I just reserved my Fiesta rental car for my trip to Ireland. Assuming I can shift with my left hand and drive on the wrong side of the road, I will have some hands on feedback after next week.
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Aug. 2, 2010 1:47 p.m. GTwannaB Reader
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Aug. 2, 2010 5:48 p.m. integraguy Dork
Which model of the Fiesta did you reserve? The top of the engine range in Europe, is what we get here. If you can believe CAR magazine, the Fiesta with the next smaller engine (1.2 or 1.3, I think) is considered to be the better driver. And for most folks that actually buy their cars in Europe, instead of having a company car provided/subsidized for them, the diesel is the way to go.
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Aug. 2, 2010 6:06 p.m. RexSeven Dork
integraguy wrote:
Good luck on finding that leather-manual transmission combo in a hatch...anytime soon.
There's a dealership near my work that has TWO manual hatches and I think one of them has leather. Hmm... I wonder if I should arrange a test-drive, even though I have no intention of replacing my MS3 for a while...
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Aug. 3, 2010 1:04 p.m. GTwannaB Reader
In reply to integraguy:
Hertz does not give a lot of details on the car. I think it is possible they could switch it on my as well. I am betting it will not be a 1.6L since the Golf/Rabbit they rent has a 1.4L.
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Aug. 3, 2010 3:20 p.m. integraguy Dork
GTwannaB,
i only brought up the issue of the engine size as a reminder that the Euro Fiesta is SLIGHTLY different than the U.S. Fiesta. Not an apples to oranges comparo, but more like an oranges to tangerines comparo.
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Aug. 4, 2010 12:40 p.m. wcelliot Reader
I rented the previous generation Euro Fiesta from Hertz in Italy a couple of years ago... even with the small petrol engine it was the best small car I've ever driven. And the newer generation is supposed to be a whole magnitude better... but I haven't seen anything but auto sedans here to test...
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Aug. 4, 2010 4:37 p.m. Vigo HalfDork
Unless i actually PLANNED to overheat my brakes (i.e. race the car on a road-course), i would be perfectly happy with drums in the back. Sure, they're uglier behind nice wheels, and they're stigmatized by armchair mechanics, but in reality they do the same job, last longer and give you less E36 M3 then discs, UNLESS you plan to overheat your brakes. Then get discs. They take to it better!
If i bought a new Fiesta, i wouldnt be planning on road-coursing it often enough that id care whether it had discs or drums in the back.
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Aug. 4, 2010 5:39 p.m. NOHOME Reader
GTwannaB:
Did not know that rear disc are not an option. That is GREAT!!!!!!!!!! Rear disc just suck $$$ out of your wallet over the life of the car and really don't do a thing for stopping distances. It's not like the rear brakes are overtaxed on most cars.
Wife unit is on the fence for a Mazda 2 or 3. This tilts the scales to the 2 side.
