Fiesta TDCI - OBD & MP3 Changers

This seems a bit strange - did you check the specification before ordering?

:)

If you're wanting to do your own in-car computer, good luck, it's certainly possible but you'll need to know both how EOBD (European OBD), or the CAN bus (which I believe 2003 onwards cars use), and you'll need to configure what to do with the data, too.

I bought the Harrison R&D "solution" - leads and converter - and I use it with my PalmOS devices. Ours was just shy of $200, but this comes with both PalmOS and Windoze software and leads. Just don't go away for a week leaving the OBD-II lead plugged in, you'll flatten the battery... :-/

The fuel consumption of the Fiesta TDCi will reduce (i.e. you'll get better MPG) over the next twenty thousand miles or so. The 1.4 isn't as bad as the

1.8 or 2.0 Ford / PSA derv donks in terms of running in mileage, but it still takes some time.

The 30K model I borrowed averaged high 50s to the gallon with me not trying especially hard either way... :)

Eew, Ford's aren't very well specced are they...

You should've got a 206. My 206 has these features, and its not the top model :)

But the Fiesta is built better, costs much less to service, handles better and is far more comfortable to drive.

think i'll stick with my MK1, can get a better seating position than that, plus costs FAR! less than both fiesta and 206 so can spend more on sound shit. and yes it looks better too IMO :)

*cough*

I somehow don't think so.

As an aside, I had a collegue following me in his brand new Fester TDCi the other day. Fuck they're slow.

IME, this happens with every Ford regardless of what's plugged into it.

I'll accept it might be built .as well

My intervals are 20k, i bet the diesel Fezzy is a darn site shorter than that.

Does it? Mine seems OK, but as a i said, GTi suspension and stuff on mine ;)

Thats subjective to the driver. I find mine perfectly comfortable, even with my physical mess-ness, even on long runs. Plus mine looks better and is faster.

Some Google action suggests that this 'expensive servicing' claim you're making is a bit of a load of s**te :) They cost no more to service than anything else of the same class, there is no reason for them to, and they have long service intervals (20,000 or 2 years), much longer than the Fiesta's 12k or 1 year. So, i take this oppertunity to suggest that, compared to the 206, the Fiesta is expensive to service.

I take issue with most of that.

In any case, which would you rather have ? I don't rate the Fester one jot !

I made an assumption it'd have the same trim level as my Focus Ghia. Mind you, the Focus Ghia doesn't have anything other than a trip meter, odometer and a clock. The amazing thing was it didn't have ABS, and was less than 2 years old! I took it into the garage saying the ABS was broken - I was amazed when they said it wasn't fitted.

I thought you might have fitted it. I've never noticed the connection on the Ka though. I'll have a look later.

Well, EOBD>RS232 adapters are readily available (some for under £50). Parsing the data I require shouldn't be too tricky. Might even be able to do it on a PIC! My main issue is knowing whether it's CAN or something else. I suspect it's CAN, but I'll need to be 100% sure (otherwise it'll be more cash down the drain).

Yeah - the converters suck 12v from the permanent supply on the connector. IIRC, it's part of the standard that the 12v supply isn't switched.

I certainly hope it gets better. It's stupendously poor at the moment. I'm beginning to wish I went for the Mondeo LX which was the other option on my shortlist. Amazingly (sat nav aside), it has more gadgets and bits than the Fiesta Ghia. It has a trip computer (with some useful functions), full climate (rather than plain A/C), and cruise control.

High 50s? Is that all? Now I'm really disappointed. I went for the Fiesta because the economy is meant to be so good, but I got that out of the Megane. In fact, I once made a trip from Bristol to Telford and back at 75mpg. To think I've sacrificed 50bhp by going for the Fiesta :-/

Cheers, Andy

It seems not. £13500 on a Fiesta, and it doesn't even have electric windows in the back! It's not even an option.

Sadly, it's a company car, and I'm restricted to Ford group with the new rules. I'd go Mazda, but you get bugger all for your money!

Cheers, Andy

I suspect it handles better than any car in its class. It's superb. Understeer and oversteer available on demand 90% of the time. When driven smoothly, it responds with a firm stance and a dash of understeer. Comfortable? No way. It's the most uncomfortable car I've ever had. Even worse than the Focus. I prefer the cardboard seats of a Ka, or the minimalist seats of a Mini City to the park bench of the Fiesta. There's no arm rest either. Pah!

Cheers, Andy

£13,500 seems like a lot for a Fiesta don't it? Especially one that costs more to buy, more to service, isn't as comfy, isn't as well specced, and isn't as quick as my 206 ;)

Hopefully it'll improve markedly when it's properly run in.

Peter

-- "The truth is working in television is not very glamorous at all. I just go home on my own at night and sit alone and eat crisps."

High 50s across the B1225 with me not trying especially hard going to or from York... oh, heh, not trying especially hard to save fuel! :)

No, it's better built.

The interval has very little relevance to how much it costs to service. If you have five services in 100K but each service is £300, that's more than ten services, each costing £120.

We're comparing a non-sporty model with a sporty model.

You want to compare a sloppy handling standard 206 with a Fiesta?

Have you driven both?

Looks better? That's subjective!

Not the Peugeot, which needs "sporty" suspension to handle, rather than the Fiesta, that does it right from the box.

LOL.

Dunno, never driven one :) Driven a pikey model 206 tho, mate has a 1.9 NA D, GOD, its slow, handling doesn't seem particulary bad tho.