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Original poster

Ford ka with a family of 4?

35 replies

Sp3849 · 08/02/2021 07:49

Looking at getting a new car. I have the option of having a very nice Ford ka for a very low price from family member. I love the car it's all I wanted, very low mileage, fsh it's been looked after and maintained well. (the price is fab) However I am concerned it may not be big enough for all 4 of us when we are in it. Rare but as my husbands vehicle currently is a van (3 seats) until he changes this at the end of the year. The ka will be our family car for two adults a 9 year old and 15 year old who is already 5ft5. I am worried I will have it and have the rest of the year of moaning about being squashed does anyone else use one as a family car? I had a vw up a few years ago and I loved it. I managed fine with this with a car seat and pram. Even went on holidays in it. However my children have gotten alot taller since then. Shall I just buy a bigger car. My budget isn't huge and to be honest I can't get alot for my money. Everything I am looking at is a good 10 year old with atleast 90 k on it. What to do?

OP posts:

MajorMujer · 08/02/2021 07:51

Nope. I had one , just for me and the dog. No way would a family of 4 been comfortable.

Incrediblytired · 08/02/2021 07:52

You can manage but it probably only has 4 seatbelts so you could never give one of the kids friends a lift etc you would also have to take very little luggage if you go on holiday anywhere.

milienhaus · 08/02/2021 07:53

If it’s a family members could you get a day of insurance and do a distanced test drive with the kids in the back? I suspect the teenager will feel very squashed in the back.

Cupcakegirl13 · 08/02/2021 07:55

I guess it depends what you plan to use it for , do you do holidays in it or day trips or is it a quick trip to town every week ?
If it’s the former then no way would you fit everyone and everything in.

JemimaTiggywinkle · 08/02/2021 08:00

If you actually have 4 people in a KA it won’t go very fast - you’ll struggle to get up hills and get up to speed on the motorway etc.

PositiveNegative · 08/02/2021 08:01

Yes! Definitely! It'll be YOUR car. Buy it while you have the chance, try it out and trade it in down the line if it's definitely too small. With a van in the household as well, you'll be fine.

JemimaTiggywinkle · 08/02/2021 08:02

And also the people in the back will have their knees round their ears, or digging into the back of your seat.. I don’t think 4 people in it is realistic except for very short trips

Glittertwins · 08/02/2021 08:03

The Ka is not really designed as a family car. There will not be enough headroom or leg room in the back for your 15 yr old either.
Also agree with the PP about acceleration from junctions and joining motorway. It is very dangerous if unable to pull away from a junction into traffic if the acceleration is poor

IggyAce · 08/02/2021 08:05

My best friend used to have one she changed it due to it been too small for her, she was single. Her & her DM did take my two dcs out several times it was doable but there is no way my teen dd (14) & 5ft 6 would fit comfortably in the back for a long journey.

Nacreous · 08/02/2021 08:07

If you ever drive on holiday I think you're mad. I have a Yaris and my friend has a Clio - both are bigger than a Ka. We've done 3 adults on holiday in each of them and it was okay, but 4 would have been hideous.

If it's just odd trips about town or you're happy to hire a car for holidays then I think it would be fine.

20viona · 08/02/2021 08:14

It was too small just for me so definitely not a family of 4!

Chunkymenrock · 08/02/2021 08:16

If it's a great car and you're keen then I'd get it, especially as family trips are curtailed anyway at the moment due to covid. If your husband plans to get a bigger car when he changes the van, then surely you can make it work until then? If you need to all go somewhere, can't you take 2 in each vehicle? It would only be a few months you'd need to do this, Also, a Ka would be great to learn to drive in and for your 15 year old, that's going to come round soon enough.

mojitosnow · 08/02/2021 08:18

As PPs have said, it depends what you use it for. If you are a home bird and don’t drive very long distances with the family often (obviously not in COVID times - in the hopefully normal times ahead of us! ) then I think you should go for it. DCs will be fine being a bit cramped for 30 mins or so every few days, it won’t be the end of the world.

But if you drive quite often on holidays, to see family over an hour away, lots of days out involving driving etc I’d say definitely not! I had one and when it was laden down with luggage and people I found it hard to get up to speed on the motorway!

GhostPenguin · 08/02/2021 08:23

It'll be a squash but if it's a good price and in good condition then it could be a better bet than an unknown, bigger secondhand car, especially if your budget is small. Plus it's short term pain if your husband is swapping his van at the end of the year.

Caramel81 · 08/02/2021 08:25

I did a road trip up to Scotland in one with two other adults and a child. It was extremely uncomfortable all squashed in together with our bags.
If it was just for you and DP I’d say it would be ideal but not for 2 others too. Your teenager will hate it

ShutUpAlex · 08/02/2021 08:28

No way we have a juke and two kids and even that’s too small!

CustardCreamm · 08/02/2021 08:31

I had one and I don't think it would be suitable for 4 people!

NoGoodPunsLeft · 08/02/2021 08:33

I had one before.I got.pregnant & even with 2 adults and a baby I struggled to fit the food shopping in the boot, as others have said the ones in the back will be v uncomfortable after about 5 mins.

Original poster

Sp3849 · 08/02/2021 09:00

Very mixed responses but most are confirming my doubts. We would only be using it as a family car on a weekend if we go anywhere and my husband works away all week so it's just me and the kids. We don't travel very far the only place we go that's far is too visit my family back home which is a good 2 hour drive once a month and my husband doesn't always Come. We do have a very large transit van if we need to move anything big. As I am on my own most of the time I want a car that is reliable and I don't want finance. I know this car would be reliable it's only got 30k on it is 7 years old. Immaculate. My nan has had it from new and wants 2k for it. (I have said I would give her more but she won't hear of it) it's just had another service and new mot. Realistically I won't get a better car for my money. I live away from all family and am new to the area and a. Here alone 5 days a week. I need a reliable car. The one I have now is on it way out (hydraulic issues apparently) but it is a much bigger car. The car is back home but I am sure she would let us drive it round and try it out.

OP posts:

sunflowersandbuttercups · 08/02/2021 09:15

I had a Ford KA - it was a fantastic little thing but very small. The lack of back doors was a real pain when it came to getting in and out and the boot was tiny.

I mainly used it to get to and from work as it had good fuel economy and I didn't need to travel fast or far. Sadly it was written off in a car accident but if it had still been working I'd not have gotten rid of it.

I think for you and two young DC it would be fine but it would be super cramped for adults or teenagers in the back!

AlwaysLatte · 08/02/2021 09:25

To be honest there's no protection for your family if something goes into the back of you so I'd never get a little car like that with kids.

NoGoodPunsLeft · 08/02/2021 20:30

Could you get this car but hire something bigger for holidays/the two hour trips?

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 08/02/2021 20:35

It's a brilliant second car! We have one and on the odd occasion we go out as a 4some but our kids are under 10. As my little run around in addition to a family car it's wonderful.

Crosstrainer · 08/02/2021 20:39

I’d have thought you’d be okay if you’re not doing regular long trips. If it’s usually just you and the kids on short trips, then the older child could sit in the front? I’d go for it. You can always trade in for something bigger in a couple of years if you decide it is too small.

latheritup · 08/02/2021 20:42

No, definitely not. You would be better off getting a 5 door Corsa.

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