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Kia Rondo Prices Paid and Buying Experience
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I had to search all over Southern California and the Central Valley for the exact color, interior color, and 3rd row seat that we wanted.
I bought the 2.4 LX w/ AC, Code 93222, with Convenience Pkg, 3rd row seat, and floormats for $16,300. That was after the 2.9%/$750 and a $750 Competency??? rebate. Other dealers that I talked to had no idea about the Competency rebate. The dealer asked for a copy of my Honda Civic's registration to prove that I was an owner of one of the cars on it's list to make me eligible.
I agreed on a price by phone with Glendale Kia in the LA area. The dealer was no-nonsense and kept the sales agreement exactly the way we talked about.
Also, when for example carsdirect.com lists the "target" price, is that before or after the rebate?
Got a slightly higher quote from Kia of West Chester, PA who proudly claimed nobody could beat it because they are the #2 dealer on the east cost and do 3x the volume of Martin. Showed it to Martin, and Martin immediately came in $300 lower than West Chester (and $600 lower than their first offer in my prev post)!
1) KIA reliability: It crossed my mind at first but with car owners on many sights applauding there KIA vehicles and the warranty that the car comes with, KIA means business in satisfying the publics perception about a cheaply made vehicle.
2) Fit inside & outside of my Rondo seems perfect. Fender gaps & panels are all equal & minimal. Components inside are smooth & pleasing to the eye.
3) Drives kind of sporty with firm handling good progressive brakes (not too touchy (sensitive). Remember I have the EX model so it has 17" tires rather than the LX's 16" tires, so yes on rougher roads it is a bit rougher but that can be expected.
4) A very panoramic view looking out the windows. No blind spots at least for me, plenty of head room (I'm 6' :shades: 1" tall), has a very usable sturdy center armrest (unlike some of its competitors) it can be shared by driver & front passenger.
5) For anyone considering the 3rd row seat option, reason I did NOT purchase that option is that one the extra storage compartment under the flooring has of course been repalced by the 3rd seat, and the second row seat is easier to fold flat without the 3rd row seat installed! Let me explain: with the 3rd row option-to fold the second row seat flat you have to first remove each of the headrests, pull the seat bottom up & towards the front row seatback. Without the 3rd row seat option all you have to do to lay the second row flat is pull up on the back release & lay it flat in one motion, you dont't have to remove the headrests or pull the seat bottoms up. If your still mystified by my explanation I think if you go to KIA's site the vehicle they show in the interior photos shows the bottom seat folded up with seat rests stowed on the 3rd row set up.
Anyway looking forward to my driving experience with this vehicle. I hope to report back in the future on more observations (still checking out all the gadgets & functions thru the owners manual) with gas mileage numbers to follow. A very satisfied-so far-owner. MRSWISS
Looking it over when I got home it has really good fit and finish. Got the cloth seats as leather for a car that sits outside gets extremely hot in Florida(my cars are in the garage). Will definitely have all the glass tinted first thing. Ride home was smooth and the V6 is responsive. Loads of room inside and a tremendous amount of space and holding areas throughout the whole car. One thing I miss is the short beep of the horn while locking/unlocking the doors. I know the lights flash but in the bright sunlight, you can't always see them.
Lastly insurance. Hartford (AARP) doesn't have a listing for the Hondo so the operator just tried to match it up with something else. She said it was only $15. more a year over the Suzuki so I'm pleased. looks like you can add a photo to this posting so here it is.
I love the Kia brand and the new Rondo is just one more feather in their caps.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Dakota: Thanks. works like a charm, at least while locking it.
Still on full tank here. Only 65 miles on the odometer. Yes it is Almond Beige. First time out in the dark just now. Everythings lit up nicely on the dash. Still getting used to all the features too.
http://www.autoanything.com
http://www.autosportcatalog.com
The LX doesn't have all the bells and whistles that the EX has, but I can live without them, especially when I think about how low my payments will be. MSRP for mine was $18,880, and they had $995 dealer markup. They dropped the markup, and I got $750 cash back and 2.9% financing, so I paid $18,130 plus tax and fees. I suppose I'm not a good haggler like some of you apparently are, but I'm happy with what I paid, and I'm happy (so far) with the vehicle.
When I'm ready to buy my 7 seater, I going to ask for a cargo cover from the dealership. Problem is, I hear that the cargo cover only works in the 5 seater, because the 7 seater lacks the attachment points for the cargo cover. I'm going to ask for one, anyway, and see if they can do anything about it. Where I live, you need a cargo cover, or else you might as well put a sign on your vehicle, "Please steal my stuff."
Thanks. Sent a message to the Kia Parts People asking about the cover for the 7 seater or if it only fits the 5 seater.
Test drove an LX Rondo this weekend, dealer did not have an EX in stock. Loved the vehicle. Great fit & finish, nice cloth seats (and the EX has an upgraded seat too from what we were in on the LX). Since they did not have the EX in stock, I could not test to see if my iPod would work through the MP3 jack with connection cable I purchased.
Does anyone have an EX model and can tell me if iPod works through MP3 plug in? I ask b/c on Mazda board (had considered Mazda5), several owners talk about some additional and extra cost connector needed for iPod to work. Have not seen any comments here on whether iPod will work, so I figured I would ask.
Have considered the Dodge Caliber, but hit my head getting out of car due to sloping of car, so despite some of the cool interior features, I'm not as crazy about it as I was when I first saw it. Besides, probably not as solidly built car as the Kia. Once had a Dodge and at 36,100 miles my transmission had a big problem!
Thanks to anyone who replies!
Does anyone know if there have there been any recalls, issues, concerns with the Kia Rondo since this is the first year it is available here in the US?
Considering purchasing this vehicle - love most everything about it! However, since I have not seen any postings about issues / concerns, I figured I would start a thread to inquire.
This is important to those of us who are considering purchasing a vehicle. If you think I'm joking, check out the Mazda5 board and you will see that I have decided against even test driving that vehicle after reading some of the challenges on that board.
Much thanks to all!
Also the crash test ratings came out a week or two ago (see http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ncap/cars/4245.html ).
Needless to say, the Rondo is no longer a contender, which is too bad as it is a great vehicle. Back to the drawing board for more research...
Suggestion, wait for the 2008 - I'll bet it has an iPod input, and a variable intermittent rear wiper, as well as other tweaks.
How to connect an iPod to your car stereo
Digital Drive-thru - Select your iPod, car, & stereo type and get a list of products for playing your iPod in your car
Yes, having my tunes on iPod is a critical part of my decision since I have lost all of my CD's (stolen). Yes, I could do after market, but really think if I'm going to invest $20k in a vehicle, I really think it should come with the features I desire.
Thanks again to all.
I decided to go with an LX, since paying $1000 more to have a cassette deck seems really dumb, and get some sort of after market adapter if I decide I really need it, which I could probably get professionally installed for like $100-200.
What I should have said is its dumb to pay $1000 for *factory* MP3 player "support" unless you like the other EX features, then its not dumb to get the EX.
Hello Carey,
Thank you for your order. The cargo cover has arrived in to us, but
unfortunately, the 7 seater does not have the slots in the side for the
installation of the cover - it only fits a 5 seater. We have cancelled your
order and apologize that we will not be able to assist you with this item.
Please let us know if you have any future inquires.
Thanks again,
Mike
I'm in the same boat now looking for a good way to hook up my Creative Zen vision:m 30gb media player.
Sunroof/premium stero are packaged together.
Your so right, Premium Stereo/Sunroof = $1200 One package.
It isn't necessary to move up to a $30-40k car to get a really good-sounding stock stereo. For example, the stock stereo in our 2002 Kia Sedona EX sounded noticeably better than the Rondo's. It was one of the best-sounding factory stereos I've ever heard, along with the one in a relative's older Nissan Altima from a few years back. Both of those were low to mid $20s vehicles.
The numbers on paper for the Rondo's premium sound system are very impressive, but I just didn't feel the actual sound quality was as good as the specs would suggest.