Ford - StreetKa

2003 onwards 

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Streetka is cute, cuddly and fun to drive, and appealing in its simplicity. But it's also underpowered, old-fashioned, more cheaply-finished and less refined than some of its small open top rivals.

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	Looks great and prices are fair
	Agile handling and smooth ride
	Good equipment; sensible running costs
	Not really a sports car; could use more power
	Feels less solid than Ka hatchback
	Interior is too similar to budget Ka models

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Streetka came along five years later than expected - so it was five years behind the class-leaders when it was launched. Where newer models such as Peugeot 206 CC, Daihatsu Copen and upcoming Nissan Micra C+C have clever folding metal roofs that give coupe-like security and structural rigidity, Streetka settles for an old-fashioned fabric hood, and a manually-operated one at that.
Still, there's a lot to be said for its uncomplicated, back-to-basics charm. It shares the Ka hatchback's predictable, responsive handling, making it an amusing car to drive, if not a fast one - the 1.6-litre engine does struggle a bit. The age of the chassis design shows, as well.
The Streetka is let down too by its cheaply-finished cabin, which would be passable in a cheap entry-level Ka hatch but not in a model costing pretty close to the price of the far more refined, state-of-the-art MINI One Convertible, with which it simply can't compete.