ford ka help pleasee
Discussion
hello all just got a ford ka,(Yes i know a ford ka)
not the best of cars but like little go karts.
its only a 1.3 2005, i really want to keep it and was thinking of doing it up
only problem is i dont really know where to start.
What do you think?
Sorry if i havent posted this in the right way.
cheers
not the best of cars but like little go karts.
its only a 1.3 2005, i really want to keep it and was thinking of doing it up
only problem is i dont really know where to start.
What do you think?
Sorry if i havent posted this in the right way.
cheers
In all seriousness, buy something faster. Modifying is great fun, but it's a huge waste of money unless you can do all of the work yourself, when it becomes merely a substantial waste of money.
The Ka is limited by a low bonnet line which means a bigger engine won't really fit. Even if you fitted a turbo you'd not be looking at anything more than about 130hp I'd guess, and you'll have spent thousands to get that far.
The Ka is limited by a low bonnet line which means a bigger engine won't really fit. Even if you fitted a turbo you'd not be looking at anything more than about 130hp I'd guess, and you'll have spent thousands to get that far.
In all seriousness I would just play on the fact that it's a KA and you wont make it look decent so you can at least get some cool old retro crap to put on. I found a set of XR3i wheels (special eds) which looked like BBS RAs for £40. Stuck them on my fiesta, it was still a 1.3 fiesta with 50bhp but at least it looked a little bit different.
You probably see that and think what a POS but it always made me smile when I saw it haha. And you wont get much performance out of a KA without big money and effort, the 1.3 rocams were pretty crap motors tbh and don't share mounts with any other engines so unlike the zetec fiestas it's a pain to get anything else under the bonnet.
You probably see that and think what a POS but it always made me smile when I saw it haha. And you wont get much performance out of a KA without big money and effort, the 1.3 rocams were pretty crap motors tbh and don't share mounts with any other engines so unlike the zetec fiestas it's a pain to get anything else under the bonnet.
I've seen them also rust from the bottom of the A pillar upwards. I don't know how you get Waxoyl up there.
I've heard that they're a delightful little steer. Isn't there some front suspension bush or mount that's prone to fail and there's now an improved replacement available?
I would save your money and spend some of it on running it and getting some more driver training like the IAM or RoSPA advanced driving tests.
I'd also hang fire on spending money on personalising it just yet until you know whether it's a good one or not first.
I've heard that they're a delightful little steer. Isn't there some front suspension bush or mount that's prone to fail and there's now an improved replacement available?
I would save your money and spend some of it on running it and getting some more driver training like the IAM or RoSPA advanced driving tests.
I'd also hang fire on spending money on personalising it just yet until you know whether it's a good one or not first.
It is a Ka, there isn't much you can do to one really. An induction kit will make it sound louder and probably reduce your power by breathing in hot under-bonnet air. Chipping the ECU would release maybe 2bhp. An exhaust maybe 5. All of which would cost a fortune, and make your care less saleable. It might also increase your insurance premium.
As mentioned above. Sell it, and buy a Fiesta 1.25 / 1.4, Puma or whatever. It will turn out cheaper to run, easier to sell and will perform way better than you can persuade a Ka to.
As mentioned above. Sell it, and buy a Fiesta 1.25 / 1.4, Puma or whatever. It will turn out cheaper to run, easier to sell and will perform way better than you can persuade a Ka to.
matthias73 said:
Nice ford alloys and a good wash and wax. Maybe lower it to enhance go kart steering and make it look sportier. Anything else you could possibly do for reasonable money would make you look like a chav.
Agreed. They are great little cars but the potential for modifications of any flavour is very limited compared to Fiestas or Corsas etc. Just enjoy it for what it is, get something more tasty in a couple of years 
vit4 said:
matthias73 said:
Nice ford alloys and a good wash and wax. Maybe lower it to enhance go kart steering and make it look sportier. Anything else you could possibly do for reasonable money would make you look like a chav.
Agreed. They are great little cars but the potential for modifications of any flavour is very limited compared to Fiestas or Corsas etc. Just enjoy it for what it is, get something more tasty in a couple of years The best ways (engine swaps notwithstanding) to improve a KA are by adding lightness (free), at that age refreshing all of the bushes, adding new (Possibly Ford Racing) shocks and springs, getting some better brake pads and then just looking after it until you can afford an engine swap or until you put the interior back in and sell it.
You can spend stupid money chasing power with the 1.3 engine and still end up with a car that will be outran by pretty much everything. With a KA the party piece is its handling so concentrate any money and effort on refining that.
If you want alloys stick with some ford ones there are plenty of KA options.
Enjoy driving.
You can spend stupid money chasing power with the 1.3 engine and still end up with a car that will be outran by pretty much everything. With a KA the party piece is its handling so concentrate any money and effort on refining that.
If you want alloys stick with some ford ones there are plenty of KA options.
Enjoy driving.
OP one of the best things you can do for your Ka is get up under the nearside rear wheel arch and clean it out thoroughly around the fuel filler. Take out the plastic around the filler cap to. Get it totally spotless and dry. Then properly treat any rust and cover the whole area with underseal.
After that just enjoy keeping it clean and tidy and really learning about smooth progressive driving. They're a great car for twisty roads and will give you many miles of fun.
Most stuff is easy and cheap to fix too.
Enjoy
After that just enjoy keeping it clean and tidy and really learning about smooth progressive driving. They're a great car for twisty roads and will give you many miles of fun.
Most stuff is easy and cheap to fix too.
Enjoy
Had a little Ka for 5000 miles in Europe a while back. Brilliant, reliable, fun little car with great handling. Just drive it and enjoy it for what it is. Save your money and buy something a little faster a couple of years down the track. If you must spend something some nice alloys would be about the limit.
I know how you feel, I also have a KA. It is woefully under powered, if you get stuck behind something on a B road then you basically have no hope of getting past, which is UBER frustraiting. But like others have said the handling on them is great.
Personally, as boring as it sounds, I would save your money. Keep the thing till you can save up and afford something more interesting. Perhaps some different wheels would look cool on it and make you stand out from the crowd.
Its a great cheap small car that has no pretensions to be anything else, just try to enjoy it for what it is.
secretly I love my KA
Personally, as boring as it sounds, I would save your money. Keep the thing till you can save up and afford something more interesting. Perhaps some different wheels would look cool on it and make you stand out from the crowd.
Its a great cheap small car that has no pretensions to be anything else, just try to enjoy it for what it is.
secretly I love my KA
As a new driver or young driver, you're on the first rung of a long ladder in car ownership.
Not many people nowadays end up starting a car that they want, its more a compromise on what you can get vs ridiculous insurance premiums.
As has been posted above, yes you can fit an induction kit, and maybe find a sportier exhaust, but at the end of the day, it's still a 1.3 Ka. You're best bet is spending the money you have on maintaining the car while putting any aside for a more desirable car when you can afford it and the premiums.
All I will add is that you really should keep an eye on your tyres, as much as they handle like go karts, my sister found out the hard way, those skinny front understeer like hell on wet roads and the wings peel up like tin cans. Maybe budget for some decent branded tyres and know you have a safe quality ride!
All the best.
Not many people nowadays end up starting a car that they want, its more a compromise on what you can get vs ridiculous insurance premiums.
As has been posted above, yes you can fit an induction kit, and maybe find a sportier exhaust, but at the end of the day, it's still a 1.3 Ka. You're best bet is spending the money you have on maintaining the car while putting any aside for a more desirable car when you can afford it and the premiums.
All I will add is that you really should keep an eye on your tyres, as much as they handle like go karts, my sister found out the hard way, those skinny front understeer like hell on wet roads and the wings peel up like tin cans. Maybe budget for some decent branded tyres and know you have a safe quality ride!
All the best.
As most have said here, with any 'modifying' of a Ka you're on a hiding to nothing I'm afraid.
Make the most of what it is. Put some really good tyres on it. Buy some tools and a couple of wishbones and have a play at the weekend. Fit some quality brake pads.
Main thing though - brim the tank, go for a long drive to find some good roads, and enjoy!
It's what its all about here
Make the most of what it is. Put some really good tyres on it. Buy some tools and a couple of wishbones and have a play at the weekend. Fit some quality brake pads.
Main thing though - brim the tank, go for a long drive to find some good roads, and enjoy!
It's what its all about here
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