Skyrose7 0 #1 December 29, 2003 anyone have a kia? I am buying a new car and they seem reasonably priced, fuel-efficient, and the warranty seems good. anyone? bueler?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP. MaryRose Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Faber 0 #2 December 29, 2003 i knows some people who has them. they love them. i have driven acouple of them and i think they are great.. but might not the amarican dream Stay safe Stefan Faber Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrose7 0 #3 December 29, 2003 american dream? I am not looking for 2.5 kids, a white picket fence or a house in the suburbs! I just want a reliable car to get me to and from the dz, thank you hehehe~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP. MaryRose Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
n2skdvn 0 #4 December 29, 2003 they are ok cars as long as you are not looking at the rio.thoes little things go 0-60 in 15 min. the sophia is a good one though.if my calculations are correct SLINKY + ESCULATOR = EVERLASTING FUN my site Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FrancoR 0 #5 December 29, 2003 A friend of mine has one. It was about 3 years old when the top coat of the paint peeled off on some parts. It was not due to rust and it was only the first layer. That was some time ago, they might have gotten better.If it does not cost anything you are the product. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mailin 0 #6 December 29, 2003 Both my husband and I have Sephias - him a 98 (purchased used) and myself a 99 (purchased new). HIs car has had alot of problems with a chasis sensor that causes it to die at stop lights all the time. My car (which is paid off in May) has had the brakes replaced 3 times - just spent $1100 to do the front and bake AGAIN. Other than that they are good cars - the warranty is not going to do much for you as the cars are designed well. If I had to do it over again I would have purchased a Dodge Neon - which is a much more solid car. The Sephias felt like they would blow off the road in a good wind, they EAT gas over 75 and they are VERY noisy - I've had to replace my speakers as I have to constantly have the music loud to drown out car noise. They handle really well due to their size. THey look cute, but have no resale value. I was looking into getting a saturn last year and still owned $2800 on my kia and the dealership said they would only give me $1000 for it and its in great shape with 50,000 miles. I'm glad I purchased it as I really needed a reliable car at the time, but if the situation had allowed I would have gotten a dodge neon or saturn (both comparable in price). Good luck to you - and I agree, stay away from the Rio's. The Spectre is a really nice car though - above and beyond the Sephia (both car and $$ wise) JenniferArianna Frances Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelel01 1 #7 December 29, 2003 I have a Hyundai, and the only problems it has is that I run into shit a lot, and it has a lot of dents and scratches. Not really the car's fault. And I've put 80,000 miles on it in 3 years! Kelly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ScubaSteve 0 #8 December 29, 2003 I have friends that bought the KIA optima and all have had constant problems. The warrenty is good but e xpect to use it and replace the same parts multiple times. Remember you get what you pay for. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheenster303 0 #9 December 29, 2003 My aunt has a Kia Sephia and she drives the shit out of that car. It has well over 100,000 miles on it and it's only a 99 or a 2000. It's still going strong even after being in an accident and going through the grueling torture of my aunt drive it with the hardest shifting possible. (that sentence didn't make any kind of sense but oh well.) I, however, just bought a new car myself. I used to have a saturn but it got into a fight with a brick mailbox and the mailbox won. Now, I got myself a Honda Civic. WOOHOO! Very awesome car. I recommend it highly.I'm so funny I crack my head open! P.M.S. #102 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jkm2500 0 #10 December 29, 2003 In between my first and second tours in the Army I worked as a car salesman, and manager. The lines that I worked with were Nissan, Jeep, Saturn, GM lines, and everything used. The Kia is not a bad car so to speak, just not as good of a car as some of the others available. I have driven several of them, and after a couple of miles on them they feel more like empty pop can driving down the road. There are other cars on the market that are more reliable, better designed, and in the same neighborhood as far as price. I have been comparing online by price and options, since I dont know what model you are looking at I will just use the basic 4 door model. A/C, automatic trans,Cd player, and floor mats are the only options added. KIA Spectra: 14,710 KIASpectra Saturn ION:13,305 SaturnION Toyota Echo:13,300 Toyotaecho Nissan Sentra:14,130 NissanSentra I also compared several other models on edmunds vehicle comparison It appears that all have the same O% financing options. They are fairly comparable in price. IMO I would go with something along the lines of a Toyota or Nissan. But that is my opinion. PM if you would like me to hook you up with a sales manager for any of the models listed. joshThe primary purpose of the Armed Forces is to prepare for and to prevail in combat should the need arise. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jmpnkramer 0 #11 December 29, 2003 Damn Girl! So what you are saying is that we should never rely on you to drive us? Laters, KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!The REAL KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER! "HESITATION CAUSES DEATH!!!" "Be Slow to Fall into Friendship; but when Thou Art in, Continue Firm & Constant." - SOCRATES Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #12 December 29, 2003 One rule that has worked well for me.... "You can not beat the price:performance of Honda." If I was looking for a cheap reliable car, the Civic would be at the top of my list. I just sold my Prelude (1500,000 miles), and bought a new Element _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DShiznit 0 #13 December 29, 2003 Quoteonly problems it has is that I run into shit a lot, and it has a lot of dents and scratches. LMFAO!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheenster303 0 #14 December 29, 2003 QuoteIthe only problems it has is that I run into shit a lot, and it has a lot of dents and scratches. I think you've gotten into a few fights with brick mailboxes too. Just don't let the mailbox win like I did. I'm so funny I crack my head open! P.M.S. #102 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelel01 1 #15 December 29, 2003 My younger sister (by 5 years) had to drive me, her, and her BF to the family Christmas festivities, b/c no one trusted me to drive. WTF?! I don't think I'm that bad. Chalk it up to poor depth perception and ADD. And I still vote for the Hyundai Elantra. Kelly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheenster303 0 #16 December 29, 2003 QuoteWTF?! I don't think I'm that bad. Yes you are. You're no longer allowed to talk about anybody else's driving. But seriously though, she's really not that bad. I mean she can text message, change the radio station, and drive all at the same time! (Maybe that's not such a good thing........) I'm so funny I crack my head open! P.M.S. #102 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kai2k1 0 #17 December 29, 2003 Andy, I was thinking of buying an Element, How well do you like yours?? any probs, glitches etc... There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpdoc 0 #18 December 29, 2003 Trying to figure out if you're serious about your car. You've replaced the brakes three times ? That car is only 4 years old! Before I got my Accord, I had a civic...made MANY,MANY trips from NY to Texas in that thing...had it for 7 years, replaced the brake pads ONCE, bought a new battery when the first one wore out at 100,000 miles, and still got $4,800 on trade in...after hitting one or two things. The beautiful thing about that car was if the dealer wasn't willing to deal, I could have driven it off the lot and put another couple of hundred thousand miles on it...still looked good, too! I'm sure Honda's are more expensive than Kia's, but even if you can't afford a new one, look into used! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheenster303 0 #19 December 29, 2003 QuoteI'm sure Honda's are more expensive than Kia's, but even if you can't afford a new one, look into used! That's what I did! I just bought a 99 Civic and I am so happy with it. They may be more expensive but they save you money in the long run. A Civic is definitely worth it.I'm so funny I crack my head open! P.M.S. #102 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mfrese 0 #20 December 29, 2003 I've got a 2002 Rio Cinco (a Rio with a hatchback instead of the trunk) that'll be two years old next month, and it's been working great for me. Wouldn't have been my first choice, but my wife's car died at about the same time as I decided to replace my truck, so I had to figure out a way we could BOTH get new vehicles at the same time. Ended up getting a Sportage for her and the RC for me. It is pretty gutless, but then, I'm not street racing any more. It cruises just fine at 75-85, and I still get about 28 MPG at 75 MPH, and up to 37 at more reasonable speeds. Like I said, it wouldn't be my first choice, but it's been working out great for me, and the price out the door from Carsdirect.com was $12,899. And the stereo is great, I think they built the car around it to drown out the engine noise...Doctor I ain't gonna die, Just write me an alibi! ---- Lemmy/Slash Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mailin 0 #21 December 29, 2003 Totally serious about the brakes. Its a design flaw that was fixed post 99 design year. I even got a lawyer and tried litigation to get them to pay for the second brake job - but no. NOt a recall, not nothing. I was not pleased. But now I get the pads rotated every 9,000 miles and they are last longer - my previous stint was every 23,000 replace the brakes. THe car now has 83,000 on it. As far as trade in - I was only offered $1,000 on it. If you're really strapped for cash I only paid $8,000 brand new for it. GOod luck! JenniferArianna Frances Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #22 December 29, 2003 I've got a ford escort. Aside from regular maintenance like oil/belt changes, the only thing I've had to do is replace the brakes once, and the spedometer cable once. In 80,000 miles. That's it. I've got a great mechanic who takes care of the preventative maintenance for me, and its been a wonderful, well behaved little car. I have two friends who drive Kias, and they've had nothing but trouble... and I get called to give them rides. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndyMan 7 #23 December 29, 2003 Quote I was thinking of buying an Element, How well do you like yours?? any probs, glitches etc... I've only had it a few weeks, I haven't had anything that I'd call a problem or glitch. There are some minor disapointments, and some minor annoyances... but I am quite happy with it. They're still selling 2003's, and I understand most of my complaints are fixed in the 2004's. Stupid things, like there's a power lock switch on the driver side, but not on the passenger side. If I use my key to open the passenger door, I can't hit the door switch to unlock the other doors. There's bungee cords which make up the pocket behind the drivers seat. These do not come as standard, you actually have to buy the bungee cords if you want rear seat pockets. Fixed in 2004. Keyless entry does NOT come standard on 2003. It does on 2004. I only discovered this when the salesmen handed me the keys after we'd signed all the papers. I would've had dealer installed keyless entry in a heartbeat if I'd known... Only the driver gets an arm rest. No arm rest for the passenger. Again, fixed in 2004. I am very happy with it. The suicide doors are awesome, and I really do love how the back seats fold up onto the roof. The cargo area is one of the most flexible ones I've ever seen... It really is a pleasure to fill up with stuff you're going to haul around. Fuel economy is good, at 24MPG. Performace is OK, I would've liked a bit more balls to it but it is more then adequate. The nutshell is that is's a good sized sport ute that comes in under $20,000, is cheap on insurance and great on gas. Apart from the items I've mentioned above, it's very well equipted, complete with 8 speaker stereo with sub-woofer, and mp3 line in, cruise, power windows and locks. What its missing in luxury it more then makes up for in hip style. _Am__ You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dbattman 0 #24 December 29, 2003 I have to ask: Just what are you getting for $1100, and where are you getting it done? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yardhippie 0 #25 December 29, 2003 QuoteI have to ask: Just what are you getting for $1100, and where are you getting it done? me would as the same question. I have a 91 Mitsu Galant VR-4 (very rare) only 1 of 2000 made that year. I have recently hade to both rear and front brakes and replaced one rotor on each end and I bet I dont have 500 in both jobs! Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD "What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me "Anything you want." ~ female skydiver Mohoso Rodriguez #865 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
