FORD KA Hatchback 1996‑2008

So sad to sell my KA, don't let the funny egg shape look of the KA put you off, everyone I know who's driven a KA has loved it, it's such a nice little car to drive, perfect to park, boots big enough for the family shop,doesn't feel cramped inside.

It's been very reliable, never had to spend any money on it really, quite economical too.

The only thing could complain about is compared to the hydraulic brakes on my X-Trail the brakes don't feel very strong, but you get used to it and brake accordingly.

low to run low insurance cheap tax, for a little car its quite large inside as ive put the seat down and got loads in the back, the hatch back boot give an ideal boot size suitable for shopping, pushchairs ect. Ive had this car with my partner and my 2 children and there was ample enough space i would rate this car 5/5****

I had my KA as my first car and I loved it, however lots of things went wrong with it. I had a 1999 V reg and it was incredibly outdated. No code coloured bumpers, independent locking, radio/cassette player and no air con. It is definitely small and nippy and for a 1.3 it had a lot of oomph when driving alone. However little things started to go wrong, it started with the occasional bulb and fuse. Then the spark plugs went and I ended up stopping because it refused to move without jerking me ridiculously! I would say there are good KA's and bad KA's, watch out for rusty sills - definitely get it checked before buying. I ended up selling mine as it ended up costing me over £450 to repair after it failed its MOT on brake pads and sills, shoes and the rusty sill etc. It did around 280 miles to a tank and the 3 door can be annoying for passengers but there is plenty of room in the back (maybe not for a tall person!) however when you have a full car it is very sluggish and you find yourself urging it to go faster. There are plenty around so be sure to invest in one with colour coded bumpers and a cd player if you want a better look, just make sure you do your research first!

I have loved driving my KA as it is a great little run around that is cheap to run. It has never let me down and has only needed the odd thing doing to it. I am only selling my KA because we no longer need two cars in our household. It may not be the biggest car but it fits three passengers comfortably and has a suprisingly large boot. I used it for commuting to work and around town on the weekedns with the occasional long journey. It has served me well and i will be sad to see it go.

i have owned my KA for 3 years now, runs well, 07 model specifically KA Style, runs good nice gear box and economical, i drive mine relatively rough around town and dont do to many long journeys but she is faithful. points to take note of: check for rust in rear arches make sure you get the duratec not endura, upgrades: alloys are worth it, ride becomes normal not rolly polly, definitely get a K&N or similar conical filter, you remove a 3-4Kg airbox improve airflow, increased power ~4bhp and increased torque ~3 Nm, plus the sound is great, looses the horrible whine and it purrs gently.

bad points, no tachometer, easy to install in an air vent tho, and interior is a bit spartan but they run good handle well, and are much better than an equivalent 1.0 or 800cc for the power, so dont be afraid that there a little girly, inside you wouldn't know.

As a man, I've always seen the Ford Ka, as girly, bubbly, and rather strange looking....

That was until i was looking for a winter run around at the end of last year.

I managed to find a bargain in my little Ka, and i have to say it truly is a fantastic little car!

I've always been a Vauxhall fan, and after having a Corsa of similar age, i cannot believe the difference in quality between the two.

The Ka comes complete with Electric windows, a Sunroof, a nice looking interior, Allow wheels, Power Assisted Steering, body colored bumpers, and its as comfy to drive as a Focus..

Only one bad thing about this car is the generally crap brakes.

(but Ford Puma / Focus parts bolt right on)

I will be undoubtedly keeping this car for a long time to come.

I recently changed the oil, filters, and plugs myself, and it was a complete doddle.

Insurance is next to nothing, and even with today's costs, it'll cost you less than £50 to fill to the brim.

I have done just over 10k in 6 Months with this car, and it hasn't missed a beat.

There are plenty Ka related car chat forums out there should you need advice, but the only advice i can give is for you to drive one before you make any assumptions.

Have had the Ka for over 3 years now and done around 18k in it.

Mechanically it’s actually been really good. A few small repairs, and a slight bit of welding but apart from that it’s been very reliable. Most prone thing to failing is probably the lights! Not sure if there’s something up with the voltage but seem to get through an alarming number of bulbs at the front.

Last MOT did point out a few rust patches so if you are buying one, make sure you check thoroughly.

From the outside, the styling isn’t exactly cutting edge. (It’s a bubble on wheels basically!) However the small size and short wheelbase actually make it pretty fun to drive. Round twisty country lanes I really enjoy driving it. Holds the road lovely, and feels nippy (sensation of speed, rather than actual speed…) you may have to rev the monkeys out of it to have fun, but its so easy to drive it’s untrue! Feels like a little go kart!

Parking is a doddle too, due to its size and great visibility. Inside is basic yes, but seats are comfy on long journeys and the stereo is adequate.

Mpg is good (as you would hope from a 1.3 engine!) and obviously tax and insurance are next to nothing too.

Back seats are a little cramped and the boot isn’t massive, but I can still get my drums in it (with the seats down) so that’s pretty good for such a small car!

I actually really love this car. No it’s not as luxurious as our A6, or as good looking and quick as our TT but it’s cheap to buy and run, and it capable of making you smile while driving! For the price I honestly don’t think you could ask for more!

I love my KA! It's pretty much perfect for me as a single person without a family. This is my second KA and they have both been very reliable and low on maintenance costs as well as very economical to run. It's fun to drive around town and on country roads although I'm sure many people would prefer something a little more luxurious for long Motorway journeys. Mine has, nevertheless taken me happily around Europe! I do every once in a while wish it was just a little bit bigger when I need to transport larger items!

This little but efficient car is a pleasure to own. I have 3 children and use my car everyday, infact I can't wait to use it!!! It's a real pleasure to drive. She is a little juicy around town but if you get to fifth gear as soon as possible and keep the revs down, it does consume some fuel. I personally think it handles very well, she starts first time without fail. When we had the bad snow she was fantastic......which was good as my Husband currently has an E Class automatic, which wasn't very good in the snow at all!!!! My Sport Ka is the best, fun little car which suits me down to the ground I love the fact it's to ferry our children around but at the same time it looks lovely and sporty and lots of fun.

I bought my ka a year ago i needed a car that was small but that had a big enough boot to fit a large suit case in as with the job i do i have alot to ferry about, i needed it to be efficient and cheap to repair and cheap tax and insurance ,it has been a very reliable little car and fun to drive too.I would say the only down sides are the leg room in the back if you have a tall teeneger to fit in,also that there is no central locking as you end up searching for the key hole in the dark and if you need to access the boot you can only get in manually with the key.