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2005 Kia Spectra/Cerato
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http://autos.en.msn.ca/as/autoshow2004/video.aspx?xml=streaming
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I had a '91 Ford Escort, with 107k miles and 7 years old it was totalled. I got $3000 from the insurance company.
Funny thing was the Honda and Toyota were only $1000 more, yet they would have cost $3000-4000 more to buy in the first place.
So I think you have a point. If you can get a good purchase price and then drive it that many miles...
-juice
Nice!!!
Nice!!!
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
MECHANICAL
2.0L 16 Valve DOHC engine w/CVVT
4 speed automatic transmission
Power rack & pinion steering
p195/60r15 tires, full wheel covers
SAFETY
Dual advanced front airbags
dual front & rear side curtain airbags
front and rear crumple zones
side door impact beams
front height adjustable seatbelt anchors
front seat belt pretensioners with force limiter
child safe rear door locks
lower anchors and tethers for children (LATCH)
INTERIOR
AM/FM/CD audio with 6 speakers
cloth seat trim with 60/40 split folding rear seats
8 way adjustable drivers seat. tinted glass
center console w/armrest and dual storage bins
variable intermittent wipers, dual remote mirrors
map lamps w/ sunglasses holder, tachometer
remote fuel door, trunk and hood release
tilt steering column, illuminated ignition switch
aut off headlamps, dome light w/delay out
dual front cupholders, dual rear cupholders
visor vanity mirrors, center console storage tray
EXTERIOR
clear lens headlamps and tail lamps
body color door handles, outside mirrors
body color bodyside moldings
5 mph bumpers
10years /100000 miles limited powertrain warranty
manufacturers suggested retail price $13,595.00
OPTIONS
Air conditioning 960.00
carpeted floor mats 80.00
sub total 14,635.00
transportation fee 540.00
total 15,175.00
As you can see, we mostly just got the basics, but it is still a very nice vehicle.
Ray
Did you get any discount off MSRP? I ask because the price of a Elantra GT with the same engine but more equipment (but just SABs vs. curtains) would be about $2000 less than the sticker price of the Spectra, and I can't see Kia selling many Spectras with that kind of price disparity.
kia has to realize they are the one's trying to steal market share not the other way around, really nice car though!!!!!!!!
I finally got to drive it to my birthday dinner with my family. I had to pay for that too. And tomorrow I get to drive it again. My three year old granddaughter is taking me to see Sesame Street Live.
It may be because I only drive an old truck, but I really enjoyed driving my wife's car
BTW, if I was shopping for a Spectra, I would use my "customer-loyalty rebate" letter Kia mailed me several months ago. Definitely I would. I would also ask for any and all discounts and rebates available at that time. Beyond that I'd buy that pup and drive it with pleasure. Good day!
Enjoy that Spectra, ray1! When you get to drive it, that is!
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
Check it out:
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/d/25231
Seriously, the Kia looks better.
-juice
I'm seeing some Jaguar X Type in the front end... just a little.
Don't get me wrong, I like KIA and Hyundai. I just will not pay anywhere near sticker price. Here in St louis you can drive away in a nice new Elantra for about $10000. A kia is a bit less. I am really interested in what the Hatch will look like. I hope it is on the order of the Mazda 3 five door.
http://www.kia-cerato.com/
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
http://www.channel4.com/4car/feature/motorshows/geneva2004/kia-ce- rato.html
http://www.kia-cerato.com/
This is a sweet looking hatchback-I can't wait to see them hitting Missouri highways and bi-ways. I have to make do with no Kia dealers here in Rolla, MO. The closest dealers are 100 miles NE in St.Louis, MO; 70 miles north in Columbia, MO and 100 miles SW in Springfield, MO. Hey, that gives me an idea!!!! =;)
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
~alpha
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2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I was also not impressed by the value proposition of the Spectra, compared to its cousin the Elantra. The EX costs about the same as an Elantra GT, but the Spectra has far less equipment, and the Elantra has much bigger incentives right now. The dash is nicer on the Spectra, but not enough to justify the higher price IMO. The only major advantage the Spectra has over the Elantra IMO is the standard side curtains. However, the Elantra has received solid side-impact test scores, so that may be a case of a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
A Kia rep at the show said the hatchback would be available in a couple of months.
-juice
I understand where you seem to be coming from HOWEVER, curtains are very desirable for this little known fact: the NHTSA side impact test scores that you see presented as a star rating DOES NOT factor in head protection, even though dummy measurements are taken. There are many cars that receive 4 stars in the side impact test but have perilously high HIC figures (near 1000, the threshold for severe injury.) Check out the 2004 Honda Accord sedan to see what I mean.
~alpha
They will re-test a 2nd model if the manufacturer provides it for free. Honda usually does not, but Ford usually does.
-juice
backy- your post gives me no indication as to whether or not you understand the point I am trying to convey. So heres my thesis, in case I did a poor job of elaborating before (sorry!)With an HIC of 882, its impossible that NHTSA factors head injury into its side impact rating, as an HIC of 882 would prevent a vehicle from being assigned 4 stars.
Thus, in relation to the Elantra and new Spectra, despite the fact that the Elantra does well in side impact HIC for both front and rear occupants, it is nonetheless, all other things being equal, better to have extra protection for the heads of the rear passengers (which the Elantra does not currently offer). However, one would not know this given the high star ratings that the NHTSA seemingly haphazardly doles out.
That said, I really dont think the new Spectra is priced too high, as you seem to think, backy? Also, given that you havent driven the car, how do you know it is not dynamically superior to the Elantra?
~alpha
No, I haven't driven a new Spectra yet because they haven't been in my local dealerships. Maybe they are now. Since they use the same chassis as the Elantra, I would expect the ride and handling to be comparable, but that remains to be seen. Anyway, since the Spectra hatchback isn't available in my area right now, and that's the type of vehicle I'm interesting in buying at this moment, the Spectra is a no-op for me until it's time to turn over the keys of my Elantra to my oldest son in a couple of years.
I thought this was the next gen. Elantra available as an '06 and that Kia was springing it a year early because of the sorry state of the present platform. If so, I'm a bit dissapointed. Not sure why they marketed the base car without air or automatic windows/locks. Interior looks a bit barren too.
Stark difference in marketing compared to Hyundai. Also, why are they calling this an '04 Spectra...almost like Volkswagen used to do.
Isn't it time to put this in the sedans forum???
Yes, I also believe that this is based on the NEXT Elantra, which is why I asked for the distinction between "seeing the car" and driving it. However, I'm not sure why you're correlating the next generation platform/structure to standard features, as the two are entirely not related, but this seems to be why you are disappointed with the vehicle. I apologize, I just dont get the thesis of the last post.
~alpha
Re the "drab" interior, I thought the grey interior (EX) was a little drab looking, but the tan interior of the LX was quite sharp, with a more distinctive two-tone treatment similar to pricier cars like Camry or Passat.
I recently went shopping for a low end TV for a friend's kid and was kind of surprised that the prices have risen since last summer. I guess the dollar's getting cheaper in relation to the won and that's resulting in decontenting all around. Don't know why anyone would buy the EX when the a/c brings it almost in line with the LX as to price. Maybe people in northern Maine or something. At any rate, it looks like a big marketing departure although I know the Elantra had more on the base car than the last gen. Spectra did.
(Just checked dollar dropped against the Won 1156 today, 1248 last year. Not big but it does represent about 8-9 percent.)
Inside and out, the new Spectra is lightyears beyond its predecessor. The exterior reminds me of a plumped-up Protege, especially the rear deck. The interior is tastefully done, with quality comparable to Honda and Toyota. Quality of the plastics on the dash and trim panels is very good. The seat material, a light grey plush, is a little boring, however. (Personally I prefer the tan interior, with more contrast between the plastic trim and fabric.) The controls have a precision feel, with rotary HVAC controls similar to the '04 Elantra's. The center console has a padded armrest, but the storage compartment is small. There is only one 12V power point (at least that I could see). The plastic wheel has a comfy thick rim. However, it was difficult to adjust the wheel such that it would not block the speedo or tach, or both. (I am blind in the right eye, that may have something to do with it as the tach is in the left corner of the instrument cluster.) The driver's seat has a single-lever height adjuster, instead of the dual-knob adjuster used on the previous Spectra and on other Kias and Hyundais--more on that later.
The engine is quiet at idle and growls under acceleration. I didn't press the new engine but power seemed more than adequate. The shifter is precise, just a bit notchy (it might loosen up with time if it's anything like the Elantra's shifter). The shifter knob is big and round, easy to grip, with a tasteful shift pattern emblem on top. The clutch action is smooth.
The ride is good on the highway, with expansion strips creating a mild thump. The suspension seems a little firmer than an Elantra GLS or Corolla, but less firm than a Civic. Handling seemed in between an Elantra GLS and GT--it took cloverleafs at 35 mph with no problem and there was no sway on turns or lane changes. The car is quiet at cruise, except for some wind noise (65 mph) from the driver's side and a rattle in the driver's B pillar. I noticed the rpms are a bit higher than on an Elantra with the same engine--about 2250 at 50 mph vs. 2000 on the Elantra, in 5th gear.
Rear seat comfort was very good (5' 10", 32" inseam), with good leg room and head room. There is good toe space under the front seats, much more than cars like the Elantra and Mazda3. It's a 60/40 split rear seat but with no center armrest, which the lower-priced Forenza has. Two cupholders pop out of the center console.
Which leads to the one major problem I found with the car: the driving position. As noted, the seat has a single-lever height adjuster. It moves the seat cushion up and down along one axis. So when I raised the seat such that the front edge was the right height, the rear felt too high, and when I lowered it to correct that problem, the front edge was too low and I felt I was going downhill. The steering wheel was also difficult to adjust so that it was comfortable and I could see the gauges. I think it's unfortunate that Kia didn't carry over the simple but effective dual-knob seat height adjuster from the previous Spectra. Because of that one flaw (or feature), I have to rule out the Spectra, just like a similar problem with the Corolla knocks it out of the running for me.
Other than that, I think the new Spectra is a well-executed small car that is at least the equal in most respects to the class-leaders: Civic, Corolla, Focus, Mazda3, and Elantra. It doesn't have the fuel economy, reliability history, or resale value of the Civic or Corolla, but beats them on power, price and warranty. It can't match the Mazda3 for power, but again has the price and warranty advantages. It is similar in many respects to the Elantra, with the same engine and chassis (?), but has a more upscale interior than the GLS and offers standard four-wheel disc brakes (available only with ABS on the Elantra) and standard side airbags and curtains.
I think the Spectra will get its toughest competition from its cousin the Elantra. The Spectra has a small price advantage in MSRP, with the Elantra at $14,467 but without rear discs or the side curtains. However, the Elantra has a $2000 rebate plus other incentives, which IMO tip the scales in favor of the Elantra until Kia addes similar incentives.
This is my very first post for the town hall, so please excuse any imperfections.
I was told by the dealer that this car has the same platform as the hyundai tiburon.
I had the opportunity to keep the 2005 Spectra overnight thus giving me a chance to drive it alot. I really love this car! It drives and handles very well. It has a lot of pep for a little car. This car is quiet when driving on the highway as well as around town. I am not an expert on vehicles just a person looking for a new car. I also drove the Toyota Corolla and the Elantra but overall I liked the interior/exterior style of 2005 Spectra more than the others. The Spectra's motor was much quieter than the Toyota when accelerating and driving. The Spectra's dash is much more pleasing than the Elantras. My dilemma is I am quite apprehensive about buying a Kia product.
PS I also drove the 2004 Spectra... absolutely no comparison to the new 2005! I wouldn't even consider the 04 model.
Thanks Robin
-juice
I prefer the dash on the new Spectra to the Elantra's also--a much more upscale look. Elantra won't be able to catch up until the next redesign for the '06 model year. However, I do like a lower cowl, and the Spectra's dash is higher than the Elantra's.
I also don't see any big advantage that the Corolla has over the Spectra, at least from a driving standpoint. The Corolla still has the advantage in fuel economy and in predicted reliability and resale value; it will take awhile for the Spectra to build a comparable reputation. For example, the Elantra has had a solid reliability picture for over five years now, but that still hasn't translated into higher resale values (in part due to the large incentives offered on new Elantras). At least the Spectra has the long warranty. If you like the car but are apprehensive, you might want to go for an extended warranty to give you peace of mind (and also will increase the resale value).