Buying an old style ford KA what to look for?

[dave]

mate's niece has asked him to go look at one for her, he tried to talk her out of getting one but it didnt work, so he wants me to go with him an look.

what am i looking for apart from uglyness and general crappyness?

 

[Rawb]

Avoid the usual rust around the petrol cap, if Theres slight bubbling it should be fine... if it's totally messed up, run away.

Not much else to know, just look for rust on the under sills, as they are like paper.

Rust is the main problem, look for the belts being done, service etc.

My x-gf has a 40k 02 plate KA and the underside is a state. If you can get on your back Dave then look underneath more than on top.

 

[Fiatseicento2002]

RUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTT :devil:

Seriously for their age they rust like nothing else

Plus if she can afford it the 1.25 as that 1.3 is a shocker

Sure more will come out

 

[whitz]

oh where to start;

.rust on the arches, sills, floor and in/around fuel cap
.rear swing arm bushes
.rear shoes where out very quickly
.front drop link arms
. engines are very ta-pity, rocker cover gasket normally leaks and they get alot of lacquer build up in the rocker cover shame you cant see that
.internal heating fans can be temperamental
.fuel tank seams can go
.check the steering if it feels woolly
.earths for the rear lights and reverse light (switch fails)
.condition of the spare as its exposed under the car

im sure ive missed more, thats all what my friend has had

in less then a month see WILL regret having it

Ash

 

[GrandeGuy]

ROT ROT ROT!
My brother in law bought one from a garage, and 5 months later it failed on rust, and i mean rust as in major structural!
the car was taken back by the garage (after a group influence

and full refund given) the car was that bad it was scrapped.
and that was on a V plate.
Other than that they use a push rod engine from the 80's :yuck:

Tell them they want a nice Punto

 

[Fiatseicento2002]

A nice low mileage seicento 1.1

 

[Hellcat]

A nice low mileage seicento 1.1

:yeahthat:

Mum has a 1.3 duratec Ka - 53 plate.

The fuel filler is practically free floating - we have a replacement plate to get welded on.

More rust - like everywhere!

Rear suspension has collapsed a few times. Springs rusted through and snapped.

Door locks don't work.

Power steering failed.

Clutch is stop/go.

Drives like a gokart with all the creature comforts of one. I don't think its long of this world - will do everything I can to get her to buy a 500 as her next car - if she gets another Ka I'll disown her!

 

[AppleSei]

RUUUUUUSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTT :devil:

Seriously for their age they rust like nothing else

Plus if she can afford it the 1.25 as that 1.3 is a shocker
Sure more will come out

Ignore this Dave they dont do a 1.25 in the old KA the only other engine bar the 1.3 was the 1.6 in the sportka and the streetka

The endura 1.3 is poor as it was way too old for the car, but the duratec engine isnt too bad, its a bit more powerful and a bit more economical, go for a later model after 2002 if you want a duratec engine

 

[Fiatseicento2002]

My bad thought they put the fiesta engine across but i just checked and Applesei is right

 

[StevenRB45]

Oh and other than the rust, electrical faults.

The tail lights and the connector to them are very cheaply made, small amount of moisture or damage and its disco lights time. The rear light connector on the Exs car used to make the front right indicator come on when you pressed the brake. Sorted with a bit of bending with a screwdriver obviously...

 

[T14086]

go for a later model after 2002 if you want a duratec engine

but first check the loom at the nearside bulkhead has been sealed or water will rot through your loom into the ECU. ECU is £600 + new full one piece wiring loom = scrap. Looms were sealed as art of recall but loads were done wrong, IMO Dave look for something else, micra?

 

[dave]

been an looked it had the rust around petrol cap didnt look too bad from out side but put had up under the wing behind it an loads of rust fell out, i put my finger through rust on the sills needs new discs n pads, that was enough fot us to walk away didnt bother starting or driving it, only moted till march and seller was a dodgy used car dealer

thanks for all the tips

ive seen 20 year old pandas with less rust this was an X reg, yet people still say fiats rust an get a ford :nutter:

 

[Focus Owner]

didn't they only start galvanising them in 2003?

 

[dronenrs]

see i dont know why anyone bought a Ka when the fiesta was better in every single way.

 

[AppleSei]

see i dont know why anyone bought a Ka when the fiesta was better in every single way.

Debateable whether they were better especially cars from the same era, ive seen a lot of fezzers from the same era that were just as shot, if not worse than the KA

the KA was cheaper for a start, my mum has had 3 and has got one and they have all been ok, she is the only one who uses it and takes one passenger once a week to the shops and thats my grandad - weve all grown up and got our own cars so no need for lifts or cart anyone about, it gets in smaller spaces, it fits her shopping in the boot and takes her to work and back, its a no frills car because thats what she wants

Why does she need the bigger and more expensive fiesta?

You could say the same about your car - why would you have a cento when you can have a punto?

 

[Cinquecento83]

My ex had one and can honestly say it was the worst car I ever drove!!

both sides had been patched up really badly with filler, paint was flaking off everywhere, it was aubergine I think (the dark purple) it had rust on the sills, round the filler cap, bottoms of the doors etc etc.

badly oversized alloys that rubbed on full lock, could hear the tappets coming from half a mile away, could go on all night lol.

only good thing is that he got badly ripped off with it, the guy who sold it him defo saw him coming lol. £800 last year for an R-reg with 115k on the clock.....shafted!!

 

[Hellcat]

The only good thing I could say about my mums Ka is it got me to sheffield a few times when I needed it, and it only cost them £4995 - brand new!

 

[Cinquecento83]

would you say that the price reflects the poor build quality and catastrophic rot issues?

 

[maddogmorg]

Other than that they use a push rod engine from the 80's :yuck:

not quite, it's from the 50's!

shocking cars. my ex's was soooo slow. put your foot on the accelerator, wait 5 seconds then it starts accelerating. and that's just in first gear! steering has no feeling, and a disgusting steering wheel. clutch pedal far too soft, so no feeling in that. pedals too small. trying to choose a gear is a bit of a guessing game.

on the plus side, interior was quite nice, leather seats, air con etc. but doesn't make up for the fact that the rust is beginning to bubble it's way through the tailgate and petrol filler.

 

[bludvl_x19]

Other than that they use a push rod engine from the 80's :yuck:

Absolutely nothing wrong with that...