Ford Ka 2008 Style Climate 1.3
Discussion
Josh for the first time since the Ka was released (when ever that was) I have actually like one. It does look quite smart in all black. My sister has a Ka as well but it is a hateful car to look at, what with its non colour coded bumpers. But I really like yours, very much so. I hope it is called "Darth" though, as it would suit the name =)
Glad to see a love-in for the KA! My second car was an '03 KA Luxury and god it was good to drive, such a beast in any weather too - completely unfazed by this snow stuff.
I agree whole-heartedly with the comment is the spiritual sucessor to the Mini - it's cheap, drives superbly and was made for twelve years, which is amazing.
Enjoy it!
I agree whole-heartedly with the comment is the spiritual sucessor to the Mini - it's cheap, drives superbly and was made for twelve years, which is amazing.
Enjoy it!
My wife has had two Ka's, the first was a Belladonna P - Reg purchased second hand several years ago which she then sold to her sister and now my mother-in-law drives it, it is still going strong and I was using it for a hefty daily commute at one point!
I bought her a X - reg Luxury in State blue with cream leather interior about three years ago, we've been everywhere in the Ka and we love driving it, the handling is almost as fun as the Mk1 MX5 I owned.
Certainly a modern equivalent to the old mini and will imo be a classic one day.
I would love to build a RST version or just strip one out for track use.
Apart from the rust additional things to check (although Ford should have improved the design somewhat by now or at least by your model) are power steering rack bellows and seals deteriorating, this happens inside the rack and requires replacement of the rack.
Just last week we have had our second PS rack due to a failure on the MOT but this time it is genuine Ford part rather than a reconditioned unit (which lasted about 2 years) You can save premature wear on the rack by not holding full lock for a prolonged period of time and by limiting any turning while the vehicle is not in motion will also help TBH useful habits to get into for all cars.
I bought her a X - reg Luxury in State blue with cream leather interior about three years ago, we've been everywhere in the Ka and we love driving it, the handling is almost as fun as the Mk1 MX5 I owned.
Certainly a modern equivalent to the old mini and will imo be a classic one day.
I would love to build a RST version or just strip one out for track use.
Apart from the rust additional things to check (although Ford should have improved the design somewhat by now or at least by your model) are power steering rack bellows and seals deteriorating, this happens inside the rack and requires replacement of the rack.
Just last week we have had our second PS rack due to a failure on the MOT but this time it is genuine Ford part rather than a reconditioned unit (which lasted about 2 years) You can save premature wear on the rack by not holding full lock for a prolonged period of time and by limiting any turning while the vehicle is not in motion will also help TBH useful habits to get into for all cars.
Excellent cars the Ford Kas, ive often thought about buying one but i have not, yet!
Yours looks great, excellent picutres, they really suit the colour coding.
Had a good test drive in an 04 plat elast year, when i was thinking of buying somehting a bit cheaper to run and something simple to what i had/have. It was great and nearly bought it, but it was rusting already.
Still, id like to own one.
Yours looks great, excellent picutres, they really suit the colour coding.
Had a good test drive in an 04 plat elast year, when i was thinking of buying somehting a bit cheaper to run and something simple to what i had/have. It was great and nearly bought it, but it was rusting already.
Still, id like to own one.
I hope that Ka will last you well! I truly believe that the Ka will fall into a similar classic category as the moggy minor or the classic shape mini one day, 1 years Ford manages to keep the same body style going! I still love our Ka, I got to drive our old one for the last time over christmas before it made it's way to a new owner (also in the family) They are great and I still admit that I'd love an RST converted Ka, I just wish I was 18 again as it'd feel odd driving a modified one at my age!
You mentioned a K&N filter. Ka's suffer from heat soak badly so if you do fit one just use a replacement element rather than a 'free-flow' (57i type) which will probably make the car worse on acceleration.
You mentioned a K&N filter. Ka's suffer from heat soak badly so if you do fit one just use a replacement element rather than a 'free-flow' (57i type) which will probably make the car worse on acceleration.
joshc said:
RV8 said:
Ka's suffer from heat soak badly
Can you expand on this?I agree the unique shape of the Ka will no doubt lead it to become a classic one day...But that's going to take a while since Mk1s went up to 58 registrations so they are going to be kicking around a while before they get rare or anything.
RV8 said:
joshc said:
RV8 said:
Ka's suffer from heat soak badly
Can you expand on this?I agree the unique shape of the Ka will no doubt lead it to become a classic one day...But that's going to take a while since Mk1s went up to 58 registrations so they are going to be kicking around a while before they get rare or anything.
joshc said:
On the Duratec model like mine there is a plastic cover above the radiator at the front which the Endura engined cars didn't have, I assume its purpose is to improve cooling somewhat.
http://www.dervman.com/ka2003.htm
Makes no difference to heat soak, that probably directs air flow when moving, won't do anything once stationary. As you may have observed under the bonnet the hot parts are; inlet and exhaust manifold, radiator, coolant plumbing and the engine itself. At idle you have no through flow of air aiding cooling so a free flow filter starts sucking heated air from inside the bay, heated air is less dense so produces less power.http://www.dervman.com/ka2003.htm
Edited by RV8 on Monday 15th March 15:26
I have the chromed sill protectors which come standard on the luxury, or should I say 'did' have them. I tore them off as they are a water catchment area in one of the Ka's favorite places to rust. While I think they might stop the odd scuff from your shoes there was a significant amount of rust under mine on what otherwise appeared to be perfect upper sill. When I sorted the rust and resprayed both sides there was no way I was refitting them. Just keep an eye on them, be aware that water standing on the bodywork under them with little opportunity to evaporate will rot the sills over time.
you in another thread said:
My car is a 2008 Ka 1.3 Style Climate with the Duratec 69 HP engine, so it should be averaging 35-40 MPG
35-40?! My girlfriends only dips as low as 40 if you drive it flat out everywhere. A motorway trip should be 45+. That said the fuel gauges are wildly inaccurate so use to brim method to work out the MPG.
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