I bought a Fiesta 1.4 EXi 7 months back from Metro Ford, Bangalore. It cost 6.67 lacs (sans accessories) with 3 year extended warranty. I have driven the car for about 2600 km and have not had any problem so far.
There were some nasty black marks on the car caused by other vehicles and when I asked how much it would cost to remove the marks, I was told that it will cost Rs. 3500. The other day a mechanic who had come to my apartment did it for free. Ford certainly would like to make up for lost revenue by charging a lot on service.
The car is a decent performer and I get around 11 kmpl in city. I have not had to spend anything on maintenance so far, but I have heard some horror stories about the poor after sales service.
On paper the car seems underpowered, but you will rarely feel it. The car remains firmly planted to the road even when over-taking at 95 kmph. Driving comfort is decent and gear shift though good, is inferior to that of Swift.
Looks wise, this car is as gentleman-like as it gets. It is in the same league as the old Honda City and Hyundai Accent. I bought the car for its great looks.
The vehicle scores very low on ground clearance and suspension. Bangalore’s potholed and bumpy roads do not help matters.
To sum up, the car gets the following points,
Looks 5.0/5
Boot space 5.0/5
Handling 4.0/5
Fuel Efficiency 3.5/5
Roominess 3.5/5
Performance 3.0/5
Interiors 3.0/5
Service 2.0/5
Suspension 1.5/5
Ground clearance 0.5/5
The car had the best value for money quotient of all the entry level sedans when I made the purchase and I am sure with the introduction of newer models, it will be bested by some other car pretty soon. The resale value is sure to see a sharp decline. But the great looks and decent fuel economy should let me hold onto the car for five years or more. Should fuel prices start pinching, I have the option of installing a gas kit thanks to the generous boot space.
7 months may be a bit too early to judge the car, but there do not seem to be any obvious flaws. Till now it feels to be a car made for the long haul.