2010 Ford Fiesta 1.2L Petrol · BJ60 EUZ

The 1.25-litre petrol engine is one of the more economical Fiesta units and should return mid-40s mpg on a mixed run, with low insurance groupings typical of this model. Road tax will be modest given the small engine, but a 16-year-old car falls into the older flat-rate band rather than the original CO2-based VED. Insurance is likely to sit in group 5-8 depending on the exact derivative, keeping premiums affordable for most buyers.

Annual running costs including fuel, tax, insurance and routine maintenance typically fall in the £1,400-£1,700 range for a Fiesta of this vintage. However, this particular example is likely to push higher in the short term given the front suspension and brake work flagged at recent MOTs — allow an extra £300-£500 for immediate remedial work in your first year of ownership.

Focus on the front suspension at the test drive: the 2024 failure recorded an excessively worn nearside front ball joint plus a deteriorated offside dust cover leaking grease. Both front lower arms may now need replacement, and a garage should also check the front sub-frame for advanced corrosion beyond the 'not seriously weakened' advisory issued last time. Put the car on a ramp or use a four-wheel alignment check to assess whether the distorted rear wheels noted in 2024 have caused any tracking or bearing damage.

Inspect the braking system closely, particularly the near-side front caliper, which was found binding in January 2026. A binding brake can overheat, cause uneven pad wear, and in extreme cases lead to MOT failure on the next test. Examine the tyres for age and tread depth (the 2024 failure recorded tread below 1.6mm with exposed cords on both fronts) and confirm the rear wheels have been replaced. Finally, look at the rear direction indicator for the slight discolouration noted in 2024, and check for water ingress, broken boot struts and headlamp condition — the latter being the most common Fiesta MOT failure point nationally.