Ford Ka - Going to view, what am I looking out for?

[Grant.D]

I dare say this has already been covered as I know the Ka is quite popular around these parts but the search function is playing up, I can find bits and peices from google but was looking for a quick run down of the main points from someone he knows them or possibly owns one.

Thanks in advance,
Grant

ETA: the car in question '01 1.3 with 50k miles

Edited by Grant.D on Wednesday 26th May 18:24

[Lost soul]

They rust like a bastad

[kambites]

Yup. My parents have one, albeit an older one that you're looking at, and it'll be going to the big scrapyard in the sky due to terminal rust next time it's due an MoT.

[Grant.D]

Body work I'll certainly give a good check over - well accustomed with old fords and their liking to rust.

Grant

[davepoth]

Bushes on the rear axle can go if memory serves.

The engine (if it's an older one) will be the Endura-E which can get exceptionally tappety (almost dieselish if it's very bad) as the tappets need to be adjusted regularly. This will be a good sign of the general maintenance level.

[ADEuk]

Check for rusty sills, worn front tyres and noisy front suspension Top mounts make a 'bonk' noise and lower arm bushes make a graunchy/grindy noise over speed humps. Anti-roll bar mounting bushes make a low down rattly noise over surface imperfections.
Also make sure heater goes from hot to cold as the valve can stick.
Boot lock can sieze if not used much.
Apart from that they're not too bad and very cheap to fix mechanicaly

[Dilligaf10]

Think they have had power steering problems as well.

[miniman]

Isn't the 1.3 the ageing Kent engine with the 1.25 being significantly better?