AfFORDable Ka. Does what you want without the bells and whistles. (Ford Ka in general)

Member Name: a_m_y

Product:	Ford Ka in general
Date:	19/07/09 (119 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Small size for parking, tardis like interior, comfy, cheap

Disadvantages: no CD player or air conditioning

I bought my Ford Ka in January 2008. It's my first car. This one was four years old with one careful lady owner before me.

Generally I really like this car. I mainly use it for going to work and back (20 minute drive) and doing the shopping. I'm the only driver, but my husband (and his messy feet) is a regular passenger when we go places.

There are two things I would change about this car.
1. It doesn't have a CD player. Not a major thing for this review I'm guessing as a lot of Ford Kas do have them. Mine has a radio and tape player. I don't use the tape player- i did get one of those tapes you plug your mp3 player in to but it was noisy and clicky and irritating, so I don't use it now. The radio works fine, but one day I got over enthusiastic about a song and managed to break the volume control buttons, so they are now permanently stuck on 7. You can change this if the engines off and you have two proddy things to push the buttons with, but I find 7 is best for driving slowly and quickly. The quicker you drive, the noisier the car is.
2. I'd like air conditioning. It's SO hot in the summer, and a burst of air conditioning every now and then would be lovely.

Other than that, the car still isn't perfect, but those things would stop me looking longingly at the other cars on the road.

I've found the size to be OK. It's quite big in the back seats, and as I'm short there's loads of space behind my seat. My husband is really tall and has plenty of leg room in the passenger seat. The glove compartment is really tiny - I don't actually use it. I think the tape/mp3 thing is in there and that's about it. Doesn't really bother me though. The boot is also sufficient for my needs. I can get all my shopping in - but I am only shopping for two.... I've also used the car to get hardboard in, a loft ladder, a blind, it's not too bad, but I'm not sure that all these random things would fit with my husband in there too. We've got a whole drum kit in there a couple of times too, with him. But not with the biggest drum. This would fit if there were no passengers though. So it's quite deceptive really! There is also a little net thing above the mirror to keep your sun glasses in. The door pockets are a funny shape, but I don't keep much in them so that's not a big deal. There's a larger 'door' pocket in the back which is quite deep. I keep the antifreeze in there with the squedgee.

We are due to have our first child this year though, which I think will be the ultimate test. The boot may be fine now, but I've measured it for a buggy and it restricts our choices considerably. Getting the car seat in and out might be fun too. This I have yet to test! I think this will challenge the car considerably.

In terms of getting from a to b, the Ka is fine. She (she's definitely a she) takes her time getting her speed up, but once she's there she's great. Also, being so tiny, she's a doddle to park.

In the year and a half I've had her, I've had to have the tyres changed a few times, and also the tracking and bushes. These things are very common in ford Kas, according to the garage and also to various internet places. Not great to have to get done though, so something to be aware of.

This car doesn't come with a whole load of switches and knobs, just the bits you need to actually drive, fog lights and a heated rear window, and the air blowing bits for when your windscreen's steamed up. (Isn't my technical knowledge great?!) It does have a lovely proper clock, which is really easy to adjust when the clocks change. There's a cigarette lighter too (which I've never used) and a pull down tray to keep parking money in (if you're organised) There is a a little tray under this which is handy for putting your phone in when you're driving and a cup holder in between the back seats within easy reach of the driver and front passenger. The car doesn't have a rev counter, which apparently is a bit odd, but I didn't notice until someone pointed it out. The bonnet opens by pulling a lever below the steering wheel, and twiddling a lever to release it under the bonnet. Easy.

The Ka has an immobiliser but no other security. My opinion is that it's not really needed anyway- I mean, it's a nice car, but if you were going to nick a car would you nick a Ka? Or the posher car sitting next to it? It'd be a slow start to the getaway anyway, and if you don't leave anything expensive on show then it should be fine. I like to leave as little as possible in my car. Just a box of tissues and a road map.

I spend £20 a week on petrol and that seems to be enough, but obviously it depends how much you drive! I think this is acceptable. The insurance isn't too bad either and she's £125 this year to tax. So quite economical.

So basically, it's fairly basic, but it gets you from a to b without getting wet. There are obviously more snazzy models around (with CD players) so the lack of features on my car isn't a reason not to buy one.

I really like my Ka. Despite it's problems, I love driving her around and I'm pleased she's so diddy so I don't have to worry about small gaps. She is surprisingly tardis like on the inside and I think she's great :-)

Summary: fairly basic, but it gets you from a to b.

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