fiestaturbo.com

[Smo]

Well I've been meaning to change my runaround car for ages now, and even though in some weird way I do love it, it's just old and tired and the body isn't long for this world... and neither is the engine really! Oddly, it's the quietest 1.1 I've driven, espeically on motorways. I don't know if being an LX it had better sound deadening than my Pop Plus, but something was definitely good about it! It's pretty good on fuel, but if you wanted to keep any sort of pace up, it does drink a bit. I really feel like I've done a bad thing turning my back on it, however my dad's now re-insured it for a year so it looks like it's not going just yet

Anyway... This is what has replaced it:






It's a bit dinky donky, but most of it can be sorted pretty easily. The worst bit is this:



Looks like someone tried to push it back out with totally the wrong tools!!! But I'm confident I can have it sorted without too much trouble.


Bit of a crack in one of the rear lights (only the horizontal bit, the vertical thing is just a mark!):




Dirty wheels!:




It's had a good clean now and does look a million times better, but haven't taken any photos just yet.

It needs some interior trims as one or two bits are a bit worse for wear. It's got the dodgy GTi walnut stuff, which I'm not too bothered about replacing with something different, but would like to sort out what's there. The worst bit is the driver's side arm rest where the electric window switches are as the coated vinyl stuff is all scuffed up and the walnut trim has cracked in places:




Passenger side is a bit damaged too:




More of the dodgy walnut:




Bloody bulb had gone in the heater panel too:




But a bit of rubber tubing solved that:




The biggest problem I've found with the car is a bit of movement between gear changes. A common problem with these and all the Golf-based stuff (Octavia, A3/S3, etc) is the lower dog bone mount rear bush gets very weak over time:




Quick clip:




Obviously this movement is a hell of a lot worse when it's actually moving under load, especially when pushed hard.

So I'm going to order this:



This is actually a diesel dog bone bush by Powerflex. The petrol version is yellow and is harder, and a lot of people are removing them because of the vibrations they have been causing in the cabin area, even after over 500 to 1000 miles of settling-in time. Some are saying that they do get better, but a lot still find they have low engine speed vibrations... This was a major issue for me with the Fiesta, so I'm not getting into that with my runaround! So the diesel one is actually softer, while still being stiffer than the OEM item and, apparently, not causing any vibrations in the cabin area. It won't surprise me if I find I need a top gearbox mount too, however this is cheap enough to not worry about at around 15 to 20 quid, so I'll be doing this first to see what improvement there is. The reports have been very positive and that it's a total transformation - no more missed gears, no more jerkiness, and also a reduction in wheel hop... Can't be bad!

[hb69]

My mums doesnt have the walnut, shame, its a strong look

[dontpannic]

Walnut FTW.

Nice runaround Si!

[Smo]

Strangely, the walnut really isn't bothering me, just the condition of it!

I don't know how long I'll keep it, just depends on how much I end up using it, as obviously it's not the most economical car, however I'm considering LPG if I find a good love for it

What I do love is how refined it is - I haven't actually heard the engine once while driving it yet, it's so quiet, all I can hear is the turbo if I open it up a bit. I certainly didn't buy it thinking it was a real GTi, though, because it really doesn't do the badge justice! That said, it still drives very nice and does what it does very well, so apart from the sloppy mounting, I'm happy. Fuel economy doesn't seem bad for what it is, although I'm probably watching it too much at the moment

[3lward]

LPG is kinda pointless if you dont do the mileage, my old man paid £1200 for the conversion but that paid its self off in a matter of months as hes a driving instructor.

Nice runaround though

[Smo]

Well this is the thing, if I start using it more than I've currently been using my runaround, then it'll become viable, plus I won't be intending to pay full whack for it

[hb69]

Remap, fmic, k04, coilovers.

[Tweek]

Nice upgrade

[Smo]

We'll see.

At the moment the turbo seems in very good condition, and I'm hoping it's the K03s as it's got the AUM lump, so if it is, it should be good for more than enough power for me if I decide to fiddle with it! If I'm going to do more than just a stage 1 remap, then it'll need a few bits, but the turbo will be good enough

[knuckles]

nice floor mats

[Smo]

nice floor mats

I've really not paid attention to them, but they need to go now you've mentioned it!

[jayrs]

dont look a bad motor at all mate.
whats the bush like in the other end of the mount? im assuming its ok as you havent said

[Smo]

They don't tend to knacker up in the way that the rear bush does, so I'm doing the rear bush as it's cheap anyway, and if I find it doesn't cure it, I'll probably get a new dog bone and swap the poly bush into that. The video probably doesn't show it well, but I can't move it anywhere near as easily as I can the rear end of the mount. But most people have found that the rear bush is all that's needed. Unfortunately replacing the front bush with a poly item as well as the poly rear seems to give a lot of vibrations, which is something I don't want. It's more likely that if I still have some movement that the upper gearbox mount has gone, but that's not a huge expense either from what I've heard

Was hoping the bush would turn up today but it's only just been sent out, so I'll be plugging in the old VAG-COM as my lead turned up instead, just to see how many error codes come up

[Excursion]

Good cars - They don't wear the miles as well as some Ford models (VW boys would never accept that ) but they are comfy enough for motorway work and feel solid.

Don't forget your life jacket for corners

[Excursion]

PS I've got quite a few low mileage dog bone mounts, if I find them then you can have them if you want!

[jayrs]

them mounts dont tend to be cheap, the one for wifes galaxy was bloody rip off

[Smo]

Haha, cheers, Mark. If I find the front bush is knackered, I'll be in touch, otherwise I'll use the current one with the poly bush when it turns up and see how it goes

I actually find it handles and holds really well and stays pretty level - The suspension is very firm, but it all looks standard stuff. I'm not sure if it's normal for these? I must admit, I expected it to be a lot softer, especially seeing as these GTis aren't really hot hatches, at least in my eyes!

I'm not sure I'm going to hold on to this really. It's not been a week yet, and it's a lovely car, definitely an incredibly smooth drive, so quiet and does everything really well, but it's not grown on me like I thought it would! Does that sound weird? Admittedly I haven't driven it a lot yet, but I'm starting to wonder if it's the right car for me. I did look at a couple of MK5 Zetec Ss, albeit only briefly, but having driven a couple of them and a few MK4s, I kind of think another Fiesta would have done me fine... I think I miss the fun element, even in something that's only meant to be a comfy runaround. I'll probably see how I feel in a couple of months, and if it still hasn't grown on me, I'll sell it and find a nice clean Zetec S

[bakewell001]

I'm sure Toby would put his interior back in and do you a straight swap

[Excursion]

Haha, cheers, Mark. If I find the front bush is knackered, I'll be in touch, otherwise I'll use the current one with the poly bush when it turns up and see how it goes

I actually find it handles and holds really well and stays pretty level - The suspension is very firm, but it all looks standard stuff. I'm not sure if it's normal for these? I must admit, I expected it to be a lot softer, especially seeing as these GTis aren't really hot hatches, at least in my eyes!

I'm not sure I'm going to hold on to this really. It's not been a week yet, and it's a lovely car, definitely an incredibly smooth drive, so quiet and does everything really well, but it's not grown on me like I thought it would! Does that sound weird? Admittedly I haven't driven it a lot yet, but I'm starting to wonder if it's the right car for me. I did look at a couple of MK5 Zetec Ss, albeit only briefly, but having driven a couple of them and a few MK4s, I kind of think another Fiesta would have done me fine... I think I miss the fun element, even in something that's only meant to be a comfy runaround. I'll probably see how I feel in a couple of months, and if it still hasn't grown on me, I'll sell it and find a nice clean Zetec S

I bought a Diesel GTi for my g/f a few years ago and she absolutely adored it, but I was left feeling the same as you. The cars are much like the VW advertising; appeals to the middle ground,slightly better than average, but don't excite you in any particular area. I found the car great for a 'regular' drive but ultimately it was bland and its limitations became apparent when I pushed it; the gear change, steering, and the overall lack of precision left me cold. I just couldn't really grab it by the scruff of the neck. Incidentally it was pretty much the same for the S3 I used to have, that was hands down the worst 'performance' car I have ever owned!

I would also advise against a Mk4 or 5. There's something you don't spot when you jump in one 'fresh' from another car, but drive one for a month or so and you begin to realise that they lack character. The best word I can use to describe them is 'wooden', if you jump back in a Mk3 with spring rates that match the Mk4/5 then you'll have a lot more fun. Why not try a Mk1 Focus in Zetec spec? You can get a reasonable one for around £1500. I'm not Ford biased by any means but they are solid and good handling cars.

[Smo]

Yeah, it's just a weird feeling. I'll give it time and see My poly bush turned up today so going to go out and fit that in a min, just to see if it sorts the gearchange out. I'm guessing they're all pretty rubbish on the gearchange then, from what you and others have said? It's nice to drive comfortably, but I've found when pushing it anything more than gently (not even a hard thrashing!), it's so easy to miss a gear.

I'll take on board your advice about the MK4 or MK5 then and see how the MK3 is when I get time to take it out. That Zetec S beam has definitely made a difference, and hopefully with the Mondeo M/C and servo the brakes are as good as I need them now. Just the box to sort and then bring on the track days next year! I'm sure I won't be wanting a another Fiesta once I get this how I want it. Although this one will always have rust

[hb69]

Any ford will have rust

Not sure what's wrong with your gears tbh, should change easily. All those I've driven do Peugeots on the other hand have the most awful gears I've ever tried

[Smo]

It's only when you push it a bit, but apparently they're all like it. It's absolutely fine with normal driving.

I've fitted the bush now, and it's definitely better, but only taken it up the road and back so not had a chance to get a proper feel.

[russ-RST]

Youve got a vw? Noooo lol jokes aside they are good cars and nice to drive (even if they do sound like they're powered by nothing! They're just silent! Lol I would personally prefer a mk4/5 fez to a vw what's happening to the lx then???

[Max M4X WW]

I suggest you buy a BMW, not another VW

[russ-RST]

Nooo a BMW is even worse

[xr2irhys]

kind of disagree with the mk4 comment , i have the 1.3 EFI an that is nippy around town and stuff and when you stick it into the corners it likes it

[MK2 Jamie]

Bet that wheel spins a treat.

[hb69]

Bet that wheel spins a treat.

A 1.3?