What to look for when buying Ford Ka cars

Ford's k a or Ka is a common site on British roads these days. Cute, nippy, cheap to buy and boasting excellent economy, it's no surprise that they are such a popular used buy. So, this article will show what you need to look for when purchasing one of these frugal little cars.

A brief introduction

When it first went on sale in 1996, the ultra compact Ford Ka car was something of a sensation. Based on the Fiesta platform, it was surprisingly, much the same size as the original 1970s Fiesta. Only one model was available, with a 1.3 litre engine. There was, however, a long list of options, that allowed you to personalise your base specification car, according to your own tastes. Various minor changes were made over the years, including the addition of colour-coded bumpers, and the Ka2 (Ka Collection) and Ka3 (Ka luxury) models. Later, still came the Ford SportKa and StreetKa (convertible) versions and several special editions. 2008 saw the new Ford Ka hit showrooms with totally new, corporate images.
It had grown in size, as well which, for many defeated its objective as a smart city driver.

What to look out for

If you want cheap Ford used car deals, then Ka is the place to look for. Simple to drive, cheap to insure and easy to service, it's no wonder that it's the most popular in the class. It does have some known problems though. The biggest issue is the steering racks. These are notorious for failing, and aren't cheap to replace. There are cases where three racks have been required on cars covering less than 70,000 miles, so look for evidence of a recent swap. Poor drainage can cause rust in the off-side sill, but the rest of the body seems fairly resistant. Electrics are reasonably reliable with the exception of door looms, which can fail and, if you pay someone to fix it for you, will cost several hundred pounds to repair.

What can you get for your money?

There are certain desirable options that not all cars were fitted with, so find one with power steering, ABS brakes (from 1997) and air-con if you can. The body coloured bumper models look more modern, but cost little more, so they are worth seeking out. In terms of price, in the current market (01.06.11) a low mileage, base spec early car will cost around £400. High mileage vehicles are very hard to sell, so a bit of haggling should see change from £150. Moving on to face-lift 2004/5 cars, prices range from £500 to £1000 if its a really good one. The final run-out models cost around £2500, but are bargains at that price.