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Kia Spectra Sedan
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Don't believe me? Look below:
Spy Shots: '08 Benz C-Class
Mercedes-Benz is preparing a new C-Class, which will make its debut in the spring of 2007.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/Auto_News/Daily_Edition/Daily_Edition_Dec_15_200- 5.S173.A9748.html
;-)
Seriously though... I have often thought that my car (esp. in gold) looks like a small MB from certain angles.
-SM
Put bigger wheels on that Spectra and they could almost be twins!
I wonder if the MB will cost more than the Spectra?
Anyway, the finish on our 05 Spectra in my opinion is better than my 05 Elantra GT and my previous Suzuki Aerio. The paint is harder and thicker in application. The 05 Spectra is driven 6 days a week from Laguna Beach, CA to either Riverside or Whittier back and forth (110 miles round trip) on the 5/60/91 fwys which has significant truck activity and the car only has a few nicks in the front bumper. Compared to my 05 Elantra GT we have about the same number of nicks but I run a car bra at least 95% of the time - unless it is raining.
http://tinyurl.com/d5tyd
Kia may build bigger U.S. plant
As sales have grown, plans have expanded; Miss. site is not a given
Rising U.S. sales are leading Kia Motors Corp. to expand its plans to build its first assembly plant in the United States.
Three economic development officials familiar with the project say Kia is considering a larger factory than the one it spent most of this year planning. Kia is looking at sites in several states, although Mississippi was the initial choice.
Kia told officials in several Southern states this year that it envisioned a plant with 1,500 workers. But the development officials say the expanded Kia plan now involves 2,000 to 2,500 workers.
It's not clear how many vehicles Kia intends to produce at the plant.
-SM
I am thinking of trading it in the end of January on a 2006 Kia Rio5.
Kia cars depreciate at a faster percentage rate than their SUV's. Unfortunately, what the dealer is offering you on your '05 Spectra5 is about what they would offer. I'd try another place if it's convenient to you to do that.
I'm curious, what kind of truck are you getting?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Hunt: Kia eyes Chevy buyers
Automotive News / January 17, 2006 - 2:17 pm
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060117/SUB/60117011/1011/RE- G&Profile=1011
Excerpt:
Watch out Chevrolet. Kia Motors America has you in its crosshairs.
That caution from COO Len Hunt reflects marketing data showing that Chevrolet is the brand most frequently shopped by prospective Kia buyers, except for Hyundai, he told the Automotive News World Congress.
"When we take Hyundai out, Chevrolet, with its sporty image, is our biggest cross-shopping brand," Hunt told his audience. "So be careful, that's where our customers are coming from."
Spectra EX, auto, cruise control
msrp $16190
dealer discount $2390
rebate $700
owner loyalty $500
did i get a good deal? thanks
Spectra EX, auto, cruise control
msrp $16190
dealer discount $2390
rebate $700
owner loyalty $500
did i get a good deal? thanks
Does this mean you paid $12,600 *before* tax, title, and destination?
If so, then sure.... that's a pretty good price for a car as nice as the Spectra is.
Btw, was your car a 2005 or 2006?
-SM
The Rio LX comes with tons of airbags and an AM/FM/CD changer, A/C, the 5-speed manual transmission and hand-crank windows, non-power door locks and I believe non-power side mirrors. IIRC they do have heated side mirrors, so that may not be true about the non-power side mirrors.
Anyone reading chime in and correct that if it's wrong, OK?
Anyway, my point is that I will probably test drive a Spectra SX and maybe a Spectra5 when shopping, too, so any comments new Spectra owners provide now about their rigs are taken with appreciation and are added into the early 2006 car shopping fun mix-bag by me.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Heated mirrors are not available, but I don't need heated mirrors, though, either.
It's down to the 2006 Kia Rio5 or 2006 Kia Rio LX for this padre from Pocatello. Test driving and trading is a week or two away now, barring some Suze Ormon advice to the contrary. See if y'all can guess where I'm comin' from on that one.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I have searched hi n low and have come up empty. I live in Canada so there no one out here that sells them for this vehicle model, and im coming up in dead ends searching. On bigger guys like AEM n K&N I dont see anything.
Also does anyone know since kia & and hyundai are sister companys and the spectra is just like the elantra would parts intermingle?
Kind Regards.
I posted the following on the Edmunds Sentra board a little while ago. I figured you wouldn't mind reading it.
I also looked at the 2007 Sentra on another website, and it's a whole 'nother car versus what I drove today. From the photos, it's right back in the old ball game style and ergonomic-wise.
-SM
"I just picked up a rental 2005 Sentra today to drive while my KIA Spectra EX is in the body shop. It's front bumper fascia was scraped by a nimrod (NO... not me! in a parking lot.
First the good news....
I found the Sentra to be a decent running car that appeared to like to rev high before shifts. The car was pretty rattle and squeak free for 35k rental miles too.
Other than that though.... I wouldn't trade my new design Spectra for one of these in a million years. The interior is so uncomfortable and ergonomically wrong when compared to the new KIA that it would take several paragraphs to describe the shortfalls of the Sentra.
The Sentra also lacks sooooo many of the little standard touches that are standard on the Spectra.
So.... before you flame me, I'm not saying the Sentra is a bad automobile. BUT I do agree with the poster above that it is readily apparent that this baby's ready for an overhaul! I'm sure the next one will be right in the thick of things competitively.
-SM "
Another thing I noticed about the Sentra is the utter lack of leg room in the backseat when the front seats are set in comfortable positions similar to my Spectra.
The lack of space in back (of a car that seems bigger on the outside than the Spectra) would have been a deal killer for me all by itself if I were seriously thinking of buying one of these:
-SM
My slowly evolving problem is that the driver's front seat lower cushion foam is starting to crumble right where my bum's left cheek sits.
I'm not a little person, but I'm not a overly large (IMHO) either. I'm 6', and weigh about 230 lbs.
It all started many months ago when I started finding errant bits of foam under the seat, in plain view when you open the door. During the summer, I just swept these up when I'd sweep my car (which is often). During the colder winter months when I haven't been sweeping, I can now see just how much foam is actually crumbling and falling down!
The lower seat cushion is noticeably starting to collapse on the side closest to the doorsill. I am now able to start feeling the narrow hard metal support/bar through the seat cloth. The bar is very narrow, so I surmise what has happened is that it has "sawed" its way through the foam cushion, with the bits of foam being deposited by gravity right where I see them when I open the door. The bar runs from the front to the back of the entire lower seat cushion on the far left side. There's a mirror-image bar on the right side too... but for some reason that side of the cushion isn't having the same problem.
There is still foam between the seat cover and the bar.... but for how long?
I have *never* had a seat do this to me in any vehicle I've driven, and I've been about the same size/weight for 15 years now. This is obviously an example (one of few I've seen) of poor design on KIA/Hyundai's part.
Is anyone else out there experiencing this problem? What do you folks think my chances of getting KIA to replace or repair the seat is? I'm sure that this is going to be a continuing problem of degradation until I won't be able to be comfortable in the seat anymore...... which is a shame because the high quality fabric and comfortable seats was a major selling point for me with my car!!!
So if you've had a similar experience with ANY KIA seat, post it here along with any remedy KIA made.
Thanks!!
-SM
FWIW, there is no sign of any problem with the seat cushions on my 5-1/2 year old Elantra, they are still firm and supportive. I took a friend of mine for a drive yesterday (he owns a BMW 325ix), and he commented after a couple of minutes, "These are really good seats!". So this may not be a design problem with your seat but a bad batch of foam. OTOH, I weigh 170, not 230.
On my ride home tonight, some nimrod older (but not elderly) woman drove right across in front of me. Luckily the roads were dry. It was bright and sunny out, with the sun to her back, so I don't know HOW she could have missed seeing me coming. All I know is that I was whizzing along about 55 mph and she decides to pull out from a stop sign to cross in front of me. She never even looked to her right!
She SURE did though when I had to lock my brakes up! The screech was long and loud! Man... did her neck snap then!
Fortunately she didn't freeze up, and she kept going. I swung to the left a bit, and missed her by a pretty good distance. You should have seen the smoke cloud my stop left! I just (quickly) prayed that the person following behind me had the ability to stop quickly too.
The 4-wheel discs stopped the car straight and true. At no point did I feel like I was going to lose it, even though the tires locked up. Like I said, at least it was dry out!
This is the second time that I think the brakes on my car have saved me. I had similar experience a year ago in the winter time when it was slippery.
Just thought I'd give everyone a little update on here.
On the mechanical front, I've had a couple of other very minor issues pop-up. I had to have a headlight replaced last fall due to condensation build up in it. The latest issues are a driver's lower seat cushion that appears to need replaced due to disintigration of the foam, and one of the dual-note horns appears to be not working. I'm sure that both of these things will be remedied without too much fuss by my dealer, so I'm not that bummed out. As I said, both are fairly minor in nature. The car needs an oil change anyway (a freebie from the dealer), so I'll have these issues looked at then. It will probably mean a return visit at a later date to install any parts they need to order. My car's currently at 20.5k miles.
-SM
Keep on your dealer to get what you expect.
When you go to buy again will you pick another new Kia to trade-in for? Or buy without trading? I am looking casually at cars to trade in for but the actual time to deal could be a year away from now, or even more. The Sportage is holding up well for us.
I'm just curious because of all the new small cars offered now. I am getting a hankering for the 2007 Toyota Yaris sedan, in Barcelona Red and 5-speed tranny. I would have to do a Clinton-esque sales job on my wife, though, to enable a trade in now, but if she would I would go trade in this weekend for the Yaris. I love it's simple yet sporty hot styling, Toyota finally designed a small car I like the looks of. I've also been following with interest the 2006 Scion xA.
But, Kia's 2006 Rio LX sedan and Rio5 are great little rigs that would warrant a serious look from us first!
What'd'ya think, spectrman? Any of 'em caught your eye?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
The whole article's worth a read. Here's an excerpt:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060405/OPINION03/604050376&S- - earchID=73241546650235
It's time for Kia owners to stand up for their choice
"The initial reaction of many who have driven the restyled Sedona minivan and all-new Optima mid-sized sedan is one of pleasant amazement. The ride, handling and performance are on par with any of high-quality competitor. The fit and finish aren't shoddy or cheap, but well-thought out and tasteful. Kia loads a lot of safety features and comforts in the vehicles but the price is significantly less than competing brands.
But today Kia still ranks low in the minds of consumers as a premium brand and will continue to be the butt of jokes -- whether deserving or not. And Kia owners are constantly defending and explaining why they bought a Kia.
If Kia continues on the road of quality improvement with an eye to value pricing, then the number of satisfied owners should continue to swell. Kia owners and intenders will begin to publicly display Kia pride. And one day Kia owners may be counted among the group of discerning buyers who know how to look fashionably fabulous at a competitively low price.
And when that day arrives, who will be laughing then?"
I am very happy with the 2005 Spectra but still love my 1982 VW camper which is a completely different driving experience. IMO the Spectra is as a better car than an equivalent Japanese car, dollar for dollar. BTW I am seeing a huge number of Kias and Hyundais locally but not as many when I travel. Good local dealers make a huge difference in perceived quality. George in Wisconsin.
I drive alot, and was very very happy with my new purchase. I've read some of the horror stories here about the gas milage and except for the first two tanks of gas I get about 475 miles to a tank of gas (HWY), and about 400 (CTY). The braking system 4 wheel disc brakes are incredible. The handling could be is terrific for the car.
I've had the car since November 1 and have put somewhere near 26,000 miles on it. As I said I drive alot.
Anyway, this morning to my suprise I got in and my check engine light came on, and killed my day.
I have a manual transmission, and have scheduled an appointment with the dealer for tomorrow. Should I be concerned or what?
If it's not anything your dealer shouldn't charge you either, however, the fact that your check engine light is now on means that something is no doubt wrong. But don't worry, it's probably an item that can be fixed pretty easily and quickly and not cost you anything but an hour or two of your time. I never minded-I just walked the Kia lot and enjoyed going over all of the Kia vehicles and talking to the salesmen about them. I'm kind of a Kia nut though, so, there you go.
Do come back and post what you found out, OK, aleckia?
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
No, not quite. It could be something as simple as a loose gas cap (or something like my car's wet engine). If that is the case, if there's not a warranty-related problem, the dealer can charge you a diagnosis fee. At my dealer that is $89. Now, if this is your first time in with a loose gas cap, they might be nice and waive the fee. But you can't count on that.
Cyndi
I've noticed a big change in the volume of air when the filter is removed and after a few thousand miles it gets to the point you have to either replace it or just take the thing out.
It gets dirty so fast that I just leave it out.
Even when the shop puts a new one in during service I take it out because it just restricts the air flow too much.
I never thought I'd see something like hepa filters in 18 wheelers 20 Years ago when I started driving, LOL!
It's loud, and it happens when I hit 75 or 80 mph. (The speed limit on interstates in Arizona is 75.)
I've been to a couple of different Kia dealers several times. They resealed the windshield molding, and later replaced the entire molding. The noise persists, and I'm going to have to take it back in at some point.
I own a 2004.5 Spectra EX sedan. Has anyone else had similar issues?
Did the dealer only have 1 Spectra in stock? By that I mean, did you drive any others? If 2 out of 3, 4 out of 5, etc. drove fine and rattle/hum free, perhaps the first one you drove was the exception. Just a thought.
My 2004.5 Spectra is hum and rattle free at 24k+ hard driven Michigan miles. Best (aka: trouble free) new car I've owned to date, and I'm over 40. :-)
For sure, you are going to read about some Spectras with problems on the various forums. Ditto for all the makes and models. It's the nature of the beast.
I just wouldn't write off the Spectra yet until you drive a couple of more.
-SM