Ford SportKa - with a touch of masculinity

Does a charming woman in army pants look like a man? Not necessarily, although Ford of his day thought so. That's why he looked at the Ka, added a few flavors, and created the SportK variant - stronger and, at least in theory, more masculine. Should I buy this used car?

Ford Ka is one of those cars that you either love or hate - there are no intermediaries in its business. And although opinions are extreme, the producer cannot be denied that his work has been very successful. Ford Ka flooded the streets and was produced from 1996 to - a trifle - 2008. Moreover, a larger facelift was used only once, in the middle of its career, although during this time the car underwent many modifications that made it possible to adjust it to applicable standards. And so the bumpers began to be painted to match the body color, the suspension, the interior and, most importantly, the equipment, which was practically non-existent in the oldest versions, were improved. Newer examples even had airbags.

The car is especially loved by the fair sex, so even today the man behind the wheel of Ka looks more or less like he is sipping beer and juice through a straw at a gathering of Barbie fans. However, the concern decided to slightly change this point of view and used the facelift to introduce new versions of the car.

The first was the StreetKa 2-seat roadster, which surprised me - no one even thought that a car that looked like a plum-hungry plum could ever get a ‡ racial character. However, this does not mean that StreetKa has become a typical male car. The second option, in turn, SportKa is an urban Ford with a 1.6-liter engine large enough for this class, sporty alloy wheels and a few stylistic delights - even a spoiler, sharper shapes, large halogens on the front bumper and a central taillight, which with one on the side it resembles the end of an exhaust pipe, and on the other - the taillight of an F1 car. True, the person behind the wheel of this car still does not look like a Hummer H1 inside, but SportK has really acquired a slightly more youthful and versatile character. What should I pay attention to when buying?

Usterki

The small, sporty Ford, unfortunately, is not one of the cars that next generations will carve out of stone as a surviving relic - it is relatively "defective", like the ordinary Ka. Luckily, most issues are more annoying than worth calling a tow truck. And so periodically appear ignition coils, thermostat, leaks from the engine and gearbox. The lambda probe and the stepper motor are also faulty. As a weak point, drivers also name wheel bearings and, above all, corrosion, which can appear in a variety of places - terrible protection.

The engine itself, not counting the components, can withstand high mileage and usually does not strain the wallet with visits to the service. On the other hand, the suspension does not like our roads and it is better to be prepared for frequent replacement of stabilizer struts, rocker arms and shock absorbers from time to time. In addition, there are also failures of the power steering pump, clutch, propeller shaft joints and leaks from the cooling system. Defects are often annoying because they multiply, but, fortunately, their elimination is relatively cheap, because access to inexpensive spare parts is impossible.

Vnetzhe

Even today, the interior design surprises. It adheres to the body, and the likelihood of finding any sharp lines is comparable to finding a container of gold in your own garden. It is difficult to feel sports emotions while driving, because the interior is not much different from the usual Ka. There is a “bare” sheet of metal on the door, poor soundproofing, a poor set of indicators, and in the center of the cabin time is measured by hours - almost like in a Bentley ... disgusting. It's also impossible to resist the impression that if the dashboard were less oval, a little more space could be used - even the stowage compartment in front of the passenger is not practical, and tall people find it difficult to find a comfortable place. driver position. The rear is also a bit cramped, but that's not surprising and isn't a big deal - it's just a city car. If someone dares to travel in the back seat, he will have a mug holder at his disposal for a better mood. And although the interior is not impressive, on the road you can surprise.

On my way

The wheels on the edge of the body make the Ford SportKa simply superb to drive. The stiff suspension is a little fatiguing, but at the same time adds even more sportiness, which makes a smile on your face in slalom by itself. True, the pleasure is spoiled by a not very accurate gearbox, but this is a budget car. The 1.6-liter petrol engine allows you to turn to the first hundred in less than 10 seconds, which is a real feat even compared to modern subcompacts. The light body rushes forward like a slingshot - at low revs the bike suffocates slightly, but at high revs it blooms and spins greedily until the cutoff. Pass only carefully at the gas station, because the average fuel consumption can even exceed 10l/100km! However, the little Ford is a lot of fun on the road despite looking inconspicuous.

Did sportiness make the Ford Ka more masculine? One thing is for sure - compared to regular Ka, this version still has more testosterone.

This article was created courtesy of TopCar, who provided a vehicle from their current offer for testing and photo shoot.

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