Good question
We (my wifes car really) had a sportka for about 5 years from when it was 5 years old. I also briefly owned a 1.7 puma.
We really loved that sportka, was such a good handling car. From memory I preferred the handling of that over a puma.
Was a bit sharper.
What let's it down though is the engine, a very outdated 8V unit. The gearing is very very low so it's quick up through the grears but on a motorway your doing about 4000rpm at 75mph.
Also high road tax and rubbish fuel economy.
Then there is the rust, by about 10years old when we sold it. There was alot of rust, the fuel cap area, bottom of the a pillars, both sills, rear wiper arm mount point, bottom of tailgate, the floor, basically everywhere. I've had an older puma and fiesta since then and neither were anywhere near as bad as the sportka rust wise.
Thing is they are heavily based on the MK3 fiesta which is the king of all the rusty Ford's.
I don't regret owning it as it was such a fun car, it's just the rust and high road tax that puts me off. I do t believe there will be many decent ones left now, (a good 7 years after I sold ours)
I missed that so got myself a fiesta Mk5 and put a puma engine in it so I now have the best of both worlds!