Unique Auto

Posts Tagged ‘Ford Ka’

So what’s the cheapest new Ford money can buy?  Pat on the back if you answered Ford Ka, shake of the head if you didn’t (the answers even in the article title!)  Yes after a staggering 13 years, the Ka is still going strong, but now it’s had a makeover…

To coin a well ploughed phrase ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ and to be honest despite its advancing years the old Ka didn’t look dated and still drove the wheels off the competition.I used to drive the Ka when I didn’t fancy taking the bus and always found it a riot, with the 1.3 litre engine pulling a car that weighed as much as a bag of sugar along at a fair pace.  Even though it was bubble shaped it still handled well, even if the skinny tyres started to let go if you were overeager. 

It was a fashion accessory as much as a car, the type of item you’d find sticking its head out of a handbag rather than being topped up with oil.  It was a cheap Ford too with new ones starting from as little as £4,995.  Yes there was painted metal on the inside of the doors rather than sumptuous leather and ok the gear stick just stuck out of the floor like a van, with no attempted aesthetics, but it had charm.

So when I tell you the new Ka is a million miles away from this you’d be right to start worrying.  The first thing that strikes you is how grown up the new version is.  It’s still very funky but is essentially a Ford Fiesta that has been put in the wash on too hot a temperature.  This however is no bad thing as the new Fiesta is not only a great drive, but a brilliantly styled vehicle.  The Ka isn’t quite as pretty although without my glasses on I couldn’t tell the difference so it can’t be too bad.

To drive, the car is very similar to the new Fiat 500 – in fact it’s the same.  The reason for this is quite simple really; both the Ka and 500 are built in the same factory in Poland using the same parts.That’s right, the new Ford Ka isn’t a completely new design after all.  Don’t despair though as partnerships are not necessarily a bad thing, just look at Starsky and Hutch or Tango and Cash.  The 500 is a hoot to drive and therefore so is the Ka, with it feeling every bit as nippy and fun around the city as a small car should be.

The interior is a massive improvement on the outgoing car, including a space-age centre console finished in silver and matching art deco door handles.  Even the gear stick now looks good as it protrudes from the dashboard, falling easily to hand.  The seats are firm but hold you in place well and the driving position is good unless you’re over six foot.  When you consider the majority of Ka ownership is women I don’t think this will be an issue.

One thing that will be however are the headlights.  For all the good in the rest of the car, it must be pointed out that they are dimmer than an asbo child with a pea for a brain.  On normal beam I had to keep checking they were on, when I switched to full beam the situation got worse as oncoming traffic kept flashing and blinding me to say my lights were too bright, yet the switch to full beam made no discernable difference from the driving seat.I had a similar problem with my current car and bought some high powered (but legal) replacement bulbs that have improved things exponentially.  I suggest this is the first accessory you buy for the new Ka.

I feel I’ve put a dampener on the new Ka, but for it to remain a ‘cheap Ford’ in the current economic climate, GM had to be sensible and build it in collaboration with Fiat and unfortunately the headlights have slipped through the net.  No matter, the rest of the car is just as good (with a far superior interior) to the old Ka, just with a more grown up feel that does make the oldie look a tad dated when parked next to each other.  The 1.2 litre Zetec version costs £9,295 and returns an impressive 55.4mpg, resulting in a measly road tax cost of £35 for the year.

Just think with all that money you’ll save you can buy as many replacement bulbs as you like.