Article Final Draft

I went over the article and made the review more concise whilst removing much of bad humour.. I think this draft is much better.

The extensively revised Fiesta Mk4 put the fun back into functional during the mid-1990s. It was as good to drive as any rival super-mini and still looks fairly modern with curvy, youthful styling, though it’s less radical than its funky little sister, the Ka. Ford’s bestseller got a fresh lease of life in the form of 16-valve engines, improved suspension and handling, good security measures and modern safety features.

The Fiesta may have a reputation for being a fairly subdued little runner, but a twitch of the throttle reveals the excitable yipping terrier under the bonnet jumping up and urging you to go faster. In that sense at least, it certainly puts in a good effort thanks to its lively 1.25 and 1.4 litre Zetec engines. It’ll easily manage 100mph if you keep your foot planted long enough and don’t encounter any hills or corners. And when you’re not braking this speed limit the Fiesta’s great grip and responsive handling make it fun to drive in the corners. Even today it still offers impressive performance for such an old banger. It’s arguably stood the test of time better than any of its old rivals, besides perhaps the Saxo in terms of handling. As a result of the refined suspension there were also vast improvements in the ride quality over previous incarnations. The Mk 4 handles the bumps and potholes of country lanes with surprising ease. Unfortunately this does mean there’s noticable body roll but this just makes it more fun in the corners if you ask me. Seats in the higher rang models like the LX and Ghia are reassuringly comfortable, whilst long journeys in the lower end models such as the Encore can be a tad painful on the.. erm.. lower end.

Overall the Fiesta Mk4 makes for a surpringly enjoyable drive thats packed with little surprises to keep you on your toes. No, it’s not perfect but it doesn’t have to be. That’s why I love it. It’s enthusiastic, willing and as many of you will know, doesn’t let you down. It’s a ford. It’s fun. Why, you might even say.. es un fiesta!