End of the Fiesta

[mr.bluesky]

So I heard on the radio the other day that Ford are going to cease production of the Ford Fiesta car next year . Now I have never owned one or driven one myself but the Fiesta has been top of the UK car sales chart year after year. A company spokesman said they are going to concentrate on producing electric cars which begs the question as to why don't they produce an electric version of the Fiesta. 
 

[Blackpool Rock]

Yeah I thought similar, why drop the iconic name  Surely better to call the new car something like the Fiesta E or similar  Perhaps they may do that, not sure when this new car will emerge

Just on the Fiesta I recall watching the launch on TV, I was actually at a mates birthday party and his dad made about 10 kids sit in front of the TV and watch it as it was important for the UK car industry.
My memory is a bit hazy from way back but i'm sure it was actually a news item on the 6 O'Clock news but was more like an advert, product placement on the BBC, surely not 

Ford were always very good at marketing back then and if you watch old programs like The Sweeney and The Professionals they almost always drove the latest Fords, there's even dialogue where they talk about how great the car is which was obviously put in there as an advert.

Apparently they went out to Ford and Austin and basically asked them to lend them cars for filming, Austin would sometimes give then a car like a Dolomite Sprint but it was hit or miss and the colour could change week to week which fucked up continuity.
Ford on the other hand realised they were getting free product placement on hugely popular programs to an audience who were probably the target market for some of the cars so they virtually gave them the cars on a permanent basis.
Did wonders for the Granada in The Sweeney and the Capri in The Professionals   

[Gordon Bennett]

I know cars have got bigger down the years but one would still expect a modern-day Fiesta to be a value-for-money compact motor with a fairly simple base model. I don't think Mk.1 Fiesta would be much bigger than today's Fiat 500 for instance.

Anyway, today's EVs all seem on the larger size and choc full of tech. An EV Fiesta would have none of the characteristics or traits you associate with the marque. Price would make you wince for a start.

[daviemac]

I know cars have got bigger down the years but one would still expect a modern-day Fiesta to be a value-for-money compact motor with a fairly simple base model. I don't think Mk.1 Fiesta would be much bigger than today's Fiat 500 for instance.

Anyway, today's EVs all seem on the larger size and choc full of tech. An EV Fiesta would have none of the characteristics or traits you associate with the marque. Price would make you wince for a start.

They make an electric Fiat 500 other manufacturer's make quite small models as well so they could do an electric Fiesta if they wanted.

[Watts.E.Dunn]

I reckon it was the cars that made the Sweeny what it was, and so watchable:)

[DastardlyDick]

Ah yes, the " good old days" of British TV 😀
There was also "Ashes to Ashes" and "Life on Mars" which had the line "fire up the quattro" whenever Gene Hunt (Phil Glenister) left the office to sort out some ne'er do well. Both Labour and the Tories adopted it for their Election Campaigns in 2010, Labour's had Cameron leaning on the quattro with the line "don't let him take us back to the 80s" while the Tories had "it's time for change". It was also notable for having Keeley Hawes in it!

[Blackpool Rock]

I reckon it was the cars that made the Sweeny what it was, and so watchable:)

I know someone whose brother was a copper involved in undercover type stuff, he said that talking to the older guys about programs like The Sweeney and Life on Mars they were actually like that however they became more like it when the programs started as if they had something to live up to 

[mr.bluesky]

I know someone whose brother was a copper involved in undercover type stuff, he said that talking to the older guys about programs like The Sweeney and Life on Mars they were actually like that however they became more like it when the programs started as if they had something to live up to 

I remember the Audi Quatro from the follow on Ashes to Ashes TV series.  When it made its debut in the World Rally championship smashing the opposition.  There was nothing to touch it at the time.

[lamboman]

An EV Fiesta would have none of the characteristics or traits you associate with the marque. Price would make you wince for a start.

Exactly there would be no link to the current model.

[scutty brown]

A couple of years ago Ford stated they were going to end all "sedan" production and concentrate just on SUVs.
The story was that there wasn't enough margin in conventional cars

[Discreet_welshman]

They make an electric Fiat 500 other manufacturer's make quite small models as well so they could do an electric Fiesta if they wanted.

This  I dont understand why not, why end the 2nd longest running Ford model name (2nd to the Transit) to go and produce a new all electric car  Other manufacturers have managed to keep iconic names like the Fiat 500 you mention. They will lose a fanbase and regular customers who may have bought Fiestas for the last 20-30 years or more and see no reason to change that. Even Mini has managed to get an EV of a current model. Surely they can design it into the next generation, keep the design DNA on top as its mostly only going to be a chassis design underneath 

I have fond memories being in my Uncles Popular Plus when I was young, the MK1 was a new car back then  But ive never owned a Fiesta myself, not the car anyway 

DW 

[lillythesavage]

A couple of years ago Ford stated they were going to end all "sedan" production and concentrate just on SUVs.
The story was that there wasn't enough margin in conventional cars

The reasoning behind it is just that, small car sales are dropping with all the mini SUV,s coming to market, Mondeo has already gone, Focus will too shortly.
Production stopped at times for most Ford models with the processer problems, except Kuga and Puma, the market is changing and they are changing with it.

[Pillowtalk]

So I heard on the radio the other day that Ford are going to cease production of the Ford Fiesta car next year . Now I have never owned one or driven one myself but the Fiesta has been top of the UK car sales chart year after year. A company spokesman said they are going to concentrate on producing electric cars which begs the question as to why don't they produce an electric version of the Fiesta. 

My thoughts too, but over the years Ford have dropped a lot of iconic names such as the Prefect, Capri, Cortina, Zodiac, Corsair and, of course, the pubic.

[Neverthere]

I'm not the biggest Ford fan but had a couple over the years.
Agree with you Pillowtalk Ford lost some great names and probably should have kept the escort IMHO(fitting for this forum ).

It still goes down for me as one of the best cars I had when I was young and it was the Mk1 XR2 in Red.
Was a brilliant little car for the time really to me had the looks and good sound, not too loud but more the note of the exhaust/engine was good, but hey this was definitely an era thing.

[Coriniumstud]

First car was a Fiesta 

[Thecunninglinguist]

Like many, not the biggest fan but the early ones were reliable and cheap to buy and maintain. About 35 years ago I bought and old cheap on for the OH to practice on whilst learning and then as her run about. Both my daughters used it as they passed their tests and was quite badly used. It got nicked twice but we found it dumped locally both times, luckily without damage. In the end it just outlived it's usefulness as everyone moved on and it went to another teen who had just passed their test, probably for about 50 quid. Being a cheapskate, except for my choice of transport of course, I probably didn't pay more than 250 for it.

[lillythesavage]

I'm not the biggest Ford fan but had a couple over the years.
Agree with you Pillowtalk Ford lost some great names and probably should have kept the escort IMHO(fitting for this forum ).

It still goes down for me as one of the best cars I had when I was young and it was the Mk1 XR2 in Red.
Was a brilliant little car for the time really to me had the looks and good sound, not too loud but more the note of the exhaust/engine was good, but hey this was definitely an era thing.

Wish I had a MK1 XR2 now, 25k for a really good one, old Fords can make mental money.

Ford kept the old names too long, and brought some back,  it is all letters and numbers that sell now, that is what the market wants, Ford got left behind.

[Neverthere]

Wish I had a MK1 XR2 now, 25k for a really good one, old Fords can make mental money.

Ford kept the old names too long, and brought some back,  it is all letters and numbers that sell now, that is what the market wants, Ford got left behind.

You and me both wish to still have one now£££ crazy money I know

[lillythesavage]

You and me both wish to still have one now£££ crazy money I know

80,s cars are red hot on the market, 60,s are reducing with the reducing people who remember them and want one, 70,s still strong but will go the same way as 60,s eventually.

MK1 XR2 are real hot property, as is the Supersport version, probably more so, us oldies could have retired early if only we knew 

I am restoring a rare GT, not a Ford, and all the more rare because of it, will be close to 10k into it finished, but would not part with it for less than 20k.

[Neverthere]

80,s cars are red hot on the market, 60,s are reducing with the reducing people who remember them and want one, 70,s still strong but will go the same way as 60,s eventually.

MK1 XR2 are real hot property, as is the Supersport version, probably more so, us oldies could have retired early if only we knew 

I am restoring a rare GT, not a Ford, and all the more rare because of it, will be close to 10k into it finished, but would not part with it for less than 20k.

Yes I've seen a lot of the Mk1/Mk2 escort Rs funny money for sure, got to agree with the hindsight if only to be retired  .
Would've love to have kept my 1275Gt mini, also had a modified mini clubman with lots of the cooper s parts, twin carbs, webbers had lots of parts at one point.
Good luck on the restoration and hope you get your valuation at the end 

[lillythesavage]

Yes I've seen a lot of the Mk1/Mk2 escort Rs funny money for sure, got to agree with the hindsight if only to be retired  .
Would've love to have kept my 1275Gt mini, also had a modified mini clubman with lots of the cooper s parts, twin carbs, webbers had lots of parts at one point.
Good luck on the restoration and hope you get your valuation at the end 

Plenty of Mini around, but the 1275GT has cracked the 30k barrier. Not many of those around.

 I put that valuation on it before I bought it, survivors are in single figures and most of those are Rally cars, quite possibly the only UK RHD standard one left, maybe, the club do not know of another.
I bought it in turn key restored mechanical condition, rebuilt engine, gearbox rear axle, brakes and suspension, with new genuine sills, wings, doors and bonnet, took a year to persuade the lady owner of 35 years to sell it.

[Neverthere]

Plenty of Mini around, but the 1275GT has cracked the 30k barrier. Not many of those around.

 I put that valuation on it before I bought it, survivors are in single figures and most of those are Rally cars, quite possibly the only UK RHD standard one left, maybe, the club do not know of another.
I bought it in turn key restored mechanical condition, rebuilt engine, gearbox rear axle, brakes and suspension, with new genuine sills, wings, doors and bonnet, took a year to persuade the lady owner of 35 years to sell it.

Wow didn't know that about the 1275gt, I appreciate your bargaining/persuading someone to sell, can only guess not such an easy thing to do but good for you   
Sounds like you're onto a top notch winner here, need pictures when complete now 

[lamboman]

80,s cars are red hot on the market

The one I have is worth 8x what it was when I bought it,I'm not sure inflation would account for that.

[WDFORTE]

I learnt to drive in a 1988 Ford Fiesta, best model imho were the third generation, 1989 - 1998, brilliant cars.

[Davey Dykes]

My mum had a Caspian blue MK1 XR2. The X-Flow engine wasn't the best fit in those. The CVH that came in the MK2 wasn't a whole lot better mind you.

[lillythesavage]

My mum had a Caspian blue MK1 XR2. The X-Flow engine wasn't the best fit in those. The CVH that came in the MK2 wasn't a whole lot better mind you.

Nothing wrong with the X-flow, still a popular choice for tuning, I wanted to go old school with my Ford Anglia, X-flow is the norm, but went for a bored and stroked pre-x-flow Cortina GT, now 1700cc from 1500cc, the cost was scary  . a good used engine was 1500 quid.

CVH is tunable but not strong, best option is ZVH hybrid, Zetec bottom end CVH top end to keep it looking original.

For real power, Cosworth beating power, 2.3 Duratec, bored to 2.5, big turbo and forged internals, mapped one of those to 520 bhp, undrivable in an old Ford 

[lillythesavage]

I learnt to drive in a 1988 Ford Fiesta, best model imho were the third generation, 1989 - 1998, brilliant cars.

RS Turbo and lesser extent RS1800, the rest have not made the desirable market, yet. still some good cheap ones around.