I knew the Ford Ka had a bad reputation, and I also know that the first version of any given car model tends to be rubbish, and they iron out the problems in the second version. So I bided my time (and spluttered along in my rubbish old Corsa) until the new Ka came out.
By that time I'd also saved enough for a brand spanking new car anyway, so I got the Ford Ka new, so that I could get the warranty and free servicing and breakdown cover and stuff. My partner and I give as good as we get with sales patter and we did a whole lot of shopping around in order to argue the price down.
I have to say I'm impressed so far. The fuel economy is maybe the best thing, mid 50s. Now that fuel prices have gone up even further, I'm almost thinking that we should have got the diesel version, which we also found on our shopping around and saw it got almost 70 mpg. That might be our next move if our Ford Ka holds up in terms of bodywork.
The only really silly thing in the car happened last winter, when it got really cold, and the windscreen washer completely froze over. We had antifreeze in the water mix itself, but the bit where the water comes out was frozen completely. You'd think that would be the kind of thing car makers had worked out how to prevent these days.
It drives really nicely, so simple and reliable on the roads, and the stereo system is amazing given that it's supposed to be a fairly cheap car. It feels very safe generally, in terms of sticking to the road, and usually doesn't seem bothered by different surfaces. It can get a bit grumpy when it's full of people though, and usually needs a gear change at the sight of a hill. It's a balance though between fuel usage and power, and I'm happy with how that's worked out with the Ford Ka. No complaints really. Give it a few years and I'll know whether Ford have managed to really iron out the problems.
I've heard all sort of bad things from friends and colleagues about the Ford Ka, that it rusts like nobody's business and falls to pieces. Mine has been fine really. It's had a little bit of rust but nothing unusual for a car its age.
I suppose it's lived in a garage and doesn't get used all that much, but anyway it's been fine as far as the body condition is concerned. The other problems I've heard about, to do with the electrics, and leakage in the bodywork and things, haven't happened at all.
I can only assume it's because my Ford Ka is one of the higher end ones. Mind you I don't think I paid that much extra for it since it was second hand, and because of all these problems I suppose Ford Kas just generally have a bad name.
Our kids have all long since flown the nest and we don't tend to have people in the back seats, which is handy as it looks pretty cramped back there. Meanwhile the boot also probably wouldn't handle four people's stuff. It's fine for us though, as we only use it to pootle about locally. The most it ever needs to carry is our suitcases for holidays and it manages that fine.
We got the 'sport' Ford Ka on a bit of an impulse actually, not because we'd thought it through in terms of being better kitted out and more reliable as a result. We just wanted something to amuse us in our old age! And it does that just fine. It's got lots of power to play around with - well, for our meagre tastes at least. And it's still good on petrol. The spoiler on the back is just hilarious on such a dinky looking car, but that's what we wanted.
There are some other nice little things like the height adjustable drivers seat, which is handy for me and himself, as we're quite different heights. Neither of us is all that tall though, and it might be a bit too tight in there for a tall person.
I don't suppose it'll last forever, but my point is that the higher up in the range ones are probably more long lasting than the cheapies. It's just that it's generally seen as a cheap car so it's probably mostly the cheaper ones on the road, hence the bad reputation. Lessons to learn there Mr Ford...
The rust was on it when I got it (second hand), and that's one of the main ways I haggled my way down to a good deal. I treated some of the rust myself, and actually replaced one of the rear panels when an opportunity arose as I was sniffing round a scrap yard for a head lamp. I've kept my Ford Ka in a garage now, so apart from the original rust it hasn't got that much worse.
Apart from the rust it's been ok. It's needed a couple of fuses replacing, and a washer pump, but that's about it (in three years). It's good on fuel, I think I get about 300 miles for about £30 or so, maybe a bit more.
I don't carry passengers which is why I got the 3 door. I would be concerned if I ever did need to carry anyone in the back though. It seems a poor design if anyone actually needs to get back there, and when you do get back there the space in the back of the Ford Ka seems pretty minimal really. It looks like the head room tails off at just the wrong place.
As far as driving is concerned, it's a fairly fun little buggy. The main thing is that it's really light, or feels like it, so it jumps and hops around happily at the flick of your foot. Having said that it doesn't react too well to being loaded. On the one occasion when I did have some people in the back (and their luggage) it really struggled up the hills.
The other down side with the Ford Ka is the brakes. Actually I think the later ones, released after my one (in 2002) had ABS, but mine doesn't and they don't exactly leave much space for error.
On the plus side of all this, the parts are nice and cheap, maybe because there are so many Ford Kas out there dying of rust! Servicing is cheap too, since it's quite a simple car, not too much to get round. It's worth having if you know how to take care of an ageing car and do basic repairs yourself.
My Ford Ka was born in 2004, so I would have hoped that it would have lasted ok until now, but it's getting a bit too creaky now. Most days it sort of coughs and spurts when it's turned on, and then sometimes at junctions and things. It doesn't cut out completely, but hardly feels as if it's going to go on and on happily.
Meanwhile the bodywork isn't faring too well. I remember being laughed at by my friends when I got it because it looked all plasticky, but I thought I'd have the last laugh as it wouldn't rust as badly. WRONG. It's rusting badly alright, almost as if the remaining metal is making up for all the plastic actually.
It might be something to do with the rust and general poor body condition that I've had a number of electrical problems too. The Ford Ka seems generally poorly put together, and I've had all sorts go wrong, from dodgy lights to faulty locks, fuses, draining battery etc. Sad really, they're all just minor problems but they add up. The exhaust has needed completely replacing twice as well, which is a bit much. I suppose nothing massive has failed like the engine or anything, but that's not a huge consolation.
The kids like it though, they're just getting old enough to become sentimental about things like this, and whenever I mention that I might be trading it in they start to whine at me, so I dunno if/when I'll get rid of it.
For what it's worth, the Ford Ka is reasonably practical for a smallish family. The boot is surprisingly quite big, not enormous but enough for a double buggy and shopping, that sort of load. I suppose that's what family car makers have in mind - although I've seen my friend's Citroen C2 and the boot in that looks pretty silly by comparison.
The Ford KA is quite a poor car in reality. We bought it for my daughter's 18th birthday for her to drive about and hopefully not crash!
I have to drive it about in it sometimes because my wife uses our car, and my god, what a shocker it is! It's just an awful car. It feels about as well made as cheese and about as safe as an 1960's Ford.
1.2 litre engine is quite disgusting too. It's got the guts of something that has been nueted.
All in all i wouldn't recommend one to anybody who appreciates cars.
The Ford Ka is an ideal first car as I found out. The running costs are really low and even I can park it in the smallest of spaces! I have found it to be reliable and a joy to drive. I would not recommend this car for anyone with more than one child however as the boot space is rather small and climbing into the back to do seatbelts is not ideal. This model does not have many luxuries however. There is no CD player or electric windows. All in all I have had a great experience with my Ford Ka.
The Ford KA is not a well made car, its cheap and plastic and prone to water damage due to its shape. I had this car for 6 months and there wasn't a month it wasn't in the garage having some kind of work. It doesn't like going over 50mph, and you can really hear the engine struggling when on motorways. When i tried to sell the car, every garage confirmed that the KA's were not good cars and i subsequently made a huge loss on it because no one wanted it. The pro's are that for a small car it is quite spacious inside and its comfortable. Unfortunately for a long term investment, its really not worth the purchase.
Hi, I've owned a Ford KA now for about 3 months and i think i've driven it enough to give a decent report. It's the newer model and comes with start/stop technology and a whole host of different bits of tech compared to the old one.
I have to say it looks more modern now they've updated it, but I'm not sure it's been as popular. It just lacks that pizazz that the older KA had. Inside, though, it's typical KA. Small, boring and very basic. But this is the whole point of a KA, so don't complain.
It doesn't seem well built, in my opinion. Nissan and Toyota seem to do this type of thing a lot better. It's comfortable enough, though, and it is very cheap to run!
I really liked it for the first three years or so, despite the Ford KA not being all that comfortable on motorways (generally shaking around and feeling out of its depth). I don't do much motorway driving anyway so that wasn't a problem. The real problems started, funnily enough (har har) just after the warranty ended. Rust appeared much more quickly than you could reasonably expect rust to appear, and it's been spreading ever since. There have been all sorts of pretty big mechanical failures, like a head gasket, suspension, power steering rack (twice!).
Other problems are aplently. The paintwork is really substandard and the bumpers don't keep their colour well at all. All in all my Ford KA looks a whole lot older than it really is, so I can't really sell it on now as it looks completely shagged.
I said I'd started off liking the Ford KA but I suppose these repairs have made me despise other things about it too. The space inside is pretty poor overall, the glove box is a bit of a joke, and the car is otherwise almost completely lacking in any useful storage space. Hardly any spaces in the doors or in the centre, and not for any good reason either, the space just seems wasted.
The seats are generally pretty uncomfortable, especially on longer drives. I've been treated to driving in my dad's Citroen from time to time, and the difference is shocking. The Ford KA just seems really doddery by comparison. This could be a sign that the suspension is failing again, sigh...
The boot is a daft shape as well, it's really shallow but the lip is also really high up so it's just plain awkward getting anything in and out. It's pathetically small as well, tried and failed to get three people's stuff in there for a weekend away, ended up with a couple of bags on people's laps, which combined with the rubbish seating made for a grim journey.
The only positive side of all this is that the car is so popular that parts are pretty easy to get hold of, either new or second hand. I've taken to mail ordering parts online, cheaper than going through garages. I just pay them for the labour now.
I had a Ford Ka before and I really loved it so I thought I'd stick with what I know and invest in the new 'Grand Prix' model. It looks really cool, with a neat little spoiler on the back, 16-inch alloys and a wicked exhaust. Also the interior is kitted out really nice.
So aside from these changes to how the car looks it's still an old Ka underneath the hood (although I still think the spoiler makes it faster lol). It's a bit like a Zetec. As for the Ka as a car I think it's pretty much the perfect hatchback. Roomy, really nippy and great value to run.
True I think that the changes are pretty expensive seeing as you're really not getting anything major for your money. And the cabin has always been surprisingly noisy on Kas so maybe it's not that well built or whatever. But personally I think I look really funky in my Ford Ka Grand Prix and I'm glad I spent the extra money.