2000 Ford Ka from UK and Ireland - Comments

We bought our daughter a late 2004 standard 1.3 as a graduation present, which she thinks is wonderful - her first car.

I've had it fully serviced, oil, filters and fluids replaced and a news set of tyres, the ones on the car had some life left in them, but better safe than sorry.

A week or so ago, she filled up with fuel and went beyond the pump's second automatic shut off and then rounded to the next full £. When she started the car the Engine Warning Light did not go out and has been on ever since. It's something to do with the tank venting part of the emission control.

Our local independent garage who serviced the car connected the analyser but were unable to reset the ECU, so it looks like an expensive visit to a Ford dealer - £95.00 we've been quoted for a reset. Scandalous.

I've got a i.3 collection.

It's a love hate relationship really.

Around town, its awesome. if you belt it out on a flat road it will hold its own, but acceleration is terrible. It's cheap and comfortable, but that's why all the problems start.

It's an 53 plate. I bought it last year with 30,000 miles on it and one careful lady owner (who rode the clutch for 30,000 miles) as my first job after a month was to put a new clutch in it. £450. done. not so great. rust in the door wells. my lights have just stopped working that illuminate the dash. which means I can't drive at night unless I remember my torch. this has still to be fixed. I'm not sure if I have to replace the bulb or the whole dash.

Saying that. when it works I love it and its brilliant. they need a lot of care and attention so if you are looking for low maintenance go with honda or daewoo.

MAINTENANCE!!, simple really, if you look after things they tend to last longer.

The Ka is a cheap city car favoured by student's parents to allow their little angels to visit, so gets a lot of abuse from little 'Hilary' running on fumes 90% of the time and never getting serviced!, Go for cars owned by elderly gents, they are usually highly maintained with low mileages; that's what I do and have never had a problem in 30 years.

The Ka has some silly little niggles. In my experience to date, after buying a W plate for my daughter, we have discovered the following:

Door lock barrels give up (bugger to fit, call a Ford lock specialist, £50 per lock made to your key).

Door wiring looms corrode & give up, central locking gives up first, then speakers & windows. £65 each per loom.

Front discs warp. I find you need to apply a lot of effort to stop, & thus the brakes reach high temperatures, causing the warp.

Power steering pump noise - leaks, check levels, casing & pipes.

Tappets - ancient mechanics for a modern car, but easily adjusted if noise unbearable. Reminds me of Meccano!

Tailgate hinge corrosion - rear wiper relies on good earth contact thru tailgate hinge. Drift out the pins, clean & grease, job done.

Sills & door bottoms rust.

Leaking rear brake cylinders - check these regularly.

That said, if you know a good independent mechanic, most things are cheap as chips to replace & shouldn't cost the earth. When these cars reach 8 or 9 years old and cost you £1200 to buy, you have to expect it is not going to be perfect.