It's not every Saturday you get a call from the Editor asking what you're doing tomorrow. I'll be honest I wasn't too impressed with the need to drive to Essex to see yet another mark 3 fiesta. In all fairness the only thing I ever look forward to on a Sunday is the prospect of a dirty great lay in and mother in laws Sunday Roast.

But Dave assured me that this one was worth the trip.

As we pulled up at Dave's (Editor) he looked a little worried. It was hitting 2 o clock and the darkness was rolling in and he promptly informs me the 'shoot' is going to be late. Great I thinks, I've come all this way and we're going be taking pictures of shadows by the time the cars ready.

Well a quick cup of coffee and jammy dodger later (KFC you mean you fat git! ED) and the call comes in that the cars ready. Shooting down to the meeting point I finally remember to ask Dave about the car. Not knowing a great deal himself he mutters something along the lines of 210bhp and a lady driver. The day just got better…

Dave wasn't wrong. As I wandered round the Motormania (01376 501515) meeting point I get distracted from trying to break the new Kenwood stereo on display by Dave waving frantically at me from the front of the store. I scurry over to see what he wants and standing in the door way is Frances. A lush looking RS turbo sniffs the window behind her awaiting her immanent return.

As we left the shop I catch a peek at the car. First impressions…One of the best around. Now you could say I'm just saying that, as it's the first mark 3 we've covered but you'd be deeply mistaken. In all it's redness this car made up for the fact that the British winter time had decide to start kicking in at a modest 3PM.

We drove to the editor's (who was today also playing photographer) chosen shoot location and pulled up. As we started to look round the car, things really started to come together. The body shop devils had sacrificed the door locks allowing Frances (the owner) remote access via her alarm keyfob. While they were there they filled the recess of the turbo bonnet giving a completely new look to the front end. The addition of that much loved splitter on the front end gives the impression the car's only millimetres from the tarmac. Well, infact the car is only millimetres from the deck aided with the Koni adjustables allowing Frances to adjust things depending on her mood.

The 16" Evo R's still do it for us and obviously so for this Essex Girl. When asked why she didn't want to go any bigger the answer was simple. Frances had acted on the advice of others to keep the wheel size down to keep the speed up. But having a predicted bhp of 210 Frances's looking at going that extra mile and sliding a set of 17's on. We're not so sure ourselves………..but obviously in Essex size does matter.

Helping Frances hit that estimated 200 brake mark is a whole host of under bonnet goodies. The 195 chip and injectors taking care of the fuelling nicely leaves the Piper 285 cam time to do it's thing. The -31 actuator had to come into play and this coupled with a bleed valve allow those extra horses the full run of the course. As all good DIY mechanics know 'universal' never fits. So Frances insisted on the K&N 57i for her car not wanting anything but the best. But the more that goes in, the more that needs to come out. Four inches of Scorpion exhaust will do nicely.

Now both the Ed and I are not fond of sun strips something you'd normally associate with a 1.1 nova packed full of 13 year old girls and cheap harness pads but the use of her garages name in this sticker really show of the touch of class approach that Frances has taken. If you look closely you'll spot a very nice touch on the bonnet too.

You've got to see those M3 wing mirrors in the flesh to really appreciate them, which was just what we did...

As the darkness finally got the best of us we said our thanks to Frances before heading back to the ranch to check the photos out. On the way back I was still trying to get my head round the car. All in all not a bad way to spend seven and a half grand - that is close to the total Frances has spent. But it's not the amount of money you spend, it's not the amount of work others do for you, that's not what it's all about. It's about you and the car. You want to reflect the person that you see yourself to be. I'd say that this car reflects Frances down to a tee!

All in all this is one prime challenger for the fiesta title and I'd look out for it on the show scene next year. But remember where you saw it first www.fastfords.org.uk

1600 EFi, 195 bhp Superchip, Piper T2 Cam, - 31 Actuator, Bleed valve, Dump valve, K&N 57i Induction kit, High pressure Oil pump, 4" Scorpion Stainless Exhaust, Samco Hoses

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