Test drive Ford Fiesta 5 doors 2002 - 2005 hatchback

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Compact and brisk, Fiesta is able to give a feeling of a holiday

Tell you, reader, what feelings I experienced, transplanting from a luxurious German limousine to a small Ford? Well, that I have such a job, there is nothing to be done here in the first minute. That in the typewriter, in general, is convenient after 10 minutes. Yes, she will be frozen and will give a head start to anyone! after half an hour. A great option for driving a metropolis I thought whenever I from time to time settled behind the wheel of this hatchback for a month. Fiesta in Moscow that the fish in the water will be squeezed everywhere, will always get up, find a place in the parking lot. No, it is no coincidence that the European citizens prefer such cars.


For ladies and gentlemen

In Russia, whatever you say, specific ideas have been formed about truly male and definitely female cars. So the fiesta is attributed to ladies' cars, on it to go to a man does not seem to go to face. Stupidity, all this, inherent nonsense, will dare to notice. After all, the point is not at all in size, but in what opportunities the means of transportation to its owner provides. And Ford Fiesta, I assure you, is capable of a lot.

The appearance of this little car will seem frivolous to someone, but it is hardly possible to deny that it is pleasant. A flirty muzzle, elegant feed, a stylish profile is possible, in all this, there is really something female. But is this beginning not able to attract men? And inside, despite the modest dimensions, even a large representative of the stronger sex is able to accommodate quite comfortably, not only while driving, but also in the back seat. You don’t feel particularly close, but there is a feeling of space. It, by the way, is provided not only by the design features of the body, but also by one funny detail by the absence of a curtain under a glass hatch in the roof. That is, you always have a sky above your head, you will not hide from it. As it is now customary to say cool.

It is especially pleasant, as in the case of a test car, to deal with the GHIA top version. The seats are sheathed with genuine leather and have good lateral support. And let them be regulated mechanically, but in a wide range. The small, thick, skin -sheathed, skin -sheathed, confidently lies in his hands and is pleasant to the touch. It is regulated both in height and by departure, in any case, without blocking the dashcams. On the shield in front of the eyes, two main large dials are a tachometer and a speedometer. The fuel level indicators in the tank and the temperature of the power unit are digital, they fit inside the tachometer. The black central console does not look boring, as it has a built-in silver CD changer. Under it, the handles of control of the microclimate are very good, I will notice by the way. And only the location of the heating buttons on the side, under the pillow, the chair looks somewhat strange. In general, the ergonomics of the salon, from my point of view, is very thought out.

Do not hurt!

It seems to be enough about the lack of culture on Russian roads in this issue of AI. I will only add that in compact machines you feel it to a special extent when you are shamelessly cut, they are not inferior to the path, as if they are trying not to notice at best, and perceived as an obstacle in the worst. In my opinion, this is how the reverse side of the slave, in essence, reverence for the powers that be in large and expensive cars, is manifested.

So, I go to Fiesta in the late evening on the third ring, in a place where there is a special pocket that allows you to integrate in the left row of stream. Yes, and there is no stream at this time, so I turn on the turn signal and begin to calmly rebuild. And suddenly I see in the mirrors how Mitsubishi Lancer flies behind, blinking headlights and alarm, although it has more places on the right, the road is free. Where is there! It is certainly necessary to demonstrate your superiority, preventing a car that is simply smaller in size. But the fact is that decisively no advantages, with the exception of size and weight (in kilograms), the Lancer station wagon in front of Fiesta. In running properties, just, on the contrary. That he was immediately proved in practice. Do not offend the little ones!

A 1,6-liter engine, aggregated with 5-speed mechanics, gives a light fieSTA excellent dynamic potential. And the settings of the gearbox are able to please a fan of quick and aggressive driving. Despite the rather long lever of the CP, it is a pleasure to manipulate them: the moves are short and clear, clearly designed for frequent switching. According to subjective sensations, the first three programs are brought closer, which provides a cheerful start and quick acceleration. Say, on slippery coating, the front drive wheels polish asphalt not only in the first, but also in second gear. At the same time, the power unit itself demonstrates enviable briskness and good elasticity at the same time. With almost any revolutions, he is ready for a jerk, and responsive to work by the accelerator. Although the engine potential is fully revealed after 3000 rpm. At such moments, the salon, in addition, is filled with a pleasant sound of the power unit. In general, Lancer quickly dissolved in the rear -view mirror, as if it did not exist.

As for controllability, I would put Fiesta an excellent rating. This front -wheel drive car has almost neutral rotation, perhaps with a slight tendency to excess. In other words, when the tires lose their proper clutch with the canvas, Fiesta is so begins to smoothly go outside of turning all four wheels. For a dynamic driver, the best option is, since it is easy to control a car with such habits with both the steering wheel and gas. As a result, I often caught myself thinking that I entered the turn simply with an outrageous speed, enjoying that I would pass it with a slight demolition.

By the way, the car does not have a stabilization system, and it is essentially not needed. Fiesta is very easy to merge when you begin to feel it not with your mind, but in your body. And very quickly you come to the conclusion that this is a very friendly to the driver and a car that is quite predicted in behavior. The settings of the steering make it possible to go at any pace, the steering wheel does not allow to make a mistake with the turning angle. The suspensions do not allow rolls in corners, but I would not call them optimal too hard, shock absorbers and springs are quite able to cope with the irregularities of the capital's roads. And the brake mechanisms with ABS are very tenacious, which has been tested more than once on dry, and on wet asphalt, and in ice.

In a word, Fiesta is really like a holiday, she gave me a lot of pleasant minutes. I think the reader realized that on the roads we were not too shy with her, and did not give ourselves offense. Therefore, probably, the average fuel consumption exceeded passport data, as a result of 10.6 liters per 100 km.

Price and demand

The European prices for this car in the salons of Moscow official Ford dealers would probably seem at least strange: the compact Fiesta is more expensive than the older Focus rank. This is because it is produced in Germany, and passes through customs and named procedures. That is why the demand for it is not too large, and the car managed to prove itself mainly as a gift, it is clear that for the fair sex. And this, I want to say, is a very good gift.

The version we tested with the most powerful power unit and in the GHIA version costs from $ 14,420, and the most affordable modification of Fiesta 1.3 Ambiente will cost $ 11,900.

Text: Andrey Osipov
 

Source: Newspaper "Automobile Izvestia" [No. 23 (90), 2005]