A Two Ka Family?

If, for some reason, Charlie and I decided that we needed another car, would we get another Ka?

The most likely scenario for this to be would be that I would work in a number of locations and genuinely struggle with using public transport (perhaps taking a cash alternative rather than a company vehicle), and Charlie needed her own vehicle for various reasons. I don't envisage there to be any particular size or performance requirements, so just about anything goes. But I'd expect that the cost of the car would be a major concern.

For the commute to work, which would typically be something like thirty five miles each way, the car needs to be reasonably economical, but not the extent of everything else. With everything else being constants, the difference between a thirty five mile each way commute at 40 mpg and at 45 mpg amounts to just £13 a month. If we compare the official fuel consumption figures for the Endura-E powered Ka, Kermit's figure of 41·5 mpg would make him approximately £185 dearer to run over a year compared to one of the original, non-power steering Kas (which have an official fuel consumption figure of 47·9 mpg). There is a saving, but it is relatively insignificant. To a degree, the same is also true of switching to a diesel - if Ford were to ever release a Ka TDCi we can expect it to be able to average a similar fuel consumption to that of the current generation (as at the time of writing, early 2004) Fiesta TDCi, so we'll use 65·7 mpg. Assuming that the other service costs are the same, the saving here would amount to a more respectable £509 a year.

Of course, petrol and service running costs are only part of the story. A Ka TDCi would be a much newer vehicle and the depreciation would easily overcome the fuel saving. But rather than duplicate other articles on depreciate and car running costs, and of course of small diesel cars, follow the links.

Difficulties associated with getting another type of car would be primarily associated with who gets to drive Kermit and who gets to drive the Skanky. J

But, yes, we would get another Ka. The ideal specification preference would be for a Ka without power assisted steering, but with ABS operating on vented front disc brakes, with bad paintwork (so it can be resprayed in metallic orange of course).