Need Your Thoughts On KIA Sportage?

[kdjsc]

I have been at a local dealership all day and really want a KIA Sportage they have but it made me nervous when I saw the warning about roll overs on the visor. So I was wondering if anyone here has owned one and what are the cons to them?

This one is a stick shift and 4 wheel drive. Any thoughts before we make our final choice tomorrow would be great as it is a toss up between that or a new mini van to replace our current van.

Thanks!

[dawnbreaker]

What did you decide on Kathy?

I figure my reply is a bit late to help you, but we bought a used 97 Sportage and like it except for a few things. But here's my review anyway! It's better on gas than most SUVs. It handles really well, except that it's a very light weight vehicle so the wind can push it around. The four wheel drive is really handy (used it quite often lately). Make sure you check the leg room in the back seat. We don't have kids yet, so it's not too big of a deal. Price wise, it's has a good selling price. But it depreciates very quickly. And of course, the warranty is helpful.

And best of all ... it's a really cute vehicle! Ours is cherry red with plenty of personalized touches that we've added (including a few magnetic bullet holes)!!

Hope you had fun car shopping!!!!!

-Beth

[Maggie]

Even my Toyota Tundra has the rollover warning on the visor and it's a very safe (and fun!) vehicle in my opinion. I wouldn't let just that stop you.

[kdjsc]

Thanks for the help. We have made up our mind and want the KIA now we are just shopping lenders for the cheapest rate. The dealership let us have it all afternoon on Wednesday and I just fell in love with it and need it. We have three boys and of course they want it (not sure if the pretty red color helped them decide) but I kept explaining to them it is less room then our van and friends wouldn't be able to travel with us unless we took two cars and they were fine.

After doing the free Carfax report this weekend I can't wait til it is ours as it only had one owner before us and the report was clean!

I am thinking the rollover warning is something they put on the SUV types and SUV's.

Thanks again!

[Sue]

While we're on the subject of new cars. We're thinking of buying either a Kia or a Hyundai. Not a suv, but just a small car. I want a car with the 100,000 mile warranty as my dad, a retired mechanic can't do the work on our cars anymore and I can't see paying an arm and a leg at a dealership for repairs. Does anyone own either of these cars, I think the Hyandai is an Accent, maybe? It's the smaller version that goes for under or around $10,000 I'd like to hear what you like or don't like about both to help us decide which would be a better car. This would be our primary car and would get ALOT of use. Not too concerned about back seat space as the only one who would be riding in the backseat is my 6 year old grandson a few times a week, so we don't really need alot of leg room.

[Tech-Mark]

I don't know the details on either of these vehicles. But be sure to get the details of the warranty.

A 100,000 mile warranty may not be bumper to bumper. It may cover specific items. It may cover just the powertrain. There may be a deductible.

Just my 2 cents.

-Mark

[SWright363]

I work as a warranty administrator for a Dodge dealership and I just wanted to let you know that the warning is standard on all SUVs. I own a Durango and I love it! All SUV are top heavy. I was witness to an accident where an Expedition rolled when the tire blew. As I said before, they are all a risk, but I will never own another car, I love my SUV.

Shelley

[snugglebug]

I second that Durango. I love mine!

Be wary of Carfax. Many states have a certain dollar amount at which they report accidents. To make a long story short, my husband "totaled"our Altima. The insurance company decided to fix it ($3500). The repair shop did not properly report extra damage and they did not properly fix the car. After lawsuit, we ended up getting a nice chunk of money back, proof that the car should have been totaled. At any rate, the damages reported to the state of Maine were not enough to warrant being reported to Carfax. I found this out while we were car shopping to replace the Altima. While Carfax can be useful, you can't fully rely on the reports.

[kdjsc]

Well we ended up with a new 2003 Dodge Caravan instead of the KIA as I got to thinking about the boys getting older and needing more leg room and I would pity any teen or adult that would have to sit in the back. Thanks for your thoughts though everyone. (The mini-van was a much better deal as we got a rebate to help with the down payment)

[aprilgail]

Congrats on your new van! Personally I would never buy a Kia anything or a Hyundai but that is just my personal opinion, they just seem like 2nd rate cars...I may get a van once my car is all paid for...I take more trips by car every year and a van would make it less cramped.

[Ragarone]

I think you made the right choice about getting the van instead of the Hyundai or Kia.

I am sad to say, we own a Hyundai (2000 Elantra) and can concur with Aprilgail that they are, in fact, second rate cars.

Our other vehicle is a 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette mini-van. We couldn't be happier with this van! We were shopping it and the Toyota and Honda vans. This one has more room, and has proven extremely reliable, comfortable and functional.

Congrats on your new van!!

[kdjsc]

Thanks everyone! I am sure the van is the better choice due to the amount of the room we have in it. It was hard enough last year we went to the Bronz Zoo and then a seperate trip to parts of Long Island last year in our old van with the three boys and all of our gear it was still cramped and we are due for another trip this spring and the KIA wouldn't have been very comfy for the kids at all. I just had to think about it alittle more and then with the extra rebates and 7 year warranty had me sold on the van. It is funny to as the lenders wouldn't help us if we bought used so we had to go new?! Not sure why but in the long run it is much better. (Finally I have a dual slider as our other was a '97)


Thanks again everyone!