Kia Sorento

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Comments

  • iluvmysephia1iluvmysephia1 Member Posts: 7,709
    still has the original Hankook's on at 64,500 miles and THERE'S STILL TREAD LEFT-DECENT TREAD. Granted I treat the Sportsman with a lot of respect and don't drive it overly hard. I have yet to get even a flat tire with them. Handling is also good with this mini-ute-the tires just seem so natural for the rig-in fact, I'd like to get the same tires when I finally need to replace these OEM Hankook's.

    2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick

  • jd97jd97 Member Posts: 9
    Hi ivygrnsorento! I only paid 200 for the tires. we get alot of icing on the roads up here and the 4wd doesn't do much for that. The back end used to come around real easy, even with 4wd engaged. Not now. I just feel a little more in control with the new tires. I'm also concerned about running in 4wd too much. The 4wd is still there when I need it though.
  • tyresmokertyresmoker Member Posts: 266
    A pretty good way to ensure your front axles will NOT be there is to do what you are doing. Whether you realize it or not, the front axles are made up of rotating (duh) parts that only get lubricated when the differential is engaged. Unless you have a luxury package EX, your theory does not work.
    Putting studded snows on the rear so that you do not have to power up the front end is some of the strangest logic I have read on these boards in quite some time. Those studded snows will also play havoc on your ABS controls (if equipped) as well.
  • jd97jd97 Member Posts: 9
    so i guess when I don't use my 4wd for 6 months of summer weather my front end will lock up? it sure seems to work well now after not using for 6 months last year. DUH! Logic???
    another thing, if my studded tires help me stop better and not engaging the ABS in icy conditions, how is that hurting the ABS? Logic?
    what have you got in that pipe smokey? thanks for your input anyways!
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    I don't remember what the owners manual says. It will be a good idea to shift to 4WD (i.e. 4Hi, 4Lo) and drive a few feet or a short distance. I do this even on my full-time 4WD Sorento. I just want to make sure the moving parts are lubricate and to see if there any problem.
  • tyresmokertyresmoker Member Posts: 266
    Lok is correct, it does not hurt to get those parts lubed up by shifting into 4x4 in the off season. You sound like one of those types who put the plastic seat covers over your seats so you don't dirty the upholstery either.
    You bought a car with 4x4...use it. You bought a car with ABS...try using that as well.
    Studded snows...gees...what's next, tire chains?
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    tyresmoker - No. But I would turn on the seat heater in the summer and the A/C in the winter for minutes to make sure these things are working. Well, I only have the WeatherTech rubber mats to protect the interior from snow, mud and dirt. Oh! The cargo tray too. Beige (tan) interior is a bit difficult to maintain, in my experience. But I don't have any seat cover. I just clean and condition the leather seats once a while.

    Folks. Try to go to some dirt roads and put it in 4WD maybe once per month if you don't do any off-roading. It is a 4WD SUV.
  • hciaffahciaffa Member Posts: 454
    Just my 2cents.... I have owned several 4wd and AWD vehicles for a long time and one of the best things to do for the system is to once in a while put it into 4wd hi or lo to allow the fluids to get up into the gears so nothing gets dried out or stuck when you really need it. Even when the roads are dry just find a straight road or parking lot and put it in to lo and or hi and drive straight for some distance. just don't turn the wheel. I agree with lok888 even I have a EX lux. and I put it it to 4 lo to make sure its working. Even the ac in the winter needs to be turned on to allow the oils to keep the seals moist this was very true in older cars but today many incorporate the defrost mode into the ac so no need to worry on that.
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    I have a question about "just don't turn the wheels". When I test the 4WD, I often drive my car into the driveway and out to street for a short distant. Or maybe make some small turns in the parking lot. Do I do any harm to the system? I am thinking I may do the same thing when off-roading, like curves on the trail. Or you shift it to AUTO or 2WD when you need to make turns on the trial then shift it back to 4Lo?
  • tyresmokertyresmoker Member Posts: 266
    First, your defrost fucntion usually cycles your a/c compressor in the "off season". Secondly, when you shift to four low you essentially lock the wheels to turn at the same speed via the trasnfer case diff. We all know when you turn your steering wheel the wheels turn at different speeds, as a result, especially on pavement, one will experience a wheel hop as a result of the wheels "turning" at the same speed. One way to avoid this is to get studded snows and never touch the 4wd switch.
  • slan_canadaslan_canada Member Posts: 54
    Hi Everyone,

    This evening, I had for the first time of my life an accident. I will write below what happened... in French. It's a little difficult for me to write the whole story in english. I know that maybe some of you speak french (i.e. jdesjardins) so maybe someone can translate ? Here we go...

    Il était environ 6:30pm. Je roulais environ 60-70 km/h (désolé, je ne sais pas ce que ça donne en miles à l'heure) sur la rue enneigée lorsque je vis à ma droite un individu dans un véhicule sur l'accotement. Je vois celui-ci sortir sa tête par la fenêtre comme pour voir s'il y avait des automobiles qui s'envenait... et je le vois partir ! Je le vois désirant faire un " U-Turn " !! Je peux vous dire que j'ai foutu les breaks en maudit. Malheureusement, même avec de très bons pneus d'hiver et le système 4x4, je lui ai rentré dedans. Il était en plein milieu de la rue, horizontal à moi. Ça a faissé. Je lui ai rentré dans sa porte avant.

    J'ai rien eu et l'autre individu non plus. C'est ce qui est important. Mais il reste que mon bébé ( mon Sorento :) ) est pas mal ammoché. Tout le devant est brisé et le coté droit de mon camion est en piteu état aussi. Sous la force de l'impact, le coté droit de mon véhicule s'est frappé contre le coté conducteur de l'autre véhicule.

    Une chose que je suis très déçu, c'est que mon coussin gonflable ne s'est pas déploiyé ! Après avoir réussi à contacter le patron de ma concession Kia, celui-ci m'as informé que maintenant les coussins gonflables se déploient lorsque la force de l'impact est vraiment important. C'est quand même bizzare qu'à 60-70 km/h que le coussin gonflable ne s'est pas déploiyé !

    J'ai fais remorquer mon Sorento chez mon dealer. Je devrais avoir plus de nouvelles au début de la semaine prochaine.

    Je vais prendre quelques photos en fin de semaine pour vous montrer les dégats.

    Je vais terminer en disant ceci.... Mettez toujours votre ceinture de sécurité !

    Ah oui, aussi, j'ai eu la peur de ma vie!

    Again, I'm sorry for the french but my english is not 100%. I'm sure that someone will be able to translate.
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    I am sorry to hear of your misfortune.

    Une chose que je suis très déçu, c'est que mon coussin gonflable ne s'est pas déploiyé !

    Your airbags should certainly have deployed at those speeds. This sounds like a very serious problem. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

    tidester, host
  • slan_canadaslan_canada Member Posts: 54
    [quote]Your airbags should certainly have deployed at those speeds. This sounds like a very serious problem.[/quote]

    Maybe because of my bumber guard ?

    http://www.powow.com/mysorento/june2003/kia-sorento-1.jpg

    Anyway, I will call Kia Canada next monday to have an answer from them.
  • boredbored Member Posts: 300
    It was approximately 6:30pm. I rolled approximately 60-70 km/h (sorry, I do not know what that gives in miles per hour) on the snow-covered street when I live on my line an individual in a vehicle on the verge. I see this one leaving his head by the window as to see whether there were cars which was envenait... and I see it leaving! I see it wishing to make a "U-Turn"!! I can say to you that I have foutu the station-wagons maudit some. Unfortunately, even with very good tires of winter and the system 4x4, I returned to him inside. It was in full medium of the street, horizontal with me That faissé. I returned to him in his front door.

    I had anything and the other individual either. It is what is important. But it remains that my baby (my Sorento:) ) is not badly ammoché. All the front is broken and the with dimensions right of my truck is in sorry state too. Under the force of the impact, the with dimensions right of my vehicle was struck against the dimensioned conducting one of the other vehicle.

    A thing that I am very disappointed, it is that my inflatable cushion was not déploiyé! After having succeeded in contacting the owner of my concession Kia, this one informed me that maintaining the cushions inflatable spread themselves when the force of the impact is really important. It is nevertheless bizzare which with 60-70 km/h that the inflatable cushion did not déploiyé!

    I have make tow my Sorento at my dealer. I should have more news at the beginning of the next week.

    I will take some photographs in weekend to show you the dégats.

    I will finish by saying this.... Always put your belt of safety!

    Ah yes, also, I had the fear of my life!

    Just thought I'd help out. Sorry about what happened, Slan. It hurts to be without vehicle. It always happens when you need it most!
  • saber86saber86 Member Posts: 128
    What do you think of the concept pickup truck "mojave" from kia? I believe if the vehicle is built it would target your demographics group 20's crowd.

    I wonder if Kia can put the 3.8 liter turbo charged 280 HP engine in the sorento?
  • dbgindydbgindy Member Posts: 351
    Thanks for putting up the translation ( now if had been in German I might have been able to find the curse words:-).

    Slan the important thing is you are okay!!!!!

    Duncan
  • jdesjardinsjdesjardins Member Posts: 24
    It was about 6:30 Pm when I was driving at about 40 miles an hour(70kmh x 0.6 =42mph) on a snow covered road when I saw a car on the side of the road with the driver looking out the window checking for oncoming cars..and there he went!

     He made a u-turn in front of me forcing me to slam on the breaks.

    Unfortunately even with 4wd and good tires I rammed into him, broadside in his front driver side door.

    Neither driver was hurt except for my baby..my Sorento !! which got pretty busted up. The front and right side get pretty banged up as I rammed his left front door !

    One thing which really annoyed me was the fact the air bags did not inflate . After checking with my Kia dealer the reply was that the air bags only inflate when the impact is "really important" !

    I found it kind of strange that air bags would not deploy for a head on crash at 40 mph ??

    I had the Soreonto towed to the dealer and will know more about the damages next week

    I will be taking a few pictures to show you the damages

    All I can had is WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS !!!!

    and yes I got the scare of my life !

    PS to SLAN CANADA.....I think this needs a complaint to TRANSPORT CANADA or NTSB or somebody
    if the dealer explanation on the air bags is not supported by Kia headquarters or some Gov. agancy capable of clarifying this isuue.

     IF Kia air bags don't go off with head on collisions at 40 mph we ALL need to now when they will go off!

    no offense to other translator BORED.. if you used a software to do it... it had a few skips!!

    :-)
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    Maybe because of my bumber guard ?

    I suppose it is possible. That topic has come up a few times in the Town Hall. Try using the "advanced search" feature which you will find in the left column of this page.

    tidester, host
  • slan_canadaslan_canada Member Posts: 54
    Thanks Jdesjardins for the translation ! :)

    I will let you know at the begining of next week what happen with Kia Canada about the air bags.

    If I'm not satisfied with the Kia Canada response; doing a complaint to TRANSPORT CANADA can be a good idea. Thanks for letting me know about this one!
  • iluvmysephia1iluvmysephia1 Member Posts: 7,709
    including your story on the Kia Sorento thread. I figured up the kph to mph conversion and it looks like you were going about 35-45 mph, right? Your Sorento will get all fixed up, sorry about your loss but you'll get it back and fixed. I have one question for you, slan. Upon impact did you feel relatively safe or in big danger? I mean, did you feel like the Kia Sorento handled the impact of your accident in a solid and tank-like manner, where you were not thrust in an abrupt, harsh manner, only jostled a tad and it's just the emotional impact and the body repair(plus some nagging paperwork)and possibly a rental car left over now to provide aggravation? Again, good fortune to you in getting this thing fixed up and getting you back safely and happily on the road again! =:)

    2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick

  • jdesjardinsjdesjardins Member Posts: 24
    simple rules for kmh and mph conversions

    KMP---­to MPH just multiply by .6 70kph x.6= 42 mph

    or use the 5 and 8 rule

    kmph /8 x 5 = mph

    for kmh to mph

    mph/5 X 8 = kmph and close enough

    or buy a calculator !! I wish we could end this silly kmh and MPH
    squabble

    we should all use KMPH :-)
  • boredbored Member Posts: 300
    The Mojave is....OK.... but I'd never buy it. It's too curvy for a pickup truck. I'd like it to be more angular like the Sorento, maybe even twins. The tail lights look like they were lifted from an old Caddy and modernized. Overall, it just looks silly.

    As for the engine, Rumor has it that the 3.5L is being dumped for a higher displacement engine anyway. The same 3.8L engine that's in the Mojave, without the turbocharger. It MIGHT end up in the Sorento, Amanti and Sedona in 2005. Expect VVT and all other sorts of technologies that these buyers are hooked on.

    And hey! I'm 16, not 20! :-)

     jdesjardins, yes, I used software. I may live 20 minutes from Canada, but I don't know a bit of French, nor do I know anyone who speaks it.

    slan_canada, "I found it kind of strange that air bags would not deploy for a head on crash at 40 mph ??"

    Honestly, I'm not surprised. Could you have possibly been traveling slower than 40-35MPH? I have heard in the past, that airbags do not inflate until the 40MPH or more IF the CONDITIONS are PERFECT. The bumper guard could have affected the sensors. However, we do not know whether an airbag could have done any good. Could have made it worse... The good thing is that you are okay, and the Sorento really is one tough truck.
  • cactusjackcactusjack Member Posts: 5
    Many years ago, the same type of accident happened to me - a guy just made a u turn from the side of the road, and I plowed into the rear part of his car, and the same, 'I didn't see you'

    But the air bag thing is of concern. I am slowly modifying my Sorento for some off road use, and I was going to have a front bumper gaurd type of thing custom made, and I had thought about what effect that might have on the airbag sensor
  • jdesjardinsjdesjardins Member Posts: 24
    to Bored:

    don't trust those thing much as you saw with my own version..

    je lui ai rentré dans sa porte avant

     means ....litterally

    I entered him in his front door which means....

    I ploughed.. or rammed right into his front
    door

    not.. "I returned to him in his front door"

    I guess most of you readers got the jist of it when you read the software translated version but for goodness sake don't ever use one of those SW translators to do anything of a professionnal nature like advertising or translating instruction manuals and that applies vice versa. Either way (F-­E or E-F) those softwares are only good to give you a sense of things. !
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    I agree completely!

    Of course, for some really big bucks they'll sell you their professional versions which are much more accurate and faithful to linguistic nuances.

    tidester, host
  • slan_canadaslan_canada Member Posts: 54
    Hi,

    I just updated my website.

    See the pics @ http://www.powow.com/mysorento/
  • dbgindydbgindy Member Posts: 351
    Ouch... With that kind of damage I would have thought the airbags would have deployed....

    Duncan
  • iluvmysephia1iluvmysephia1 Member Posts: 7,709
    they are great(I mean the truck when it was whole)and one can tell you REALLY love your truck. This Kia Sorento has really grabbed your senses and is just what you want. I am in the same boat but I have Kia's 1st SUV for sale in the States, the Kia Sportage 4x4, I have the 2001 year model. Kia is my favorite carmaker for many reasons and as I looked at your beautiful black Sorento pictures before the crash I am reminded of one BIG reason why they're my favorite: THEY ARE THE BEST VEHICLE BODY DESIGNERS ON THE PLANET! Bar none. It's how they dimension the folds and lines and curves and creases...whoever designs for them thinks the way I do about body design. I mean, you can't say it's a perfect match but they are the closest to anything out there for that. Anyhoo-before this turns into a full-blown iluv Stratocaster I want to make a few observations on your Sorento pictures, slan. 1)I love your Korean-version Sorento grille you installed, that is spot on! 2)Where's your alloy wheels? Are they temporarily off so you can use snow tires or something like that? Quick jaunt back to Kia styling...I long to see more of the new Kia Sportage(or whatever they're going to call the new Kia mini-ute...anybody who's clicked on the link I provided and took a look has seen the new Sportage under development...yes, to me it looks pretty good, but I want to see more!
       Slan, it sounds like your Kia service manager is going to treat you right in getting your Sorento back on the road again...I would go in there repeatedly and hound them for updates constantly..don't be harassing but be diligent in seeing that everything's getting the fine tooth comb treatment...that is too nice of an SUV to sit crumpled up in a body shop for a long time. Hang in there, buddy...I'm hoping for a quick recovery period for ya!

    2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick

  • ivygrnsorentoivygrnsorento Member Posts: 119
    Just looked at your pictures. Sorry to see such a beautiful truck crumpled like yours. Like many other posters have said, the most important thing is that you are ok.

    Now... a few observations. Go to this link. This is what a 40mph crash looks like. http://www.nhtsa.com/NCAP/Cars/2422.html

    Now granted. This Sorento is hitting a brick wall that is protected with a material that is suppose to simulate a crash with another vehicle. But based on the account here, and seeing your vehicles damage, there is, in my mind, no way you were going 30-40 mph. I would guess you were going 15-20 mph at most. At this speed, the decelerator and impact sensors on your Sorento most likely didn't sense a large enough impact or deceleration. Thus, no airbag deployed.

    This past summer I was the passenger in a Ford F250 truck that went off a road here in colorado. We hit a tree head on at about 30 mph. The impact was surprisingly less impactful than what I would have thought... especially seeing those trees coming at us after loosing control going around a very very tight turn. Anyway, the airbags did not deploy in this case either. But the seatbelts kept both of us from coming anywhere near the dashboard or windshield. I wear eye glasses, so I was very happy the airbags did not deploy. But the accident in my opinion did not warrant the airbags to deploy. And believe me, the damage to my brothers truck was much much worse that yours.

    I think the auto industry has mislead most of the car buying population about airbags. I think a lot of us still have this misunderstanding about how the new improved airbags work. They are much more sophisticated than they were just 5 years ago. When a airbag deploys, it causes thousand of dollars of damage to the dash, door, headliner. Insurance companies were loosing their asses everytime a person rear ended someone at 20mph that caused $3000 of damage to the body, and another $2000 of damage to the interior. Get in a bumper to bumper crash, and suddenly your insurance company is dropping you or your rates are going through the roof!

    Anyhoo... again. I'm sorry to see what happened to you and your Sorento. And I hope they shop can breathe some new life into your truck and make it look as fantastic as it had before the crash. But in the end, it does not surprise me that that airbags did not go off.
  • slan_canadaslan_canada Member Posts: 54
    iluvmysephia1...

    Thanks for your comments on my Sorento. About my Alloy wheels, I got them removed just before winter. I want to protect them from salt found on roads during winter season.

    ivygrnsorento...

    I talked to some peoples today: Kia dealer, my insurance company, Kia Canada. All of them seem to think the same thing as you. Your message describe what Kia Canada told me today. I talked about 30 minutes with them and what I learned, is that there are many many many criterias for an Air Bag to deploy. Now, I can tell that I'm happy that my Air Bag did not deploy. Apparently, air bags deployment -can- cause physical damages to the person.

    BTW, I had a call today... My Sorento have $9500 of damages ( Canadian dollars :) ) which mean about $7200 (US).

    I'm leasing a 2000 Honda Civic. I don't like infidelity, I don't like driving cars !!! :):) I'm impatient to be again with my Sorento.
  • slan_canadaslan_canada Member Posts: 54
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    Message reposted to comply with the Membership Agreement
    ***

    #3259 of 3266 iluvmysephia1 by slan_canada Feb 14, 2004 (9:27 pm)

    You are right... it was about 35-45 mph (when I saw the other SUV (a old jeep cherokee) moving in the street i.e. doing the U-Turn). What I don't know is what was the speed of my truck when I hit the other truck (since I put on the brakes when I saw the guy moving); but I know that the collision
    was fast and tough. The street was full of snow and maybe some ice.

    Upon impact, yes, I feel relatively safe. I felt a great pressure of my belt of safety against my body (thanks to Altavista's Translator for this phrase :)). On the moment, I told to my self: " Oh no, my truck!!! ( I love it so much; it's my baby :) ) ". I think that I told " Oh No " (with my head) 20 times :) I was very very very sad to see my truck all broken. I bought it september 2002.

    When I asked to the guy why he did a " U-Turn " on the street (illegal BTW); he responded to me that he never saw me coming. I told to myself: "I'm sure that he saw me but didn't want to tell me the true". My Headlights was on and my fogs was also ON. I was very visible. What I
    believe is that the guy say to himself: "I have time to pass". He did not know how to estimate my speed. And you know what happened.

    Friday evening, maybe 2 hours after the accident, I called the Kia dealership Boss at his home. He was very sad for me. He talk to me with professionalism; even if he was not in business (he was at his home !). I asked to him if he was able to give me a car for the weekend... his response was: "SURE!" :) He left his house to go to his dealership and he checked my truck. He said to me that they will do anything possible so that my truck come like new.

    I took some pics today. I will post them tomorrow.

    Thanks for reading.
  • luvmysorentoluvmysorento Member Posts: 38
    Sorry to hear about your accident. I'm glad that you are ok. It makes me sad because you have put alot of work into making your Sorento one of the best that I have seen. I hope they fix your "baby" as good as new.

    You said that the guy perhaps couldn't estimate your speed and thought he might have time. I seem to get this alot too. People pull out in front of me as if I were invisible. I have no idea how they cannot see a large dark blue vehicle coming towards them. I have often wondered if they really did see me and thought that I was going alot slower. I also think sometimes that they see a nice vehicle coming and figure that I will not HIT them. I am very greatful for good brakes!

       ~Karen~
  • iluvmysephia1iluvmysephia1 Member Posts: 7,709
    they hit you when you're doing nothing else but driving along at the posted speed limit. Now, the situation's variables change(A LOT)if you're speeding, even by a little bit. Speeding exponentially increases everybody's chances of either getting into a one-car accident or causing someone to run into the speeding car. Have you ever, while sitting at a stop sign, looked one way, looked the other way, then decided it was all right to go, and started out into the road, only to then look back to your left again and see a rig RIGHT IN YOUR WAY? If you're driving right, you'll slam on your brakes and stay right where you are. It's a matter of judging distances and checking and RE-CHECKING THE ROAD to make absolutely sure the roadway is clear to come out on. It sounds very simplistic but it is a big reason for crashes. People are either not thinking carefully enough, are distracted by other passengers, by their speakers blaring, whatever. Impatience at stop situations causes a lot of accidents.

    2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick

  • sonnyrockersonnyrocker Member Posts: 127
    What free software did you use to translate?
    I purchased Easy Translator 4 Deluxe for $9 at Sam's Club. I tried just once or twice using the Japanese translator, it looks funny, but at least you get the meaning of the text. I agree, you can't rely on that for professional writing, it will make you look stupid and the people you are writing may get mad because you don't show them proper respect.
  • ivan4741ivan4741 Member Posts: 24
    Sorry to read about the crash. You had a very cool Sorento and I sure hope it's soon looking great again. You have done a lot of nice things to your Sorento and it's very sad to see this happen to someone who really cares about their truck. Let us know how the repair works out :-)
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    I just looked at the Chicago Auto Show coverage from Edmunds. The Kia Mojave pickup concert really caught my attention. Mojave is on stretched Sorento platform with 280 horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine. I hope Kia will put this powerful engine in Sorento if Kia has no interest to build Mojave.
  • hciaffahciaffa Member Posts: 454
    Sorry I didn't respond to your question earlier but we were away for a extend Valentine's holiday in NJ. On the turning of the wheels if you turn the wheels all the way over to one side and the roads are dry you can feel a grinding or a clunking sound at the front wheels, this is not good. You need the lubrication of the road being wet to turn on a tight circle or you can damage the CV joints and or the diferential. On ours becasue of the TOD and being auto 4wd this can happen when you engage 4wd lo. In the auto position try turning over the steering wheel in you drive way till it locks and move slowly you can feel the cv joints slightly locking up. If you drive to long in this position it will damage the joints. I accidently did this to our Forester when we had it.
    Slan...I relative of mine had a Nissan Passport and was involved in a broad side some what to yours and he was doing about 40mph and the air bafs did not inflate. The dealer told him that becasue he had a bumper guard installed it can protect the bumper to the point where the sensors are protected from the impact thus they didn't actuate the bags. He went back to the installer and his remark was " oh by the way the air bags may not inflate..." he read the warranty issued with the gaurds and there it was. He was out of luck.
    By the eay our Sorento prefromed flawlessly on the Garden Stat Pkway. Keeping up with all the traffic and enough get up and go to pass when needed. Funny we sould be driving along and pass a Lexus or a Highlander and you could feel the distaion of being passed by A KIA!!!! then they would catch up to us and give us a look over. The Sorento was great in the white out snow storm they had Tuesday night. Only wish the gas mileage was better. WeE averaged about 19.5 mpg for our trip.
  • pathalogicalpathalogical Member Posts: 34
    Slan...I relative of mine had a Nissan Passport...

    Do you mean a Nissan Pathfinder or Honda Passport ? No such thing as a Nissan Passport. Also, experts say that air bags are designed to depoly in an accident of "significant magnitude".
  • hciaffahciaffa Member Posts: 454
    It wasn't lok888 but me I made a simple mistake,they all look alike except for our Sorento. Cheeezzz picky picky
  • iluvmysephia1iluvmysephia1 Member Posts: 7,709
    overall, they LOOK DIFFERENT AND BETTER THAN THE REST OF THE SUV'S IN THE WHOLE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD. Kia won't let me forget that because as much as I love my little Sportage 4x4, they are always busy bettering themselves and producing a better product down the road. I'm getting psyched to see the new-world-order Sportage under development. I like Hyundai's new Tucson mini-ute and I sure like the pics of the new 2004 or 2005 Sportage as well. The others just fall way too short of automotive perfection, try as they might or may.

    2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick

  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    Anyone has any experience for detailing the engine bay? I heard about the steam cleaning. But I am afraid the mix of water and electronic parts and wiring. Should I bring it to profession car detailing people or it could be a fun DIY weekend project?
  • pathalogicalpathalogical Member Posts: 34
    lok888,

    I don't think that brand new cars need steam cleaning or engine shampoo in their first few years of ownership. Not likely that you've had oil leaks or blown coolant lines that have sprayed stuff all around the engine bay. Today my Pathfinder is exactly 11 months old and I spent most of yesterday doing some 'spring cleaning' mostly vacuuming the interior and washing out the wheel wells (you'd be surprised how much sand came out from under there, and I'm sure there was some salt in there too), then I remembered your message here and popped the hood open. Basically the engine is dusty, so I think the best way to clean it, and keeping it clean, is to use a sponge and wipe it clean. You can also add some degreaser to your bucket of water. Today's engines are awkward and complicated, there's just to much stuff in there for anyone to get it nice and clean, and you're right about water & wires, I don't think engines are completly waterproof. I'm sure all the electrical connectors have rubber seals to help keep any liquids out, but I still wouldn't want anyone spraying water in there...you just never know where it might get into.
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    path - Temparture was in the 50s here in MA. It is good to see the real color of Sorento after a wash and some detailing work. Can't wait to see the weather gets warmer for waxing and some minor dents repair (with Dent King?). Yeah. I agree. I have to be careful with those electronic parts and wires.
  • hciaffahciaffa Member Posts: 454
    In the latest issue of Motor Trend they test and compare the Sorento against a Suzuki XL7 and a Jeep Liberty. They said they had a EX with luxury but some of the photos were of the regular EX. The Sorento finished 2nd behind the Liberty and if not for some minor dislikes it could have tied or beaten the Liberty. It mentions that it gave the Liberty a real run for the money when they were 4 wheeling in the rough with plenty of clearance to keep it safe. Good article. Would have like to have seen it against a Toyota Highlander since KIA compares it against that vehicle in price and equipment.
  • sonnyrockersonnyrocker Member Posts: 127
    Check this list out. Sorento is awesome as a true off-roader. Just check and see how many SUVs are better than Sorento in the list below :)
    Also, as we all know, Sorento is much more price comparable than all of them!
    Sorento Rocks!

    Consumer Reports rates 14 four-wheel-drive vehicles, of 34 tested, true off-roaders. From the best down:
    Toyota Tacoma TRD
    Chevrolet Avalanche
    Toyota Tundra
    Toyota Land Cruiser
    Land Rover Discovery
    Toyota 4Runner
    Lexus GX470
    Dodge Ram
    Land Rover Freelander
    Jeep Grand Cherokee
    Kia Sorento
    Nissan Xterra
    VW Touareg
    Mitsubishi Montero
  • iluvmysephia1iluvmysephia1 Member Posts: 7,709
    for four-wheeling, but you also made the correct choice for body styling. Also for decent and fair pricing. Which is only part of the reason that Kia is my favorite car producer in the world. Kia and Sorento and even my lowly Sportage 4x4 all rock quite nicely!

    2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick

  • sonnyrockersonnyrocker Member Posts: 127
    I absolutely agree with you.
    Just curious, it sounds like you don't own a Sorento, but you really like it a lot. Do you plan to buy one? or do you work for Kia, or perhaps you work for Kia dealer?
  • iluvmysephia1iluvmysephia1 Member Posts: 7,709
    nor do I work for a Kia dealer. I think it really appears that way to a lot of people on the Internet. I am just a guy who has owned a 1999 Kia Sephia, liked it a lot and wanted to enjoy a different Kia vehicle so I traded the Sephia in on a Sportage 4x4 in 2001. I don't have plans to buy a Sorento and MAY be interested in a new 2005 Kia Sportage(if they indeed call the new mini-ute Sportage)when I've run enough miles up on my Sportage. I just like to come here and see how people are digging their Sorento's because I really like the SUV a lot. I just don't need the larger size and extra room of the Sorento...I could be persuaded to change my mind some day, hence, I come here and read about your Sorento experiences.

    2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick

  • paisanpaisan Member Posts: 21,181
    Most owners manuals state that you need to engage the 4wd 1x per month to keep it lubricated. If you are in an urban area and can't hit a dirt road, I'd suggest you find a parking lot and engage it and drive straight for as far as you can, then disengage turn around and drive back straight with it engaged. This will be sufficient to lubricate the engage/disengage mechanism.

    -mike
  • lok888lok888 Member Posts: 1,788
    paisan - We haven't heard from you for a while. That's a good advise and I often do that for a short distance. I am still new to 4WD. Any suggestion for maintenance on 4WD system like fluids replacement? There are not too many info on owner manual. And I am reaching the 17K miles. Any comments on this Satisfied ceramic brake pads for less dust and reduce rotor wear instead of OEM parts?
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