I have a '99 1.25 [zetec] Fiesta....it has 125,000 on the clock.

The engine sounds fine, it had a belt change around 90-odd k....and was owned by a Ford fitter.

The engine [zetec] isn't re-buildable by design, but as long as it gets a regular oil change, and the oil light continues to go out when it should, there should be no issues for another 125k miles.

The problems lie with all the other parts!

I have found, and coped with....an endless leak of coolant from the plastic thermostat housing/heater take-off unit...it is at the 'front' of the engine, low down, and one needs spidery fingers to access it without pulling out things like the alternator. It seals with a rubber ring on the thermostat, and an O ring on the other outlet..but many also spread silicon sealer as well...which modern antifreeze [OAT] eats for lunch! Since my car also has aircon, with the pump below the alternator, access for me means taking the side off the car..[an alternator bolt is seized]...so, I live with it, checking the coolant level a couple of times a week, and topping up as required.

The heater valve can fail too, meaning the heater will not turn off......maybe not an issue in winter, but easliy replaced.

The heater plenum[?] drain also comes out just to the left of one's clutch foot,.going thought the floor...this can be dislodged, leading to wet carpets.

Check the rear suspension.

Springs can snap, and trailing arm bushes will need replacing. Find a friendly fitter for these, and buy some cheap silicon bushes..they go in easier than the original metal/rubber jobbies, and last forever.

Suspension is easy to replace anyway.

Go under neath right side front, below radiator, and find the pressure sensor for the power steering. This can break, or dissolve, causing the engine to rev erratically at tickover. Take wires apart, remake the connections, and seal up with plaggy bags and silicon to make them waterproof.

If it has aircon, make sure it works.

If it doesn't, then forget about it altogether. You don't 'need' it...if too hot, open a window.

You may have a heated windscreen a well...very useful when frosty....if the windscreen is chipped, replace it using your insurance....otherwise the price will make you weep.

Boot lids rot along the bottom...not the end of the world...but if you find a good one, look after it.

Take out the bootlight bulb, in case it sticks 'on', leading to a flat battery, or a bat flattery?

What'll it do?

Well, I comply with speed limits...with thoughtful driving styles I get around 40+ mpg's.

If I drive like a 30 year old, this drops to around 30-35 mpg's....check the oil level [and coolant] every week minimum....

The 16 valve engine thrives on revs...but , for longevity, treat it with respect.

Oh, just the issues I dealt with over 2 years.....not my 'favourite' car.....it tends to steam up horrendously...seems to have poor cabin air extraction?

But it handles very well, has decent acceleration for passing, good headlights, and bits for it are very easy [and cheap?] to get hold of.

But I would have preferred a Skoda Felicia [estate] as these I found were a lot more economical on fuel.[1.3]..[which is what the Fester replaced, after a nce insurance write-off claim [sadly, the car only sustained trivial damage, but was old, so was 'uneconomical' to repair].....and what I was offered was far far more than what I paid for it.....thank you, little old lady who drove full tilt into the parked car!]