Ford Ka&#x27;s

I had to learn to drive in one for the last few weeks before my test, when my instructor decided to change his car. If you've gotten over what it looks like on the outside, then its not bad to drive, similar to a mk 4/5 Fiesta. I remember the steering had alot more feel in it than his previous Hyundai Getz. It also had the 70bhp rather than the older 59bhp engine which made a difference.

Reply 3

tbm

13

Not the most comfortable car in the world but I had one and it was nice to drive, probably because it was my first car with power steering :p:

Reply 4

If you're male you will be laughed at by other road users for being camp. Nice car if you're a girl though.

Reply 5

AT82

Probably closer to a MK3.5 1.3 Fiesta as this is the exact car its based on but a much improved fuel injection system and improvements to the push rod quietened it down. The KA is just a MK3.5 in a different body and minor suspension changes.

Its nice to drive with the usual great Ford 5 speed gearbox and failry easy to fix.

If you do buy one of these make sure you buy one with a full service history if your'e paying proper money, if it hasn't been serviced for a while the spark plugs can get stuck into he cylinder head.

Also the Spannish factory in Valancia didn't seem to have the same quality control as the Deganham where the Fiestas were built. So check under the floorpan for any sign of rot. Rust is the Ka's biggest problem.

Engine wise make sure its not too rattle, a litle faint tappet sound is normal but these engines should not be as noisy as the same unit fitted to the Fiesta MK3s due to minor adjustments to reduce noise. Leave the car idling for 5 minutes when testing, make sure the engine doesn't hunt, it seems to be a very common KA problem. I've seen some of these engines vibrate so badly I am surprised the engine mounts don't give way.

After its been idled for a few minutes rev the engine to about 2500 revs for 20 seconds and watch the smoke, if its blue walk away - the car is burning too much oil.

When test driving listen out to odd rattles, the heating controls sometimes work loose which causes a noise like a tin of coins shaking if you go over rough services. Also listen out for the usual odd noises from the breaks, suspension, steering etc.

Apart from all that if you get a good one and service it a they make a very reliable car that will start first time in even in the coldest of winters.

Reply 6

AT you worry too much mate! Unless it's high mileage or been ragged a lot from cold it shouldn't be burning oil, although rust is a big issue on KA's. The noisy tappets are in my experience extremely noisey, that's from 3 girl mates that all own them!

Reply 7

seaweasel

I don't consider them a girl's car, it's not a Nissan Micra after all.

Having said that, my girlfriend has one and I drive it a lot. I think it's a great car, especially for the price (ours was only about a year old when we got it and was pretty cheap, my mum also got a great deal on a new one). It's not lightning fast of course but it's quick enough for city driving and even longer commutes (my girlfriend's doing about 60 miles a day at the moment). It's fun to drive too and the fuel economy isn't bad. My mum's had some problems with her engine but it's been fixed under warranty and our Ka has been fine.

Recently Ford seem to have been bundling in more features with the new Kas (central locking and the like), plus I'd expect this to continue and for prices to drop before the new platform Ka comes out.

Reply 8

AT82

Ryan

AT you worry too much mate! Unless it's high mileage or been ragged a lot from cold it shouldn't be burning oil, although rust is a big issue on KA's. The noisy tappets are in my experience extremely noisey, that's from 3 girl mates that all own them!

Its just the Valancia (Endura) engines fitted to the pre 2003 are known to wear their oil seals prematurely.

Noisy tappets is also due to wear but they can be adjusted its quite tricky to do properly though as following manufacturers guidelines dosn't work. People tend to to then too tight which causes all sorts of problems with bending valves.

On a good Ka engine you should be able to here them a bit, but they shouldn't sound like a Ferguson tractor.

Edit on the plus side the headgaskets rarely go on these! :p:

Reply 9

A lot of 16v engines monch head gaskets :wink:

Reply 10

AT82

Yeah well the Ka is 8v :smile:

. My dads been lucky with his Zetec, 100k, no sign of HG failing and still on the original non-slipping clutch and 60k of that 100k was pure city driving. I am not sure if the same clutch is fitted to the Ka/Fiestas.

Reply 11

Thinking about it, old school 8v engines are the best in reliability terms, suppose they have less sensors (and one less cam + 8 less valves) to go wrong

Reply 12

gbduo

15

Ryan

AT you worry too much mate! Unless it's high mileage or been ragged a lot from cold it shouldn't be burning oil, although rust is a big issue on KA's. The noisy tappets are in my experience extremely noisey, that's from 3 girl mates that all own them!

I disagree, its good to worry when you are buying a used car, anything could have happened to it in its past and it could be a right lemon despite what the bodywork looked like!

I think ATs advice is spot on. Nice job :biggrin:

I wouldn't have a Ka, because i am 6ft2" and i can't fit in one...

Reply 13

Friggerpants

KA - Girls car
Rover - Grandad car
Smart car - Just plain silly

That's about it for my stereotypical views.

Reply 14

gbduo

15

You alright Granddad?

Reply 15

samba

6

I hate the Ka. It's so tiny and non-functional and urgh! My mum has one :/ Gimme a hilux any day!

Reply 16

Pseudomuse

OP

Ryan

If you're male you will be laughed at by other road users for being camp. Nice car if you're a girl though.

*checks* definatly not male lol :p:

Reply 17

Jiggly Puff

Im 95% sure that im gettin a KA, in my view it is a girls car. I couldnt go out wiv a lad driving a KA!! They are sooo cute, as long as it has a CD play and can go forwards, im happy!!

Reply 18

pghstochaj

11

I think you will lose some of the fun aspect of the cinq, unless it's 899cc in which case life is about to get a lot better in that respect.

I don't think I have ever even been in a Ka though to comment much more.

Reply 19

Pseudomuse

OP