Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see May lease deals!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
BTW- the service manual recommends removing the headlight/turn signal assembly to remove the bulbs. It comes out by unscrewing 3 screws that are visible when the hood is opened. No need to struggle in the tight space behind the headlight/turn signal unit as you tried to do. Like most automotive work, it is often easier in the long run to remove a few extra parts rather than cut up your hands and teach your kids a few new words!
Now I'm looking to find aftermarket side steps (the chromed kind). Dealer cost is $695 installed, anyone got any websites they know of?
Also, have you looked at the issue on cargo light operation? Sometime the cargo light and interior light are on for only few seconds. They fade when the rear liftgate (no other doors are open) is fully open. However, when I use the keyless remote (press UNLOCK) and open the liftgate only, cargo light and interior are on until the liftgate is close. And when turn the reading light switch on (located on the dash, next to the cruise control switch), all interior light are on except the cargo light. Do I have the wrong cargo light switch setting? I think hicaffa also tired this and found the same thing.
Oh yes, definitely a Kia. What makes matters worse, is that they still assemble and sell the thing!
To people in the Sorento topic: Who's getting the best deals? Is there regional pricing? (Different regions, different prices, due to demand. THis is what I'm calling it, since I can't remember what the correct economical term for it is.)
Also, I haven't seen many Sorentos on the road! Get off this topic and drive! I need something to look at besides the occasional Camry!
santa fe vs. sorrento - no contest! the santa fe is WAY too buggy looking. i call it the grasshopper suv. too bulbous - styling wise, for my taste. you can get a much more sleekly styled and loaded 2wd sorento EX for $23k if you shop around...why settle for a santa fe?
just passed 610 miles. it's now officially BROKEN IN!!! Yea, i can get into some serious driving now! no problems whatsoever and i still have not seen a single sorento driving on the road yet! exclusivity does tend to make one feel special!
My Sorento Page
Kia found in 1944 in Seoul, South Korea. The company was first manufactured bicycle parts. Kia produced motorcycles, small cargo trucks in 1960's..... In 1986, Kia made Ford Festive for U.S.. Some Peugeot 604s were also made in Kia factory plant in 1979. Kia signed 20 dealers and sold cars in the United States in 1993. Kia also made Ford Aspire in 1994. Remember the Elan sports roadster in 1996? In 1998, Hyundai Motors won Kia Motors in auction. Kia entered into a strategies tie up with Hyundai and Diamler Chrysler in 2000. Kia offers the 10 years/100000 miles warranty since mid-2001 (2002 models) in the United States. There are more than 620 (and growing) Kia dealers in the United States in 2003. Kia also debut the KCD-1 Slice crossover concept car early this year in the L.A. Auto Show. Remember there were only 20 Kia dealers ten years ago! In the near future, Kia will bring the new Sportage in 2004. Then Hyundai/Kia will begin to roll their vehicles from their first U.S. factory plant in 2005.
We can hardly see the Ford Aspire (1994 model) around now. And maybe there will be the same thing for Kia Sorento in ten years later.
There are 3 light assemblies: 1)front-map light(s) 2)middle-dome light and 3)rear-cargo light. The dome light and cargo lights each have a 3 position switch to control their operation. The positions are: 1)On-all of the time 2)Timed On-only when door is opened and dims to off when door is closed and 3)Off-never turns on. The front map lights can only be turned on by their pushbutton switch OR with the instrument panel rheostat (dimmer) knob when the vehicle lights are on.
Functionally, here's what I observed, with the cargo and dome lights set to the "door" position-
1)The dome light and cargo light will illuminate when the door is opened and begin a timed "dim down" as soon as the door is closed 2)They will perform exactly the same when the hatch or rear glass is opened 3)The map lights and dome light will illuminate when the vehicle lights are on and the rheostat is turned past the detent (click).
The lights as well as many other interior electrical devices are controlled by a "body" computer. This allows for features such as the dimming, battery run down protection and other niceties.
As an aside, I sure wish the map lights would come on when the door is opened. The front passenger area is dark since the dome light is located too far back to help. The use of the "body" computer for lighting control complicates an easy alteration of this function.
Thanks for any information you can provide me! I'm still searching for my SUV.
brookyln1951 - Thanks for checking. I wish the cargo light will stay on when only the rear liftgate is open. This way, it will give more light in the cargo area when loading stuffs in the dark. Right now, the cargo light is only on for few seconds and fade when no other doors are open. We can turn the cargo light switch to ON or press UNLOCK (twice to signal the system to unlock all doors, including the rear liftgate) on the remote when we have to loading stuffs in the dark. I agree with the map lights issue. They won't turn when the door is open nor turn the main switch (near the dashboard). Anyway, this is not causing me any problems.
mspurple - I strongly suggest you and any potential Sorento buyers to use internet (like edmunds new cars and Kia website) to track down the vehicle "buy" price (get a price quote) from your local Kia dealers. Get the numbers before you go to car shopping. Faxing to the sales manager is also a good idea. But I found the internet worked prefect to me. I used it before I even go to the dealer. It is like you are doing an interview with several dealers online.
please, do those of us who drive and have to see the visual polution created by these ugly GM abortions a favor and let them stay on the lots where they belong. the less people buy, the less GM makes, the less we have to avert our eyes from.
the sorento is WAY WAY nicer and it's not too new. kia has been selling and making them for over a year longer than they have been selling here in the usa.
I'm trying to get peoples thoughts on like s an dislikes. My mom said "Kia" who makes them???..so with a Buick she knows who they are... it's my choice on what to get for them as my wife and I will get use of it too....ideally I'd like the GMC Envoy, but the budget don't quite let me get one....I know the 1st time either needs warranty work done...it will be "my" fault and they should have got the 'other' one... however..i DO agree with the last comment..the rear end on the RDV is kind of 'ugly'...
StevePlll - The snow is still falling here in Quincy, MA and the northeast. It looks like we will have over 2' of snow tomorrow when the snow ends in the afternoon. My boss already said "No work" tomorrow. I will take my Sorento for a little ride and for more rock salt.
etc. i also reminded him about kia past, sorento lack of history and depreciation. got my 4x2 ex with abs, rear spoiler and luxury package for 23,700.
Thanks for your reply. 23,700 sounds great. I live in Louisiana and plan to contact dealers from Houston Tx. to Birmingham Al. Your feedback is helpful.
is this out the door price or plus tax,title, destination.. etc??
I wonder if this will fit into my 24k max budget ??? I think if i could get the above spec including the luxury package....then the sorento would definetly be chosen over the Buick RDV...I'm waiting for that 1000 cash back to be applied to the sorento like every other Kia has at present....Are any of the dealers haggling much? Edmunds TMV shows people are paying almost MSRP..as for needing 4WD.....live in NC at the beach....we would need 4WD for maybe 3 days of the year and not worth the extra cash..I'd just walk to the store ( or my parents would as it is for them)
ps....the award it just won is pleasing....makes me realize i'm not making a bad choice.
I guess i need to finally go test drive both one after another and compare side by side. I have only test drove the Kia so far and did like it..was just worried about "kia name"....I have a dealer close by that sells both.
If you could get one installed on it I'm sure it would plow fine
-mike
-mike
First of all...it's a Buick. 'nough said there. And, it's based on a mini-van platform at that. Something the Kia is certainly not. All the Buick RDV is, is a over glorified Aztek. Period. Oh, wait...and it really doesn't look that much better than an Aztek either.
So do what the rest of us here have done. Buy the Kia...get a great looking truck, great value, and great fun! And a great sense of doing yourself and your family right because you did the research, test drove the competition...and ultimitly chose the best SUV for the money.
-mike
go back in this forum and read my "fax-the-dealer" method of getting a deal like this!!
My Sorento Page
ps...your Kia is the EXACT spec and color I'd like!....did you get 4WD ??? I see from one of your pictures you have the knob on the lower left side of the steering wheel??
ATTENTION: KIA NEW CAR SALES MANAGER
I am in the market for a 2003 Sorento EX Sport Utility 2WD in Alpine Gray. I might consider a 4WD but I definitely want an EX in the Alpine Gray.
I am willing to pay you dealer invoice from Kia, which I will want to see, for the 2WD with ABS, the Luxury Pkg, Rear Spoiler and Destination, plus tax and license.
I am well aware that you can find customers to pay more than this amount but with me you roll another vehicle and make your holdback and any Kia incentives that are available to you, so why not sell a vehicle to both of us? Plus I am contacting you directly so that you could do this as a house deal if you like. If you want to sell me this vehicle at this price I am ready to buy today! Please contact me at the number below. Also, you can save your time and mine by not having someone call to haggle with me to get me to pay more or to belittle or challenge my offer. We can either do an intelligent, high integrity, fast, easy, no hassle deal at the dealer invoice price or not, it's your choice.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Respectfully yours,
One of the most critical sentences is the one that says your are ready to buy TODAY. When they read that, you become a number in their sales totals rather than a stroke or time waster. ALL the dealers (except one with no inventory) called me from the above fax and ALL of them were willing to sell it at their invoice except one that wanted $100 over their invoice. I actually ended up getting it for $450 UNDER dealer invoice from the dealer closest to my house who really wanted my business and plainly stated he was giving me the best deal because he was interested in getting his sales figures up. This dealership also turned out to be the only one with the color combo I wanted (note that the dealer invoices from Kia, at least in this region, all show an advertising fee of around $400 which varies and is based on the percentage price of the vehicle.)
btw, the 2wd EX has the dash knob too.
My Sorento Page
This is what I want, this is what I'll pay, If you agree, I will sign the papers now, if not in exactly 5 minutes I will be in my car and out the door, if I do sign the papers in 1/2hr I will be out of here and you will have a sale.
They love that approach, cause it's easy money for them that way.
-mike
I THINK I will do a little bit of 'Sunday shopping' when they are closed at a couple of local dealers. Pick out the 'one' I want, do my homework on price and either go offer 'x' amount on the one I want or do the fax method...both are direct and good. The dealer ALWAYS tries to play the "we will lose money" game, but there are plenty more fish in the sea...
However....I have to wait until Mid-late March until I can buy.