First Car - Ford KA
Discussion
Browse the site, don't often post and thought I might pop this up. My first car, its hardly going to set the world on fire but its a start! At seventeen, £1900 to insure for the year fully comp. isn't 'too' bad, hopefully I can get some NCB and get myself into something a bit nicer.
I got the car in the summer, the previous owner had left a ding in the rear wing and a scuff on the front bumper, the only trouble really with the car is the notorious Ford KA desire to rust, hopefully we can keep that under control. A few weeks back, whilst at home, someone had obviously decided to relieve me of my wing mirror, hence the temporary duck tape fix. It could really do with a wash, but at the moment in this weather, 5 minutes after a wash and its filthy again. It doesn't feel too bad to drive, although my only other driving experiences on the road are learning in my Dad's Saab 9-5 and taking my test in a Vauxhall Corsa D, although I did first learn the basics at the car drome in my Dad's old Vectra SRI.
I got the car in the summer, the previous owner had left a ding in the rear wing and a scuff on the front bumper, the only trouble really with the car is the notorious Ford KA desire to rust, hopefully we can keep that under control. A few weeks back, whilst at home, someone had obviously decided to relieve me of my wing mirror, hence the temporary duck tape fix. It could really do with a wash, but at the moment in this weather, 5 minutes after a wash and its filthy again. It doesn't feel too bad to drive, although my only other driving experiences on the road are learning in my Dad's Saab 9-5 and taking my test in a Vauxhall Corsa D, although I did first learn the basics at the car drome in my Dad's old Vectra SRI.
I actually pulled a face of disgust when I saw that insurance price. I hope for your sake it doesn't come with a black box the insurers are pedalling.
Anyway, back on topic. Looks smart for a first car. My friend had one and aside from a clutch that I may have had a hand in ending, was pretty reliable. The great thing about these cars is you can drive them to their limits and still be within the law! Great fun.
Anyway, back on topic. Looks smart for a first car. My friend had one and aside from a clutch that I may have had a hand in ending, was pretty reliable. The great thing about these cars is you can drive them to their limits and still be within the law! Great fun.
Alias218 said:
I actually pulled a face of disgust when I saw that insurance price. I hope for your sake it doesn't come with a black box the insurers are pedalling.
Anyway, back on topic. Looks smart for a first car. My friend had one and aside from a clutch that I may have had a hand in ending, was pretty reliable. The great thing about these cars is you can drive them to their limits and still be within the law! Great fun.
I read the OP's post and immediately noticed the key phrases "first car" "hopefully earn some NCB"Anyway, back on topic. Looks smart for a first car. My friend had one and aside from a clutch that I may have had a hand in ending, was pretty reliable. The great thing about these cars is you can drive them to their limits and still be within the law! Great fun.
then I read yours and noticed this "drive them to their limits and still be within the law"
Made me chortle anyway. Looks a cracking little first car to me mate, I've driven one and they're quite fun little things, relatively well put together and easy enough to work on. The missus currently has a StreetKa which shares many things with these, it's pretty chuckable as well.
Enjoy motoring!
Looks like a good first car to me. It might not be a Ferrari, but it's yours. I started off with a MK1 Fiesta and loved every minute. I agree with the sentiment of not wasting all your money ruining a perfectly reasonable car, it will up the insurance and those of us too old to remember what we were like at 17 will shake our heads and laugh.
Seriously though, welcome to the potholed roads of Britain.
Seriously though, welcome to the potholed roads of Britain.
I had one of these last winter as a winter 'shed'. It cost me 400 quid so was very sheddy indeed. It had faded red paint with faded black bumpers, rust everywhere, no power steering but a 7 month mot and tax.
They're great cars to chuck about, good feel when up to speed as well. Those old 1.3 engines in them are pretty solid so should stand up well to typical 17 year old (un)mechanical sympathy
.
I had mine insured fully comp for 340 quid, what a difference 4 years no claims make!
Also, skinny tyres are great in the snow. Which means you'll be able to go out and do: handbrake turns/ reverse donuts/ get stuck.
They're great cars to chuck about, good feel when up to speed as well. Those old 1.3 engines in them are pretty solid so should stand up well to typical 17 year old (un)mechanical sympathy
.I had mine insured fully comp for 340 quid, what a difference 4 years no claims make!
Also, skinny tyres are great in the snow. Which means you'll be able to go out and do: handbrake turns/ reverse donuts/ get stuck.
HustleRussell said:
A perfect first car. Do yourself a favour- vow to never spend any money on it in order to make it go, look and sound better than standard!
The only money that I am considering to spend on sound is to improve the speakers, not to the 'boot filled with a sub-woofer level' but just a couple of smaller ones to go in the boot to give it some decent audio. Looks wise, I'll give it a wash.Alias218 said:
I actually pulled a face of disgust when I saw that insurance price. I hope for your sake it doesn't come with a black box the insurers are pedalling.
Anyway, back on topic. Looks smart for a first car. My friend had one and aside from a clutch that I may have had a hand in ending, was pretty reliable. The great thing about these cars is you can drive them to their limits and still be within the law! Great fun.
Thankfully, it isn't one of those black boxes, its just unfortunate that £1900 can be considered cheap, it is with my Dad as second driver and me as main. Anyway, back on topic. Looks smart for a first car. My friend had one and aside from a clutch that I may have had a hand in ending, was pretty reliable. The great thing about these cars is you can drive them to their limits and still be within the law! Great fun.
It isn't too bad for a first car, electric windows/mirrors and Air Conditioning are nice little additions to have. Its surprisingly comfortable (to an extent) at motorway speed. My biggest gripe is the lack of temperature gauge really.
add a cardboard spout and handle for the full comedy teapot effect (I may or may not have done similar things in the past...)1,900 isn't too bad for insurance (well it is actually extortionate price, but not bad by comparison to what I've heard others your age are getting quoted at - it's not an absolute p*ss take). I remember paying the same amount for my 1.4 T-reg 206 five years ago at 18 years old.
I'm still paying 700 a year now as a 23 year old, but my car is at least a little nicer now.
Insurance will drop like a stone in water if you escape any claims in the next 5 - 7 years. In the mean time, happy motoring, and keep keep the hairy moments to a minimum ;-)
I'm still paying 700 a year now as a 23 year old, but my car is at least a little nicer now.
Insurance will drop like a stone in water if you escape any claims in the next 5 - 7 years. In the mean time, happy motoring, and keep keep the hairy moments to a minimum ;-)
I'm 19 and have only held a license for a couple of months now as could no way afford to get started with lessons earlier. I have had a little experience in auto solos driving a BMW compact rally car but of course this has no bearing on insurance and did not help with road mannerisms.
I've got a 206, 1.4 GLX (GLX meaning it does nothing more but have a 'GLX' badge on the side) and having held a license for 1 month (to the day) got insurance for £1250; although my excess is around the £350 mark. Not bad at all for 1.4, no NCB and a license for a month. But waiting that month was the best thing to do as it came down considerable, my top tip for the day.
I've got a 206, 1.4 GLX (GLX meaning it does nothing more but have a 'GLX' badge on the side) and having held a license for 1 month (to the day) got insurance for £1250; although my excess is around the £350 mark. Not bad at all for 1.4, no NCB and a license for a month. But waiting that month was the best thing to do as it came down considerable, my top tip for the day.
GTiFrank said:
As above great first runabout OP. I didn't realise insurance had got quite so silly. £1900! 
IRR my MK 4 1.25 Fiesta was £1,400 on the insurance (fronting though, ehem) back in 07.
Even that seems bloody expensive, my first car was £400 on insurance (17 years ago), now all my cars are £350 together for me and wife.. (ones a 2.4 and the others a 2.0 turbo, both petrol) I dread to think what it will be when the kids get old enough. IRR my MK 4 1.25 Fiesta was £1,400 on the insurance (fronting though, ehem) back in 07.I feel sorry for you guys and girls they way they are taking the piss.
But as others have said, do not spend any money on it (bar doing oil etc), and learn to do that yourself.
Edited by joe_90 on Wednesday 20th November 14:10
ttier part of town was quoted 3.5k for a 1.2 corsa sxi, the mad bjoe_90 said:
Even that seems bloody expensive, my first car was £400 on insurance (17 years ago), now all my cars are £350 together for me and wife.. (ones a 2.4 and the others a 2.0 turbo, both petrol) I dread to think what it will be when the kids get old enough.
I feel sorry for you guys and girls they way they are taking the piss.
But as others have said, do not spend any money on it (bar doing oil etc), and learn to do that yourself.
That's the idea really, luckily my Dad has been working on his cars all his life and many years back was a mechanic so I'm learning as we go. The car itself was listed on a Van dealer's forecourt for £600 and I got it for £550 and at the time had 4 months tax and 11 months MOT with around 84,000 miles if I remember rightly.I feel sorry for you guys and girls they way they are taking the piss.
But as others have said, do not spend any money on it (bar doing oil etc), and learn to do that yourself.
Edited by joe_90 on Wednesday 20th November 14:10
Like some of you have mentioned, I'm not going to spend money on it really other than running it, hopefully it will last me another year or two maybe.
Maybe I differ then. Been wanting to drive ever since I was tiny and living on my own in a 3 bed house at 19 that swallows most of my income, I am willing to to spend what I can on making it as clean as my limited budget allows (clean - not chavy) because to me it's worth the earth.
Do somewhat want something a bit different though so man maths showing good calculations for a 106 Rallye S1, or a Twingo RS in the not too distant future..
Do somewhat want something a bit different though so man maths showing good calculations for a 106 Rallye S1, or a Twingo RS in the not too distant future..
Update Time.
Rolling on nearly a year since I've had it now and its going well sort of, failed the MOT for a wishbone, duly replaced and passed back to business as normal which includes never being able to keep the thing clean for more than an hour. Last time I washed it, it got covered in Saharan sand (what are the chances?) the above photograph shows the result of leaving it unwashed over the winter. I've only spent about £4 modifying the looks and that was to get an adhesive Ford badge to go over the top of the tailgate badge.
Some PH advice would be useful at this point, after just one year NCB I can re insure this for around £700 fully comp or go for a 1.4 £500ish Astra or Focus for around £1000 for the year. I'm at the moment leaning towards keeping hold of this KA for awhile longer and seeing how work picks up and maybe using man maths to justify something much better, although the thought of a new car is something I fancy. Just ordered some new spark plugs, oil filter, fuel filter, air filter and 5L Oil in order to give it a service for just under £30 off Euro Car Parts.
So what does everyone reckon, run it a bit longer (upwards a year?) or try my luck at shifting it and moving on?
Rolling on nearly a year since I've had it now and its going well sort of, failed the MOT for a wishbone, duly replaced and passed back to business as normal which includes never being able to keep the thing clean for more than an hour. Last time I washed it, it got covered in Saharan sand (what are the chances?) the above photograph shows the result of leaving it unwashed over the winter. I've only spent about £4 modifying the looks and that was to get an adhesive Ford badge to go over the top of the tailgate badge.
Some PH advice would be useful at this point, after just one year NCB I can re insure this for around £700 fully comp or go for a 1.4 £500ish Astra or Focus for around £1000 for the year. I'm at the moment leaning towards keeping hold of this KA for awhile longer and seeing how work picks up and maybe using man maths to justify something much better, although the thought of a new car is something I fancy. Just ordered some new spark plugs, oil filter, fuel filter, air filter and 5L Oil in order to give it a service for just under £30 off Euro Car Parts.
So what does everyone reckon, run it a bit longer (upwards a year?) or try my luck at shifting it and moving on?
DannyB95 said:
Update Time.
Rolling on nearly a year since I've had it now and its going well sort of, failed the MOT for a wishbone, duly replaced and passed back to business as normal which includes never being able to keep the thing clean for more than an hour. Last time I washed it, it got covered in Saharan sand (what are the chances?) the above photograph shows the result of leaving it unwashed over the winter. I've only spent about £4 modifying the looks and that was to get an adhesive Ford badge to go over the top of the tailgate badge.
Some PH advice would be useful at this point, after just one year NCB I can re insure this for around £700 fully comp or go for a 1.4 £500ish Astra or Focus for around £1000 for the year. I'm at the moment leaning towards keeping hold of this KA for awhile longer and seeing how work picks up and maybe using man maths to justify something much better, although the thought of a new car is something I fancy. Just ordered some new spark plugs, oil filter, fuel filter, air filter and 5L Oil in order to give it a service for just under £30 off Euro Car Parts.
So what does everyone reckon, run it a bit longer (upwards a year?) or try my luck at shifting it and moving on?
Did you fix the wishbones yourself? My girlfriends ones have failed on her KA and im wondering how easy a job it is to fit them. Rolling on nearly a year since I've had it now and its going well sort of, failed the MOT for a wishbone, duly replaced and passed back to business as normal which includes never being able to keep the thing clean for more than an hour. Last time I washed it, it got covered in Saharan sand (what are the chances?) the above photograph shows the result of leaving it unwashed over the winter. I've only spent about £4 modifying the looks and that was to get an adhesive Ford badge to go over the top of the tailgate badge.
Some PH advice would be useful at this point, after just one year NCB I can re insure this for around £700 fully comp or go for a 1.4 £500ish Astra or Focus for around £1000 for the year. I'm at the moment leaning towards keeping hold of this KA for awhile longer and seeing how work picks up and maybe using man maths to justify something much better, although the thought of a new car is something I fancy. Just ordered some new spark plugs, oil filter, fuel filter, air filter and 5L Oil in order to give it a service for just under £30 off Euro Car Parts.
So what does everyone reckon, run it a bit longer (upwards a year?) or try my luck at shifting it and moving on?
I would keep the KA for another year. It will be more fun to drive than a 1.4 Astra or Focus, cheaper to run insurance, fuel and parts as well. Plus if you have just serviced it then it would last for another year no problem.
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