KIA <--- girlfriend planning on buying one

[imported_KuJaX]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
Oh brother. Lemmon Laws do apply to new cars you know.

Originally posted by: KuJaX
Heya,

Well my girlfriend finally got rid of her problem stricken Cadillac (Catera). It was the biggest piece of crap ever, and she didnt consult with me before purchasing it. She blindly picked the first car she saw and got screwed HARD. Every month it would break down, costing her more than $500 each time. Of course, she bought the worthless 3rd party warranty worth $3,000 that didnt cover any of the $2000+ problems she had with the car in just under 4 months. She had it 6 months before finally getting a buyer and she got owned because she had to sell it so cheap. Its pretty bad when you have to take out a loan that would normally buy the car she is looking at now, just to pay off the Cadilllac. Lesson learned I guess.

Anyway, she now is in debt, is only working part time and wants to go to school. She needs something cheaper than $5,000 but also has less than 60,000 miles. KIA was basically the only thing that we could come up with. We test drove a few, and she has to decide between a 2002 Kia Spectra or a 2002 Kia Rio. Both have less than 55,000 miles and the Spectra is $900 more (but didnt seem as clean).

What have your expierence(s) been with KIA? Are they reliable? How expensive are the parts/repair if something did infact go wrong? I tried to dig up information on them via consumerreports, but all of the stuff says "not enough DATA".

The Cadillac wasnt NEW. Sadly, or else we definately would have taken advantage of the lemon law. In Utah, it only applies to brand new cars.

 

[allanon1965]

sorry eli, dont take my previous post the wrong way, i tend to get a little defensive nowadays when I percieve a post that seems to jump to a conclusion about my judgement....I have been doing this too damn long....I cant wait to retire and relax a little🙂

 

[johnnqq]

dude if you want something safe and reliable (which kia is NOT) get a used civic. corollas are ok too...

oh and the comment about hondas and toyotas costing a lot to repair. that's just false. the civic has the BIGGEST aftermarket support of any car. PERIOD. sure, a cavalier (which is one of the least safest and reliable cars on the road. discontinued and renamed the cobalt) may cost a little less, but not 2-3 times less (not to mention they will break down again).

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
Oh brother. Lemmon Laws do apply to new cars you know.

The Catera ran from 1997 - 2001, IIRC. The newest that car could be is 5 years old. Which doesn't excuse it, obviously, but it's not a new car in any sense of the word. They had tons of problems with those, esp. the early ones. I would guess repairs for the Catera were probably more expensive in general than other cars because of low parts availability due to its relatively short production run.

I would agree that you should set aside some $$ for repairs, regardless of what car you get. If you blow your whole wad on the initial purchase, and something fails right away (a risk you take with any used car) you'll be walking.

 

[Reckoner]

Kia makes Volkswagen look like the Toyota of reliability

 

[CheapBastardo]

i bought a 1998 honda accord with 140K miles and have it for about year now. Nothing broken Yet. But the damn break light fuse keep burning out and having to replace it every week.

 

[allanon1965]

oh and the comment about hondas and toyotas costing a lot to repair. that's just false. the civic has the BIGGEST aftermarket support of any car. PERIOD. sure, a cavalier (which is one of the least safest and reliable cars on the road. discontinued and renamed the cobalt) may cost a little less, but not 2-3 times less (not to mention they will break down again).

Care to back that statement up with facts buddy? for your information, asian import alternators and starters cost 2 to 3 times as much as a domestic alternator or starter in most cases and for this topic, in all cases....a cavalier alternator is 117.95 from our supplier for rebuilts, the same year honda and toyota alternator, not to mention a kia alternator cost well over 255.00 dollars... thats at least twice the cost....and dont get me started on labor times to put it in....and by the way, civic does NOT have the biggest aftermarket support......old muscle cars from the 60's and 70's do....and where so you get your facts from for cavalier being the least safe and reliable on the road from?

 

[vi edit]

Late 90's Nissan Altimas are a good choice. Good mix of size, economy, power, safety and great reliability. Also thousands less than a similar Camry/Accord.

 

[allanon1965]

go to consumer reports and check it out... 1992-95 Honda Civic: Reliability
Trouble Spots
Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer, however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.

Air conditioner: If the air-conditioner belt repeatedly comes off, the splash shield under the engine is probably knocking it off when the car goes over a parking curb, etc. (1992-95)
Audio system: If the CD changer in the trunk will not eject, the company will exchange the CD magazines with a redesigned one. (All)

Automatic transmission: Cars with high mileage may begin to shift more harshly, which may be corrected by adding a bottle of Lubeguard conditioner to the automatic-transmission fluid. (1992-95)

Trunk latch: There may not be sufficient clearance on the trunk latch making it hard to open with the key. (1992-95)

Water leak: There may be water leaking into the passenger footwell because of insufficient sealer on the seam at the firewall. Look for rust on the floor pan and run water over the right lower corner of the windshield to watch for water leaks before buying the car. (1992-95)


Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs
This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership to be slightly higher.

Item Name Repair Cost

A/C Compressor $470
Alternator $310
Automatic Transmission or Transaxle $750
Brakes $180
Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing $455
Constant Velocity Joints $550
Exhaust System $428
Radiator $360
Shocks and/or Struts $580
Timing Chain or Belt $190


NHTSA Recall History
1992-94: Retaining clip at automatic transmission can come off, so position of lever does not match actual transmission gear range.

1994: Passenger-side airbag module on small number of cars may contain incorrect inflator, therefore unable to provide adequate protection.

now the cavalier...

1990-94 Chevrolet Cavalier: Reliability
Trouble Spots
Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer, however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.

Automatic transmission: TH-125 automatic transmissions may shift late or not upshift at all. The problem is a stuck throttle valve inside the transmission. (1990-94)
Ignition switch: The ignition switch may not return from the start to the run position and the accessories may not work because the screws that hold the switch in place were overtightened. (1991-94)

Transaxle leak: The right front axle seal at the automatic transaxle is prone to leak. GM issued a revised seal to correct the problem. (1992-94)


Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs
This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership to be slightly higher.

Item Name Repair Cost

A/C Compressor $540
Alternator $190
Automatic Transmission or Transaxle $865
Brakes $210
Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing $620
Constant Velocity Joints $545
Exhaust System $350
Radiator $240
Shocks and/or Struts $315
Timing Chain or Belt $255


NHTSA Recall History
1991: Front door interlock striker may fail, causing door frame collapse and insufficient strength for shoulder-belt anchorage.

1991: Front door shoulder-belt guide loops may be cracked; occupant faces increased risk of injury in sudden stop or accident.

1992: Secondary hood-latch spring in some cars is improperly installed or missing.

1993: Rear brake hoses on some cars are improperly manufactured and can cause reduced brake effectiveness.

1994: On small number of cars, drive-axle spindle nuts may be overtorqued; can result in separation of steering knuckle tire-wheel assembly from axle.

while chevy cost a little more on some things...like i said, the alternator is over 2 times as expensive....310.00 compared to 190.00

 

[NeoPTLD]

I read on Edmunds.com that true cost of ownership in five years is actually lower for a Honda Civic than a Kia.

 

[vi edit]

Care to back that statement up with facts buddy? for your information, asian import alternators and starters cost 2 to 3 times as much as a domestic alternator or starter in most cases and for this topic, in all cases....a cavalier alternator is 117.95 from our supplier for rebuilts, the same year honda and toyota alternator, not to mention a kia alternator cost well over 255.00 dollars... thats at least twice the cost....and dont get me started on labor times to put it in....and by the way, civic does NOT have the biggest aftermarket support......old muscle cars from the 60's and 70's do....and where so you get your facts from for cavalier being the least safe and reliable on the road from?

By your own numbers that you linked, adding up all of those items, a Civic is only about $175 more for all major repairs combined.

Far cry from 2-3 times the price. Who's numbers are off?

 

[allanon1965]

i was comparing alternators and starters, apparently i havent made that clear enough....alternators and starters are 2 of the most common breakdown parts on any car....see the trend here?? re read the post.....

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: allanon1965
i was comparing alternators and starters, apparently i havent made that clear enough....alternators and starters are 2 of the most common breakdown parts on any car....see the trend here?? re read the post.....

But hopefully you'd only have to replace them once, maybe twice over the life of the car. In the grand scheme of ownership is it really that big of a deal?

 

[allanon1965]

now that i have your attention, care to compare costs not shown on those charts? or were you not aware that there are more parts to a car than what is listed there? wheel bearings and hub assemblies for one....how about when they blow a head gasket or crack a head because the driver wasnt paying attention to his lights and guages and overheated the hell out of the engine? hmmmm? what do you do for a living? i see these cars every day and i know what the costs are to repair them with QUALITY parts, not the junk from autozone.....so take the consumer reports with a grain of salt, they are not always a true reflection of the actual costs associated with repairs, especially when they dont even list some of the bigger ones...

 

[allanon1965]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAA yea right, once or twice? when most of the people who want cheap cheap cheap.....they get autozone alternators for the "lifetime warranty" only to find we have to replace it 5 or 6 times during the time they own the car and I can PROVE that with our customer records...with all the labor costs they pay for replacing the so called "lifetime part" they could have paid for a quality unit 3 times....and then only had to replace it once or twice...

 

[MichaelD]

KIA = Killed In Action

What did you do to your girfriend, you murderous tard?

 

[NeoPTLD]

Edmunds.com data is based on statistical analysis, therefore individual result may vary. Obviously, there are going to be problem Hondas and fantastic Kias, but what statistical data says is that out of large sample, Hondas have lower cost of five-year ownership than do Kias.

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: NeoPTLD
Edmunds.com data is based on statistical analysis, therefore individual result may vary. Obviously, there are going to be problem Hondas and fantastic Kias, but what statistical data says is that out of large sample, Hondas have lower cost of five-year ownership than do Kias.

i think the "cost" is mainly because of depreciation of the KIA. edmunds probably compare MSRP. and NOBODY would buy a KIA in MSRP IMO. hell i bet even the president of KIA wouldn't want to buy a KIA at full MSRP.

 

[imported_KuJaX]

KIAS to lose value a lot faster, but she is 1) buying used *already depreciated a ton 2) isnt looking to hold on to it forever, 3 years max. also, with less than 60k miles, it will last 3 years.

I can't honestly think that a 150k mile honda would last another 50k miles or so and 3 years, hard to believe without some major, major, major repairs

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: KuJaX
KIAS to lose value a lot faster, but she is 1) buying used *already depreciated a ton 2) isnt looking to hold on to it forever, 3 years max. also, with less than 60k miles, it will last 3 years.

I can't honestly think that a 150k mile honda would last another 50k miles or so and 3 years, hard to believe without some major, major, major repairs

don't be so sure. early 2000 sephia's sell for ~$2k with less than 80k miles for a reason.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: allanon1965
HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAA yea right, once or twice? when most of the people who want cheap cheap cheap.....they get autozone alternators for the "lifetime warranty" only to find we have to replace it 5 or 6 times during the time they own the car and I can PROVE that with our customer records...with all the labor costs they pay for replacing the so called "lifetime part" they could have paid for a quality unit 3 times....and then only had to replace it once or twice...

Hrmmm

The only thing I get from Autozone are Bosch oil filters, Bosch wiper blades, and slyvania light bulbs...all OEM equipment on my Volkswagen. Everything else is done at either the dealer or an independent german auto shop.

The only alternators I've had to replace were on domestic vehicles - a '90 Grand Am @ 65,000 miles, and a '97 Monte Carlo @ 60,000 miles.

My Camry got traded in at 135k on the same alternator and my Passat is at 93k on the same alternator.

As to answer your question...I'm IT. A far cry from an automechanic.

I just don't understand what exactly it is you are trying to say.

 

[qaa541]

I dont think the Kia/Hyundai 100k warranty applies after the car is sold. I think it only applies to the original owner and after the car is sold, it gets cut in half.

 

[Legend]

I can't honestly think that a 150k mile honda would last another 50k miles or so and 3 years, hard to believe without some major, major, major repairs

I've had my 1992 Accord for 4 years, and I've had a total of about $800 in repairs (oil changes, front axle needed repair, some common problem with the starter motor). I have 130k miles.

My brother has the same model, 180k miles. It actually has had fewer repairs.

I hear they can make 250k typically if maintained.

Edit: Actually someone at work was talking to me about my car in the car garage. He had the exact same car at 300k, and a mechanic said that it would last 100k probably. But he sold it because the same woman that sold him that car was selling her 1998 Accord for cheap or something.

But don't take my word for it. Just pick up a consumer reports. The oldest models that are reported still get good reliability ratings in most categories, whereas most American cars and Korean cars go to bad after about 5 years of use.

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: johnnqq
dude if you want something safe and reliable (which kia is NOT) get a used civic. corollas are ok too...

oh and the comment about hondas and toyotas costing a lot to repair. that's just false. the civic has the BIGGEST aftermarket support of any car. PERIOD. sure, a cavalier (which is one of the least safest and reliable cars on the road. discontinued and renamed the cobalt) may cost a little less, but not 2-3 times less (not to mention they will break down again).

Have you even looked at a Cavalier since 1985? I see dozens of 1997+ model year Cavaliers running all over town on any given day. I had a 1998 Cavalier. Wonderfully inexpensive, underrated car... given gas prices today, I wish I still had it. I never had it in the shop for anything but oil changes in the 4 years I had it.

As an anecdote, my little bro's 2001 Cavalier has 100,000 miles on it and he drives from Rochester, MN to Chicago, IL (5-6hrs) every weekend to visit his fiance.

 

[allanon1965]

well i have replaced alternators and starters on vw's at 50000 and then my 92 caprice has 137000 with the original starter,alternator and waterpump.....what i am trying to say is for the most part imports cost more to repair on the majority of items and some are much more expensive...but they do go longer before having to do those repairs....so its a trade off, more repairs, less cost (usually) with domestics or less repairs. more costs(usually) with imports....while were at it, dont get me started on euro imports....i have despised vw and audi and bmw and mercedes engineering for years.....most of it is poor design when it comes to REPAIRING the car....by that i mean in order to get a waterpump off of some mercedes, you have to practically dismantle the whole front of the engins, and all because no one thought to move the location of a mounting ear a measily 1/8th inch farther away from the housing you are trying to remove😉 sure they run like rabbits and have a good track record, but try fixing one of the damn things!