Kia cars

[tartanwiz]

Any good?

[Impret-Sir]

Cheap to buy, for a very good reason! Totally horrible to own and drive, zero image, massive depreciation, poor handling, ugly, invisible and generally awful.  Hard to understand why anyone would buy one when there are so many better cars out there!     

[dodgyshirt]

Terrific cars, not so cheap these days as they are fitted with every conceivable extra but still represent very good value with a fast-growing public image. Very wide model range unlike some manufacturers say, for instance, Subaru. 

[Impret-Sir]

Yup, every conceivable extra, including a nice shelf at the back for the tissue box, a good strong roof to support the inevitable TAXI sign when you finally get tired of the ridicule of your friends and neighbors, and an unsigned suicide note in the glove box for the day you discover what its resale value is after three years. A very wide model range, unfortunately mostly based on 1980s models by other makers, and with the possible exception of the Sportage, all awful. Teeth grittingly dull transport for people who want to get from A to B and nothing more.

[dodgyshirt]

Not everyone wants to,or can even afford to, go posing around in a �20.000 Subaru.

Most people do just want to get from A to B with a modicum of comfort at a price they can afford.

Earlier Kias were based on Mazda designs in the same way that Daewoo are based on older GM models but having said that, the Impreza is hardly a modern design (about 15 years old)

[Impret-Sir]

Im not sure why you keep referring to Subarus dodgyshirt? Or why you assume that their drivers "go posing around"?  For your information, second hand Scooby prices start at about 8K. Even less for less sporting models. And Im not sure that you are right that "most people" are satisfied with such limited ambitions for their driving these days. I can only assume that you own a Kia, and have for some reason taken my remarks as a personal insult, which they were clearly not. As I plainly said, they are fine for people who do not want/or do not know, any better. But anyway, the customer you describe can go to a car supermarket and buy a nearly new car from any of the mainstream manufacturers for the same price as a new Kia and almost without exception, it will be nicer to drive and own, and importantly, it will be worth something when they go to sell it.

[KJN]

Hi,

Nobody has commented on the size of the boot or as my wife used to call it when she had one "the second glove compartment"

[dodgyshirt]

The clue to why I keep referring to Subarus is in the name `Impret-Sir' A bit of a give-away surely.As regards a Scooby, the only one I know had Doo as his second name.

Personally, I drive a Mazda, so I do not take your comments to heart unlike you.

As regards the other contributors comment, surely all eight Kia models don`t have boots the size of a glove-box.

[Impret-Sir]

mmmmmmm, good answer, if you cant answer the points raised, ignore them!

[ICEMANSAV]

If you are going for a small car opt for a VW golf or Seat Cupra(sp??). The Golf is an affordable yet reliable car, spares are expensive as I seem to recall but the diesel is a good runner.

[Gef]

Remember the days when Skoda and Seat were a "joke"?

[Gef]

impret - sir, just how many Kias have you owned and driven?

[Impret-Sir]

I would have thought Gef that it would be pretty clear from my answers in this post that I would never consider owning a Kia, but I have driven a few, and known other friends and family who have owned them, and read a few road tests too.

[ICEMANSAV]

Yes I remember, but the Skoda have done quite well to re model their image with a very clever PR campaign. I would not consider owning a KIA but that is not due to social standing etc. It is due to the depreciation and service costs concerned with these vehicles.

[Ratimics]

Tartanwiz..... Viewing the thread - I'm not about to get into name calling etc. but I assume you were looking for an informed answer to a sensible question. I own 3 vehicles myself (not Kia's). My wife has a Kia Sportage (owned for 4 years). I have an engineering background (aviation). I service the vehicle myself. I drive it occasionally.

The engine is Mazda - well proven, reliable and reasonably economical in light of the vehicle size and use it is put to.

It is economical to maintain and has proved very reliable in service. It is without doubt robust and versatile. Kia's are cheap to buy both new and used. I would certainly recommend the Sportage - and the smaller vehicles if it is anything to go on.

Regards T.