When I ordered my little Fiat 500 back in February, I had no inkling that the same bambino would be the basis for the new Ford Ka. I must admit that when I discovered that in due course (in a year or so, perhaps) my gorgeous little red whizzer would be just the same as a zillion base-model Fords under the skin, I felt a bit miffed. So how do you all feel about this? I suppose that in some way it seems that Fiat have de-valued their design effort by selling it to Ford. And perhaps they are shooting themselves in the foot, because if the Ka is cheaper (which it probably will be) then it may well impact on 500 sales. Also Ford are saying that the Ka will handle better than the 500, which if true, will really make me most annoyed.

I feel the same about the Peugeot 107 / Citroen C1 / Toyota Aygo. Whose car is it, really? And what brand loyalty does it build? The 500 has been promoted by Fiat as something really special, very Italian, and uniquely Fiat. I think they should have kept it that way.

John

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

Couldnt care less myself. We always new this was going to happen and its only what everyone else does anyway. Have you seen the design of the Ka yet, its not very nice. It will handle better and will steer better too, maybe we could pinch the suspension from a friendly Ford dealer?
Think of it this way, the Ka will be a cheap copy of the 500, not the other way round and think how annoyed the die hard Ford owners will feel when you say "nice Fiat"

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

Meh Grande Punto and the current Corsa have shared underpinnings. Ford won't have the same styling as the 500 inside or out. and if they claim it will handle better then it won't have the same suspension geometry. So they will share engines and similar chassis.

The question is why are people buying the 500. Is it because it has a chassis that no other car uses. Is it because of its original engine line up.

Or is because people love the little bugger? I don't think the KA will have a serious impact on 500 sales. It just won't be as cool.

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

Lets be honest, non of us is buying a 500 for its engines, they arent that brilliant, or its chassis as again its far from perfect. We arent buying because of strong residuals or good dealers, or even fantastic build. We are buying for one of two reasons, we are either Fiat lovers through and through like me, or fashion victims.... and no one will buy a Ka for that reason!

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

Well, you wouldn't buy the original Ka now for its style, but a lot of people did when it first came out. And I disagree about the engines - the 1.3 diesel in particular is one of the best small diesels around, it's a little gem.

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

I guess they must of, I thought it was hideous back in 96... bought a Cinq instead!
I wonder if Fiats building of the Ka will eradicate the baby Fords rust issues? Or, will Fiat not galvanise the Fords?

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

John R Smith said:

I must admit that when I discovered that in due course (in a year or so, perhaps) my gorgeous little red whizzer would be just the same as a zillion base-model Fords under the skin, I felt a bit miffed.
John

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As apposed to driving round in a car which is really a Mk2 Panda in drag that they've already made a million of so far?

We're not really in a position of exclusivity I think, LOL

Jim

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

e505jpy said:

As apposed to driving round in a car which is really a Mk2 Panda in drag that they've already made a million of so far?

We're not really in a position of exclusivity I think, LOL

Jim

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Fair point But at least they are all Fiats. I don't want to be exclusive, don't get me wrong - how can I, at that price - but I really hate badge engineering, always have. We had enough of that back in the 1960s, with Rileys and Wolseleys which were nothing whatever to do with either of those distinguished firms. And I do think the Panda is a great little car, so I am very happy to be a part of that family. Platform-sharing within a company is perfectly acceptable, of course.

John

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

nuovapanda said:

think how annoyed the die hard Ford owners will feel when you say "nice Fiat"

Click to expand...

i am so going to do this!

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

I really don't car either way to be honest.

I bought the 500, on spec, as I liked the car, I still like the car reagardless of what others do with the same floorpan.

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

I'm not going to let it worry me: I saw some photos/images of the new KA in Autoexpress a while ago and remember thinking it's not as attractive as the 500, lacking the charismatic retroness. Being a Ford, there will possibly be zillions of them about on the roads, so we 500 owners will possibly still be part of an exclusive-ish club, and anyway, what percentage of prospective Ford KA buyers will know it shares the 500's underpinnings? Will they care? Will it win Car of the Year 2009? I can't imagine many prospective owners falling for the KA in the same way many 500 owners seem to have done with the 500. I may be wrong, maybe to current KA owners, the new KA may be the 'Bees Knees'.

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?



Theres a tiny little clip of the new Ka at 2min 25 sec

Jim

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

I hate KAs!!!! They should die!!!

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Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

The 500 appealed to me on sooooooo many levels. With the new 500 You have the looks, the history, the interior, ncap 5star rating, plenty of room & a bit like an ipod or a mac, its a piece of kit that appeals to the heart. Fiat have produced something that has the "i want!" factor like the mini & the i phone before it.

Will a ford ever appeal to the heart...........nah If I had my way our 500 would be indoors living with us, just so I don't have to keep looking out of the window to keep staring at it.

Cheers

Yoshi

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

Weirdly they already have new Ka in South America already that's not 500 based...

Strange they didn't just do a 'Polo Fox' job and bring it in instead.....



Jim

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

Ford paid the full cost of the development of the 500, so it cost Fiat nothing. In return Fiat will build the Ka and allow Ford to use Fiat engines. The Ford will have Fordified suspension settings. It may also have better rear headroon it will look like a scaled down Fiesta though

Now, I read a long time ago that Ford would not be permitted to use the new Fiat twin, which may come to the 500 this year. However, and this concerns me, I read more recently that Ford WILL be using this engine.

Now, a 900cc turbo giving great performance and sub 100 C02 would be a huge asset for Fiat. If Ford gets this motor too it will be a shame.

Most people by the way have no idea who makes their cars, where, or what they are based on, and I doubt this will change. Many people believe that Ford is a British company for heaven's sake.

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

wonder how many owners realise the 500 is built in poland !! the only thing the ford ka needs is ck after its name.. the vw phaeton is a bentley continental gt underneath engine and all, vw toureg = porsche cayene there is loads (probably more than we know)

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

Heck Alfafisti used to moan about Fiat derived engines then the latest petrols are developed as part of the now defunct GM/Fiat deal, so an Alfa V6 is based on a Holden unit. Now that is sacrilegious to Italian car fanatics! These agreements are going on all the time.

The Fiat 500 is all about style with competent underpinnings. No worries a Ford Ka will be viewed as the same car in my view!

Cheers
Tony

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

Interesting. I didn't realise that Ford had paid for the development costs of the 500. With regard to Alfa, yes you are right - the GTV was the last Alfa with a "real" Alfa V6 - which is why they still have a very loyal following. It all depends what kind of customer base you are trying to build, I suppose - for Fiat, volume counts, and they have the prestige brands of Alfa, Lancia and Maserati to target the Italian car loyalists with. For Fiat, the 500 sells on style, and its mechanical underpinnings are of little interest to most buyers. Fair enough. I am an old fogey, I admit it. I just remember very well how Porsche shot itself in the foot with the 924 (by alienating its loyal customer base), even though the 924 wasn't too bad a car in fact.

John

Re: How Do You Feel About The New Ford Ka?

When you truly analyze the 500 you get this, a car built by Poles in Poland, petrol engines that were concieved in the 80s for the Pandas/Unos, a floorpan from the current Panda, a diesel engine co-developed with GM and money from Ford!!! Its hardly exclusive or even Italian! I still dont care.