Best KA ever?

[PlaneMan]

Spotted this KA a few times but it’s usually there when the traffic is bad or I’m busy so never got the chance for a photo, this morning was the exception. I love the fact that someone thought it was a good idea!

[Ed P]

I’m being thick – what does it do?

[PlaneMan]

Ed, do you mean apart from making people laugh?

[The Duke]

That’s cool, have a soft spot for these daft things. Will be Sat in one for an hour or so later when my girl finishes work and we go on a lesson.

I seen a yt video (actually a series) , of some German guy having fun chopping a ka up. Iirc it ended up a 3 wheeler in its final incarnation. At one point it was a 2 wheeler like the James bond car.

[Bob Williams]

Saw these Noddy car minis at a Steam/Stationary Engine Show part – organised by my lad last year:

Owner is a retired Sheffield businessman: guy with his arms folded. They both drive very well, turn on a 1p coin and according to him, “Better than sex – well, has tha seen my missus?” Says he built them out of two Mini’s that he intended to build back to original, “Then ah ran ahta metal, tha sees.”

Just one of many characters I meet at these shows: have to thank my lad for all the interesting times he has given me.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[Bob Williams]

Then there is the old workshop runaround pickup, created from a ‘chopped Cortina 2.0 ltr estate by myself and the old mate who thought he was my boss. I put heavier suspension and shocks on, mostly from a Granada, then lowered it. It went through 3 second-hand engines in the 80’s, broke its back in around ’93. Fond memories of it, especially after the uprated twin choke Weber carb I stuck on it. Went to a couple of Motor Shows in it.

Suited guy: “Why is it so dirty?”  Me: “‘Cos it’s a working vehicle, not a poncey leather & chrome limo!”

Eat my exhaust, Clarkson! That is my old Notts village, you can see my old house from there. (on left – first full view of a house)

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[PlaneMan]

I had a ride in a Mini like the ones in the photo above many years ago, maybe as many as 30 years back. It was hilarious. It could be parked in a space about a foot bigger than than the car, it was so light you could bounce it into a parking space. Chopping a Mini down is quite a common thing to do.

If the floor is solid it used to be a thing to take most of the body away to lighten the car and use them for autotesting.

Some more Paul Swift that I took with a Nokia N900 a good few years back.

[Jukebox]

Snapped this in Amsterdam a few years ago

[The Duke]

First car drove was a Fiat 126, I keep looking out for a decent one, but they are not cheap now. My old man was given his in part payment for a job.

It had just been to Berlin and back to see the the Hoff liberate Easten Europe. It wasn’t in the best of shapes. My dad chopped Ed the roof off (it’s was a canvas roof) so he chopped the the rest out and we would take it to bike meets (we had crossers) and I was given the keys and told to figure it out.

Different times.

It’s a shame the 500 has the heart of history, as the 126 was far funkier. Or at least cuter.

[PlaneMan]

Fiat 126 is possibly the best multi storey car park car in history. Tight spot, just bounce it in. 30 mph in a multi storey is a right laugh, not so for the passengers. ?

[The Duke]

When we was kids, one of of friends older brothers had a mini, and on occasions, we would grab a corner each, and put it some strange places. 2ecpit it in a right alley once, and he had to get it carried out. We got in trouble for that one. I think that ended about about 6 months of fun

With the 126 you could probably do it with two people. Iirc I recon it topped out at about 40 so you’d need a big carpark to do 30. Iirc mine was in kph but was right hand drive. Not sure if they was all like that. But this one had a hard life before it ended up with us.

Probably told this before, my mum had xr3i’s my dad always a 1.8 or 2l sierra g. So half decent cars. He brought this 70s (maybe older) shit box home that had half an exhaust and backfired and farting, and said this would be his new run around.

As an 11 year old I was mortified, refused to go near it. Untill he said it was mine to mess with. Funny though as now I would daily one, 1. Because they are cool as, 2. I want my kids refusing getting in it.

I recon a referb 500 arbarth engine would fit in one too. And I could probably work on a car of this age. Iirc the old arbarth engines are about 70bhp probably 3x the 126 original output. Better put some disks on it, and stiffen it up. Loose a stone or two and it will fly.

I’m talking myself into this as I write. I do love a small car. Especially a hot(ish) one.

[Bob Williams]

During my older workshop days, the local Doc had a 126 for his wife. She was a tiny Welsh lady with an aggressive driving manner, I had to weld in some additional seat runners just so she could drive it. The engine seized at some ridiculous mileage and she phoned us: when I got there, she was abusing the poor thing in two languages. She had a small device on the dash to deal with other drivers – ‘Mortars’ – ‘Machine guns’ – ‘Missiles’ – ‘Bombs’. All with appropriate sounds. What a lady!

“They have a Soul, you know,” I said.    “This one is going straight to Hell!” she declared and kicked the bumper. I found a recon engine from a trusted supplier, pulled out the old one with ropes around my shoulders. Fitted the ‘new’ one in the same way, ran it a few miles, changed plugs, points, oil and filter, begged her to come back in 500 miles for another oil & filter change, which she did. It was with one of her grandkids, last I heard.

Roller skates, small cars with more character than a 500. Totally agree, Steve.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[Bob Williams]

Still on a Motors theme, but an aside:

SWMBO and I having gone through so much medically lately, we cannot get into the Tucson and that loooks permanent. I contacted Motability and learned that I can cancel the Tucson, and find something smaller. Looked into alternatives and remembered another Hyundai I road tested before the Tucson: an iX 20. That was a gutless 1.4 auto, but the new ones are 1.6 petrol with 125 bhp. Phoned my Motability guy at Read Hyundai Grimsby and he originally said none available for a couple of weeks, more on the way (it’s a big Motability seller). This morning he phoned to say he has the first one, did I want to see it? Yes – Saturday. Phoned Motabilty, they started cancellation of the Tucson but I can keep it until I can see, drive and accept the ix20.

ix20:   http://tinyurl.com/y8zc5v9g

All done in an hour. Motability website and customer service (phone) was efficient and quick. Read Hyundai Grimsby (Wayne) were as helpful as possible: he is coming in on his day off to sort out acceptance and application. If only every other company was like that.

Now I’m downsized.

 

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[The Duke]

I’m looking at getting the new seat arona excellence lux. Or rather Doris is on her mobility.

A whole 3cylinider 1liter auto. Drove one a week or so ago, and the engine felt fine. The car in any spec under FR (and that’s a push) is cheap and naff looking inside. Thr 2 above FR, excellence and Excellence lux really transform it.

I’d rather a normal estate, but she wants something taller. I can’t bring myself to go 4×4 size or even Tuscan size. The arona is just a wee bit higher than normal cars, and is quite big on space, while being small.

It’s basically a jacked up ibiza. But very nice. The lux comes with everything. All the bits of kit as a geek I’d love, but if buying I’d avoid. All the kit that will start dying at 5 to 8 years old. But hat it’s a lease.

Think it’s £500 down which isn’t that bad.

[Bob Williams]

I never knew that you can change Motability lease cars before the end of a lease, though. That is something good to know, if the one you have is wrong for additional medical reasons that come up partway through the lease, you can change it.

Has to be an adjustment for Deposits, which means I get a refund of £746, after first paying the iX20 deposit of £349.

No photos this time Steve!

That Arona looks a nippy little motor, though.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[PlaneMan]

My 126 was a ‘modern’ one, F reg IIRC. Flying solo it would hit about 70 mph with a fair wind.  Noisy though.  Furthest I took it was St Albans from Cardiff, that took a LONG time.

I’m not ready for a ‘crossover’ yet, maybe in a few years when my hip still hasn’t been operated on. ?

[The Duke]

Nippy is a good word for it. It’s not slow, but I feel it will lack the umph I’m use to. Ive not looked at the torque figures, but it’s not going to be great. I recon it will drink fuel on the motorway. Given I’ll get an auto (cos I’m now lazy) at least I won’t be constant changing gear on the motorway.

 

A good few years back I borrowed a last gen 1.3 escort. At the time I had a ‘chipped’ rover 420sli that was pumping out about 180 bhp. I drove the escort on my usual motorway drive to uni (55 miles ) and the lack of power had me up and the gears like i was making an omelet.

The kids 05 ka is far better, and that’s hardly good.

I think we get spoilt. But it’s amazing how we can now get 115bhp out of a 3cylinder 1 litre motor.

If we (her) didn’t need a higher car, I’d be getting the Seat Leon st (wagon) FR which is a 180hp/380lb ft 2litre jobbie. With a similar interior, but not quite as highly speced. I wish I could get the Arona with the 1.5 petrol unit that VAG do that is 150bhp. It would be for more economical. The 1 litre may give out next to no pollution, however it’s mpg isn’t great. At around 33mpg, that’s what was on the read out of the one I drove over 1500miles.

I currently moan about the 36mpg in mine, but I can justify it when it curses at 100 and is fun around the lanes.

I can see myself buying an oldish Fiesta ST for my run about. And the Arona being the car to take the wife out. May finally get a 126 and get a referb arbarth chucked in it. Probably could do that all in for £2000-2500. And have a riot of a car to nip around in. I’d like to keep it looking crappy to. Proper little sleeper. Also save on body work, which isn’t cheap.

[PlaneMan]

If you’re seriously thinking about a fun car, a Swift Sport would have my money, the new one is due in June, for to much £.

Honestly, if I had the £ and space I’d bag a well looked after 2015/16 Sat Nav one for around £10K. It will be worth a LOT in about 10 years, last of the naturally aspirated warm/hot hatches. I’m seriously contemplating one instead of the new model SZ-T spec but I need reliability above fun.

[The Duke]

I’d get the outgoing 2 door sport over the new one. It’s now looks to rounded and soft. Big fan of the swift sport.

Never driven one though. Always preferred them to the mini. Too big, and too expensive. And oh boy if you want a nice one, the options prices are stupid. Typical bmw.

The entry cooper isn’t a cheap car, and its so plasticy. I have no issue with plastic, the fiesta st is one of my fav cars, and I love the Stepway, but at the price bmw want its not on.

A bit like the arona, the entry level is cheap looking indeed, lots of cheap plastic, natch that to a small engine,why would anyone bother. It not that cheap either.but if you get the top one,it has everything assist etc including leather and Alcantara, seats, and then the package and price make more sense.

I ether want a nice car or a quick car. The cooper doesn’t offer either. Also I don’t like the over heavy steering on the mini. Makes it feel twice the size than it is. Which for me defeats the point of one.

Saying all that,it does work on country roads,but thats it. Not food on the motorway or town. They are like the iphone, people buy them cos others have them

Use tour noggin and get a swift sport. Say that to a mini owner, and they look at you and say “A Suzuki” while turning their nose up. Just means better second hand prices for the likes of us.

I have similar issues with 3 series bmw and c class mercs. Buy a Mondeo in titanium spec and save £10k.

[Bob Williams]

That ain’t no Mini, that’s a BMW box on wheels. I hate the damned things. Amazing how the Germans thought they could buy the name and strap it to something that has grown into a monster brick. They could have created something of their own that drove like a ‘real’ Mini, which would have taken something their design agencies lack: enough imagination.

Sorry about the rant.

The best Escort I ever had, was a Navy Blue 1.8 Diesel. It drove very well, was quick, and and did around 45 mpg on a good run. And it was a Ghia, very comfy. Sold it for an Orion: stupid!

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[Author]

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