Wife needs an automatic so we are seriously looking at fiesta lx pwrshift. If I have to have an auto then it should be a good one. Rating 5 for safety is a selling point too. Ill let you know how we go.

All wives have temperemental boxes
Chris

Boy this went off topic fast but its nice to see you blokes still have your sense of humour.

I just took delivery of the fiesta lx powershift last night and Ive got to say that first impressions are very good.
Of some concern to me was the fact that these wt models are sourced from a new factory in thailand. Would there be some lemons in the bunch? To my pleasant surprise the panel fit and finish is even better than before.
On the mechanical side everything is a known quantity as the same suppliers are used.
The double clutch gearbox is all new and has apparently been well tested. As we needed an auto this time the fiesta came up trumps. The only other car that compares at the moment is the polo 77tsi dsg. We werent enthused at the polos boring facade but in its favor it probably gets a little more economy. The fiesta and polo have about the same factory price ($22000) but on the road price for the polo is 25g+ while the fiesta enjoys factory bonus etc and I managed a price of $19885 drive away with one years reg. A no brainer that makes the fiesta a much more attractive proposition. Time will tell.
A report on how it drives to come.

Insurance is about $450.
Been driving the fes around getting used to the dsg. Ive realised its one competant little car and will take a while before I can explore all its capabilities. Its got a punchy sound system that Im listening to whilst cruising around.

Weve done over 2000k now mainly freeway and suburb driving and the drive is turning out very enjoyable. It feels very "planted" on the road with no tramlining or getting put off course by the wind, it actually feels like a bigger car. Maybe this should be "the little car that isnt".
My average fuel economy so far is 6.5/100 and this has been with the air con on all the time. (qld). Highway driving it will easily sit under under 6/100 so will be economical on trips.
In cruising mode the engine is not audible at all, wind noise is zero and the tyres arent noisy either (continentals) so the drive is very relaxing.
One thing I have noticed is a slow fishtailing effect at highway speeds on some occasions requiring subtle pressure on the steering wheel this way then that. The steering is electric and is supposed to have some self centering effect for crosswinds, maybe its that.
The cruise control is easy to use but if its set to exactly 100kph in qld prepare to have the traffic pass you en masse like you are some sort of mobile road block
Ive yet to do much driving in the hills and will report on this later.
Voice control. Eh?

ronsmallford, In Sydney the LX powershift is $22,000 2010 model.
What year is your car and what tactic(trade-in?) did you use to
get below $20,000?

Who is your insurer?

Thanks...am obviously looking at getting one,

...poobah.

Hi poobah, the powershift models first arrived in november 10 I think and mine is most likely one from the fist shipment however was first registered in jan 11.
I noticed that on carsales there was a dealer in brisbane advertising the lx pwrshift model for 19885 driveaway. I went to my local dealer for the test drive and when he mentioned the price (more than 22g) I simply said there is a dealer on carsales that is selling for 19885 driveaway and if he would match that price then I would buy, so he did and so did I If you dont ask you dont get.
If the Sydney dealers wont play then consider buying from the queensland dealer and asking for free delivery. Why i say this is because when i said i wanted one in black they trucked one up from Melbourne for me no extra. My local dealer also gave me 1 years reg not 6months as i was expecting.
My car is due for its 3000k checkup and i cant find one thing to complain about, so yeh very happy with it.

Ta mate, I will quote those prices, although for some reason there are cheaper examples in qld and vic than NSW?

Who was your insurer?

...poobah.

quote:

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Originally posted by poobah

Ta mate, I will quote those prices, although for some reason there are cheaper examples in qld and vic than NSW?

Who was your insurer?

...poobah.

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Hmmmm...the dealer won't budge an inch, kept saying flood damage...oh well..off to buy a discounted Hyundai !