Kia -- Buy One, Get One Free!

[Packy]

Japanese cars are some of the most reliable. We went with a used Subaru Forester for our "new" car, because of safety and reliability.

I do think Kia, Hyundai, etc. are making progress, though. Reliability is on the rise, and overall handling, comfort and performance are slowly getting better as well.

I gotta agree with others that have said to stay away from European cars. Funny how the most expensive luxury cars crap out the fastest

 

[Bekker]

Both Kia and Hyuandi have made tremendous strides in quality improvements in recent years. Hyuandi now thinks they are ready to go face to face with the Camry with their new Sonata (if I am keeping the names straight). After visiting their site and reading some stuff on the brand, I have to say it looks good. If you have not seen it, go to www.hyundai.com (no link cause I am using quick response). For once, they have good styling, in and out, and offer a high hp engine (cannot remember if it is 235 or 245 hp, but it's in that range). I think it will really chage perceptions of the vehicle ... and while you are there, you can enter to win a free one, one entry per day. I wish they would show more colors, but site has good exterior and interior views. If they price it in the teens with the high hp engine, I would definitely be interested.

As far as the Kia van is concerned, I have an ex-student who manages an Enterprise rental place and I asked about them. He said they don't tend to have any problems with them, but their resell value really falls when they hit higher miles.

 

[Bekker]

Ooops, I went back to the site and found several different colors. Confirmed the engine is 235 horses, and learned the new Sonata is now classified as a large car, a full step above Toyota and Honda. For anyone interested, the link is New Sonata

 

[d3n]

Originally posted by: Packy
Japanese cars are some of the most reliable. We went with a used Subaru Forester for our "new" car, because of safety and reliability.

I do think Kia, Hyundai, etc. are making progress, though. Reliability is on the rise, and overall handling, comfort and performance are slowly getting better as well.

I gotta agree with others that have said to stay away from European cars. Funny how the most expensive luxury cars crap out the fastest

Not sure if this applies to Volvo. My Volvo 850 from 96 looks and drives new at 160k miles.

 

[imported_SeriousSam]

Actually Kia = Hyundai 100%

 

[Tommyboy8]

Volvo was acquired by Ford in 1999.

I don't know if Ford ever did anything to change how Volvo built their cars...

Nissan is also owned by a majority by Renault (French car mfg)

VW-Audi-Porsche, Daimler-Chrysler, Renault-Nissan, Ford-Volvo-Jaguar-...

 

[ECartman]

If you're on a budget, you can pick up a "like new" low end Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, or other japenese econ car with abour 25-30K miles for $9000-$15000 at hertzcarsales.com. I have bought 5 cars over the years from hertz car sales, and have had great luck with them. They are meticulously maintained and usually have 2 years of factory warranty left on them.

This is how Hertz gets rid of its better rentals after 25K miles or so

 

[1EZduzit]

I have a 89 Ford Fiestiva I bought new. They are made in Korea and it's been a very reliable car. It's been through 3 kids and is still running great.

 

[Redlining]

For all of you bashing the Sedonas, I challenge you to find a van that drives like my 04 Sedona with dual air, leather seats and sunroof for a cool 16.5K. For all I know, you have never driven one. BTW, which mini van first received a 5-star crash rating?

 

[SouthPaW1227]

dude Kia's are underrated and overbased.

so what it's not a Benz? I see it this way: either go ALL out (Benz, Lambo, something wild) or be conversative with your money (Kia). I'd take that Kia and $10k over a Ford minivan

 

[Lithan]

As I understand it volvo's are tanks. You replace maybe 1-2 major and 5-10 minor parts in 300k miles.

 

[WT]

For all of you bashing the Sedonas, I challenge you to find a van that drives like my 04 Sedona with dual air, leather seats and sunroof for a cool 16.5K. For all I know, you have never driven one. BTW, which mini van first received a 5-star crash rating?

:thumbsup: :beer:

You, sir, got a helluva good deal. We paid 17.5 for ours with no leather and sunroof.

 

[commOdog]

Koreans don't even drive Kia's

 

[konakona]

Originally posted by: commOdog
Koreans don't even drive Kia's

oh yeah? how many koreans do YOU know?

 

[commOdog]

well i lived in seoul, s. korea for 2 years so actually quite a few

 

[Lithan]

Does that deserve a Pwned?

 

[JWade]

aswedc, i know that the spectra replaced the sephia, what was misunderstood was at the time i had bought the esphia, it was Kia's cheapest model, now the rio is the cheapest model. I know the rio did not replace the sephia. well in the aspect of being their cheapest model it has.

 

[kennyG]

Originally posted by: imthebadguy
ha, kia POS cars, their minivan is such a rip off the freestar
you couldnt pay me to drive around in one of these pieces of sh!t

I've have a two tone minivan from kia..2003 and it runs great..never had a issue..
I dont think it's a POS!

 

[Mucker]

Nice, the auto industry gives us yet another reason to depend on the Middle East. Why fill up one tank of gas for the price of one, when you can fill up 2 for the price of 2, simply brilliant! Good job as usual guys! :thumbsup:

m

 

[artecnical]

My mom and dad bought a 2001 Kia Rio new. They live at the end of 1 mile of washboard gravel road. They have not had one problem with it. They owned a Chevy Lumina before that and had to rebuild the engine twice in 5 years. Finally when the head gasket blew the last time they said screw it.

I wouldn't mind getting this deal. I'll still drive my 70 camaro that I built when I was 15 (16 years ago), the wife can drive the Rio to work and then on the weekends the three kids can hop in the van with us.

Sounds like a hot deal.

 

[Packy]

Originally posted by: d3n
Not sure if this applies to Volvo. My Volvo 850 from 96 looks and drives new at 160k miles.

Actually you're right, I wasn't including Volvo, but it depends on if you're talking about older cars or new cars. I have a 1979 Volvo 245 DL wagon with 220k+ on it. Still drives great! My dad bought it new in '78. The transmission and engine have never needed to be rebuilt or replaced.

I would question a new Volvo's reliability, though. Just my opinion!

 

[konakona]

Originally posted by: commOdog
well i lived in seoul, s. korea for 2 years so actually quite a few

nvm then

 

[Dentilicious]

KIA, Hyundai, Ford, Chevy, Buick, Daewoo, etc...they're all POS compred to Honda, Toyota and Nissan realiability and build quality wise.

But people still buy those cars over the others. Cars are 50%need/50%want and people will choose what they think looks "cool", "cute", or "tight." Whatevers.....

If you like Kias, go buy 2 for yourself and your wife, if not don't threadcrap.

 

[S Random]

if you want a car to drive for 3 years, and your erie about buying used cars, then kia is the way to go, but if you want something better then a go-cart, look outside of asia

 

[aswedc]

Originally posted by: commOdog
well i lived in seoul, s. korea for 2 years so actually quite a few

Well living in South Korea you should have known Kia is the second biggest automaker.

I'm not going to run around getting perfectly aligned stats but here are some figures I pulled from Google.

In Feb 2005 S Korean domestic auto sales totaled 72,078.

In Oct 2002 Kia's Korean sales totaled 34,248.

Yeah, Korean's don't even drive Kia's :roll:

Can I get a pwned?