Ford Fiesta - Disappointing new models

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Sun 23 Jul 2017 16:42
Ford Fiesta - Disappointing new models - papakevkev

I have just watched a video review of the new Ford Fiesta and the reviewer concluded that the Fiesta still leads the class for driver engagement. Fine. But since the old car was already the class leader, why did Ford have to replace a really quite stylish car with (in my view) a rather dull looking one? To me, the new car resembles the soon-to-be-replaced SEAT Ibiza whereas the model it replaced was unique.

My question for you readers out there is this... What cars, in your opinion, have been replaced by inferior or unneeded models?

I currently drive a Yeti. It is a boxy, sensible, but individual looking car that is soon to be replaced by the Karoq which looks like any other VW SUV. Why? The old car sold well and its individual style must have had something to do with that.

A car that was definitely replaced by an inferior model was the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. It had Golf-like space in a body the size of the Up! A brilliant concept. They sold because of that fact. MB didn't make enough profit from it though so it got replaced by a more mainstream car that has the space of a Golf in a body the size of a... erm... Golf.

It is nothing new to replace good cars with so-so models...

The brilliant BMC 1100/1300 range was replaced by the woeful Allegro.

The Mk2 Cortina was a pretty nimble car and it was replaced with the wallowy Mk 3 'Coke-bottle'.

Going even further back in time, the MG Magnette ZB sports saloon was replaced in the late fifties by the rather less sporting Farina A60/Oxford shaped car.

A more recent car was the Vauxhall Meriva. The original model was neat looking, spacious and compact. It was the top seller in its class. It was replaced by a car which was considerably larger, less interesting to look at and it came nowhere close to being the sales success of the older car - the original regularly sold over 100K per year, the new model only once managed to sell into six figures.

Others? Ford Ka. Fiat Punto (Mark 1 to Mark 2). Renault Twingo (Mark 1 to Mark 2). Nissan Micra (Mark 3 to Mark 4). I could go on.

Let's get the discussion going. I am sure there are a lot of opinions on the matter.

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Sun 23 Jul 2017 17:15
Ford Fiesta - Disappointing new models - 72 dudes

I had a look at a new Fiesta on the Ford forecourt yesterday. It was a 3 door model finished in Bauhaus Mint Green don't y'know.

Personally I think it's an improvement, especially on the inside where the dials, fascia and console have been vastly improved. The perceived quality of materials, a weak point on the previous model, is better.

But I agree with many of your thoughts above. One which springs to mind is the Renault Megane - moving from the 2003 'shaking that ass' car to the deadly dull 2010 on model.

I have to take exception with the MK II to MK III Cortina though. The MK II was tinny and noisy, the MK III started to move the game on in refinement. Yes, the shape was a bit American but it was the early 70's!

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Sun 23 Jul 2017 18:32
Ford Fiesta - Disappointing new models - SLO76
Not the first time manufacturers have taken a retrograde step with new cars. Examples in my humble opinion are...

Peugeot 307. The 306 was the class leader when introduced in 93 with a lovely blend of nimble handling, supple ride and feelsome steering combined with pleasing styling and simple robust engines. They lasted well, were cheap to run and great fun to drive. The 307 was heavier, bland to look at, bland to drive and fell apart at 5yrs old. Peugeot haven't dominated a class since.

Peugeot 206. The 205 was again the class leader by a country mile for years on end and the 1.8 diesel was legendary when it came to longevity with many still running with over 250k under their belts. The GTi's and XS were a scream to drive too, even the basic motors were fun too. But the 206 by comparison was pretty but dull to drive and fragile.

Peugeot 407. The previous 406 was well made, comfortable and capable of 500k at the hands of taxi drivers across Europe but the later fragile 407 especially the 1.6 diesel was notoriously weak, often landing owners with a bill for a new engine before reaching 60k. Cheap and nasty inside and no joy to drive either.

Ford Escort Mk V. The Mk IV was never the greatest offering but they were cheap, simple, nimble and lively. The Mk V was a disaster at launch and rightly panned by the motoring press. Horrid to drive, cheap nasty interior plastics and the diesel was almost the slowest thing on the road. Why anyone bought one instead of a Rover R8's, Citroen ZX or R19 I don't know.

Citroen Xsara. The ZX was a blast to drive but the Xsara was a hasty reshell of the same chassis with bland looks and more weight. Not a bad car but nowhere near the car the ZX was.

Vauxhall Signum. The cheapo replacement for the Omega was b***** awful full stop. The Omega was ugly but came close to matching the BM 5 series to drive when first launched. Its replacement was dull, ugly and rubbery to drive. Fragile Fiat Diesel engines finished the job.

Mitsubishi Mirage. A terrible cheaply made 3rd world effort and nowhere near the standards of earlier Colts, especially from the 80's and 90's.

Saab 9-5. A cheaply designed and made tarted up Vauxhall with a Saab badge and a cabin full of rattling trim. The previous 9000 was up there with BMW and Mercs finest.

Saab GM 900. A Cavalier chassis with wallowy floaty ride and poor handling, not sporty in the slightest despite powerhouse turbocharged engines in some of them. The origional 900 was a design classic and a totally solid BM 3 series rival.

Vauxhall Vectra. The Mk III Cavalier was a great car, simple, robust, economical and running a range of straightforward long lasting engines it was well loved by the trade, fleet operators and taxi drivers everywhere. The Vectra was heavier, firmer riding, greedier, dull to drive and bland to look. Lazy accountant led design at its worst.

Edited by SLO76 on 23/07/2017 at 18:36

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Sun 23 Jul 2017 21:40
Ford Fiesta - Disappointing new models - carl233

The longer term buyer of the 'new' Fiesta has enough to be concerned about with the durability of the Ecoboost units in my opinion. Only time wil tell but the older model proved to be a wallet busting purchase for many that needed new engines whilst Ford looked the other way and did not want to get involved outside of warranty.

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Sun 23 Jul 2017 22:37
Ford Fiesta - Disappointing new models - badbusdriver

I have just watched a video review of the new Ford Fiesta and the reviewer concluded that the Fiesta still leads the class for driver engagement. Fine. But since the old car was already the class leader, why did Ford have to replace a really quite stylish car with (in my view) a rather dull looking one? To me, the new car resembles the soon-to-be-replaced SEAT Ibiza whereas the model it replaced was unique.

My question for you readers out there is this... What cars, in your opinion, have been replaced by inferior or unneeded models?

I currently drive a Yeti. It is a boxy, sensible, but individual looking car that is soon to be replaced by the Karoq which looks like any other VW SUV. Why? The old car sold well and its individual style must have had something to do with that.

A car that was definitely replaced by an inferior model was the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. It had Golf-like space in a body the size of the Up! A brilliant concept. They sold because of that fact. MB didn't make enough profit from it though so it got replaced by a more mainstream car that has the space of a Golf in a body the size of a... erm... Golf.

It is nothing new to replace good cars with so-so models...

The brilliant BMC 1100/1300 range was replaced by the woeful Allegro.

The Mk2 Cortina was a pretty nimble car and it was replaced with the wallowy Mk 3 'Coke-bottle'.

Going even further back in time, the MG Magnette ZB sports saloon was replaced in the late fifties by the rather less sporting Farina A60/Oxford shaped car.

A more recent car was the Vauxhall Meriva. The original model was neat looking, spacious and compact. It was the top seller in its class. It was replaced by a car which was considerably larger, less interesting to look at and it came nowhere close to being the sales success of the older car - the original regularly sold over 100K per year, the new model only once managed to sell into six figures.

Others? Ford Ka. Fiat Punto (Mark 1 to Mark 2). Renault Twingo (Mark 1 to Mark 2). Nissan Micra (Mark 3 to Mark 4). I could go on.

Let's get the discussion going. I am sure there are a lot of opinions on the matter.

I can tell you the reason why the name yeti is being replaced, though you may think I am kidding!. China is a big market for Skoda, but the name yeti is associated with Tibet, which is of course, a sensitive subject for China. Hence the Karoq!. As for its bland looks, brand association, all Skoda's must look like a Skoda, so people know it is a Skoda!. I know, pathetic reason to turn one of the few distinctive looking SUV's into a clone. But hey ho, they had already started that with the facelift of the original version.

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