sayerbloke Posted April 30, 2005 Report Share Posted April 30, 2005 A colleague at work has two Kias [one is a Rio hatchback, the other is a saloon, don't know the model name], both quite new and his father-in-law has a Sportage which is the 4x4 one. Despite being only about 8 months old and low mileage, the "Check Engine" light came on in the Sportage a couple of weeks back and had to go back to the dealers... for £1500 of repairs. Good job it was under warranty. Having travelled in the back of the Rio yesterday evening I can also report it`s not very comfortable. Everything looks very cheap and despite it`s age and low miles it has more interior rattles than my ten year old car. Dual-carriageway crusing was quite a noisy affair, too. For a 1.3 the engine seemed lively and revvy [but I may just be saying that because I`d just spent 5 hours in a Ford Courier Diesel van] and yet also somehow lacked something. I`ll stop short of calling it 'fragile', but I think you know what I mean. OK, these cars are cheap, but they`d need to be. I guess the moral of the story is you get what you pay for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TuffLittleUnit Posted April 30, 2005 Report Share Posted April 30, 2005 You know, if I had a colleague at work with 2 Kia's I'd be looking for another job. Prime "postal" candidate if you ask me ... all that frustration at having made the same stoopid mistake twice has gotta vent somewhere so be vary wary if he starts wearing a trenchcoat to work. becomes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 On another forum I frequent is a Moderator who is going to buy a new one.... I'm leaving the forum, obviously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 You've got to really really want a brand new car (and not be able to afford a proper car) to buy one of these. Especially when you look at what they're worth after a year or two! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayerbloke Posted May 1, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 [ QUOTE ] You've got to really really want a brand new car (and not be able to afford a proper car) to buy one of these. Especially when you look at what they're worth after a year or two! [/ QUOTE ] My thoughts exactly. My car is ten years old, but it`s worth the same [if not more], than a one year old Kia. You might be able to find some argument in buying a nearly new Kia [or any of the other similar makes] seeing as you`d be getting a new car for a reasonable price but... I just couldn't. I`d rather find something that`s a bit older but "better". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTiMK5 Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 [ QUOTE ] You've got to really really want a brand new car (and not be able to afford a proper car) to buy one of these. Especially when you look at what they're worth after a year or two! [/ QUOTE ] Totally agree. But there seem to be enough people out there who buy them, they obviously dont have a clue about cars though imo, they just want a brand new car sitting on their drive and they think this will look good. Not that I would but if I did I wouldnt park it anywhere near my drive and I would only drive it at night with a balaclava on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 Many of them will point to the 3 year/60,000 miles warranty, free servicing (now being offered on some models), cheap insurance etc etc....and they'll say they'll just run them until the warranty is up and then buy another. The people that buy them really don't care less about cars but they are convinced that they are financially better off by not buying into a 'brand'. Unfortunately, I don't think these people ever do their sums properly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 Yep, they are a funny breed. New car on the drive - proudly washing it on a Sunday morning! Of course, if they try to trade it in, no self-repsecting dealer would touch it, let alone have one on the fore-court. Nnow, what does Mr Dickinson say - oh yeah, Cheap as Chips! But with chips, you get a satisfied feeling after buying/eating them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted May 1, 2005 Report Share Posted May 1, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Yep, they are a funny breed. New car on the drive - proudly washing it on a Sunday morning! Of course, if they try to trade it in, no self-repsecting dealer would touch it, let alone have one on the fore-court. Nnow, what does Mr Dickinson say - oh yeah, Cheap as Chips! But with chips, you get a satisfied feeling after buying/eating them! [/ QUOTE ] As with chips thought you have to be drunk to buy them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomk Posted May 3, 2005 Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 well just checked on the autotrader a KIA Clarus 2.0sport New Mot Tax abs all elextric air con W reg 2000 with 16k miles.... wait for it .... £1500 so would get that for 1200 ish i recon... cheap car if you can put up with the badge and looks like an ugly mondao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malagus Posted May 14, 2005 Report Share Posted May 14, 2005 second hand, they are very good things to buy, incridibly cheap workhorses that you can run into the ground then chuck away. who the hell buys one new though I dont know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixthecat1 Posted May 14, 2005 Report Share Posted May 14, 2005 A mate of mine has a Porker and a Lanos hatch. Porker at the weekends and on sunny days, Lanos for banging around Supermarket carparks and the like. Simple as that. I've never been in it, but ya get wot ya pay for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 There was a Top Gear special on a range of those "pacific rimmer" cars, and they are all pretty much toss. A Hyundai with a 3 cylinder non-turbo diesel engine? 0-60 in something like 19 seconds? Surely that's dangerous on todays roads? I wouldn't touch one. Ever. Not if I was stoney broke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixthecat1 Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 I remember that and totally agree. The problem I have with these cars is that the second-hand car market no longer has a bottom. They fell though it and are still falling. You can pick up some amazing metal these days for very little money. There's almost no reason to buy a crap car. Funny you should mention how slow some of these cars are though, as that wouldn't be my main worry. 0-30 times in city traffic are never a real issue unless your driving is very short sighted and you need to nip in front of someone at the green light to get in the correct lane. Stopping distances bother me though. I've been on the motorway and seen one of those sudden backups in traffic causing one of these cars real problems trying to stop. You might have EBD, ABS, DSC and so on, but if the bloke behind doesn't he'll use your boot as a brake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 Hmm. Must admit I was in one of those only last friday. Traffic was moving at a steady 80 on the A34 past Milton Park in Oxford, and within seconds the traffic had stopped dead. If I'd have been driving a shite car I wouldn't have stood a chance, so when you think about the guy in front of you, at the side of you, and countless behind you (in both lanes) it does get rather worrying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayerbloke Posted May 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 [ QUOTE ] the A34 past Milton Park in Oxford [/ QUOTE ] I know it well. Traffic there today was awful. Braking distances are indeed another problem with such vehicles. But then, from what my boss was saying, if you were following him and he pulled up sharply in his car, anything would have a problem stopping in time. "Benefits" of paying for ceramic brakes, I guess... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 Well, at least if someone hits you from behind its gonna go down as there fault Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted June 17, 2005 Report Share Posted June 17, 2005 My girlfriend's had a Kia Picanto for a few months now. Not bothered about her cars - she'll drive anything but i will say that it's not actually that bad. Has had a lot of good reviews and took 10 weeks to arrive because demand was so high. All in all, a good value car for £5k! Cue the jokes and name calling....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snail Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 My old dear drove a kia for a couple of years (some 4 door thingy), was sooo much better built/equiped than the Rovers/MGs she replaced it with, nearly as good to drive, and a heck of a lot cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 I'm highly offended. A post about Kias has received a lot more response than one about my Astra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayerbloke Posted June 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I'm highly offended. A post about Kias has received a lot more response than one about my Astra [/ QUOTE ] Ah, but yours was a review of a very specific car. This is a review of not just Kia, but a whole philosophy; Cheap new cars vs old cars that were once expensive Don't feel bad about it, mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR32 Posted June 22, 2005 Report Share Posted June 22, 2005 I've recovered now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now