Hi guys!

Some git blocked me in outside my house so I just took my house mates care to go shopping. She has a 1.3 Duratec Ka. It's a 51 reg and has around 27,000 on the clock. Oh and it's not long had a full service. I couldn't believe how slow and loud it was. As being a very popular supermini, before I got in I expected it to quieter and slightly nippier than my Sei but I was very disappointed. It was loud and clicky under acceleration and felt precarious to drive. No power steering either. I expected it to be a 1.1. Couldn't believe it when I got back and she told me it was a 1.3. Now after speaking to another mate, I find they are all like this. Felt like my first car. G reg Fiesta popular plus with a different view.

Just goes to show brand image means more than quality to most people. As superminis go that I have driven, both the Corsa (old and new), the Yaris and the Sei (obviously) are leagues ahad of the KA.

Oh, and the indicators make a nasty cheap noise too!

I had all my proper driving lessons in one and they do feel so cheap. The engine noise does sound like an old Fiesta and all the switches have a horrible feel to them. This was the 'Luxury' model aswell on a 51 plate!! But I passed my test in it with only 2 minors so i'll forgive it

One of the reasons they sound so awful is that the engine design dates back to the 1950's as it also did in the Leyland and Rover Metro. Unfortunately I can't be more spedific on the exact mechanicals - but this is what I've been told...

Don't you mean Kack?

Know why the engine sounded like an old fiesta lump?

Cos it is

Bear in mind though, it is really sub-supermini

it is not different at all to a fesa ive also got one of those an r-reg encore but thats just for work n stuff

if the engine design is the same as the one used in metro then that my friend means it's based on the 'a' series first seen in moggy minor and more predominantly in the mini. its ancient... also we have a new fiesta pool car at work and its probably one of the worst cars i have ever driven, it's uncomfortable, noisy, slow, has appaling build quality for the price and the steerings heavier than a volvo, by contrast we had to hire a new punto this week and it's been fantastic, it's the lowest spec 1.2 8v active and totally wipes the floor with the ford, everyone whoose driven it agrees, but if you were to choose between the two on so called 'expert' reviews alone... brand prejudice is an evil thing.

Yeah it is ancient isn't it? even more ancient than I was told based on your knowledge...Talking of brand prejudice take a look at my 'bad press' thread on the Stilo section....

:yuck: Wifey has a Festa 125 Zetec 75bhp.My std Sei, leaves it for dead.It just feels really heavy & stodgy compared to a Sei.They just don't handle at all! Cinqo's & Sei's are very underrated IMO. :devil:

my sisters KA2 (1.3) is alot faster than my cinq sporting in lower gears (1 and 2) but as soon as u hit 3rd its slow and boring... 5th is awful! gimmie my cinq anyday

If your going to make comparisons to engines from other manufactures, please make your statements correctly, the A-series was not first seen in the Morris Minor, it was first seen in the all new Austin A30, a direct competitor to the Minor until BMC was formed between Austin and Morris.

A freind at work has in his family a Ka and a Punto 8v ELX (almost like mine, just a few months older). He is always going on about how he can't believe how nippy the Punto is for a 1.2. The Ka is much slower etc...

I have a few times followed a StreetKa (the convertible, with a 1.6), and was easily much faster. Didn't get a chance to overtake because it turned off...

Where I used to live an 18 year old chap had one, but then his mum has a Fiesta, and his grandad too. It was the grandad in their fiesta that clonked my Punto August last year. They recomended having it fixed at a local repairers, but I went to a FIAT bodyshop (they were paying) for a bit more cost. So rather than having to drive a Ka for 2 days I got a Sei, only SX or something, but 1100cc etc - much better!

The engine in the KA is the same engine in my GF's N Plate Fiasco and the same one in the Escort mark 3 and a whole load of other Ford stuff, why do you think they can sell em so cheap!

Liam

Gav said:

I have a few times followed a StreetKa (the convertible, with a 1.6), and was easily much faster. Didn't get a chance to overtake because it turned off...

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The 1.2 isn't faster than a 1.6, its a good job you didnt get chance to overtake it 0-60 for the Streetka is 10.5 and the Punto is about.........half a day???

The engine in the ka first saw the light of day in 1959, in the new Anglia! It powered those, early cortinas then fiestas and now the ka. True the ka is a very cheaply made car and is pretty naff too. The A series was a BMC engine and is nothing to do with the ford lump at all. I think the ford engine was called the kent engine but Im not sure...

oh yeah you're right wasn't the moggy, don't know what i was thinkin of, either way, ees bloody old and the rough age was bout the same, does the sei use the same 900 mota as the cinq?

wolfracepunto said:

The 1.2 isn't faster than a 1.6, its a good job you didnt get chance to overtake it 0-60 for the Streetka is 10.5 and the Punto is about.........half a day???

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Sorry I'm going to sound really picky (I don't mean to) The StreetKA (convertable) is about 12.5 0-60 as it's very heavy (for its size) the SportKA (regular tin-top) is 10.0 0-60 with same engine, as it is lighter.

If we want to get really picky it's 11.7, 107 top end Sport car is 9.7, top end 108. The difference is a huge 204kg! All that extra strenghening hasn't been kind on it!

Lorddean said:

oh yeah you're right wasn't the moggy, don't know what i was thinkin of, either way, ees bloody old and the rough age was bout the same, does the sei use the same 900 mota as the cinq?

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It does indeed, apparently that's quite an old design too. Killed off by emissions regs IIRC.

Tree hugging hippies

Ah so thats why the 899cc died...

I thought the hamsters they use inside those things were wiped out in a freak tidal wave

Again mistakes, the MKIII Escort 1.3 had the CVH engine, the The 1.3 engine still in use in the Ka is I believe based on the kent engine, which dates back to the 60's.