Cars have an uncanny knack of making you feel old. How many of us have stifled a snigger at some anachronistic old vehicle, still in service but with its best days long behind it, before the dismal realisation dawns that we lusted after, learned to drive in or used to own that exact same make and model? It can be a crushing blow as it dates you as much as the car in question and if you'd rather avoid this kind of reality check, best look away now because Ford's Fiesta is now 30 years old.

If you're one of the thousands of people who still look on the original Fiesta through a rose-tinted windscreen, fondly remembering the halcyon days of the late 70s when the little Ford represented the pinnacle of small car design, your disco dancing days are probably over. Fortunately, by way of a celebration, Ford have laid on the perfect antidote to feelings of sorrow and decrepitude caused by the Fiesta's entry into middle age. It's called the Zetec S Anniversary and it's designed to put the spring back in anyone's step.

There's no doubt that the Ford Fiesta has come a long way over the years and the Zetec S Anniversary edition is a good indicator of where it's at right now. You won't find these models hard to spot as the unique and rather vivid Radian Yellow paintwork is topped off with a full chequered-flag roof decal. It's that other throwback to motoring days past, BMW's new MINI, that has helped re-popularised the personalisation of small cars with exterior graphics and the current Fiesta is one of a number of rival models to get in on the act. The range-topping Fiesta ST is available with roof stripes that evoke the famous livery of the 1960s Ford GT40 racecars and the Zetec S Anniversary has its black and white checks. It also has door mirrors, side mouldings, a tailgate handle and a rear spoiler fashioned in Panther Black - which is just plain black to you and I but looks very fetching set off against the yellow paintwork.

Equipment levels are particularly generous given that the special Zetec S Anniversary features come in addition to the items found on the standard Zetec-S, which itself is no pauper. There's an MP3 connection socket, privacy glass, a silver bezel for the dashboard and chequered scuff plates the match the roof. The best bit though is the full leather seating and the worst bit could well be the velour floor mats. At least if you do remember the original Fiesta, then these will match your tracksuit.

"Equipment levels are particularly generous"

The asking price for all this is £12,595 which, according to Ford, gives the Fiesta Zetec S Anniversary edition some £1,400 of free equipment. The yellow bodywork won't be to everyone's taste but that price tag and the fact that only 400 of these special Fiesta models will be available should prove a strong draw.

Though the standard Fiesta Zetec S is available with a choice of petrol and diesel powerplants, Ford is only offering the Zetec S Anniversary with the petrol option. The 16-valve 1.6-litre engine is certainly no ball of fire but it's enough to render the Fiesta a warm hatchling. Ford claims a sprint to 60mph in 9.9 seconds and a top speed of 114mph and we wouldn't argue with such figures. The engine note is rather uninspiring, but the exhaust sounds a little fruitier in Zetec S guise than on less sporty models and a combined fuel consumption figure of 41.5mpg coupled with manageable insurance ratings means it'll doubtless appeal to younger buyers.

Where the Fiesta really scores is in the handling stakes. Its road manners have been elevated to a position to challenge any existing supermini, whilst its ride and refinement is comparable with the class best - cars like the Renault Clio and Volkswagen Polo. The steering was obviously engineered by somebody who understands the needs of keen drivers, being nicely weighted and rich in feedback without becoming a wearing distraction. The seats are a different matter altogether, lacking lateral support at the sort of cornering speeds the excellent chassis routinely coaxes you into. The Fiesta shrugs off mid-corner bumps well and has a genuine big car feel. If there's one complaint about the Fiesta's handling, it's that it may almost be too clever for its own good. The verve and pizzazz of the old car's handling has been smoothed out. In making the car more competent, a little of the fun factor has been excised.

With the current facelifted Fiesta, Ford haven't gone too overboard. The grille is now of a diamond mesh design, the headlamps are pointier and the side mouldings grow thicker as they progress rearwards. The rear lights have been reshaped, as have the bumpers and the overall effect is a slight move away from the Fiesta's inherent chunkiness in a sleeker, more dynamic direction. Dramatic the changes are not. If you liked the look of the sixth generation Fiesta, and the sales charts suggest that plenty of people did, you'll like today's version of it.

Get comfortable in the narrow driver's seat and you'll be greeted with a dashboard that adopts many of the quality conventions of the Mondeo range, and that's good news. On the current model, there are more of the in vogue soft-touch surfaces but, happily, the uncomplicated layout and the durable feel remain. Nice touches include a digital display in the instrument cluster which gives the radio station name and other handy titbits that you'd otherwise have to divert your eyes from the road to obtain. The volume on the stereo is speed sensitive, so as wind, road and engine noise increase with your velocity, so does the volume of your favourite song.

The driving position is fairly good, with light pedals and a height adjustable driver's seat. The way that Ford have raised the gearlever onto a pedestal places it quickly to hand. On a practical note, the seats are easy to fold down, those integrated rear headrests making the operation simplicity itself. Where the Fiesta falls down is in the lack of clever cubbyholes and the singular lack of any cup holders. Grab a takeout from KFC and you'd better get used to the Colonel's Hot Wings tasting of Fanta.

If news that the Ford Fiesta has been on our streets for 30 years makes you feel a little long in the tooth, the Zetec S Anniversary edition could be just the elixir you need to stave off a midlife crisis. It's certainly fun and the tight pricing means there should be plenty left over for that new set of dentures. If the first Fiesta was well before your time, then this energetic 30th Anniversary model is pitched directly at you. Enjoy it, but remember, old age comes to us all, even cars, and there'll be a 60th Anniversary Fiesta along before you know it.