We've got one in our household - a 1.4 Zetec trim. They only do the automatic in 1.4 in the UK, but I have noticed that in some foreign markets, they offer 1.6 with powershift - if only they'd do that here!

It's a super little car. All the current Fiesta attributes - looks, ride, handling and pretty well equipped and comfy inside.

The transmission is a 4-speed torque convertor jobby and is very smooth. Yes, you can feel the gear changes but they are very discrete. It goes remarkably well. If you are in the mood, you can make excellent progress from standstill and surprise a few tailgaters.

Fuel economy is working out at about 31mpg, but ours is primarily used on local type trips.

I like it a lot. It's just a shame that the VED band is a tad high in my opion, but that's the way it goes nowadays.

Ford's automatics never have been tremendously economical. It says low 40s but you're talking more 35ish in reality and considering my 3.0litre S-Type automatic does about 27-28 on average combined thats hardly inspiring stuff from Ford unfortunately.

Thanks HJ.

Spent the last week exploring the supermini automatic market, and have decided that "downsizing" is not going achieve very much. My current 2.0l petrol auto is giving 38mpg average over 3 years of brim-to-brim records, and most of the small automatics don't give much better. Most of them have very restricted rear visibility, and numerous compromises have to be made regarding the absence of options that I like, e.g., cruise control (do a lot of long motorway journeys), folding wing mirrors (narrow garage entrance), leather trimmed seats (seem to wear cloth ones quickly).

So breaking a habit gained from a lifetime of company cars, wont be changing at 3 years, and will follow the old advice - the best car is the one you've got.

>>>when a 530d automatic will do the same, apples and oranges i know but you have to >>>look at the whole package.

Whilst there may not be huge fuel savings you have to remember there are other costs.

eg 530 - runflat tyres are £200 each

I am not saying that there is a definite benefit in buying small it will always cost more to run a big auto than a small auto - big auto from new lose big bucks in yrs 1-4, slower after that.