Was reading a local rags sunday supplement yesterday in which they compared the SportKa and a Citreon GTi (can't remember if it is C2 or C3) and then compared them with twe Furby vRS. In the test they found the Citreon to be faster than the Ka but that its handling was not so pleasing. They then compared both to the larger Furby vRS (due to price). In the end they ranked them 1. SportKa, 2. Fabia vRS and 3. the Citreon.

They basicallt said that although the Citreon was faster the over all characteristics of the SportKa was better. They also rated the Furby better despite being the slowest (????) as being better than the Citreon on sporty styling and over all handling.

Well the Fabia can't win everything can it.

Hang on. Let's just check the specs here...

SportKa: 94bhp, 100lb-ft, 108mph, 0-60 in 9.7 seconds

C2 GTi: 110bhp, 108lb-ft, 121mph, 0-60 in 10.9 seconds

Fabia vRS: 130bhp, 229lb-ft, 128mph, 0-60 in 9.5 seconds

Did they actually drive the cars? :confused:

IIRC, 5th Gear did a head-to-head of the SportKa vs. the C2 GTi (can't remember which one won), but raced the Fabia vRS against the MINI Cooper (and we all know the result of that one!)

The majority of driving journos who review the Fabia vRS are impressed by it. It's possible the rest are either diesel-phobes or Skoda-phobes???

Or not particularly adept at getting good performance out of diesel engines ?

I often think roadtests and reviews can be misleading. Of the above 3 cars only one has 5 doors, only one can actually fit in more than 2 people without feeling crampt. Only one has a hefty boot. Only one has a proven good gearbox, only one of the best diesel engines available, only one is faster than a cooper, only one produces 15 bhp more than stock on average, only one will keep it's value and will have great build quality, only one will be doing 50 mpg, and only one can have

Citroen C2 VTS does 0-100 in about 25.8 seconds according to Autocar. Same magazine achieved 23.8 with the Furby. Sportka is nowhere near either.

PS. Citroen C2 VTS is more powerful than GTi model so the gap will be even wider.

Hang on. Let's just check the specs here...

SportKa: 94bhp' date=' 100lb-ft, 108mph, 0-60 in 9.7 seconds

C2 GTi: 110bhp, 108lb-ft, 121mph, 0-60 in 10.9 seconds

Fabia vRS: 130bhp, 229lb-ft, 128mph, 0-60 in 9.5 seconds

Did they actually drive the cars? :confused:

IIRC, 5th Gear did a head-to-head of the SportKa vs. the C2 GTi (can't remember which one won), but raced the Fabia vRS against the MINI Cooper (and we all know the result of that one!)

The majority of driving journos who review the Fabia vRS are impressed by it. It's possible the rest are either diesel-phobes or Skoda-phobes???[/quote']

Are you sure, the article quoted 110 bhp for the SportKa and 125 bhp for the Citreon, and as both are much lighter than the furby I would imagine they would be quicker. But as has been said, take reviews with a pinch of salt. They said they had driven the SportKa and Citreon around some track, timing each to certain points. The Citreo beat the SportKa by about 0.5 Sec around the course. They based comparison with Furby on results from an earlier test of the Furby vRS rather than a direct head to head.

SportKa is 94 bhp not 110. The C2 GT is 110 bhp, the VTS is 125 bhp.

The Furby IS faster than all of them.

The C2 Gti is just the VTR with a manual gearbox and white wheels, so has 110bhp as mentioned before.

If they drove the Fabia like a petrol engie, it would be slower as all the power is low - mid range as opposed to mid - High in tyhe revs. It also has a 6 speed box as opposed to 5 speed (sportKack, C2 GTI/VTS) and flappy paddle semi-automatic (C2 VTR)

As the vRS outpaces a lot of 'more powerful' petrol cars, it should easily outpace either of these two scrawny little runts with ease!

The vRS's apparantly unimpressive 0-60 time belies it's scorching in-gear punch!

I would imagine a 30mph roll-on comparison would see the others blown into the weeds!

Never believe road-testers, many are pleb journalists who can't drive anyway!

JT

Never believe road-testers' date=' many are pleb journalists who can't drive anyway!

JT[/quote']

That is probably especially true of the journos for the particular rag this was printed in. Although mind you they were complimentary about the Furby vRS in general. They just concluded that as a 'warm' hatch, that on balance the SportKa was the best all rounder with the fastest of the lot (the Citreon) being the least good. They did not quote 0-60 figures, but based the comparison on the time the same driver achieved going around the same track. Despite being significantly more powerful the Citreon only just managed to beat the Ka because he had to barke more going round the twistys in it, and aparantly it has some sort of automatic braking feature as a so called saftey device which slowed him down. As I said the Ka and C2 were done back to back but the vRS was tested at an earlier date, when weather conditions etc my not have been the same?

Or they could simply have drawn their conclusions of which car was "fastest" by looking at the manufacturers 0-60 times, like many mags / rags seem to do.

Or they could simply have drawn their conclusions of which car was "fastest" by looking at the manufacturers 0-60 times, like many mags / rags seem to do.

Or, they might have simply drawn their conclusions based on which manufacturer lays on the best buffet, or the best promotional items, or who is willing to supply lots of expensive hardware from further up the range for the journos to play with.

Not that I'm cynical or anything...

Rob.

Or' date=' they might have simply drawn their conclusions based on which manufacturer lays on the best buffet, or the best promotional items, or who is willing to supply lots of expensive hardware from further up the range for the journos to play with.

Not that I'm cynical or anything...

Rob.[/quote']

Actually not sure I have seen a SportKa. What is different about it compared with an ordinary Ka (in terms of looks/shape etc).

What is different about it compared with an ordinary Ka (in terms of looks/shape etc).

IIRC, a few extra foglights (hurrah) and a central exhaust pipe!

Rob.

IIRC' date=' a few extra foglights (hurrah) and a central exhaust pipe!

[/quote']

Actually I believe that central exhaust pipe is really a reverse light

Actually I believe that central exhaust pipe is really a reverse light

Oh, is that what is?

OK, so to amend my original answer - a few extra fog lights, and a central mounted reverse light.

Mmm...sporty!

Rob.

Actually not sure I have seen a SportKa. What is different about it compared with an ordinary Ka (in terms of looks/shape etc).

The metal panels are I think all the same (or near as dammit) but it has different shaped headlights and front fogs set into the bumper. The wheel arches are wider than the standard one as well.

The rear bumper is also different with the bigger rear lights and centre mounted exhaust.

The interior is the same basic design but with more dials than the standard one , and improved seats.

I think they look quite nice , but they aren't great value for money at over 10k for the more basic SportKa

I'd be surprised if you found a Ford that is good value.

I'd be surprised if you found a Ford that is good value.

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW/dpage_photoad.asp?abname=popular&pageid=2&id=200443167772908

Assuming it includes the 6 months tax...

Rob.

I'd be surprised if you found a Ford that is good value.

I had one of the normal shaped Ka3's , and for the price I paid for it it was very good value compared to the competition. That was a 12 month old car rather than a new one though so it was a good deal cheaper than new.

When buying new then Fords certainly aren't a bargain , but then they aren't the worst value either

The basic Ka is reasonable value, but the Sportka isn't: once you've been shopping in the options list, it's way too expensive.

The C2 has awful seats, and is pretty cramped. It doesn't handle very well, either. And being a Citroen, you'll take a bath on residuals.

As the vRS outpaces a lot of 'more powerful' petrol cars' date=' it should easily outpace either of these two scrawny little runts with ease!

The vRS's apparantly unimpressive 0-60 time belies it's scorching in-gear punch!

I would imagine a 30mph roll-on comparison would see the others blown into the weeds!

Never believe road-testers, many are pleb journalists who can't drive anyway!

JT[/quote']

The Autocar long-term review reckoned it could do 30-50 faster than a 330d IIRC. I've heard on here that it'll beat a CTR over that sort of speed range, too!

the sportka will go round a track quicker than a standard fabia.. by the tinyest of margins

but on paper, the furby trounces it.