2004 Ford Fiesta

Ford Fiesta

Ford’s Fiesta spent its life in the Polo’s shadow, but it was always the choice for those who cared about steering feel and a bit of zing in their commute. It never threatened the Polo, Swift, or Yaris in the sales charts, but for drivers who wanted something less dull, it quietly built a faithful base. Now it’s officially retired everywhere — not a single brand-new Fiesta left in SA. If you want one, you’ll be picking from the 42 used listings on the market, with prices ranging from R67,500 to R249,900 and a median bang-on R139,900. Engine options cover the 1.4-litre naturally aspirated petrol (the staple), the punchy 1.0-litre EcoBoost turbo three-pot, and a diesel for the economy die-hards, with just about every transmission flavour mixed in across the years. The 1.4 Ambiente dominates the classifieds, living in that R119,900 to R139,900 sweet spot, usually with around 129,000 km on the clock. It was the go-to spec for private buyers looking to upgrade, and you can tell — no nonsense, just a solid step up from budget hatches. At the top end, the 1.0T Titanium auto nudges R249,900, which is probably as much as you’d want to pay for a used Fiesta, on paper at least. The real reason drivers pick one over a Polo? Steering that actually talks to you, a chassis that feels planted on Joburg’s patchwork tar, and a 1.0 EcoBoost motor that sips as claimed if you pack smart. Model years run from 2006 to 2021, but unless you love swearing at touchscreen menus, stick with post-2017 cars for less infotainment pain.