Ford KA Insurance
Discussion
Re: under / oversteer. There's a few threads on that about Ka's and getting them to slide.
You can, and they're very forgiving, but I believe one chap who was involved in some pretty desperado rear-end action ended up bending his (not me!). They *do* understeer, although you've got to try pretty hard, and at that point a little lift-off and the back end steps out nicely, with no great fuss.
They don't have a lot of go, but they're no worse than a Mk1 clio for acceleration, and top end is 3 figures (indicated).
As for what a 17 year old wants from a car - well, there's not a lot of room in the back, so unless she's flexible...that'll be a no (although it's possible in a 106...so I reckon it can be done, but there'd be footprints everywhere!!)
You can, and they're very forgiving, but I believe one chap who was involved in some pretty desperado rear-end action ended up bending his (not me!). They *do* understeer, although you've got to try pretty hard, and at that point a little lift-off and the back end steps out nicely, with no great fuss.
They don't have a lot of go, but they're no worse than a Mk1 clio for acceleration, and top end is 3 figures (indicated).
As for what a 17 year old wants from a car - well, there's not a lot of room in the back, so unless she's flexible...that'll be a no (although it's possible in a 106...so I reckon it can be done, but there'd be footprints everywhere!!)
Rob_F said:
Since having new tyres on the front and the alignment done mine really only understeers if you ask it to by turning in gently to lower speed corners then planting your foot. Chuck it a little more and it oversteers nicely. Don't really need to lift, just chuck it hard. 
Rob.
Rob.
Is that understeer as such, or just losing traction at the front by spinning the wheels - leading to front wheel going wide?
Not sure if I'm making sense - sorry!
My Ka certainly feels "competent" going round roundabouts, does give a lot of confidence, and I know from the odd tie I've done it that it's easily controllable if the back decides to "join in the fun".
Nah, just increasing the speed till it runs wide. Likewise if you were to go caning in at huge speed it would understeer also. What i should have said was "unless you're driving like a spastic it won't understeer"! 
If you just run into a corner too fast it drifts fantastically, little adjustments keeping the balance neutral. It really is sublime to drive around corners compared with other FWD hatches i've driven, it has taught me a huge amount about what "handling" means - i'd never want to drive another car which is unadjustable, it adds another dimension to driving. I think i'd want to get something known for LOO next, like a saxo/106 or maybe older 205s etc; because whilst the Ka is nicely adjustable it is quite hard to get it to really oversteer, and also it doesn't have any power to drag it out of a slide. It could be due to lack of driver skill however, i find i naturally catch the slide with a big dose of opposite lock whereas really i'd like to let it slide a bit more. I know i sound like such a fanboy, i'm not, i know my car is slow, tinny and suggest to other road users that i take an unhealthy interest in other men. It is however, the most fun car i've ever driven!
Cheers,
Rob.
If you just run into a corner too fast it drifts fantastically, little adjustments keeping the balance neutral. It really is sublime to drive around corners compared with other FWD hatches i've driven, it has taught me a huge amount about what "handling" means - i'd never want to drive another car which is unadjustable, it adds another dimension to driving. I think i'd want to get something known for LOO next, like a saxo/106 or maybe older 205s etc; because whilst the Ka is nicely adjustable it is quite hard to get it to really oversteer, and also it doesn't have any power to drag it out of a slide. It could be due to lack of driver skill however, i find i naturally catch the slide with a big dose of opposite lock whereas really i'd like to let it slide a bit more. I know i sound like such a fanboy, i'm not, i know my car is slow, tinny and suggest to other road users that i take an unhealthy interest in other men. It is however, the most fun car i've ever driven! Cheers,
Rob.
identti said:
But that's not the important bit. The handling's the best bit by far.
I agree completely, people ask how fast I've taken my car and when I say only 1.05 leptons they give me an odd look, asking if its really that slow...I just say I'm not interested in top speed, its how it performs in the twisties thats inportant
southpaw said:
identti said:
But that's not the important bit. The handling's the best bit by far.
I agree completely, people ask how fast I've taken my car and when I say only 1.05 leptons they give me an odd look, asking if its really that slow...I just say I'm not interested in top speed, its how it performs in the twisties thats inportant
Yeah it's really rubbish going fast in a straight line. You can tell the car hates it too. So noisy and it doesn't feel safe. But round the bends it really breathes with you.
We should have a young PHer meet sometime.
identti said:
We should have a young PHer meet sometime.
We should! And then I might not feel like the only sane young driver! Spent 10 minutes explaining to some ugly bird why I didn't have subs and amps in my car, and why I'd spent my money on "stupid stuff" like upgrading the brakes and halping the engine run cooler... She looked very confused when I ended by saying "look, I'm a racer not a cruiser!" and walked off
southpaw said:
identti said:
We should have a young PHer meet sometime.
We should! And then I might not feel like the only sane young driver! Spent 10 minutes explaining to some ugly bird why I didn't have subs and amps in my car, and why I'd spent my money on "stupid stuff" like upgrading the brakes and halping the engine run cooler... She looked very confused when I ended by saying "look, I'm a racer not a cruiser!" and walked off
Dont you be racing!.. It will end in tears I tell the!
southpaw said:
identti said:
We should have a young PHer meet sometime.
We should! And then I might not feel like the only sane young driver! Spent 10 minutes explaining to some ugly bird why I didn't have subs and amps in my car, and why I'd spent my money on "stupid stuff" like upgrading the brakes and halping the engine run cooler... She looked very confused when I ended by saying "look, I'm a racer not a cruiser!" and walked off
Best not invite them along! Please tell me when you're going along to any PH meets, 'cos I'd love to go, just not be the only one under 20. Don't fancy being ridiculed or worse by the likes of Vipxy1 etc...
My car was the slowest there probably but with some effort I just about kept up 
identti said:
I don't understand people saying it won't hit 3 figures unless really pushed. Mines gone 1.16 leptons with just me in the car and easily got 1.1 leptons 3-up. But that's not the important bit. The handling's the best bit by far.
Yes, you can do that speed in them (I followed one - in Germany, obviously, that did 100-115 for nearly 15 minutes - was a hire car though) - but it does make your ears bleed after a while when you're in it at that speed.
Oh, and it's not a gear lever - it's a "volume control".
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