INTERIOR

Much of your choice when buying a Mk7 will revolve around the standard level of trim, which will make a massive difference when sitting behind the leather-covered steering wheel.

Zetec and Titanium have relatively plain cabins, while the Zetec S and Titanium X have sports front seats – funky upholstery in the S, or heated part-leather in the X. The Zetec S also has alloy pedals. Red and Black Editions and ST-Line are Zetec S-based, adding red stitching.

You may also find someone has retrofitted ST180 Recaro seats and matching door cards, which are available for around £300-400 second-hand and make a very nice upgrade.

Fiestas aren’t exactly a premium product, but build quality is good and any Mk7 cabin should be pleasant and relatively hardwearing. Avoid a car with tatty upholstery or worn-out seats, which suggests it’s done lots of miles, been abused or maybe heavily used by a driving school.

The dashboard and instrumentation could sound rattly, and you may hear clattering from the door cards and creaks around the A- and B-pillar trims, which can be resolved by sticking them back into place with foam sound-deadening pads. Clonking from the steering column suggests the pinch bolt needs replacing or tightening. If you experience squeaking from the clutch pedal, it’s most likely curable with a squirt of WD-40.

All Mk7s are prone to rainwater leaks inside the boot, particularly from the tailgate hinges or back lights; check the carpets and spare wheel well for puddles. Water ingress may also cause the tailgate release button to fail.