uk_daf_fan wrote:When any of you guys have the time, please watch this video and let me know it's not just me that finds him boring, spoiled and inaccurate...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECVXfNf4JwM
"It's useless in town, it's useless in the rain...", well then what the hell are the millions of owners using it for?
People buy cars for all sorts of reasons. I have to sort of agree with what he says: not reaching 60mph in 17 seconds is woefull performance. My 1977, 1098cc Golf was quicker than that (about 15 seconds) and it was too slow for city traffic back in the early 90's. A 1.4l engine should do better in a car like that. I have a 1.4l, DOHC petrol engine in my Nissan Almera and it does 0-62mph in just under 13 seconds while being a bigger, heavier car (dry weight 1.4t).
I have to agree on the steering and driving front as well: I can't put my finger on the problem, but front wheel drive Fords somehow feel less precise and less planted than the equivalent VWs and Opels, imo.
Sure, as a beginning driver (while you're, in effect, still driving scared) a car as featured will suit your needs, but, once you gain confidence through experience, you will also come to expect better performance. Which is not to say, earlier model Fiestas aren't up to scratch, it may just be the model this guy tested. Basically, you want something which gets up to speed in 14 seconds or less.
Regarding a car you should get (given how young drivers get pasted on the insurance front in the UK): if you want a reliable runabout, which is practical, comfortable and undemanding to drive, look no further than a Nissan. I know the brand has a stigma in your neck of the woods, but they do do comfort really quite well. You will not get "a driver's car" (they're hopeless on ice or packed snow), but, despite their body roll, they are quite planted, ride well, and are undemanding to drive. Get a fairly recent 2nd hand Micra, Almera or Tino and you'll be sorted (watch out for rust around the sills though)
Just don't take then to Esso or Total to fill up on Euro95 fuel, because, and I don't know why, they will have insufficient torque at low revs. With other brands like Q8 or BP they're fine, but, again, I don't know why that is.
Having said that, you may as well be equally well off with a VW (like a Polo or Lupo) or an Opel (the only model which I can recommend from their basic range is the Agila, which, to be fair, as a mini-MPV, is a little crosswind sensitive, but not to degree to discount its many pluspoints on the practicallity front).
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