You know you’re driving a remarkable car when something happens to you that hasn’t happened before.

This somewhat uninvited experience occurred whilst recently driving through one of the less tolerant parts of town.

Stuck in traffic in my powder blue Ford Ka I became the unwitting recipient of the, let’s say amorous attentions of a pair of gougers who happened across me.

It didn’t help that I was wearing a pair of ridiculous 70s-style sunglasses, a pink tie and looking every bit the ponce.

Hollered

Anyhow, as I sat there stranded in the jam, these two knuckle dragging, slack-jawed luddites whistled and hollered in my direction.

“Ahreeght darlin’, ya ridin’ or wha’?, screamed, let’s just call him Anto, while his pal, probably Deco, honked himself into a frenzy.

“Ah, these chaps must think I’m gay,” says I to myself realising that I was sitting in a powder blue laydeees car, looking like a big Jessie.

As is the case in these situations the lights refused to turn from red, as I went from crimson to scarlet.

A couple of wolf whistles later the lights changed and I was out of there, feeling strangely heady at my brief brush with death at the hands of two gay hating boneheads.

And yes, these two chaps were correct in their accusations of effeminism or whatever they want to call it.

The Ford Ka (whether powder-blue or not) is most definitely one that attracts more women than men.That’s not to say it isn’t a bloody good car.

The newest version has come so far since the first of its kind spun heads back in 1996.

Despite its fragrant appearance and effeminate nature the all new Ford Ka is a bit of a goer.

Surprising

It boots along at a nice pace and the injection of speed is quite surprising as you move up through the gears.

Now, we’re not talking super speeds here, but nicely jazzy all the same.

It is after-all a 74bhp car with a 1.3 litre diesel engine. It also comes in a 1.2 litre petrol which pops out 68bhps – each controlled by a five speed gearbox.

I was not a huge fan of the look though, which when compared to the original Ka, it didn’t quiet match up.

But, and this is hugely important, my female friends were impressed and they’re the ones who will be buying it.

It has a lot of the Fiat 500 thrown into the profile, and apparently the dash is very similar also.

Overall the Ka offers good value for money and will cost from €11,535 to €15,125.

- Ian Mallon