Experience with Kia cars

noir_blood

So I'm thinking that my car probably won't last me more than a couple of months more, so already I'm starting to look at my options on what to get. There's always this commercials popping up for a kia dealership that advertises a car for 5888, with a ten year warranty, and a year paid insurance. Now obviously this sounds too good to be true, but I always hear that Kias are nice cheap alternatives. Is this true? Anyone have anything positive/negative things to say?

Right now both my work and school and less than five miles away from where I live, so I really don't plan to put to many miles on the car, I'm just looking for something relatively affordable, that won't require too much upkeep.

I just want a user name

My parents bought a Kia a few years back, one of the little 3 door hatchback things.

Things a tin can deathtrap. I use the term loosely however, as it's now mostly comprised of rust, rather than tin.

I wouldn't go there unless they've improved a lot.

ViolentChemistry

I recommend buying a used Honda over a new Kia. Even if the new Kia's sticker-price is lower. They're entirely random in terms of reliability.

Doc

I just want a user name wrote:

My parents bought a Kia a few years back, one of the little 3 door hatchback things.

Things a tin can deathtrap. I use the term loosely however, as it's now mostly comprised of rust, rather than tin.

I wouldn't go there unless they've improved a lot.

They have improved in recent years. When did your parents buy it?

Pheezer

The cheapest current vehicle they're selling starts at $11k USD. It's the 2007 Rio. You might be seeing an ad for unsold 2006 Rios. From what I've googled, if it's a 2006 or 2007 Rio, it's actually a really decent car and a very good value. If you're looking at a 2001-2005 Rio, it's a heap of crap.

Deathwing

I just want a user name wrote:

My parents bought a Kia a few years back, one of the little 3 door hatchback things.

Things a tin can deathtrap. I use the term loosely however, as it's now mostly comprised of rust, rather than tin.

I wouldn't go there unless they've improved a lot.

I don't know when you bought yours, but my wife has a 2001 Spectra that's been running great for ~70,000 miles so far. 20-40 miles of work commuting every day over the years, monthly 700-mile trips for a while, etc.

Had one new set of tires so far, replaced the brake fluid, replaced the alternator, and the heat shield on the catalytic converter....And that's about it besides normal stuff like oil changes and headlight bulbs. No massive amounts of rust, or really any at all for that matter.

No idea where the original poster is seeing a new Kia for $5888, even the tiny Rio still starts at $11,350.

That all said, I plan to get a new Civic in the couple months to replace my evil 2000 Volvo S40 (which has had easily 10x the maintenance costs of the Kia), but I wouldn't have any problem getting a Spectra or other Kia if it came down to it.

MagicToaster

I'd check the consumer reports web page first. I bet you could get a nice cheap Toyota Yaris for about the same price as a Kia, or perhaps a low end Suzuki Aerio.

TexiKen

Hyundai bought Kia around the turn of the millenium, and has done its best to improve both brands. They are now very high quality cars. Don't let the past fool you on them now; they are good, dependable cars. The Rio is trying its best to be the go-to sub compact car.

I would go with a new Kia over a used Japanese car any day.

Gotcha Force

ViolentChemistry wrote:

I recommend buying a used Honda over a new Kia. Even if the new Kia's sticker-price is lower. They're entirely random in terms of reliability.

or better yet, a toyota, since they have the same reliability, but cost less

i do not know much about the newest kias, however in 2003-2004 i remember hearing a joke about the kia SUVs and having a feature that no other car had at the time, and that was the feature titled "whole dash board falls off at once"

exoplasm

My grandfather recently bought a Hyundai Sonata (I think?) which Kia has an identical model replica...

He likes it better than his 2000 BMW 525(!)

Apparently Hyundai has been outselling Honda lately, but Toyota still holds the lead.

Raiden333

Man, Kias have been nothing but good to my family. My mom's been driving a Sofia for years with hardly any problems, and we recently needed an upgrade so we decided on a Kia Sedona. Just got it tonight, actually. Drives wonderfully.

Zeon

Honestly, Kias and Hyundais have been getting better lately. Aslong as the model year is newer than 2005, and its brand new, totally worth buying id say. If its used, pass. They still arent reliable enough to buy used.

Wrench N Rockets

Random interjection time.

There is more to a car being 'good' than the wheels not falling off any more, although this is a big car.

There is more to a car than just its reliability. A reliable car is just that, a reliable car. Be sure to check out all the other aspects of the car too. The engine for instance. Sure it may run, but is it smooth? Do you have to rev it past 5000 to get any feeling of power out of it? Does the steering feel sharp and controlled, or is in numb and soft? What does the car look like? Does it look good to you. Who cares how reliable a car is if it fails at all the other important aspects of being a car.

Take for example the Toyota Camery. Possibly the most mechanically reliable car you could buy today. Personally, I think it's a terrible car. Yes the bumper will stay on, but the car is ugly, the engine boring, the ride soft and vague and more. The Camery is an appliance. You get in, it moves, you get out. No soul.

A car is a HUGE investment, the biggest you've probably made up to this point in your life. Don't just buy one that is cheap and drives. Buy one you LOVE. It'll make parting with that check all the more easy, and you'll have fun every time you drive somewhere, even if it's just 5 minutes down the block.

ViolentChemistry

exoplasm wrote:

Apparently Hyundai has been outselling Honda lately, but Toyota still holds the lead.

It's worth noting that such a statistic has absolutely no meaning the the context of this thread.

Phixius

I was a big jack-ass and bought a brand new 2001 Kia Spectra right outa' high school. Nice car. I liked it, had no real problems with it. Then one day I was in the dealership having some routine maintenance done, when a little promo booklet for the 2002 Kia Sportage caught my eye. I was a bigger jack-ass and bought one after owning the other Kia for only nine months. I tear this car up. I mean I abuse the hell out of it, yet it keeps running. These cars look and feel cheap, but they don't act it.

I just want a user name wrote:

Things a tin can deathtrap. I use the term loosely however, as it's now mostly comprised of rust, rather than tin.

Really? I haven't found any metal on my car. Just plastic. . .

ViolentChemistry

Phixius wrote:

Really? I haven't found any metal on my car. Just plastic. . .

That's not a good thing. Plastic makes for really shitty wheels, axles, driveshafts, gears, clutches, frames, shocks, springs and hoods. And don't get me started on plastic lug-nuts.

exoplasm

It's worth noting that such a statistic has absolutely no meaning the the context of this thread.

O RLY?

It fits in perfectly. Why would Hyundai outsell Honda if they weren't putting out quality? Honda is about as reliable as it gets aside from Toyota. Since Hyundai = Kia, one should put together that Kias aren't bad (anymore). Although I suppose if used is the route taken, then it isn't as relevant as 2005/2006 used cars aren't readily available or cheap.

ViolentChemistry

exoplasm wrote:

It's worth noting that such a statistic has absolutely no meaning the the context of this thread.

O RLY?

It fits in perfectly. Why would Hyundai outsell Honda if they weren't putting out quality? Honda is about as reliable as it gets aside from Toyota. Since Hyundai = Kia, one should put together that Kias aren't bad (anymore). Although I suppose if used is the route taken, then it isn't as relevant as 2005/2006 used cars aren't readily available or cheap.

Oh yeah. I, like you, believe that all consumers are intelligent and inform themselves before shopping and making purchases, and that's why terrible companies like Wal-Mart went out of business years ago. But just for the sake of skeptical argument, let's assume that maybe one or two people who buy cars don't know jack about cars and make poor choices. It doesn't seem fair to count those people as proof that their shitty purchases aren't shitty, right?

Edit: See also, HP and Compaq.

exoplasm

ViolentChemistry normally I would agree with this, but when you have a company with a bad rep like Hyundai (and Kia) to suddenly be outselling Honda who has a pretty much perfect reputation I don't think you can simply attribute that to marketing and gullible consumers.

Just like Windows vs. Mac: Windows users generally always thought Macs were crap, and they were in many cases, but now you've got people jumping over to the new Intel-powered Macs and enjoying them. I know it's not a great example, but just a comparison. (note: I don't use Macs)

ViolentChemistry

exoplasm wrote:

ViolentChemistry normally I would agree with this, but when you have a company with a bad rep like Hyundai (and Kia) to suddenly be outselling Honda who has a pretty much perfect reputation I don't think you can simply attribute that to marketing and gullible consumers.

No, I attribute it to Hondas being expensive and Kias being dirt-cheap. Kia also has the longer warrantee, which from my second-hand experience, you will need. Possibly within a week, for a new engine.

Also note that Macs do not outsell Windows machines.

Millow

My dad bought a Kia Sedona (mini-van) two years ago and it's been fine so far.

EskimoDave

I used to work for a car rental company. They had some Kias. They were all cheap. Some poster before me mentioned the Yaris. I actually enjoyed the Yaris. Great for city driving.

agentk13

Jealous Deva wrote: »

So, apparently according to CR the most reliable car you can buy is a Porsche Boxster, and the Corvette z06 and M3 are close to the top as well.