Hmmm...

Have you driven a modern Fiesta ? With the 1.25 or 1.4 Zetec engine the Fiesta is great fun. It has one of the best power steering setups I have ever used (the MX5 power steering feels even better). The chassis setup is ok, though when you really start throwing it into corners you do wish for slightly stiffer springs.

It is let down by its brakes though, when I am trashing my wife's 1.4 Zetec it is always the brakes that give in first. Next time it needs new pads it is getting something better than the bog standard ones Ford fit. I wonder if you can fit Puma disks and calipers to it ?

P.S. It's obviously not as much fun as an MX5, but the Fiesta can be very entertaining, particularly so when I forget that it doesn't have brakes like the MX5 ;-)