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I like the Focus, but I think it's one of those cars that's a really good deal with minimal options, and not so good loaded. Not a bad choice. I see base models for under $10k all the time, which makes the loaded up $18k+ models seem ridiculously expensive for a few extra goo-gaws.
The Focus has just gotten more desireable; Ford is matching GMs employee discounts for all. That means another $1500-2000 off Focus models (added to the $2500 cash back). I hope this madness is still happening in a couple months when I can conceivably buy!
Read here:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/LongTerm/articleId=105138
Go Spectra.
Geo
2nd = 28.4
3rd = 27.27
4th = 26.25
5th = 25 even
This is a 5-speed and mostly interstate driving at around 70 mph. I use the air conditioner on 'standard', not max, inside air only.
I seldom let the car idle for more than a few minutes, usually at an ATM.
Gas is up to about 1.29 in my area.
MAX actually does not affect fuel consumption at all. It's exactly the same as standard, except that it uses the air from the passenger compartment that's already been cooled rather than hot outside air (i.e., it closes the vents).
I would say you're still in the break in mode. Wait a few more tankfuls and check the overall trend.
Wow, is MY face as red as my car!! Yeah, of course I mean gas is $2.29 here.
How does max ac differ from reg. ac with the vents closed? (There's a separate button that closes the vents on reg. ac but they are automatically closed with max ac.
I'm glad to hear that 1650 miles is still break-in and hopefully the mileage will go up to where I expect it to be.
I've also noticed that I have a 'flapping' and 'cracking' noises at around 70 mph. Sounds like something hitting against the undercarriage or 'flexing'. You know -- like when you've driven in mud and the tires throw it up against the wheel-wells? (That's not what is happening, however!)
I know I probably need to go back to the dealer, but commute 60 miles per day and it just isn't convenient for me to do so at this time.
Do you think those spoilers could be causing the flapping and cracking noises? I'm going to ask the dealer about having them removed if/when I ever get by there.
hope this helps
Geo.
It musta' been the cardboard license plates!
At any rate, the noise is gone.
I spoke to my dealer when I picked up my plates about my displeasure with the mileage -- he told me it would improve after about 5000 miles on the engine. I've just turned 3000 miles and returned from a trip of all interstate driving and I got 28.3 mpg. I'm hopeful that it will improve with age!
I'm happy to say that after one month of driving my new baby, I am still totally loving it. No complaints, no regrets - nothing but good stuff.
I finally saw another Spectra 5 on the road this week - I'd seen a new Spectra sedan, but apart from the ones on the dealer lot, had yet to see another 5. It was an Espresso coloured one - very nice indeed!
Last Friday, one of the local newspapers featured a review of the Spectra 5 on the front page of the wheels section - overall, it was a pretty good write up, perhaps this will bring it more recognition locally. Not a bad thing at all - I can't recall any seeing any ads for the Spectra 5 ever..... The only tv spots I can think of have been for the Sedona and the Sportage.
Regardless, I sure don't mind driving a less common car. Actually, I kind of like it!
Speaking of driving.....gotta run!
Geo.
This news item was on the Kia America website in May of '05 and I missed it. Might be really nice-the cool extras of the Spectra5 in a beautiful Spectra sedan. We may have discussed this back in May on here but I don't remember chatting about this item.
From Kia America CEO Peter Butterfield:
“We’re ecstatic that Kelley Blue Book has named the 2005 Spectra5 to its exclusive list of ‘cool’ cars under $18,000,” said Kia Motors America president and CEO Peter M. Butterfield. “This reaffirms our belief that Spectra5 delivers style, performance, safety features and value to our customers."
Here's the new and interesting part for me, the new Kia Spectra SX sedan. Check it out! "And to make sporty driving fun for sedan lovers, we’ve just introduced the new Spectra SX, which has all the special features of the “5” added to the sedan, including sport-tuned suspension, interior tweaks and body kit,” added Butterfield.
Reading about the Spectra5 today I couldn't believe all of the undercarriage updates the Spectra5 has for a rig that costs just over $15,000! Incredible value, and that is what enamors me to the Kia brand. A front strut tower, even! Sport-tuned suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars. I can't wait to see a Kia Spectra SX sedan with the body kit on and all. More fun research for me! Kia just continues to improve and continues to offer great value to customers, including the wonderful Long-Haul Warranty, which Kia execs have vowed to continue through the 2008 model year. I bet they keep it beyond that even.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Mebbe it'll improve with another 1000 miles and if it gets cooler?
I averaged between 70 - 75 mph.
My last tankful averaged about 27 mpg, with combined highway and city/suburb driving. That's a lot closer to my *usual* average.
A/C, excessive idling, and winter time driving seems to do a number on the Spectra's mileage. My car got as low as 21.5 mpg this past winter, but the engine had less miles on it at that point too.
-SM
I'm attaching a link to an article published last week in Canadian Driver 'The Canadian 50L Challenge', in which they tested 10 compacts under $20k for fuel economy. The Spectra tied for third place with the Focus. This article is okay, but there isn't a lot specific to the Spectra which is too bad - a related article published in our local paper sang the praises of the Spectra very nicely. Unfortunately, you have to be a subscriber to be able to read the entire article so I won't bother attaching that link....
Know this was just one road test and there's not a lot specific to the Spectra, but still thought it was worth posting for the results.
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/pw/50-litre.htm
That Spectra is lookin' good, spectraman!
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I filled up again last night and got the worst mileage yet -- 24.42 mpg!
That's totally and completely unacceptable even in summertime. :mad:
How many miles do you have on your Spectra?
What transmission does it have?
What kind of driving did the 24.4 miles mainly consist of? City, City/Hwy, etc.?
My Spectra EX (w/auto) recently pulled a 26.7 mpg in city/hwy, and my record to-date is 34.9 pure hwy with one person, no air this past spring with 8k miles on the odometer.
As someone on one of the forums was saying, the mileage definitely takes a beating if you use the A/C and drive it "sportingly". Keeping the rpms 3k and under between gears appeared to really help the mileage.
Another person said to set the tire air pressure to at least 32 psi, and you may see some minor improvement.
-SM
Pic of my Spectra EX
Driving style has a lot to do with fuel economy. If your car is broken in (which can take several thousand miles for this engine) and you are getting poor fuel economy, you need to look at how you drive the car. Proper tire inflation can help some too--I keep the tires on my Elantras at 35 psi year-round for example. And it is always possible there is something wrong with the car. But in most cases its driving style that makes the difference. I tested that myself the other day by taking the same cross-town route two different ways: one in my normal driving style, trying to be economical, and the return trip in an aggressive driving style. I got about 40% better fuel economy driving the first way, even though I hit a few more stoplights that way. And the "economode" trip took a couple of minutes longer--but I felt more relaxed when I got to my destination. It's your money (for gas).
BTW, before anyone sells an almost-new Spectra because it is getting 24 mpg, think carefully about the economics of losing a ton of money on first-year depreciation vs. the gas savings. Consider if you replace the Spectra with a more economical compact like the Corolla or Civic, and get 30 mpg vs. 24 (no guarantees there, btw), and drive 15,000 miles a year and pay $2.50 per gallon of gas, that's only about $300 in savings per year. Now subtract the resale value of the Spectra from the new car's price and divide by 300. That's your payback time, in years, for getting the more economical car. Maybe it would be better to wait for the Spectra to break in some more, pump up the tires a bit, and use a lighter foot on the gas.
PS Just can't rationalize the extra bucks for the new and improved Mazda 3. No rebate AT ALL!
just my 2 cents.
Geo.
Backy seems to be a person who is very knowledgeable about the Korean cars. I know you like the styling of the Elantra hatch, but if you would, I would really appreciate it Backy if you could give me your version of a comparison between the Spec5 and the Elantra GT hatch. Assume that both are loaded with all the goodies like moonroof, abs, traction control, and whatever else you can get on these cars. Edmunds say the Spectra5 does not have the cargo net available. Is this really true? I noticed on the Edmunds comparo that some stats on the Spectra seemed a little questionable, such as no cup holders in the back, and the cargo room figures and a couple of other things. Do either or both of these cars have heat/AC ducts for the back or are the dash vents all they have? Backy, if you had a choice between either car, comparibly equipped, which one would you pick and why?
Anyone else who is very familiar with both the Spectra5 and the Elantra GT hatch are welcomed to chime in with their views. IF I finally reach a point where I feel I can buy a new car, I think it is going to boil down to a battle between the Spec5 and the Elantra GT hatch. Please, guys and gals out there, give me your pros and cons on both cars and which one you would personally choose. Rate the small things like how easy the buttons on the audio system are to operate, and whether they have interior lights that stay on until after you are out of the car and whether headlights stay on for a short period after you shut car off. Are the moonroof systems the same in both cars, how are the dashes lit at night (what colors) and are window and other dash buttons lit. I've heard the Elantra GT has purple gages at night....what does the Spectra5 have? All those little things are important too. Have at it now. I'm looking forward to hearing how all you experienced owners out there feel about both these models.
where people are discussing prices, etc.
Thanks!
Check the Kia Spectra Sedan Forum and look at post 327 "Spectra vs Elantra". Though this talks about the comparison between the Spectra EX vs the Elantra GT sedan (thats my car) it will give you some ideas of what I liked/disliked between the 2.
Here are answers to some of your questions:
The Spectra has cup holders in the back behind the center arm rest. A much better and durable design than Elantra.
The Spectra has AC ducts under the front seats for the rear passengers. I don't believe that the Elantra has (I will check on mine)
The Spectra gauges are lit up in white. This is for all models LX, EX and SX. Its very bright. I really like the copit display at night on the Spectra because of its easily readability. Elantra is kinda of cool though it was much better on the 01-03 GTs (they used VDO gauges)
The Spectra radio is easier to use because it is a double din design (2 times the height of the Elantra radio). Both are pretty equivalent. The Elantra has better AM reception and audio quality but the Spectra is better in the FM frequency.
The Spectra is not too difficult finding all options installed such as cruise, moonroof, spoiler for non SX models, etc. The only option that I could not find was an ABS Spectra either in EX or SX form.
Spectra lacks any option for leather interior. I really like the leather in the Elantra. The interior cloth is very nice and the pattern is better than what is available on the Elantra GLS.
Spectra SX has 16 inch wheels where Elantra GT has only 15 inch wheels.
Good luck!
1) Elantra costs less (especially in GLS trim), especially when I figure in the loyalty rebates that I can get on an Elantra but not a Spectra.
2) Elantra has a superior driving position IMO, due to its dual-knob height adjuster that allows the front and rear of the seat cushion to be adjusted individually. I find the Elantra's seat to be more comfortable for me than the Spectra's because I can tilt the front edge of the seat higher (in relation to the rear) than on the Spectra.
3) Resale value of Elantras (especially GTs) is better than Spectras. I think in time the resale of Spectras will improve, but they have more recent bad history to overcome than does Kia.
Something that may be important for some people is that the Elantra GT comes with leather, for less money than the Spectra5's cloth interior. Personally I prefer cloth, and I like the look of the grey cloth interior on the GLS 5-door compared to that on the Spectra5--and the GLS 5-door costs a LOT less than the Spectra5.
I admit I know a lot more about the Elantra because I own two of them. I was very impressed by the quiet ride of the Spectra when I drove it; the Elantra is pretty quiet for a small car, but the Spectra is superior here. Also the Spectra5 has a taller cargo compartment, which may be important for some people.
The Elantra does have HVAC outlets under the front seats. It has NO rear cupholders on the 5-door (!) in the U.S. market, but has two that pop out from the middle of the rear seat cushion on the sedan (actually an easier reach than the console-mounted holders on the Spectra).
You'll have to decide if a double-DIN radio is a key benefit for you. FYI, the Elantra does have a double-DIN radio slot (bottom half is filled with a storage compartment), so if you really want a double-DIN unit you can put one in there. In fact Hyundai dealers offer a double-DIN unit for the Elantra with both CD and cassette.
The other thing I like about the Elantra is that it is a relatively unique car, styling-wise. There aren't many fastback-style hatches out there anymore (and it appears the '07 Elantra 5-door will look more like the Spectra). The Spectra5 looks to me like a little station wagon. Not a biggie, and it's a good looking car, but I think the Elantra looks a little more sporty than the Spectra5. But styling is a very personal thing--I know other people prefer the looks the Spectra5.
I have a 5-speed transmission.
The mix was 70% highway using cruise control, 30% city with airconditioner running. Rpms are practically never above 3k.
I am not an 'agressive', sporty driver. I have a very steady foot -- and that's why I get upset when the mileage is so low.
I don't know what the air pressure is because I haven't checked it since I bought the car, but I will do so soon.
I like the Kia Spectra5 -- and I'm hopeful that when it cools off some and I don't have to use the AC, then the mileage will improve.
I think that incoming reports like this recent J.D. Powers survey will help:
Click here to see J.D. Powers report on the Spectra
Isn't that how Hyundai's turnaround started?
-SM
After that, the Sorento will be the only legacy model left. It will be interesting to see how long they continue to build and sell it as is. There's rumors of a new larger KIA SUV, so that could spell the end of the Sorento at that point.
There's also discussion of some other small KIAs coming, including a 5 door Mazda5 type of vehicle and a small sports car.
-SM
and 42 accrocc the hyundai line in the same time frame. Fee free to read about the recalls here.
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/recalls/list_e.asp
Geo
Where are the HVAC outlets under the front seats? I looked under my 05 GT sedan front seats are I could not find them. Also, they were definetly not present on my 01 GLS either. On my girlfriends 05 Spectra they are clearly visible.
Shawn
I'm in the market for a new car to replace the Asprie as my daily commuter and took a good, hard look at the Focus. In the end, though, it had more road noise at highway speeds than the Elantra or Spec5. That said, the Focus did handle better in the corners. I do more driving on the freeway than on the slalom course, though, so the Focus loses.
That doesn't mean the Focus sucks, just that it doesn't suit my personal taste.
My first tank of gas seemed to vaporize awfully fast too!!