Ford Fiesta High mileage

Hi all, I passed my driving test a couple of months ago and I’m looking to get a fiesta as my first car.

I’m currently looking at models between 2003 and 2008 and have noticed that due to their age a lot of them have got over 90,000 miles on the clock.

I was just wondering how many miles would be too much to even considering purchasing?

You can’t definitively determine what’s good or bad mileage. A car with 2,000 miles could have spent 10 years sitting in the rain with no maintenance, while a car with 80,000 miles might have been regularly serviced and kept in a garage. I would bet the 80,000-mile car would last longer without issues. It all comes down to how well the owners cared for the vehicle.

If the car you’re considering has a solid service history and plenty of documentation, I would set my limit at 120,000 miles.

The lower the mileage you can afford, the better off you’ll be in the long run.

I have a 2009 1.4 TDi with 290,000 km. It starts every morning and runs like a clock!

We had an 08 Fiesta 1.25 with 420,000 km and no maintenance—no fan, no coolant, no thermostat, dead piston rings, clogged plugs, and a broken steering pump, plus no ABS. It was still running until it finally died last week. Fiestas are tough cars; just make sure to find one with a solid maintenance history!

Almost 227k mi on '17 SE

You need to consider how the mileage has accumulated over the years, how well the car has been maintained, how often the oil was changed, and whether the timing belt has been replaced (especially for EcoBoost models). Also, check the age, tread, and overall condition of the tires. If these factors and others have been addressed, you could end up with a reliable car. However, there’s always a risk—buying the same model could lead to problems. It’s a gamble, but Fiestas are a great starting point!

You shouldn’t have to worry too much; just ensure you’re dealing with a reputable seller, especially if you’re looking on Facebook. I learned that the hard way, but I ended up buying a 55-plate 1.25 Zetec Fiesta from a legitimate dealer for £995. It came in as a trade-in, but the condition was so good that they decided to give it a full service and sell it. It currently has 135,000 miles on the clock. The Ford Sigma engines were developed with Yamaha, so they’re very reliable!