Meet the utterly awful 2015 Ford Ka.

"My citroen won't start" (lucasboechat) 03/31/2015 at 13:41 • Filed to: None

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This is the fifth installment of my series on Brazilian Market cars, most of them are awful piles of plasticky dread, the new Ka is no exception.

I don't like cheap small cars, mainly because you can buy much nicer (used) things for roughly the same price or less. Granted, some 1.0 eco bags of misery are not bad like the stupidly named VW UP! and the new Fiesta, but the Ka is just bad and I'll tell you why.

Ok Ford, the new Mondeo-Fusion-Focus looks good with the Aston grille, but that doesn't mean it will look good on everything. Why are the wheels so tiny?

The new Ka is Ford's cheapest car, starting at $12,250 the base model has wheels, doors, 2 air-bags and electric windows for the front doors only . It comes with a 1.0 inline 4 85HP engine but a 1.5 is also available for a much larger amount of money.

Look at how glossy the brittle plastic interior is, it looks like someone smeared pizza on it. That makes me sick. The mid-range model gets you Ipod-connectivity, electric windows, Ford's very confusing alien-like radio thing and other shitty things like rubber floor mats.

There also is a sedan version called the KA+ but who the fuck cares, I'd rather be stabbed than drive around in this thing. For $12,250 and not into some Tavarish-esque car buying adventure, I'd rather have a low mileage one of these, maybe even an armored one.

The Ford Ka is available in SE and SEL trim and the 1.0 I4 flex 85HP or 1.5 I4 flex 111HP are the only engines available. Prices range from $12,250 to $15,000.

Jonee > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 13:44

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And it used to be so cool, too.

MultiplaOrgasms > Jonee 03/31/2015 at 13:48

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And it used to be so cool has always been rubbish.

There, fixed it.

Alex B > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 13:49

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The most important question: How easy is it to get armored?

Devon lost his burner, understands electric cars don't require front grilles > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 13:51

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Anyone else see a little 1 series hatch back here?

My citroen won't start > Jonee 03/31/2015 at 13:53

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Every single car is capable of being armored easily, I just don't think people who buy a Ford Ka have the money to armor something.

My citroen won't start > Jonee 03/31/2015 at 13:54

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Was it ever cool?

Vracktal > MultiplaOrgasms 03/31/2015 at 13:55

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But...

Mikeado > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 13:57

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Running costs. That's why people buy these cars. They're basic, there's less to go wrong and parts are cheap, plus they get great mileage and cost very little to insure.

That said, I hope the new Ka(ck) isn't global. I don't want to see these in the UK.

Hermann > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 14:01

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I haven't seen the previous 4 installments, but this one is great!

Why are the wheels so tiny?

That's something that bothers me a lot about current cars. The HB20 is one.

What's next? The car that was our supreme leader for over 30 years?

Jonee > MultiplaOrgasms 03/31/2015 at 14:01

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Just because something's cheap, doesn't mean it's garbage. It may not have had the most performance, but it had style and was worth every penny.

MrDakka > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 14:06

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Its called sandbags; you just won't go very fast or quickly

My citroen won't start > Hermann 03/31/2015 at 14:07

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Maybe, I want to write about all the chinese cars coming in. Did you buy that BMW?! I need to know more!

My citroen won't start > Alex B 03/31/2015 at 14:08

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Very, but people buying a Ford Ka won't have money to armor it.

My citroen won't start > Mikeado 03/31/2015 at 14:08

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Yeah, but if running costs are a problem buy a used Mini or something, there are much nicer things.

My citroen won't start > MrDakka 03/31/2015 at 14:10

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If I remember correctly, Clarkson tried that and it didn't work very well.

Phlegminglib > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 14:21

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Does anyone remember the Ford Ka evil twin commercial where the sunroof chopped off a cat's head? That's the Ka I'm talking about.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 14:22

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- Mini

- Cheap running costs

Those two things do not mix.

imjustsomeucsdkid > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 14:24

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What? Aren't Mini's laughably expensive to maintain (at least in the U.S.)

MultiplaOrgasms > Jonee 03/31/2015 at 14:24

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Twasn't.

Oh yeah...

niiice...

...everything I want from a car.

My citroen won't start > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 03/31/2015 at 14:25

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They can't be that expensive....

My citroen won't start > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 03/31/2015 at 14:25

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Insurance and Gas are probably not a worry for the Mini driver.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 14:27

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In black with some nice aftermarket wheels I don't think this would look terrible in hatchback form. Plus I'm guessing this is Spark sized so 111 horsepower would actually make it decently quick.

On another note, some people don't like buying used cars. They'd rather have a downmarket new car than an upmarket used one. My parents are like this. I tried to sell them on a used CTS when we were looking for a new car, but they wouldn't consider anything used. So we got a Fusion instead.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 14:28

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They're BMWs underneath. The only thing "Mini" in them is the design and badge, damn near everything else is BMW.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Hermann 03/31/2015 at 14:29

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Tiny wheels are easier to turn when you have less torque. You could put 30 inch wheels on a car with 86 hp, but good luck getting anything remotely called acceleration.

My citroen won't start > Logansteno: Bought a VW? 03/31/2015 at 14:31

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I know they are, but a >2.0 small BMW isn't expensive to maintain.

Hermann > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 14:31

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It's at a friend's house for now in Mogi Mirim (Where the car is registered. I live in an apartment in SP...), it was an impulse buy because of the price. The deal isn't really 100% yet for some reasons, and the owner offered to fix the car and sell it at a higher price (and it might be worth it), so I might still have a chance to regret it. An E34 is my dream car for years.

The owner had it since new, it's a 1993. It's a rare piece if you think of it... an E34 with all the extras (except the M package), one owner, low mileage, M60 engine going like a clockwork. What are the odds of one like this ever showing up in Brazil? The car was for sale for a while and I had seen it before at a used car store. One of the workers took it for a spin on a rainy day and thought he would be able to drift it and now the whole front is ruined. I've quoted the pieces and without importation taxes it'll be around R$1500 in parts (including shipping), so I think after taxes it'll be around R$5000, maybe 6...

The car is almost perfect in every other way. Leather, electrics, dashboard... The issues I've found were the seats are moving a bit too slow, almost hanging and the roof lining is a bit saggy.

I don't have much else to say about the car. It's a dream coming true. Damn, just look at that color!

Any questions?

My top dream would be an E34 M5 Touring with a Manual (Cliché enough for you? Haha). I think there are about 3 still alive in Brazil, and one of them (armored, of course) I see quite often. She's usually parked in Rua Tabapuă near the corner with Bandeira Paulista. Yes I'm a 200% creep.

Jonee > MultiplaOrgasms 03/31/2015 at 14:35

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Hey, that doesn't look so bad compared to a lot of other shit cars I've had experience with.

My citroen won't start > Hermann 03/31/2015 at 14:36

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I've seen that M5 Touring a couple of times, I think it was for sale on webmotors a couple of months ago. I'm going to buy me an old large sedan in a couple of months too (or maybe an old range rover), tell us your experience about it. Nice buy!

Hermann > BaconSandwich is tasty. 03/31/2015 at 14:37

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I understand why they're putting tiny wheels, all small engined cars have small wheels. What bothers me is they look like they were designed with 17" wheels in mind, not 14". It's a visual thing. There are design cues to make a small wheel look bigger, but it seems they're using the opposite here.

Hermann > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 14:47

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Thanks! I'll report all progress here.

Good look with a Sedan. How old are you thinking? Like 1970's old?

My citroen won't start > Hermann 03/31/2015 at 14:57

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Nah, I'm thinking Audi A8/S8, BMW 7 Series from the 90's or a 2004 Range Rover. Most of them are near/around Itaim so I'm choosing carefully.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 15:04

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I wish we got the $12,000/3 cyl Ford Ka in Canada.

The great things about cars that are simple and cheap when new is that they also have lower operating costs and fewer things that need fixing over the life of the vehicle.

So yeah... you can get a used car that is bigger/nicer for the same price as a new Ka, but that used car will have the running costs and repairs a bigger/more expensive car too! And it likely won't last as long compared to a new car.

duurtlang > Jonee 03/31/2015 at 15:05

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Well, your average Mazda doesn't rust as bad as the mk1 Ka. That should tell you something.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Jonee 03/31/2015 at 15:05

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Personally I think the new one looks better/more cool.

Jonee > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 03/31/2015 at 15:09

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Really? It looks like a Yaris with a Ford face. Blech. The original was completely unique.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 15:10

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Minis have horrible running costs... not for fuel economy, but reliability and repairs.

My citroen won't start > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 03/31/2015 at 15:11

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But reliability is so boring.

MultiplaOrgasms > Jonee 03/31/2015 at 15:22

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And at the same time it's worse than even Lancias of a similar vintage.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 15:40

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And your Citroen is very exciting while it won't start?

:-)

Svend > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 15:40

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We got this ruddy thing.

It may be a decent car ish but looks too busy and trying to be a Fiesta in styling which on such a small car doesn't come off all that well.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Jonee 03/31/2015 at 15:41

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I happen to like the look of the Yaris hatchback.

My citroen won't start > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 03/31/2015 at 15:41

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Not really, but it is very exciting when it does start.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 15:52

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Exciting... or surprising?

:-D

Luke's Dad Sold His 2000TL To Get a Sienna > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 15:54

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I don't want to be one of those people that just point out how they stole design language from other brands but seriously Kia called, they want their grill back.

My citroen won't start > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 03/31/2015 at 16:04

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Comfortable.

Mikeado > My citroen won't start 03/31/2015 at 16:17

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There are nicer superminis than the Ka, sure, but my point is that's why people buy such cars rather than a used sedan or something.

I don't want a MUNI Caper either, though. Would rather have a proper [pre-2001] Mini or something like a Mazda 2.

Jonee > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 03/31/2015 at 16:42

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Fair enough. I hate it. I think it's the ugliest worst car on sale today. Here's my review.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/on-mediocrity-…