Kia Sorento

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Comments

  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    There is no VAS on the Sorento. You do it the old fashion way with the hand brake. That is far more effective than the cheesy "downhill assists" found on luxury vehicles.

    -mike
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    StevePlll - If they only have the one without the auto load leveling, don't brother to wait. I bought mine with this option because my dealer had only few in the lot.

    There is no VAS button on EX 4WD with TOD. Like mine, there is a switch (4Auto and 4Lo) next to the cruise control button.
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    It was nearly 50 degree yesterday. Something we have never seen here for long time. It is back to 20s today. Well, I hand washed my Sorento for the first time since one warm day in December. I love to do this because it allows me to spray the undercarriage for a long time. Too much salt in here. Then, I noticed some black spots inside the rim. They look like tar and brake dust. I used one of those wheel cleaner and brush. And they came off a little bit. But it is still dirty. Some areas are hard to reach. I also noticed some tar on the lower cladding and rear bumper. Folks, what do you recommend for remove the tar on rim and the body?
  • ivygrnsorentoivygrnsorento Member Posts: 119
    For years I have been using Turtle Wax's "Tar and Bug Removal". That stuff really works great and won't damage your paint or bare black plastics. Just a heads up though...you have to use a lot, and I would suggest that you re-wax the areas you use the liguid to clean.
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    ivygrnsorento - Thanks. Is there any car wash product with tar & bug removal? Also, what about tar, brake dust on the rim? The car wash product that I am using (forget the name) contains a little bit car wax. I brushed the lower cladding real hard. And it won't come off. For waxing, I properly won't do this until the weather gets warm here.
  • hciaffahciaffa Member Posts: 454
    lok888 if you have some around the house WD40 will remove the tar as long as it is not to thick If not I also use a name brand bug and tar removal product, most of them work well. As far as the wheels be carefull I believe they are clear coated and some wheel cleaners will damage the clear coat and leave spots. Beleive it or not I just rinse them real good then I spray 409 or Fantastic on them, brush or cloth wash them and rinse. To polish use some good detailing spray and spray on a cloth then rub onto the wheels, If you sray on the wheeel it may go onto the brake pads and rotor affecting the brakes.
  • lilac0422lilac0422 Member Posts: 51
    hollier1

    It has been my experience that dealers will say just about anything if they think it will make you buy faster. I was at first told by my dealer that black with gray cladding was extremely hard to find. They wanted me to settle for another color and I said absolutely not. It is funny that two days later they had already found one with that was just about the one I wanted (it was missing ABS). Then two days after that, they found the one I bought at a dealer on the other side of the state (MI). If you really have your heart set on a color, don't settle for what the dealer has. They want to make a sale so bad they will find your color.
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    Got quote from a dealer, $10.65 for an extra key make for Sorento. Reasonable or rip off? I tried one key store but they told a company used to make the blank keys and don't make them anymore.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Cause you know it will likely work perfectly, unlike many locksmith places.

    -mike
  • StevePIIIStevePIII Member Posts: 55
    Well, The dealership was willing to get me cars with the features I wanted and they listed the colors in which they found them, just not in my color. Rather than drag this out any longer I decided to get the one that come in. only missing the load leveling -- I guess I can live without it, just have to keep the elephants out of my trunk. Thanks to everyone for their advice.
  • StevePIIIStevePIII Member Posts: 55
    I was visiting Kia.com and I noticed that the rollover graphic of the Nav. buttons on top were different when i rolled over them. So I decided to see what else might have changed, including the price your own page. the Price went up to $28210 for the model I will be picking up Wednesday. the Dest. Charge is now up to $640!

    The Sorento Ad's now say..... Starting under $21000
  • bmw323isbmw323is Member Posts: 410
    kieibr, doesn't Kia recommend an engine break in period? I would think that 110 mph would be pretty near maximum speed in a Sorento. Be careful not to damage your vehicle in it's first few weeks.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    So long as you don't go over 4K rpms max speed is not a factor during the breaking period. :)

    Just make sure your tires are well inflated at those speeds.

    -mike
  • hollier1hollier1 Member Posts: 22
    lilac0422 - So far I have searched 5 states for my color preference in a luxury package. No luck. Just a lot of wasted time and frustration. I think we may settle for a indigo blue today :(
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Just order one?

    -mike
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    StevePlll - I saw that too. The MSRP for EX 4WD is now $24700 (I paid $24100 in December, then $24500... maybe a week ago). When I told Steve (Host) about the dest. charge last week, it was $595 (I paid $495). And it is $640 now. Unbelievable!! Also, the luxury package with T.O.D. went up to $2000 from $1800. The options like ABS, rear spoiler also went up. Are you still paying for the new price?
  • StevePIIIStevePIII Member Posts: 55
    No, I won't be, I have a $1000 deposit in since last week (but who knows what the dealer might try to pull when I go to pick it up tomorrow) Rest Assured I will be checking for that
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    StevePlll - Good for you! With all the options and accessories, the price may push it to $30K.
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    I just took some pictures of my Sorento. Can anyone tell me how to post them like so_cali did? I went to another Town Hall forum and they suggested www.photopoint.com But there is no such site.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    It's typical for a launch MSRP to change after about 6 months. It happens all the time. It may happen again given the decent of the US dollar over the past 2 months.
  • hciaffahciaffa Member Posts: 454
    lok888 and those that need them. I paid $2.65 for my keys at a local locksmith in town and he was quite helpful in checking to see if it had a transponder in it. According to his manual many Hyundias and Kia's have it in the head of the key. Anyway if you go to post #1606 to read the post or here is a quick version ". In case you guys wish to have a key made the blank number is X232 HY12 and the key manufacture is ILCO." This blank is a Hyundia key and is a duplicate of the Sorento key. My dealer has a broken key cutter and until it gets repaired he can't make any and he would make me two with the plastic head at no charge because I boughtthe Sorento through them. Try getting the extra keys at a good locksmith, mine worked with no problems. So lok888 I think thats a rip off.
  • hciaffahciaffa Member Posts: 454
    From a previous post that we discussed dealers in CT. I believe your from Ct. Just curious, what dealer did you buy your Sorento.
    Paisan the dealer and even the owners manual recommend a breakin period of about 600 miles of not keeping the speed constant and to vary it.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    That too. Not over 4K + no cruise control. I forgot the non-constant speed thing. 600 miles is a bit short, but if that's what the manual says then go for it.

    -mike
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    hicaffa - I am bring my Sorento for the first oil change with Mobil 1 this weekend. Again, they quoted $60 (maybe less). Sounds too high? I will see if I can get the key somewhere else. For the key issue, a local TV station ran a report on some auto insurance companies denied (or make it difficult) claims if the car (key with build-in computer chip) got stolen. They think you are the only one who has the key. Also, there has been a topic about the data recorder (similar to the black box on the airliner) in the car. Folks, any comments on this? Or should I go to another forum?
    For the break in period, Kia recommends the first 600 miles. But I doubt the car will fly when travel 100+ mph. Take it easy on your car folks!
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    Just spoke to the service people. They still suggested an oil change to be done every 3000 miles even when use of Mobil 1, because I have to change the oil filter every 3000 miles as well. However, I have been doing this (6000 miles) on my '93 Accord with no problem, no leaks. Maybe I am under impression of some people.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    I do the same rough interval on my cars using Mobil 1. (6K miles)

    -mike
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    paisan - I forgot the issue of oil filter change. And I guess change at every 5 to 6K should not be a problem.
  • StevePIIIStevePIII Member Posts: 55
    Hciaffa-- I bought it at Barbarino in Wallingford.
  • hollier1hollier1 Member Posts: 22
    This story sounds crazy but I was told by a sales manager and salesmen in different cities that several ships sank during a storm. Half of the cargo were Sorentos allocated for the Southeast region. I had already put my money down on a white EX Lux pkg. so the manager had no reason to lie. Has anyone else heard this story?
  • sandmannsandmann Member Posts: 4
    The recommended interval for an oil change for the European Sorentos is every 15,000 km = 9,400 miles. And people in Europe are complaining about this "short" interval because a lot of cars out on the market are already up to 30,000 km = 19,000 miles. I will never understand why somebody would make an oil change every 3,000 miles. This is definitely a waste of the limited oil resources on this planet!!
    I believe it's just the way how the dealers make money; the quality of oil has changed quite a bit over the last 50 years but an extra 60 bucks every 2-3 month for the dealer isn't that bad! And as long as you believe in it and pay for it - who is to blame?

    -Eric
  • sandmannsandmann Member Posts: 4
    Your problem is you might not find the right color at the local dealer; the problem in Europe is you do not get a Sorento at all!
    We have ordered our car back in mid October and are still waiting for the delivery!
    If you place an order with a dealer today you will definetly not get your Sorento in 2003!
    The entire year 2003 production reserved for Europe is already sold (I believe I heard of 6,000 units reserved for Germany)!
    But at least we can order it in the color we want!!!!:-))))))))))

    -Eric
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    hollier1 - Perhaps you are crazy. My friend works in a company which helps companies in Asian to book cargo ship from Asian countries to U.S. He mentioned that there was a cargo ship which sank somewhere in Pacific Ocean during a storm. He didn't mention any cars involved on that ship. I don't think his company is dealing with automobile. But I will ask him to confirm. I remember months ago someone also mentioned this, with some 190 Sorentos sank in the ocean.

    sandmann - Thanks for letting us know the situation. I think Kia has already sold over 6000 Sorentos after 6 month of its debut here. I don't know if it is going to harm the engine when changing oil in such as long interval.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    The ship sinking story I heard involved mostly Volvos (some BMWs iirc). It happens, but a net search should turn something up you'd think.

    Lots of Nikes are washing up on the shores of Alaska at the moment :-)

    Steve, Host
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Yes a load of BMW/Benz/Volvos sank in the Atlantic, but the Kia ship didn't sink. It was delayed in the fall because it's PROPELLER broke and was being repaired in Hawaii. I told my dealer the sinking ship story of the Kias and he was rolling over laughing!

    -mike
  • brooklyn1951brooklyn1951 Member Posts: 71
    The problem with extended oil changes on the Sorento (or Sedona for that matter) is the size of the oil filter. I've seen larger filters on Briggs & Stratton lawn tractor engines! I guess that you could use synthetic and change only the filter more frequently.
    I don't think that I'd go much beyond 5K under the best conditions- but of course I don't have the scientific research to support this.
  • brooklyn1951brooklyn1951 Member Posts: 71
    The problem with extended oil changes on the Sorento (or Sedona for that matter) is the size of the oil filter. I've seen larger filters on Briggs & Stratton lawn tractor engines! I guess that you could use synthetic and change only the filter more frequently.
    I don't think that I'd go much beyond 5K under the best conditions- but of course I don't have the scientific research to support this.
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    brooklyn1951 - I was under impression that I can change synthetic oil every 5 to 6K miles, which is exactly what I did for my Accord for the past 2/3 years. There has been no problem. And I totally forgot about the oil filter issue which should be change every 3K miles. I am not sure if I want synthetic on my Sorento.

    And the guy in German mentioned about the long interval (9000 miles or more) for oil change. I doubt that will do more harms than goods. Gas price maybe high. But motor oil doesn't seem that way. For Sorento, maybe $25 for regular oil. That's properly $100 per year.
  • hciaffahciaffa Member Posts: 454
    I have been using Mobil 1 for all the vehicles I have owned in the last 15 years and I have never had any problems. I usually change my oil and filter at about 4000-4500 miles or every 4 months, 3 times a year instead of 4. It is more expensive but i feel that its worth it . I tend to keep my cars for a long time. I just changed the stock oil in the Sorento over to Mobil 1, I agree the filter is small but you should have seen the one on our Forester. It was smaller than the Sorento's. By the way my service manager stated that because the filter is a straight vetical assembley that to change the filter with out draining the oil will make for a real mess.
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    One Kia dealer would charges me the followings:

    * Mobil 1, Kia filter, top off all fluids, $60.
    * Mobil 1 (my own oil - properly cost $25 for
      6 qt.), etc, $20/$21.
    * Regular oil change service, $24/$25.
  • StevePIIIStevePIII Member Posts: 55
    Spent my First day in my Sorento... loved every minute of it...
    Some observations:
    Ambient Temp is only correct when the Vehicle is moving.
    It did Great off-road, I just had to sample the 4WD.
    Looking foward to the snow(however small)we are supposed to get tomorrow.
  • dicky_mintdicky_mint Member Posts: 2
    Having test driven a Seronto, and read all these discussions, I'm on the verge wedging out for one.

    Of course, being in the UK, it will have to a diesel (no petrol engines here yet), and will cost a lot more (equivalent to $35k), but then all cars are far more expensive here.

    What do you guys think? New Seronto or 2-3 year old Mitsubishi? I need something with the grunt to pull a 14000kg caravan (trailer?).
  • hciaffahciaffa Member Posts: 454
    What color and what options did you settle on. Let me know the color since I work in Meriden and if I am ever driving around and I see it I'll know its you. Ours is Ivy Green with Pewter cladding. As of now my wife and I have only seen one other Sorento since we bought ours in Nov. 2002. I think that the old public image of Kia is what may be hurting sales in Ct. We were very impressed with the Sorento when we bought and we still marvel at the fit and finish of it. Happy Motoring.
  • hollier1hollier1 Member Posts: 22
    Personally I would opt for the Sorento because of the warranty. It's new, hopefully less likely to have problems. If you do have problems, you're covered.
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    StevePlll - Congrats! Tell us more about your Sorento. Mine is gold beige with stone beige cladding, EX 4WD with TOD, 3300 miles and runs great! The picture on Kia website doesn't show the stone beige cladding right.

    hciaffa - I have seen several Sorentos in my area (Quincy and Boston). But still, is not as much as the new 4Runner and XC90 on the road. So far, I have seen the Indigo Blue LX, Diamond Silver EX, Alpine Gray LX. The LX looks strange with steel wheels and one tone paint.

    I just replaced the light bulbs (high beam) with this xenon plasma bulbs. It is brighter than the stock. But super white should be the one I want. For high beam, it is H1. For low beam, it is H7.
    I haven't changed the low beam yet. I realized it is difficult to change because the fuse box (on driver's side) and air filter unit (on passenger's side) have limited access to reach the bulbs. I will wait until the weather gets warm so I can work on my car.

    Also, anyone interested to take your Sorento off road? I just browsed the Hummer H2 forum. There are some interesting messages on off-roading. One guy bought two H2s and going to buy H1. His H2s was doing fine in snow, but it's stuck in sand. Must be the issue of tire pressure. Then someone mentioned the Unimog.
  • brooklyn1951brooklyn1951 Member Posts: 71
    I don't advocate changing the oil filter without changing the oil- I just believe that the life of the oil in a Sorento will be limited by the filter. When the filter gets plugged with dirt, a bypass valve opens and the dirty oil just bypasses the filter. Better dirty oil to your engine internals than no oil- but better to change that filter before you get to that point.
         I use Mobil 1 in my Saab turbo with 5K miles between changes. But my driving conditions are easy- 35 miles each way back and forth to work at 65-75 mph. I use synthetic due to the heat soak of the turbo when I shut the engine down. Synthetics outperform dino oils in high heat and extreme cold. I doubt if I will use Mobil 1 in the Sorento- conditions don't seem to warrant it. My wife uses the Kia mostly around town and my guess is that frequent changes at 3-4K miles will do more good than synthetics.
         But we all know that oil analysis is the only real way to determine change intervals.
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Haaa you do realize all an H2 is is a Yukon with bigger tires right? It's built on the same chassis....

    -mike
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    pasian - I guess I am not the only who saw the VAC button on Sorento. If you go the Kia website, go to Sorento, go to Detailed Car Info, go to Options and click on Shift-on-the-fly. I have never seen this button on Sorento. And the map light and cruise control buttons are missing. I mean these two features are standard on both LX and EX.
  • dindakdindak Member Posts: 6,632
    Who cares what platform the H2 is on, it's proven to be awesome off road,
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Is not of the Shift on the fly though! It's of the TOD system. I bet that the VAS is an option in the non-NADM Sorentos.

    -mike
  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    H2 awsome offroad? I don't think so. It has great angles of approach and departure and lockers. But it's not at all good on the trail. For one thing it's way way to bulky. 2nd the frame rails sit really low. Third thing is that @ the auto show I jumped on the side steps and broke one off! Yes a very tough vehicle... haaa. Oh and that plastic bumper in the front makes it real tough too.

    -mike
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