Interesting test.
Three things strike me about the new Ka.
1. The pricing - starting at £7995 it is very close to the Fiat 500 - at £8100, and also to the new Fiesta at £8695. In fact, the new Fiesta is currently available from Drivethedeal at £7961. So the new Ka is not cheap. However, the old one was not cheap when it was launched in 1996 - it was priced in Fiesta territory, and it was not until around 2002 that it became possible to get them for £5000.
2. The fact that while the Fiat 500 offers two different sunroofs, there is no sunroof available on the Ka - and more surprisingly, it seems no sunroof will be available on the Fiesta either - unless I missed something.
3.The words "8 year no perforation body warranty" at the bottom of the price/specifications page. That is the really important bit!
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There is a panoramic roof (not an opening sunroof) offer in some markets, but not the UK. Unlike the FIAT's it doesn't start at the top of the screen. There's a strip of about 4" of roof first. Test at www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=354 Will add a video test Tues/Wed 4th/5th November once the film has been edited.
HJ
Edited by Honestjohn on 01/11/2008 at 09:42
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Thanks for that, HJ.
I guess that we Brits don't really appreciate sunroofs.
It is interesting that it is particularly the French and the Italians who seem to be keen on offering big sunroofs on their car.
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Hmm, a small car that makes me wish I didn't need a big one.......
Looks and sounds great from your review HJ. Only wish it was big enough for my needs.....
:-(
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My only worry would be the FIAT connection, i've never really had much luck with them - my last Punto in 2001 was dire and cost FIAT more to repair than it did to build it new! (their words not mine)
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I think it looks great but will wait until the long promised 900ccTurbo twin arrives. That promises to be some car with over 100 hp and sub 120g/km emissions. It will be this engine in the KA and 500 that will turn them into the spiritual successor to the great Abarths and not the 1.4 turbo. Hopefully it will have a nice thuddy twin cylinder sound track as well. Good though the FIRE and Mulitjet engines are, they are getting on (that's putting it mildly for the former). Does anyone know when this engne is going to be launched ?I read that it was supposed to be this year in the Panda but have heard nothing more.
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My only worry would be the FIAT connection i've never really had much luck with them - my last Punto in 2001 was dire and cost FIAT more to repair than it did to build it new! (their words not mine)
There are FIATs and there are FIATs.
The Panda is a completely different animal from the Punto, possibly because it is built in Poland, as is the 500, as the Ka will be. (The Punto is not.)
How different? Well, the Panda scores far better than the Punto in owner satisfaction surveys, which are largely about reliability. Take, for example JD Power.
In 2006, Panda was 22 out of 105, while Punto came 90th.
In 2007, Panda was 54 our of 113, Punto came 106th.
In 2008, Panda was 42 out of 100, Punto came 96th.
Punto always near the bottom, Panda always above average.
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My only worry would be the FIAT connection i've never really had much luck with them - my last Punto in 2001 was dire and cost FIAT more to repair than it did to build it new! (their words not mine)
Hi - they've moved on since then. My Grande Punto has just passed 28,000 miles in around 18 months with no trim, finish or reliability problems. Maybe I've just been lucky - though the 5 year unlimited mileage warranty suggests otherwise. I do have the oil changed half way between services as the recommended interval of 18,000 miles seems too long for comfort.
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I was surprised to see that is actually smaller than the old Ka - for a change.
Looking at the review, this should be a cracking little car - can't wait until it goes on general sale, and hopefully the girlfriend will want to but one :-D
I'm glad to see there's a temperature gauge (what are Vauxhall thinking with the Corsa D?) and a reasonable engine line-up come next year. The diesel ECOnetic might be hard to shift (!) though.
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Sorry, the dimensions were for the 500. I've just corrected them and was surprised to find that the Ka is 3" longer than the 500.
HJ
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