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re: Floor mats. Did you guys not get the matching carpet floor mats with Sedona printed on them, or are you wanting something else? My van was delivered with the carpet covered with plastic and these huge mats(especially in the center) covering the plastic. I haven't even taken the plastic off yet.
Congratulations to you new Sedona owners!
re:brenice....Mine is the solid green, my first choice would have been the 2-tone with green/platinum, but there wasn't one to be found in the whole state I was told. But i did get ABS and leather.
I had two close calls this week. After the ice storm, there was a tree broke off mid-trunk into the road just as I topped the crest of a hill, the road was clear of ice but wet. Then tonight three deer ran out in front of me. Both times the Sedona stopped on a dime, no skid even on wet pavemnent. I don't have ABS. I was impressed.
They didn't even give me my Shrek video...Does anyone know if the 1.9% financing rate program over 60 months is still out there? Our neighbors got this deal just prior to 9/11, and in October when we first started looking it was still available. Don't know if I can post the dealers name, if it is okay I'll post next time I'm on.
Anyway, we wanted to go to mother in laws for Thanksgiving but really didn't want to risk it in our '95 Taurus with 3 kids in the back and a squirrely transmission (we'd broken down twice on the way down there before and feel that we're jinxed with that vehicle). The internet dealer we'd been working with called us that Wednesday and did the usual feel good hype by telling us that the van had just been unloaded onto the lot and was still in plastic. My wife called me at work and we discussed it for about 2 minutes before we agreed to buy it, although it was slightly more expensive than what the wholesale guy quoted us. Personally, I don't think he would have delivered. Anyway, we got it, it drives like a dream, and I really don't feel emasculated while driving it!
On another note, does anyone know when crash test data will be available on this vehicle? I think it will do very well - hope I won't be surprised. (posting 309 from mom23girls regarding braking was somewhat reassuring - as I've said, the only option we didn't get was ABS and I hope I don't someday regret it...)
550 miles and no complaints yet. love it.
We'll see.........
I was so proud when an older gentlemen questioned me in the parking lot of McDonalds about my van. He was really impressed with it.(I've never seen unother one in the Southern MO area) He said they just bought a Windstar for over $30,000, when I told him mine was $23,000 he about croaked.
I too have yet to see a Sedona out on the road. And ours are very busy roads....
Our dealer lives 2 miles away from our home in Dublin, Ohio. They just started selling Kias. They also sell Mercedes-Benz, Dodge, Jeep.
There are two other Kia dealerships in Columbus. Finding an EX with ABS is difficult. My dealership did not have any with ABS until the one I bought came in. The other two dealerships had several EXs with leather, but none with ABS. I am surprised why Kia shipped so many EXs with the leather option, but no ABS.
My dealer tried to convince me to buy an EX without ABS before he got one in with ABS. He said the minivan is so heavy you don't need ABS. I'm a big fan of ABS so I decided to wait.
My wife and I were considering the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey. The Honda was out for us because we live close to the Honda plant and every one of our neighbors has one.
The Sienna looked like a good choice considering the resale value and durability and the all-important Recommendation from Consumer Reports. However I felt the current model was getting dated and would wait for the redesigned model.
My father told me about the Kia Sedona. I told him I wouldn't be interested in one. He insisted I check out the Sedona. I started my quest by visiting KiaSedona.com. I also remember reading about the Sedona in Car and Driver (October 2001) and they usually hate minivans. Since C&D had good things to say about the Sedona, I thought I should give it a look. Kia's web site alerted to the fact that there is a local dealer.
The dealer doesn't even have the Kia name on their building yet. I figured since they were the new kid on the block, I could get a good deal.
My wife and I stopped by the dealer in mid-November. I figured I would at least get a free Shrek video (no such luck - they were out of certificates).
We test-drove a LX without leather and ABS. We liked the way it drove. We have not owned a minivan before, but I thought the acceleration from a stop was disappointing and the engine was noisy when I gas pedal was floored. Those were the only gripes - everything else we liked.
I was pretty specific on an EX with ABS and the Blue Sapphire color. But all they had were two LXs and none of the other dealers had what we wanted.
On 12/2/01, the local salesperson called and said they just got a Blue Sapphire two-tone EX with all options for $24,100. The interior is tan. Another Blue Sapphire EX with all options with a gray interior was due soon.
I'm glad to report that the Shrek video certificates were in and I called the 800 number and ordered mine.
The EX we bought had only 10 miles on it. The dealer had not "prepped" it yet whatever that means. I noticed that both times we test-drove a Sedona, there was almost no gas in the tank (the fuel light was on). Perhaps dealers keep the gas tank low so you won't drive very far?
I have only driven the EX on our test drive (4 miles). Some things I have noticed are: considerable wind noise above 60 MPH and the brake pedal felt mushy.
I usually wait for Consumer Reports to test a vehicle before purchasing. But the long warranty and the closeness of the dealer changed my mind.
Now to the not-so-fun part of pricing. I was able to get $1,200 off the sticker MSRP of $24,100 so I paid $22,900. It was not pretty in the sales room.
I showed the salesperson the Edmunds.com invoice price. He said Edmunds.com is wrong - instead of $21,400 the invoice is actually $22,413. He showed me a copy of their invoice. I noticed there was a charge of about $500 for an advertising fee before the paper was hastily put away. Does anyone know if Edmunds.com's invoice price is indeed wrong or was I shown a bogus invoice?
The salesperson offered $1,000 off the MSRP because he is the new kid in town. He said that I would not be able to get an EX with ABS anywhere in town at his price. This price is still $1,700 over Edmunds.com's invoice price.
I told him that I could buy a Sienna at $100 over invoice...why wouldn't he sell me the Sedona EX for $100 over invoice? The store manager came in and yada, yada, yada'd about paying for floor space, advertisements, etc. and that Toyota has dealer incentives that Kia doesn't offer.
I brought up the 3% holdback mentioned on Edmunds.com. The manager said that they spent all this holdback money on advertisements.
My wife and I said we had enough and started to leave. The dealership was already closed and we told them we would just wait until the price came down to come back. I have heard that the best time to shop is at the end of the month and when the store is closing. One out of two wasn't bad because the manager had one last offer...an additional $200 off for a total discount of $1,200. We agreed. We found out later that we were their only sale of the day.
Here are some things the dealer told me that I'd like to ask others in this forum if they can verify:
1. The stereo in the EX is made by Alpine.
2. You can only have one wireless remote with a Sedona. You can't even buy a second one because it won't work. By the way, Kia has free roadside assistance for up to 5 years - not an issue with us since we have AAA. The dealer did say that if they need to tow the Sedona, it would be towed up to 70 miles to a dealer. He also mentioned that the assistance included hotel reimbursement.
3. The oil filters in Kia's are special. They insisted on us taking our Sedona to them for oil changes ($22) because other lube shops may not put in the special filters (he said the filter retain oil).
4. The timing belt needs to be changed at 60,000 miles. My Honda and Acuras (non VTEC engines) required the timing belt to be changed at 100,000 miles. Why does the Sedona need it's timing belt replaced so soon?
5. There is no local tire dealer for the OEM tires. I wonder if this will be a problem if we need to get a replacement tire.
We got 3.9% financing for 48 months. You can get 4.9% for 60 months, 2.9% for 36 months and 1.9% for 24 months. Our insurance cost is $450 annually with a $1,000 comp/collision deductible for pleasure driving. We got a discount for ABS.
Our dealer insisted that we give him the highest grades for the JD Power survey. I have never received one of these surveys before.
How is the snow performance of the Sedona with ABS? It hasn't snowed here in Ohio yet, but I'll write back to share our experiences.
Thanks for reading my long post!
The line about the remote sounds like a dealer line to avoid having you try to force him into throwing in a second remote. There is no reason that you could not order a second remote and have it programmed to work with your car. Talk to the parts desk if you want the truth and plan on paying around $100 to order one and get it programmed (that's why the dealer doesn't want to throw one in).
Regarding ABS, it has its ups and downs. On the positive side, ABS is great on dry roads or when it rains. The downside to ABS is when there is loose material on the road like gravel or snow. When you lock up the tires on loose material without ABS the tires dig in and the loose material piles up in front of the tire help to slow you down. If you have ABS the tires continue to roll keeping the loose material under the tires and extending the time it takes to stop. As for the steering aspect, I have ABS and I have used it in the snow several times and was not able to steer the car or stop. However it is excellent on wet roads.
Thanks also for the ABS explanation. It is nice to know that my insurance company offers a discount for ABS (Erie Insurance).
Thanks to wes19 for sharing his invoice price story. Hopefully an Edmunds Host will confirm if the Edmunds invoice price is correct.
In their defence, ours was among the first shipment of Sedonas in Western Canada and nobody at the dealership knew all the features.
Re: Oil filter
The Sedona uses the same filter as a Kia car, the Optima, I believe. I bought a supply of them from the Kia dealer and take them with me to the local stand-alone oil change place. As long as they use warranty-compliant oil your vehicle warranty is not affected. Must be in a difficult location on the van, however. I heard a considerable amount of muttering and cursing from the gentlemen in the "pit".
Re: Keyless Remote
I too, thought that the provision of only one transmitter was a rather crass method for Kia to save $2.95. However, in practice we really do not miss it. The fact that the driver's door lock unlocks all 5 doors makes the 2nd tranmitter almost redundant.
Re: ABS
I am not sure that ABS is important in a van as heavy as the Sedona. This vehicle has excellent traction in winter conditions. I notice small amounts of wheel spin only when turning sharp corners in the snow/ice. Otherwise it just digs in and goes. I have also not been able to invoke the ABS when stopping. The back brakes appear to be very well modulated and the van stops in a straight line on quite slippery surfaces. However, it is nice to have the insurance discount if available.
1/4 mile times of 17.4 seconds @ 81 mph
0-60 mph in 9.8 seconds
60-0 in an average distance of 132 feet
19 MPG average
http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/reviews/rt2108.shtml
2002 Kia Sedona
Program #2108
When Kia first arrived in the U.S. in 1994, it did so with just a single, inexpensive car that was sold only in several states out West. From those humble beginnings, Kia has now grown to nearly 600 dealers nationwide, become a part of Hyundai, and offers six distinct models. The latest Kia to hit the streets is a new minivan called Sedona. And unlike some import minivans, the Sedona looks very much like its U.S. made rivals...
The most likely reason for those owner of non-ABS equipped Sedonas NOT to have experienced skids is the strength of the brakes. While the weight of the Sedona does improve the grip of the tires, it also adds to the momentum of the vehicle and the amount of effort required to bring the vehicle to a stop. The two effects of increased weight don't quite cancel each other out as the brakes can only supply a given amount of braking force, and so may never get the tires to reach the limits of their traction - the net effect is a longer braking distance, all other things being equal.
Ultimately the tire grip and brake strength will determine if the wheels lock up. If brake strength is greater than tire grip, you'll skid (duh!). I suspect that the brakes on the Sedona, which appear to be quite reasonable given the weight of the vehicle and published stopping distances, are not strong enough to induce wheel-lock under most circumstances. You could therefore conclude that ABS is less of a safety feature for the Sedona, as it would rarely be activated.
I took the van to the dealer, at the end of the day, he said that the reason the check engine light came on was because my gas cap was not tight (code indicated a "leak in fuel system"). Hogwash. I realize that it must be tightened such that 3 clicks are heard (see inside of fuel door, yellow label), but I was the one who fueled the van, and know for certain that the gas cap was tight (clicks > 3!). Anyway, nothing was done to the van, and the rough idle, and Chevy pickup-like groan is still audible.
Anyone else had similar experiences?
As for the second keyless entry FOB, When I bought the van, the dealer and I thought that it was a mistake that only 1 FOB was included with the van.....so they ordered another one (free of charge) immediately. When the dealer attempted to prgram the second FOB, the first one no longer worked. When he reprogrammed the original, the second one then did not function. They called KIA, and (claim) they were told that the computer cannot handle more than one remote, so 2 FOBs is not possible at this time, and that KIA "is aware of the problem and is working on a fix". Long story short.....even if you buy another keyless entry control, it won't work anyway. At least that is what I was told.
Does anyone out there have 2 remote entry controls....that work?
As for the Shrek video, I received it shortly after calling the number indicated on the coupon. You are not missing much.
Hokum,
What did the dealer say about the idle and groaning sounds? I always have to get an appointment with my dealer for service (I bought our previous mini-van from them) Maybe they brushed you off because it was quitin' time. If you don't get some satisfaction the next time you go in, I'd let them know that you'll be anxiously awaiting a service survey from the manufacturer to arrive so you can critique them. If you don't receive one, the only address that I have for J.D. Power and Associates, who was commissioned by Kia to obtain feedback from owners, is J.D. Power and Associates 30401 Agoura Road Agoura Hills, CA 91301. I'm assuming they will be handling Service as well sa Sales Satisfaction. At least you could write and request a Service Survey. So far I've received a Sales Experience Survey(that was fun!) and my dealer said that I may be getting a Service Survey as well. Good luck!
If nothing else this gives you a little something to vent your frustration on.
Put down money (see above) on the only one int the next shipment with anti-lock brakes, $200 off MSRP. Due to arrive maybe the 4th, then certainly the 7th.
Still waiting. I think I'm beginning to see a pattern here.
In the real world, my brother-in-law stated his 2001 Odd EX gets 20 to 25 MPG at each refill on a 3000 mile round trip. We got 26 to 27.5 MPG on 6 long trips of 1380 miles on our 99 GC w/3.3L V6.
We were very impressed with the comfort, quiet and smooth ride of the 2002 Sedona EX we drove a few months ago. I think the Sedona would deliver 26 to 27 MPG on a long trip if kept under 75 MPH.
Bluewinds.
Mom23Girls
They said they "could not duplicate" the sounds. I asked them to bring a new Sedona over to the shop, so we could do a "side by side" comparison. That suggestion fell on deaf ears. As did most of my other comments.
I have another appointment at the end of this week. I think I am going to "test drive" a new Sedona down to the shop while they look at my van, so they "can duplicate" the problem and get it fixed.
I appreciate the address for JD Power.
The thing is, we are driving back home to PA in two weeks, and that is a 1400 mile trip....one way.....with 2 small kids.
Happy Holidays Mom23Girls, and to all.
RGDS:
Hokum
http://www.carsdirect.com/home
I tried virtually every Internet service I could find to locate the Sedona my wife and I wanted. An EX with a minimum of ABS, Sunroof, and white with silky Beige.
After several false "Hey, we got your van" leads, it was a pleasure to do business with carsdirect.com and Lisa Hoyer at Nissan/Kia Of Union City. While it took 2 weeks to find what I wanted, they never lead me on. And even though they had to transfer the van from out of state they got me the lowest price and well under MSRP! BTW - The local consumer advocate and radio personality Clark Howard likes carsdirect.com too
http://clarkhoward.com/library/rolodex_automotive.html
The Sedona I got also had leather, homelink. I picked it up last night. We were in and out of the dealership in well under an hour. This is THE way to buy a car.
I'll post a full driving impression next week after I've had a chance to drive it a little more.
Thanks also to bluewinds for confirming that the Sedona has an Alpine radio.
Has anyone noticed that in the Sedona brochure there is a button in the lower right side of the dash labeled "ECAT?" What is this for and what does it stand for?
My Sedona has two blank buttons on the right side. I'm curious if these buttons are used for other things (like the auto wipers for Canada?).
The brochure appears to be for the US.
Thanks!
Our models have a few blank switches as well. In particular, the blank in the driver's armrest for the power folding side mirrors is interesting.That's a UK option, I believe, though it would be certainly handy in my narrow garage.
After driving our Kia Sedona EX for about 150 miles, I have a few suggestions for Kia:
1. Move the keyhole to the dashboard. Even though the keyhole is lighted, you have to strain your neck to see the hole.
2. Light the parking brake release handle. I have on accident pulled the wrong handle more than once and popped the hood!
3. Add a left-foot dead pedal to rest your left foot on long trips. Many cars have this useful feature.
4. Make it easier to take out the seats. They are really heavy. As Car and Driver put it, taking out these seats is a honey-do item that I will dread having to do.
5. Make the headrests in the middle and rear seats swing down like some cars (Volvos). This makes it easier to see out the rear window without having to take out the headrests.
Other than these minor grips, we love our Sedona!
6. A compass display for the middle display that currently includes the time, DTE, etc.
7. Wireless remote that doesn't require the user to hold the button in for a long time - we got spoiled by our after-market car alarms that unlock/lock doors with a quick push of their buttons.
8. On the EX, move the sunroof button farther away from the overhead driver map light. In the dark, I have opened the sunroof more than once trying to turn on the light.
9. We have not been able to figure out how to properly program the Homelink (option on the EX) with our Sears Craftsman rolling code garage door opener despite closely following the manual's instructions.
10. The chrome doors on the EX look nice, but feel kind of flimsy.
11. A lockable gas door would be a nice addition.
We averaged 22.9 miles per gallon recently. We drove mostly highway miles and we have 350 total miles on our Sedona.
Some of the things we love about the Sedona:
1. The CD player resumes playing at the same spot where it left off.
2. Rear vent controls.
3. Two trip odometers.
4. Hazard light control located in the middle of the dash.
5. In the EX, the folding table can hold the biggest drinks from the fast-food chains without tipping over.
6. Variable wiper control for the front wipers and int. control for the rear wiper.
7. The lockable storage compartment hidden under the passenger seat.
8. The horn button is located in the middle of the steering wheel (instead of little buttons located on the steering wheel like in my Acura).
9. Power seats for the driver and passenger. Would like memory settings for the driver side though.
10. We got our Shrek video within 2 weeks. Any one else that would like to add to the like/don't like lists?
I think the key is making sure that the KIA dealership is up to doing the warranty work. A warranty is only as good as the dealership backing it up.
a trade in value.
Still loving the Sedona at 2000 miles. -dwh
I attempted to trade in my Aerostar with 160k and got no where with the dealer. However I managed to get 2500 for it from a private buyer.
SO called "Bumper to Bumper" is 5 yrs 60K. Power train and Engine is for 10/100k. Surely most people plan to keep it 5 yrs (at least long enough to pay it off)
I plan to use ALL my warranty from KIA.
1. At 60mph, I noticed wind noisy. The sales rep. said that that's because it was very windy outside. He was right that it's quite windy in Vancouver this afternoon. Can anyone tell me how to distinguish wind noisy caused by the car and that caused by windy weather?
2. Compared with a Sienna I test-drove a month ago, Sedona's engine is more laud when accelerating.
However, I didn't notice any problem of right-pulling as mentioned by numerous posts, neither at 60mhp, nor during accelerating, nor during braking.
As to the price, the MSRP of Sedona Ex in Canada is 27590 CND (About 17800 USD, yes, it's much cheaper in Canada, but we pay 14% tax!). After 40 minutes negotiation, the dealer is only willing to offer 200 dollar off from MSRP. I finally walked away, but with the intention to buy it in the netx few days, probably from another dealer.
I know TMV is not available in Canada. Can anyone who bought a Sedona EX recently give me an idea whether it's a good deal (200 dollar off the MSRP) in Canada?
Thank you very much.