Looking for my first car and someone I know personally is selling theirs. I was able to test drive it and based on my very limited driving experience I didn’t notice anything wrong, seller says regular maintenance has been performed and the transmission was defective and was replaced under warranty at 15k miles. Due to how close they are, not having to bargain with dealers, and being someone I know and trust I am heavily considering buying this car, would that be a good idea?
The automatic transmissions in the Fiesta and Focus are extremely problematic; you should research the PowerShift models and the various issues they face. This is why the transmission has been replaced frequently, as they fail regularly. The 5-speed manuals are reliable, and the engines in the 1.6 Fiestas are solid, so I recommend them if you’re comfortable driving a stick. If not, consider other options instead of this car.
No, OP. The transmissions in those vehicles are completely unreliable.
I forgot to mention that it’s the sedan model, not the hatchback—if that changes anything.