SECOND-HAND SENSEWhen you look around at the stylish superminis on sale these days the Ford Ka doesn't tend to distinguish itself greatly. Yet, when it was launched back in 1996, it cut quite a dash indeed.
Back then Ford was taken by surprise at the reaction to its new and funky mini with its short and rounded profile. Its immediate popularity with bright young things created unexpected demand.
The very limited 1.3 engine in the original was compensated for by the car's looks. And the Ka had other virtues too. It had a neatly designed dashboard and interior and, unlike some other superminis, it had space in the back.
As the years went on the Ka improved even more and the fact that it's still around nine years later - albeit in limited numbers in this country - is a testament to its strengths. There are other versions of the Ka and a bigger engine option to lift the image of the basic model but the replacement is due sometime next year.
The Ka is an ideal city car. It's nippy and easy to drive around town. However, it's not a car for the motorway, being rather limited for long-haul travel. Ride and handling are reasonable, but this is a small car with a short overhang.
The entry level engine is still a 1.3 but it's a much improved unit compared with the one fitted back in the 1990s. The oldest model really should be avoided for this and other reasons - body panels and the boot were very susceptible to rust.
The Ka did not fare too well in its EuroNCAP crash tests in 2000 and second-hand buyers should be aware of this. It got three stars out of five and it scraped through to get those three stars. It achieved its best results for side impact protection but was harshly criticised for offering very poor protection for the legs of driver and passenger. Buyers of small cars should note that the Ka is not alone in getting relatively poor crash test ratings - also in the three star category include the Fiat Seicento and the Hyundai Atoz.
The Ka has had its share of problems, but only one recall, and that was for just over 1,100 cars with problems in the brake master cylinder. Brake pads are prone to wear quickly, central locking relays and electric windows have given problems, engines have had rattling problems and there have been reports of persistent knocking from the dashboard area.
The Ka is not a big presence on second-hand forecourts. A four year-old 1.3 with electric windows, central locking, metallic paint and power steering with 48,000 on the clock is on offer at one Dublin garage for €5,450. A similar two year-old model at another garage and with 75,000 on the clock has an asking price of €7,995. Both prices deserve to be open to serious bargaining.