Fiestabuyer's guide

The Mk7 Fiesta is one of the most common used cars in Europe — which means the market is full of neglected examples priced to look like bargains. Timing belt and wet-belt service gaps, gearbox judder that sellers call "normal", and coolant faults that turn into head-gasket bills are the patterns that catch buyers out. This guide gives you the checks to do before you hand over a deposit.

This guide covers ten documented issues: timing belt/chain or wet-belt service risk, manual/automatic clutch or gearbox judder, coolant leak or thermostat fault, infotainment/software electrical faults, suspension knocks and tyre wear, brake corrosion or ABS sensor fault, oil leak or PCV fault, boot water leak or accident repair, air conditioning leak, and the full recall and campaign status checklist. Each fault has a field check and a real repair-cost range.

A Mk7 Fiesta with a full service record, clean OBD scan and no warning lights is a genuinely good used buy. Without those, you are pricing in risk you cannot see. This guide tells you which one you are looking at before the money changes hands.