Just bought a Kia - the Japanese are in trouble

[killarney_sailor]

We have just purchased a Kia Forte for use while in Canada and for when we get back from sailing. Looked at a bunch of compacts from Ford, Chev, Toyota, Hyundai, Toyota, and Kia. Really a good bunch of cars but the Koreans were best. Might have bought the Elantra but there was a 6 week delivery wait for what we wanted. The Kia was the best deal with standard features like heated seats, stablity control, cruise. The only options we got were auto (6 speed - it only does 2000 rpm at 60 mph so mileage is great) and sunroof. Prices were really good and the dealer was aggressive. Probably the second choice was the Cruze which we quite liked but it was more expensive when you compared equal trim levels.

Toyota and Honda are in trouble - they have not kept up in the technology wars with the Koreans (Kia and Hyundai are the same company), Ford and GM. Customer loyalty will only go so far. My wife has had a Camry since new in 1999 and she assumed we would buy a Toyota until she saw what else is out there.

[St Anna]

Well done, but, B, I have to say
'you are a cruiser, SNAP OUT OF IT'

[INMA]

We just went throught he same exersise of looking then buying. Ended up with a Honda Jazz automatic.

Did not like the other stuff on offer because they waste so much space and are not practical with floors that have ups and downs high rear sills and generally not efficient use of areas or just plain areas that can't be used.

The Honda might be old fashioned and not filled with technology, that's just what we were looking for.

I agree the Koreans are improving and make good cars but they are not refined. As for fuel economy, weight has to be the biggest factor and the smaller lighter Jazz seems to do a great job.

We had salesmen try to sell us diesels for fuel economy in heavier cars. The new diesels are not like our old Mercedes diesel of 20 years ago. Most new diesels will be lucky to get past 150,000km due to their fragile systems.

So Kia is good but Honda was better. Seat warmers do not make a Kia better than a Honda where I live.

[killarney_sailor]

Seat warmers - mmm! It snowed today - can't believe I left Brisbane for this. Will not be going back until the first tremors of spring appear here.

Forgot, the Kia also has a 5 year warranty. Everyone else had 3 years.

[administrator]

I drive a decent number of miles every year - mostly highway. I bought a new VW Jetta TDI in July of 2009. It has not had a single problem. Has averaged 46 MPG since I bought it. Has 60k miles and I'll bet the original tires still have another 15K on them. My wife has me beat through - she averages 59 MPG in her used Prius which we paid $12.5k for in June of 2009. Her car has been perfect too.

[SloopJonB]

Originally Posted by administrator

I drive a decent number of miles every year - mostly highway. I bought a new VW Jetta TDI in July of 2009. It has not had a single problem. Has averaged 46 MPG since I bought it. Has 60k miles and I'll bet the original tires still have another 15K on them. My wife has me beat through - she averages 59 MPG in her used Prius which we paid $12.5k for in June of 2009. Her car has been perfect too.

I also paid $12.5K for my wife's birthday gift - a used, supercharged V8 Jag XJR. It has more horses than my Corvette and makes really beautiful noises when you wind it out to 6000 RPM - the muted blower whine makes an old 12 cylinder Ferrari sort of noise. It gets about 27 MPG on the highway while cruising in whisper quiet at 175 KMH (110 - 115 MPH). We came from Mount Rushmore to Vancouver in 1 1/2 days in complete comfort. You can speak in normal tones at those speeds and it's basically cruise control with one hand on the wheel - 2 hands on secondary roads.

Screw your wife's 59MPG. I worked all my life to afford nice cars and I'm going to ENJOY my cars until we HAVE to drive transportation modules like the Prius. With any luck, the oil will last longer than me.

[Fstbttms]

Originally Posted by killarney_sailor

Toyota and Honda are in trouble...

I doubt it. Kia does not get high marks for reliablity and overall quality. Do a Google search on the subject, there are any number of reports documenting this.

The Japanese still build the best mid-to-low priced cars in the world, for my money.

[tdw]

I drive an Audi A4 and the Wombet a Golf. Given the overall reliability and excellent build quality of both, the Volkswagen group would have to screw up royally to lose my support. I do wish the A4 was an Allroad wagon but as I'm not planning on changing cars for some few years to come so I might just rip the back seats out of the Golf to increase boat crap carrying capacity and pass the A4 to madam.

All my vehicles of the last thirty years have been German (BMW, VW, Audi) or Swedish (Volvo), the Wombet also has had a Suburu. I loathed the Suburu though it was bullet proof I do admit. BMWs I adore as a driver but they are insanely expensive to maintain, Audi not so much a drivers car but utterly reliable and not quite so expensive as BMW, VW best compromise, Volvo boring as all get out but it did the job.

[SloopJonB]

Originally Posted by Fstbttms

I doubt it. Kia does not get high marks for reliablity and overall quality. Do a Google search on the subject, there are any number of reports documenting this.

The Japanese still build the best mid-to-low priced cars in the world, for my money.

Would those be the Japanese cars built in Ontario or the ones built in Ohio or the ones built in L.A.?

Cars are one of the most International products available. Were you aware that the Ford Crown Victoria - the definition of an American car - was classified as an import because so much of it came from Mexico?

The idea of "German", "Japanese", "American" cars is completely obsolete and has been for years. Nowadays it is simply prejudice. I see more Mercedes, dead, at the side of the road than any other brand in my neighbourhood. They and BMW are notorious for having computer related problems.

[tdw]

Originally Posted by SloopJonB

Would those be the Japanese cars built in Ontario or the ones built in Ohio or the ones built in L.A.?

Cars are one of the most International products available. Were you aware that the Ford Crown Victoria - the definition of an American car - was classified as an import because so much of it came from Mexico?

The idea of "German", "Japanese", "American" cars is completely obsolete and has been for years. Nowadays it is simply prejudice. I see more Mercedes, dead, at the side of the road than any other brand in my neighbourhood. They and BMW are notorious for having computer related problems.

Man oh man we are disagreeing about quite a bit lately Sloop.

Maybe "German" is obsolete and should be "European" but I reckon I could slide blindfolded into a European, Asian or American automobile and tell the difference, if not while at rest then by going for a short drive.

Blindfolded ? Well you get my drift I'm sure.