How can anyone buy a KIA???

[briguy]

I have a 2001 Spectra 5 door, and despite what you people think you know, it is a great car. It rides great, it accelerates faster than a base Civic, Sentra AND Corollas. The warranty is great, 27,000 miles and not a single problem yet! So to all who are dissin' Kia
You don't know what your talking about!!

[Melt]

I dont know what you are smoking but ALL the cars you mentioned are quicker than the spectra. I dunno about the sentra, but the civic DX and corolla DX could smoke a spectra like some dank. So be quiet unless you have some proof to back up what you are claming because to the best of my knowledge, youre tripping.

[briguy]

Originally posted by Melt
I dont know what you are smoking but ALL the cars you mentioned are quicker than the spectra. I dunno about the sentra, but the civic DX and corolla DX could smoke a spectra like some dank. So be quiet unless you have some proof to back up what you are claming because to the best of my knowledge, youre tripping.

I drive the proof..............
If I had a video of proof, you'd be seeing it.
I can kill all cars in its class, stock!

[clockworksmurf]

KIA....Killed In Action....nuff said!!!:finger:

[Koojo]

No problems....thats a bunch of bullshit. My aunt owns a KIA (who knows why) and she's had so many problems with hers that it's time to throw it in the junk yard. From stereo problems, to power problems to door problems to engine problems, you name it she probably had it. And its only like 3 years old. My friend's mom had a KIA also, and she had problems with the airbag system. The airbag could have came out at anytime and just slapped her right in the face. That car was considered a lemon in the end. Face it, KIA's, Hyndui's (how ever you spell that), and Daewo's all come from korea and their products SUCK.

[SolTheHoelessPimp]

is to remove everything, but the body, chassis, and interior. I'd put in a new motor, new tranny, axles, wheels tires, wiring, ecu, lighting, stereo, everything, probably even the seats and carpet....it's look like a kia on the outside, but it sure as hell wouldn't be a kia.....and seeing as i can just buy i badass new car for that price then i'd just skip all that work, get something nice and mod it instead..

[Cmotif]

I have owned a lot of cars
1978 Audi 5000
1965 Ford Galaxie 500
1986 Plymouth Reliant K
1982 Honda Accord
1982 Fiat Strada
1988 Skoda Estelle
1977 Cadillac Sedan De Ville
1990 VW Jetta
1987 Mercedes 190D
2002 Subaru Legacy GT Wagon
2002 Kia Spectra GS

I used to sell cars at three different dealerships, Gateway Volkswagen Porsche Audi Suzuki, Appleway Subaru VW and Downtown Toyota.

I have driven 911s, Audi Quattro V8s, Celica GTs, Mustang Cobras, VW Corrados etc etc etc.

Kia seems to be at the level the Mitsubishi was at a few year ago. the 1.8 liter 16 valve 127 HP/108 ft/lb torque engine in the Spectra GS pulls like it came out of a mid 90s VW GTI.

The Spectra a great car for the price. It is cheaper and more powerful than a Toyota Echo.

It is OK. People made fun of my Skoda too. It was a fun car to drive, and Skoda is getting known more and more internationally, and getting better.

Whatever, people will bicker back and forth forever over Ford, Chevy Dodge and there is no convincing anyone. (Kia, Honda, Subaru, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Citroen, Proton, Renault, Peugoet, Skoda, Fiat, Seat etc etc.)

Maybe take a new one for a test drive, then go and compare it with the much more expensive Toyota Echo or Suzuki Aerio.

Cmotif <><

[Koojo]

Hey good comparison...a crappy car to a crappy car (spectra to echo). kudoos to you

[Cmotif]

Some people will buy anything if it has a Toyota badge on it. I like Land Cruisers, and Celicas, obviously Supras, but the rest of the Toyota line bores me.

And what a price you have to pay to have a Toyota badge on your car. Those dealership seem so proud of their high prices.

Personally, I don't care that much about badges, and have tried cars from lots of different countries.

Financially right now, this makes sense. What other 1.8 liter 16 valve can you get new for less than 9,000 dollars?

Nice Inifiniti Koojo, went to your site.

I am not comparing a Kia to an Infiniti. But as far as a world car, meaning sold all over the world, it is not bad. Did you know that the average engine displacement in Great Britain is 1.4 liters? There are a lot of 750CC and 1 liter cars running around there. I have had two cars that had 1,300 CC engines in them (Fiat and Skoda). The Skoda, I even had up to 100 mph. That is faster than what you can legally do on the road anywhere in this country.

For a driving around town, dropping my son off at preschool, getting stuff to and from work, the 1.8 liter motivates that car more than adequate. I had fun chasing a WRX on the freeway yesterday at 80 MPH. I love Imprezas, and I would have bought a TS wagon if I had more money. I am a Master's student at the moment.

I really like the cavernous Hatchback, and being able to fold the back seat and put in lots of stuff. It holds more than my Mercedes.

This car works for me. I am having a fun time driving it, and that is really matters.

Cmotif <><

[Cmotif]

Those lights look a lot like the ones on the new RSX. Kia is taking a lot of styling cues from Acura. If you look at the new Sorrento, it is has some styling that came from the Acua SUV.

For whatever it is worth, the suspension on the new Spectra was developed in association with Lotus. You know, Lotus Esprit, Lotus Elise.

I'm not saying that a Kia is the same as Lotus, but every little bit of technology that they can get from experts helps.

With the reviews that I read, it is the lame Hankook tires that really make the car feel bad. I will be replacing them with something high end, and go with a larger wheel. It is not uncommon to have new cars spec'ed with cheap low end tires. Car companies are trying to make a profit everywhere they can.

Hahahaha! I wanted to go back and edit this post. I got the car at Ron Tonkin here in town. Their dealer license plate things have cupid with car key in his bow. I don't have my new license plates yet. Just to say, that is not my idea of making the car stylish.

I personally believe Briguy when he talks about his experiences driving his 2001 Spectra. I have dropped more than a few cars at lights. Sad thing is that when I am not trying to race, just returning a movie or something, you have idiots out there in their brown mid 80s Escorts who think that they got to show how much muscle their cars by doing 60 in a 35 mile per hour zone.

Third is a fun gear on the freeway, will rocket to 90 MPH at 6,500 redline. Its a five speed.

There is more wind noise than I like with the car. That is part of the reason Kia sells vent visors for the side windows. I think that is a good thing to get. But heck, it is a 9,000 dollar car. Having a lot of fun for 149.00 dollar a month payment, and no repair bills.

Stock stereo sounds pretty good, way better than the Becker unit that came in the Mercedes. I run my iPod MP3 player through it. Will replace the speakers in the car when I hear them start to degrade. (No speakers sound good forever) Will go with Pioneer or Polk Audio units at that point.

Cmotif <><

[Melt]

Originally posted by Cmotif
I personally believe Briguy when he talks about his experiences driving his 2001 Spectra. I have dropped more than a few cars at lights. Sad thing is that when I am not trying to race, just returning a movie or something, you have idiots out there in their brown mid 80s Escorts who think that they got to show how much muscle their cars by doing 60 in a 35 mile per hour zone.

Third is a fun gear on the freeway, will rocket to 90 MPH at 6,500 redline. Its a five speed.

Mid 80's escorts, you guys kill me!! The review you put out actually makes the kia sound pretty tight, but I still wonder about reliablity. Lemme know when there are some 200k mile kia's

[Koojo]

100,000 mile warranty. I wonder if any kia would even last 100,000 miles.

[Cmotif]

I think that I can make it go the distance. Mobil 1 every oil change once the motor gets broken in. I have had multiple 100,000 mile cars, and my Mercedes has 270,000 miles. I believe that the warranty is good, but I believe that Kia knows that the motor tranny combination is better than 100,000 miles, or they wouldn't offer such a warranty. Most cars will do 100,000 miles if you know how to drive, no major accidents, and do basic preventative maitenance.

Here is a review of the 2002 Spectra that I found on line.

Cmotif <><

Merger mania.


Introduction:
Last year, the Kia Spectra was a hatchback version of the Kia Sephia, a 4-door compact sedan significant for being Kia's first model sold in the U.S. under its own nameplate, dating back to 1993. This year the Sephia name is gone, absorbed into a lineup bearing the Spectra name. So now there are Spectra sedans and hatchbacks.

All Spectra models receive freshened styling for 2002.

The base Kia Spectra sedan lists at just $10,995. Kia sweetens the deal with a warranty program that extends basic coverage to five years or 60,000 miles, and powertrain coverage to 10 years or 100,000 miles; it also includes five-year/100,000-mile rust perforation protection, and a five-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance plan.

At that rate it's hard to avoid looking at a Spectra.

Lineup:
Kia Spectra lineup consists of two body styles: a conventional four-door sedan and a hatchback with four passenger doors and a quasi-fastback roofline.

The base trim model is just called the Spectra ($10,995). An AM/FM/cassette stereo is standard, but air conditioning ($960) is optional.

LS sedan ($12,595) adds air conditioning, power windows, mirrors and locks as standard equipment. LS also allows the buyer to add options including a sound system with a CD player and a CD changer, antilock brakes and cruise control.

GS ($11,395) is the base-level hatchback. Air conditioning ($960) is optional.

GSX ($13,195) comes standard with air conditioning, alloy wheels, power windows, and central locking, plus a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescope steering wheel and an aggressive-looking body kit.

All Spectras are powered by a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine rated 126 horsepower. They come with a five-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic transmission ($975) driving the front wheels.


Walkaround:
Last year's frumpier Sephia sedan gained the sleeker front-end styling of last year's Spectra GS/GSX. For 2002, that styling was massaged slightly.

Spectra's styling is pleasant, albeit vaguely derivative. The front end seems to owe a lot to the Ford Taurus, with elliptical headlamps and a central grille opening with a crossbar, where a red Kia badge substitutes for Ford's blue oval. Between the clear-lens headlamps and the grille sit round high beams. The LS and GSX also get fog lamps. Bulges in the sheetmetal that sweep back across the hood trail the high beam bezels. The front bumper is integrated into the body profile, its plastic cover encircling the cosmetic grille above the bumper and the larger, functional radiator opening below it. Bumpers and mirrors are body color, an upscale feature for a car in this price range.

The Spectra's profile won't upset anyone. The windshield has an average rake, and the greenhouse, for sedan and hatchback, comes out of the designer's standard playbook. A fine crease at door-handle height keeps the side from being too plain. Blacked-out B-pillars create the impression that the Spectra is coupe rather than a four-door sedan.

The LS is distinguished from the base Spectra by chrome on the grille bar. A winglet attached to the rear of the GSX suits the overall shape of the car, and a rear wiper/washer is optional on both the GS and GSX. The GSX gets front and rear air dams, door-sill extensions and spoked 6x14-inch alloy wheels with P185/65R14 Kumho radials.

The rear hatch is invisible from behind the car. You have to look closely to see the gap around the sides and top of the backlight (rear window), and that's the only clue that the whole rear of the car opens up for access to a spacious cargo area.

Spectra's engine sits crosswise in the engine bay. It produces 126 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 108 pound-feet of torque at 4500 rpm. That's less than the optional engine in some of Spectra's primary rivals, but considerably more than the competition's base engines.

The suspension is impressive for this class of car. Lotus Engineering, creator of exotic, world-class sports cars, tuned the Spectra's suspension to optimize handling and ride quality. MacPherson struts are used up front while a multi-link arrangement replaces the usual twist-beam axle in back. Front and rear anti-roll bars are standard. Rack-and-pinion steering is standard, and power assist varies with engine speed to firm up the steering at higher velocities. All Spectras have vented front disc brakes.. Kelsey-Hayes four-channel ABS is optional (at $800) on all but the base Spectra; it includes an upgrade to disc brakes in the rear.


Interior:
The Spectra is an inexpensive car, and this point is reflected in its interior. The dash design is generic and inoffensive; it could have come from one of many Asian sedans. The controls are easy to use. Kia has responded to earlier complaints about tiny radio buttons. As a result, even ham-fingered auto writers can operate the Spectra's radio without much distraction. The LS, GS and GSX have a standard tachometer while an AM/FM/cassette stereo is standard across the board.

Door panels on less-expensive cars are often plain plastic, but Spectras have cloth door-panel inserts. The GSX upholstery is upgraded to nicer sport cloth. The seat bottoms on the front buckets, however, are short on support for longer legs. The seats do have wider cushions this year-one hopes not a Korean comment on American derrieres-and a new fabric is used. The console provides adjustable cupholders, and the LS and GSX door panels have bottle holders, but the overall quality of the plastic parts in the interior seems below standard for the class.

The rear seat will accommodate three, but not if they're adult males who plan to be there for a while. The seat folds 60/40 on sedans and hatchback, offering cargo flexibility with the hatch that challenges a small wagon. The GS/GSX hatch design offers even easier access. Seats up, the official trunk for the hatchback has 11.6 cubic feet of luggage room, which is excellent for a small car.


Driving Impressions:
The 126-horsepower Spectra engine is not blindingly fast, but if the driver is willing to rev it, there's spunky acceleration with the five-speed manual transmission. The engine revs with abandon and seems happy to do so.

The gearshift lever has a rubbery feel, but we never missed a shift. Clutch take-up is smooth and light.

We suspect the optional automatic transmission would sap a good deal of the engine's vigor. Comparing the ratios of both transmissions confirms that impression. Anyone at all interested in acceleration in a Spectra should learn how to drive a stick. The manual gearbox also edges the automatic in fuel mileage. The five-speed has an EPA estimate of 24 mpg city and 32 mpg highway, two mpg better than the automatic for both circuits.

In cornering, the Spectra offers good balance, as one would expect from Lotus Engineering. Like most front-wheel-drive cars, its handling is predisposed to understeer (the front tires begin losing grip before the rear tires do). Turn-in for corners is a little sluggish: Our impression was that there's something rubbery between the steering wheel and the pavement, with a squishiness that has to be taken up before the Spectra begins to turn. This is particularly noticeable in fast, slalom-type directional changes. A tire upgrade would surely help.

The Spectra is quiet on the highway, with a surprising absence of wind or engine racket. It feels larger than its compact measurements would seem to warrant, even on an extended drive.

We were delighted by the performance of the standard brakes. We checked them out on a closed circuit that had several corners requiring high-speed braking. The Spectra's brakes never whimpered nor showed any signs of fading. That's extraordinary for an economy car.


Summary:
With its extremely attractive price, particularly for the base sedan, the Kia Spectra should draw practical-minded shoppers, thrifty folks who will take notice of a showroom-new car, complete with an outstanding warranty, for no more money than many used cars.

The Spectra is roomy, versatile and willing; some minor trim items have been compromised in the name of cost, but the basic hardware appears durable.

Kia hopes the Spectra GSX will win the hearts and dollars of the front-drive hot-rod crowd, thanks to its affordable price and easy adaptability. (Kia has shown a modified Spectra to demonstrate its performance potential.)

And if you want a five-door hatchback at this price, then the Spectra is the only game in town.

[Koojo]

You got some long posts. Whos actually going to take time to read that?

[Cmotif]

Yeah, I have a ton of long posts at www.rctech.net where I chat with other RC racers.

Somebody is some post commented that they would never buy a Korean car, even if it cost them only 10 dollars.

If you could get this Korean car for 10 dollars would you buy it? It is a Hyundai WRC car. Hyundai owns Kia, so that is why I post it here. Admit it, you would like this Korean car in your garage!

Cmotif <><