Ford Ka

Tiexen

facade wrote: »

The reason I don't like stop/start is memories of The Olden Days, if ever the engine stalled you could not start the thing again ( like the old Triumph Bonneville , if that stopped you might as well park up and go for a meal)

They don't start like that now, you barely notice it after a while.

melbury

Tiexen wrote: »

Yes if you sit in gear with the clutch down it won't stop - but do you sit like that for minutes? - not good for the clutch

The KA is a Fiat 500 (the one everyone raves about) but Ford have changed the suspension so it doesn't roll in corners.

MPG when run in around 50 - (with the A/C on)
and re the Tax band I had a 1.25 Fiesta £140 tax the KA 1.2 is £30 that's the best part of a yearly service

Reliability: coming up for 2 years no problems at all
make sure you get one with spare wheel, and audio controls on the steering wheel are a good thing to have.

Note it didn't do well in the JD Power survey:

1 Volkswagen Up! 85.1% 61 Hyundai i10 77.0% 65 Toyota Aygo 76.9% 68 Kia Picanto 76.8% = 91 Fiat Panda 74.6% = 91 Peugeot 107 74.6% 97 Fiat 500 74.1% 100 Citroën C1 73.2% 102 smart fortwo 72.8% 105 Ford Ka 71.7%

Thanks for all of the information Tiexen. I currently have a 2004 plate Ford Ka, which has the usual rust around the petrol cap and is getting a few other problems, so thought I would look around with a view to updating.

I have read about so many small cars that I don't really know what I want now:( Looking for economy and reliability basically.
Have to say that my current Ka has always been very reliable. Are the new Ka's the same engine as mine - i.e. 1.3? Best mpg I have ever got is 42 despite being told by salesman I would get in excess of 50!

Tiexen

melbury wrote: »

Are the new Ka's the same engine as mine - i.e. 1.3? Best mpg I have ever got is 42 despite being told by salesman I would get in excess of 50!

No they are the Fiat 1.2's as fitted to the 500 with a Ford badge on,
old design but latest Euro spec - your 1.3 is just a very old design

Note the first few years they had awful Fiat petrol caps which were very fiddly to open/close, later version are standard Ford.

Although its only a city car I often do runs down the M25/M2 quite happily sitting doing 70.

You really need to study a few different models UP Picanto i10 have look at Honest John:
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/

melbury

Tiexen wrote: »

No they are the Fiat 1.2's as fitted to the 500 with a Ford badge on,
old design but latest Euro spec - your 1.3 is just a very old design

Note the first few years they had awful Fiat petrol caps which were very fiddly to open/close, later version are standard Ford.

Although its only a city car I often do runs down the M25/M2 quite happily sitting doing 70.

You really need to study a few different models UP Picanto i10 have look at Honest John:
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/

Yes I have been reading up on Skoda Citigo, SEAT Mii, Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto on the Honest John site. Best mpg is definitely the Up/Citigo/Mii (which is basically the same car I think), but I do like the longer warranty of the Picanto and i10.

As you can see, I haven't included any French cars in my list;)

[Deleted User]

It can be turned off for good or turned on for good. Don't know why Iceweasel is saying it has to be disabled every time.

Source: I know someone with a 1 year old Ka.

Quiet_Spark

melbury wrote: »

Thanks for all of the information Tiexen. I currently have a 2004 plate Ford Ka, which has the usual rust around the petrol cap

You must have got the good one, the common rust points are normally located between the front and rear index plates.

Tiexen

melbury wrote: »

Yes I have been reading up on Skoda Citigo, SEAT Mii, Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto on the Honest John site. Best mpg is definitely the Up/Citigo/Mii (which is basically the same car I think), but I do like the longer warranty of the Picanto and i10.

As you can see, I haven't included any French cars in my list;)

I sat in an UP before I bought my KA- can't say the interior is very good, painted metal on the doors, and the driver can't open the passenger electric window

melbury

Quiet_Spark wrote: »

You must have got the good one, the common rust points are normally located between the front and rear index plates.

Well to be honest I am only talking about rust that can be seen:( I know there is some in the drivers side sill at the front.

melbury

Tiexen wrote: »

I sat in an UP before I bought my KA- can't say the interior is very good, painted metal on the doors, and the driver can't open the passenger electric window

That's interesting because the UP is supposed to be the best of that trio and is certainly quite pricey.

As mentioned, I have seen some incredibly good deals on Ford Ka's (not in my area though) with savings of almost £2000 on the rrp - these are 14 plate with less than 100 miles on the clock, so really brand new.

melbury

Deleted_User wrote: »

It can be turned off for good or turned on for good. Don't know why Iceweasel is saying it has to be disabled every time.

Source: I know someone with a 1 year old Ka.

Thanks for the information, do you have to ask a dealer to turn it off for good or can you do it yourself?