I Want a Ford Ka

AKA atomicalex

This week brought news that the US will get the European Focus, the Kuga, and possibly the Mondeo. But we didn’t hear anything concrete about the Ford Ka. The Ka, for the uninitiated, is Ford’s very successful microcar everywhere but here in the US. I spent some time in a first generation one some years back in Italy, and it was perfect for the AutoStrada. With fishbowl-visibility and great ergonomics, it was no surprise to me that it was a hit with my European coworkers. The cute factor (which the Ka has in abundance) is mitigated in the SportKa, a hopped up version made famous in some spec ads that demonstrated the Ka’s aggressive side. The aftermarket and factory partsbin for these cars is outstanding due to their decade-plus on the market. If you’re not already sold on the Ka like I am, check out marsone619’s tricked out example, sueg1’s SportKa and 1800KA’s multiple engine swap version for some ideas.

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Posted at 5:32 pm in Ford, Ka, Katherine

Comments

Mike
Feb 23, 2009 at 6:32 am

The Ka is a nice ride for a housewive or someone, who doesn’t know anything about cars and does not want to know anything.

They are in no way engineered for enthusiastic driving – they perform better than a F150-truck on twisty roads because they are small.
Ford used a motor concept from WWII in the first cars – a pushrod engine (OHV)! Total crap for a small 4-cylinder motor.

The Ka is especially unreliable in terms of electric & electronics. Rust is an issue (around the filler neck). I’ve seen dozens of Kas with defunct ignition switches…

I don’t care about the looks and I do not bash every ford from every time-period, but the first years of Ka with the OHV-Engine should only be bought if you don’t have a problem with dumping huge loads of money to your local ford garage.

If you want the aforementioned car engineered for enthusiastic driving round twisty roads, look out for asian or german microcars.

dave
Oct 5, 2008 at 11:34 pm

these little machines are true drivers cars engineered for enthusiastic driving round twisty roads, most Americans have no idea that such roads exist(no offence).
the car has scored very highly with jeremy clarkson(bbc top gear) and the boys at evo magazine who gave it 4.5/5*
if you liked the old mini you will love the ka in any spec but if you want the go-cart experience opt for the sportka you will not be disappointed and may even be suprised.
it goes like a stabbed rat and sticks to the road like its on rails with precise steering it’s close ratio getrag gearing and excellent power/weight ratio means 0-60mph takes less than 10 secs another bonus is a combined mpg of 38 and low insurance costs at group 6
the only downside is every asshole in his souped up shed will want to race and will probably over take you on long straights but get on twisty roads and you will be much quicker and confident than anything that dares to challenge these remarkable little cars

D.Braxton
Jul 27, 2008 at 7:38 am

We dont complain about it, or miss it, we just say that it would be nice to have those kinds of cars where we live. im an american stationed in germany for the moment and when my time here is up, i have to sell this car due to regulations and all that stuff. but if i could keep it i would. we ship our cars all over the world(europe, north/south america, and asia) but alot of those manufactures dont send some of their models to us. Ford, Opel/Vauxhaull and some asian manufactuers have lots of awesome cars that never get to touch American soil, but do you know what we auto enthusiasts can make out of them?? So, when someone in the states says he wants an Ute or a Ka or whatever, just remember, in that country where Utes, KAs, and Corsas are made, someone in that country is driving a H2 or a Corvette!!!! Thats all im saying

Junimrox
Jul 27, 2008 at 12:25 am

I’m not saying your cars or anyone else is ugly, i just think its weird that US guys misses the ford Ka, because here we suffer with the options we have for buying cars, and you have every car in the world available to buy and just because you can’t easily buy a ford Ka you complain.
Its like this:
I complain because there’s is no Champagne to buy where I live, but theres is 1 soda that isn’t available in your place.
You have every champagne in the world and every soda, except one and complain just because of that one.

D.Braxton
Jul 26, 2008 at 1:29 pm

Thanks alot Cardomain for showin me and my little ride some love. NOW, i just want to say, to each is own!!!! if you dont like my ride or anyone elses, ok, but you dont have to be an ASS about it. I just want to say for the record that with my new XR2i engine swap, i have gone up against a Crossfire and laid it to rest. V8 or V6, it does´nt matter. So next time you wanna diss, send me a link to your ride page(Junimrox) and show me what you what you drive and what you have done to your car!!! And tell your soccer players to stay away from those penis packin prostitutes!!! 100!!

Junimrox
Jul 26, 2008 at 11:56 am

Damn this Ka(r) is so ugly… Here in Brazil we unfortunately have this shit for like 8 years or more, they even released a new version, which is a bit less ugly, but still very ugly…

Its so weird to me to see someone complaining about not having the Frd Ka or the old Chevrolet Chevette… This cars suck, we here don’t have mustangs, camaros, corvettes, you should be very happy.. a V8 motor is like paradise here and VW AP 1.8 4-cyl motor is everything people can think off… For more than 20 years…