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Craig
'04 Sedona EX
I have an oportunity to buy a 2000 Toyota Sienna for $13,500 with approx. 53,800 miles, or a 2003 Sedona EX with leather seats, moon roof, etc., with only 15,000 miles for $13,900. My mechanic says buy the Toyota regardless of the mileage difference. What do you think?
The Sedona is much more luxurious, but the Toyota is much more sporty, and I think perhaps even has more room even though the Sedona looks larger.
The Sedona is actually sitting in my driveway now because the dealer insisted that I take it home to show my wife and to keep it overnight. I hate this kind of pressure but I finally gave in just so I could escape. I feel like I'm still waiting for the dealer to read my Miranda Rights to me.
Thanks for any input you can give me.
First time minivan shopper in Birmingham, AL
If you plan to keep this Van for another 10 years I say go with the Toyota cause you can be assured it will be virtually trouble free.
Craig
'04 Sedona EX
Thanks for your advice.
jdi
There's still plenty of warranty on the Sedona; not so the Sienna.
Buying a 2003 for $13,500, you already have avoided the big depreciation hit on the Sedona; the original buyer has taken that hit for you!
In this comparison, several of the reasons that would typically be Sienna advantages have already been nullified.
Personally, I'd buy the Sedona because I think it is more vehicle at the same price. But the Sienna is a quality Toyota vehicle. It might come down to how much of the service history / previous life information is available on each van. That makes a difference to me.
Why are you still not sold on the Sedona? Is it something about this particular van, or just a general reluctance to buy a Kia? If you are still scared about Kia, you probably shouldn't buy one just on a leap of faith. If you conclude that Sedona does NOT represent a roll of the dice, then go for it. Personally, I think the posts on this board the past 3 years have shown the Sedona generally holds up fairly well. Some folks have problems with theirs, but overall Sedona seems to be holding its own vs. other minivans in quality/durability/reliability.
Feel free to ask me quesitons.
Thanks,
T
Just bought a 2005 Sedona EX (500 km on it as I write this). Not knowing the car and never having owned a Kia I have questions I am hoping you as experienced owners can help with:
1) Anyone have a ticking sound from the engine on start? It seems to go away after awhile.
2)At idle and in gear I have two odd sounds that are very noticeable inside the van. One is the alternator (I know it's the alternator because the whine from it changes as I increase and decrease the load on it)and the noise comes from the right side of the engine. The second is a LOUD tranny pump coming from the left side of the engine (again the noise is noticeable when in gear but not in park or neutral). It's a chugging sort of noise.
3) The front suspension makes a "tock tock" sound when going over undulations in the road. Not when I do over real bumps, but something like a wave in the pavement. The car is fine over large bumps, handles well and feels tight otherwise.
4) Did your gas mileage get better after the engine was broken in (I hope)?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Rob
rob
It's a pretty "trucky" minivan. Very beefy.
As for the ticking, I will move to synthetic Oil after about 18,000 Kms.
Thanks again
Rob
Rob
If you feel you MUST do this, it seems like you could go 5,000 mi (8,000 km) and that would be enough of a safety margin. Waiting until 18,000 km seems like overkill.
Rob
For what it is worth, I've been running Mobil 1 10W30 full synthetic in my 2004 Sedona since 1,000 miles. The engine runs great with it. I've only got 6,000 miles on the van so far, but no problems yet.
- Chad
One thing you could do, if you can tolerate it for another few thousand is to have them do it all at once when you are changing the timing belt. (60k, but I'll do mine at 50-55k)
RE tires: I've run a few thousand on the Nokian WR's now, and REALLY like them. They handle well in water as well as on snow and ice.
I've got steel rims and bought nice looking hubcaps at Target for about $20. They won't last as long as steel, but I can replace them 4x for the cost of a set of steel ones. Will run these on the Sedona during winter and change back to Hankooks/alloys when summer comes.
The slippage sounds like a hard acceleration pull away. The van has enough torque to slip the front wheels if the surface is wet/snowy. I did the same thing my first 2 wks of driving the van on the NJ turnpike coming out of a tollbooth.
No tranny noises here in our 03. I'd get it checked out. Sorry to hear of your troubles. We are happy with ours, and eagerly looking at the '06 changes (although we won't buy until after warantee expires and repair bills mount).
The fuel injector cleaner of which I speak is actually Chevron Pro Gard, which I understand is a milder (less Techron) version of the well-regarded Chevron Techron. It's < $10 for 4 bottles, so it's no biggie to throw a bottle or 2 every once in a while. Probably doing no harm, and may be doing some good.
Seemed unusual to me. My other local dealer, with whom I've done business, has never mentioned it.
A couple of other Edmunds members were at the show and it sounds like you could easily spend 8 hours walking around and still not see everything.
Steve, Host
2) I also have a 2005 and the front end makes a noise over small dips in the road almost as if something was loose. I took it to the dealership to have them look at it. I was told that this is normal and that all make this noise. The dealership even went as far as to say that I could pick any van off the lot and test drive if I wanted. This was enough for me although I did take a wrench and got under the vehicle - just top make sure everything was tight and it was. I found after a while you don't even notice it.
3)My gas mileage was low to start but after a few long trips (about 200 miles each) it got much better.
Thats good news on the mileage because at the moment mine stinks. I a have litle less than 1K miles on it and combined 50/50 driving I am doing about 15 miles to the gallon.
I also understand that the ticking is due to the oil draining out of the hydraulics. Explained to me by the service manager.
That being said I do have a growling sound coming out of the right side of the engine bay when the car is in gear but not other wise. This is about the only thing that worries me. I also have the loud alternator/steering pump from the left side of the engine bay. I suspect that the growling is the tranny pump.
Great Van though. Very very solid. After having it for two weeks now its obvious that KIA was primarily a large truck and military vehicle manufacturer.
What might also be of interest is that I had noticed the tranny gearing down on long slow gradual stops. If you don't hit the brakes you may feel it too; nothing harsh but you cal feel the brakign happening. According to the dealer this too is normal and freinds of mine that drive trucks also confirm that this is a truck thing.
Thanks
Rob
Thanks again
Rob
Talk about in the 2006 Kia Sedona discussion.
Steve, Host
Rob
We need more reports from members who hit the Detroit auto show. (PR Newswire).
Steve, Host
We also now have a 2005 Kia Spectra5. Great car for the money and fun to drive! JB.
I'm really concerned about gas mileage. I drive mostly city and am lucky to get 12 mpg w/my leased 99 Olds Bravada. So to bump up to 16 doesn't seem like that great a deal, esp w/no power sliding door.
I'm glad for these forums, esp when you guys talk about problems and mpg city/hwy!!
Thank you for sharing info
I want to give you a big thank you. I used your idea of the zip lock baggie on the sedona oil filter and it worked like a charm. Keep up the good ideas. Jim Richardson
Has anyone had any problems with the steering that remotely resembles those identified here?
Has anyone had any problems with Kia not covering services under the warranty because Kia insisted that the damage was caused by improper maintenance?
Any suggestions on how I might proceed?
We have been fighting with our Kia dealer (Donnelly Kia in Ottawa, ON). Back in 2003 our windshield cracked (without being hit by anything), like many other 2002 Sedonas with the automatic wipers. We brought it in, in Oct 2003, they ordered the windshield but we needed the car so they said they would call when it was in. My husband had found many others with the same problem on this site (apparently thinner glass was originally installed on that model & they were replacing it with thicker glass once they cracked) and they were going to replace it under warranty. Well, we didn't get around to getting right back when they called to say the windshield was in - we didn't have another reliable vehicle, my husband needed the van to go to work & I was busy with the farm, etc, then the dealership moved to a further location. We finally got in last month & now they won't replace it, calling it a "stone chip". Well, there is a small chip but from the other accounts it sounds like this is what happens when the glass buckles.
They also charged us for flushing the transmission as we had not done so according to the "instructions." The van had been sluggish going to 2nd gear, revving too high. Mileage under 70,000 km. They wouldn't cover it.
My mom also bought one (2003 or 2004) & has not been happy with the service.
Good luck!
Jennifer
Are there any differences in sedona Ex 2005 comparing to 2004? I have an option of buying either 2004 (new) or 2005 (new) .. with a $2000 difference. I appreciate if somebody can help me in deciding on this.
regards
shaker
can u pl give some details on how the dealer arrived at 16000? i am planning to buy a 2004 EX (in Feb 2005!!) and what will be a deal or reasonable price ?
regards
shaker
I just purchased my 2004 EX for $19,700 which was part of the $5,000 incentive they had going. Love it so far... Only 400 miles on it..
Amazing prices to be had considering thats before you even negotiate at the dealer.
Think about it....you can get a fully loaded to the max Sedona for a little more than a nice Ford Focus.
Craig
'04 Sedona EX