Used Ford Ka cars for sale ...

There's minimal lean in corners or bounce over bumps, but the firm suspension still manages to dish up a well-damped, comfortable ride. Less good is the 1.3-litre engine, which was dropped from the rest of the Ford line-up some time ago, and you can see why. Newer powerplants are easier on the fuel, rev more cleanly and are less noisy at higher speed. However, it dishes up strong mid-range pull and, at motorway pace, wind and road noise are well suppressed. Anyone in the front will enjoy a surprising amount of space in the practical cabin, but those in the rear suffer. You have to be a contortionist to get in and out of the back of this three-door-only car, and there's precious little room when you get there.

Running Costs
This is low-cost motoring at its most entertaining. The Ka was cheap even when it was new. It has been around since 1996, so there are plenty of second-hand ones around to suit every budget, from cheap to extremely cheap. There's always likely to be a willing market for them, too, so you should have little trouble off-loading one. It loses value fairly slowly, which keeps whole-life costs down, but the real clinchers are the remarkably low service and maintenance costs, and the group 2 insurance for most versions - ideal for those who have just passed their test. Mind you, none are expensive. Luxury trim slots into group 4 (hardly wallet-sapping) and the SportKa is group 6. The only complaint you'll hear from owners is the amount they spend on fuel. It's all relative, though, because 1.3-litre cars offer a reasonable official average of 42-46mpg and the 1.6 is good for just over 35mpg.

Convertible
Cheeky, chirpy and cheerful is the best way to describe the Streetka. It takes all that's good about the standard Ford Ka and then throws in open-top fun to come up with an unbeatable recipe. Ford worked hard to make the Streetka's body as stiff as possible (if a car's body flexes, the suspension can't do its job properly) and its efforts have paid off, because this little soft-top deals with bumpy roads in a way many more expensive cabriolets cannot. The standard Ka's excellent handling, precise steering and tenacious grip have also been preserved intact. However, the Streetka uses the same 94bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine as the Sportka, and we wish Ford had just continued with the standard model's zippy 1.3. Instead, the 1.6 wheezes like an over-the-hill boxer forced to do one last round - and it feels about as nippy, too. Still, the gearshift is precise and it gives decent fuel economy.

Running Costs
After buying a Streetka, the running costs will be much the same as for any other Ka, with the exception of insurance, because the Streetka sits in group 7 compared with the group 2 to 4 rating of the regular models. Servicing a Streetka costs the same as a Sportka, and neither model will break the bank if you use a Ford dealer. Go to an independent garage and the price comes down even further. Although the 1.6-litre engine in the Streetka may not be the strongest, it still returns a decent 35.8mpg combined economy. Parts are not expensive for the Streetka, but make sure the hood is in good condition before you buy, and be careful where you park in case of vandalism, because the hood is costly to replace.