Keshy’s Fiesta Test Drive
Ford Fiesta – Feeling the Difference
Keshy Tests the Ford Fiesta in the Experience Fiesta, Experience Hollywood Contest.
As you well know, Ford is having this cool competition where you stand a chance to win a great and exciting trip to Hollywood to see the semi-finals of the American Idol season 10, in addition to other great prizes, so I got went along with my friend Keshy, to the Ford showroom in Petaling Jaya to check out the Fiesta, and also for him to try his luck in the competition.
So thus it happened that last Friday afternoon, we moseyed over to the Auto Connexion showroom along Jalan 205 Petaling Jaya to embark on our ‘Mission”. After the usual registration requirements, which were quite quickly dispensed with, basically to put down Keshy’s name, IC number, address and contact number, we were given a ‘Mission Card’, and off we went on a test drive.
The sales consultant Mahmud was indeed very friendly, and he took some time to explain the unique selling points of the Ford Fiesta to us. Salient points to consider are the 1.6 litre, 120 horsepower engine, the six-speed ‘Powershift’ transmission, Traction control, ABS, EBD, and the specially tuned sports suspension – we were raring to go, because after all, we wanted to see what the car could do!
Keshy did spend a few moments, though, to connect up his handphone to the car using the blue-tooth – this was very quick and easy, with prompts from the on-board display on the dash. Then we checked out the Voice Control function, which can be used to call somebody in you address book – (the blue-tooth will draw your contact list into the car system, and you can actually ask the system to call anyone in your contact list just by saying out the name). The Voice Control also can turn on your radio and even tune in to any frequency you like. Isn’t that cool?
When Keshy had finished ‘fiddling’ with all the neat controls on the dash, which Mahmud was quick to point out, was based on a handphone design, we set out on our short test drive which covered approximately five kilometres along the roads in the area.
The Fiesta engine is a DOHC fuel injection unit, and there is plenty of torque – acceleration is brisk and smooth, and we can see that the Fiesta would be a very nippy car – you can drive it slowly too, should you wish to, as it will also toodle around very smoothly at crawling speeds. What Keshy liked about it was the ‘Hold’ function that prevents the car from rolling back while on a slope as you take your foot off the brake pedal to restart the car when at a traffic light – no more of those panicky moments of having to use the hand-brake to balance your car when stopped on a slope at a traffic light.
Under acceleration, the Fiesta responds immediately, and you can build up speed very quickly – we did not have a chance to hit top speed, as we were in a built-up area, but I hear a top speed of just under 200 km/h is possible. During the drive, there were a few curves, not really enough to fully test the car’s agility, but enough to know that this car handles superbly, thanks to the sports tuned suspension and the 16-inch low profile tyres. Incidentally, the sedan version is shod with 15-inch wheels.
Safety-wise, the 1.6 hatch comes with dual airbags for the driver and front passenger in addition to the other systems, and a stiff chassis, where it matters, with crumple zones in the right places to absorb impact.
Inside, the Fiesta is well built, with great seats that help to hold you in place, and plenty of legroom. Sitting behind Mahmud on the passenger side, I had plenty of space for my legs, and even on Keshy’s side, I could still be comfortable, despite his height.
All in all, the Fiesta is a great little car – it is a sub-compact, but by positioning the wheels at the extremes of the car, the designers have managed to maximise the interior space. It will take four adults comfortably, and five at a slight squeeze. At approximately RM82k, it is great value for money – with great features, such as the traction control system, and the blue-tooth with voice control, features that are usually only found in much more expensive cars. As for Keshy, he is in deliberation and hotly considering mode.
