2001 Ford Ka Luxury 1.3 petrol from UK and Ireland
Summary:
Fun, and cheap to run stylish runabout
Faults:
Nothing.
General Comments:
This car needs more power!
Cornering abilities on this car are amazing, and the suspension remains supple at the same time. Steering is direct and has good feel, also ironing out the worst of the roads imperfections.
The engine is the fly in the ointment. It is weak, unresponsive, and sounds like a diesel. It has decent torque though!
The luxury specification is good. With an interior that has a nice airy feel to it, but rear leg room is poor for long distances with passengers.
The gearbox is a delight to use, feeling very sporty and easy to use, helping the driver forget about the horrible engine.
Another gripe is the driving position for taller drivers. The seat remains to high (even on lowest setting). This causes the wheel to be to low down.
Being a male driver, the image of the car did not suit me to well, and people laughed at me, and said "it's a girls car". I love the styling, but image is important.
The car was new when I bought it, so reliability has been excellent, but the dealer was useless. They were unhelpful, and unprofessional.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 12th September, 2002
18th Sep 2002, 15:05
1.6 Astras, I don't think so. Maybe broken ones with no wheels.
Nextdoor has one with the 1.3 pushrod engine (same as yours) and it is the most gutless piece of crap going.
Noisy, un-refined and dated.
Lets look at the facts. Astra 1.6 90-110 BHP.
Ford Ka 1.3 Endura 55 BHP.
I would bet my house that a 1.6 Astra would clear your Ka by miles in a straight race.
It's a pity that Ford never put the engine in the KA that they intended. With a decent engine this could be a fun car.