GTP Cool Wall: Ford SportKa. Voting Open!

[Lucas]

Cool. Maybe even Sub-Zero. I would drive this thing, looks seriously cute.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Do you think all men who drive small cars are a bit ginger beer? Driving a Ka doesn't really make you any more or less of a switch hitter, it's transport and probably provides the driver with some enjoy while they are at it.

No, but I also don't think that men who like big cars are insecure, but since we were using cliched stereo-types, I thought I'd play along.

and "it's transport and probably provides the driver with some enjoy while they are at it. " doesn't really sound like a car that exudes cool?

 

[Joey D]

No, but I also don't think that men who like big cars are insecure, but since we were using cliched stereo-types, I thought I'd play along.

and "it's transport and probably provides the driver with some enjoy while they are at it. " doesn't really sound like a car that exudes cool?

I don't know, is there really a reason for you to buy a Ford Excursion and then put a 6" lift on it and hugh swamper tires, then never take it off road? No, and I think they might be making up for something. Might not be the man vegetables but to me there is something they need to make up for, whether it be toughness, height, etc.

And yes, transport that provides enjoyment is cool, my car does the same thing, it's pretty basic transport that is quite fun to drive. It's one of the joys of owning a small hatchback I think.

 

[Northstar]

Or maybe and just maybe, they like it that way? It's basically the same thing as putting a 350 into an older muscle car and not taking it out to the track. There are countless examples, if customizing a car means you are compensating than I guess car culture is compensating.

 

[Joey D]

Or maybe and just maybe, they like it that way? It's basically the same thing as putting a 350 into an older muscle car and not taking it out to the track. There are countless examples, if customizing a car means you are compensating than I guess car culture is compensating.

It's one thing to customise your car, it's another to over-customise it. You can do whatever you like to your vehicle, but that's not going to stop other from making observations about it.

Seriously if owning a small car makes you gay or womenly then why can't owning a big vehicle mean you are compensating for an deficiency in your life?

 

[YSSMAN]

Cool

A funky little car that actually isn't a penalty box. If it were a Puma I'd have voted Sub-Zero.

 

[Rykon Zero]

Cool. Not sub-zero, but cool. It's a cool little car, and I'd drive one in a heartbeat, and anyone who has the guts to come out and ask if I'm gay for driving it obviously lacks the balls to drive it themselves.

 

[Irons]

I've never really liked the majority of the European subcompacts. They just don't appeal to me. The Ka or SportKa for that matter doesn't impress me at all. Sure once in a blue moon, a good subcompact will catch your eye like the original Mini Cooper. But the StreetKa isn't that kind of cool. However, I feel I can look at it easier than of course my usual list of "Seriously Uncool" cars so my rating for this car is. UNCOOL

 

[Leonidae]

The regular ca is seriously uncool for the engine (ancient OHV engine out of all the engines Ford has at their disposal) and unpainted bumpers alone. The SportKa has a real, modern engine, uprated suspension, better looks, and the banned commercials alone make it cool.

 

[Nicko]

Always disliked the look of the Ka, especially the rear. Uncool.

 

[Nicksfix]

Seriously uncool, and that is being generous.

Amen to that,10 x over.Generic P.O.S. econobox.

 

[Sertsa]

Isn't this the car Ford marketed as being evil?

(I'll understand if this is modded, but here's a link to the ad that's well... the lesser of the evil twin ads):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxSex9VxlwI

 

[Stotty]

Cool.

Small, cheap to run, relatively environmentally friendly, but most of all, great fun to drive... which is unusual for cars in this class.

 

[homeforsummer]

Cool.

Fun. And people don't think you're a knob for owning one, unlike they would with a similarly-equipped Saxo VTR. 'Nuff said.

 

[-ultraflow-]

uncool . . . not so diferent from the old model.

 

[SRV2LOW4ME]

Uncool. Bring out an SVT version and then maybe we'll talk, but until then its too cute and girly.

 

[Jim Prower]

SVT doesn't exist in Europe, and even if it did, this would be it.

 

[homeforsummer]

SVT doesn't exist in Europe, and even if it did, this would be it.

True. And it's not just a "bigger engine and bodykit" job. The suspension and steering is plucked from the Mk5 Fiesta Zetec S, generally regarded as being one of the best handling Fiestas ever and therefore by default one of the best handling superminis. The gearbox is the absolutely perfect unit from the Ford Puma - light, a short throw and absolutely zero slack in the linkage. The gears are shorter than the regular Ka and the track is wider. 94bhp isn't much but it's enough in something as small and light as a Ka, and enough to match its rivals at the time - the Saxo VTR, Suzuki Ignis Sport, Fiat Panda 100HP etc.

 

[Jondot]

Generic

No...

This is generic:

P.O.S.

No...

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evolongtermtests/40664/ford_sportka_se.html
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/39039/ford_sportka_se.html
http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews/car-and-driving/ford-sportka-1003943.html

econobox.

And no... Cost £11,000 new, comes with a superb leather interior and the usual toys.


Get back to me when you've opened your mind just a smidge. Or have been within 200 feet of one. Whichever is more practical.

 

[Joey D]

I love the no babies stick on the side of the console.

 

[daan]

True. And it's not just a "bigger engine and bodykit" job. The suspension and steering is plucked from the Mk5 Fiesta Zetec S, generally regarded as being one of the best handling Fiestas ever and therefore by default one of the best handling superminis. The gearbox is the absolutely perfect unit from the Ford Puma - light, a short throw and absolutely zero slack in the linkage. The gears are shorter than the regular Ka and the track is wider. 94bhp isn't much but it's enough in something as small and light as a Ka, and enough to match its rivals at the time - the Saxo VTR, Suzuki Ignis Sport, Fiat Panda 100HP etc.

Now, that's all very well and good but, to your average man in the street, it's just a wee cute, girly Ka with body coloured bumpers.

It's uncool in my book.

 

[Famine]

Aren't wee, cute girlies cool?

 

[niky]

Ford Fiesta ST: Cool

Ford SportKa: Maybe in another life. I'll give you a call from Tibet when I'm reincarnated as a Yak.

The regular ca is seriously uncool for the engine (ancient OHV engine out of all the engines Ford has at their disposal) and unpainted bumpers alone. The SportKa has a real, modern engine, uprated suspension, better looks, and the banned commercials alone make it cool.

Modern engine?

1.6 and only 93 horsese?

8 valves?!?

What is this... the 80's?!?!?

Not that I'd consider under 10 seconds to 62 mph slow, especially compared to all the small crap that's out there... but that's not the point. Ford has already had modern Duratecs since the start of the 00s... they could have given it something better.

But it's mostly uncool because I don't like the way it looks.

Aren't wee, cute girlies cool?

Yes, if you're a pedophile. But Pedobear says the stone-age Ka is just too old to be cool.

 

[daan]

Aren't wee, cute girlies cool?

Yep, but me in a wee cute, girly car is not.

 

[Famine]

Ford Fiesta ST: Cool

Heh, no.

Ford Fiesta ST = Thought to be cool, bought by chavs, thrashed about in the local retail park car park and associated nearby roads. Awful car.

Modern engine?

1.6 and only 93 horsese? 8 valves?!? What is this... the 80's?!?!?

Not that I'd consider under 10 seconds to 62 mph slow, especially compared to all the small crap that's out there... but that's not the point. Ford has already had modern Duratecs since the start of the 00s... they could have given it something heavier over the nose of a FWD car.

Exactly. Light car, ickle engine, not too much power, wheel at each corner. It's more like the original Mini than the MINI is.

Yes, if you're a pedophile. But Pedobear says the stone-age Ka is just too old to be cool.

I meant Keira Knightley in Pirates, Siena Miller in L4yer Cak3. Not Natalie Portman in Leon.

 

[niky]

Heh, no.

Ford Fiesta ST = Thought to be cool, bought by chavs, thrashed about in the local retail park car park and associated nearby roads. Awful car.

Darn it, I've been found out. Pass the burberry...


What do you mean it's not a juice drink?

Exactly. Light car, ickle engine, not too much power, wheel at each corner. It's more like the original Mini than the MINI is.

The Mini looks better, has even less suspension, and is probably 1/100th as safe in a crash. Which makes it infinitely cooler.

I meant Keira Knightley in Pirates, Siena Miller in L4yer Cak3. Not Natalie Portman in Leon.

Stop reading my mind! How do you do that?

 

[SRV2LOW4ME]

SVT doesn't exist in Europe, and even if it did, this would be it.

Well it should, and this would be a poor example of it, making poor Henry roll over in his grave and cry.

1.6 in 2009 producing 100 hp should not carry a "Sport" name, and saying its the European version is slapping SVT, and all SVT owners, in the face. Come out with a supercharged version producing atleast 180 hp and Ford would have a winner.

 

[Tornado]

You do realize that the car is the size of a shopping cart, yes? 100 HP is plenty when the base car has something like 60.

 

[Dragonistic]

They're pretty fun to drive those KAs, corners better then almost any alternative I've tried, Saxos etc. Plus girls think the KAs are cute, which is more plus points for cool, however I still don't think it's a cool car for a guy, even though they drive well (speaking from experience, I drove my girlfriends around Shell Island) but for a female cool it's perfectly cool.

For this reason, I'm sitting on the fence with this one and not voting.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Eleven Thousand Quid! Does it come with a free mug holder... yes it does, the drivers seat! <joke>