What's so special about the Ford Fiesta 1.25 engine?

X-Morgan

X-Morgan

X-Morgan

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This might seem like a silly question to all of the more knowledgeable folk in here, but what makes the 1.25 better than the rest?

I'm torn between a Grande Punto 1.2 Dynamic and a Fiesta 1.25

I'm leaning towards the Fiesta only because what I'm reading on here. Why should I be leaning towards it?

Cheers!
 
I'm not too sure. Is there any difference between the 1.25 engines, or is that just the trim of the car? I've heard of 1.25 Zetec and 1.25 LX etc
 
the zetec is a 16valve engine, and near bullet proof .
Nice and nippy and quick off the mark, for a small engined car.

i owned a fiesta 1.25 zetex for my first car, and loved it.
A small but fairly well made car.
 
Its the slightly better car overall, with slightly better handling, will depreciate slightly less and has the slightly better engine. It will also probably age slightly better than the Punto.

But it's also uglier than the Punto Grande.

Personally, I don't think there's a huge amount between them. Both cars are fun to drive but feel a bit floaty (particularly the Punto Grande) through high speed bends eg. 50mph+

If you're buying used, you're be able to get a late plate Punto Grande for the same money you'll be paying for a older Fiesta.

Just down to personal choice really.
 
KaneStatton said:
Are you buying brand new ?
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Nah, this'll be my first car. I'm in the mindset that the first one should always be a runabout just to get my driving feet, then I'll move up, but at the same time I'm looking for something that is reliable.

stokecity_m said:
the zetec is a 16valve engine, and near bullet proof .
Nice and nippy and quick off the mark, for a small engined car.

i owned a fiesta 1.25 zetex for my first car, and loved it.
A small but fairly well made car.
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So I'll keep an eye out for a 1.25 Zetec then?
 
The 1.2 GP engine is a very good engine. Comes from the original FIRE engines, providing you get it services on schedule you won't have any problems with it. The 1.4 GP engine is just the 1.2 bored out and is a bit more nippy.

You'll get much better value for money with a GP just 'cause it's a Fiat' and you'll hear stories of how OMG unreliable they are etc... but they're pretty good cars now-a-days. The only things you'll really need to look out for in a used GP is that all the electrics work, check every button does what it should.

I had a 1.2 Mk2 Punto (same engine) and it's nice, can be reved right up to it's readline without any problems and should handle a good thrashing.

Don't get an Active trim though, pretty povety spec, aim for Dynamic or Eleganza if your getting a Series 1 (launch till 08 plate), if your looking at a Series 2 (08 plate onwards) then try and get the spec called 'GP', it's got the mod cons from the Eleganza trim, the sporty look of the Sporting trim with the sensible 1.4 engine.
 
It's not particularly special, but the 16 valve Zetec SE engine is a Yamaha design, nice and light, reasonably powerful for it's size and quite economic. The Fiat 1.2 engine is an older design with an 8 valve head and 65bhp compared to the Fiestas 75 bhp.

I wouldn't base your choice purely on the engine specs though, why not test drive both cars and see which you prefer?
 
Peerzy said:
The 1.2 GP engine is a very good engine. Comes from the original FIRE engines, providing you get it services on schedule you won't have any problems with it. The 1.4 GP engine is just the 1.2 bored out and is a bit more nippy.

You'll get much better value for money with a GP just 'cause it's a Fiat' and you'll hear stories of how OMG unreliable they are etc... but they're pretty good cars now-a-days. The only things you'll really need to look out for in a used GP is that all the electrics work, check every button does what it should.

I had a 1.2 Mk2 Punto (same engine) and it's nice, can be reved right up to it's readline without any problems and should handle a good thrashing.

Don't get an Active trim though, pretty povety spec, aim for Dynamic or Eleganza if your getting a Series 1 (launch till 08 plate), if your looking at a Series 2 (08 plate onwards) then try and get the spec called 'GP', it's got the mod cons from the Eleganza trim, the sporty look of the Sporting trim with the sensible 1.4 engine.
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I think I'm more likely to hear bad stories rather than good stories about cars on the internet, 'cos that's what the intenet is for. To moan about things!

I take it the Series 1 & 2 variations are just change in trim bits and bobs?

Dogbreath said:
It's not particularly special, but the 16 valve Zetec SE engine is a Yamaha design, nice and light, reasonably powerful for it's size and quite economic. The Fiat 1.2 engine is an older design with an 8 valve head and 65bhp compared to the Fiestas 75 bhp.

I wouldn't base your choice purely on the engine specs though, why not test drive both cars and see which you prefer?
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Yeah you're right about the test drives and stuff, it's just that when I go out looking for a car, I first look up the component with most moving parts (engine has a lot of them :P) and see which one is the best. I don't think I have any freedom to be picky with my decisions about what fancy bits come with the car, so long as the engine works I'll be a happy chappy :D
 
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X-Morgan said:
I think I'm more likely to hear bad stories rather than good stories about cars on the internet, 'cos that's what the intenet is for. To moan about things!

I take it the Series 1 & 2 variations are just change in trim bits and bobs?
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Minor differences between Series 1 and 2, not a big deal really.

Differences are S2 got Blue&Me (bluetooth) standard on all models, they dropped the 1.2 engine, added the GP trim (sporting look with the standard 1.4 engine), changed the headlights slightly, put the new red FIAT badge on instead of the blue one.

TBH I was gonna get one, I've driven a 1.2, 1.4, 1.4 16v and 1.4 120bhp Tjet, so all the petrol Grande's they do. The 1.4 16v was a bit pointless (named Starjet), not really any faster than the standard 1.4. The 1.2 is nice round town but struggles above about 80mph, the standard 1.4 is just like the 1.2 but faster and better at higher speeds. The 1.4 Tjet (120bhp) is nice for a midly warm hatch but drinks fuel like anything.

Personally I'd look for one of the following (depending on your budget and how new you can get):

56/07 plate Series 1 1.2 Grande Punto in Eleganza/Dynamic trim
Late 08/58 plate Series 2 1.4 Grande Punto in GP trim

Girlfriend test drove one and loved it as well, don't buy new, get an 18 month old one and pick up a bargin.

Personally I'd go for the older 1.2, just because the Series 2 are still losing a lot of their value, a 56 plate nice example with loads of mod cons could be picked up for about £5k now.
 
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