First 600 Kms on Fiesta 1.4 Petrol

[mobike008]

@exister

Congratulations on your new purchase, glad to know your enjoying every bit of it. I know driving in Hyd is a big hurdle which is infamous for everyone zigzagging around and probably the honk capital of india , we just have to live with it. Avoid begumpet and take longer routes which i imagine your already doing.

Would love to have you join the next Hyderabad TBHP meet planned later this month. Here is the link :-

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/team-b...2007-meet.html

Cheers
Mobike008

[theexister]

Thanks a lot guys for cheering me up.

The first service today went off pretty much as I had expected...considering I did not have too high a hope from the hundreds of comments read on TBHP.

I went in at sharp 9:30 AM which was the appointment time & had to wait a while though becos another car was already being attended to for all the paper work. Strange though that they only had 2 lines & 2 guys attending to the cars. They could have had couple of more guys & saved time.

I listed out all the problems, mainly,

1) Metallic 'thunk' noise on landing after very steep bumps
2) Window rattle on drive side while on rough road
3) 1st gear shift not too smooth
4) Jerkiness on 1st & 2nd
5) and ofcourse the front bumper

The bumper had come off from a clip & also stripped out from a plastic portion it was attached to, just below the headlight. So I they said they can get it to seat it on the clip & hold it in place tight but they cant get the same close sealing. So a small gap is present which is not visible until close examination thanks to my car being a dark colour.

I had to get back to work though I had initially decided stay but it was a 4 hour job with all my complaints.
I finally got a call at 4:30 PM & duly picked up the vehicle at 5 PM. Amazingly the car gear shift had changed & also it was much smoother. The works incharge was actually test driving just before I reached.
The metallic sound was apparently due to the tie rods which needed to be adjusted. The sound has stopped and so far now window rattle.

The drive back was much more like what I was looking for.

The works incharge was actually surprised I had only driven 720 kms & asked me to drive more so that the engine is properly run in by the time the first oil change is done. He said that will improve mileage on the oil change.

After reading everyone's experiences here...the small scratch & gap dont bother me any more as much as it was bugging me yesterday.

I paint protection too, I have decided to do all the washing & waxing myself and have ordered all the required Turtle Wax tools from Mr. Rajesh of TPC3.

[theexister]

Hi BHPians,

I have missed out quite a few reviews which I would loved to have written on the way to the 3500 mark.

3 free services completed & the issues so far have been;

- Window rattle that seems to come on suddenly & then vanishes all by itself.
(This issue was something that I would bring up at every service & would vanish there after only to reappear at time)

- Clanky noise from right front while taking steep speed-bumps and seems like suspension member or tie rod issue.
(This was sorted out at first service but it slowly resurfaced though much milder & only on really really steep speed bumps)

- Driver side window regulator went out thanks to the window film installers.
(Replaced free of cost at Ford)

- Pick up issues on 2nd gear with A/C on up-slope.
(This seems like an issue with most 1.4 due to lack of enough power. I checked it out with a friend of mine having the same car. Turning OFF the A/C or changing to 1st is my way of working around it)

FE was around 10.5 before oil/filter change but now 3 weeks after the change I notice considerable increase to about 12-12.5 with A/C 90% of the time in city. I have been very particular about filling only Shell Super.
The Mody Ford service guys have been great.

The brakes & stock tyres have been tested well through some furious rain & minor flooding. The braking performance has been exceptional in wet. I was expecting more of sinking feeling from the pedals but only a slight change. I touched 100 a few times on Necklace road & on curved section one does feel the need for grippier rubber. The stick MRF feels a bit skitish even on dry road when pushed even a bit.

The wipers are pretty good in how much water they displace & the area they cover.

I have given it a coat of turtle wax (paste) every 45 days & also used the turtle wax swirl/scratch remover a few times. This has helped in retaining a lot of the shine of the original paint & also enhance it. For the glass I am using Clear Vue glass cleaner. I got all of them from Car Spa.

Just a couple of days back, driving on a road completely devoid of light at night, my right rear view mirror got hit by either cycle/bike. After looking at the damage I am sure it was some heavy weight he was lugging on the back. The glass completely came off, the rear cover broke & fell off and the shock of the impact travelled all the way upto the lever for manually adusting the mirror resulting in the rubber covering the lever coming off.

I have to get it changed & the whole assembly costs 1700/- :( I just cant drive without that mirror.

Otherwise, the rest of the car & performance has been upto my expectations. Very smooth yet when revved a comforting grunt. Great for city driving & on open roads it can reach 100-120 easily but above that its no match with the 1.6 Fiesta.

I only wish to change the tyres but only when my budget allows me to.

I have added a Pioneer 6950 with 4 Kicker speakers which cost me about 21000/- grey.
I got Llumar Security Film (Magnum 200) installed as my only safety measure against glass break in.
I havent installed any security system.

Sorry about the pics guys...I shall post some as soon as I get an hold on a digi cam. My phone cam pics aint worth the effort/bandwidth.

[mobike008]

Nice feedback. But, so many small niggling issues in a new car ain't a good sign. However, good to know that you got a decent service by the ford guys.

There is another tbhp member ( Vnabhi) from Hyderabad who has a 1.6 Fiesta, may help if you compare notes with him.

[benbsb29]

@theexister : Good to see your car is serving you well, and the servicing is also nothing which makes you lose your sleep over it.

[Indian]

Originally Posted by theexister

Hi BHPians,


- Pick up issues on 2nd gear with A/C on up-slope.
(This seems like an issue with most 1.4 due to lack of enough power. I checked it out with a friend of mine having the same car. Turning OFF the A/C or changing to 1st is my way of working around it)

Exactly this is the same problem with Fiesta I had quoted in many other threads. Sometimes Fiesta refuse to accelerate, how hard you step on accelarator. Its a common complaint with my friend & his collegues. Wonder, how people can find Fiesta as peppier & responsive engine?

[vnabhi]

Hi
I own a 1.6 Fiesta, and have not found the pickup to be sluggish in second gear on a slope with AC on. However, when the massive speed-breakers were put last month on Rd # 10, when I had to slow down to nearly zero speed to cross over the first one, I did find my pickup a bit slow with AC on. But now that the speedbreakers have been softened, I do not find an issue of this.
So don't worry, I guess any car on an incline will be sluggish in 2nd gear with AC on, especially when you start from near zero speed.

[theexister]

You are right but I think this problem gets slightly amplified due to the power difference between a 1.4 & 1.6.
The lack of power is felt of the 1.4 is felt more in this situation.

I wouldn't even say its a problem but more of the unnecessary baggage that comes along with a bit less power.

[kamy450]

Originally Posted by theexister

.

The odo read 12 Kms & was a bit nervous because it was late evening when the traffic was at its peak. The DTE showed 75kms & so I took her to the BP fuel pump on SP Road & filled her with 19 ltrs.

Oppsy when i got my aveo , Chevy dealer gave me 25 liter petrol and that was an complimentory it seems.

Ford gives 6-7 liters???

[Indian]

Originally Posted by kamy450

Oppsy when i got my aveo , Chevy dealer gave me 25 liter petrol and that was an complimentory it seems.

Ford gives 6-7 liters???

Yep Garuda motors had given me the car with half tank full (about 20 to 25 Ltrs). It may be a very small gesture, but it does add to the satisfaction during delivery process. I still remember when Maruthi had delivered my Zen, it was nearing the RED mark (almost empty) & they had given complimentary coupon for about 5 Ltrs. That being my first car, I was really nervous till I found the petrol bunk to refill. When I saw the fuel indicator in Aveo at the time of delivery, I was pleasantly surprised

[benbsb29]

Originally Posted by kamy450

Oppsy when i got my aveo , Chevy dealer gave me 25 liter petrol and that was an complimentory it seems.

Ford gives 6-7 liters???

My Ikon had 10 litres of fuel which was complimentary.
25 litres is quite nice on their part.

[rohan_fonseca]

Originally Posted by Indian

Exactly this is the same problem with Fiesta I had quoted in many other threads. Sometimes Fiesta refuse to accelerate, how hard you step on accelarator. Its a common complaint with my friend & his collegues. Wonder, how people can find Fiesta as peppier & responsive engine?

HAppened to drive my BIL fiesta 1.4p yesterday. It was a good 30kms one way and another 30kms back. While going there were 2 people in the car. Drive was great. Everything was perfect with the car. Acceleration was good in 2nd with or without ac. On the way back 4people in the car + 2 small suitcases in the boot. Car did feel very sluggish even without the ac.

[ptushar]

I have now narrowed by search to the Ford Fiesta 1.4 ZXi and the Hyundai Getz 1.3 GLX. In my view the drive on the Fiesta was great, while the Getz comes with ABS. Somehow I am more inclined for the Fiesta. Needed some thoughts on the following:

1. Can ABS be added to the Fiesta 1.4 as an option? I am going to add Alloys as an extra
2. After-sales and service experience with Planet Ford, Pune
3. Resale value of the car vis-a-vis the Getz GLX

Also the dealer mentioned the Ford TMP to me. I have read in various posts here that TMP is recommended. Again it would help if someone can share his/her practical experience with the Ford TMP plan.

[RacingForIndia]

Originally Posted by ptushar

I have now narrowed by search to the Ford Fiesta 1.4 ZXi and the Hyundai Getz 1.3 GLX. In my view the drive on the Fiesta was great, while the Getz comes with ABS. Somehow I am more inclined for the Fiesta. Needed some thoughts on the following:

1. Can ABS be added to the Fiesta 1.4 as an option? I am going to add Alloys as an extra
2. After-sales and service experience with Planet Ford, Pune
3. Resale value of the car vis-a-vis the Getz GLX

Also the dealer mentioned the Ford TMP to me. I have read in various posts here that TMP is recommended. Again it would help if someone can share his/her practical experience with the Ford TMP plan.

I am still trying to find answer to your question #1.
A.S.S. for Planet Ford is decent, but not great. Their workshop is amongst the best I have seen.
Just take the precaution of explaining every small detail when you put your car for servicing and make sure they are done properly when you take the delivery.

[ptushar]

Thanx RacingForIndia.
I had a look at their workshop and was quite impressed.

I should take a decision between the Ford Fiesta 1.4 and the Getz GLX in a couple of days. The only question that I should be answering myself is whether I should go for a sedan or a hatchback?