1997 Ford Ka 2 from UK and Ireland - Comments

I brought my KA2 in May this year. Although it is 10 years old, it seemed fine up until now!!

I had to replace a new battery and a new alternator in the same week, as they both broke at the same time! I was told this would solve the cutting out problem I have every time the car comes to a stop, or when I leave the clutch down for too long, but it didn't and the car has broken down on me 3 times in a week!

I took the car back to the garage only to find I need a new clutch! My friend who has an older KA has had exactly the same problems, and they all seem to happen at once in a short space of time!

It seems that KA's aren't supposed to be used after 10 years, as this is when things start needing replacing and become expensive! I would not recommend anyone to buy an older KA as it costs too much when things start to wear out!

I think you need to find a new garage. Clutches don't cause cutting out problems, and if you're complaining about having to replace a battery on a 10 year old car you've owned for 3 and a bit months, you need to take a little more care when parting with your cash. The signs would have been there for months before it finally failed. You miss them, and then blame the car.

The clutch doesn't need doing, and the battery is a consumable basically. The alternator is the only "true" expense here, assuming it really did need changing and at 10yrs, it's had a good innings. If your mechanic wants to fit a new clutch to stop the car cutting out, I seriously have my doubts there was anything wrong with the alternator anyway.

You're probably right about the age of the Ka being the issue. I hired a brand new one in Majorca a couple of months ago and it was just a hoot. Threw it round winding mountain roads and whizzed along straights. Great fun. But whilst we had it I did think that it couldn't stay that good for any more than a few years before the worn components would make it less of great car than it was new.