Ardent Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 For those looking for the lupo connection go to the last but one paragraph.Who says you need lots of power? I'm scooting along a snaking ribbon of road, under bridges cut into the mountain rockface, soon to attack the Col de Vence. I know the road well; so does the driver of the Ka in front. That driver is Ford's UK PR director and he too is discovering what a good time you can have on minimal resources.A few kilometres back, on a long, straight section of the route, I did wonder if Ford's new SportKa could do with more bhp than 94. But that line of thought vaporised like a burst bubble as we dived, in Ka formation, into a slightly downhill `right-hander`. Their snub noses snuck into the corner with complete correspondence to the steering wheels' movements, no more, no less, no delay, no `response-graph` distortion. Their equally snub tails followed through with a `point-to`-`the-apex` attitude, quelling any sniff of understeer, interacting transparently. Then another, tighter bend, but no need to change down from the fourth gear previously selected because we were still in the meat of the torque curve.Now we're on the Col de Vence itself, tumbling downhill, some bends tightening just beyond the `sight-line`. Easing off the power just tucks the nose in a little more, by exactly the amount eased off. There's no momentous `build-up` of yaw forces; we're not into `pulse-pounding` `lift-off` oversteer here.I can't think of a heated supermini with cleaner, purer, more involving handling. The now defunct Fiesta Zetec S? Steering too viscous. Peugeot 106 GTI/Citroën Saxo VTR/VTS? That fear of life beyond the oversteering edge. VW Lupo GTI? Way too fuzzy. The regular Ford Ka has always been a great handler, living proof that there's nothing wrong with a `torsion-beam` rear suspension if the car's small enough. A drive in a Ka Challenge rally car a couple of years ago remains etched on my mind, especially when an outside rear wheel slithered towards a ditch but full throttle and opposite lock saved the day. And now, at long last, there's a `road-going` Ka to exploit all that potential.Comments? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moreno510 Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 how fast are they ?and who cares anyway , its still gonnae be girls driving them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ardent Posted August 31, 2003 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 I have had a KA in my time and admit to enjoying it, never let me down in the handling Dept.However from a company that has given us the RS2000, Seirra cosworth 500, escort cossie, xr2 etc not to mention the gt40. Come on Ford, the KA deserved more power from day one, took you this long to do the sportKA and still you have left it short changed.My 2p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slyclone Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 Now this is where I can have an opinion :devil: How spooky I was at work today, I just came on to boast about my little adventure!!I work at a Ford garage and one of the salesmen there is a good mate of mine, well he said after he had driven the SportKa he thought it was the 'fastest little car' he had driven :0 Well I couldn't have that so I told him how impressive my 1.4 Sport was, now the sad thing about this mate is he is a bit of a Ford nut and he wouldn't have it that a small German car was better than his ford :0 Well I did the only thing I could do..."I challange you to a blat up the dual carriageway"We sat at the lights I was on the inside he was on the outside, as the lights went green we floored it, I got a good start but we were pretty even untill about 4,000rmp in 2nd gear where I started to pull away :devil: style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> By the time I was well into 3rd gear I was about a cars length away from him!I had him! yay. Well needless to say I think I have converted a Ka fan to the darkside :devil: :thumbs: The SportKa might look good to some people and might handle better than most cars in its class but its downfall is Ford added the Sport bit to its name and it just doesn't mix it with the Lupo Sport :cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Loop Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 Ford added the Sport bit to its name and it just doesn't mix it with the Lupo Sport :cool::thumbs: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twisty b-road Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 If you get some suspension for your Lupo you will compete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fin Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 cant be bothed to read all the above but i have driven both a cab KA and a sport one. the cab was seriously crap! the sport was a lot better but still crap accelaration but it did go round corners well, would be even better on 15's rather than 16's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slyclone Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 I would love to see a SportKa get seriously trounced by a GTi!!Anyone fancy coming down?? :devil: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twisty b-road Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 Isle of Wight isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigz™ Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 Ford added the Sport bit to its name and it just doesn't mix it with the Lupo Sport :cool:Are Ford still making cars? ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Loop Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 Ford added the Sport bit to its name and it just doesn't mix it with the Lupo Sport :cool:Are Ford still making cars? ???Yeah, they should have given up by now... style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigz™ Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 How many XR3s are still on the road? I think I crashed the last one in 1999. The only XR2s still going are 1l's with the £35.00 body kits.How many mk 1 Golfs do I see a day?Nuff said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusoe Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 Ka is more fun on skinny tyres, had one as a hire car for a few days and could get it nicely side ways with a decent lift of the throttle, on larger wheels it would just spoil the flow, same as the 106gti on 14"s is more fun than the VTS on 15"s. Sport with less than 100bhp doesn't even count as a warm hatch, tepid maybe. style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Loop Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 I couldnt get my car sideways in the rain yesterday, bloody 185 tyres style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":angry:" border="0" alt="mad.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusoe Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 LMAO, go steal some off a 2CV style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beer monsta Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 LMAO, go steal some off a 2CV style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />you keep your theiving little hands off of my car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Loop Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 Will try later on as will be going out in an hours time or so. Might be fun. Anything to know about Handbrake turns before i crash the car :sarc: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusoe Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 Rich, have you got a 2CV style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> Drove one once but never got instructions on how the push pull twist gears worked, don't think i ever got out of 2nd though it might not have gone any faster anyway style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Loop Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 2 cv's must be bloody fun to drive style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> moreso in the rain style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />p I wont steal yours Chris, will you lend it to me :sigh: :baa: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beer monsta Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 Well I haev dyane 6 actually - very similar - all same runnign gear, just different body.It is a 602cc flat 2 aircooled, 34bhp, top speed of 74mph, `0-60` in 24.9. 15" steel wheels as standard (forget the tyre profile off hand tho).One day I would love to give the car a Scooby flat 4 engine - that should be fun style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Loop Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 Have u sold the A2 already mate?Scooby engine and 135 tyres praise the wheel burners style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beer monsta Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 No - I still have the A2, will sell it if I cant get a job before end of the month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Loop Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 What kind of job are you looking at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusoe Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 dyane - blue and white or cream and purple?Think the one I tried was a dolly (nasty green and white) went well in the snow with such skinny rubber though.Only other 2CV memory was when someone's head went through the canvas roof when a mate drove over a hump too fast style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Loop Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 Only other 2CV memory was when someone's head went through the canvas roof when a mate drove over a hump too fast style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />Sure that was you :baa: style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.