luxuries at all.

Oh, you wanna stretch your legs in the back? forget it.

Carbon fiber wrap adds lightness, by a 0.003 of a gram per cm.

More is less, less is more, even on the Glovebox handle!

Trunk space is lessened due to an aftermarket amplifier and subwoofer. despite this, it easily fits a propane tank, or a month's worth of groceries without hassle. the trunk struts are gone, and made the hatch hit me in the back a few times without warning, while pulling out the subwoofer for space reasons.

Audio : 4/10

Watch your back, or else, prepare for pain.

That huge race inspired subwoofer? Yeah, it goes untss untss untss, and that's it, no HP or other gains, and no, it does not make the car magically receive VTEC. It is supplemented by a 500W amplifier. There is also a fancy head unit, which is nothing of such.

Untss untss untss... Or is it WUB WUB WUB? I don't follow trends.

Toys : 2/10

Steering wheel wear is UGLY.

The instrument cluster is very plain, and the odometer only shows 5 digits. The mileage is uncertain. Not sure how many times the odometer has gone over itself, and currently displays approximately 92,000 KM.

Look ma! 5 digits!

There are no gizmos, or gadgets; nothing, zilch, nada.

Buut, there is air conditioning, ...and does it work? no. Heat and air circulation work though.

Engine : 7/10

The car has a 1.25 litre Ford Zetec SE, which puts out a a respectable 75 HP at 5200 RPM, and 81 ft lbs of torque at 4000 on a good day, and it likely is putting out ideal power at this location, due to the sea being right next door. The owner has a Ford Puma swap planned, as the current engine has oil consumption issues (hence why I had to top it off 5 times), and he wants it to go a lot faster.

Acceleration : 6/10

According to internet specs, the little Zetec SE propels the car to 60 MPH in 12 seconds, which isn't bad. but of course, this is an econobox.

Dat burble.

Gases coming out of the aftermarket BRAAAAP pipe speed up the car by up to 200 microseconds, which is enough to break speed records.

Ride : 4/10

*squeak* *clunk* *creak* *THUDUDUDUD!*

Bumpy roads, common in this part of Portugal, are a pain in this car. The exhaust pipe is not properly secured, and moves all over the place making a lot of noise. The car's got lowering springs, with a car full of passengers and groceries, those stiffen up the ride by a significant amount, and the ride worsens, horribly.

And please, don't mention cobblestone at speed. AAARRGGGHH!

Transmission : 4/10

The transmission is okay, but not close to being great, it has as much play as a flimsy chair, and as much throw as a yard stick. It was hard determining if reverse was engaged or not at one point. but it still works.

Braking : 6/10

Well, it works, no shimmy and squealing here...

Value : 10/10

I am driving one of Europe's most popular cars. Parts are cheap, plentiful, and I get a whopping 75 HP in the common trim!

The suspension is best in underground parking lots. kid you not.

Final Score: 52/100

HP/Torque: 75 HP @ 5200 RPM/81 ft-lbs @ 4000 RPM

Times topped off oil sump: 5

0-60 MPH : 12 seconds. Maybe less due to BRAAAP.

Doors:Seats ratio: 1:1.25

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 09/23/2014 at 12:40

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Hohohoho, you were displaced to bacalhauland!

Zohaibman72 > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 09/23/2014 at 12:41

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Just wondering, how tall are you?

None of my family members (none of which who are overweight) can fit in the rear of a Focus, let alone Fiesta, if I'm driving, it's a big problem (we didnt buy one for my grandma because of this). Even the dealership guy couldn't and recommended the Fusion (Mondeo), which was also extremely small inside compared to my Camry, smaller than my mom's Civic. I feel like Ford has a problem with interior space, I wonder if its always been like that.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Zohaibman72 09/23/2014 at 12:50

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I'd say average height. last time I measured was years ago though. My mother is the shortest, not by much though. I had like 3 inches of head room. My brother, who's the tallest, had about 1 inch.

Klaus Schmoll > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 09/23/2014 at 12:53

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The biggest problem with this gen of Fiestas was that it was incredibly long in the tooth. It started out as this, quite a decent car at the time. But they did was give it a nose job, and then another, and let the mechanics soldier on,

Zohaibman72 > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 09/23/2014 at 12:55

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They may have downsized the interior for the current gen then... unfortunate.

Anyways, I enjoyed the review!

I might put one up for my hybrid Camry later.

I Do It For Miatas, NC Owner > Zohaibman72 09/23/2014 at 13:12

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Have you been in the new Explorer? It's so snug up front because or the massive centre console. Not a very nice place to be.

Zohaibman72 > I Do It For Miatas, NC Owner 09/23/2014 at 13:14

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The dashboards are so out in Fords, they eat up the interior. The Fusion was really cramped because of that. I can't imagine how sitting in the rear of the 7 seat explorer would feel like...

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Zohaibman72 09/23/2014 at 13:15

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Hm.. maybe I'm just used to it being so tight.

My aunt on the other side of the family had one identical, she sold it 3 years ago and got a Ford EcoSport, because she needed an SUV for her farm trips.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Goshen, formerly Darkcode 09/23/2014 at 13:15

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indeed, for two weeks. I got a few things lined up to write about.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Klaus Schmoll 09/23/2014 at 13:19

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That's what baffled me the most, it stayed mechanically identical for years, I wouldn't call a simple facelift a new generation at all. That seems to be the case for economy cars, they keep the same workings, and just put a new shell around it.

Klaus Schmoll > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 09/23/2014 at 13:28

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If it at least had been a new shell. All they did was give it new headlights and call it a day. Much like that "MKII" Focus in the US.

Zohaibman72 > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 09/23/2014 at 13:40

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Thats based on the Fiesta still (according to wikipedia), so does it have similarities like interior and stuff wise?

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Zohaibman72 09/23/2014 at 13:44

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haven't seen it in person yet, but I have been in a 1st gen model a few years back, it's like an Escape's younger brother, in other words, fairly roomy, but not in a minivan way.

Zohaibman72 > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 09/23/2014 at 13:59

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My friends Escape (2012) was actually quite roomy, compared to the other Fords I have been in. My entire family, even extended, has never owned a Ford, Lincoln or Mercury...

Cé hé sin > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 09/23/2014 at 15:09

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Yes, that would be because there's no money in a cheap car and they cost just as much to design and develop as a more expensive one.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 09/23/2014 at 15:16

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Allow me to ask, where in Portugal were you living? It's unclear from your photographs.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Goshen, formerly Darkcode 09/23/2014 at 15:27

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The coastal part of Lisbon.

Dsscats > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 09/23/2014 at 21:02

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The best comment from OppositeTalk: "I love how they put a 5 digit odometer. It's like they didn't even have faith that it would pass 100k."

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Dsscats 09/23/2014 at 21:19

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My aunt on the other side of the family had one too, odometer probably went over 3 times, at least. it was her everything car.

Axial > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 09/23/2014 at 21:20

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The new Camry is the latest addition to the "identical mechanicals, new face" category. A shame, actually.