Anyone here drive a Kia?

[robkelk]

I'm looking to get a new car for the home-to-work-and-back commute, grocery shopping, and the occasional intercity drive, and the 2010 Kia Rio is looking very attractive... (They offer a colour that nobody else's car in the office parking lot uses, for one thing. That's a very handy option in a big parking lot.)

But anything can look good on paper. Anybody here have any real-world experience with a Kia Rio or any other Kia, good or bad?
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[jpub]

A Kia (or Hyundai) were alternate brands I was considering when I picked up my Saturn (in 2008), but I was looking at the compact-, mid-, or full-size variants, as subcompacts and being a large person is an excercise in masochism. They were nice, but unpolished, IMO. The Kia Rondo (SUV) I tooled around in once as a rental was okay, but not extraordinary.

If I were you, I'd hit a bookstore and peruse the Consumer Reports guide and see which subcompacts rate best.

[Black Aeronaut]

Fortunately for you, I just picked up an online subscription to Consumer Reports.

The 2010 Model Sedan is noted for having a good ride for the price, though the acceleration isn't all that stellar (though you probably already know that) and the side-impact protection is a bit lacking - particularly for passengers in the rear seat.

There's not enough data for previous models to establish anything in regards to reliability (probably because they haven't reviewed the older models) - for this I think you'll have to refer to the brand as a whole.

[robkelk]

though the acceleration isn't all that stellar (though you probably already know that)

Good acceleration isn't something I expect out of this size car...
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[Wiregeek]

I would suggest the 2011 Mustang as a commuter car. 27mpg is good enough for me!

Actually on-topic, though, there's a Kia out in the driveway. It's needed a CV joint or two over the years, and it keeps getting hit in parking lots (seven hits since 2000), but it does OK.

Also, one of my friends got hit _by_ a Kia last night. He was in a 1990 Geo Tracker (wee SUV), and the Kia commited Hari-Kari against his rear bumper and gas tank. The tracker is looking at a few grand of repairs, the Kia is probably done. Him and his lady were fine, as well as her fetus. Out of the four occupants of the Kia, the driver is OK, the front passenger has a possible concussion and a broken nose, the rear passenger has a broken arm, and the rear driver is unknown.

The Kia is a disposable car.
"No can brain today. Want cheezeburger."
From NGE: Nobody Dies, by Gregg Landsman
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5579457/1/NGE_Nobody_Dies

[Rod.H]

At least you didn't suggest a G-Wiz. And a modern car's meant to commit hari-kari in order to protect the occupants. However that incident is more proof that in some situations it's a extremely bad idea.

Though if a hybrid's in your price range why not contemplate the Honda Civic hybrid, around here they're rare but not as noticeable on the road as a Prius is. Plus its race tested, 108th out of 220 at the 24 Hours Nürburgring event.

I'd just get a vehicle that does what I need and can live with. As for making it stand out in a car park....isn't that what paint shops & vinyl graphic wraps are for?

--Rod.H

[jpub]

Personally, in the subcompact price range, its more about the perks you get.

(Note, this is all my opinion.)

1) If you're going domestics, go Ford. No one wants to dump out $25-40/mo for Onstar on a Chevy, and Ford's MS Sync system is awesomely fun (I just rented a Focus with it and was immensly pleased), and Chrysler's dead to me except for their muscle car line.

2) If you're going ot get a Hyundai brand, go with Hyundai. Kia was bought by them, and they've gone from being comparable to Hyundai being the better brand.

3) Honda > Mitsubishi/Toyota > Nissan. I've shopped their vehicles twice for myself and a dozen times with friends, and every time that's the way things end up. Special exceptions from the rule for the Nissan Altima, Nissan Rogue, and Toyota Matrix, which are all vehicles that tweak my fancy. I also like Mits' Galant, but that's because I used to have one.

4) Isuzu and Suzuki. Don't. Just... don't.

5) Subaru/Acura/Audi/Saab/Volkswagon/Buick/etc - Nice, but you can get a better car from one of the bigger brands for less.

6) BMW/Mercedes/Lexus/Infinity/Cadillac/Lincoln - You won the lottery when? Wait 5 years, everything in them will be in regular cars anyway.

[Wiregeek]

I was actually serious about the Mustang, for the record.
"No can brain today. Want cheezeburger."
From NGE: Nobody Dies, by Gregg Landsman
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5579457/1/NGE_Nobody_Dies

[robkelk]

I would suggest the 2011 Mustang as a commuter car. 27mpg is good enough for me!

Not sure about the insurance premiums on a Mustang. (Which is something else I should be shopping around for, too.)

If you're going ot get a Hyundai brand, go with Hyundai. Kia was bought by them, and they've gone from being comparable to Hyundai being the better brand.

Thanks for the heads-up.

and Toyota Matrix

I won't have a Toyota right now. All those recent acceleration glitches in different models show they have a systemic problem that needs to be worked out. Maybe in a few years...
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[ZeonicFreak]

I was trying to get a Kia Rio last christmas, but due to me with no credit and using my parents credit didnt help, nothing came of that.
Then 2 months later, I got a 2001 Chevy Caviler. For $2500, It had little over 100k miles and made 30mpg with little nicks and dents on the front. To me, i just needed something better than the 1995 sable i was driving. I traded that in and got the price knocked down to 1900 with sales tax that i paid cash for. Its a great car for what i need it for, to travel and daily commutes.Public Access Anime : My Justin.tv channel.

[Sofaspud]

For what it's worth, my wife got into an accident with a Kia a few years back.  We have a 2002 Ford Focus; I'm not sure what year the Kia was, but this happened in '07.  The Kia hit the passenger-side rear of the Focus, hard enough to spin the Focus through a 180 into the curb, though the police said that was more due to the angle rather than the speed (they estimated it was going maybe 35, tops).  My wife had a wrenched neck, my son had a bruise on his forehead from smacking the glass -- he was in the backseat, passenger side.
After the accident, the Focus had a bit of trouble opening the rear door until we took a hammer to the worst of the dents. Oh, and, the impact triggered the kill switch, which the tow-truck driver was kind enough to reset for free.
The Kia was dead.  It looked like someone had stomped on a soda can -- a full one, as it bled all over the pavement.  The driver had to be taken out in an ambulance, and there weren't any passengers.  I don't know the full extent of her injuries but she was not coherent at the scene (I got there before the ambulance or police did, I was a block away).
So, uh, yeah.
Blue book on my Focus suggests a bit over $5k if it were in excellent condition; a Rio with the same mileage and such is just under $4k.  (Suggested retail, not private party.)  I gotta say, after seeing that Kia crumple like that... I don't think I'll ever be buying one.
I quite like the Focus.  I get 35 MPG on the highway and this year is the first it's needed serious maintenance (a clutch job).  Some dipshit put the boot to the side mirror but that's not the car's fault.

--sofaspud
--"Listening to your kid is the audio equivalent of a Salvador Dali painting, Spud." --OpMegs

[jpub]

Like I said, the current Ford offerings are badass. If I was buying a car right now to replace my Aura, I'd get a Fusion in a second.

[Rod.H]

As for vinyl graphic solutions, I fired up Forza 3 and applied some to a Citroen DS3

[robkelk]

So... doing a bit more research, taking into account what's been said so far, and now wondering: How's a Mazda 3 rate with folks here?
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[jpub]

OOh. On my little list of Jap imports I'd rate Mazda above Toyota, and below Honda. I love the Mazda 3, especially the hatchback. I would have gotten one myself, if my wife didn't have some unreasoning prejudice against hatchbacks.

The Mazda 5 is also a really interesting car, and the 6 is fun to drive.

[Rod.H]

Well, Top Gear rates a Mazda 3 as a 10, out of 20. However the Kia you were looking at initially, they rate at 7/20. The review also has in it that they think a Mazda 3's a bit like a shopping bag. I think they also say that about Toyota Corolla's too.

Haven't yet come across an epic Itasha car vinyl in Forza, just bit and pieces of 'em. When I do, a 300C's going to become one.

[Wiregeek]

I've been hearing a lot of people waving their arms and flailing about the Ford Focus.

A Ford Taurus with that luscious Ecoboost (Jalopnik says it should be called 'Hellaboost') 4 cylinder would be a lovely addition to my stable.
"No can brain today. Want cheezeburger."
From NGE: Nobody Dies, by Gregg Landsman
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5579457/1/NGE_Nobody_Dies

[Sofaspud]

I'm getting the impression that a domestic (or at least, a Ford) is a no-no. 
As for Mazda, I had a Protoge once.  It was nice and zippy, and I liked driving it, though there were a couple small complaints I had with it.  Since it's not a Mazda 3, I doubt many of them will matter.  The one big problem I had, though, was... parts thieves.
According to the police, Mazda is high up there on the list of cars targeted for stripping.  And boy howdy, did they strip mine.  Right in my own driveway.  I came out in the morning, tried to start the car, got a dull click... popped the hood and oh, hey, where'd my throttle assembly go?
To add insult to injury, after the police came and looked at it and basically said "We'll add it to the list but don't expect much", they hit it *again* the next weekend.  That time they took pretty much everything out of the engine save the engine itself, as well as the headlights (as in, the entire thing) and front bumper.
Police (on second call): "Oh, yeah, Mazdas are hit pretty often like this.  I'd never buy one."  Thanks, that helps, really.

--sofaspud
--"Listening to your kid is the audio equivalent of a Salvador Dali painting, Spud." --OpMegs

[jpub]

I don't know how prone the Mazda 3's are for thievery. I know Honda Civics and Toyota Corollas are still bad.

[robkelk]

I'm getting the impression that a domestic (or at least, a Ford) is a no-no.

I'm driving a Ford now. I want to keep my options open...
--
Rob Kelk
"Governments have no right to question the loyalty of those who oppose
them. Adversaries remain citizens of the same state, common subjects of
the same sovereign, servants of the same law."

- Michael Ignatieff, addressing Stanford University in 2012

[ZeonicFreak]

I'm getting the impression that a domestic (or at least, a Ford) is a no-no. 
As for Mazda, I had a Protoge once.  It was nice and zippy, and I liked driving it, though there were a couple small complaints I had with it.  Since it's not a Mazda 3, I doubt many of them will matter.  The one big problem I had, though, was... parts thieves.
According to the police, Mazda is high up there on the list of cars targeted for stripping.  And boy howdy, did they strip mine.  Right in my own driveway.  I came out in the morning, tried to start the car, got a dull click... popped the hood and oh, hey, where'd my throttle assembly go?
To add insult to injury, after the police came and looked at it and basically said "We'll add it to the list but don't expect much", they hit it *again* the next weekend.  That time they took pretty much everything out of the engine save the engine itself, as well as the headlights (as in, the entire thing) and front bumper.
Police (on second call): "Oh, yeah, Mazdas are hit pretty often like this.  I'd never buy one."  Thanks, that helps, really.

Wow, good thing i never had that problem with my 1993 Mazda 323 when i was in high school, probably because every one in the town knew that IT WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD HALF THE TIME when i first got it.
I loved my first car, except the parts when it didnt work. But when it did, it was awesome. I love that standard 5 speed transmission it had, it was so smooth, and the clutch felt like paper, very light. When i sold it (for school money), i gradually started to miss it and wish i sold my dads (now my brothers) 99 Chevy Silverado at the time, but again glad i kept that truck.Public Access Anime : My Justin.tv channel.

[CattyNebulart]

well i can give you my complete experience with cars; which in short is that Ford sucks and Honda rocks.

I used to drive a civic and so does my mother. My mother's car had it's first breakdown last week (Still drives, but problems with the exhaust), after 12 years of driving (about 80k) and only one maintenance stop. considering the manual says to go for a maintenance checkup every 2500 miles, and she does it every 40K or so miles it's impressively durable.

I have taken better care of my civic and while my sister now drives it it is still going without problems at 80k miles.

Currently driving a 2010 Honda Fit and it has worked out well so far (a bit over 10K miles so far. yes I drive a lot for a while I was averaging 500 miles a week). I wanted to buy an insight but the gas millage wasn't that much better and the Fit has a bit more room. I really recommend the Fit if you are looking for a good cheap car, it's very nice.

The nice thing about Honda's is that they don't tend to depreciate much (In fact the first civic I drove gained in value if you believe the used car dealer trying to sell one ) So if you want to trade it in after 3-4 years for a nicer car it should still retain a good deal of value.

We used to have a Ford Taurus (piece of junk, gave up the ghost when the engine block split in two while driving) and still have an Ford Mustang that almost always needs to be in the shop for some minor annoyance that should be fixed.
E: "Did they... did they just endorse the combination of the JSDF and US Army by showing them as two lesbian lolicons moving in together and holding hands and talking about how 'intimate' they were?"
B: "Have you forgotten so soon? They're phasing out Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

[Sofaspud]

... 12 years, 80k?  That's what we call a granny driver, there.
My Ford Focus is an '02.  I commute 70 miles M-F, plus odds and ends on weekends; call it 400 miles / week, not counting roadtrips to Seattle and whatnot.  The Blue Book on my Focus is only about $1000 less than I paid for it originally.  As mentioned before, it's had only one major maintenance thing needed, which was replacing the clutch -- this year.  We abuse the hell out of synthetic oil, too, mostly 'cause I tend to forget to do the oil change thing until we've come up on 8-10000 miles.
I can't argue that 90's-era Tauruses were crap.  Dunno about the Mustangs, never owned one.  My parents had a Taurus, though, and it died at least five times on them over about ten years of service.
I have nothing against Hondas... well, save for the tendency of idiots to buy a Civic and trick it out until it resembles some form of reject from the Fast and the Furious production set.  That's probably not the car's fault, though.

--sofaspud
--"Listening to your kid is the audio equivalent of a Salvador Dali painting, Spud." --OpMegs

[Logan Darklighter]

I owned a 96 Mustang for a few years. And it was a reliable car. Fun to drive too. You could treat it like an everyday car, going to and from work, or road trips with it. Never complained. And when you wanted power - the modern V6 Engine with fuel injection and overhead cams is at least as peppy as the old 289 V8 of the 60s. I know because I've owned a 1967 Mustang as well. And let me tell you, more than any other car I've ever had, I want that one BACK.

[jpub]

Is this where I mention I only put 8.5k/year on my Saturn?