I’m curious if this would be a reliable car/good deal for my kid. Someone we know has a 2016 Ford Fiesta SE automatic with 142K miles on it. It’s been well maintained by a mechanic we also know. She is having the purge valve replaced since it’s throwing a code. It’s recently had the battery replaced, new brakes and rotors, and has been her daily driver. She’s asking $6K for it.
The price is below what we are seeing in the used market for similar cars in the area but I am concerned about the mileage. Is this a good buy?
Fiestas often share many of the same issues that the Focus from the same generation experiences. You might get lucky with a good one, and if you have a mechanic, repairs aren’t too costly. However, I think $6,000 is a bit steep. In my area (Mid-Atlantic), dealers are selling them for around $4,000 to $5,000, and you can find a Fiesta priced between $6,000 and $7,000 with less than 100,000 miles. Unless the seller has proof of a recent clutch pack or TCM replacement, $6,000 seems unfair for a private sale.
In my opinion, a price range of $4,000 to $4,500 would be much more reasonable.
Fords generally have a poor reputation, in my experience. I’ve owned many due to running a dealership, and I’ve noticed a high rate of complaints. I recommend avoiding Fords unless you can get a really good deal with a warranty.
Transmissions are notoriously unreliable—while they can be repaired, it’s not worth the hassle. If you’re considering a manual, I’d suggest the manual Focus instead of the Fiesta, as the 2.0L engine is much more dependable.