2005 Kia Spectra/Cerato

lok888

Checked one local dealer (Boch Kia) and they have it as 2004 & 1/2 model. My dealer (Quirk Kia) said the same thing. BTW, my dealer still has 2003 model left.

shakeyp

Hello all New here.

Just noticed your discussion about the 2005 KIA Spectra. I was searching around online and stumbled on here.

I actually purchased a 2005 KIA Spectra last week and i must say i cant stop driving the car. and I'll probably run out my warranty withing 2 years lol. Ive had it for a week and I have 1600 kilometeres on it already.

But if you are looking for a good deal for its money The spectra is it.

Just a quick brag I bought the second 2005 model in Canada. first one in Ontario.
and i have soem great plans for this car its a real head turner

Kirstie_H

Hi shakeyp, and welcome to Town Hall! So glad to hear that you're pleased with your purchase. I'm sure other enthusiasts would be interested in hearing about the details of your purchasing & driving experience, if you've got the time & inclination.

lok888

Anyone bought one here in U.S.? I want to know what Kia put on the window sticker. It maybe different for Canadian market. I have to go to my dealer and test drive one. Yeah. Canadian only gets three years basic bumper-to-bumper warranty.

robins

Hi lok888

The warranty on any Kia product in Canada is 5yr bumper to bumper. 5-5-5 totally transferable! Apparently, they have just introduced oil changes for life this month???

Thanks all for the fine welcome!!

Welcome Shakeyp! I too live in Ontario (NWO). Thanks for the input on your new vehicle, I'm glad you like it. We will probably be purchasing one as well, drove it last weekend and fell in love with it. We want something dependable as second vehicle yet good on gas as we do alot of commuting back and forth work. I wish there was some clear reviews out there on this vehicle, in time I am sure there will be many.

Thanks again everyone for the warm welcome.. Robin

ateixeira

I thought it was 2 years of free service, that's what the Sedona ads say.

Perhaps your dealer was offering that?

-juice

shakeyp

It is a 5 year 100,000km comprehensive, 5 year 100,000 km power train, 5 years road side assistance.

but alittle more input for yas about the car. I recentley took it down to toronto and got the chance to actually open it up on the 401(freeway if you will) Ill just say this at 190 km/h in 5th gear it was only running at 5000 rpm. The dealership said the redline for the standards are actually at 7200 rpm and not 6500 as marked on the tach.

alpha01

Driving at speeds of 115-120 MPH is the opposite of how you're supposed to break-in new vehicles.

~alpha

iluvmysephia1

yeah, I was told with my Sportage 4x4 purchase in Sept.2001 to not exceed 60mph for the first 1000 miles. I actually stuck to that, too. It wasn't easy but, well, you know! Any American 2004 1/2 Kia Spectra buyers jump in here and detail away, OK? Getting suddenly interesting in here!

shakeyp

The cars already been broken in before i did that.
Like i said previously if i keep going my warranty will be up in 2 year isntead of 5.

it has 3000km on it already

murley

The 5door will be in showrooms in May. It's debut is next week @ the NY Auto show.

shakeyp

last friday or saturday the 2nd or the 3rd of april the toronto star had a two page review on the 2005 Spectra.

alpha01

but at 3000 kilometers, the engine is far from fully broken in.

~alpha

lok888

The Canadian Kia website said this is an all-new 2005 Kia Spectra. And it just said all-new in U.S. site. Many internet sites still have 2004 pricing and specs info. Anyone bought one lately here in US?

malibu_jack

Hi

I am new o this board and will be looking to replace my 2001 Nissan Sentra. I have looked into Kia before, but have been quite sceptical about long term reliability. Saw the 2005 Spectra at the Otawa car show this year and was somehwat impressed, but had a hard time keeping my eye on it when I saw the 2004 Mazda 3.

How does Kia stack up to big guys? (i.e. toyota, Mazda, Ford, GM, etc?)

backy

Spectra is very competitive with the Corolla, Focus and 3i, with Focus and 3i holding an edge in handling and power (with the Focus' 2.3L engine). Spectra is more car than the Aveo or Cavalier/Sunfire. Corolla has an edge in fuel economy, predicted reliability, and resale value. Pricewise, Spectra should have an advantage, especially by early next year when discounts/rebates should be readily available. Warranty is of course a big plus for Spectra. Worth a look when you are ready to buy. If you look at Spectra, might as well check out the Elantra, its cousin, also.

alamid69

I stumbled on a kia spectra web site. Check it out, here's the link.

http://www.kiaspectra.com/site.html

malibu_jack

Thanks for the info. So will the canadian market be seeing a re-styled Hatch in the near future?

coachdny

the ny auto show?? what was the overall reaction to the spectra5 by people?? any sticker price?? any info. will do thanks.

yugoboy

Excellent article, please read, they just need to come down in price to make it more competitive imo!!!!

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/pw/05spectra.htm

iluvmysephia1

from those prices. They are building better and better cars and they can charge more as their cars get better. Sounds grisly but it's true. Read the reviewer's comments on the link you posted about the 2005 Kia Spectra/Spectra5. He brings up the point about people just expecting Kia to always lower their prices on new models, sometimes as the model is just coming to market. That's not always realistic. Their Spectra/Spectra5 prices are already pretty good IMO. BTW-that is a fine review of Spectra and I've added it to my "favorites" to re-read when getting closer to car-shopping again. I prefer the Spectra sedan and I feel that this one will be the best Spectra ever. For those wanting a hatchback this one also looks very solid. Nice set of pictures in that review as well.

backy

As long as their Hyundai cousins are selling fully loaded Elantra GTs for $13-14k + T&L, Kia will have to budge on price with the Spectra5. The new Forenza wagon is a sharp little number that will also apply price pressure on the Spectra. It's a tough world out there.

alpha01

I'm surprised by this comment:

"The new Forenza wagon is a sharp little number that will also apply price pressure on the Spectra."

Perhaps I am confusing you for someone else, but did you not test drive the Forenza and come away very lukewarm, stating that it really didnt distinguish itself from the competition, or have any advantages?

I cant imagine that the new Spectra isnt worth a marginal premium over the slowish, thirstyish, uglyish, clumsyish Forenza.

~alpha

backy

I was lukewarm about the Forenza because I thought the stick shift was not crisp and the engine was unrefined. I did not say it had no advantages--please take another look at my review. But most folks don't buy stick shifts, and I'll bet many can live with some growl in the engine if the rest of the package is good. Have you seen the Forenza wagon? I think it is far from ugly, in fact, I think it's the best looking compact wagon out there. Handling is fine. Interior is just as nice as the Spectra's, actually even more luxurious with standard steering-wheel controls, 8 speaker stereo, and rear seat center armrest. It's fast enough for most people I think--the Spectra is quicker but no performance car. And if the price of the Forenza S wagon is anything close to the sedan's, it will mean a well-equipped wagon for under $12k. That is price pressure.

alpha01

Thanks, will read your review again.

But I disagree on a few points. Mainly, if nobody's buying the Forenza, regardless of how its priced, theres not much pressure exerted on other automakers. Also, I felt the Forenzas interior not at stylish, or as tactily pleasing as the Spectra (I did not drive either but was in both at NYIAS).

~alpha

ateixeira

That 5 door will compete with the Scion xA and the Suzuki Aerio, it seems smaller than the Forenza, or is that just my imagination?

-juice

backy

The Forenza and Spectra are both in the compact class. I've driven both (and the Aerio) and they are roughly the same size inside, with a little more rear leg room in the Forenza. The Forenza wagon looks longer than the sedan (and the Spectra5) however, much like the Focus wagon is longer than the hatch or sedan. The Aerio will compete with the Spectra (exerting some more pricing pressure), but I think the xA will attract different buyers than the Spectra.

backy

How about Edmunds.com's review of the new 2004 Spectra? Pretty positive, but a little picky, don'tcha think? "Only three colors in the interior." What are they expecting, maybe a little dash of chartreuse or maybe some lime green? Have they looked at the interiors of Spectra's competitors lately? Not much different in color palettes. I suppose if Kia put some wood grain trim in there, they would complain about the tacky wood grain trim. I think the grey interior is pretty drab, but then I think most grey interiors are pretty drab, especially on low-end cars like this. I prefer tan on the Spectra, and most cars.

chrisducati

I like the five door model as long as they don't dumb it down for Americans I.e.. by taking off marker lights and putting solid red tail/turn lights on it. The sedan looks to old person for my taste. As for the Suzuki it has been selling. last month sales were up 22%. With Gas prices pushing over $2 in most areas I can't imagine that the small car market will not grow in the U.S.

chrisducati

Everyone has their own idea of what a interior should look like. I never buy light colored interiors and for the most part will only buy a car or truck with black or charcoal on the inside. That does limit my options in the compact market as most either have tan or light gray interiors. Most of my friends associate light gray with econo car cheap in a interior.