The cool Ka of today! (Ford Ka in general)

Member Name: jaylad

Product:	Ford Ka in general
Date:	31/08/01 (876 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great to drive, Good performance, Fun, Youthfull

Disadvantages: None

One of the most popular members of our family is our Ford Ka! Its striking looks and driver appeal mean our whole family regularly use it for getting about.
Since the Ka’s launch in 1996 its still amazing how well the design has stayed modern and fresh after 5 years.

Our R reg model, which we bought brand new a couple of years after Ford launched it, is the basic model and doesn’t have power steering (standard on all models now).
The car is a bluey purple colour but it’s really bright and stands out in a car park.

The great thing about the Ka is that everyone looks at it! People aren’t really amazed at them any more but when ours was brand new (there weren’t many on the roads) you actually had people approach you in supermarket carparks and ask about it! It’s great driving something which is slightly different from any other car.

The interior is equally as wacky. The dashboard is a wild curvy design also housing circular airvents and the speedo dials. The centre console is a lighter grey that looks quite upmarket and this incorporates the groovy looking (if basic) digital stereo. You also have some user-friendly heater controls under the stereo. Under the heater controls there’s a drop down ashtray and a 12volt electric socket.
The car is fitted with a driver’s airbag as standard (dual airbags on higher spec models).
Our car also has a groovy cloth interior trim, the higher models have nicer trims and even leather interiors as well as central locking, electric windows and top end models even have air-conditioning. The quality of the fittings and switches is high. Not as good as a Volkswagen but nothing has broken or worn badly to this day.
Generally the interior is compact but don’t let looks fool you. Once inside it’s a lot bigger than it seems and 5 people can travel in reasonable comfort. Compare the car to rivals such as a Fiat Seicento or Seat Arosa and
its noticeably more spacious.

Now coming back to the stereo. The unit fitted to our car is the most basic Ford offer (it’s even the stereo fitted in Transit vans) and it only has about 5 buttons on it! But please don’t let the looks put you off as the sound, along with the cars acoustics is simply outstanding!!!!
There are only 2 door-mounted speakers, but the quality is first rate and the mix of bass and treble (which you cannot adjust) is excellent. The cassette player is good too. The Ka2 has the higher spec stereo and the Ka Collection has a CD player (I think), but unless you’re mad for a CD player, having the better stereo isn’t really paying extra for.

Driving the car is great, which is why we all battle to take the car to work in the morning!
The engine is a 1.3i which churns out 60bhp which is more than adequate. The car is pretty quick at accelerating and the engine is very quiet. Most other drivers look amazed when you overtake them and even keeping up with a BMW 5 series leaves you smiling whilst they try to shake you off! The gearbox is just as good, with a good precise change and 5 speed as standard. The motorway is where this car really excels though. Where other cars get louder and the gears feel harsh the Ka always feels smooth and refined. The engine still has power in it at 60mph and overtaking can be done quite safely.
On windy country roads the car is just as good, with the handling very secure and the steering feeling direct.
Ford spent millions developing the Ka, and after driving and owning one, you really appreciate where the money went. Although some people do not like the Ka’s looks, the Ka is dynamically better than most of its main rivals for the same money.

The Ka has now been subject to many price cuts and special offers so there’s no better time to go and buy one!!!!

Summary: